How Pie's 'Block Ads, Get Paid' Model Is Giving Users Control of Ads & Privacy | E2012

This Week in Startups

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to https://www.linkedin.com/twist to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.a

Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with AI tools, referral programs, and ad network features—all in one platform. Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

*

Todays show:

Pie.org’s Ryan Hudson joins Jason to discuss consumer behavior (5:57), Honey’s business strategy (10:47), Pie’s consumer ad control (14:20), legal considerations of ad blocking (27:21), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Pie.org’s Ryan Hudson joins Jason

(2:30) History and initial reactions to Honey

(5:57) Consumer behavior, trust, and conversion rates

(9:17) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(10:43) Merchant reactions and Honey's business strategy

(14:20) Future of Pie and consumer ad control

(17:50) Demo of Pie browser extension

(20:35) Economic implications of ad blocking

(27:23) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(28:34) Legal considerations of ad blocking

(30:20) Apple's privacy stance and ad reintroduction strategies

(36:22) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

(37:50) Funding decisions and advice for young founders

(43:40) Company values and political engagement

(49:08) Remote work and the value of in-person interactions

*

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Follow Ryan:

X: https://x.com/ketau

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhudson⁠

Check out: https://www.pie.org

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:17) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(27:23) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(36:22) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916