podcast

The AI Tutor That Makes Kids Actually Think | E2298

08.06.2026
Listen to the episode on your favorite platforms:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Youtube
  • Spotify
  • Castbox
  • Pocket Casts
  • Stitcher
  • iHeart
  • PlayerFM
  • Overcast
  • Castro
  • RadioPublic

The AI Tutor That Makes Kids Actually Think | E2298

This Week In Startups is made possible by:

Northwest Registered Agent https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

LinkedIn Jobs https://LinkedIn.com/twist

Shopify https://shopify.com/twist

Plaud https://Plaud.ai/twist

Today’s show:

*Schools teach kids to memorize formulas. AI helps them skip thinking entirely. Brilliant founder Sue Khim joins TWiST to tell us how her new AI tutor, Koji, uses the Socratic Method to help students solve complex problems on their own. Find out why she says “People aren’t anti-AI. They’re anti-being replaced and anti-slop.”

PLUS Jason’s take on the VC horror stories going around X… and his own anecdote about the tenacity and passion of legendary investor John Doerr.

Guest:

Sue Khim on X: https://x.com/suekhim

Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/

Viral Koji launch video: https://x.com/suekhim/status/2060378988606878147

Relevant Links:

Viral Greg Isenberg post about VCs: https://x.com/gregisenberg/status/2061794787825479818

Travis Kalanick’s story: https://x.com/travisk/status/2062224472426365045

Matthew Prince’s stories: https://x.com/eastdakota/status/2062860530360959273

John Doerr on X: https://x.com/johndoerr

Roelof Botha on X: https://x.com/roelofbotha

Michael Moritz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoritz/

Mohr Davidow Ventures: https://mdv.com/

Jason’s book “Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups”: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Invest-Technology-Startups-Timeless-Investor/dp/0062560700

Timestamps:

Sue Khim's Alltuition origin story

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!

Brilliant: from launch to product market pull

Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity — Learn more at https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

Pricing against tutors, not apps

LinkedIn Jobs - Hire right, the first time. Post your first job and get $100 off towards your job post at https://LinkedIn.com/twist

Koji demo

Keeping Brilliant local while expanding

Shopify - Turn those What Ifs into sales with the e-commerce platform powering millions of businesses. Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/twist

Every founder has a VC horror story

John Doerr went the extra mile to hear JCal's pitch

The LAUNCH investment strategy

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 Lon:

X: https://x.com/lons

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

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

Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/

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