Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
What's up with those revised job numbers?
Government data revisions can be scary, but they actually aren't that hard to understand.
4 months ago
Government data revisions can be scary, but they actually aren't that hard to understand.
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
Snapshot: Viaweb, June 1998
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How to select your angel investors
I’ve seen a number of situations recently that are something like the following. A VC firm signs a...
over a year ago
I’ve seen a number of situations recently that are something like the following. A VC firm signs a term sheet with an early stage company…
Noahpinion
Who's afraid of the Huawei Mate 60 Pro?
Export controls were never going to make China's semiconductor industry vanish.
a year ago
Export controls were never going to make China's semiconductor industry vanish.
SatPost by Trung...
Starbucks' Digital Dilemna
The Starbucks rewards app is an incredible business. However, mobile orders are getting out of...
7 months ago
The Starbucks rewards app is an incredible business. However, mobile orders are getting out of control and hurting the brand's "premium" vibe.
Stephen Diehl
A Haskell Implementation Reading List
over a year ago
Paul Graham: Essays
Six Principles for Making New Things
over a year ago
Stephen Diehl
The Haskell Elephant in the Room
over a year ago
AVC
Subscribing To AVC
For many years, there were three ways to subscribe to AVC: 1/ Email – Get new posts delivered to...
a year ago
For many years, there were three ways to subscribe to AVC: 1/ Email – Get new posts delivered to your inbox 2/ RSS – Get new posts delivered to your RSS reader 3/ X – Follow AVC on X X revoked the API access that I was using to autopost three or four months ago. […]
Noahpinion
Announcing the winners of our semiconductor policy contest!
Some good ideas in here.
2 months ago
Noahpinion
The U.S. would be insane to go it alone on trade and manufacturing
Punching down on our allies will not help the middle class.
8 months ago
Punching down on our allies will not help the middle class.
Internal Tech Emails
Mark Zuckerberg: "Ship the app"
I think it's a really big deal that we ship this photos app quickly.
2 months ago
I think it's a really big deal that we ship this photos app quickly.
Noahpinion
The debt ceiling deal: What was the whole point?
A manufactured crisis leads to an ineffectual "solution"
a year ago
A manufactured crisis leads to an ineffectual "solution"
Rest of World -...
Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them
Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's...
3 months ago
Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's terrible gridlock.
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.
Rest of World -...
Crunchyroll is trying to turn India into a nation of anime lovers
The world’s largest anime streaming service is opening its second local office, working with...
4 months ago
The world’s largest anime streaming service is opening its second local office, working with Bollywood stars, and adding dozens of shows per quarter.
Blog posts of...
About the “other” Startup Hubs.
There is an energetic discussion going on in the Web-Tech Startup World. Each city wants to know -...
over a year ago
There is an energetic discussion going on in the Web-Tech Startup World. Each city wants to know - “Can we become the next Silicon...
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Owning equity in your company should be as common as owning equity in your home
What belongs in common to the most people is accorded the least care: they take thought for their...
over a year ago
What belongs in common to the most people is accorded the least care: they take thought for their own things above all, and less about…
Platformer
Why Substack is at a crossroads
Some thoughts on platforms and Nazis
11 months ago
Some thoughts on platforms and Nazis
Rest of World -...
An Indian edtech that helps students live out their study-abroad dreams
Leverage Edu, which has raised $70 million, is among the few profitable edtech companies in the...
a year ago
Leverage Edu, which has raised $70 million, is among the few profitable edtech companies in the country.
Rest of World -...
Scan to donate: Brazil’s instant digital payment system brings relief to flood victims
As flooding battered the country, Pix became the most popular way to send and receive aid — and a...
6 months ago
As flooding battered the country, Pix became the most popular way to send and receive aid — and a target for scammers.
Rest of World -...
To connect disparate tech scenes, Brazil, Mozambique, and Angola show language is a great unifier
As Africa and Latin America form closer links between their tech scenes, similar challenges,...
a year ago
As Africa and Latin America form closer links between their tech scenes, similar challenges, opportunities, and prejudices emerge.
Noahpinion
Bank weakness is how our economy cools off
Not polycrisis, but stabilization.
a year ago
Not polycrisis, but stabilization.
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.
Essays - Benedict...
Notes on newsletters
Email newsletters unlocked a new way to pay for content, but is this a tool
or a network? You can...
over a year ago
Email newsletters unlocked a new way to pay for content, but is this a tool
or a network? You can write all you like, but how do you get readers? And
is the take rate 10% or 90%?
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.
AVC
NFT Art CDMX
We spent this past weekend in Mexico City at Bright Moment’s NFT Art CDMX. Bright Moments is the...
over a year ago
We spent this past weekend in Mexico City at Bright Moment’s NFT Art CDMX. Bright Moments is the premier NFT art “gallery” in the world. I use that term in parentheses because Bright Moments is much more than a gallery but that word is well understood. USV is a member of the...
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"
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“PCs are going to be like trucks”
Steve Jobs in 2010: When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you...
over a year ago
Steve Jobs in 2010: When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you needed on the farms. Cars became more…
Roberto's blog
Conquer dev environments with Nix
I regularly use different devices with different OSs, such as a MacBook, a Windows desktop with WSL,...
6 months ago
I regularly use different devices with different OSs, such as a MacBook, a Windows desktop with WSL, a couple of Raspberry PIs, and so on. I have a bunch of tools I like to have at my fingertips when I log into a machine, like fd and Neovim. Setting up and maintaining the same...
Paul Graham: Essays
Why to Start a Startup in a Bad Economy
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why does it matter that Twitter is supplanting RSS?
The other day I claimed that Twitter is supplanting RSS, and that long term that’s a bad thing....
over a year ago
The other day I claimed that Twitter is supplanting RSS, and that long term that’s a bad thing. Andrew Weissman had a very reasonable…
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
As elegantly produced as movies and as engaging as great novels
MIT professor Woodie Flowers argues that higher education's current approach to online learning is...
over a year ago
MIT professor Woodie Flowers argues that higher education's current approach to online learning is misguided: We decided to assume that the…
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.
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.
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...
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 -...
The most surprising tech champions of 2024
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions...
2 weeks ago
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions stood out for their impressive growth this year.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"It all blossomed out of this tiny little seed"
Steve Jobs in 1985: I felt it the first time when I visited a school. It was third and fourth...
over a year ago
Steve Jobs in 1985: I felt it the first time when I visited a school. It was third and fourth graders, and they had a whole classroom full…
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
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.
Blog posts of...
Sh*t! Twitter is exciting - again!
Every epoch in the history of humanity had a raw resource that became the key to commercial success...
over a year ago
Every epoch in the history of humanity had a raw resource that became the key to commercial success that time. Similar to companie...
Rest of World -...
Investors are unsettled as funding is drying up for Africa’s startup ecosystem
As funding to Africa’s once fast-growing startup ecosystem dries up, industry insiders are worried...
a year ago
As funding to Africa’s once fast-growing startup ecosystem dries up, industry insiders are worried that the ecosystem is unprepared.
Rest of World -...
Apple suppliers are scrambling to fill over 40,000 jobs in Vietnam
Foxconn and Luxshare slashed workers. But under pressure to expand away from China, they suddenly...
a year ago
Foxconn and Luxshare slashed workers. But under pressure to expand away from China, they suddenly need them back.
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
The Four Quadrants of Conformism
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Comma.ai
I wrote a blog post last month highlighting some of the exciting trends in the computing industry....
over a year ago
I wrote a blog post last month highlighting some of the exciting trends in the computing industry. One trend I discussed is the rapid…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Business development: the Goldilocks principle
Background: At Hunch, we switched our focus (“pivoted“) about 14 months ago from B2C to B2B. Over...
over a year ago
Background: At Hunch, we switched our focus (“pivoted“) about 14 months ago from B2C to B2B. Over that time, we pitched over 500 potential…
Rest of World -...
The U.S. shouldn’t make its semiconductor policy all about China
American chip policy doesn’t just hurt China. It hurts Taiwan, too.
a year ago
American chip policy doesn’t just hurt China. It hurts Taiwan, too.
Noahpinion
Decoupling is just going to happen
Chinese policy and geopolitical risk are doing a lot of the work here.
a year ago
Chinese policy and geopolitical risk are doing a lot of the work here.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🔀 The Law of Line Extension
3 months ago
🔀 The Law of Line Extension
Business Brainstorms
Copilot for cooperations, futility of SOPs, $0->$100m->$0 in 5 years, and adjusting to market...
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 “Is there a Superhuman for Salesforce? Because this...
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…
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
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.
Articles - Alex...
How to ride a recession
A storm is coming. In 2020 Britain suffered its deepest recession in over
300 years. Two years...
over a year ago
A storm is coming. In 2020 Britain suffered its deepest recession in over
300 years. Two years later and the UK’s economic picture is not much
prettier. This article argues that whilst recessions are a threat to some
businesses, they are an opportunity for others. It argues...
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...
Noahpinion
Why not put TSMC and Samsung fabs in Canada?
A solution that's almost too perfect.
a year ago
A solution that's almost too perfect.
Stephen Diehl
SBF is Crypto Personified
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The Indian EV startup navigating short-lived government subsidies
Prashant Vashishtha is the founder and chairman of Sokudo Electric India.
5 months ago
Prashant Vashishtha is the founder and chairman of Sokudo Electric India.
Working Theorys
Full-Stack Something | Theory No. 17
I've realized that one thing I really enjoy about writing is that I can do it all myself. Usually...
a year ago
I've realized that one thing I really enjoy about writing is that I can do it all myself. Usually people tell you this isn't a good mentality to have — the desire to be self-sufficient. But I disagree. Whether it's writing, building products, etc. — I think it's good to be...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The decline of the mobile web
People are spending more time on mobile vs desktop: And more of their mobile time using apps, not...
over a year ago
People are spending more time on mobile vs desktop: And more of their mobile time using apps, not the web: This is a worrisome trend for…
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...
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 -...
Indian politicians are bringing the dead on the campaign trail, with help from AI
Digital rights activists have questioned the ethics of using “soft fakes” to resurrect the past and...
7 months ago
Digital rights activists have questioned the ethics of using “soft fakes” to resurrect the past and manage the future.
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.
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…
AVC
Sign Everything
The advances in AI over the last year are mind-boggling. I attended a dinner this past week with USV...
over a year ago
The advances in AI over the last year are mind-boggling. I attended a dinner this past week with USV portfolio founders and one who works in education told us that ChatGPT has effectively ended the essay as a way for teachers to assess student progress. It will be easier for a...
Paul Graham: Essays
Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Feeling strangely optimistic about Egypt
It has many of the building blocks for a successful industrialization story.
a year ago
It has many of the building blocks for a successful industrialization story.
Unpacked
FTC's case against Amazon is misunderstood
The case makes a nuanced argument about how Amazon abused monopoly power through anti-discounting...
a year ago
The case makes a nuanced argument about how Amazon abused monopoly power through anti-discounting measures and tying in Prime with Fulfilled by Amazon
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
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.
Dustin Curtis
Block Carefully
A couple of years ago, I posted a slight criticism of Elon Musk that led prominent venture...
2 months ago
A couple of years ago, I posted a slight criticism of Elon Musk that led prominent venture capitalist Marc Andreessen to block me. Since then, I have been unable to view his posts1, which is a shame because I valued his thoughts and opinions.
Today, X engineering announced...
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 -...
How China took over the world’s online shopping carts
Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop are going global with big ambitions.
a year ago
Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop are going global with big ambitions.
Rest of World -...
Why African governments must prioritize affordable internet and smartphones
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
a year ago
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
Platformer
What I learned in year three of Platformer
Has the Substack revolution come and gone? PLUS: What's changing in year four
a year ago
Has the Substack revolution come and gone? PLUS: What's changing in year four
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…
SatPost by Trung...
Steve Ballmer, Larry Ellison and That Sweet Sweet Tech Equity
The backstories for how the single biggest shareholders in Microsoft and Oracle built their stakes.
3 months ago
The backstories for how the single biggest shareholders in Microsoft and Oracle built their stakes.
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.
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)
XO Capital - Field...
v2
XO V1 concluded with 10 acquisitions and 1 "fund".
The V1 "conclusion" is really a line in the sand...
8 months ago
XO V1 concluded with 10 acquisitions and 1 "fund".
The V1 "conclusion" is really a line in the sand but it feels right as we continue to offload assets to focus on larger deals using outside capital. This will transition us into v2 which we'
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“Meaningful” startups
There is generally a lot of enthusiasm in the startup world these days. But some observers worry...
over a year ago
There is generally a lot of enthusiasm in the startup world these days. But some observers worry that too many startups are working on…
Noahpinion
Toward a shallower future
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
11 months ago
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Facebook is about to try to dominate display ads the way Google dominates text ads
It is customary to divide online advertising into two categories: direct response and brand...
over a year ago
It is customary to divide online advertising into two categories: direct response and brand advertising. I prefer instead to divide it…
42!
Founders - Don't just build another job for yourself
I was having pre-Christmas lunch with Paul*, one of my best friends from middle school a couple of...
over a year ago
I was having pre-Christmas lunch with Paul*, one of my best friends from middle school a couple of weeks back. However, as soon as he sat down at our table and I asked him how he was, he surprisingly announced that he would be closing his business at the end of the year.
I was...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Nine reasons screenshots are awesome
By taking a screenshot, you can “export” from any app on any device. You can “import” screenshots...
over a year ago
By taking a screenshot, you can “export” from any app on any device. You can “import” screenshots back into any app that imports photos…
Steve Blank
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning– Explained
Artificial Intelligence is a once-in-a lifetime commercial and defense game changer (download a PDF...
over a year ago
Artificial Intelligence is a once-in-a lifetime commercial and defense game changer (download a PDF of this article here) Hundreds of billions in public and private capital is being invested in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning companies. The number of patents...
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.
Rest of World -...
The secret to becoming the world’s biggest digital bank: A user-friendly app
From quick credit to digital banking, Nubank bet on an easy app experience to stand out to users and...
a year ago
From quick credit to digital banking, Nubank bet on an easy app experience to stand out to users and criminals alike.
Steve Blank
Gordon Bell R.I.P.
Gordon Bell passed on this month. I was a latecomer in Gordon Bell’s life. But he made a lasting...
7 months ago
Gordon Bell passed on this month. I was a latecomer in Gordon Bell’s life. But he made a lasting impact on mine. The first time I laid eyes on Gordon Bell was in 1984 outside a restaurant in a Boston suburb when he pulled up in a Porsche. I was the head of Marketing for […]
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...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#29)
AI might help the middle class, Americans can afford food, narratives about science, Europe's...
9 months ago
AI might help the middle class, Americans can afford food, narratives about science, Europe's defense industry, and Native American YIMBYism
Internal Tech Emails
Instagram cofounder on Mark Zuckerberg
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
a year ago
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
Steve Blank
Apple Vision Pro – Tech in the Search of a Market
A version of this article previously appeared in Fortune. If you haven’t been paying attention Apple...
10 months ago
A version of this article previously appeared in Fortune. If you haven’t been paying attention Apple has started shipping its Apple Vision Pro, its take on a headset that combines Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). The product is an amazing technical tour de force....
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Present to Investors
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of predictability for platform developers
A platform is a technology or product upon which many other technologies or products are built. Some...
over a year ago
A platform is a technology or product upon which many other technologies or products are built. Some platforms are controlled by a single…
Noahpinion
Our climate change debates are out of date
Solar and batteries are going to win, and our thinking needs to adjust accordingly.
a year ago
Solar and batteries are going to win, and our thinking needs to adjust accordingly.
Rest of World -...
AI image generators have a moderation problem
Tests carried out by Logically confirm these platforms accept 85% of prompts tailored for election...
a year ago
Tests carried out by Logically confirm these platforms accept 85% of prompts tailored for election manipulation.
SatPost by Trung...
How does Michelin Guide's business work?
The Michelin tire business does $30B+ a year in revenue. The brand's iconic food review guide is...
4 months ago
The Michelin tire business does $30B+ a year in revenue. The brand's iconic food review guide is 0.1% of sales. An incredible marketing deal.
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.
Working Theorys
Two Shticks
Everyone needs two shticks.
4 days ago
Everyone needs two shticks.
Noahpinion
Realistically, how much damage could Trump do to the U.S. economy?
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
a month ago
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
Rest of World -...
Virtual tomb-sweeping keeps a Chinese tradition alive
As Chinese migrants struggle to return home for traditional tomb-sweeping, virtual platforms are...
2 months ago
As Chinese migrants struggle to return home for traditional tomb-sweeping, virtual platforms are helping them pay respects from afar.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"Natural languages are adequate, but that doesn't mean they're optimal"
Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic...
over a year ago
Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic process that leaves them teeming with…
SatPost by Trung...
Gordon Ramsay's Apprenticeship
The iconic chef said a top-tier mentor (Marco Pierre-White) taught him the value of learning high...
8 months ago
The iconic chef said a top-tier mentor (Marco Pierre-White) taught him the value of learning high standards and how to take the reins.
Rest of World -...
This Chinese startup believes it can take augmented reality glasses mainstream
Peng Jin, co-founder and head of commercialization at AR glasses startup Nreal, discusses how his...
a year ago
Peng Jin, co-founder and head of commercialization at AR glasses startup Nreal, discusses how his product will revolutionize the display experience.
Rest of World -...
When Nigeria banned Twitter, Koo had a golden opportunity, and squandered it
Even the government officials who championed the Twitter competitor have stopped using it.
a year ago
Even the government officials who championed the Twitter competitor have stopped using it.
Unpacked
Data Scraping in the Spotlight: Are Language Models Overstepping by Training on Everyone's Content?
As I wrapped up the research for this piece and was about to start writing, OpenAI had a perfect...
a year ago
As I wrapped up the research for this piece and was about to start writing, OpenAI had a perfect announcement to go with it - they are temporarily disabling the “Browse with Bing" feature on ChatGPT. If you haven’t used it before, this is a feature available to paying Plus users....
David Perell
A Divine Intuition
Under a secular mindset, intuition is all about you — your wants, needs, passions, and desires. A...
a year ago
Under a secular mindset, intuition is all about you — your wants, needs, passions, and desires. A heavenly, God-inspired intuition is different.
The post A Divine Intuition appeared first on David Perell.
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
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.
Noahpinion
Will China squander its moment in the sun?
A great civilization could be a lot greater, if its leaders gave up their obsession with control.
11 months ago
A great civilization could be a lot greater, if its leaders gave up their obsession with control.
Rest of World -...
Scale AI is on a hiring spree for speakers of under-represented languages
But some languages pay a lot better than others.
a year ago
But some languages pay a lot better than others.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#42)
The end of Chevron deference; export controls; jerky American profs; basic income; economics of AI;...
5 months ago
The end of Chevron deference; export controls; jerky American profs; basic income; economics of AI; solar power uses; Global South tariffs; Gen Z wages; Stiglitz
AVC
What Happened In 2023
I like to bookend the New Year holiday with two posts, one looking back at the year that is ending...
11 months ago
I like to bookend the New Year holiday with two posts, one looking back at the year that is ending (What Happened) and one looking forward to the year ahead (What Will Happen). This is the first of these two posts. The second one will run tomorrow. I ended my What Will Happen In...
Rest of World -...
For South Africa’s female ride-hailing drivers, customers are the biggest hazards
Desperate to make ends meet, female Uber and Bolt drivers say abuse and attacks are a constant part...
a year ago
Desperate to make ends meet, female Uber and Bolt drivers say abuse and attacks are a constant part of the job.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Never Forgive Them
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried...
6 days ago
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried again and again to work out why everything digital feels so broken, and why it seems to keep getting worse, despite what tech’s “brightest&
Rest of World -...
What Elon Musk’s new biography leaves out
Looking beyond the Tesla reality-distortion field.
a year ago
Looking beyond the Tesla reality-distortion field.
Rest of World -...
What we learned from reporting on global tech this year
Rest of World contributors from Dhaka to Buenos Aires share their highlights, low points, and key...
2 weeks ago
Rest of World contributors from Dhaka to Buenos Aires share their highlights, low points, and key takeaways from covering technology in 2024.
Working Theorys
The Idea That Won't Go Away | Theory No. 24
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
a year ago
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
SatPost by Trung...
"Now is the Most Important Time"
Jensen Huang, Cillian Murphy, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey on the power of being...
9 months ago
Jensen Huang, Cillian Murphy, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey on the power of being present.
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
If you asked people in 1989...
"If you asked people in 1989 what they needed to make their life better, it was unlikely that they...
over a year ago
"If you asked people in 1989 what they needed to make their life better, it was unlikely that they would have said that a decentralized…
Aaron's Essays
In defense of exploding term sheets
There’s a lot of content out there arguing that exploding term sheets—ones that expire after a set...
over a year ago
There’s a lot of content out there arguing that exploding term sheets—ones that expire after a set amount of time, whether or not they’re accepted—are bad. Some of this comes from founders who do not appreciate the pressure; some if it comes from VCs who want to emphasize their...
Folklore.org:...
The Father Of The Macintosh
Who is the father of the Macintosh?
a year ago
Who is the father of the Macintosh?
Rest of World -...
New data shows the number of new mobile internet users is stalling
What happened to the “next billion” internet users? They’re already online.
a month ago
What happened to the “next billion” internet users? They’re already online.
tomcritchlow.com
9 Years on the Road
October 24th is my indie-versary, the anniversary of quitting my last full time job. Every year I...
11 months ago
October 24th is my indie-versary, the anniversary of quitting my last full time job. Every year I write a set of reflections about this strange and magical journey.
Rest of World -...
How tiny, cheap smart speakers unlocked the rise of digital payments in India
Vegetable carts, flower shops, mom-and-pop stores: Small speakers that read out digital payment...
a year ago
Vegetable carts, flower shops, mom-and-pop stores: Small speakers that read out digital payment receipts are making fintech companies big money.
Rest of World -...
How WhatsApp ate the world
WhatsApp is already the world’s most widely used messaging app. Meta wants it to be a lot more.
a week ago
WhatsApp is already the world’s most widely used messaging app. Meta wants it to be a lot more.
Internal Tech Emails
Sam Altman emails Elon Musk
The mission would be to create the first general Al and use it for individual empowerment—ie, the...
9 months ago
The mission would be to create the first general Al and use it for individual empowerment—ie, the distributed version of the future that seems the safest.
Nadia Asparouhova
Does meditation experience improve success with the jhanas?
Jhanas – a series of altered mental states that are accessed via concentration – are often described...
5 months ago
Jhanas – a series of altered mental states that are accessed via concentration – are often described as an “advanced meditation practice,” a phrase that suggests that one must be a skilled meditator to access them: just as only a skilled outdoorsman would embark upon an...
Working Theorys
When founders outgrow their startups
On the rise of personal power and the new founders' dilemma.
3 months ago
On the rise of personal power and the new founders' dilemma.
Rest of World -...
The Chinese founder who is betting on the Western appetite for short soaps
Mega Matrix and FlexTV want to succeed where Quibi has failed by embracing the allure of “so bad...
7 months ago
Mega Matrix and FlexTV want to succeed where Quibi has failed by embracing the allure of “so bad it’s good” shows.
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...
Tech + Economics +...
The fuckery.
I start each day with the intention of writing positively about tech and AI
and startups and vc...
a year ago
I start each day with the intention of writing positively about tech and AI
and startups and vc and then I open my laptop and…there it is. There’s the
fuckery.
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…
David Perell
Should You Write Every Day?
When I started working out, I hated it. I wanted to gain muscle but dreaded working out. Eventually,...
over a year ago
When I started working out, I hated it. I wanted to gain muscle but dreaded working out. Eventually, a friend got fed up with my laziness and told me what I needed to hear: “If you want to build the habit, go to the gym every single day without fail.” So that’s what I did.
The...
Rest of World -...
After dating app murders spike in Colombia, Match Group offers to help the police
Tinder’s parent company attended an unprecedented meeting with the U.S. Embassy and local...
9 months ago
Tinder’s parent company attended an unprecedented meeting with the U.S. Embassy and local authorities in Colombia to curb attacks against foreigners.
Rest of World -...
How Zimbabwe’s biggest fast-food company became a popular fintech solution
Innbucks started as an app to receive loose change at some restaurants. Now, it’s a licensed...
a year ago
Innbucks started as an app to receive loose change at some restaurants. Now, it’s a licensed microfinance institution.
Rest of World -...
Uber Eats drivers in South Africa are unionizing
Citing meager wages, no safety gear, and exploitative working conditions, the country’s drivers are...
a year ago
Citing meager wages, no safety gear, and exploitative working conditions, the country’s drivers are organizing to demand better.
Rest of World -...
An end of an era for Latin American tech
Foreign businesses are making strides in the region while local tech companies reshuffle.
a year ago
Foreign businesses are making strides in the region while local tech companies reshuffle.
42!
I got booted from one of my own company’s Slack channels...
So, last week I got removed from one of my company’s Slack channels… and it was probably the best...
a year ago
So, last week I got removed from one of my company’s Slack channels… and it was probably the best thing that could have happened for me, and my company.
You see, like most companies, we have ‘global’ chat channels that everyone participates in, plus each team has distinct...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The segmentation of the venture industry
Ford Motors dominated the auto market in the early 20th century with a single car model, the Model...
over a year ago
Ford Motors dominated the auto market in the early 20th century with a single car model, the Model T. At the time, customers were seeking…
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
Software eats software development
Software is eating the world, and doing so using smaller and smaller teams. WhatsApp was able to...
over a year ago
Software is eating the world, and doing so using smaller and smaller teams. WhatsApp was able to disrupt the global SMS industry with only a…
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs on iPhone design
This may be our answer - we could put the number pad around our clickwheel.
10 months ago
This may be our answer - we could put the number pad around our clickwheel.
Rest of World -...
The capybara influencer revolt
A wildlife influencer’s famous capybara was confiscated by Brazilian authorities. A mass movement...
a year ago
A wildlife influencer’s famous capybara was confiscated by Brazilian authorities. A mass movement ensued.
42!
F1, Sport and Reality TV
It’s been two days now since I stayed up late to watch the final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi...
over a year ago
It’s been two days now since I stayed up late to watch the final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi with my sons.
Full disclosure, we are all team Hamilton fans here, and were excited to watch the final deciding race as to who would take out the 2021 World Driver’s...
Paul Graham: Essays
Disconnecting Distraction
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Capabilities and sensibilities
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the...
over a year ago
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability…
Platformer
Bluesky's big moment
A new Twitter clone is surging in popularity. Could it have legs?
a year ago
A new Twitter clone is surging in popularity. Could it have legs?
Noahpinion
Five things to be optimistic about in America today
Enough doom and gloom, let's allow ourselves a moment of happiness.
8 months ago
Enough doom and gloom, let's allow ourselves a moment of happiness.
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.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Pese a prohibición, apps de préstamos depredadores proliferan en la tienda de Google Play
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible...
11 months ago
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible en la tienda.
AVC
What Will Happen In 2023
I want to focus this post on the macro environment for tech, startups, web3, and climate because...
a year ago
I want to focus this post on the macro environment for tech, startups, web3, and climate because that is where my head is at right now. I believe that sometime in the first half of 2023, the central banks around the world will start backing off the tightening that they have been...
Roberto Vitillo's...
Back of the envelope estimation hacks
There are two types of engineers, the ones that can quickly do estimates and the ones that can't....
over a year ago
There are two types of engineers, the ones that can quickly do estimates and the ones that can't. Are these people just smarter, or is there…
Working Theorys
Some Thoughts on Airchat
For people in a tiny slice of the world and internet, there’s no greater canon event than the...
8 months ago
For people in a tiny slice of the world and internet, there’s no greater canon event than the prospect of a new social app taking off. Sometimes there are multi-year droughts. In a plentiful year, there are one or two prospects that excite us. (And I wrote a stream of...
Dustin Curtis
Tesla and Storytelling
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no...
2 months ago
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no steering wheel or pedals, and an autonomous humanoid robot, called Optimus2, that can walk and has fully functioning hands and feet. Both of these products have been depicted in...
Platformer
14 predictions about 2024
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
a year ago
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Keybase: bringing public-key cryptography to mainstream users
Today I’m excited to announce that a16z is leading a $10.8M Series A financing of Keybase, a company...
over a year ago
Today I’m excited to announce that a16z is leading a $10.8M Series A financing of Keybase, a company that is trying to make the internet…
Articles - Alex...
The ageism in advertising
The advertising industry is addicted to youth. We are obsessed and
possessed. We crave it in our...
over a year ago
The advertising industry is addicted to youth. We are obsessed and
possessed. We crave it in our agencies and we covet it in our audiences. We
believe younger staff are more creative and younger consumers are more
valuable. But this is nothing more than received wisdom....
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s far-right front-runner is not the crypto candidate fans think he is
Milei’s plans for the dollarization of Argentina’s economy might even depress crypto adoption.
a year ago
Milei’s plans for the dollarization of Argentina’s economy might even depress crypto adoption.
Nadia Asparouhova
Explaining tech’s notion of talent scarcity
TLDR: Most conversations about “top talent” assume Pareto distribution; however, a closer...
a year ago
TLDR: Most conversations about “top talent” assume Pareto distribution; however, a closer examination suggests that different corporate cultures benefit from different types of talent distribution (normal, Pareto, and a third option – bimodal) according to the problem they’re...
Rest of World -...
In Southeast Asia, Ramadan is an online shopping bonanza
An e-commerce battle brews between Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop with the continued rise of...
8 months ago
An e-commerce battle brews between Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop with the continued rise of livestream selling.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#15)
Working-class wealth, the education gap, zero-sum thinking, data uncertainty, and indigenous...
a year ago
Working-class wealth, the education gap, zero-sum thinking, data uncertainty, and indigenous knowledge
Working Theorys
Taste is Eating Silicon Valley.
Just as software ate the world and dramatically transformed industries in the last era, taste is now...
3 months ago
Just as software ate the world and dramatically transformed industries in the last era, taste is now eating software—and with it, Silicon Valley.
Platformer
The TikTok bans are accelerating
With a key vote scheduled for tonight, the company's options are growing limited
a year ago
With a key vote scheduled for tonight, the company's options are growing limited
Business Brainstorms
The Buyer’s Pyramid, Unreasonable Hospitality, Boring Stuff that Works
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 “Has anyone made a good AI tool yet where I can load in...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Outsource things you don’t care about
A fundamental principle of business is that you do things in house that you think can give you a...
over a year ago
A fundamental principle of business is that you do things in house that you think can give you a competitive advantage and outsource things…
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.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Folklore.org:...
He's Only in Field Service
The SCC gets designed into the Mac
a year ago
The SCC gets designed into the Mac
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
Coronavirus and Credibility
over a year ago
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Essays - Benedict...
There’s no such thing as data
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own...
over a year ago
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own our data, and be paid for it. But really, there is no
such thing as data, it’s not yours, and it’s not worth anything.
Platformer
Elon's war on Substack
How Twitter is breaking — and its CEO is accelerating its fall
a year ago
How Twitter is breaking — and its CEO is accelerating its fall
SatPost by Trung...
Las Vegas, F1 and the sport's long history in America
PLUS: An unexpected Netflix hit and the world's most popular artist.
a year ago
PLUS: An unexpected Netflix hit and the world's most popular artist.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
There are three New York Cities
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born...
over a year ago
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and…
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.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
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! #1 💡 It's cool that smartphones have become all-in-one devices. But at...
Paul Graham: Essays
Why to Not Not Start a Startup
over a year ago
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...
42!
Finding and fixing slow queries
Photo by Caspar Camille Rubin on Unsplash
I love dashboards, and I run several on my system to...
over a year ago
Photo by Caspar Camille Rubin on Unsplash
I love dashboards, and I run several on my system to monitor my HR startup in real time. I love collecting data points around subscriptions, user activity, and most importantly, server uptime and performance. Especially now that we are...
Paul Graham: Essays
Why There Aren't More Googles
over a year ago
Tech + Economics +...
Portfolio careers are the future of work.
The traditional idea of sticking to one career path for life, once seen as the golden standard of...
a year ago
The traditional idea of sticking to one career path for life, once seen as the golden standard of work success, is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Now, we're moving towards the paradigm of the "portfolio career."
Think of a portfolio career like a patchwork quilt of jobs....
Noahpinion
Techno-optimism for 2024
What you should be excited about
11 months ago
What you should be excited about
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What if online business model innovation is slowing down?
There is a widely held assumption that new business models will continue to emerge online – that...
over a year ago
There is a widely held assumption that new business models will continue to emerge online – that statements like “how will Twitter ever make…
Rest of World -...
Before you start celebrating a possible Tesla factory in India …
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos...
a year ago
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos Elon Musk.
Stephen Diehl
From Adjunctions to Monads
over a year ago
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?
David Perell
What I Got Wrong About Business
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the...
over a year ago
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the domain expertise that leads to entrepreneurial ideas.
The post What I Got Wrong About Business appeared first on David Perell.
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…
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...
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.
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…
Rest of World -...
A tale of two feeds
Car smuggling in Bolivia is booming, despite thieves and theft victims widely documenting the...
a year ago
Car smuggling in Bolivia is booming, despite thieves and theft victims widely documenting the problem.
Data Boutique
Case Study: MatchesFashion Inventory Outflows
Web data for market insights
9 months ago
Web data for market insights
XO Capital - Field...
Moving To A Paid Community
I've been debating / delaying this moment for 3 years. They say to build a business these days, one...
9 months ago
I've been debating / delaying this moment for 3 years. They say to build a business these days, one smart way to do it is build a community first.
We do have a community. It's on discord. It's been useless for all but the past
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Incumbents die due to irrelevance or ineptitude
Judging from the tech press, you’d think the biggest risk to successful companies is competition....
over a year ago
Judging from the tech press, you’d think the biggest risk to successful companies is competition. But when you examine the history of…
Paul Graham: Essays
Default Alive or Default Dead?
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Why so many of us were wrong about missile defense
Writing about military spending is difficult.
8 months ago
Writing about military spending is difficult.
Rest of World -...
Chinese EV sellers found a loophole to export cars around the world
A gray market grows for Chinese EVs in Russia, the Middle East, and beyond.
10 months ago
A gray market grows for Chinese EVs in Russia, the Middle East, and beyond.
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.
Rest of World -...
India wants to make influencers register with the government
Under the proposed bill, anyone from local content creators to Taylor Swift could be classified as a...
4 months ago
Under the proposed bill, anyone from local content creators to Taylor Swift could be classified as a “digital news broadcaster.”
Noahpinion
Who cares about the Ivy League? (repost)
Too much of our education discourse focuses on a handful of tiny elite schools.
a year ago
Too much of our education discourse focuses on a handful of tiny elite schools.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
a16z
VCs are experts at analyzing industries and identifying new opportunities, which is why it’s odd...
over a year ago
VCs are experts at analyzing industries and identifying new opportunities, which is why it’s odd that the VC industry itself has so…
Noahpinion
At least five things for your weekend (#30)
"Are we better off", the economy of Dune, energy abundance, wacky polls, doomscrolling, anger about...
9 months ago
"Are we better off", the economy of Dune, energy abundance, wacky polls, doomscrolling, anger about interest rates, and visualizing urban density
Stephen Diehl
Dive into GHC: Targeting Core
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Nobody knows how many jobs will "be automated"
Whatever that even means.
a year ago
Whatever that even means.
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…
Data Boutique
Problems When Disclosing How Data Is Collected
Recent news highlights how in-house data collection might not be taken well by users.
a year ago
Recent news highlights how in-house data collection might not be taken well by users.
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…
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#35)
Chinese defense spending, activists vs. normies, corporate diversity, phones in schools,
7 months ago
Chinese defense spending, activists vs. normies, corporate diversity, phones in schools,
Rest of World -...
Shein’s hottest item in Latin America is its plastic bags
The reusable packaging often ends up outliving the garments it once transported.
a year ago
The reusable packaging often ends up outliving the garments it once transported.
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?
Business Brainstorms
Hard startups, importance of founder-led sales, Netflix for written content
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 “I wish I could pay per newspaper article, with only...
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.
Tom Blomfield
Startup Series Part 4: Deadlines
The question of deadlines is one of the most divisive issues in software development today....
over a year ago
The question of deadlines is one of the most divisive issues in software development today. Business-people despair at developers’ inability to meet goals, while developers lament the latest unachievable deadline imposed by their pointy-haired boss.
In practice, there is often a...
AVC
The Heist
On Saturday, September 9th, the Gotham Gal and I arrived at JFK airport after an eight-hour flight...
a year ago
On Saturday, September 9th, the Gotham Gal and I arrived at JFK airport after an eight-hour flight from Paris. While waiting for our luggage, I got pushed a notification in my web3 wallet that there was an NFT drop underway that I could participate in. So I clicked on the link,...
Internal Tech Emails
"Thoughts on OpenAI"
To: Satya Nadella; Bill Gates
7 months ago
To: Satya Nadella; Bill Gates
Rest of World -...
A Ponzi scheme targets desperate workers amid Zimbabwe’s employment crisis
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
a year ago
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
XO Capital - Field...
Our First Community Call
This week Danny jumped on a live Twitter Spaces with me. We talked about:
When to "quit"
XO...
10 months ago
This week Danny jumped on a live Twitter Spaces with me. We talked about:
When to "quit"
XO community, courses,
Motivations for picking a startup idea
Decision making differences between short holds and longer holds.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Is it a tech bubble?
Every week a “we are in a tech bubble” article seems to come out in a major newspaper or blog....
over a year ago
Every week a “we are in a tech bubble” article seems to come out in a major newspaper or blog. People who argue we aren’t in a bubble are…
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
The blue cities must be fixed
If you want to govern the nation, you should first be able to govern San Francisco, New York, and...
a month ago
If you want to govern the nation, you should first be able to govern San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.
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.
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 -...
Amazon fends off calls for takedown transparency in message to shareholders
The company does not currently disclose government orders to remove specific products.
a year ago
The company does not currently disclose government orders to remove specific products.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Plans are nothing, but planning is indispensable
It is widely believed that writing a business plan is a waste of time, because: 1) very few people...
over a year ago
It is widely believed that writing a business plan is a waste of time, because: 1) very few people will read it, and 2) you’ll end up…
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🙈 Innovation Fallacy
3 months ago
Tech + Economics +...
Bitcoin ETFs will make greater fools of us all.
Reuters: US SEC approves bitcoin ETFs in watershed for crypto market
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Jan...
11 months ago
Reuters: US SEC approves bitcoin ETFs in watershed for crypto market
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. securities regulator
on Wednesday approved the first U.S.-listed exchange traded funds
(ETFs) to track bitcoin, its Chair Gary Gensler said, in a...
Rest of World -...
Mother-son YouTubers cook Nepali dishes with sides of nostalgia and ASMR
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of...
a year ago
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of traditional village life.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The Shareholder Supremacy
I promise you, everything that's happening makes sense. It all feels so chaotic, so utterly,...
5 months ago
I promise you, everything that's happening makes sense. It all feels so chaotic, so utterly, offensively stupid, so disconnected from reality that it's hard to understand how Meta can run a terrible company with decaying services that's also wildly profitable, or how Meta,...
42!
Reflections on 2020
I feel kind of conflicted writing this, because 2020 was a horror of a year for most people around...
over a year ago
I feel kind of conflicted writing this, because 2020 was a horror of a year for most people around the world. Instead, for me, and my family, it was somewhat of a start of new beginnings and some huge wins.
I feel that I have finally stepped out of a decade long black tunnel,...
David Perell
Kevin Kelly: Seeing the Future
My guest today is Kevin Kelly, who co-founded Wired Magazine in 1993 and served as its Executive...
over a year ago
My guest today is Kevin Kelly, who co-founded Wired Magazine in 1993 and served as its Executive Editor for the first seven years. As one of the most important futurists of our generation, he’s published a number of books including The Inevitable, What Technology Wants, and New...
Rest of World -...
Mexican shoppers say Shein and Temu’s delivery partner is stealing their stuff
Former employees at third-party logistics company J&T Express say the high volume of packages from...
3 months ago
Former employees at third-party logistics company J&T Express say the high volume of packages from the two Chinese companies has become unmanageable.
Aaron's Essays
A framework for choosing what to do
A year ago, I left YC and felt a bit lost about what to do next.[1] A lot of people were pretty sure...
over a year ago
A year ago, I left YC and felt a bit lost about what to do next.[1] A lot of people were pretty sure they knew what I should do. But...I didn't and most of their suggestions didn’t excite me.
As I thought through my possible paths, I realized that I didn't have a useful framework...
Rest of World -...
Shein and MercadoLibre are fighting over vendors in Brazil’s largest garment market
After the pandemic pushed Brazilian manufacturers and store owners to digitize their businesses,...
8 months ago
After the pandemic pushed Brazilian manufacturers and store owners to digitize their businesses, e-commerce platforms began pulling out all the stops to lure vendors.
Platformer
Instagram's co-founders are mounting a comeback
EXCLUSIVE: Meet Artifact, a kind of TikTok for text
a year ago
EXCLUSIVE: Meet Artifact, a kind of TikTok for text
AVC
The Rebrand
I’d guess that upwards of half of USV’s portfolio companies have changed the name of their company...
a year ago
I’d guess that upwards of half of USV’s portfolio companies have changed the name of their company during their lifetime. It is not hard to understand why. Founders start out with an idea and not much more. By the time they have built a product, built a team, and found product...
Rest of World -...
Can someone please make an iPhone-theft thriller already?
Forget the Apple store heist in Seattle; South Asia has a pretty riveting script on cross-border...
a year ago
Forget the Apple store heist in Seattle; South Asia has a pretty riveting script on cross-border smartphone theft waiting to be written.
essay – snarfed.org
We’re drowning
Matthew Childs / Reuters We live in a golden age of software reuse. We’ve never before had such a...
over a year ago
Matthew Childs / Reuters We live in a golden age of software reuse. We’ve never before had such a wealth of freely available code, in so many languages, so easy to find and install. And yet, we’re drowning. We slap together rickety rowboats and toss them out on PyPI Ocean and npm...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The tragedy of the anticommons
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software...
over a year ago
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software industry in the near future as patent…
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
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 […]
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google and newspapers: the false choice of opting out
First let me say I love Google. I think Google created one of the greatest inventions of the past...
over a year ago
First let me say I love Google. I think Google created one of the greatest inventions of the past century and continues to give back much…
AVC
Sleep
I got an Oura ring a couple of years ago and have been working on improving my sleep and sleep...
a year ago
I got an Oura ring a couple of years ago and have been working on improving my sleep and sleep habits ever since. For much of my adult life, I have been a poor sleeper. I have always been able to fall asleep quickly, but I have been plagued by two sleep issues. The first […]
Dustin Curtis
One of the dumbest things I've ever published
While I was reading through some of my older essays the other day, I came across a piece called...
over a year ago
While I was reading through some of my older essays the other day, I came across a piece called Privacy vs. User Experience, published in 2014. In the article, I argued that Apple’s then-nascent philosophical stance on the supremacy of user privacy was going to slow down its...
Platformer
Utah's war on social networks is a symptom of a larger problem
Congress failed to act — and now a patchwork of bad state laws is eroding our privacy
a year ago
Congress failed to act — and now a patchwork of bad state laws is eroding our privacy
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#48)
Information war; Chinese VC; land reform; India's garment industry; degrowth research; Trump vs....
3 months ago
Information war; Chinese VC; land reform; India's garment industry; degrowth research; Trump vs. Harris on deficits; good news
Steve Blank
Security Clearances at the Speed of Startups
Imagine you got a job offer from a company but weren’t allowed to start work – or get paid – for...
4 months ago
Imagine you got a job offer from a company but weren’t allowed to start work – or get paid – for almost a year. And if you can’t pass a security clearance your offer is rescinded. Or you get offered an internship but can’t work on the most interesting part of the project. Sounds...
Platformer
Why Platformer is leaving Substack
We’ve seen this movie before — and we won’t stick around to watch it play out
11 months ago
We’ve seen this movie before — and we won’t stick around to watch it play out
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Improbable: enabling the development of large-scale simulated worlds
Over the past decade, computing resources that were previously available only to large...
over a year ago
Over the past decade, computing resources that were previously available only to large organizations became available to almost anyone…
Inverted Passion
The Anti-Productivity Manifesto
After a barrage of recommendations on my twitter, I finally ended up reading Oliver Burkeman’s Four...
a year ago
After a barrage of recommendations on my twitter, I finally ended up reading Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks. The central premise of the book is simple: everyone has got about four thousand weeks to live, and spending that limited time chasing efficiency is wrongheaded. The...
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...
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…
Rest of World -...
Why Africa’s tech talent makes it an attractive investment destination
Joseph Nsengimana of the Mastercard Foundation says global companies are starting to recognize the...
5 months ago
Joseph Nsengimana of the Mastercard Foundation says global companies are starting to recognize the value of Africa’s talent.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Gordon Moore on self-driving cars
“I never thought I’d see autonomous automobiles driving on the freeways. It wasn’t many years ago...
over a year ago
“I never thought I’d see autonomous automobiles driving on the freeways. It wasn’t many years ago they put out a request to see who could…
Blog posts of...
Managing Remote Teams - A Crash Course
Hey folks, I haven’t been blogging for quite some time, so everything is a bit rusty for me, but i...
over a year ago
Hey folks, I haven’t been blogging for quite some time, so everything is a bit rusty for me, but i thought this article might be u...
Internal Tech Emails
Elon Musk's Twitter texts
I'm not joining the board. This is a waste of time.
over a year ago
I'm not joining the board. This is a waste of time.
Tech + Economics +...
Copyright is both vital and obsolete.
The New Yorker: Is A.I. the Death of I.P.?
For you (probably) and me (definitely), the rights...
11 months ago
The New Yorker: Is A.I. the Death of I.P.?
For you (probably) and me (definitely), the rights to our creations are
not worth much money to anyone but ourselves. But, if you are the guy
who wrote “Born to Run,” it is prudent to assign your rights to an
entity...
Rest of World -...
Singapore doubles down on lab-grown meat as Silicon Valley backs off
Global funding in the cultured meat industry dropped by 75% in the last year. Singapore sees its...
6 months ago
Global funding in the cultured meat industry dropped by 75% in the last year. Singapore sees its chance to become a world leader, backing local and international firms.
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?
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.
Internal Tech Emails
"Things Sam is freaking out about"
buying SNAP
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Chris Sacca on the implied user contract
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what...
over a year ago
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what each company has promised its users…
Aaron's Essays
Asking questions
Small children are great at asking questions. Their questions are simple, direct, and utterly...
over a year ago
Small children are great at asking questions. Their questions are simple, direct, and utterly without ego. If you spend time with 2-5 year olds, you’ll find yourself answering a near infinite series of progressively more challenging questions. This is one of the main paths by...
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.
Data Boutique
How Data Boutique Works #3: Third Party Solutions
Working with data? List your solution on Data Boutique
8 months ago
Working with data? List your solution on Data Boutique
Noahpinion
This is not a good way to fight racism in America
Building a multiracial society is hard work. Don't be tempted by shortcuts.
10 months ago
Building a multiracial society is hard work. Don't be tempted by shortcuts.
Full Width 
Shortcuts 
Sign Up 
Log In 
Articles 
Reading List 