23andMe BANKRUPT, Saylor Still Buying Bitcoin, + Founder Interviews | E2102
This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
4.4 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 25 March 2025
⏱️ 96 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today’s show: In this episode, Alex and Lon kick things off with the latest tech news — including 23andMe’s dramatic collapse, MicroStrategy’s half-million Bitcoin haul, and whether we’re finally seeing a rebound in startup M&A. Then they sit down with three standout founders building the future across AI chips, data privacy, and healthcare. First up, Etched CEO Gavin Uberti explains why they’re betting big on transformer-specific ASICs. Then, Skyflow co-founder Anshu Sharma breaks down how they’re helping enterprises use LLMs without leaking private data. Finally, MedServe’s team walks us through how they’re securing medications in outpatient clinics and staying on the right side of the DEA.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex kicks off the show
(1:15) 23andMe bankruptcy and SPACs impact
(5:23) MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy
(8:58) Increase in M&A activity and market trends
(10:06) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(13:37) Browser use, agentic AI, and VC market insights
(19:28) Financial responsibility in startups
(20:28) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(21:56) Interview with Gavin Uberti of Etched
(30:32) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com ! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.
(32:12) Economic and technical aspects of chip efficiency
(39:53) Etched's market demand, manufacturing, and AI scaling
(43:05) Founder insights and hardware startup potential
(45:43) Introduction to Skyflow and Anshu Sharma
(50:19) Skyflow's growth and customer acquisition strategies
(1:03:09) ServiceNow's new product and Skyflow's bullish outlook
(1:06:33) M&A interest and AI stack value creation
(1:12:06) Skyflow's funding and cybersecurity customer trust
(1:13:12) Introduction to MedServe and Milwaukee's startup ecosystem
(1:16:30) MedServ's solution to drug dispensing and diversion
(1:23:05) Economic challenges and solutions for smaller facilities
(1:26:50) MedServe cabinet features and use case demonstration
(1:29:51) Cybersecurity and physical security of MedServe systems
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Follow Etched:
Website: https://www.etched.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etched-ai/
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Follow MedServe:
Website: https://medserverx.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medserverx/
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Follow Skyflow:
Website: https://www.skyflow.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyflow/
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Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
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Follow Lon:
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Thank you to our partners:
(10:06) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(20:28) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(30:32) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.
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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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
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Follow TWiST:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, coming up on Twist today, we're talking about 23 and me going straight down into bankruptcy. |
| 0:06.7 | Then what will Michael Saylor do with a half million Bitcoins after we get to the news? |
| 0:11.7 | Lon and I are talking to three founders. |
| 0:14.0 | We're talking to Etch to figure out why they're building Transformers specific ASICs and what |
| 0:18.4 | that means, Skyflow and how they've turned from a company |
| 0:21.2 | all about keeping your data secure to actually now enabling Enterprise AI, and then MedServe, |
| 0:26.9 | which wants to keep medicines safe, secure, and properly marked to avoid annoying the government. |
| 0:31.3 | It's a great show. Let's have some fun. |
| 0:33.9 | This weekend startups is brought to you by Northwest Registered Agent. |
| 0:38.9 | Starting your business should be simple. |
| 0:43.3 | With Northwest Registered Agent, you can form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks in 10 minutes. |
| 0:47.4 | From LLCs to trademarks, domains to custom websites, they've got you covered. |
| 0:49.6 | Get more privacy, more options, and more done. |
| 0:52.5 | Visit Northwestregisteredagent.com slash twist today. |
| 0:53.5 | Squarespace. |
| 0:55.6 | Turn your idea into a new website. Go to Squarespace.com slash twist today. Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website. |
| 0:58.3 | Go to squarespace.com slash twist for a free trial. |
| 1:03.0 | When you're ready to launch, use offer code twist to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. |
| 1:05.2 | And Fidelity Private Shares. |
| 1:09.4 | If you want the all-in-one equity management platform Fidelity Private Shares has you covered, |
| 1:14.6 | visit FidelityPrivate Shares.com and mention this podcast for 20% off your first year subscription. |
| 1:15.8 | Hey, everybody. |
... |
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