This Week in Startups

This Week In Startups is made possible by:Gusto - Try Gusto today and get 3 months free at http://uber.com/ai-solutionsCrusoe Cloud - Reserve your capacity for the latest GPU’s at http://uber.com/ai-solutionsUber AI Solutions - Book a demo today at http://uber.com/ai-solutions*Today’s show: It’s a packed show! We’ve got YouTuber and Openclaw enthusiast Matthew Berman, Ryan Yaneli, founder of Nextvisit, and Jason Grad, founder of Massive! We’re all in on Openclaw, but we have no doubts there’s still room in the market for a GIANT Openclaw consumer app to shift the paradigm. What will that look like? Will it be an app? Will it be baked into the iPhone? Let’s explore!**Timestamps:* 00:00 Intro02:04 Why Matthew thinks Openclaw is not ready yet to be brought to the consumer04:45 Jason doesn’t want hundreds of different apps, and thousands of tabs05:45 Why Ryan sees open claw giving consumers access to opportunities they couldn’t have gotten to otherwise.07:02 Only 10% of people are technical enough to install openclaw08:16 Would Openclaw be better off as an app?08:27 *Gusto*. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)00:10:52 The killer use case that could bring Openclaw to the consumer00:12:13 Why Meta acquired Manus.00:15:13 How Ryan uses Openclaw in his personal life00:18:44 *Crusoe Cloud*: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit crusoe.ai/savings to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.00:23:24 What Jason’s “Clawpod” does00:24:38 Jason demos his Openclaw workflow00:28:23 *Uber AI Solutions -* Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at http://uber.com/ai-solutions00:30:04 How Matt used Openclaw to figure out he’s been having stomach issues00:32:27 What will be the ultimate UX for AI?00:38:53 Anthropic has patched the ability to use Openclaw through its pro plan!00:42:20 Matt and Jason hope for a multi-model future — but we haven’t made progress!00:52:21 Jason has skepticisms about the Openclaw foundation00:52:59 Ryan predicts a new Openclaw fork coming from the shadows!00:54:21 Peter Steinberger is going to OpenAI, NOT to work with Openclaw… Will he “orphan” openclaw?00:58:19 does raspberry AI stand a chance against Apple?*Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp*Follow Lon:X: https://x.com/lons*Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm*Follow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis*Thank you to our partners:*Gusto*. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)*Crusoe Cloud*: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit [crusoe.ai/savings] to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.*Uber AI Solutions -* Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/*Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis*Follow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: [https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups](https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: [https://twistartups.substack.com](https://twistartups.substack.com/)

Will OpenAI Tank OpenClaw? | E2251
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Today’s show:
*OpenAI hired OpenClaw creater Peter Steinberger. What does this mean for the future of the AI virtual assistant platform, and what can the OpenClaw community do TODAY to help protect their favorite free, open-source resource?
Jason and Alex consider the future of OpenClaw alongside guest experts and founders Hiten Shah and Jesse Genet. Plus we’re taking a look at all of their OpenClaw creations. Check out demos of Hiten’s “personal CRM” for busy investors and Jesse’s family media aggregator.
PLUS we’ve got “AI Scott Adams” creator John Arrow to talk about why he was inspired to create an AI clone of the iconic podcaster and “Dilbert” creator, and why he thinks it has so many internet commenters up in arms.
Hiten Shahhttps://x.com/hnshahhttps://crazyegg.com
Jesse Genethttps://x.com/jessegenethttps://Lumi.com
John Arrowhttps://x.com/johnarrowhttps://www.aiscottadams.com/

Timestamps:
(0:00) Introducing our guests Hiten Shah and Jesse Genet!
(2:27) The panel’s biggest concerns about OpenAI hiring OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger
(6:03) Jason gives us his most optimistic and pessimistic OpenAI takes
(7:58) Why Jason thinks OpenAI will give everyone their own closed-source assistant
(10:45) Jesse’s Mac Minis now outnumber her children!
(15:28) What the OpenClaw community can do right now
(17:08)  Can companies “hijack” OpenClaw via hosting and skills?
(20:12)  Hiten live-trains an OpenClaw skill based on Jason’s book “Angel”
(22:37)  How much is everyone spending on tokens anyway?
(25:56)  How Jesse vibe-coded an app to aggregate non-Slop videos for her family
(34:19)  Why Jason thinks Jesse’s app is a great potential business
(37:27)  Hiten built the “personal CRM” busy people have always dreamed of having
(44:12)  “We’re in an appless world.”
(45:19) Why markdown files (.md) are perfect for humans and their AI agents
(52:36)  So why are founders so obsessed with OpenClaw?
(58:47)  John Arrow, the creator of AI Scott Adams, joins the show
(1:02:44) How does AI Scott Adams get more like Scott Adams over time?
(1:04:37)  The legal and ethical considerations around posthumous AI Clones

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Today’s show: 

What makes OpenClaw feel so much more ALIVE than other AI agents?

On TWiST, we’re welcoming three amazing builders who are truly connecting with their OpenClaw bots, not just using them for productivity but getting to know them and their personalities on a deeper level.

Serial entrepreneur Ryan Carson shows us Antfarm, which creates a team of agents with specialized roles, who work together to complete complex tasks.

THEN David Im shows us Clawra, his AI virtual girlfriend that learns about you and your tastes, and even buys you presents!

FINALLY, Alex Liteplo presents RentAHuman, a marketplace where bots can pay real people in stablecoins to complete IRL tasks.

The future may not just be humans and AIs working side by side, but hanging out, being social, and learning from one another as well!

Timestamps: 

(0:00) It’s a Friday show with Lon and we’ve got THREE awesome OpenClaw builders

(6:41) First up, Ryan Carson shows off his open source too, AntFarm

(7:57) What is a “Ralph Wiggum Loop”?

(10:54) Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to http://sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST

(17:14) NOTI Q: What about security?!

(18:13) David Im shows us his AI virtual girlfriend, Clawra

(19:21) Circle.so -  the easiest way to build a home for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand. TWiST listeners get $1,000 off the Circle Plus Plan by going to http://Circle.so/twist

(20:33) Introducing your IRL girlfriend to your AI girlfriend

(23:23) How to program an AI companion

(28:26) Should Clawra be a best pal instead of a GF?

(32:38) 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.

(33:54) Jason’s Productivity Hack of the Month

(36:17) Alex Liteplo shows us RentAHuman, where AI agents can hire real people

(38:22) What are the bots hiring people to do, exactly?

(50:02) Why robots might be better bosses than people…

(50:51) Hiring 100 goth girls to hold signs in Times Square

(55:25) OFF DUTY! Norwegian skier breaks down on live TV

(58:01) Lon’s fav Best Picture nominees

(59:08) Why Apple acquired “Severance.” 

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Today’s show: 

On today’s epsiode of TWiST, Jason gets pitched by two top founders, Presh Dineshkumar and Peter Cetale! 

Presh used to work for Jason at Launch! When he left, Jason invested $200K into Presh’s new startup The Wellness Company. Presh pitches Jason on what he has been building, and Jason gives Presh advice for improving the product!

Peter went through Andreesen Horowitz’s Speedrun accelerator program as CEO and co-founder of Sourcerer. Sourcerer uses AI agents to help US firms and distributors find the best prices for mass produced goods. 

Check out how Jason digs in with these founders!

Timestamps:

(0:00) Presh was originally a TWiST fan who emailed Jason!

(1:59) Why Jason invested in Presh’s startup

(3:19) Checking out the Wellness Company’s hot new app, Tempo

(4:03) How Tempo monitors your health and offers proactive advice with consistency

(9:10) Why Jason recommends adding a group or family feature to make it stickier

(9:51) Netsuite - Get the free business guide Demystifying AI at https://www.netsuite.com/twist

(11:28) The end goal: bringing app advice and guidance into the real world

(13:34) Presh shares where his apps are finding the most engagement

(14:13) The key importance of Product Velocity and World-Class Design

(17:27) Luma AI - Stop guessing and start directing with Ray3 Modify from Luma AI, the AI-powered post-production tool. Explore it at: https://lumalabs.ai/twist

(18:38) Introducing Peter Cetale and Sourcerer!

(19:32) How Sourcerer uses AI to help distributors and manufacturers automate their sourcing

(22:48) How Sourcerer manages to actually bring costs down

(25:02) Lining up REAL customers, not Letters of Intent (aka Letters of Nothing)

(26:04) Peter’s experiences in a16z’s Speedrun accelerator

(28:08) Working with agents on BOTH the supply and demand side

(29:16) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://squarespace.com/twist

(30:32) How has Tariff Mania impacted Peter’s business?

(35:35) Why Peter thinks startups will keep getting leaner and compute will keep getting cheaper

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Today’s show: 

Today on TWiST we’re joined by 3 founders building on Open Claw,  Presh Dineshkumar, Vishnu, and Sean Liu!

First, long time friend of the pod, Presh Dineshkumar, shows us how he’s using Open Claw to automate his work at The Wellness Company. His Open Claw agent, Eywa, lives in his email and in his product, able to compile user lists at his discretion.

Then, we’re joined by Vishnu, who brings Open Claw to the masses. Non-technical folks, it’s your lucky day! Time to get Clawd-shotted! Last, Sean Liu joins the show to tell us about how he’s connecting Meta glasses to his Open Claw instance to interact with context that users can physically see!

Timestamps:

(0:00) We’re joined by Presh Dineshkumar of the Wellness Company, another OpenClaw fanatic

(1:50) We meet Presh’s Replicant — Eywa — who spies on all of his emails

(2:53) How Eywa is helping Presh keep track of his app’s most active users

(4:35) LLMs have become very smart but they are trapped in the corner

(6:10) How Presh gave Eywa its own email address and avoids prompt injections

(8:56) Using Presh’s Replicant to do daily research dives

(10:40) Hubspot: Check out the guide “Advanced ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: From Basic to Expert in 7 Days.” Download it for free at http://clickhubspot.com/twist2

(13:21) Presh also has Eywa hunting down and fix bugs in his apps, all from email

(16:16) Way more startups can be profitable now that they don’t need 10+ person teams

(19:15) Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit http://deel.com/twist to learn more.

(20:36) We’re joined by two more OpenClaw builders: Vishnu and Xiaoan (Sean) Liu

(21:16) Sean hooked his Meta Ray Bans up to his OpenClaw!

(29:53) Iru unifies identity, endpoint security, and compliance into one platform. Book a demo at http://iru.com/

(31:05) Some dystopian thoughts on how to use VisionClaw technology

(32:47) What kinds of startups will get the most value out of OpenClaw?

(34:43) Why Vishnu made a product to simplify OpenClaw set-up and security

(37:34) What inspires people to stop considering OpenClaw and go “all in” on the tech

(40:17) Will Vishnu and Sean quit their jobs and take Jason’s investment $125K investment deal… YES

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:40) Hubspot: Check out the guide “Advanced ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: From Basic to Expert in 7 Days.” Download it for free at http://clickhubspot.com/twist2

(19:15) Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit http://deel.com/twist to learn more.

(29:53) Iru unifies identity, endpoint security, and compliance into one platform. Book a demo at http://iru.com/

Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/