How the OpenClaw foundation bullet-proofed its future (w/Dave Morin) | E2257

How the OpenClaw foundation bullet-proofed its future (w/Dave Morin) | E2257

Author: Jason Calacanis March 3, 2026 Duration: 1:14:43

This Week In Startups is made possible by:Circle — http://circle.so/twistHubspot Creators — http://clickhubspot.com/twist2Uber AI Solutions — http://uber.com/ai-solutionsToday’s show: *Dave Morin joined the show today to explain how the OpenClaw Foundation came into existence, and what its goals are. Fear not, Peter Steinberger retains directional control of the project. But if you want to sustain an open-source project over time, you need a corporate entity, well-heeled sponsors, maintainers and more. Morin is helping make sure that OpenClaw can stay true to itself well into the future.TWIST also put the day’s most critical AI stories to Morin for his insight: What’s his take on the Anthropic-DoW fracas? Does Morin think that OpenAI and Anthropic are catching up to OpenClaw in agentic terms? And will OpenAI cede the consumer crown to Anthropic? Next came two amazing demos: Runtools’ CTO Greg Kara showed off a 3D interface for OpenClaw that his team built, allowing ‘Claw users to watch their agents work in real time, and even read over their shoulder. Then PickelWatch founder George Yameen showed off an agnetic workflow using OpenClaw and Claude’s Chrome plugin side-by-side. The gist? Make sure that the agentic service you select is cost-effective. **GUESTS:**Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin?lang=enGreg Kara: https://x.com/GregKara6George Yameen: https://x.com/GeorgeYameen**Timestamps:** 00:00 Dave Morin Joins the Show


02:31 How Dave Morin got Claw-Pilled


05:01 Jason’s critical OpenClaw moments


08:38 How Dave showcases his OpenClaw skills


10:47 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-solutions


14:40 How long has the OpenClaw Foundation existed?


17:21 How much authority does Peter Steinberger retain?


00:20:21 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


19:20 How ‘air traffic control’ works for a project like OpenClaw


23:15 The economics of open-source maintainers


25:13 Dave’s physical OpenClaw setup


27:45 How Jason uses OpenClaw to curate his reading, fashion, and travel


30:23 Circle - Circle gives you everything you need to build and scale your community-led business. TWIST listeners get $1,000 off the Circle Plus Plan at http://circle.so/twist


32:18 Why the second wave of ideas is where things get the most interesting


34:06 Apple’s slow movement and hesitance to depricate products


39:51 How Jason uses OpenClaw to coach the next generation of executives


44:52 Are Anthropic and OpenAI catching up to OpenClaw?


49:40 Introduction to Runtools.AI


53:49 Runtools.AI demo of 3D OpenClaw environment


57:06 Introduction to PickleWatch


57:27 PickelWatch demo of Claude Chrome vs. OpenClaw


01:03:38 How PickleWatch ups your pickleball swing


32:56 Jason’s advice for founders on stumbling onto new ideas


42:16 Jason on the DoW’s handling of the Anthropic mess


01:11:08 Would Jason fund the tech that Anthropic won’t supply?Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/Check out the TWIST500: https://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/*Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/*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/)


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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

This Week in Startups
Podcast Episodes
What will be OpenAI’s IPO price? Place ya bets! | E2202 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:34
What will be OpenAI’s IPO price? Place ya bets! | EXXX*Polymarket’s sharps are already placing bets on when ChatGPT maker OpenAI will go public… and Jason and Alex want in on this action. They’re placing side wagers on h…
Jason Unpacks Sequoia’s New Funds | E2199 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:45
Today’s show:Australia has accused Microsoft of employing a dark pattern… Hear why Jason says these kinds of sneaky tactics aren’t usually worth it.It’s a brand-new Monday TWiST and it’s PACKED with news. In addition to…
If you’re not working 9-9-6, are you working hard enough? | E2198 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:16
Today’s show:*Working from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week, might seem like TOO INTENSE a commitment for some, but Jason argues that elite performance — and the mega-compensation that goes along with it — sometimes requires…
Magic School uses AI to help kids learn, not cheat | E2196 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:51
Are AI tools in the classroom just time-savers, or can they have genuine educational value?In a must-watch TWiST 500 interview, Alex chats with Magic School founder (and former principal) Adeel Khan about how AI tools ca…
Just how frothy is the AI Bubble anyway? | E2195 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:04
Today’s show: *Is the AI bubble going to POP? And if so, how much of our economy is it going to take down with it?On a new TWiST, Jason, Alex, and Lon debate the size and scale of the AI bubble, whether poppage is immine…