Get the Check

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

  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)

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

  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

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• Winning wallets: How Ramp captured corporate spend

  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? 

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

  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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• 2024 tech highlights: Cyberwarfare, Google’s potential breakup, Databricks acquires Tabular, and OpenAI’s evolution

  In the last episode of Season 1, the hosts reflect on four major tech stories that shaped the year: state-sponsored hacking, the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google, Databricks’ acquisition of Tabular, and OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model. “Most Likely to Keep You Up at Night” goes to Midnight Blizzard, a Russian hacking group using password spray techniques and evading detection. The hosts explore whether a safer digital landscape is possible in the face of increasingly strategic cyberattacks. “Most Likely to Cause a Breakup” goes to the DOJ, with its landmark antitrust case against Google. Is Google’s dominance driving innovation—or stifling it? The hosts break down the DOJ’s argument, Google’s rebuttal, and what this case means for Big Tech. “Most Likely to Have Buyer’s Remorse” goes to Databricks, following its $2 billion acquisition of Tabular, a company with just $1 million in ARR. The hosts dive into the tech behind Apache Iceberg, the data table format, at the heart of Databricks’ battle with Snowflake. “Most Likely to Sell Out” goes to OpenAI, which shifted from a nonprofit mission to a for-profit model, losing key founders and researchers along the way. The team debates the implications of this move for the future of AI and AI’s role in shaping global dynamics. See you in Season 2 premiering the first week of January. You can follow us @getthecheckpod on all socials! 00:19 State-sponsored cyberwarfare 10:42 DOJ v Google 22:22 Databricks acquires Tabular 31:09 OpenAI non-profit to PBC 44:22 Closing

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