5,000+ Tech Workers Laid Off This Week. It's Just The Beginning. | E2286
May 9, 2026 · 1 h 12 min
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Show notes
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
IM8 Health - https://IM8health.com/TWIST
Every - Every.io
Sentry - https://Sentry.io/TWIST
Banks don't want to hand over their data to AI labs. So David Moscatelli built a $250,000 box that runs AI on-prem. He already has 1,600 pre-orders. On today's episode of TWiST, Jason and Alex sit down with the Go Abacus founder and Yanez's Jose Caldera to unpack how regulated industries are getting AI without the cloud, why Bittensor subnet 54 is incentivizing miners to attack identity systems, and why Cloudflare just laid off 20% of its workforce in the same week it raised guidance. The show closes with Jason explaining what it means to build an AI-first startup, and how workers can derisk their future employment!
Guest Links:
Bittensor Subnet 54 on TAOstats
LAUNCH Links:
Founder University Japan application portal
News Links:
Cloudflare lays off 20% of its staff
Coinbase cuts 14% of its staff
Block post on how it is rebuilding its company
Block's earnings, including its raised guidance
Anthropic's massive upcoming funding round
WHOOP's new on-demand clinicians
Timestamps:
Introduction: Jason in Brooklyn, Knicks playoffs
Go Abacus joins: AI infrastructure for regulated industries
Plaud: If your work depends on conversations — interviews, meetings, calls — you need a Plaud NotePin. You can check it out at https://Plaud.ai/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off!
The Go1: 2,000-user on-prem AI appliance
Pricing the Go1: How far does $250,000 go?
1,600 orders and the hardware delivery challenge
Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to https://sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit https://every.io
Chicago tech scene and in-office culture
IM8 Health: Start feeling like your best self every day. Go to https://IM8health.com/twist and use the code TWiST to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
Yanez joins: How to prove personhood and uniqueness
How biometric capture and bio-keys work
Agent delegation: proving humans authorized AI agents
Bittensor Subnet 54 and incentivizing adversarial miners
Founder University Japan Cohort 2 applications open
Tech layoffs: Cloudflare cuts 20%, Coinbase cuts 14%, Block raises guidance
Anthropic's $50B round at $900B pre-money