Rest of World -...
Gig drivers in South Africa clash over Bolt’s low-priced Indian cars
Bolt introduced the cars to bring down fares. Now, other drivers see them as a threat.
a year ago
Bolt introduced the cars to bring down fares. Now, other drivers see them as a threat.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Hardest Lessons for Startups to Learn
over a year ago
Roberto Vitillo's...
What every developer should know about database consistency
Imagine assigning some value to a variable, reading it back immediately after, and finding out that...
over a year ago
Imagine assigning some value to a variable, reading it back immediately after, and finding out that somehow the write had no effect at all…
Stephen Diehl
Fintech and Practical Utopianism
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Let's evaluate Kamala Harris' entire economic policy program!
Fun!!
2 months ago
Stephen Diehl
The Intellectual Incoherence of Cryptoassets
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
How we measured air quality for gig workers in South Asia
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could...
9 months ago
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could gather data on what they breathe.
Noahpinion
A vote for Trump is a vote for chaos
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
11 months ago
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
Paul Graham: Essays
Do Things that Don't Scale
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The problem with online “local” businesses
One of the most popular areas for startups today is “local.” I probably see a couple of business...
over a year ago
One of the most popular areas for startups today is “local.” I probably see a couple of business plans a week that involve local search…
Devmoh
Protobufs Explained, and why Google, Apple, and LinkedIn use it over JSON
Faster than JSON, clearer than XML, cross-language, type-safe, and backwards compatible.
a year ago
Faster than JSON, clearer than XML, cross-language, type-safe, and backwards compatible.
Noahpinion
Decade of the Battery
A repost with some updates.
6 months ago
A repost with some updates.
Paul Graham: Essays
Is There Such a Thing as Good Taste?
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Don’t be creative about the wrong things
When founding a tech startup, there are certain areas where you should spend time trying to be...
over a year ago
When founding a tech startup, there are certain areas where you should spend time trying to be creative/innovative. Generally these should…
Noahpinion
Uh, guys, we really should think about spending more on defense
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
a year ago
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
Rest of World -...
The workers at the frontlines of the AI revolution
The global labor force of outsourced and contract workers are early adopters of generative AI — and...
a year ago
The global labor force of outsourced and contract workers are early adopters of generative AI — and the most at risk.
Internal Tech Emails
Bill Gates tries to install Movie Maker
I am quite disappointed at how Windows Usability has been going backwards and the program management...
a year ago
I am quite disappointed at how Windows Usability has been going backwards and the program management groups don't drive usability issues.
Nothing Human
Metrics, Cowardice, and Mistrust
why we need better ideologies than "data driven decision making"
a year ago
why we need better ideologies than "data driven decision making"
Rest of World -...
WhatsApp gives India an ultimatum on encryption
Tracing the origins of messages is more complicated than it sounds.
7 months ago
Tracing the origins of messages is more complicated than it sounds.
Paul Graham: Essays
What You'll Wish You'd Known
over a year ago
Nadia Asparouhova
How to do the jhanas
The jhanas are a series of eight (or nine) altered mental states, which progress from euphoria, to...
6 months ago
The jhanas are a series of eight (or nine) altered mental states, which progress from euphoria, to calm, to dissolution of reality – culminating in cessation, or loss of consciousness. They are induced via sustained concentration, without any external stimuli or substances. This...
Working Theorys
Thoughts For Sale
Mass-market intellectualism is an oxymoron, right? Ask Substack.
a month ago
Mass-market intellectualism is an oxymoron, right? Ask Substack.
tomcritchlow.com
Building an Interactive Blog Map
I love a good diagram. So a while back I made a “blog map” for my website homepage that looked a bit...
a year ago
I love a good diagram. So a while back I made a “blog map” for my website homepage that looked a bit like this:
Essays - Benedict...
The AI summer
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big...
5 months ago
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big company has done a pilot, but far fewer are in
deployment. Some of this is just a matter of time. But LLMs might also be a
trap: they look like products and they look magic, but...
Tech + Economics +...
I can't believe this needs to be said.
I can't believe this needs to be said, but no - the reason Disney's movies
have bombed lately is...
11 months ago
I can't believe this needs to be said, but no - the reason Disney's movies
have bombed lately is not because they aren't advertising on Birdchan.
There are a plethora of reasons behind their recent box office failures.
But they have nothing to do with diminishing...
Steve Blank
Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition – 2022 Wrap Up
We just wrapped up the second year of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class...
a year ago
We just wrapped up the second year of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class – now part of our Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. Joe Felter, Raj Shah and I designed the class to 1) give our students an appreciation of the...
Rest of World -...
Stifled at home, Tunisian tech finds success in the West
Acquisitions of InstaDeep and Expensya, which focused on international customers, are inspiring...
a year ago
Acquisitions of InstaDeep and Expensya, which focused on international customers, are inspiring Tunisian entrepreneurs to look outside the country.
Articles - Alex...
Adland is an island
We spend eight hours a day thinking about the brands we build. Many of us
more. We consider our...
over a year ago
We spend eight hours a day thinking about the brands we build. Many of us
more. We consider our clients’ companies and the categories in which they
compete. We visit the sites in which our products are produced and the
stores in which they are sold. We analyse their adverts...
Noahpinion
Japan isn't quite "back", but it has a fighting chance
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
10 months ago
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Stored Hashcash
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights...
over a year ago
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights like spam and denial-of-service attacks are…
Rest of World -...
The SoftBank-backed fintech that helped Nigerians through a cash crisis is eyeing “innovative...
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the...
a year ago
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the company’s future plans.
Steve Blank
Cram Down – A Test of Character for VCs and Founders
This article previously appeared in TechCrunch. Cram downs are back – and I’m keeping a list. At the...
over a year ago
This article previously appeared in TechCrunch. Cram downs are back – and I’m keeping a list. At the turn of the century after the dotcom crash, startup valuations plummeted, burn rates were unsustainable, and startups were quickly running out of cash. Most existing investors...
Noahpinion
Economic development is doing OK
Poor countries aren't catching up as fast as we'd like, but they're catching up faster than before.
a year ago
Poor countries aren't catching up as fast as we'd like, but they're catching up faster than before.
Rest of World -...
Philippine chipmakers are embracing automation — and leaving low-skilled workers behind
Hundreds of workers at the Philippine unit of Nexperia threatened to go on strike over layoff fears,...
2 months ago
Hundreds of workers at the Philippine unit of Nexperia threatened to go on strike over layoff fears, a sign of growing discontent over automation in the industry.
Rest of World -...
Drop-shipping is a lifeline for unemployed graduates in South Africa
Chinese e-commerce websites have proven popular in the country and are fueling a new line of work.
10 months ago
Chinese e-commerce websites have proven popular in the country and are fueling a new line of work.
42!
How we "judo'd" a server outage to create a customer evangelist
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
I was listening to Arvid Kahl’s latest podcast episode on my...
over a year ago
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
I was listening to Arvid Kahl’s latest podcast episode on my morning walk today, where he talked about Facebook’s recent 6 hour outage, and how you can ‘judo’ negative things like server downtime into a positive outcome.
As a former student of the...
Paul Graham: Essays
Frighteningly Ambitious Startup Ideas
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Pressured to relocate, Microsoft’s AI researchers in China must choose between homeland and career
As geopolitical tensions grow, many employees have decided that a career with the Silicon Valley...
5 months ago
As geopolitical tensions grow, many employees have decided that a career with the Silicon Valley tech giant isn’t worth giving up the comforts of home.
Rest of World -...
South Africans are using a power outage notification app to sell weed, find odd jobs
With blackouts devastating the country’s economy, EskomSePush’s AskMyStreet feature has become a...
a year ago
With blackouts devastating the country’s economy, EskomSePush’s AskMyStreet feature has become a rare bright spot for gig workers.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting...
a year ago
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting themes: What does the guy actually do? Is he actually important for the company? Surely other people, the technicians, are responsible for the breakthroughs, right?
Paul Graham: Essays
Better Bayesian Filtering
over a year ago
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#11)
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's...
a year ago
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's foreign policy, low-carbon steel, and Javier Milei
Aaron's Essays
Avoiding Errors in Demo Day Fundraising
I’ll be addressing the topic below along with Alfred Lin from Sequoia and Ilya Sukhar from Matrix on...
a year ago
I’ll be addressing the topic below along with Alfred Lin from Sequoia and Ilya Sukhar from Matrix on 3/24: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qgghYDq4QxCiW9REOOrbmw
It would be challenging to name all the fundraising mistakes that founders make during the many demo days...
SatPost by Trung...
Introducing "Caffeinated Deep Dives"
My new podcast.
a month ago
Internal Tech Emails
Samsung vs. iPhone | Elon Musk's schedule
Steve Job's passing has led to a huge wave of press coverage of Apple's and iPhone's "superiority",...
over a year ago
Steve Job's passing has led to a huge wave of press coverage of Apple's and iPhone's "superiority", all created by the, "passionate, tireless, perfectionist..." The point here is that there is an unintended benefit for Apple, since the external messages by 3rd parties are all...
Data Boutique
AI Depends Massively on Web Scraping
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
a year ago
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
SatPost by Trung...
Write For Yourself
Not your audience.
6 months ago
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Monopoly Money
Last week, in the midst of the slow, painful collapse of the generative AI hype cycle, something...
4 months ago
Last week, in the midst of the slow, painful collapse of the generative AI hype cycle, something incredible happened.
On Monday, a Federal Judge delivered a crushing ruling in the multi-year-long antitrust case filed against Google by the Department of Justice. In 300-pages of...
essay – snarfed.org
Sleep is so weird
Ian Dyball Our bodies are designed such that we need to lose consciousness, entirely, for a full...
10 months ago
Ian Dyball Our bodies are designed such that we need to lose consciousness, entirely, for a full third of every day. This is evidently necessary for some kind of regular brain maintenance, maybe forming long term memories, who knows what else. If we don’t sleep, we quickly become...
Roberto Vitillo's...
Resiliency patterns of distributed systems
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems : Resiliency Patterns. The...
over a year ago
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems : Resiliency Patterns. The chapter is all about failures and their…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Coinbase
One of the interesting things about Bitcoin is the contrast between how it is portrayed in the press...
over a year ago
One of the interesting things about Bitcoin is the contrast between how it is portrayed in the press and how it is understood by…
Noahpinion
Western leftists have lost the plot
Gleeful support for the massacre of innocents is simply inhumane.
a year ago
Gleeful support for the massacre of innocents is simply inhumane.
Aaron's Essays
Fooled by experts
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into...
over a year ago
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into thinking that experts are always right. This is because they are...experts. They are authoritative and knowledgeable. This is especially true when it comes to trying new things in...
AVC
How This Ends (Part Three)
The venture capital sector has been in a sustained downturn for almost eighteen months. How does...
a year ago
The venture capital sector has been in a sustained downturn for almost eighteen months. How does this downturn end? Well, it may have already ended, but let’s see about that. We will know for sure in a few quarters. The NASDAQ peaked at roughly 16,000 in November 2021. By June...
Tech + Economics +...
Internet access is a human right.
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has...
12 months ago
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has become a necessity and a function of modern society.
The digital divide, the gap between those with and without internet access,
has profound implications for an individual's...
Noahpinion
Why you should not ignore economists
They aren't always right, but they almost always have something important to add.
3 months ago
They aren't always right, but they almost always have something important to add.
Paul Graham: Essays
The New Funding Landscape
over a year ago
Internal Tech Emails
Jeff Bezos on acquiring Ring
To be clear, my view here is that we're buying market position – not technology.
over a year ago
To be clear, my view here is that we're buying market position – not technology.
Tom Blomfield
Taking Risk
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities;...
7 months ago
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities; Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College. Along with UCL, these British universities represent 4 of the top 10 universities in the world. The US - a country with 5x more people and...
Blog posts of...
How i make investment decisions 🏝
The goal of this article is to break down how i make investment decisions in the hope that it helps...
over a year ago
The goal of this article is to break down how i make investment decisions in the hope that it helps founders to see their fundraising effort from the “other side”.
Noahpinion
Why aren't we taking every Chinese refugee we can?
Let's be the City on a Hill again.
a year ago
Let's be the City on a Hill again.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Increasing velocity
Two common discussions in the startup world right now are 1) the increasing speed at which new...
over a year ago
Two common discussions in the startup world right now are 1) the increasing speed at which new apps/websites can gain mass adoption…
Aaron's Essays
Goodbye YC
I sent this email to the whole team at YC yesterday:
When I joined YC 7.5 years ago, there weren’t...
over a year ago
I sent this email to the whole team at YC yesterday:
When I joined YC 7.5 years ago, there weren’t many people around. PG and Jessica were still running things. We had offices in Mountain View, Palo Alto, and on Kearny street, but they were nearly always empty. The only meeting...
SatPost by Trung...
Coca-Cola: "A cure for all nervous affections"
How cocaine, the "patent medicine" industry and mass advertising created the world's most iconic...
a year ago
How cocaine, the "patent medicine" industry and mass advertising created the world's most iconic beverage.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The computing deployment phase
Technological revolutions happen in two main phases: the installation phase and the deployment...
over a year ago
Technological revolutions happen in two main phases: the installation phase and the deployment phase. Here’s a chart (from this excellent…
Platformer
Meta seeks to hide harms from teens
But to change the conversation, the company will have to do more than tweak its settings
11 months ago
But to change the conversation, the company will have to do more than tweak its settings
Rest of World -...
Doctor-influencers are going viral in China, provoking authorities
Fueled by the pandemic, medical professionals have cashed in on Douyin, dispensing advice and...
a year ago
Fueled by the pandemic, medical professionals have cashed in on Douyin, dispensing advice and endorsements.
Tech + Economics +...
AI hardware is kind of cool.
PC Mag: The r1 AI Pocket Companion Will Take You Down the Rabbit Hole
LAM works "by first...
11 months ago
PC Mag: The r1 AI Pocket Companion Will Take You Down the Rabbit Hole
LAM works "by first understanding complex human intentions, then
spinning up on human-oriented interfaces across all mobile and desktop
environments on a customized cloud platform, and finally...
Platformer
How Google taught AI to doubt itself
Can you stop chatbots from making stuff up using search?
a year ago
Can you stop chatbots from making stuff up using search?
Rest of World -...
Uber drivers are melting amid Nigeria’s historic heat wave and record fuel prices
As temperatures soar and fuel prices triple, drivers are having to choose between their health and...
9 months ago
As temperatures soar and fuel prices triple, drivers are having to choose between their health and livelihood.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The real strategy behind tiered data plans
Over the past year, Comcast and other broadband providers have been forcing tiered data plans on...
over a year ago
Over the past year, Comcast and other broadband providers have been forcing tiered data plans on customers. The New York Times recently…
Data Boutique
Economics of Web Data: ROI
Customer's Value Standpoint
a year ago
Customer's Value Standpoint
Rest of World -...
The CEO trying to democratize cybersecurity
Felix Kan on building a bug-hunting platform to enhance cybersecurity for small companies.
10 months ago
Felix Kan on building a bug-hunting platform to enhance cybersecurity for small companies.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on SEO
“SEO” (==”Search Engine Optimization”) is a term widely used to mean “getting users to your site via...
over a year ago
“SEO” (==”Search Engine Optimization”) is a term widely used to mean “getting users to your site via organic search traffic.” I don’t like…
42!
The wrong birthday assumption
Many years ago, back in the late 80’s, one of my first big development contracts was to create a...
over a year ago
Many years ago, back in the late 80’s, one of my first big development contracts was to create a database for NAALAS - the North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (no longer around).
Basically, this organisation provided legal assistance for Aboriginal people to help them...
Rest of World -...
Last-mile delivery is so normalized that we can’t see the endgame approaching
Latin American delivery businesses are now entering a new phase of consolidation into their own...
a year ago
Latin American delivery businesses are now entering a new phase of consolidation into their own local fiefdoms.
Noahpinion
The end of the "vibecession"?
Maybe people are being irrationally pessimistic. Or maybe it's just all about real wages.
a year ago
Maybe people are being irrationally pessimistic. Or maybe it's just all about real wages.
David Perell
The Jerry Seinfeld Guide to Writing
Writing and editing should be separate activities. When I’m in this creation mode, I shoot for a...
over a year ago
Writing and editing should be separate activities. When I’m in this creation mode, I shoot for a flow state. I keep my fingertips on the keyboard and measure progress by how many words I put on the page. My physical environment helps me be generative too. If I’m sitting down at...
Blog posts of...
🙏
Over the years i met several people that left quite an impact on me and in many cases helped me...
over a year ago
Over the years i met several people that left quite an impact on me and in many cases helped me along the way. I tried to summariz...
Noahpinion
Interview: Sarah C. Paine
A scholar of the 20th century explains the conflicts of the 21st.
10 months ago
A scholar of the 20th century explains the conflicts of the 21st.
Rest of World -...
Traditional sellers in Vietnam still aren’t sold on e-commerce
As online shopping booms, local merchants are struggling to adapt, despite government help.
a month ago
As online shopping booms, local merchants are struggling to adapt, despite government help.
Noahpinion
Why China's economy ran off the rails
A short, simplistic, but fairly reasonable story.
a year ago
A short, simplistic, but fairly reasonable story.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on incumbents
Reposted from Oct 7, 2010 from cdixon.posterous.com By “incumbents” I mean the big companies that...
over a year ago
Reposted from Oct 7, 2010 from cdixon.posterous.com By “incumbents” I mean the big companies that are loosely competitive to your startup…
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The Subprime AI Crisis
None of what I write in this newsletter is about sowing doubt or "hating," but a sober evaluation of...
3 months ago
None of what I write in this newsletter is about sowing doubt or "hating," but a sober evaluation of where we are today and where we may end up on the current path. I believe that the artificial intelligence boom — which would be better described as a
Rest of World -...
Employees allege sexual harassment and intimidation at CCI, Africa’s largest call center company
CCI Kenya has over 1,400 employees and its clients include T-Mobile and Instacart.
a year ago
CCI Kenya has over 1,400 employees and its clients include T-Mobile and Instacart.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Selling to enterprises
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as...
over a year ago
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as “enterprises.” I’m guessing the word was…
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Bubble Trouble
As I previously warned, artificial intelligence companies are running out of data. A Wall Street...
8 months ago
As I previously warned, artificial intelligence companies are running out of data. A Wall Street Journal piece from this week has sounded the alarm that some believe AI models will run out of "high-quality text-based data" within the next two years in what an AI researcher called...
Rest of World -...
Why Silicon Valley’s biggest AI developers are hiring poets
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities...
a year ago
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities experts to improve AI creative writing.
Rest of World -...
Nigerian tech workers are going remote, and pricing out locals in smaller cities
Tech workers are leaving Lagos and Abuja — the country’s economic and political hubs, and flocking...
a year ago
Tech workers are leaving Lagos and Abuja — the country’s economic and political hubs, and flocking to cities like Ibadan, Jos, Benin City, Uyo, and Osogbo.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#45)
Intel; Canada's economy; infrastructure and state capacity; East Asian development; race in America;...
4 months ago
Intel; Canada's economy; infrastructure and state capacity; East Asian development; race in America; corrupt nonprofits
Stephen Diehl
Exotic Programming Ideas: Part 3 (Effect Systems)
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The slow decline of Meta’s Trusted Partner program
Who trusts the trusted partners?
a year ago
Who trusts the trusted partners?
Noahpinion
Thinking about "temporary hardship"
America needs austerity. But is Musk's plan the right kind of austerity?
a month ago
America needs austerity. But is Musk's plan the right kind of austerity?
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Matt Stoller Explains Monopolies
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s...
3 months ago
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s leading voice on monopoly and antitrust matters, and a thoughtful and prolific writer. You can find Matt on Twitter here, and his newsletter here.
It was a timely conversation. At the
Noahpinion
Once again: Imports do not subtract from GDP
I've explained it before, and I'll keep explaining it until the world understands.
2 months ago
I've explained it before, and I'll keep explaining it until the world understands.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The NYC tech scene is exploding
The pace of innovation in the New York area is very impressive right now. Some of the top...
over a year ago
The pace of innovation in the New York area is very impressive right now. Some of the top entrepenuers in the country are building and…
Stephen Diehl
The Haskell Elephant in the Room
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“It is the human friction that makes the sparks”
From Jonah Lehrer, Brainstorming Doesn’t Really Work (via Stowe Boyd): Building 20 [a scene of...
over a year ago
From Jonah Lehrer, Brainstorming Doesn’t Really Work (via Stowe Boyd): Building 20 [a scene of incredible innovation at MIT] and…
Roberto Vitillo's...
How distributed systems fail
At scale, any failure that can happen will eventually happen. Hardware failures, software crashes,...
over a year ago
At scale, any failure that can happen will eventually happen. Hardware failures, software crashes, memory leaks - you name it. The more…
The Thinking Cap
Attention Traps
Can we find needles of signal in the Web's infinite haystack of noise?
a year ago
Can we find needles of signal in the Web's infinite haystack of noise?
Rest of World -...
A U.S. outsourcing company brought lofty promises to Nepal. Then came the layoffs
Former employees say the company killed the dream it once sold them.
a year ago
Former employees say the company killed the dream it once sold them.
Rest of World -...
The man leading Kenyan content moderators’ battle against Meta
Nathan Nkunzimana claims Meta and Sama fired content moderators for protesting working conditions...
a year ago
Nathan Nkunzimana claims Meta and Sama fired content moderators for protesting working conditions and demanding the right to unionize.
Stephen Diehl
The Philosophical Argument Against Crypto
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Ride-hailing in Pakistan: A driver’s endless struggle for a clean car
This inDrive worker says he is tired of passengers treating his car like a donkey cart.
a year ago
This inDrive worker says he is tired of passengers treating his car like a donkey cart.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
VC’s care about the upside case, not the mean
The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when pitching VCs is to argue that their startup is likely to...
over a year ago
The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when pitching VCs is to argue that their startup is likely to succeed. Instead, they should argue…
Noahpinion
Interview: Jean Twenge, psychologist
In which we talk all about generational differences, Millennial angst, and the effects of social...
a year ago
In which we talk all about generational differences, Millennial angst, and the effects of social media and cell phones
Unpacked
Zoom's AI policy backlash & customer data in model training
Listen now (27 mins) | Zoom came under fire recently for silently changing their terms of service in...
a year ago
Listen now (27 mins) | Zoom came under fire recently for silently changing their terms of service in a way that allows use of customer data (read your video and audio recordings) for training Zoom features. In this episode, we unpack the timeline of events that followed, Zoom's...
tomcritchlow.com
Narrative Aircover & Compound Narrative
“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able...
11 months ago
“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Selling pickaxes during a gold rush
There is a saying in the startup world that “you can mine for gold or you can sell pickaxes.” This...
over a year ago
There is a saying in the startup world that “you can mine for gold or you can sell pickaxes.” This is of course an allusion to the…
Nothing Human
Meditations on Machinic Desire
The philosopher and accelerationist Nick Land writes, in his 1994 essay Machinic Desire, three of...
2 months ago
The philosopher and accelerationist Nick Land writes, in his 1994 essay Machinic Desire, three of the most insight-dense paragraphs I’ve ever encountered:
Rest of World -...
India banned a Chinese app four years ago. Government agencies are still using it
CamScanner was one of 59 Chinese apps the Indian government banned in 2020, amid a border conflict...
3 weeks ago
CamScanner was one of 59 Chinese apps the Indian government banned in 2020, amid a border conflict with China.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Founder vesting
The most important term in a startup term sheet that no one seems to think carefully about is...
over a year ago
The most important term in a startup term sheet that no one seems to think carefully about is founder vesting. There are two key points…
SatPost by Trung...
Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash and AI Art
Context matters more than content in the age of AI-generated audio, images and videos.
a year ago
Context matters more than content in the age of AI-generated audio, images and videos.
Platformer
Substack says it will remove Nazi publications from the platform
Nazi content violates rules against incitement to violence, the company says
11 months ago
Nazi content violates rules against incitement to violence, the company says
Rest of World -...
U.S tech giants are building dozens of huge data centers in Chile. Locals are fighting back
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of...
6 months ago
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of centers in the country, fearing environmental devastation.
Business Brainstorms
Pets as Kids, Affiliate Fraud Prevention, Theory X vs. Theory Y, Conviction
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “We may have reached peak “pets as kids”… Jolly Dog, an...
Rest of World -...
India’s election wasn’t the deepfake doomsday many feared
So far, AI-generated content has been more about trolling than information warfare.
6 months ago
So far, AI-generated content has been more about trolling than information warfare.
Noahpinion
How did the U.S. achieve a soft landing?
Four simple theories.
a year ago
Rest of World -...
What comes after the blockchain?
A new crop of fintech startups are tackling blockchain-inspired problems without the blockchain.
a year ago
A new crop of fintech startups are tackling blockchain-inspired problems without the blockchain.
Rest of World -...
The entrepreneur navigating fintech’s ups and downs for 15 years
Bipin Preet Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Indian fintech major MobiKwik.
9 months ago
Bipin Preet Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Indian fintech major MobiKwik.
Blog posts of...
Drafting your first investment round.
The topic of investing is omnipresent in our startup world. Sooner or later most startup founders...
over a year ago
The topic of investing is omnipresent in our startup world. Sooner or later most startup founders look for external funding. And i...
Noahpinion
Where China is beating the world
On high-speed rail, EVs, and solar, China is doing truly amazing things.
a year ago
On high-speed rail, EVs, and solar, China is doing truly amazing things.
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs negotiates Apple's deal with Microsoft
Greg, Here is a review of the terms we last discussed, as well as some issues I have encountered....
over a year ago
Greg, Here is a review of the terms we last discussed, as well as some issues I have encountered. Please ping me to let me know that you received this email.
42!
Optimising bank working hours
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if...
over a year ago
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if you ever ran a traditional business back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as I did, one of the most frustrating things ever was trying to get my banking done over the counter.
Almost...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What’s Next in Computing?
The computing industry progresses in two mostly independent cycles: financial and product cycles....
over a year ago
The computing industry progresses in two mostly independent cycles: financial and product cycles. There has been a lot of handwringing…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
An internet of people
Over the past few years, a bunch of web-based marketplaces have gotten popular – Etsy, Kickstarter,...
over a year ago
Over the past few years, a bunch of web-based marketplaces have gotten popular – Etsy, Kickstarter, AirBnb, to name a few. Many of these…
Devmoh
The Fall of Stack Overflow, Explained
Stack Overflow's decline is partly self-imposed, but also somewhat out if its control.
a year ago
Stack Overflow's decline is partly self-imposed, but also somewhat out if its control.
Platformer
Nine wild details from the new Elon Musk biography
Walter Isaacson brings new tales of Jack Dorsey, that Sergey Brin selfie, and more
a year ago
Walter Isaacson brings new tales of Jack Dorsey, that Sergey Brin selfie, and more
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
There's not that much wealth in the world
A little-understood fact.
5 months ago
A little-understood fact.
Platformer
Why I'm having trouble covering AI
If you believe that the most serious risks from AI are real, should you write about anything else?
a year ago
If you believe that the most serious risks from AI are real, should you write about anything else?
Tech + Economics +...
Curation is the last best hope of intelligent discourse.
We live in an exponential growth age in terms of information quantity and
generative capability....
11 months ago
We live in an exponential growth age in terms of information quantity and
generative capability. With tools like ChatGPT, anyone can conjure up
rewritten Wikipedia articles, essays, code, poetry, and more with just a
few prompts. This "democratisation" of content creation...
Platformer
How the attacks in Israel are changing Threads
Three months into its existence, the app’s purpose may be coming into focus — if Meta will embrace...
a year ago
Three months into its existence, the app’s purpose may be coming into focus — if Meta will embrace it
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The default state of a startup is failure
If you are starting a company and wondering why nothing good seems to happen unless you force it to...
over a year ago
If you are starting a company and wondering why nothing good seems to happen unless you force it to happen, that’s because the world wants…
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
over a year ago
Working Theorys
Weekend Theorys No. 3
Books as athleisure, Twitter/X goes Substack, and oh yeah, Apple's Vision Pro
10 months ago
Books as athleisure, Twitter/X goes Substack, and oh yeah, Apple's Vision Pro
Blog posts of...
🇮🇳 India in 2024
In February I made my first business trip to India. Three weeks deep in the Indian tech ecosystem....
8 months ago
In February I made my first business trip to India. Three weeks deep in the Indian tech ecosystem. My summary is simple: I feel like the world needs an update how we view India
Folklore.org:...
What Hath Woz Wrought
The first product I developed for Apple
a year ago
The first product I developed for Apple
Rest of World -...
Why Mexico’s delivery workers are ditching food for packages
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more...
5 months ago
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more appealing to deliver packages than food orders.
Aaron's Essays
Why VCs sometimes push companies to burn
Originally posted on the YC blog,...
over a year ago
Originally posted on the YC blog, here: https://blog.ycombinator.com/why-vcs-sometimes-push-companies-to-burn-too-fast/
In Investors and their incentives, I tried to give a broad breakdown of the incentives that drive the major types of startup investors. I want to dig deeper...
Business Brainstorms
Squeeze page builders, better Bible App, why you're stuck, 1X vs. 2x Founders, talk to people!
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “There is a desperate need for new software devs in the...
Rest of World -...
China is six months behind the U.S. on AI, the US has to move faster: Div Turakhia
The India-born tech investor, entrepreneur and billionaire businessman spoke to Rest of World about...
2 months ago
The India-born tech investor, entrepreneur and billionaire businessman spoke to Rest of World about the promise of AI technology, why the U.S. needs to move faster to compete with China, and the advantage the UAE has in building AI.
Working Theorys
Great Products Have Great Premises
The most powerful thing a product can do is give its user a premise.
10 months ago
The most powerful thing a product can do is give its user a premise.
Blog posts of...
A Primer on Startup Metrics – Which Analytics Tool to pick.
As a analytics consultant I am working with a lot of startups and help them in the topics of...
over a year ago
As a analytics consultant I am working with a lot of startups and help them in the topics of metrics, analytics, retention and gro...
Rest of World -...
Four predictions for 2024
It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
a year ago
It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Stephen Diehl
Countering the Crypto Lobbyists
over a year ago
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#25)
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry,...
11 months ago
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry, and the effect of corporate tax cuts
Steve Blank
Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition – Wrap Up
This article first appeared in West Point’s Modern War Institute. We just had our final session of...
over a year ago
This article first appeared in West Point’s Modern War Institute. We just had our final session of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class. Joe Felter, Raj Shah and I designed the class to give our students insights on how commercial technology (AI, machine...
Platformer
Another Facebook content moderation company quits the business
Amid worker unrest and a lawsuit, Sama says it's done. Will others follow?
a year ago
Amid worker unrest and a lawsuit, Sama says it's done. Will others follow?
Paul Graham: Essays
What Doesn't Seem Like Work?
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
China’s EV giant BYD is picking up speed in Jordan
How Jordan became a battleground for Chinese EVs.
a year ago
How Jordan became a battleground for Chinese EVs.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
Why America's future could hinge on Elon Musk
Iron Man, or Dr. Doom?
a month ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Are people more willing to pay for digital goods on mobile devices?
Mary Meeker’s [ ](images/screen-shot-2009-12-27-at-11-51-18-am.png) The assertion seems to be that...
over a year ago
Mary Meeker’s [ ](images/screen-shot-2009-12-27-at-11-51-18-am.png) The assertion seems to be that there is something special about the…
haseeb qureshi
The Life and Death of Plasma
By Haseeb Qureshi and Ashwin Ramachandran
It was August 2017. The price of Ether was near an all...
over a year ago
By Haseeb Qureshi and Ashwin Ramachandran
It was August 2017. The price of Ether was near an all time high, the Ethereum blockchain was exploding with usage, and the chain was buckling under the ever increasing demand. Researchers and developers were frantically searching for new...
Roberto Vitillo's...
Why you should measure tail latencies
The response times of your service can cost you dearly if left unchecked. Even when a small fraction...
over a year ago
The response times of your service can cost you dearly if left unchecked. Even when a small fraction of requests experiences extreme…
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Converts versus equity deals
There has been a debate going on the past few days over whether seed deals should be funded using...
over a year ago
There has been a debate going on the past few days over whether seed deals should be funded using equity or convertible notes (converts…
David Perell
Chrisman Frank and Ana Lorena Fabrega: How Childhood Education Will Change
This week, I have two guests. Both are affiliated with Synthesis, a new kind of online school where...
over a year ago
This week, I have two guests. Both are affiliated with Synthesis, a new kind of online school where kids learn through games and simulations. One is Chrisman Frank, the CEO of Synthesis. The other is Ana Lorena Fabrega, who is their Chief Evangelist. Here’s the backstory: A few...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Virtual reality: a new creative medium where the default state is belief
The holy grail of virtual reality, the one that’s always been out of reach until now, is presence....
over a year ago
The holy grail of virtual reality, the one that’s always been out of reach until now, is presence. In the VR community, “presence” is a term…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The experience economy
Before World War 2, the middle-class in the developed world struggled to afford basic needs. In the...
over a year ago
Before World War 2, the middle-class in the developed world struggled to afford basic needs. In the post-war boom, standards of living rose…
Rest of World -...
Ethiopians are struggling to keep up with the new “EV or nothing” policy
Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of gas and diesel cars. But the...
5 months ago
Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of gas and diesel cars. But the country has only around 50 charging stations.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What’s the right amount of seed money to raise?
Short answer: enough to get your startup to an accretive milestone plus some fudge factor....
over a year ago
Short answer: enough to get your startup to an accretive milestone plus some fudge factor. “Accretive milestone” is a fancy way of saying…
Platformer
Susan Wojcicki makes her exit
She had a legendary run. Will YouTube's end with it?
a year ago
She had a legendary run. Will YouTube's end with it?
Rest of World -...
Disturbed by tragic deaths, Indian students are raging against celebrity YouTube teachers
Students feel betrayed by the lack of support from these educators who enjoy near-cult popularity.
4 months ago
Students feel betrayed by the lack of support from these educators who enjoy near-cult popularity.
David Perell
Thoughts on Free Will
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will....
over a year ago
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will. When it comes to living in it, assume you have no free will.” Here’s an example: I lost my love of working out during the pandemic. Before it started, I worked out at a nice,...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The Descent of Elon Musk
Money can't buy happiness, but it can get you pretty damn close. As the second richest man alive, ...
8 months ago
Money can't buy happiness, but it can get you pretty damn close. As the second richest man alive, Elon Musk should be rolling electric coal down Rodeo Drive in a cybertruck, smugly aware of the fact that, despite what the haters say, he's kind of
David Perell
Annual Review 2021
I’ll start this Annual Review by reflecting on 2021. I’ll share highlights and reflect on the goals...
over a year ago
I’ll start this Annual Review by reflecting on 2021. I’ll share highlights and reflect on the goals I set at the beginning of the year. Later, I’ll outline how I plan to improve my life and set a new vision for 2022.
The post Annual Review 2021 appeared first on David Perell.
David Perell
Thoughts on Montreal
I visited Montreal for the first time. Here are my general impressions of the city, based on walks...
over a year ago
I visited Montreal for the first time. Here are my general impressions of the city, based on walks around town and casual conversations with friends: Culture: My favorite thing about Montreal is its commitment to culture. French is the dominant language, which is partially why it...
SatPost by Trung...
Why Are the Olympics So Expensive?
Olympic host cities take on enormous financial risks in hopes of economic and cultural rewards....
6 months ago
Olympic host cities take on enormous financial risks in hopes of economic and cultural rewards. Tokyo 1964 was the ultimate triumph, but Paris 2024 may find it harder to justify the expense.
Rest of World -...
There is no American Ambani
A tale of two tech industries.
9 months ago
A tale of two tech industries.
Noahpinion
What should China do to revive its economy?
There are a couple of aces that the government hasn't yet played.
a year ago
There are a couple of aces that the government hasn't yet played.
Aaron's Essays
There Are No (Absolute) Red Flags in Venture Capital
Let’s accept, for the purposes of this essay, that founders and venture capitalists are engaged in a...
a year ago
Let’s accept, for the purposes of this essay, that founders and venture capitalists are engaged in a simple trade. Founders sell business risk for the cash they need to take bigger risks; venture capitalists buy that risk hoping it will one day transmute into reward. Each side...
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec on the iPod: "Apple is just so far ahead"
I bought the high end creative labs portable player. It was the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. I have to...
over a year ago
I bought the high end creative labs portable player. It was the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. I have to tell you my experience with our software and this device is really terrible.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Techies and normals
There are techies (if you are reading this blog you are almost certainly one of them) and there are...
over a year ago
There are techies (if you are reading this blog you are almost certainly one of them) and there are mainstream users – some people call them…
Rest of World -...
Brazil is the first stop in the Latin American electric motorcycle market
Vammo, an electric mobility company for delivery workers, chose to launch in the country because 85%...
a year ago
Vammo, an electric mobility company for delivery workers, chose to launch in the country because 85% of its electric grid runs on renewable energy.
David Perell
After Minimalism
It's time for us to move beyond minimalism. If we want a dynamic world, we should splash our...
over a year ago
It's time for us to move beyond minimalism. If we want a dynamic world, we should splash our buildings with enthusiastic colors, bold patterns, and visions of a better tomorrow.
The post After Minimalism appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
Mexican TikTokers have code words to report on narco-violence without getting banned
Creators use euphemisms and emojis to get around what they say are arbitrary moderation...
a month ago
Creators use euphemisms and emojis to get around what they say are arbitrary moderation restrictions.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Burst Damage
Soundtrack: Masters of Reality - High Noon Amsterdam
I have said almost everything in this piece in...
4 months ago
Soundtrack: Masters of Reality - High Noon Amsterdam
I have said almost everything in this piece in every one of these articles for months. I am not upset, but just stating an obvious truth. The current state of affairs effectively pushes against the boundaries of good sense,...
Rest of World -...
The Turkish TikToker teaching young women to be religious girlbosses
Şule Kayatürk has become a star by making videos about being an observant Muslim who is also a...
2 months ago
Şule Kayatürk has become a star by making videos about being an observant Muslim who is also a high-powered businesswoman.
essay – snarfed.org
So long, Twitter API, and thanks for all the fish
Well, it’s come to this. Twitter is burning, a billionaire owes money, an API will soon get...
a year ago
Well, it’s come to this. Twitter is burning, a billionaire owes money, an API will soon get lobotomized, so Bridgy‘s Twitter support will die within the month is dead. Granary‘s and twitter-atom too. The Twitter API may now be effectively unmaintained, but they still managed to...
Rest of World -...
Why Kenya has the potential to be Africa’s EV powerhouse
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
5 months ago
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
SatPost by Trung...
Best of SatPost (First Half of 2024)
PLUS: Solar Industry, LVMH Real Estate, Delta Airlines is Winning.
5 months ago
PLUS: Solar Industry, LVMH Real Estate, Delta Airlines is Winning.
David Perell
Nik Sharma: Building DTC Companies
My guest today is Nik Sharma, the founder of Sharma Brands and an advisor to companies like Judy and...
over a year ago
My guest today is Nik Sharma, the founder of Sharma Brands and an advisor to companies like Judy and Cha Cha Matcha. Nik is one of my very best friends and my go-to person for all things commerce. Since we first met, we’ve spent hours exploring the future of marketing and...
Platformer
Microsoft kickstarts the AI arms race
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
a year ago
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Twitter and third-party Twitter developers
I can’t remember the last time the tech world was so interesting. First, innovation is at an all...
over a year ago
I can’t remember the last time the tech world was so interesting. First, innovation is at an all time high. Apple, Google, Facebook…
Rest of World -...
2023 Impact Report
The global reach and impact of our journalism in 2023
8 months ago
The global reach and impact of our journalism in 2023
Tech + Economics +...
God is a crypto bro.
CoinTelegraph:
A Colorado-based online pastor who has been charged with fraud for
...
11 months ago
CoinTelegraph:
A Colorado-based online pastor who has been charged with fraud for
selling a “worthless” cryptocurrency says he only did it because “the
Lord” told him to give his followers a “10X.”
In a strange 9-minute video — posted to INDXcoin’s...
Data Boutique
The hidden costs of asking for quotations in the data market
Working towards faster, cheaper and safer data projects
10 months ago
Working towards faster, cheaper and safer data projects
Rest of World -...
Venezuelan migrants helped build Colombia’s tech scene. Now the country is kicking them out
New rules make getting a visa more difficult, even as Colombia struggles to find enough tech...
a year ago
New rules make getting a visa more difficult, even as Colombia struggles to find enough tech workers.
Noahpinion
Here...comes...INDIA!!!
The world has a new largest country, and it's on the move.
a year ago
The world has a new largest country, and it's on the move.
Rest of World -...
A little-known AI startup is behind Nigeria’s first government-backed LLM
Awarri has been tapped to help increase the representation of Nigerian languages in AI.
6 months ago
Awarri has been tapped to help increase the representation of Nigerian languages in AI.
Rest of World -...
Google’s Gemini problem will be even worse outside the U.S.
It’s hard to keep a stereotyping machine out of trouble.
9 months ago
It’s hard to keep a stereotyping machine out of trouble.
David Perell
Hugging the X-Axis
I’ve always struggled with commitment. In a world as grand as ours, shouldn’t we try to experience...
over a year ago
I’ve always struggled with commitment. In a world as grand as ours, shouldn’t we try to experience it all? Change it up. Visit every country. Try a bunch of careers. The menu of life is vast, and it’d be a shame to only order a single entrée. When I say I was allergic to...
Stephen Diehl
The Simple English Argument Against Crypto
over a year ago
Stephen Diehl
A Sticky Stringy Quandary
over a year ago
Platformer
The regulators come for OpenAI
From data privacy to defamation, officials have questions
a year ago
From data privacy to defamation, officials have questions
Noahpinion
Car wars
A flood of cheap Chinese imports is upsetting the global industrial order.
a year ago
A flood of cheap Chinese imports is upsetting the global industrial order.
Platformer
Five reasons Threads could still go the distance
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
a year ago
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
Paul Graham: Essays
Why to Start a Startup in a Bad Economy
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What’s not evil: ranking content fairly *and* letting public content get indexed
Please see update at bottom Most websites spend massive amounts of time and money to get any of...
over a year ago
Please see update at bottom Most websites spend massive amounts of time and money to get any of their pages index and ranked by Google’s…
Platformer
Can Snap snap back?
At its annual summit, the company gets bullish on AI — but feels haunted by the ghost of its past...
a year ago
At its annual summit, the company gets bullish on AI — but feels haunted by the ghost of its past ambitions
Blog posts of...
How global media communication changes in a transparent world
These are crowdaggregated pictures from Syria (across basically all social media channels). No media...
over a year ago
These are crowdaggregated pictures from Syria (across basically all social media channels). No media publisher inbetween. Authenti...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some ideas for native bitcoin apps
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin...
over a year ago
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin "native Bitcoin apps". Most of the…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Apple and the TV industry
The TV industry is a major segment of the consumer electronics industry and Apple is the leading...
over a year ago
The TV industry is a major segment of the consumer electronics industry and Apple is the leading consumer electronics company in the world…
Rest of World -...
India’s plan to export its wildly successful digital payments system
After starting cross-border payments with Singapore, India is now setting up more international...
a year ago
After starting cross-border payments with Singapore, India is now setting up more international partnerships.
Rest of World -...
Breaking down the world’s tariffs against China’s tech industry
President-elect Donald Trump pledges to escalate the trade war, but non-Western nations have...
3 weeks ago
President-elect Donald Trump pledges to escalate the trade war, but non-Western nations have targeted China with tariffs, too.
Rest of World -...
The Genius Bar in a country where iPhones can’t legally be sold
In the land of the U.S. embargo, Cuba’s Apple technicians are kings.
a year ago
In the land of the U.S. embargo, Cuba’s Apple technicians are kings.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Once you take money, the clock starts ticking
One of the interesting things about having been investing in startups for a number of years is that...
over a year ago
One of the interesting things about having been investing in startups for a number of years is that at any moment you get an inside peek at…
Rest of World -...
How translator-influencers bring banned foreign videos onto China’s internet
On social media platform Weibo, influencers curate, translate, and edit content from the outside...
a year ago
On social media platform Weibo, influencers curate, translate, and edit content from the outside world.
Noahpinion
How Pakistan can join the South Asia growth boom
A guest post by Murtaza Hussain
a year ago
A guest post by Murtaza Hussain
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on mobile
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people...
over a year ago
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people who run internet companies and they’ll…
Blog posts of...
First-time fundraising is hell - maybe this helps 💰
Its easy to start fundraising, but most people struggle closing their round. Especially now. Why? I...
over a year ago
Its easy to start fundraising, but most people struggle closing their round. Especially now. Why? I try to give a few mental models and a bit tactical advice.
Rest of World -...
South Korean streamers struggle with Twitch’s sudden exit
The streaming giant attributed its departure to high network fees.
9 months ago
The streaming giant attributed its departure to high network fees.
XO Capital - Field...
Getting Smaller To Get Bigger
💡
We have another fresh round of capital to deploy into 1 business at up to $1.8M purchase price....
2 months ago
💡
We have another fresh round of capital to deploy into 1 business at up to $1.8M purchase price. Must be b2b SaaS, low customer concentration, 80%+ gross margins, 50k+ MRR. If you have a tip, pass it along!
We're underway with xo 2.0. That means,
Noahpinion
The reverse OPEC maneuver
Pricing power in the oil industry is shifting, and will shift more.
a year ago
Pricing power in the oil industry is shifting, and will shift more.
Rest of World -...
The AI artist who used Bad Bunny’s voice — and shot to fame
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
5 months ago
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Presenting Founder Collective
As readers of this blog know, I’m a huge fan of the startup and venture capital world but also a...
over a year ago
As readers of this blog know, I’m a huge fan of the startup and venture capital world but also a sometimes critic of how the venture capital…
Stephen Diehl
Building a Better Custom Haskell Prelude
over a year ago
Steve Blank
Leaving Government for the Private Sector – Part 1
Laura Thomas is a former CIA operations officer. Reading how she moved in 2021 from CIA ops into a...
a year ago
Laura Thomas is a former CIA operations officer. Reading how she moved in 2021 from CIA ops into a quantum technology company offered insightful career transition advice for those leaving her agency. Most of her lessons were applicable to any government employee venturing out to...
Rest of World -...
Desperate for dollars, Argentina just gave digital nomads another advantage over locals
Foreign bank card holders now get better exchange rates than Argentines.
a year ago
Foreign bank card holders now get better exchange rates than Argentines.
Working Theorys
caring about newness
we don't create with the intent to recycle
9 months ago
we don't create with the intent to recycle
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#12)
The college shakeout, China vs. its developing neighbors, Chinese zombie companies, more fun YIMBY...
a year ago
The college shakeout, China vs. its developing neighbors, Chinese zombie companies, more fun YIMBY stuff, and the victory of the Melting Pot
Working Theorys
The Generational Business Trap | Theory No. 11
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
a year ago
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
Platformer
Inside Discord’s reform movement for banned users
Most platforms ban their trolls forever. Discord wants to rehabilitate them
a year ago
Most platforms ban their trolls forever. Discord wants to rehabilitate them
Data Boutique
Scrape Or Buy? The Zalando Case Study
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
a year ago
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
Stephen Diehl
The Oncoming Ransomware Storm
over a year ago
Working Theorys
Love the Mission or Love the Game
Are you a Type I or Type II entrepreneur? (or an unserious third thing)
10 months ago
Are you a Type I or Type II entrepreneur? (or an unserious third thing)
Rest of World -...
Delivery riders are fighting each other over bike-shares in Brazil
Almost half the riders from Brazil’s largest delivery app now use city bikes to get around.
a year ago
Almost half the riders from Brazil’s largest delivery app now use city bikes to get around.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Machine learning is really good at partially solving just about any problem
There’s a saying in artificial intelligence circles that techniques like machine learning (and NLP)...
over a year ago
There’s a saying in artificial intelligence circles that techniques like machine learning (and NLP) can very quickly get you, say, 80% of…
Paul Graham: Essays
What the Bubble Got Right
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Doing old things better vs doing brand new things
New technologies enable activities that fall into one of two categories: 1) doing things you could...
over a year ago
New technologies enable activities that fall into one of two categories: 1) doing things you could already do but can now do better because…
Noahpinion
A three-state solution is the only viable future for Israel and the Palestinians
Ethnic cleansing is off the table, and non-contiguous states just don't work.
a year ago
Ethnic cleansing is off the table, and non-contiguous states just don't work.
Noahpinion
All the arguments against EVs are wrong
EVs are just going to win.
a year ago
EVs are just going to win.
Roberto's blog
Decision matrices as a thinking tool
Some decisions require comparing multiple options where it’s not immediately apparent which is best....
6 months ago
Some decisions require comparing multiple options where it’s not immediately apparent which is best. One common way of doing that is to list the pros and cons of each option. For example, option A lists low latency as a pro, while option B lists high throughput as a pro. But do...
Rest of World -...
Why Nigerian filmmakers are skipping Netflix to go straight to YouTube
Filmmakers say YouTube prevents piracy and is more accessible than Netflix, Prime Video, and...
a year ago
Filmmakers say YouTube prevents piracy and is more accessible than Netflix, Prime Video, and Showmax.
AVC
The Blackbird Platform
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends...
a year ago
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends and family program at a restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn called Gertie. Blackbird wrote about it today on their excellent Supersonic blog: Throughout, when you tap Gertie’s...
Articles - Alex...
What’s the big idea?
To make a big impact, we need a big idea. In brand communications, coveting
the ‘big idea’ is...
over a year ago
To make a big impact, we need a big idea. In brand communications, coveting
the ‘big idea’ is commonplace. We look for them. Long for them. Laud them
and lionise them. And yet, despite its ubiquitous use, the ‘big idea’
remains incredibly ill-defined. This article is an...
Unpacked
Y Combinator W23 batch, AI value chain and startup trends
YCombinator (YC), the renowned Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator, recently announced their...
a year ago
YCombinator (YC), the renowned Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator, recently announced their Winter 2023 cohort and, unsurprisingly, ~31% of startups have a self-reported AI tag.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
If you aren’t getting rejected on a daily basis, your goals aren’t ambitious enough
My most useful career experience was about eight years ago when I was trying to break into the world...
over a year ago
My most useful career experience was about eight years ago when I was trying to break into the world of VC-backed startups. I applied to…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What carries you up will also bring you down
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original...
over a year ago
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original business plans for companies he…
Rest of World -...
ElevenLabs’ first Indian partnership banks on AI voice clones to make audio stories faster and...
Pocket FM creators can convert scripts to audio in English and German with one click. The company...
4 months ago
Pocket FM creators can convert scripts to audio in English and German with one click. The company plans to add more languages as it expands across Europe and Latin America this year.
Noahpinion
Come see me speak about Japan!
Plus: A bunch of fun posts I've written about Japanese urbanism and Japanese society.
4 months ago
Plus: A bunch of fun posts I've written about Japanese urbanism and Japanese society.
Rest of World -...
AI translation is jeopardizing Afghan asylum claims
Cost-cutting translations are introducing errors and putting refugees at risk.
a year ago
Cost-cutting translations are introducing errors and putting refugees at risk.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Proprietary services vs open protocols
over a year ago
Roberto Vitillo's...
Leader election best practices
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that...
over a year ago
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that can access a shared resource or assign…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The one number you should know about your equity grant
The one number you should know about your equity grant is the percent of the company you are being...
over a year ago
The one number you should know about your equity grant is the percent of the company you are being granted (in options, shares, whatever…
Steve Blank
Is a Venture Studio Right for You?
This post previously appeared in the Harvard Business Review. Three types of organizations –...
a year ago
This post previously appeared in the Harvard Business Review. Three types of organizations – Incubators, Accelerators and Venture Studios – have emerged to reduce the risk of early-stage startup failure by helping teams find product/market fit and raise initial capital. Venture...
Working Theorys
Weekend Theorys No. 4
Time to lameness, netizens vs. citizens, and OpenAI scaring creative people (again)
10 months ago
Time to lameness, netizens vs. citizens, and OpenAI scaring creative people (again)
Internal Tech Emails
The Sam Bankman-Fried Files
In LA last weekend, I met with Michael Kives and his firm, K5. He is, probably, the most connected...
a year ago
In LA last weekend, I met with Michael Kives and his firm, K5. He is, probably, the most connected person I’ve ever met. In attendance at the dinner at his house were: 1) Hillary Clinton 2) Doug Emhoff 3) Katy Perry 4) Orlando Bloom 5) Kate Hudson
Rest of World -...
How a bored NYU graduate captured the absurdity of Chinese diaspora life
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram...
a year ago
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram account.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some lessons learned
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier...
over a year ago
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier this week. It was a really interesting…
SatPost by Trung...
Who Will Run Berkshire After Buffett?
PLUS: Group Chat Rules, 5 Banks in Disguise, Chipotle's Memo.
6 months ago
PLUS: Group Chat Rules, 5 Banks in Disguise, Chipotle's Memo.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why did Skype succeed and Joost fail?
Skype and Joost are interesting companies to compare – they are about as close as you can get to one...
over a year ago
Skype and Joost are interesting companies to compare – they are about as close as you can get to one of those sociological studies that…
AVC
My Year-End Playlist
Every year I put together a playlist at the end of the year with some of the new music I found and...
a year ago
Every year I put together a playlist at the end of the year with some of the new music I found and got into. Most of these songs are under the radar which is my favorite kind of music. So I hope you find something new that you like in here.
Rest of World -...
The truth behind VinFast’s stunning stock market debut
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
a year ago
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
Internal Tech Emails
"I don't want to create a paper trail"
I would prefer that Omid do it verbally since I don't want to create a paper trail over which we can...
a year ago
I would prefer that Omid do it verbally since I don't want to create a paper trail over which we can be sued later? Not sure about this.. thanks Eric
Steve Blank
Why The Pentagon Can’t Count: It’s Time to Reinvent the Audit
This article previously appeared in War on the Rocks. In the past, headlines about the Pentagon...
over a year ago
This article previously appeared in War on the Rocks. In the past, headlines about the Pentagon failing its financial audit again would never have caught my attention. But having been in the middle of this conversation when I served on one of the Defense Department’s advisory...
Rest of World -...
You can’t play on both sides of the Great Firewall
What the TikTok ban really means for U.S. companies.
9 months ago
What the TikTok ban really means for U.S. companies.
Blog posts of...
Startup Mentoring Sessions: How to get the most out of it.
Everyone is doing pitch training. Almost no-one does training for the mentoring session, but this is...
over a year ago
Everyone is doing pitch training. Almost no-one does training for the mentoring session, but this is where most startups get the m...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Which VC firm should I pitch?
A friend asked me the other day “Which VC firms should I pitch?” and I started to respond to him,...
over a year ago
A friend asked me the other day “Which VC firms should I pitch?” and I started to respond to him, but then realized that most of my…
David Perell
Why You’re Christian
Becoming an educated citizen starts with understanding the lineage of your beliefs. For example,...
over a year ago
Becoming an educated citizen starts with understanding the lineage of your beliefs. For example, look at this iconic line from one of America’s founding documents:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”
The post Why You’re Christian appeared...
Rest of World -...
Indian government gives itself the power to “fact-check” and delete social media posts
Journalists, opposition parties, and advocacy groups are worried what this “absolute power” means...
a year ago
Journalists, opposition parties, and advocacy groups are worried what this “absolute power” means for press freedom in India.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Lessons from the PC video game industry
The future of media is here — it’s just not evenly distributed The success or failure of tech and...
over a year ago
The future of media is here — it’s just not evenly distributed The success or failure of tech and media products depends on complicated…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What jobs are users hiring your product to perform?
One of Clay Christensen’s favorite concepts is that instead of dividing your customers into segments...
over a year ago
One of Clay Christensen’s favorite concepts is that instead of dividing your customers into segments and asking which features each segment…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Four categories of Bitcoin-related projects
New Bitcoin-related software projects are launching every day. From what I can tell these projects...
over a year ago
New Bitcoin-related software projects are launching every day. From what I can tell these projects fall into four main categories: Bitcoin…
Platformer
Meta's Nick Clegg on how AI is reshaping the feed
A year after recommended posts caused a crisis at Instagram, the company's systems have improved —...
a year ago
A year after recommended posts caused a crisis at Instagram, the company's systems have improved — and it's ready to talk about how they work
Platformer
Reddit goes dark
As it moves to shut down third-party apps, the site’s self-governing ethos comes back to haunt it
a year ago
As it moves to shut down third-party apps, the site’s self-governing ethos comes back to haunt it
Platformer
It's time to change how we cover Elon Musk
After a weekend of whoppers about X and fighting Mark Zuckerberg, the press should take a more...
a year ago
After a weekend of whoppers about X and fighting Mark Zuckerberg, the press should take a more skeptical approach
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#26)
The U.S. economy, U.S. energy, Millennial wealth, medical administrators, and standardized tests
11 months ago
The U.S. economy, U.S. energy, Millennial wealth, medical administrators, and standardized tests
Devmoh
Why did Meta open-source Llama 2?
Meta seems to be all in on open-source AI. They released Llama 2, which features some impressive...
a year ago
Meta seems to be all in on open-source AI. They released Llama 2, which features some impressive benchmarks compared to other open source language models. Why does Meta keep releasing open-source models? What is their incentive? To attract and retain top AI talent.
Tech + Economics +...
Bootstrapped to death: why America’s favourite saying is strangling mobility
The old saying goes that anyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps
- if they work hard...
11 months ago
The old saying goes that anyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps
- if they work hard enough. There's this pervasive and poisonous idea that
success or failure rests solely on the individual and their effort. And if
you don't make it, if you don't lift yourself out...
Rest of World -...
Meet Newme, India’s Shein replacement
A year after India banned the Shein app, Newme emerged to fill the gap. Founder Sumit Jasoria talks...
a year ago
A year after India banned the Shein app, Newme emerged to fill the gap. Founder Sumit Jasoria talks about Gen Z fashion in this "country of countries."
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What the smartest people do on the weekend is what everyone else will do during the week in ten...
Many breakthrough technologies were hatched by hobbyists in garages and dorm rooms. Prominent...
over a year ago
Many breakthrough technologies were hatched by hobbyists in garages and dorm rooms. Prominent examples include the PC, the web, blogs, and…
Working Theorys
The Taste Discount
Everything is easier when tastes align.
8 months ago
Everything is easier when tastes align.
Steve Blank
The Quantum Technology Ecosystem – Explained
If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics Richard...
over a year ago
If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics Richard Feynman Tens of billions of public and private capital are being invested in Quantum technologies. Countries across the world have realized that quantum technologies can be a major...
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