Battery Power for Texans with Zach Dell, plus Tim Apple is LEAVING?, Polymarket to the US, and a Tesla fan update | E2190

Battery Power for Texans with Zach Dell, plus Tim Apple is LEAVING?, Polymarket to the US, and a Tesla fan update | E2190

Author: Jason Calacanis October 9, 2025 Duration: 1:11:14

Today’s show:

*Zach Dell of Base Power joins us at the top of today’s show to talk about building batteries in Austin, that $1 billion investment, and why an “all of the above” energy strategy is the only way forward.

PLUS Jason and Alex’s thoughts on that Tesla non-upside down car announcement, growing resentments toward AI datacenters, Chinese robots actually going on sale, Tim Cook’s potential Apple exit, xAI’s Nvidia agreement and MUCH MORE.

Timestamps:

(00:02:10) A MAJOR GUEST! Zach Dell of Base Power joins us from the top of the show.

(00:03:31) The basics of Base Power’s business model: the best electron is the cheapest electron

(00:08:38) Zach teases Base’s new, time-saving approach to battery installation

(00:10:32) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(00:18:12) How Base’s grid can help drive down overall energy prices

(00:21:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(00:30:12) Sentry - New users get 3 months free of the Business plan (covers 150k errors). Go to http://sentry.io/twist and use code TWIST

(00:36:20) Tesla did not announce an upside fan car… Oh well…

(00:44:27) Buy your Chinese robot TODAY on Walmart dot com? Or not!

(00:48:12) Is Tim Apple EXITING Apple? Who’s next?

(00:59:22) ANOTHER mega-deal? Now xAI is circling a Nvidia investment…


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Every week, Jason Calacanis dives headfirst into the swirling vortex of Silicon Valley and global tech with This Week in Startups. It’s a direct line to the conversations shaping our digital future, moving far beyond surface-level news. You’ll hear Jason’s unfiltered analysis on everything from market shifts and media trends to the underlying mechanics of building a business, all delivered with a blend of enthusiasm and seasoned skepticism. The core of this podcast, however, lies in the guests. Jason sits down with the very people driving change-founders who have scaled impossible heights, operators managing daily chaos, and investors who spot trends before they become obvious. These conversations are less like formal interviews and more like insider debriefs, pulling back the curtain on real strategies, painful failures, and unexpected successes. For anyone curious about how technology is built, funded, and ultimately changes the world, this series offers a front-row seat. It’s the context behind the headlines, providing a deeper understanding of the forces at play in startups and technology. Tune in for a consistently engaging and insightful look at the ecosystem, straight from someone who lives and breathes it.
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