This Week in Startups: Billy McFarland on Fyre Fest fraud, failure, hacking, & the long road back | E1730
Jason Calacanis 4/27/23 - Episode Page
Billy McFarland joins Jason to discuss the lessons he has learned from his Fyre Fest fraud, before discussing the festival’s origin story and what led him to winding up in jail (1:36). This leads to an all-encompassing conversation about Billy’s early days as an entrepreneur, his experience in prison, and if he is a changed man (13:46).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:36) Reflecting on Fyre Festival
(6:57) The origin of Billy’s charisma & communication
(11:31) Billy’s first experience with computers
(12:29) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at
(13:46) Spling
(14:40) Billy’s experience in solitary confinement
(17:52) The origins of Fyre Festival
(25:34) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at
(27:06) Billy’s behavioral changes
(29:02) Fyre Festival ticket sales
(30:41) Fyre’s board of directors
(36:22) DIY Syndrom
(39:28) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at
(40:57) Billy’s early release from prison
(43:37) Billy’s prison experience
(46:22) The final moments before Fyre Festival
(50:44) Can we trust Billy Macfarland 2.0?
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