LMArena Goes Startup, AI App Wars Begin, Scott Bair’s Design Playbook | E2114
This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
4.4 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 18 April 2025
⏱️ 61 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today’s show: Jason, Alex, and Lon discuss the rise of LMArena as it spins out into a full-fledged startup, what that means for AI benchmarking, and how it could monetize its growing community. They also dive into the emerging value of application-layer AI startups and why OpenAI’s acquisition spree is just beginning. Plus, branding expert Scott Bair drops tactical design tips for founders—from logos to product UX—that can give your startup the edge.
Timestamps:
(0:00) AI companies and value accrual in the AI rush(1:29) Productivity in remote work(5:12) Overview of LM Arena as a startup(7:22) Business models for AI and benchmarking(10:05) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://fidelityprivateshares.com! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.(14:16) Milestone-based investing and early-stage funding(16:34) OpenAI's acquisition moves and AI market dynamics(20:12) OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist(21:15) Intangible value and strategic acquisitions in AI(24:30) High valuations and consumer AI pricing models(26:00) The rise of drone startups and autonomous weapon systems(29:46) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!(32:00) Venture interest in drones and geopolitical considerations(32:30) Branding, design, and founder questions(43:51) Brand mission and work environment culture(47:10) Savage my startup and live clinic(49:30) Logo design and color theory(56:29) Designing great websites and apps(59:29) Founder University website review(1:00:49) Closing remarks and social media plugs
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | all these AI companies, these models, they're building increasingly sophisticated models, |
| 0:04.3 | but there's no product. Like, what do they sell you? What is like the thing everybody wants |
| 0:08.8 | to have that you need AI for? And I think we're now starting to see the answer. It's like, |
| 0:13.0 | well, those companies don't even necessarily have to build that stuff. They just wait for |
| 0:17.5 | companies to build an application layer on top of their models and then scoop up the best |
| 0:22.6 | ones. And I mean, I think that's inevitably what's going to start happening. People have been |
| 0:26.3 | talking about where will the value accrue in the current AI rush? Will it accrue at the |
| 0:30.1 | model layer, the Anthropics, the open AIs, or at the application layer, one step above? |
| 0:34.4 | Now, earlier, The device layer. |
| 0:39.1 | No, that's a pretty good point, actually. Platform layer. |
| 0:39.7 | Don't forget Windows. |
| 0:41.4 | Don't forget Android and don't forget |
| 0:43.4 | MacOS or iOS. |
| 0:45.1 | I think we could see some of those |
| 0:47.3 | platforms just run the table. |
| 0:50.2 | This weekend startups is brought to you by |
| 0:52.2 | Fidelity Private Shares. |
| 0:54.2 | If you want the all-in-one equity management platform, FidelityPrivate Shares has you covered. |
| 0:58.5 | Visit FidelityPrivate shares.com and mention this podcast for 20% off your first year subscription. |
| 1:04.1 | Open Phone. Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenFone. |
| 1:07.9 | Get 20% off your first six months at openphone.com slash twist. And Northwest |
| 1:13.1 | Registered Agent, starting your business should be simple. With Northwest Registered Agent, you can form |
... |
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