Databricks' GPT Rival and Who's Investing in Underdog Founders

Hello, and welcome to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Friday episode, in which we dig through the most critical stories and themes from the week.

Table of Contents

The Week in Review

As the week comes to a close, we’re also shutting the book on the trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, the erstwhile crypto baron who is heading to prison for 25 years. But while the SBF news was a big deal, there was so very much more to cover on today’s news roundup episode of Equity.

The Panel

With Kirsten Korosec, Mary Ann Azevedo, and Alex Wilhelm aboard this week, the crew dug into:

Robinhood’s New Credit Card

The implications of major tech companies entering the credit card market
How Robinhood’s new credit card fits into its broader strategy
What this means for the future of consumer finance

Fisker’s Latest Woes

The latest developments in the electric vehicle space, including Fisker’s struggles
The impact of supply chain disruptions on electric vehicle manufacturers
What this means for the future of the electric vehicle industry

Databricks’ New AI Model

The announcement that Databricks has spent $10 million to spin up a new AI model
What this means for the future of artificial intelligence and machine learning
How this development compares to other AI models on the market

Two Startups Focused on Kids

A startup working to help tots learn how to produce music
Another startup that’s working to reduce waste and help parents care for their kids on a budget
What these startups can tell us about the trend of investing in education and sustainability

Who Are Unicorn Founders, Really?

The characteristics that define unicorn founders
How these founders are different from other entrepreneurs
What this means for the future of startup investing

A New $100 Million Fund to Back Climate Tech

The announcement of a new fund dedicated to backing climate tech startups
What this means for the future of climate tech and sustainability
How this development compares to other recent investments in climate tech

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For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on. Or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast.

Guest Bio

Alex Wilhelm – Senior Reporter

Alex Wilhelm was a senior reporter for TechCrunch covering the markets, venture capital, and startups. He was also the founding host of TechCrunch’s Webby Award-winning podcast Equity.

Mary Ann Azevedo – Sr. Reporter

Mary Ann Azevedo has more than 20 years of business reporting and editing experience for publications such as FinLedger, Crunchbase News, Crain, Forbes, and Silicon Valley Business Journal. Prior to joining TechCrunch in 2021, she earned numerous awards including the New York Times Chairman’s Award and others for breaking news coverage. She holds a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas in Austin, where she currently lives.

Kirsten Korosec – Transportation Editor

Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, ‘The Autonocast.’