Rest of World -...
How different languages laugh online
Laughter is universal, but lol is not.
a year ago
Laughter is universal, but lol is not.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Pop Culture
A week and a half ago, Goldman Sachs put out a 31-page-report (titled "Gen AI: Too Much Spend, Too...
5 months ago
A week and a half ago, Goldman Sachs put out a 31-page-report (titled "Gen AI: Too Much Spend, Too Little Benefit?”) that includes some of the most damning literature on generative AI I've ever seen. And yes, that sound you hear is the slow deflation of
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
VC investment vs Gartner hype cycle
Here is total VC investment over time: And here's the Gartner hype cycle: One reading of this is...
over a year ago
Here is total VC investment over time: And here's the Gartner hype cycle: One reading of this is that the advent of the internet was the…
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.
Rest of World -...
Using AI to revive nostalgia — and preserve Hong Kong’s past
Michael Chang, CEO of Capture.HK, talks about how the company helps digitize old albums and video...
a year ago
Michael Chang, CEO of Capture.HK, talks about how the company helps digitize old albums and video tapes.
Paul Graham: Essays
What Doesn't Seem Like Work?
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Steve Jobs single-handedly restructured the mobile industry
With the introduction of the iPhone, Steve Jobs achieved something that might be unique in the...
over a year ago
With the introduction of the iPhone, Steve Jobs achieved something that might be unique in the history of business: he single-handedly…
Dustin Curtis
How to host a static website with HTTPS on AWS, using S3 and CloudFront
Amazon’s AWS is an inexpensive and limitlessly scalable platform that can be ideal for hosting fast,...
over a year ago
Amazon’s AWS is an inexpensive and limitlessly scalable platform that can be ideal for hosting fast, secure, and reliable static websites. I host several sites using the method described below, and it costs me pennies per month. The only problem is that getting things set...
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.
Paul Graham: Essays
What I've Learned from Hacker News
over a year ago
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
'The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.' Teilhard de Chardin...
6 months ago
'The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.' Teilhard de Chardin 💡Broken Hips This feels like one of these problems that most people have accepted as inevitable but that will be solved soon and we will look back and think how crazy we allowed this...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The downside of accelerated investment decisions
There has been a lot of talk about how early-stage valuations have risen dramatically over the past...
over a year ago
There has been a lot of talk about how early-stage valuations have risen dramatically over the past few years. Financially, this is probably…
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 -...
The best articles we didn’t publish in 2023
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
12 months ago
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why you shouldn’t keep your startup idea secret
A frequent question entrepreneurs have when they are just starting their company is: how secretive...
over a year ago
A frequent question entrepreneurs have when they are just starting their company is: how secretive should I be about my idea? My answer…
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
Rest of World -...
The augmented-reality app helping Muslims pray toward Mecca
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction...
2 months ago
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction for their prayers.
Rest of World -...
The CEO who believes Africans must make their own AI tools
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need...
9 months ago
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need less data and other resources.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#23)
SF's Market Street debacle, the debate over real wages, why U.S. growth has gotten smoother, TikTok...
12 months ago
SF's Market Street debacle, the debate over real wages, why U.S. growth has gotten smoother, TikTok as a propaganda engine, and California homelessness
Tech + Economics +...
WeWork files for bankruptcy amid office market downturn.
On Monday, Mr Neumann issued a statement saying the impending
bankruptcy was “disappointing”....
a year ago
On Monday, Mr Neumann issued a statement saying the impending
bankruptcy was “disappointing”. “It has been challenging for me to
watch from the sidelines since 2019 as WeWork has failed to take
advantage of a product that is more relevant today than ever before,”
...
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
Paul Graham: Essays
You Weren't Meant to Have a Boss
over a year ago
Working Theorys
How to Be Like Derek Guy
If you spend any time on Twitter, you know the handle @dieworkwear by heart. And you know it’s the...
6 months ago
If you spend any time on Twitter, you know the handle @dieworkwear by heart. And you know it’s the handle of Derek Guy, menswear expert extraordinaire. (I’m still unsure if that’s his real name, but I haven’t bothered to look it up because at this point I trust him implicitly.) I...
essay – snarfed.org
Deep piano
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old...
over a year ago
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old Brooke started learning, and we suddenly had a keyboard in the house again, so I joined her. It’s been great! I’m playing scales and exercises, diving into Rachmaninoff and Debussy,...
SatPost by Trung...
Introducing "Caffeinated Deep Dives"
My new podcast.
a month ago
Essays - Benedict...
Vision Pro
What has Apple built, what is it for, what does it mean for Meta, and why
does it cost $3,500?...
a year ago
What has Apple built, what is it for, what does it mean for Meta, and why
does it cost $3,500? Check back in 2025.
Working Theorys
Rabbitholes as Portals
Fall down the right ones
9 months ago
Business Brainstorms
Designjoy of Canva, password manager for seniors, Future of SaaS in the wild world of AI, ...
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 “Business idea: “The Designjoy of Canva” - Lower priced...
Roberto Vitillo's...
I am back
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier...
over a year ago
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier posts there as I was too lazy to move…
Rest of World -...
The phrase that ruled the Indian internet in 2023
Looking like a wow.
a year ago
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 #2 💡 Tons of companies are looking to hire someone like this but no one knows how to do it...
9 months ago
#1 💡 #2 💡 Tons of companies are looking to hire someone like this but no one knows how to do it reliably. There are also tons of people who would like to work in such a role but they are hard to find as there is no generally accepted job title. Seems like a huge opportunity if...
42!
Pitch competitions as a measure of success
In our early days of my startup, I would try to enter as many pitch competitions as was feasible,...
a year ago
In our early days of my startup, I would try to enter as many pitch competitions as was feasible, just to try and get our project in front of as many eyes as possible and get our names mentioned in the popular startup press.
I used to give everything in these competitions, and we...
David Perell
The Paradox of Abundance
Information abundance, like all markets of abundance, is bad for the average person but great for a...
over a year ago
Information abundance, like all markets of abundance, is bad for the average person but great for a small number of people. Abundance is a paradox. Environments of abundance are bad for the median consumer but extremely good for a small number of conscious ones. Average consumers...
Rest of World -...
The betting app fueling fantasy cricket’s rise in India
On Dream11, Indian sports fans create groups, participate in tournaments, and win millions by...
a year ago
On Dream11, Indian sports fans create groups, participate in tournaments, and win millions by picking their favorite players.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Notes on the acquisition process
Ten years ago, startup financing was an insider’s game. Since then, the topic has been widely...
over a year ago
Ten years ago, startup financing was an insider’s game. Since then, the topic has been widely discussed on blogs, to the great benefit of…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"Bitcoin is the currency the internet deserves and needs"
George Gilder discusses the importance of Bitcoin in a very interesting interview: To have a...
over a year ago
George Gilder discusses the importance of Bitcoin in a very interesting interview: To have a civilization you need more than just bits and…
David Perell
How Should You Write?
There are two ways to write: The Printer Method and the Pixel Method. With the Printer Method, you...
over a year ago
There are two ways to write: The Printer Method and the Pixel Method. With the Printer Method, you write and rewrite every sentence until it’s perfect. Nail the first sentence, then the second, and so on. Perfection is the name of the game so you don’t advance to a new sentence...
Entrepreneur's Edge
Organizational Design: Balancing Technology and Operations
Understanding the Three Essential Roles for Scale
a year ago
Understanding the Three Essential Roles for Scale
Tech + Economics +...
Elon Musk’s freedom from consequences is once again denied.
Elon Musk's X Corp. has hit a snag trying to block California's AB 587, a
law that aims to clean...
11 months ago
Elon Musk's X Corp. has hit a snag trying to block California's AB 587, a
law that aims to clean up the online environment by requiring transparency
in content moderation.
Peter Blumberg and Malathi Nayak in Bloomberg
In an eight-page ruling Thursday, a federal...
Rest of World -...
AI’s “tech tsunami” is coming for call center workers
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
a year ago
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
Rest of World -...
Japan’s digital ID program is a complicated mess
The “My Number” card program, initially hopeful, is now making more headaches than headway.
a year ago
The “My Number” card program, initially hopeful, is now making more headaches than headway.
Noahpinion
No, you are not on Indigenous land
Pieces of territory belong to institutions, not to racial groups.
3 weeks ago
Pieces of territory belong to institutions, not to racial groups.
Nothing Human
Against Positive-Sum Thinking
why conflict is necessary
a year ago
why conflict is necessary
SatPost by Trung...
The Concorde Jet vs. Boeing 747
PLUS: The Matrix's 25th Anniversary.
8 months ago
PLUS: The Matrix's 25th Anniversary.
Platformer
The Supreme Court reckoning over content moderation is arriving
Platforms might have a way around Texas's social media law — unless a separate case makes that...
a year ago
Platforms might have a way around Texas's social media law — unless a separate case makes that illegal, too
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#36)
The silent majority and the Palestine protests; immigration is fine; batteries make solar work;...
7 months ago
The silent majority and the Palestine protests; immigration is fine; batteries make solar work; building warships in Japan; the decels of the Right
Working Theorys
The Taste Discount
Everything is easier when tastes align.
8 months ago
Everything is easier when tastes align.
Rest of World -...
Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates
The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful...
3 months ago
The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful pushback against low earnings.
Stephen Diehl
Haskell for Web Developers
over a year ago
Essays - Benedict...
A month of the Vision Pro
The Vision Pro is amazing, but like the rest of VR and AR, Apple seems
years away from the mass...
9 months ago
The Vision Pro is amazing, but like the rest of VR and AR, Apple seems
years away from the mass market. And if it gets there, how much will it
matter?
Rest of World -...
How we’re tracking AI incidents around global elections
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in...
8 months ago
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in a regularly updated tracker.
Tech + Economics +...
We’re in our 30’s. We’re not The Girls or The Boys.
A busy morning café. A group of women in their 30s are laughing over
lattes. One of them exclaims,...
a year ago
A busy morning café. A group of women in their 30s are laughing over
lattes. One of them exclaims, "We girls need to do this more often!" Across
town, a group of men clink their glasses in a pub, one of them chuckling,
"It's always a good time with the boys." Adults...
Noahpinion
Six reasons chipmakers should put their fabs in Japan
It has every resource the semiconductor industry needs.
a year ago
It has every resource the semiconductor industry needs.
Platformer
13 predictions for platforms in 2023
Twitter! ChatGPT! Content moderation! And more
over a year ago
Twitter! ChatGPT! Content moderation! And more
Blog posts of...
Startup Mentoring Sessions: How to be a decent, maybe even good startup mentor.
How to be the perfect startup mentor? I don’t know. But following the best practices mentioned in...
over a year ago
How to be the perfect startup mentor? I don’t know. But following the best practices mentioned in this article I got personally at...
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...
Tech + Economics +...
Apparently, Magic Leap still exists?
VentureBeat:
While Apple’s device will be tough to compete with, Magic Leap has a
slight...
11 months ago
VentureBeat:
While Apple’s device will be tough to compete with, Magic Leap has a
slight pricing edge, with a price of $3,300 versus Apple’s $3,500
device. But it is interesting that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment
Fund, which is already the majority owner...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google’s feature creep
Microsoft used to be considered the king of feature creep. Here was Microsoft Word when it was most...
over a year ago
Microsoft used to be considered the king of feature creep. Here was Microsoft Word when it was most cluttered: I don’t use any of…
Rest of World -...
Cambodia’s leader continues to abuse Facebook while Meta mulls suspension ruling
Can the Oversight Board force Meta to hold its ground?
a year ago
Can the Oversight Board force Meta to hold its ground?
Rest of World -...
How Presto became Libya’s most successful tech startup
The delivery app now plans to expand to neighboring countries.
2 months ago
The delivery app now plans to expand to neighboring countries.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Allocation investing and the social premium
The rational way to invest in something – a startup, public company, venture capital firm, real...
over a year ago
The rational way to invest in something – a startup, public company, venture capital firm, real estate project, etc. – is to base your…
Rest of World -...
Cricket, influencers, layoffs: Alibaba’s risky bet in Pakistan
Since its acquisition by the Chinese giant, e-commerce site Daraz has been experimenting to reach...
a year ago
Since its acquisition by the Chinese giant, e-commerce site Daraz has been experimenting to reach new buyers amid an economic crisis.
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…
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.
Essays - Benedict...
Who cares about tech regulation?
Tech regulation gets a lot of headlines, and seems like a big deal, but
most people in tech don’t...
9 months ago
Tech regulation gets a lot of headlines, and seems like a big deal, but
most people in tech don’t seem to care much. It’s boring, and years away,
but more fundamentally, it really doesn’t affect what people spend their
time working on.
Rest of World -...
How InstaDeep became Africa’s biggest AI startup success
Karim Beguir is the co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, a Tunisian startup that was acquired for $682...
3 months ago
Karim Beguir is the co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, a Tunisian startup that was acquired for $682 million by BioNTech.
Tom Blomfield
Five Unbreakable Rules for Startups
I’ve been involved with 4 startups over the last 10 years or so, 3 as a co-founder. I’m a follower...
over a year ago
I’ve been involved with 4 startups over the last 10 years or so, 3 as a co-founder. I’m a follower of Paul Graham and the YC camp of startup wisdom. There’s now a great deal of literature laying out the unbreakable rules for startups. Despite studying this literature, I’ve...
Noahpinion
Interview: Dan Wang, China specialist
We talk about China's economy, decoupling, export controls, industrial policy, state control, and...
a year ago
We talk about China's economy, decoupling, export controls, industrial policy, state control, and lots more.
SatPost by Trung...
How Olympic Air Pistols Took Over The Timeline
PLUS: WTF happened to Nike?
4 months ago
PLUS: WTF happened to Nike?
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)
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#13)
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness,...
a year ago
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness, historical data, and some Star Trek recommendations
AVC
Fun Friday: Upside Pizza Club
This is the second post in a row where I am bringing back an old tradition. This time it is Fun...
a year ago
This is the second post in a row where I am bringing back an old tradition. This time it is Fun Friday, something I haven’t done in about five years. Like last week, the catalyst is our portfolio company Blackbird Labs, which I posted about a few months ago. Blackbird is a...
Noahpinion
Stop saying "there is no decoupling". There is!
Decoupling will take time, and it won't look like the Iron Curtain, but it's happening.
a year ago
Decoupling will take time, and it won't look like the Iron Curtain, but it's happening.
Internal Tech Emails
Barry Diller: Facebook is trying to "steal" Tinder's cofounder
Their attempts to hire Sean away from us potentially indicate they believe something like Tinder...
over a year ago
Their attempts to hire Sean away from us potentially indicate they believe something like Tinder could be replicated by them. I’d like to avoid that, though I don’t know that FB itself makes it that much more likely to succeed than anyone else.
Rest of World -...
How well do you know global food delivery?
Test your knowledge of the world’s favorite delivery apps and most-ordered dishes.
4 months ago
Test your knowledge of the world’s favorite delivery apps and most-ordered dishes.
Noahpinion
Three more books about the technology wars
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
a year ago
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
Working Theorys
The Prestige-Prosperity Gap
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up...
5 months ago
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up proportionately, and vice versa. But the modern world is a lot messier. There can be bizarre mismatches between prestige and prosperity. Some people have social or professional status far...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Recruiting programmers to your startup
Here are some things I’ve learned over the years about recruiting programmers* to startups. This is...
over a year ago
Here are some things I’ve learned over the years about recruiting programmers* to startups. This is a big topic: many of the points I make…
Rest of World -...
A little-understood role in a global VC could also be one of the most influential
Ana Jiménez, 500 Global’s chief of staff for Latin America, on building a relationship of trust and...
a year ago
Ana Jiménez, 500 Global’s chief of staff for Latin America, on building a relationship of trust and strategic vision with her organization’s leader.
tomcritchlow.com
How do You Cultivate Customer-Centric Executives?
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is...
9 months ago
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is customer-centric - someone who has a rich mental model for what customers want and is able to step into the customer's shoes.
I theorize that beyond a culture of being customer-centric it's the...
tomcritchlow.com
Work is a Place
My buddy Luke recently started a band called Tattoo Mustache. While we were chatting, his eyes lit...
9 months ago
My buddy Luke recently started a band called Tattoo Mustache. While we were chatting, his eyes lit up talking about jamming in the studio with his bandmates - his arms were flailing and you could feel the energy coming off him like steam from a hot pan. These weekly jam sessions...
Platformer
Here come the ChatGPT bans
Blocked in schools, forbidden at a machine learning conference. What should OpenAI do about it?
a year ago
Blocked in schools, forbidden at a machine learning conference. What should OpenAI do about it?
essay – snarfed.org
Logs as end user UI
A long time ago, I decided to show Bridgy‘s end users its raw logs. Like, raw logs. HTTP requests,...
a year ago
A long time ago, I decided to show Bridgy‘s end users its raw logs. Like, raw logs. HTTP requests, database reads and writes, JSON objects, stack traces, etc. It’s an unusual UI feature, but it’s been an unqualified success, enough that when I built Bridgy Fed, I immediately...
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
eBay vs Amazon: decentralized vs centralized e-commerce
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay...
over a year ago
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay employee. But all the opinions expressed below…
tomcritchlow.com
3,573 Days On The Road
Every year on the 24th October I've written a reflection on the last year of my independent...
3 months ago
Every year on the 24th October I've written a reflection on the last year of my independent consulting. This would have been my 10th issue, but is instead a special issue, for reasons that will become apparent.
Paul Graham: Essays
What the Bubble Got Right
over a year ago
haseeb qureshi
DeFi in Eth2: Cities, suburbs, and farms
Ethereum today is incredibly congested—it’s even more congested now than it was during the height of...
over a year ago
Ethereum today is incredibly congested—it’s even more congested now than it was during the height of the ICO bubble.
This is impressive, but also worrying! Ethereum 2.0 is still a ways away, but the tiny island of Ethereum 1.0 is already populated to the point of...
Noahpinion
7 Reasons Democrats Should Be Optimistic About Their Chances in 2026 and 2028
A guest post by Wally Nowinski.
a month ago
A guest post by Wally Nowinski.
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
Why to Not Not Start a Startup
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Biden is right that we need to raise taxes
But his plan needs a lot of work.
7 months ago
But his plan needs a lot of work.
Noahpinion
If this is a bad economy, please tell me what a good economy would look like
We should acknowledge that things are going well, even as we continue to look for problems to solve.
a year ago
We should acknowledge that things are going well, even as we continue to look for problems to solve.
Noahpinion
How China's "debt traps" actually work
Raiding the Global South like a piggy bank.
a year ago
Raiding the Global South like a piggy bank.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Collective knowledge systems
I think you could make a strong argument that the most important technologies developed over the...
over a year ago
I think you could make a strong argument that the most important technologies developed over the last decade are a set of systems that are…
Rest of World -...
Tears of a get-rich-quick guru
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur...
a year ago
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur fantasy.
Rest of World -...
How an African streaming service dethroned Netflix
Showmax sits at the top of the market with a vast library of local content, partnerships with...
10 months ago
Showmax sits at the top of the market with a vast library of local content, partnerships with Comcast and HBO, and exclusive access to the biggest soccer leagues in the world.
Rest of World -...
Buy-now-pay-later plans lead to rampant scams and bad debt across Southeast Asia
From Thailand to Vietnam, a loophole in buy-now-pay-later schemes that allows users to get cash is...
3 months ago
From Thailand to Vietnam, a loophole in buy-now-pay-later schemes that allows users to get cash is raising concerns.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Revenue vs margin
Three years ago, Fred Wilson wrote a great blog post called When Talking About Business Models,...
over a year ago
Three years ago, Fred Wilson wrote a great blog post called When Talking About Business Models, Remember that Profits Equal Revenues Minus…
Rest of World -...
AI moderation is no match for hate speech in Ethiopian languages
New research raises concerns that moderation tools can't detect violent threats in Tigray and...
a year ago
New research raises concerns that moderation tools can't detect violent threats in Tigray and elsewhere.
Noahpinion
Who's "weird"?
A campaign insult offers a window into American society in the 2020s.
4 months ago
A campaign insult offers a window into American society in the 2020s.
Essays - Benedict...
Metabrand
Has Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook, or rebranded VR? What is the
metaverse? And can any...
over a year ago
Has Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook, or rebranded VR? What is the
metaverse? And can any company decide to build the future anymore?
Rest of World -...
Why Mexico is tweeting at its third- richest citizen to delete his tweets
On August 11, Mexico’s election authority made an unexpected announcement via its official account...
a year ago
On August 11, Mexico’s election authority made an unexpected announcement via its official account on X, formerly known as Twitter: It called for Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico’s third-richest man, to...
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec: "my recent discussions with Steve [Jobs]"
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing...
a year ago
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing Apple to do a lot of stuff they'd rather not do (using Office as leverage)
Rest of World -...
This app makes sure dinner is halal
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards...
2 months ago
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards of Islamic law.
Rest of World -...
Another week, another push to “Make in India”
The Indian government mandates companies to get a license if they want to import laptops, tablets,...
a year ago
The Indian government mandates companies to get a license if they want to import laptops, tablets, and PCs. Experts call it “protectionism.”
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The People Deliberately Killing Facebook
Over the last decade, few platforms have declined quite as rapidly and visibly as Facebook and...
7 months ago
Over the last decade, few platforms have declined quite as rapidly and visibly as Facebook and Instagram. What used to be apps for catching up with your friends and family are now algorithmic nightmares that constantly interrupt you with suggested content and advertisements that...
Steve Blank
Profound Beliefs
This post previously appeared in EIX. In the early stages of a startup your hypotheses about all the...
a year ago
This post previously appeared in EIX. In the early stages of a startup your hypotheses about all the parts of your business model are your profound beliefs. Think of profound beliefs as “strong opinions loosely held.” You can’t be an effective founder or in the C-suite of a...
Folklore.org:...
Revolution in the Valley
The story of how this site turned into a book
a year ago
The story of how this site turned into a book
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The Babe Ruth Effect in Venture Capital
"How to hit home runs: I swing as hard as I can, and I try to swing right through the ball... The...
over a year ago
"How to hit home runs: I swing as hard as I can, and I try to swing right through the ball... The harder you grip the bat, the more you can…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Thanks…
I got my first computer (TRS-80 Model 1) in 1980 at the age of 8. I got my second computer – an...
over a year ago
I got my first computer (TRS-80 Model 1) in 1980 at the age of 8. I got my second computer – an Atari 800 – two years later. I was…
Rest of World -...
WhatsApp voice notes are revolutionizing farming in Senegal
For farmers in Senegal who struggle to read or write, sending voice notes has unlocked a new world...
a year ago
For farmers in Senegal who struggle to read or write, sending voice notes has unlocked a new world of collaboration across the industry.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Real Reason to End the Death Penalty
over a year ago
SatPost by Trung...
Economics of Taylor Swift's $2B+ Eras Tour
Breaking down the numbers for the most successful concert tour ever.
a week ago
Breaking down the numbers for the most successful concert tour ever.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Two eras of the internet: pull and push
The evolution of the internet is an extremely complex topic. Sometimes it is helpful to find broad...
over a year ago
The evolution of the internet is an extremely complex topic. Sometimes it is helpful to find broad patterns that make it easier to…
SatPost by Trung...
LinkedIn's Social Pivot
How the 1B+ user professional network went from a cringe-inducing activity feed to a useful and less...
3 months ago
How the 1B+ user professional network went from a cringe-inducing activity feed to a useful and less cringey social feed.
SatPost by Trung...
The Reading Unlock
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang,...
a year ago
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang, Sarah Blakely, Chip Wilson and Phil Knight.
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,...
Working Theorys
How to Go Direct
Owning your own message, with intermediaries
8 months ago
Owning your own message, with intermediaries
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.
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
Rest of World -...
TikTok creators are being arrested for violating religious laws in Nigeria
Digital rights advocates say social media companies like TikTok have a responsibility to protect...
a year ago
Digital rights advocates say social media companies like TikTok have a responsibility to protect their users in these situations.
Noahpinion
In which I rebut Nate Silver on the economy and Matt Yglesias on nuclear
Bloggers love to argue.
2 months ago
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Every time an engineer joins Google, a startup dies
VC returns over the last decade have been poor. The cause is widely agreed to be an excess of...
over a year ago
VC returns over the last decade have been poor. The cause is widely agreed to be an excess of venture capital dollars to worthy startups…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
NFTs and A Thousand True Fans
In his classic 2008 essay “1000 True Fans,” Kevin Kelly predicted that the internet would transform...
over a year ago
In his classic 2008 essay “1000 True Fans,” Kevin Kelly predicted that the internet would transform the economics of creative activities: To…
Working Theorys
Cool Self
There are a lot of theories about the meaning of life. About what we go through life searching for....
5 months ago
There are a lot of theories about the meaning of life. About what we go through life searching for. What we’re lucky if we find. Some of these theories give us answers, but many prompt us to ask more questions. Recently I’ve landed on my own theory, one rooted in a kind of common...
Rest of World -...
A traveler’s dream: Cash-free payment systems link up across Southeast Asia
From Bali to Bangkok, people are ditching cards for QR code payments. There’s a catch: For now, it’s...
a year ago
From Bali to Bangkok, people are ditching cards for QR code payments. There’s a catch: For now, it’s for locals only.
Rest of World -...
ByteDance shuts down its WhatsApp clone in Africa
TikTok’s owner launched LetsChat in 2021, aimed at young Africans and boosted by heavy marketing,...
9 months ago
TikTok’s owner launched LetsChat in 2021, aimed at young Africans and boosted by heavy marketing, but it couldn’t crack WhatsApp’s dominance.
Tech + Economics +...
Don’t look down on TikTok creators. Learn from them.
It’s both terrifying and fascinating to watch a generation half my age
redefine creativity on...
a year ago
It’s both terrifying and fascinating to watch a generation half my age
redefine creativity on platforms like TikTok. As a 34-year-old writer, I’ve
seen the evolution of storytelling from physical print to digital media to
the dazzling, and fast-paced world of social video....
Rest of World -...
Building a food delivery app in the internet shutdown capital of the world
Jammu and Kashmir’s Gatoes was founded in 2020 in the middle of a months-long government-imposed...
3 months ago
Jammu and Kashmir’s Gatoes was founded in 2020 in the middle of a months-long government-imposed internet restriction. It is now expanding in north India.
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
New York City needs a tech startup blog
At first it seemed like Silicon Alley Insider would be this, but they seem to have moved away from...
over a year ago
At first it seemed like Silicon Alley Insider would be this, but they seem to have moved away from covering NYC startups. The New York Times…
Internal Tech Emails
Travis Kalanick on self-driving | SBF and the Bahamas
Basically got to keep bezos, cook, musk, zuck, page on our minds
over a year ago
Basically got to keep bezos, cook, musk, zuck, page on our minds
Noahpinion
Yes, of course crime is way down
The people telling you crime isn't falling are feeding you a line.
5 months ago
The people telling you crime isn't falling are feeding you a line.
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.
Articles - Alex...
The age of average
In the early 1990s, two Russian artists named Vitaly Komar and Alexander
Melamid hired a market...
a year ago
In the early 1990s, two Russian artists named Vitaly Komar and Alexander
Melamid hired a market research firm to survey the public on what they
wanted in a work of art. Across 11 countries they then set about painting a
piece that reflected the results. Each piece was...
Stephen Diehl
Functional Programming, Abstraction, and Names
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Do you want to sell sugar water or do you want to change the world?
“Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or come with me and change the world?” –...
over a year ago
“Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or come with me and change the world?” – Steve Jobs I sometimes wish that instead…
David Perell
Beer Mode and Coffee Mode
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused...
over a year ago
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused play where you discover new ideas. In contrast, coffee mode is a state of focus where you work towards a specific outcome. The problem with traditional productivity advice is that...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Thales the Milesian
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a...
over a year ago
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a philosopher: There is the anecdote of Thales the…
Rest of World -...
Alibaba.com’s U.S. expansion hinges on wooing mom-and-pop shops
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about...
3 months ago
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about the U.S. market.
Essays - Benedict...
Apple intelligence and AI maximalism
Apple has showed a bunch of cool ideas for generative AI, but much more, it
is pointing to most of...
6 months ago
Apple has showed a bunch of cool ideas for generative AI, but much more, it
is pointing to most of the big questions and proposing a different answer -
that LLMs are commodity infrastructure, not platforms or products.
Rest of World -...
When EV startups shut down, will their cars still work?
As Chinese EV makers close, drivers of “smartphones on wheels” say software updates and maintenance...
3 months ago
As Chinese EV makers close, drivers of “smartphones on wheels” say software updates and maintenance are in jeopardy.
Rest of World -...
Latin Americans’ social feeds are being flooded with AI-generated ads
Brands and politicians are getting mixed results.
a year ago
Brands and politicians are getting mixed results.
Paul Graham: Essays
Let the Other 95% of Great Programmers In
over a year ago
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Working Theorys
The Rise of the Software Creator
In the age of AI, software creators, like content creators, will emerge as the industry’s...
6 months ago
In the age of AI, software creators, like content creators, will emerge as the industry’s non-professional creative class.
David Perell
The Book You Need to Read
There is an epidemic of people who bash Christianity but haven’t read the Bible.
No matter where you...
over a year ago
There is an epidemic of people who bash Christianity but haven’t read the Bible.
No matter where you stand on religion, if you don’t know what the Bible actually says, it’s time to change that.
The post The Book You Need to Read appeared first on David Perell.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Showing up
Mark Twain famously quipped that “80 percent of life is showing up.” Running a startup, I’d say it’s...
over a year ago
Mark Twain famously quipped that “80 percent of life is showing up.” Running a startup, I’d say it’s more like 90 percent. For example, I…
Data Boutique
How Data Boutique Works #2: Volume Discounts
The volume-related pricing system explained
9 months ago
The volume-related pricing system explained
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#22)
Test score collapse, triumph of the vibes, U.S. dependence on China, the benefits of upzoning,...
a year ago
Test score collapse, triumph of the vibes, U.S. dependence on China, the benefits of upzoning, immigrants and jobs, and a world at war
Noahpinion
Four reasons not to vote for Trump, and four reasons to vote for Harris
Summing up my thoughts on the 2024 election.
a month ago
Summing up my thoughts on the 2024 election.
Platformer
In latest round of Twitter cuts, some see hints of its next CEO
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
a year ago
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
Working Theorys
Invisible Duels
You didn’t agree to this duel. Yet it’s happening.
2 weeks ago
You didn’t agree to this duel. Yet it’s happening.
Noahpinion
The Roaring 20s are back on track
A healthy economy, strong productivity growth, and a continuing tech boom.
a year ago
A healthy economy, strong productivity growth, and a continuing tech boom.
Rest of World -...
The company building AI dubbing that preserves original voices
Seamus McAteer, the founder of Speechlab, discusses AI-generated speech and the importance of...
a year ago
Seamus McAteer, the founder of Speechlab, discusses AI-generated speech and the importance of translating accents.
Steve Blank
Why Large Organizations Struggle With Disruption, and What to Do About It
Seemingly overnight, disruption has allowed challengers to threaten the dominance of companies and...
4 months ago
Seemingly overnight, disruption has allowed challengers to threaten the dominance of companies and government agencies as many of their existing systems have now been leapfrogged. How an organization reacts to this type of disruption determines whether they adapt or die. I’ve...
Roberto Vitillo's...
Testing and operating distributed systems
I am excited to announce that the first edition of my book about distributed systems is finally...
over a year ago
I am excited to announce that the first edition of my book about distributed systems is finally complete! First things first, I have…
Working Theorys
How to Do Business School Right | Theory No. 22
There’s an age-old debate about whether you should go to business school or not. It rarely comes up...
a year ago
There’s an age-old debate about whether you should go to business school or not. It rarely comes up these days but yes, I went to business school — arguably to the most business-school-y of business schools, Harvard Business School. Business school isn’t “popular” in modern...
AVC
Coding Again
It has been many years since I’ve written code. I’ve hacked around in HTML and CSS a bit on this...
a year ago
It has been many years since I’ve written code. I’ve hacked around in HTML and CSS a bit on this blog and a few other places. But I have not actually written an application in a very long time. I think it might be thirty years since I’ve done any real programming. Over the...
Data Boutique
Generic data marketplaces are broken
Misaligned interests and lack of value are the cause
a year ago
Misaligned interests and lack of value are the cause
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.
Working Theorys
Crypto social games don’t need the crypto
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild
10 months ago
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild
Noahpinion
The danger of another American civil war is low
Re-upping some arguments I've made before.
a year ago
Re-upping some arguments I've made before.
Rest of World -...
How RRR’s success brought a wave of Telugu-language movies to Netflix
Netflix in the U.S. now has more content in Telugu than in German, Russian, or any dialect of...
8 months ago
Netflix in the U.S. now has more content in Telugu than in German, Russian, or any dialect of Chinese.
Noahpinion
"Luxury" construction causes high rents like umbrellas cause rain
The NIMBY mindset persists in the face of evidence.
a year ago
The NIMBY mindset persists in the face of evidence.
Noahpinion
You're not going to like what comes after Pax Americana
Welcome to the jungle.
a year ago
David Perell
Saving the Liberal Arts
We start with their history by returning to the origins of Western thought. We argue that splitting...
over a year ago
We start with their history by returning to the origins of Western thought. We argue that splitting education into two halves — Professional and Civilized — is the only way to think about education clearly. We then outline the evolution of the Liberal Arts, from the ancients to...
AVC
My Year-End Playlist
As usual, here are some songs that stuck with me this year. fredwilson · Backing It When No One...
over a year ago
As usual, here are some songs that stuck with me this year. fredwilson · Backing It When No One Believed I hope you enjoy it.
Rest of World -...
Indonesia is trying to block LGBTQIA content from the internet
A new broadcast bill imposes curbs on LGBTQIA content and other “negative” material, potentially...
6 months ago
A new broadcast bill imposes curbs on LGBTQIA content and other “negative” material, potentially hurting content creators and broadcasters in Indonesia.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Requiem for Raghavan
Last week, Prabhakar Raghavan was relieved of duty as Senior Vice President of Search, becoming...
2 months ago
Last week, Prabhakar Raghavan was relieved of duty as Senior Vice President of Search, becoming Google's "Chief Technologist."
An important rule to follow with somebody's title in Silicon Valley is that if you can't tell what it means, it probably doesn&
Platformer
Why TikTok's future has never been so cloudy
ByteDance thought it had a deal with the government in August. Then came the bans — and a spying...
a year ago
ByteDance thought it had a deal with the government in August. Then came the bans — and a spying scandal
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The Internet Economy
We are living in an era of bundling. The big five consumer tech companies — Google, Apple, Facebook,...
over a year ago
We are living in an era of bundling. The big five consumer tech companies — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft — have moved far…
essay – snarfed.org
COVID was bad for the climate
William Cho The standard narrative on COVID and the climate is: People worked from home, cancelled...
over a year ago
William Cho The standard narrative on COVID and the climate is: People worked from home, cancelled travel plans, cut down overall consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions fell drastically. It’s great for the environment! Let’s keep it up! With apologies to H. L. Mencken, I...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Does a VC’s brand matter?
Suppose you are in the enviable position of choosing between offers from multiple VC firms. How...
over a year ago
Suppose you are in the enviable position of choosing between offers from multiple VC firms. How much should you weigh the brand of the VCs…
Internal Tech Emails
Facebook vs. TikTok | Elon Musk emails Tesla's board
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
over a year ago
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
Rest of World -...
The startup working to teach AI about African history
There’s less historical material about Africa for AI to find online. Archivi.ng believes its work...
a year ago
There’s less historical material about Africa for AI to find online. Archivi.ng believes its work will change that.
Platformer
Why journalists can't quit Twitter
The media should be building alternatives. Instead, some are doubling down
a year ago
The media should be building alternatives. Instead, some are doubling down
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#39)
Modi's third term; Biden and the border; good news on climate; nonprofits being bad; interest rates...
6 months ago
Modi's third term; Biden and the border; good news on climate; nonprofits being bad; interest rates and austerity
AVC
The 83b Election
First and foremost, this is not tax advice. I am not a tax advisor and you should never take...
a year ago
First and foremost, this is not tax advice. I am not a tax advisor and you should never take anything you read here as tax advice. If you read something here that makes you think you should take some tax-related action, please always consult your tax advisor. With that disclosure...
Rest of World -...
Mexico is using an AI-powered app to prevent suicides
MeMind has connected 10,000 at-risk people with mental health treatment, contributing to a 9% drop...
a week ago
MeMind has connected 10,000 at-risk people with mental health treatment, contributing to a 9% drop in suicides.
Essays - Benedict...
TV, merchant media and the unbundling of advertising
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest...
over a year ago
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest fast-fashion retailer in the US, with no stores. US
pay TV subscribers have fallen by a third. Where do ad budgets go, where
does rent go, and how many brands will there be?
Rest of World -...
Jumia Food’s shutdown left hundreds of drivers jobless, unable to withdraw earnings
Former gig drivers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are still feeling the pinch after Jumia Food...
8 months ago
Former gig drivers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are still feeling the pinch after Jumia Food abruptly exited seven African markets.
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,
Rest of World -...
Japan’s news app unicorn was ready to take on the US market. Where did it go wrong?
Former SmartNews employees point to failed product launches and far-right obsession of former CEO.
a year ago
Former SmartNews employees point to failed product launches and far-right obsession of former CEO.
Rest of World -...
Global TikTok creators depend on U.S. viewers. A TikTok ban would be devastating
Without Americans on the app, advertising dollars are at risk.
a year ago
Without Americans on the app, advertising dollars are at risk.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Trouble with the Segway
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Offline first, mobile enabled
One of the major trends in tech startups what Fred Wilson calls “Mobile first, web second.”...
over a year ago
One of the major trends in tech startups what Fred Wilson calls “Mobile first, web second.” Instagram is a great example of mobile first…
tomcritchlow.com
Notes on Search and AI
What to say about the future of AI and search?
10 months ago
What to say about the future of AI and search?
Platformer
A visit to TikTok's transparency center
Few companies have ever made their code so available for inspection. How much will it matter?
a year ago
Few companies have ever made their code so available for inspection. How much will it matter?
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#17)
Techno-optimism, the mighty U.S. economy, Chinese real estate, slavery's economic effects, and the...
a year ago
Techno-optimism, the mighty U.S. economy, Chinese real estate, slavery's economic effects, and the danger of hate on social media. Plus, rescue rabbits.
Noahpinion
Sizing up the New Axis
A repost, more relevant than ever.
3 months ago
A repost, more relevant than ever.
Rest of World -...
The industry behind the industry behind AI
It’s outsourcing all the way down.
a year ago
It’s outsourcing all the way down.
Unpacked
Uber Ads: Accelerating the path to profitability
What makes advertising attractive is that it's a 100% margin product that can subsidize the lower...
a year ago
What makes advertising attractive is that it's a 100% margin product that can subsidize the lower margin core business.
Rest of World -...
How this mental health care app is using ChatGPT to improve its chatbot
Andrea Campos is the founder and CEO of Yana, a mental health care app and chatbot for Spanish and...
6 months ago
Andrea Campos is the founder and CEO of Yana, a mental health care app and chatbot for Spanish and English speakers.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
AVC
CEO 360s
I’ve written about this topic before. It is an important topic and I want to raise it again. Boards...
a year ago
I’ve written about this topic before. It is an important topic and I want to raise it again. Boards often discuss CEO performance without really knowing how things work inside the company. And CEOs often have very little visibility to how they are doing and what the board thinks...
tomcritchlow.com
Becoming Creative
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few...
a year ago
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few links that I deeply love about starting, finishing and promoting creative acts…
AVC
AIVC
I was approached by a company this week that has trained a large language model on all of the blog...
a year ago
I was approached by a company this week that has trained a large language model on all of the blog posts I have written here at AVC. There are 9059 of them for those that are counting. They wanted to offer me a chat bot called “ask Fred.” I told them no thanks. Let me […]
Paul Graham: Essays
Default Alive or Default Dead?
over a year ago
Working Theorys
Define the Game | Theory No. 14
I grew up playing tennis with my sister at the public courts near home. For a long time, I just...
a year ago
I grew up playing tennis with my sister at the public courts near home. For a long time, I just cherished the joy of playing and watching the careers of the "big 3" unfold. But recently I’ve started to appreciate something more about tennis: the clarity of the meta-game around...
SatPost by Trung...
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Pixar
Revisiting the studio’s early highs (one lunch led to $6B at the box office), creative struggles...
4 months ago
Revisiting the studio’s early highs (one lunch led to $6B at the box office), creative struggles (stale IP, original flops) and why "Inside Out 2" could trigger a renaissance.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Firing
Firing is awful. You can try to avoid it, but even the most selective founders make serious...
over a year ago
Firing is awful. You can try to avoid it, but even the most selective founders make serious mistakes. Here are a few things I’ve observed…
Rest of World -...
Writers and publishers in Singapore reject a government plan to train AI on their work
Singapore's literary community is pushing back against an official effort to train LLMs using their...
7 months ago
Singapore's literary community is pushing back against an official effort to train LLMs using their published works, part of a growing global resistance.
Platformer
Meta is building a decentralized, text-based social network
Is this the Twitter replacement we've been waiting for?
a year ago
Is this the Twitter replacement we've been waiting for?
Noahpinion
The best-case scenario for Trump's second term
An optimistic Thanksgiving post.
3 weeks ago
An optimistic Thanksgiving post.
Noahpinion
What just happened in San Francisco politics?
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
9 months ago
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
essay – snarfed.org
New job, hello climate tech
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to...
over a year ago
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to prevent deforestation and sequester more carbon in trees. A few years ago, I looked around for a side project on the climate crisis. Nothing big, maybe 5-10 hours a week, but I was ready...
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
Internal Tech Emails
Mark Zuckerberg: "speed and strategy"
One way to make sure we can move quickly is for everyone to understand our strategy behind the major...
a year ago
One way to make sure we can move quickly is for everyone to understand our strategy behind the major product areas we're working on. I've tried to summarize some of the key ones here.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of institutional redundancy
Every system built by a single institution has points of failure that can bring the entire system...
over a year ago
Every system built by a single institution has points of failure that can bring the entire system down. Even in organizations that have…
David Perell
How Philosophers Think
Philosophers are the most rigorous thinkers I know. Like intellectual boxers; they come to...
over a year ago
Philosophers are the most rigorous thinkers I know. Like intellectual boxers; they come to understand ideas by making them fight with each other. Their style of analysis is effective because it’s so bloody. One friend calls his style “violent thinking.” He talks about thinking...
Rest of World -...
In Nigeria, government and local VCs are helping startups weather the tech downturn
Sensing an existential threat to the country's tech scene, the government and local VCs are filling...
a year ago
Sensing an existential threat to the country's tech scene, the government and local VCs are filling the expanding funding gap.
Rest of World -...
Chinese immigrants in the U.S. are running Temu shipping centers out of their homes
To speed up delivery and dodge a crackdown on shipments from China, e-commerce companies are turning...
a month ago
To speed up delivery and dodge a crackdown on shipments from China, e-commerce companies are turning to so-called “family warehouses.”
Tech + Economics +...
The unchecked rise of theocracy will extinguish liberal democracy.
As a transgender woman, under any form of populist theocracy, my existence
would be illegal. This...
a year ago
As a transgender woman, under any form of populist theocracy, my existence
would be illegal. This is the reality of governance by faith-based
doctrine. And it's a reality that cannot be allowed to spread.
Religious freedom is a cornerstone of liberal democracy. Individuals...
Noahpinion
The U.S. must not ignore Indonesia
We have the opportunity to befriend an Asian country with a huge population, a large and growing...
a year ago
We have the opportunity to befriend an Asian country with a huge population, a large and growing economy, and a strategic location.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things: The new conservative era (#53)
Conservative poll shift; Democratic machine politics; science and politics; some good news; better...
3 weeks ago
Conservative poll shift; Democratic machine politics; science and politics; some good news; better teachers; the AI slowdown; consumer confidence
Steve Blank
National Industrial Policy – Private Capital and The America’s Frontier Fund Steps Up
This article previously appeared in The National Interest. Last month the U.S. passed the CHIPS and...
over a year ago
This article previously appeared in The National Interest. Last month the U.S. passed the CHIPS and Science Act, one of the first pieces of national industrial policy – government planning and intervention in a specific industry — in the last 50 years, in this case for...
Blog posts of...
Quick tips for hiring remotely
You are most likely already experienced with hiring so think of this more as a quick FYI focusing on...
over a year ago
You are most likely already experienced with hiring so think of this more as a quick FYI focusing on hiring remotely… What issues...
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
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.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Rabbit Holed
Thank you to Emily Shepherd for her hard work reporting parts of this story, as well as her...
7 months ago
Thank you to Emily Shepherd for her hard work reporting parts of this story, as well as her assistance clarifying details related to GAMA and finding company documents related to Rabbit and Cyber Manufacture.
In November 2021, a company called Cyber Manufacture Co raised $6...
Blog posts of...
The unannounced updates to Facebook’s Social Plugins and how to use them!
Since the launch of platform, Facebook has the approach of shipping features early, very early. They...
over a year ago
Since the launch of platform, Facebook has the approach of shipping features early, very early. They ship first, ask later and doc...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Question from a reader
I’ve gotten some emails recently from readers of this blog with questions about early stage...
over a year ago
I’ve gotten some emails recently from readers of this blog with questions about early stage startups. I’m sorry if I haven’t responded to…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
SEO is no longer a viable marketing strategy for startups
Many of the today’s most successful informational sites such as Yelp, Wikipedia and TripAdvisor...
over a year ago
Many of the today’s most successful informational sites such as Yelp, Wikipedia and TripAdvisor relied heavily on SEO for their initial…
Rest of World -...
A coupon-crazy Brazilian app figured out how to beat Uber Eats
Out-discounting competitors: iFood’s bid to become Latin America's last-mile delivery king.
a year ago
Out-discounting competitors: iFood’s bid to become Latin America's last-mile delivery king.
Rest of World -...
Brazil’s flood disaster set off a torrent of AI misinformation
Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are failing an early test of misinformation safeguards.
7 months ago
Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are failing an early test of misinformation safeguards.
AVC
The Annual Computer Science Fair
Ten years ago, a small group of folks in the K12 Computer Science Education community in NYC decided...
a year ago
Ten years ago, a small group of folks in the K12 Computer Science Education community in NYC decided to put on a “mock job fair” for high school students who were taking computer science classes in the NYC public schools. That was the start of an annual day of engagement and...
SatPost by Trung...
Lululemon's $50B+ Apparel Innovation
Chip Wilson launched the athleisure industry by solving the "camel-toe problem" (via breakthroughs...
a year ago
Chip Wilson launched the athleisure industry by solving the "camel-toe problem" (via breakthroughs in materials and sewing methods).
Noahpinion
We’re entering a golden age of engineering biology
A guest post by Joshua March and Kasia Gora
10 months ago
A guest post by Joshua March and Kasia Gora
Working Theorys
Collective Experiences | Theory No. 8
On the value of creating shared context in the age of personalized, on-demand media.
a year ago
On the value of creating shared context in the age of personalized, on-demand media.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Ideal first round funding terms
My last 2 posts were about things to avoid, so I thought it might be helpful to follow up with...
over a year ago
My last 2 posts were about things to avoid, so I thought it might be helpful to follow up with something more positive. Having been part of…
Working Theorys
One-Round Wonder | Theory No. 23
Can a startup have the best of both bootstrapped and venture funded paths?
a year ago
Can a startup have the best of both bootstrapped and venture funded paths?
Rest of World -...
India’s persistent, gendered digital divide
As the government moves towards gender parity, India’s glaring digital gap is an extension of all...
a year ago
As the government moves towards gender parity, India’s glaring digital gap is an extension of all the biases women contend with.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Best practices for raising a VC round
Having raised a number of VC rounds personally and observed many more as an investor or friend, I’ve...
over a year ago
Having raised a number of VC rounds personally and observed many more as an investor or friend, I’ve come to think there are a set of…
Rest of World -...
The AI job interviewer will see you now
AI interview services say they’re eliminating bias — but not everyone agrees.
5 months ago
AI interview services say they’re eliminating bias — but not everyone agrees.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Crypto token roundup
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred...
over a year ago
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred Wilson — ICOs and VCs here, Ethereum in 2…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How We Got To Now
I really enjoyed Steven Johnson's How We Got To Now. I read a lot of history and science books, but...
over a year ago
I really enjoyed Steven Johnson's How We Got To Now. I read a lot of history and science books, but this book stood out because 1) the…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Facebook, Zynga, and buyer-supplier hold up
The brewing fight between Facebook and Zynga is what is known in economic strategy circles as...
over a year ago
The brewing fight between Facebook and Zynga is what is known in economic strategy circles as “buyer-supplier hold up.” The classic…
Platformer
YouTube restores Trump
Meta explained its Trump decision in full. YouTube went another direction
a year ago
Meta explained its Trump decision in full. YouTube went another direction
Roberto Vitillo's...
How to conduct a system design interview
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview....
over a year ago
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview. You can find a lot on the Internet on how…
David Perell
Sensitivity Isn’t Static
The sensitivity of our senses ebbs and flows. If you’re looking to be more perceptive, start by...
a year ago
The sensitivity of our senses ebbs and flows. If you’re looking to be more perceptive, start by changing your environment.
The post Sensitivity Isn’t Static appeared first on David Perell.
Noahpinion
People's Park and the Great American Infill
After the 1970s, we agreed to all let each other have our space. That's over.
11 months ago
After the 1970s, we agreed to all let each other have our space. That's over.
Platformer
How OpenAI is building a path toward AI agents
Building a GPT-based copy editor showcases their promise — but the risks ahead are real
a year ago
Building a GPT-based copy editor showcases their promise — but the risks ahead are real
Rest of World -...
Fake Russian influencers are going viral on Chinese social media
They are bolstered by growing pro-Russia, nationalist sentiment on the Chinese internet.
a year ago
They are bolstered by growing pro-Russia, nationalist sentiment on the Chinese internet.
Noahpinion
Chinasplaining will backfire
A review of "China's World View", by David Daokui Li
9 months ago
A review of "China's World View", by David Daokui Li
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?
Aaron's Essays
Don't focus on the NASDAQ
While thinking about wiggles (Ignoring the Wiggles ), I looked at when the biggest tech cos in the...
over a year ago
While thinking about wiggles (Ignoring the Wiggles ), I looked at when the biggest tech cos in the world started relative to NASDAQ. At first, I thought I'd find no correlation between how well the index was doing and when successful companies were founded.
I love...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Institutional failure
The TV show The Wire is an incredibly instructive lesson on how the modern world works (besides...
over a year ago
The TV show The Wire is an incredibly instructive lesson on how the modern world works (besides being a great work of art). The recurring…
Unpacked
The EU's war on behavioral advertising
Meta recently conceded that in-app behavioral advertising in the EU can no longer be opt-in by...
a year ago
Meta recently conceded that in-app behavioral advertising in the EU can no longer be opt-in by default, marking the end of an era. The regulators won, at least for now.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Gadgets and Computers
From Benedict Evans’ Cars as Feature Phones: This is a common theme in many classes of device: you...
over a year ago
From Benedict Evans’ Cars as Feature Phones: This is a common theme in many classes of device: you start with a product that has a few…
Internal Tech Emails
Scott Forstall emails Steve Jobs | Elon Musk on tweeting
He mentions third party developers. I do think at some point we will want to enable third parties to...
over a year ago
He mentions third party developers. I do think at some point we will want to enable third parties to write apps for P2.
Tech + Economics +...
The patriarchy is a modern invention, not the natural order.
The "patriarchy", a male-dominated social order with entrenched hierarchies
giving power and...
11 months ago
The "patriarchy", a male-dominated social order with entrenched hierarchies
giving power and authority to men over women, is pitched by masculinity
influencers and pop social scientists as humanity's natural state. They
argue patriarchy represents the primal hard-wiring of...
Platformer
The consumer AI era has begun
OpenAI beat Google to the market with its $42 monthly ChatGPT service. Can it handle the risks that...
a year ago
OpenAI beat Google to the market with its $42 monthly ChatGPT service. Can it handle the risks that come with it?
Rest of World -...
Why African startups must invest in tech policy conversations
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia discusses the biggest challenge startups face when dealing with government...
a year ago
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia discusses the biggest challenge startups face when dealing with government policies and regulators.
Noahpinion
Uphold territorial integrity
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
a year ago
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Graphs
It has become customary to use “graph” to refer to the underlying data structures at social networks...
over a year ago
It has become customary to use “graph” to refer to the underlying data structures at social networks like Facebook. (Computer scientists…
Steve Blank
The Semiconductor Ecosystem – Explained
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS...
over a year ago
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS Act, our dependence on Taiwan and TSMC, China, etc. But despite all this talk about chips and semiconductors, few understand how the industry is structured. I’ve found the best way to...
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
The Ukraine war is ultimately about Poland
When Putin talks, we should listen.
10 months ago
When Putin talks, we should listen.
Data Boutique
5 Reasons You Should Stop Web Scraping
An approach to web data as a service
a year ago
An approach to web data as a service
Roberto Vitillo's...
Monoids for analytics
This is a short post on the elegance of using abstract algebra for analytics in Scala. A monoid is...
over a year ago
This is a short post on the elegance of using abstract algebra for analytics in Scala. A monoid is a set that is closed under an…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google’s social strategy
It is widely believed that Facebook presents a significant competitive threat to Google. Google...
over a year ago
It is widely believed that Facebook presents a significant competitive threat to Google. Google itself seems to believe this – Larry Page…
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.
Noahpinion
Price controls: Too early for a victory lap
Narrative-driven triumphalism does not make for sound policy.
a year ago
Narrative-driven triumphalism does not make for sound policy.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Maximizing capacity utilization as a startup premise
In stark contrast to other major airlines, Southwest has been profitable for 40 years. If Southwest...
over a year ago
In stark contrast to other major airlines, Southwest has been profitable for 40 years. If Southwest had one core “startup premise” it was…
Noahpinion
Vibes vs. data
It's asymmetric warfare out there.
a year ago
It's asymmetric warfare out there.
Data Boutique
What's New on Data Boutique
Noteworthy stuff from the web data platform
11 months ago
Noteworthy stuff from the web data platform
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.
Noahpinion
Four years of Noahpinion
What happened to the world in 2024, and what I wrote about it
4 weeks ago
What happened to the world in 2024, and what I wrote about it
haseeb qureshi
So you want to build a crypto startup?
I’m a crypto VC. That means I spend my days talking to crypto entrepreneurs, hearing pitches, and...
over a year ago
I’m a crypto VC. That means I spend my days talking to crypto entrepreneurs, hearing pitches, and evaluating products. The first thing you realize working in this industry is that pretty much everyone is winging it. (That applies to me, but it especially applies to...
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…
Noahpinion
China at the peak
The country's rise is complete, but don't expect a rapid decline.
a year ago
The country's rise is complete, but don't expect a rapid decline.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The next twenty years are going to make this last twenty years just pale
If we were sent back with a time machine, even 20 years, and reported to people what we have right...
over a year ago
If we were sent back with a time machine, even 20 years, and reported to people what we have right now and describe what we were going to…
Roberto Vitillo's...
Scalability patterns of distributed systems
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems ! It explores the different...
over a year ago
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems ! It explores the different patterns at your disposal when designing…
Rest of World -...
How China’s hottest social media app turned Düsseldorf into a foodie destination
The trendiest food city in Europe isn’t Paris or London. It’s Düsseldorf — thanks to Xiaohongshu.
a year ago
The trendiest food city in Europe isn’t Paris or London. It’s Düsseldorf — thanks to Xiaohongshu.
SatPost by Trung...
The Science and History of the iPhone Screen
In 2007, one conversation convinced Steve Jobs to pick Corning and Gorilla Glass for the iPhone.
a year ago
In 2007, one conversation convinced Steve Jobs to pick Corning and Gorilla Glass for the iPhone.
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