This Week in Startups
This Week in Startups

The Biggest Private Funding Round in History | E2256

28 February 2026 1:20:17 Jason Calacanis

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About this episode

This Week In Startups is made possible by:

Deel - http://deel.com/twist

Wispr Flow - https://wisprflow.ai/twist

Luma AI - https://lumalabs.ai/twist


Today’s show:

*$110 billion buys you 15% of OpenAI. Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank placed their bets on ChatGPT, which now has 900 million weekly active users and 50 million paying subscribers. Find out why Jason is anticipating the wildest J-Curve swing of all time, and believes we’ve ALREADY hit AGI… it’s just not implemented yet.

Plus a visit from our roving correspondent Nick O’Neill, checking in on the Crypto Chaos in Miami Beach, and hot demos from three young founders.

GUESTS:

Nick O’Neill: https://x.com/chooserich

Everest Chris: https://openclaw.unloopa.com/

Ben Broca: https://polsia.com/

Adi Gabrani: https://makemyclaw.com/

Timestamps:


    00:00 Intro


    01:33 We’re hiring a new producer!


    05:42 OpenAI raised $110 billion


    08:59 Understanding the LLM J-Curve


    00:11:25 Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit ⁠https://deel.com/twist⁠ to learn more.


    00:15:02 CRYPTO CHAOS IN MIAMI BEACH!


    00:21:10 Wispr Flow - Stop typing. Dictate with Wispr Flow and send clean, final-draft writing in seconds. Visit ⁠https://wisprflow.ai/twist⁠ to get started for free today.


    00:22:54 Mass layoffs at Block


    00:30:50 Luma AI - Stop guessing and start directing with the all-in-one Dream Machine text-to-video platform. Visit ⁠https://lumalabs.ai/twist⁠ to try The Dream Machine for free.


    00:32:04 AI Scott Adams: The Saga Continues


    00:38:13 Make URLs for local businesses with Unloopa


    00:45:36 Rent a Polsia agent to run your company


    00:58:55 Deploy swarms in 60 seconds with MakeMyClaw


    01:05:05 LAUNCH FEST is coming to SF


    01:55:49 Will Paramount actually buy WBD?


    01:06:58 Why Lon loves “Knight of the 7 Kingdoms”


    01:07:21 On “Neighbors” and First Amendment Warriors


    01:13:43 All about Jason’s favorite chargers

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland


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