Afleveringen

  • Claude 4, OpenAI acquires io, Google I/O

    Claude 4, OpenAI acquires io, Google I/O

    · Get the Check

    This week on Get the Check Maya, Anika, and Priya are recording with less than ideal lighting and after a 4am night, but nothing keeps them wide awake like the Anthropic’s latest release Claude 4, OpenAI’s biggest acquisition yet, and Google’s I/O developer conference (one IO this week clearly isn’t enough!).The pod starts by discussing Claude 4, which unlike previous models is designed to handle long workflows and have better memory capabilities. The pod discusses if this will be the model that replaces the junior engineer. The hosts also dive into Anthropic's paper about their internal safety testing. They give their take on different scenario's Anthropic outlined including a model blackmailing an engineer with information about his affair and two models discovering Buddhism (kidding, kind of). Maya, Anika, and Priya zoom out and discuss what Anthropic activating its SL3 saftey protocol means.From there, the conversation shifts to OpenAI’s $6.5B acquisition of io, a hardware startup led by Apple design legend Jony Ive. The pod discusses OpenAI’s push into screenless AI companions and makes some predictions on what the final device will look like. Maya also dives into what challenges OpenAI is going to face going into hardware, with such a quick turnaround.Finally the hosts dive into Google's developer confrence. They go over the biggest product annoucements, including the future of AI search, Gemini 2.5, Veo 3’s video generation, and updates to Google's glasses. The pod breaks down Google's priorities and how they are positioning themselves in the AI ecosystem.

    00:00 Intro

    01:14 Claude 4

    22:31 Open AI acquires IO

    39:46 Google IO

  • OpenAI launches Codex, Airbnb's rebrand, Uber Route Share, Trump's Middle East trip

    OpenAI launches Codex, Airbnb's rebrand, Uber Route Share, Trump's Middle East trip

    · Get the Check

    The hosts of Get the Check kick off another episode by talking about a weekend run, which is misleading, since they’ve only run twice. They debrief the Bay to Breakers run where half the crowd is in costume and the other is naked. This week they talk about three major product launches: OpenAI’s Codex, Airbnb’s experiences and services features, and Uber’s route share.The hosts discuss a trio of recent tech launches, starting with OpenAI’s Codex, which is a model fine tuned for software engineering use cases. They compare it to tools like Cursor, Windsurf, and even Devin, and explain why Codex’s “one-shot” approach might work better for fast bug fixes or product tweaks, but not for collaborative workflows. Next, they pivot to Airbnb’s mid-life identity crisis, where Brian Chesky wants the app to evolve from vacation rentals to your next plumber and maybe even boyfriend being from Airbnb. Finally, they discuss Uber’s route share program, which users on X are calling “a bus” lol.Finally the hosts dive into Trump’s trip to the Middle East. Trump brought an ensemble of tech moguls like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang. The hosts break down Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion pledge toward data centers, defense, and AI, the UAE’s $1.4 trillion investment plan. Of course there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or datacenter), so they also talk about what the US is doing in return including giving gulf states access to the newest Nvidia chips. They briefly discuss why they agree with Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria post the end of the Assad regime. Finally, the hosts zoom out and have a conversation about Trump’s overall Middle East strategy.We are almost at 10K on TikTok :) follow us if you haven’t already @getthecheckpod.00:00 Intro02:58 This week’s launches: Codex, Airbnb’s rebrand, Uber route share33:37 Trump’s Middle East trip: AI investments and lifting sanctions on Syria

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  • Windsurf’s $3B acquisition, Is Google Search dead, Partiful monetizes

    Windsurf’s $3B acquisition, Is Google Search dead, Partiful monetizes

    · Get the Check

    This week on Get the Check, the hosts discuss Maya postponing this week’s recording to 6AM the morning before the release day. She did have a pretty good excuse though. The hosts dive into OpenAI’s acquisition of Windsurf for $3B. They also discuss Apple’s SVP Eddy Cue testifying in Google’s current DOJ case about their monopoly in search.

    Windsurf is an AI powered coding platform used by over a million developers. The hosts talk about why OpenAI is willing to make its biggest acquisition yet for a company that tech Twitter is saying it’s just a VS Code wrapper. They dive into how OpenAI will use this aquisition to launch a better AI powered code completion and maybe even internal progress towards AGI.

    ~Description intermission where I break the fourth wall and ask you to give us 5 stars and follow us @getthecheckpod for exclusive short form content that we don’t include in the podcast~

    Next the hosts talk about the DOJ pressuring Google to sell off Google search. Apple’s SVP of Services recently testified saying that Safari’s number of Google queries dropped for the first time in 20+ years, which led to Google’s stock dropping 7%. The hosts discuss what an AI based future of search means for Google search, which relies on ad revenue from companies that expect users to click on their link not just read Gemini's summary and close the tab.

    Finally the hosts discuss Partiful finally launching a monetization strategy beyond merch. Partiful is partnering with Instacart to make group deliveries for parties easy, which sounds great but the hosts break down what the actual margins probably look like and if it’s a long term play. They also give a hot take on the Cut’s viral article about the Partiful founder’s background at Palantir.

    00:00 Intro

    01:54 OpenAI’s $3B acquisition of Windsurf

    23:10 The future of Google Search

    40:37 Partiful’s new monetization strategy

  • Hims & Novo partnership, GPT-4o sycophancy, AI 2027

    Hims & Novo partnership, GPT-4o sycophancy, AI 2027

    · Get the Check

    The hosts kick off by recapping their run club experience because honestly, are you even in your 20s living in a big city if you haven’t gone to a run club yet?

    This week, Maya, Anika, and Priya dive into two main stories: Hims & Hers’ new partnership with Novo Nordisk and their upcoming earnings, plus OpenAI’s GPT update and how it ties into the viral “AI 2027” doomsday paper.

    Hims & Hers, the public telehealth company, is making headlines after teaming up with Novo Nordisk to offer branded weight loss drugs at a steep discount. The hosts break down the company’s business model, including how they were previously selling generic versions thanks to a supply shortage loophole that just closed. They also get into what Hims’ focus on price transparency could mean for the future of healthcare access in the U.S.Then, they get into the chaotic GPT update that made the model start glazing everyone, so much so that Sam Altman had to hop on X and say “will fix.” The hosts explain what caused the change, how user feedback and model memory played a role, and why no one caught it before release. They also connect the incident to the “AI 2027” paper, which outlines how AI could go off the rails if its incentives aren’t aligned with human values.The episode wraps with Maya crashing out over what her life means if she can’t be a software engineer. To make her feel better, follow us @getthecheckpod on socials and give us 5 stars :)00:00 Intro04:38 Hims & Hers’ Novo Nordisk partnership24:08 GPT update and the viral “AI 2027” paper

  • Trump's demands to Columbia and Harvard, Leetcode cheating tool Cluely raises $5.3M

    Trump's demands to Columbia and Harvard, Leetcode cheating tool Cluely raises $5.3M

    · Get the Check

    In this episode of Get the Check, the hosts break down Trump’s letter to Columbia and Harvard threatening to revoke billions in federal funding unless the schools comply with a sweeping list of demands aimed at dismantling DEI initiatives. They explore the very different responses from each university and whether there’s any legal precedent for such federal action. The conversation then zooms out to examine how the tech world’s view of college admissions, especially in the wake of Cal AI’s founder being rejected from most top schools and Palantir launching a new program for high school grads.

    Later, the hosts unpack the story of Roy Lee, a Columbia student suspended after creating Cluely, an AI tool that helps users cheat on coding interviews. After dropping out, he raised $5.3M in seed funding to “cheat on everything”. The episode closes with a broader discussion on how AI is reshaping the value of a college education and how institutions should adapt to a world where students are increasingly using AI.

    If you enjoyed the episode, give us 5 stars and follow us on all socials @getthecheckpod.

    00:00 Intro

    01: 48 Trump's demands to Columbia and Harvard

    40: 03 Leetcode cheating tool Cluely raises $5.3M seed round

  • Inside Merge: CEO Shensi Ding on API integration powering AI

    Inside Merge: CEO Shensi Ding on API integration powering AI

    · Get the Check

    Merge recently launched Merge MCP helping AI apps understand everything about their customers. Today, Anika sits down with Shensi, co-founder and CEO of Merge, to dive into:

    💡 How AI is unlocking more use cases for Merge

    đŸ› ïž Why she still codes as a non-technical founder who never worked as a software engineer

    đŸ“© How she and her co-founder Gil personally reached out to 10,000+ people to find their first engineering hires

    🧠 What the Chief of Staff role actually means in a startup and how it prepared her to be a founder

    💬 A raw and honest take on what it’s like to be a woman founder in tech

    00:00 Introduction

    01:18 Founding Merge

    04:24 Founder philosophies around leadership and hiring

    14:44 Understanding Merge's product and AI's impact

    25:23 Hot seat

  • Tariffs, MCP, and Base Power

    Tariffs, MCP, and Base Power

    · Get the Check

    The pod is back from their travels and are talking tariffs in the best episode yet. They also breakdown Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), which is a new standard that helps LLMs and applications communicate. Finally, the hosts deep dive into Base Power, which is a hot new energy startup everyone is talking about.First up: Trump’s surprise rollout of “reciprocal” tariffs aren’t actually reciprocal. The hosts debrief the details of the tariffs, the partial reversal, and the math behind the tariff equation, which is allegedly from ChatGPT. The pod gets into how tariffs are impacting international trade, U.S. China relations, and the market (rip the 2024 gains). The hosts also zoom out to contextualize today’s tariffs in comparison to Trump’s first term tariffs and America’s history with tariffs.Next, they get into Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP a standard that was announced in November, but is creating buzz now after OpenAI, GitHub, AWS, and more announced their adoption. They discuss how it works, what it means for agents and tool integration, and how it builds a universal language between LLMs, apps, and data sources. The hosts also talk about the implications of Google’s new Agent to Agent protocol and how it could lead to a company team that’s all AI agents.For the first time ever, there’s a company that would “Get the Check”: Base Power. This Texas based battery startup just raised $200 million from a16z to tackle rising power outages and growing electricity distribution costs. Their strategy is to install home batteries, charge them during low-demand hours, and sell energy back to the grid when demand spikes, capturing a huge spread. Consumers benefit too by staying powered during outages and getting electricity at or below market prices the rest of the time.00:00 Intro 01:33 Trump's tariffs and partial reversal 35:37 Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP)43:52 A16z's $200M check into Base Power

  • Inside Notion Mail: Andrew Milich on reimagining your inbox

    Inside Notion Mail: Andrew Milich on reimagining your inbox

    · Get the Check

    Billions of people use email every single day. For the first time in decades, it’s been reimagined. Say hello to Notion Mail.

    Today, Priya sits down with Andrew to talk about:

    đŸ€– How Notion AI is redefining the inbox

    🚀 The story behind Andrew’s company Skiff joining Notion

    📝 Marketing 101: How Notion Mail used their waitlist to generate hype

    💰 Andrew on being a Sequoia Scout

    📧 Does Andrew live in inbox chaos or inbox zero world?

    00:00 Intro

    02:02 Founding Skiff and joining Notion

    06:36 Email as a product

    08:11 How Notion Mail uses Notion AI

    10:58 Building the product

    15:41 Launching the product

    22:46 Andrew’s pilots license

    25:17 Working as a Sequoia Scout

    28:25 Hot Seat

  • Inside Glean: CMO Matt Kixmoeller on enabling every employee to deploy agents and use AI

    Inside Glean: CMO Matt Kixmoeller on enabling every employee to deploy agents and use AI

    · Get the Check

    🚀 Big moves from @Glean!

    Last month, they announced that any employee across any department can now build AI agents

    Today, @Maya sits down with @Matt Kix, CMO of @Glean, to dive into:

    🔍 How he has spotted the next big tech trend 3x in his career

    đŸ€– Why Glean is empowering everyone to use AI, not just developers

    📈 The shift from AI boosting productivity to AI driving revenue and code velocity

    🏱 When AI-powered workplace search will become table stakes for every company

    00:00 Trailer

    00:40 Intro + Early Career

    06:20 Staying adaptable

    07:28 Building useful AI technology

    14:05 Being the horizontal work AI platform

    21:21 Measuring ROI for Glean's customers

    30:07 The price of intelligence going down

    35:09 The nature of roles in a Glean-powered workplaces

  • Google acquires Wiz, Pepsi buys Poppi, Nvidia’s GTC highlights, Deel spy uncovered

    Google acquires Wiz, Pepsi buys Poppi, Nvidia’s GTC highlights, Deel spy uncovered

    · Get the Check

    This week the pod covers Google’s acquisition of Wiz, Pepsi’s acquisition of Poppi (two deals in one pod wow M&A is so back!), and key announcements from Nvidia’s GTC conference.Google just made history with its biggest acquisition ever dropping $32 billion in an all-cash deal to acquire Wiz, which is a cloud security startup. We break down Wiz’s founding story and how this deal fits into Google’s broader cloud strategy. The hosts also debate if the FTC let this acquisition go through.

    Next, they dive into Pepsi’s $1.65 billion buyout of Poppi, the influencer-backed prebiotic soda that took over TikTok. From angel investors like Alex Earle securing massive payouts to Poppi’s legal drama over misleading health claims, they unpack the rapid rise (and possible risks) of trendy consumer brands.

    Finally, the hosts break down the biggest announcements from NVIDIA’s GTC, which Jensen Huang calls the “AI Super Bowl.” From the Blackwell GPUs promising massive efficiency gains, to NVIDIA’s move into personal AI supercomputers that could put serious computing power in the hands of individual researchers and startups, the hosts discuss what these advances mean for the future of AI. They also debrief Nvidia’s new human-like robots.

    In this week’s would not “Get the Check” segment, they talk about the wild legal battle between Rippling and Deel, including corporate espionage, Slack channel traps, and a dramatic office raid (complete with a suspect allegedly flushing his phone down the toilet).If you aren’t already follow us on social media @getthecheck and leave 5 stars on our Spotify, Apple, or like our YouTube video!

    00:00 Google acquires Wiz for $32B

    16:18 Pepsi acquires Poppi

    29:38 Nvidia’s GTC conference highlights

    52:09 Rippling alleges Deel is conducting corporate espionage

  • Inside Carta: CPO Vrushali Paunikar on making equity management sexy

    Inside Carta: CPO Vrushali Paunikar on making equity management sexy

    · Get the Check

    A decade ago when you got equity at your cool new tech startup you would get an envelope in the mail with a ledger. Now you just log in to Carta. Today CPO of Carta Vrushali Paunikar sits down with Anika Mirza and Priya Kamdar to discuss how Carta disrupted the equity management space and where they are headed next, they dive into:

    🎉 The lore behind Carta confetti

    💰 Why West Coast VCs passed on Carta’s Series A

    đŸ‘šâ€đŸ’» How Carta is now building the NetSuite of private capital

    đŸȘœ How Vrushali became CPO when she stopped focusing on promotions and started focusing on product

    ⭐ Why GTM people make the best PMs

    00:00 Intro

    01:00 Product as a career

    06:18 Almost leaving Carta

    09:38 Carta’s founding story

    28:15 Carta confetti

    31:04 Hot seat

  • TSMC pledges $100B, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Trump creates Strategic BTC Reserve, Passes

    TSMC pledges $100B, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Trump creates Strategic BTC Reserve, Passes

    · Get the Check

    In this episode of Get the Check, the hosts cover TSMC’s massive $100 billion investment in US chip facilities, Anthropic’s new Claude 3.7 Sonnet model, and Trump’s bold move to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve.TSMC is doubling down on US manufacturing, adding $100 billion on top of their previous $65 billion investment in Arizona. While Trump’s camp claims this is thanks to his tariff threats, the hosts break down the bigger picture, including how initiatives like the CHIPS Act have been pushing for domestic TSMC manufacturing long before Trump got involved. They also explore what this means for Taiwan’s “silicon shield,” the idea that TSMC’s dominance in chip production helps protect Taiwan from invasion. Curious about the odds of a Chinese invasion? The hosts share their predictions.Next up, they dive into Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet release — a hybrid reasoning model that combines foundational AI capabilities with advanced reasoning. Unlike OpenAI, which has traditionally released separate models for these tasks, Anthropic is combining the two. The hosts explore why they might have taken this approach and what it could mean for the future of AI. They also break down how Claude 3.7 is designed to excel at agentic workflows.Finally, Trump’s latest executive order is all about Bitcoin. The hosts unpack his plan to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve and digital asset stockpile, which includes auditing the 200,000 Bitcoin the US government already holds and allowing the purchase of more Bitcoin, if it’s budget-neutral. The hosts debate what having a crypto king in office might mean for the US dollar.Oh, and Lucy Guo’s startup Passes would not “Get the Check”. They discuss how the Scale AI co-founder’s attempt at building a monetization platform for creators allegedly took a dark turn and is now being sued for exploitation from a former creator.Don’t forget to follow us, @getthecheck wherever you like to doom scroll lol :)

    00:00 TSMC pledges $100B to expand US chip manufacturing

    16:07 Anthropic launches Claude 3.7 Sonnet

    31:09 Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

    49:46 Lucy Guo’s Passes

  • Inside Fay: Co-founder Sammy Faycurry on building the fastest growing health and wellness company

    Inside Fay: Co-founder Sammy Faycurry on building the fastest growing health and wellness company

    · Get the Check

    If you live in America, experts say your leading cause of death is what you eat. There’s one company changing that.

    Today CEO and co-founder Sammy Faycurry sits down with Anika for a tell-all episode on Fay, a marketplace for dietitians, and one of the fastest growing health and wellness companies ever. They just raised a $50M Series B at a $500M valuation

    They dive into:

    đŸ«¶ Fay's origin story as a family business

    đŸ„ Why are dietitians overlooked in healthcare, even though they are one of the most critical providers of care

    đŸ€– How Fay became the Harvey AI of the nutrition space

    💡 The best path forward for health insurance companies to gain Americans' trust and how Fay is acting as a partner

    They might even drop some information on Fay’s secret launch happening in 24 days đŸ€«

    00:00 Series B leaked

    03:38 Intro

    04:19 Founder journey

    09:11 Finding product market fit

    14:53 Waiting to raise VC money

    17:45 Anika joining Fay

    19:42 Health insurance companies

    25:27 Vertical AI

    32:08 Validating the care model

    35:05 Insurance prescribing food

    36:53 Founder philosophies

    52:02 Speed round

    If you haven’t yet, follow us @getthecheckpod on TikTok, Instagram, and X

  • DOGE updates, Majorana 1, HP acquires Humane

    DOGE updates, Majorana 1, HP acquires Humane

    · Get the Check

    In this episode of Get the Check the hosts get political by diving into Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and then get technical by breaking down Microsoft’s new chip the Majorana 1, which is a huge break through for quantum computing.

    Maya, Anika, and Priya discuss the sweeping layoffs DOGE has instated at key agencies like the FAA and Department of Defense. They debate DOGE’s approach to government efficiency including the controversy around the agencies young engineers, and how to balance increasing efficiency without compromising the impact of programs like USAID.

    Next they cover Microsoft’s new chip the Majorana 1. The hosts talk about what quantum computing is good at in comparison to classical computing. They also break down the technical achievement of Microsoft creating a new state of matter and why that is important for quantum computing, as well as the differing approach competitors like Google are taking.

    Finally they announce this week’s company that would NOT get their check
Humane AI. The hosts talk about why this company was sold to HP for less than their venture funding added up to.

    Follow us @getthecheckpod. If you have any episode feedback we always love hearing from you at [email protected] :)

    00:00 DOGE updates

    37:20 Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip

    1:00:02 HP acquires Humane

  • Robinhood partners with Kalshi, Stargate, Apple launches Partiful copycat

    Robinhood partners with Kalshi, Stargate, Apple launches Partiful copycat

    · Get the Check

    In this episode of Get the Check, Anika, Maya, and Priya discuss the Super Bowl, focusing on the brands running ads and Robinhood’s attempt to offer Super Bowl sports contracts through Kalshi. The hosts also dive into Stargate, a $500 million AI infrastructure initiative led by SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX. Finally, they cover Apple Invites, Apple's new version of Partiful.

    The hosts predict that tech companies like Ramp will dominate this year’s Super Bowl ad space. They also debate Perplexity’s strategy of skipping a traditional Super Bowl ad and instead running a giveaway where users can win $1 million by asking five questions in the app. Next, they discuss Robinhood’s attempt to partner with Kalshi on Super Bowl event contracts, which the CFTC shut down after Robinhood had already rolled it out to 1% of their users. Despite this, Kalshi will still allow users nationwide to bet (wait, sorry, we mean trade!) the outcome of the game. The hosts break down Robinhood and Kalshi’s partnership, weighing the pros and cons of Kalshi using Robinhood as a brokerage versus being their own. They also discuss what a potential Trump-led CFTC could mean for event contracts. Plus, they share how Kalshi’s social media intern just earned a $6,900 bonus (hint: it has to do with Elon).

    The conversation then shifts to Stargate, an initiative aiming to position the U.S. as the global AI superpower and create over 100,000 jobs. While the initiative has raised concerns over its environmental impact, particularly CO2 emissions from new data centers, efforts are underway to make the centers more sustainable. The hosts also debate the government’s role in regulating AI safety and ethics, especially in light of Trump reversing Biden’s AI executive orders and implementing his own.

    Finally, the hosts discuss Apple Invites, a new app that rips off Partiful. While they acknowledge that Partiful still has the stronger product, they argue that Apple Invites exposes Partiful's lack of a technical moat and a clear path to profitability.

    Follow us on social media @getthecheckpod, and please rate us on Spotify or Apple—your support helps us reach more listeners!

    00:00 Super Bowl ads

    06:26 Robinhood attempts Super Bowl events contracts

    36:12 The Stargate project

    49:53 Company that wouldn’t get our check: Partiful

  • Inside Gentrace: COO Daniel Liem on building the eval platform for your AI products

    Inside Gentrace: COO Daniel Liem on building the eval platform for your AI products

    · Get the Check

    This episode of Get the Check features Daniel Lim, co-founder and COO of Gentrace. Gentrace is a developer platform for testing generative AI, and it has customers like Quizlet and Asana.

    Daniel shares how Gentrace was born from a company pivot. The podcast dives into why traditional AI evaluation methods like manual spreadsheet reviews aren’t scalable. Daniel breaks down why testing generative AI is fundamentally different from testing code and how Gentrace helps companies balance trade-offs between efficiency, accuracy, and safety. Plus, he gives his hot takes on the next big AI trends.

    Gentrace is hiring! If you’re an engineer looking to join a fast-growing AI company with customers like Webflow and Quizlet, check them out. If you enjoyed the episode, rate us on Spotify and follow us on socials @getthecheckpod!

    00:00 Intro

    01:03 Pivoting from Pesto to Gentrace

    04:20 What is Gentrace?

    07:41 Solutions before Gentrace

    09:41 Customer walk-through

    11:44 Future of the eval platform

    18:42 Competitors

    22:01 Apps vs. infra

    26:05 Being the trash can of a company

    30:40 Investing

  • Anduril’s Arsenal-1, Meta’s content moderation, LA fires, Job referrals-as-a-service

    Anduril’s Arsenal-1, Meta’s content moderation, LA fires, Job referrals-as-a-service

    · Get the Check

    In this episode of Get the Check, Anika, Maya, and Priya discuss Arsenal One, Anduril’s new $1 billion defense tech manufacturing factory in Ohio. They dive into Anduril’s competition with legacy military defense contractors like Boeing and Lockheed. Unlike traditional contractors, Anduril operates more like a tech startup—prioritizing speed, software integration, and cost efficiency. With backing from the U.S. government and a partnership with Palantir, this expansion signals a new era of military tech and raises some new ethical concerns.

    Next, they break down Zuck’s announcement that Meta is ditching fact-checkers in favor of community-based moderation, a shift similar to Elon Musk’s approach on X. This change sparks a debate on online misinformation—what does research say is the most effective approach? The hosts also explore the Facebook Files, including the company’s secret “XCheck” program, which allowed high-profile users to bypass nearly all content moderation.

    Then, they discuss the LA wildfires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, which have caused billions in damages and mass evacuations. The conversation covers the economics of home insurance in California, why the fires have caused political controversy, and how controlled burns, better infrastructure, and smarter urban planning could help prevent future disasters.

    Finally, the hosts introduce a fun new segment where they highlight a business that wouldn’t Get the Check. Follow us on socials @getthecheckpod!

    00:00 Intro

    01:42 Anduril’s Arsenal-1 hyperscale manufacturing facility

    20:16 Meta’s content moderation

    39:23 LA fires

    59:00 JaaS (Job referrals-as-a-service)

  • Inside Pylon: Co-Founder Marty Kausas on modernizing B2B support

    Inside Pylon: Co-Founder Marty Kausas on modernizing B2B support

    · Get the Check

    This episode of Get the Check features Marty Kausas, co-founder and CEO of Pylon, a modern support platform built for B2B companies. Pylon brings everything post-sales teams need from a ticketing system to integrations with Slack, email, and Teams all into one powerful platform.

    Marty shares Pylon’s “sell before you build” philosophy, starting with how they landed their first customer just minutes after coming up with the idea. The conversation also dives into his fundraising journey, from being part of the first YC batch post ChatGPT to securing a Series A from a16z in just 14 days. Marty also walks us through Pylon’s product growth, including the launch of their “Ask AI” tool. He breaks down his unique hiring philosophy and tells the hosts why Pylon’s first engineers skipped technical screenings.

    If you’re ready to join a rocketship targeting a $10B market, Pylon is hiring across roles, including software engineers, product designers, and account executives.

    If you enjoyed this episode, rate us on Spotify and follow us on socials @getthecheckpod!

    00:00 How do you build a big, fast-growing company?

    04:21 Founding Pylon

    08:32 Creating the first product

    13:11 Layering AI into the product

    17:30 B2B sales, strategy, and competitive advantage

    22:21 Challenges in modern customer support

    27:38 Recruiting talent and building a strong team

    35:10 Raising Pylon’s Series A

  • Winning wallets: How Ramp captured corporate spend

    Winning wallets: How Ramp captured corporate spend

    · Get the Check

    This week, the hosts take a deep dive into Ramp, a Series D corporate card and spend management platform recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies of all time.

    They explore Ramp’s unique philosophy as a credit card company that prioritizes saving customers time and money over traditional rewards programs. The discussion includes Ramp’s corporate card, which automates tedious tasks like uploading receipts, and their broader product suite, featuring solutions for procurement, travel, and treasury.

    The hosts also highlight Ramp’s company culture, emphasizing their rapid product development and "shipping with velocity," which has driven the growth of their suite.

    They examine the competitive landscape, including Ramp’s rivalry with Brex—advertised prominently on SF public transportation—and Amex’s role as a legacy player in the space. Finally, they discuss Ramp’s avenues for future growth, leading Anika to share an intriguing #PodPrediction.

    Keep up with the pod @getthecheckpod on all socials! And if you enjoyed this episode please rate the pod :)

    00:00 Intro

    01:42 Founding story

    04:43 Ramp corporate card

    12:37 Ramp plus

    15:32 Bill Pay

    17:24 Procurement software

    19:42 Ramp travel

    22:40 Ramp banking

    27:07 Future of ramp’s business

    31:52 How do Brex and Amex compare

    38:26 Can Robinhood build the D2C version of the ramp card?

  • TikTok ban, Netflix's live streaming bet, OpenAI's o3 model, H1-B debate

    TikTok ban, Netflix's live streaming bet, OpenAI's o3 model, H1-B debate

    · Get the Check

    The hosts are very excited to be back with Season 2. They dive into four exciting tech stories right now: the potential TikTok ban, Netflix going into live streaming, OpenAI’s o3 model, and the H-1B debate.

    Congress has agreed to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns. TikTok is challenging the decision, and the Supreme Court is set to hear their case on January 10th. The hosts dive into the complex debate between national security vs. the First Amendment, and the economic fallout for small businesses and influencers. They examine the risks associated with TikTok, focusing on concerns over data privacy and TikTok’s potential to have political influence in the US. Follow @getthecheckpod on TikTok in case there is no ban after all.

    Netflix is making bold moves into live streaming. From the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight to the record-breaking Christmas Day NFL games, Netflix is proving it can compete in the live event space. The hosts dive into the technical challenges Netflix has faced, including its pivot from on-demand streaming architecture to real-time streaming. They also explore the company’s rebound over the last couple of years as they diversify their offerings to include live streaming and an ad-supported tier. Tune in to hear if the hosts think Netflix’s technical difficulties are a thing of the past or not.

    Next, they dive into OpenAI's groundbreaking o3 model, which is the closest AI has come to AGI. They explore its impressive performance on benchmarks, while examining criticisms around its inefficiency and cost. The hosts also compare o3 to China's open-source DeepSeek v3, which delivers a competitive performance at a fraction of the price. Finally the hosts talk about if developers (aka Maya and Vidushi) are cooked or not.

    The hosts dive into the heated debate surrounding H-1B visas and explore why it has resurfaced in public discourse. They discuss the recent controversy involving the MAGA base, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and Bernie Sanders. Beyond the political drama, they delve into the program's history and examine potential proposals for reforming the H-1B system.

    Keep up with the pod @getthecheckpod on all socials! and if you enjoyed this episode please rate the pod!

    00:00 Intro

    00:18 TikTok ban

    15:21 Netflix dives into live streaming

    29:37 Open AI's o3 model

    43:09 H1-B debate

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