Tech + Economics +...
A shared burden: rethinking cybersecurity post the 23andMe breach.
TechCrunch: 23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was
breached
But in a...
11 months ago
TechCrunch: 23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was
breached
But in a letter sent to a group of hundreds of 23andMe users who are
now suing the company, 23andMe said that “users negligently recycled
and failed to update their passwords...
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.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Monopoly Money
Last week, in the midst of the slow, painful collapse of the generative AI hype cycle, something...
4 months ago
Last week, in the midst of the slow, painful collapse of the generative AI hype cycle, something incredible happened.
On Monday, a Federal Judge delivered a crushing ruling in the multi-year-long antitrust case filed against Google by the Department of Justice. In 300-pages of...
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…
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…
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…
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Expectations Versus Reality
A few months ago, OpenAI showed off “Sora,” a product that can generate videos based on a short...
7 months ago
A few months ago, OpenAI showed off “Sora,” a product that can generate videos based on a short prompt, much like ChatGPT does for text or DALL-E does for images, and I asked myself a pretty simple question:
"...how can someone actually make something useful out of
Business Brainstorms
A/B QR, how to run a business, airport rides, high-growth Asia-Pacific companies, lessons from Keith...
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 want to go to a doctor that will run every single...
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…
Paul Graham: Essays
What We Look for in Founders
over a year ago
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Developing new startup ideas
If you want to start a company and are working on new ideas, here’s how I’ve always done it and how...
over a year ago
If you want to start a company and are working on new ideas, here’s how I’ve always done it and how I recommend you do it. Be the opposite…
XO Capital - Field...
What business are you really in?
I spoke with an entrepreneur recently who, after 5 years of running a successful and growing...
8 months ago
I spoke with an entrepreneur recently who, after 5 years of running a successful and growing business, said "After 5 years I finally know the real business we're in.".
It means they outwardly do X but on the inside the hard part is Y.
As an
Noahpinion
You're not going to like what comes after Pax Americana
Welcome to the jungle.
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Selling pickaxes during a gold rush
There is a saying in the startup world that “you can mine for gold or you can sell pickaxes.” This...
over a year ago
There is a saying in the startup world that “you can mine for gold or you can sell pickaxes.” This is of course an allusion to the…
Working Theorys
The Lost Sense
OR: The Marginalization of "Touch" in a Digital World
3 months ago
OR: The Marginalization of "Touch" in a Digital World
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...
AVC
Leading From The Heart
I have watched so many leaders over the years in my various roles as lead investor, board member,...
a year ago
I have watched so many leaders over the years in my various roles as lead investor, board member, board chair, investor, and advisor. And one thing I have learned from this front-row seat is that leading from the heart is very powerful. A leader can be the most brilliant product...
Dustin Curtis
Apple TV, Apple TV, Apple TV, and Apple TV+
Apple TV is a hardware device.
Apple TV is an app on Apple TV that curates content you can buy...
over a year ago
Apple TV is a hardware device.
Apple TV is an app on Apple TV that curates content you can buy from Apple and also content you can stream through other installed apps (but not all apps, and there is no way to tell which ones).
Apple TV is an app on iOS/iPadOS devices that...
Tech + Economics +...
Samsung Galaxy S24 Unpacked Event Set for Jan. 17
PCMag.com:
The company says it will show off "the newest additions to the Galaxy
mobile...
11 months ago
PCMag.com:
The company says it will show off "the newest additions to the Galaxy
mobile device portfolio." In its teaser video, the company goes a step
further and explicitly states that "Galaxy AI is coming," so get ready
for some form of on-device,...
Internal Tech Emails
Mark Zuckerberg and Peter Thiel
Peter and I have had a number of conversations about what we expect the world to look like in 2030...
5 months ago
Peter and I have had a number of conversations about what we expect the world to look like in 2030 so we can plan and position our future work accordingly.
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.
Paul Graham: Essays
What Microsoft Is this the Altair Basic of?
over a year ago
Platformer
Google unveils Gemini
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product...
a year ago
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product roadmap — of their answer to GPT-4
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...
Nadia Asparouhova
Idea machines
Tech as a system of values, and not just an industry, is heavily driven by its subcultures and their...
over a year ago
Tech as a system of values, and not just an industry, is heavily driven by its subcultures and their ideologies. Where do these ideologies come from, and how do they influence what’s accomplished?
One of the most visible ideologies in tech is effective altruism (or EA), a...
David Perell
Zena Hitz: Liberal Arts Thinking
My guest today is Zena Hitz, a tutor at St John’s and the author of an excellent book called Lost in...
over a year ago
My guest today is Zena Hitz, a tutor at St John’s and the author of an excellent book called Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life. Her book explores the meaning and the value of learning for its own sake, through images and stories of bookworms,...
Noahpinion
Grading the economic schools of thought
Who got the 2020s inflation right?
a year ago
Who got the 2020s inflation right?
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...
Business Brainstorms
Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I...
10 months ago
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I recently started looking for an AI meeting note taking software we can use in our sales and clients calls. Fireflies, Fathom, MeetGeek, tl;dv… there are just so many of them and they...
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?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Online privacy: what’s at stake
It is widely believed that a flourishing democracy requires an independent, diverse, and financially...
over a year ago
It is widely believed that a flourishing democracy requires an independent, diverse, and financially solvent press. With print newspapers…
Aaron's Essays
Carts without horses
Investing in emerging markets such as India, Kenya, and Nigeria isn’t quite what I naively thought...
over a year ago
Investing in emerging markets such as India, Kenya, and Nigeria isn’t quite what I naively thought it would be. Before I started, I thought that finding a good company in an emerging market would just mean copying models that worked in developed markets. All I’d have to do is...
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.
Rest of World -...
Two trophies, one meme
How the World Cup and the Golden Globes united Argentina through a single viral image.
a year ago
How the World Cup and the Golden Globes united Argentina through a single viral image.
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.
Unpacked
Instagram Threads: The Problem With The "Everything for Everyone" Approach
In recent times, Twitter has been through a roller coaster of events. What started with Elon Musk's...
a year ago
In recent times, Twitter has been through a roller coaster of events. What started with Elon Musk's turbulent acquisition has now been followed up by a series of controversial product decisions. To list a few: Twitter limited the number of daily tweets
Noahpinion
Heterodox vs. mainstream macroeconomics
If you're skeptical of one, you should be skeptical of the other too.
a year ago
If you're skeptical of one, you should be skeptical of the other too.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Don’t shop your term sheet
There are all sorts of protocols in the VC world. Most of them make sense upon further examination,...
over a year ago
There are all sorts of protocols in the VC world. Most of them make sense upon further examination, but if you’re a first time entrepreneur…
Rest of World -...
Meta’s long-standing problem with “shaheed”
An overdue ruling from the Oversight Board.
8 months ago
An overdue ruling from the Oversight Board.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Muzz, the world’s largest Muslim dating app, is struggling in India
India is home to 172 million Muslims, and the world’s second-largest market for dating apps. But...
a year ago
India is home to 172 million Muslims, and the world’s second-largest market for dating apps. But Indian women say Muzz is a bad match.
Business Brainstorms
API for simple manual online tasks, pickleball for surfing, freelancer laptop stickers, ...
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 want an AI companion that I can share my goals with...
Noahpinion
A vote for Trump is a vote for chaos
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
11 months ago
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
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.
Nadia Asparouhova
Working notes for Summer of Protocols
I’m participating in the Summer of Protocols research program this summer as a Core Researcher. It’s...
a year ago
I’m participating in the Summer of Protocols research program this summer as a Core Researcher. It’s an 18-week program, funded by the Ethereum Foundation, that aims to catalyze a wider exploration of protocols and their social implications.
I plan to focus on protocols as...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Don’t be creative about the wrong things
When founding a tech startup, there are certain areas where you should spend time trying to be...
over a year ago
When founding a tech startup, there are certain areas where you should spend time trying to be creative/innovative. Generally these should…
Rest of World -...
The AI artist who used Bad Bunny’s voice — and shot to fame
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
5 months ago
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#51)
Falling obesity; the red-state boom; U.S. housing supply; men avoiding college; China's economic...
2 months ago
Falling obesity; the red-state boom; U.S. housing supply; men avoiding college; China's economic goals; implicit taxes on the poor; Garcia interviews Krugman and Cowen interviews Scanlon
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…
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…
Internal Tech Emails
Bill Gates: "The quality is giving us a bad name"
I don’t know how unique I am but my experience in clicking on streaming media stuff and seeing if it...
8 months ago
I don’t know how unique I am but my experience in clicking on streaming media stuff and seeing if it works is still less than 50%.
Noahpinion
Hispanics as the new Irish
A historical analogy to help us understand the present moment.
11 months ago
A historical analogy to help us understand the present moment.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#47)
Germany's mistakes; U.S. political parties; the VC winter; austerity; science and politics; TikTok...
3 months ago
Germany's mistakes; U.S. political parties; the VC winter; austerity; science and politics; TikTok propaganda; desalination
Paul Graham: Essays
The Hacker's Guide to Investors
over a year ago
Unpacked
Generative AI and the Future of News - a tale of two worlds
Last week, the New York Times reported that Google is testing an AI tool that enables news...
a year ago
Last week, the New York Times reported that Google is testing an AI tool that enables news organizations to create content using AI. It is unclear what the exact capabilities of the product are but based on one comment from Google, it helps with tasks like headlines and modifying...
AVC
The Blackbird Platform
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends...
a year ago
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends and family program at a restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn called Gertie. Blackbird wrote about it today on their excellent Supersonic blog: Throughout, when you tap Gertie’s...
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
Naming your startup
The Name Inspector has a good post today regarding 6 naming myths to ignore. I think it’s generally...
over a year ago
The Name Inspector has a good post today regarding 6 naming myths to ignore. I think it’s generally right on. Naming is so important and…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Yahoo should invest in products, not advertising
For 10 years, Yahoo was my default home page. Now I can barely stand using the site. I still use...
over a year ago
For 10 years, Yahoo was my default home page. Now I can barely stand using the site. I still use it for Finance and Flickr, but that’s it…
Data Boutique
Urgency Factor: Why Timing is as Critical as Cost
The Issues of Planning Web Data Projects
a year ago
The Issues of Planning Web Data Projects
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Inside versus outside financings: the nightclub effect
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing...
over a year ago
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing an inside round, where the existing…
Rest of World -...
Our favorite Rest of World photos from 2023
39 photographers, 31 cities, 22 countries. This is what global tech looked like this year.
12 months ago
39 photographers, 31 cities, 22 countries. This is what global tech looked like this year.
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…
Paul Graham: Essays
A Unified Theory of VC Suckage
over a year ago
Platformer
Another whistleblower comes for Twitter
Is the real threat the company's "God Mode" — or its trust and safety team?
a year ago
Is the real threat the company's "God Mode" — or its trust and safety team?
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 -...
Breaking down the world’s tariffs against China’s tech industry
President-elect Donald Trump pledges to escalate the trade war, but non-Western nations have...
3 weeks ago
President-elect Donald Trump pledges to escalate the trade war, but non-Western nations have targeted China with tariffs, too.
Stephen Diehl
Fintech and Practical Utopianism
over a year ago
Working Theorys
Before the Crowd Shows Up
The arena rewards those who arrive early.
9 months ago
The arena rewards those who arrive early.
tomcritchlow.com
Manifesting My Dream Clients & Projects for 2024
New year, new me, new clients am I right?
11 months ago
New year, new me, new clients am I right?
Rest of World -...
Latin American startups embrace OpenAI, but at what cost?
The region’s early-stage startups get less funding than their U.S. counterparts, making AI...
a year ago
The region’s early-stage startups get less funding than their U.S. counterparts, making AI tools-for-hire an onerous new expense.
Rest of World -...
Meta is training its AI with public Instagram posts. Artists in Latin America can’t opt out
Latin America lacks robust data protection laws that would allow Meta users in the region to...
5 months ago
Latin America lacks robust data protection laws that would allow Meta users in the region to prohibit the company from using their content.
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Getting a job in venture capital
Getting a job in venture capital is extremely hard. There are a lot of really smart, well...
over a year ago
Getting a job in venture capital is extremely hard. There are a lot of really smart, well qualified, eager people who want to work in VC…
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.
tomcritchlow.com
Slouching Towards Innovation
A lot of innovation work revolves around shiny objects - maybe a slick interactive prototype, or a...
over a year ago
A lot of innovation work revolves around shiny objects - maybe a slick interactive prototype, or a concept video. A lot of innovation projects never see the light of day.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"The Not So Global Internet"
Fred Wilson writes about how frustrating it is when companies break the internet: We are in the...
over a year ago
Fred Wilson writes about how frustrating it is when companies break the internet: We are in the caribbean this week celebrating the year end…
Paul Graham: Essays
The Power of the Marginal
over 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...
Rest of World -...
Why are Apple and Tesla losing ground in China?
The Chinese market isn’t quite as untapped as U.S. companies thought.
9 months ago
The Chinese market isn’t quite as untapped as U.S. companies thought.
SatPost by Trung...
Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos Enter a Room
In December 2000, the founders of Apple and Amazon were invited to critique a demo of the Segway. It...
3 months ago
In December 2000, the founders of Apple and Amazon were invited to critique a demo of the Segway. It was a wild two-hour session filled with gem quotes and business insights.
Essays - Benedict...
Netflix, Shein and MrBeast
What does Netflix have in common with Shein, and why is MrBeast more
interesting than Disney Plus?
a year ago
What does Netflix have in common with Shein, and why is MrBeast more
interesting than Disney Plus?
Working Theorys
caring about newness
we don't create with the intent to recycle
9 months ago
we don't create with the intent to recycle
Rest of World -...
ElevenLabs’ first Indian partnership banks on AI voice clones to make audio stories faster and...
Pocket FM creators can convert scripts to audio in English and German with one click. The company...
4 months ago
Pocket FM creators can convert scripts to audio in English and German with one click. The company plans to add more languages as it expands across Europe and Latin America this year.
Rest of World -...
How this startup bounced back from a crisis
ThriveAgric fell into a crisis when the pandemic hit. Three years later, it has found its way back...
a year ago
ThriveAgric fell into a crisis when the pandemic hit. Three years later, it has found its way back up.
Noahpinion
Biden should run on a message of abundance
Things are going pretty well in America, and Biden's policies have largely helped.
10 months ago
Things are going pretty well in America, and Biden's policies have largely helped.
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...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
CrowdStruck
Soundtrack: EL-P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster (feat. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala)
When I...
5 months ago
Soundtrack: EL-P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster (feat. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala)
When I first began writing this newsletter, I didn't really have a goal, or a "theme," or anything that could neatly characterize what I was going to write about other than that I 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.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
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.
Roberto Vitillo's...
What every developer should know about database consistency
Imagine assigning some value to a variable, reading it back immediately after, and finding out that...
over a year ago
Imagine assigning some value to a variable, reading it back immediately after, and finding out that somehow the write had no effect at all…
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...
Noahpinion
Who's afraid of East Asian management culture?
TSMC's difficulties in Arizona aren't due to the mystical superiority of Confucian values.
7 months ago
TSMC's difficulties in Arizona aren't due to the mystical superiority of Confucian values.
Noahpinion
Industrial policy doesn't have to succeed right away
Progressive approaches need to fail before they can change.
a year ago
Progressive approaches need to fail before they can change.
Paul Graham: Essays
The New Funding Landscape
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The company teaching influencers how to get rich without going viral
Hotmart is quietly turning even micro-influencers into millionaires.
a year ago
Hotmart is quietly turning even micro-influencers into millionaires.
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
42!
Wrestling with the scammers
Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash
I guess one of the downsides of the rising popularity and profile of...
over a year ago
Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash
I guess one of the downsides of the rising popularity and profile of our HR startup is that it attracts the lowest online lifeforms to try and see if they can make illicit profit from it.
We have been getting the occasional trial user signing up...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Rot Economics - An Interview With MIT's Daron Acemoglu
Want to listen to this interview instead? Download the latest episode of Better Offline! You can...
5 months ago
Want to listen to this interview instead? Download the latest episode of Better Offline! You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you can insert an RSS feed.
Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Daron Acemoglu — one of the world’s most
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 -...
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.
Noahpinion
Thus passes Robert Lucas
Farewell to the most influential macroeconomist of his generation.
a year ago
Farewell to the most influential macroeconomist of his generation.
Roberto Vitillo's...
Resiliency patterns of distributed systems
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems : Resiliency Patterns. The...
over a year ago
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems : Resiliency Patterns. The chapter is all about failures and their…
Folklore.org:...
Eulogy for Brian
Eulogy for Brian Howard, Macintosh hero, 1944-2010
a year ago
Eulogy for Brian Howard, Macintosh hero, 1944-2010
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Blogging to learn
People blog for all sorts of reasons. For me, it is mostly about learning. This wasn’t my original...
over a year ago
People blog for all sorts of reasons. For me, it is mostly about learning. This wasn’t my original intention – it evolved over time. Now I…
Paul Graham: Essays
Why It's Safe for Founders to Be Nice
over a year ago
David Perell
What Networks Whisper
Every city changes you. San Francisco tells you to be powerful, LA tells you to be famous, Boston...
over a year ago
Every city changes you. San Francisco tells you to be powerful, LA tells you to be famous, Boston tells you to be smarter, and New York tells you to be richer. In the words of Paul Graham, “every city whispers something.” So when you choose to live in a city, you’re also...
Aaron's Essays
I and We
Starting a company is, in large part, an act of ego. When that business is a startup, the ego...
over a year ago
Starting a company is, in large part, an act of ego. When that business is a startup, the ego component is even larger. This is a good thing.
Ego is what gives the founder the confidence to create something new. Ego powers the belief that the new thing the founder creates will...
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.
David Perell
Coolest Things I Learned in 2020
This is a collection of the most popular ideas I shared in 2020.
The post Coolest Things I Learned...
over a year ago
This is a collection of the most popular ideas I shared in 2020.
The post Coolest Things I Learned in 2020 appeared first on David Perell.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some lessons learned
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier...
over a year ago
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier this week. It was a really interesting…
Tech + Economics +...
TikTok is revolutionizing news consumption - by eroding context.
The metamorphosis of news consumption is undeniable. TikTok, rising from
the ashes of Vine and the...
a year ago
The metamorphosis of news consumption is undeniable. TikTok, rising from
the ashes of Vine and the gradual decline of Instagram, captivated a new
generation, becoming a primary news source for many. This seismic shift
towards snackable, viral news content brings a host of...
Devmoh
Programming transforms your brain. Here's how.
Knowing how to program has a multitude of positive effects on the brain.
a year ago
Knowing how to program has a multitude of positive effects on the brain.
Noahpinion
Why on Earth does Trump want to cancel the CHIPS Act??
A second Trump presidency would truly be a gift to Xi Jinping.
a month ago
A second Trump presidency would truly be a gift to Xi Jinping.
Rest of World -...
Brazil is the first stop in the Latin American electric motorcycle market
Vammo, an electric mobility company for delivery workers, chose to launch in the country because 85%...
a year ago
Vammo, an electric mobility company for delivery workers, chose to launch in the country because 85% of its electric grid runs on renewable energy.
AVC
Funding Friday: Crowdfunding Restaurants Via Blackbird
It has been a long time since I did a Funding Friday here at AVC. I used to do them every Friday. We...
a year ago
It has been a long time since I did a Funding Friday here at AVC. I used to do them every Friday. We have funded a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries here over the years. Here are a few examples. L’Appartement 4F Land To Sea There is a new wrinkle in...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on mobile
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people...
over a year ago
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people who run internet companies and they’ll…
Stephen Diehl
Countering the Crypto Lobbyists
over a year ago
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.
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
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…
haseeb qureshi
Flash Loans: Why Flash Attacks will be the New Normal
Flash loans have been the center of attention lately. Recently two hackers used flash loans to...
over a year ago
Flash loans have been the center of attention lately. Recently two hackers used flash loans to attack the margin trading protocol bZx, first in a $350K attack and later in a $600K copycat attack.
These attacks were, in a word, magnificent. In each attack, a penniless attacker...
Platformer
The states sue Meta over child safety
Everyone agrees there's a teen mental health crisis. Is this how you fix it?
a year ago
Everyone agrees there's a teen mental health crisis. Is this how you fix it?
Rest of World -...
Rwanda’s homegrown EV leader sets its sights on Kenya
Ampersand hopes to replicate its small-market success in East Africa’s largest economy.
7 months ago
Ampersand hopes to replicate its small-market success in East Africa’s largest economy.
Rest of World -...
How Apple’s India gamble paid off
India’s growing middle class is fueling a billion-dollar sales surge.
5 months ago
India’s growing middle class is fueling a billion-dollar sales surge.
Noahpinion
What the Solow Model can teach us about China
Economists knew back in the 1950s that a country can't build its way to infinite wealth.
a year ago
Economists knew back in the 1950s that a country can't build its way to infinite wealth.
Aaron's Essays
When to Shut Down Your Company
I originally wrote this essay four years ago and published it over at YC's blog at the time. A...
over a year ago
I originally wrote this essay four years ago and published it over at YC's blog at the time. A number of recent conversations I've had with founders made me realize that the framework below remains useful. As the market continues through its downswing, more founders will face...
David Perell
Punctuation is Music
If you want to improve your writing, match your punctuation to the mood. Punctuation is to writing...
over a year ago
If you want to improve your writing, match your punctuation to the mood. Punctuation is to writing as music is to movies. In The Joker, the renowned composer Hildur Guðnadóttir used the cello in the opening scenes to create empathy with the protagonist. But then, as The Joker’s...
Noahpinion
How do you deal with real, actual Nazis?
They come back every few decades, spreading the same old lies.
3 months ago
They come back every few decades, spreading the same old lies.
Rest of World -...
Seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border? You’d better speak English or Spanish
Migrants speaking Haitian Creole or Indigenous languages face challenges at the border.
a year ago
Migrants speaking Haitian Creole or Indigenous languages face challenges at the border.
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 -...
It’s not (just) Ticketmaster’s fault
A Mexican superstar’s concert tour proves no ticketing company’s tech is a match for fans and fraud.
a year ago
A Mexican superstar’s concert tour proves no ticketing company’s tech is a match for fans and fraud.
Rest of World -...
Clickwork in Brazil: A mom balancing endless gigs with childcare
Through platforms like UHRS, Amazon Mechanical Turk and Appen, a clickworker takes on a job...
a year ago
Through platforms like UHRS, Amazon Mechanical Turk and Appen, a clickworker takes on a job consisting of hundreds of quick, repetitive tasks.
Noahpinion
Why America fell behind in drones, and how to catch up agaon
A guest post by Cat Orman and Jason Lu
4 months ago
A guest post by Cat Orman and Jason Lu
Aaron's Essays
Investors and their incentives
It is incredibly important to understand the incentives of investors when you are raising money....
over a year ago
It is incredibly important to understand the incentives of investors when you are raising money. This used to be fairly easy - you raised money from Venture Capitalists who wanted to see a big return on their investment. The best of these investors were incredibly focused on...
Rest of World -...
Why Kenya has the potential to be Africa’s EV powerhouse
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
5 months ago
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
Roberto Vitillo's...
A martingale approach to detect changes in histograms
If a user has opted into submitting performance data to Mozilla, the Telemetry system will collect...
over a year ago
If a user has opted into submitting performance data to Mozilla, the Telemetry system will collect various measures of Firefox performance…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
If Verizon’s Droid is good, that’s bad for the wireless ecosystem
I carry around an iPhone and a Blackberry Tour. I know that’s ridiculous. The iPhone is a great...
over a year ago
I carry around an iPhone and a Blackberry Tour. I know that’s ridiculous. The iPhone is a great device on an awful network; the Tour is an…
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.
Tech + Economics +...
Sam Bankman-Fried is a feature, not a bug.
Imagine a philosophy so focused on the ends that it becomes blind to the
means. This is the...
a year ago
Imagine a philosophy so focused on the ends that it becomes blind to the
means. This is the seductive trap of Effective Altruism (EA), a doctrine
born to the rationalist cradle, promising to solve the world's woes through
a calculator. Into this world stepped Sam...
Noahpinion
Plentiful, high-paying jobs in the age of AI
Comparative advantage is very subtle, but incredibly powerful.
9 months ago
Comparative advantage is very subtle, but incredibly powerful.
Rest of World -...
U.S tech giants are building dozens of huge data centers in Chile. Locals are fighting back
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of...
6 months ago
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of centers in the country, fearing environmental devastation.
SatPost by Trung...
"The Economist" Cover Curse, Explained
PLUS: My Dune 2 review, TikTok Ban and Why Jalapeños are Less Spicy.
9 months ago
PLUS: My Dune 2 review, TikTok Ban and Why Jalapeños are Less Spicy.
David Perell
Imitate, then Innovate
Imitate, then Innovate is my motto for improving at any skill.
It’s counterintuitive, but the more...
over a year ago
Imitate, then Innovate is my motto for improving at any skill.
It’s counterintuitive, but the more we imitate others, the faster we can discover our unique style.
The post Imitate, then Innovate appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
New visa programs spark brain drain fears across Africa
German and Canadian visa policies could make it harder for African companies to retain talent.
a year ago
German and Canadian visa policies could make it harder for African companies to retain talent.
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…
SatPost by Trung...
Costco's $9B clothes business, explained
The retailer has that incredible Kirkland drip and sells more clothes than Lululemon, Ralph Lauren...
a year ago
The retailer has that incredible Kirkland drip and sells more clothes than Lululemon, Ralph Lauren or Levi Strauss.
Essays - Benedict...
The problem of AI ethics, and laws about AI
Should you try to write laws, or lay down ethical principles, about a
technology that will be used...
9 months ago
Should you try to write laws, or lay down ethical principles, about a
technology that will be used in entirely different ways, for different
purposes, in different industries? How about if it’s changing entirely
every 18 months?
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.
Rest of World -...
China fights for an edge on semiconductors
The gallium problem could become everyone’s problem
a year ago
The gallium problem could become everyone’s problem
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...
Rest of World -...
Mexicans say some police officers are taking bribes with mobile payment services
Victims of extortion say reimbursements are extremely difficult since apps and banks say they handed...
a year ago
Victims of extortion say reimbursements are extremely difficult since apps and banks say they handed over their cards voluntarily.
Noahpinion
Don't be a decel
Technological progress must be harnessed, not fought
a year ago
Technological progress must be harnessed, not fought
Rest of World -...
Chinese factory owners are becoming TikTok comedians to find new business partners
Factory influencers are producing actually funny videos on TikTok, Instagram, and WeChat to increase...
5 months ago
Factory influencers are producing actually funny videos on TikTok, Instagram, and WeChat to increase B2B sales
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"This business is like bird spotting"
One of my favorite quotes about startups/VC, from legendary VC Mike Moritz of Sequoia: I rarely...
over a year ago
One of my favorite quotes about startups/VC, from legendary VC Mike Moritz of Sequoia: I rarely think about big themes. This business is…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How to disrupt Wall Street
Sarah Lacy has a very interesting post on TechCrunch where she argues that the internet is finally...
over a year ago
Sarah Lacy has a very interesting post on TechCrunch where she argues that the internet is finally starting to disrupt Wall Street. I’d love…
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Lost In The Future
Soundtrack: Post Pop Depression - Paraguay
I haven't wanted to write much in the last...
a month ago
Soundtrack: Post Pop Depression - Paraguay
I haven't wanted to write much in the last week.
Seemingly every single person on Earth with a blog has tried to drill down into what happened on November 5 — to find the people to blame, to somehow explain what could&
Business Brainstorms
No agenda cold emails, dealership visits as a service, prompt money, the doing game.
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 Prompt Base has a list of the
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"The Future of Reading Depends on the Future of Learning Difficult to Learn Things"
Socrates’ complaints about writing included “Writing removes the need to remember”. He meant that a...
over a year ago
Socrates’ complaints about writing included “Writing removes the need to remember”. He meant that a prosthetic brace on a healthy limb will…
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 “LadyGrab” program was meant to protect women drivers. It backfired
Quick-fix policies have accidentally left female drivers open to harassment and affected their...
a year ago
Quick-fix policies have accidentally left female drivers open to harassment and affected their earnings.
Platformer
Yes, Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major...
a year ago
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major changes to the algorithm
AVC
Software That You Can’t Shut Down
The term “censorship resistant” is used a lot in the decentralized computing/web3/crypto space to...
a year ago
The term “censorship resistant” is used a lot in the decentralized computing/web3/crypto space to talk about a core feature of these systems. I don’t love the term censorship resistant because it is a wonky term. Software that is encoded in smart contracts (and other ways) on...
Rest of World -...
Reliance and Disney team up to crush Netflix and Prime Video in India
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat...
9 months ago
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat streaming entity in the country.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Non-linearity of technology adoption
When I was in business school I remember a class where a partner from a big consulting firm was...
over a year ago
When I was in business school I remember a class where a partner from a big consulting firm was talking about how they had done extensive…
Rest of World -...
In Indonesia, social media is a “hunting ground” for religious minorities
Conservative Muslim influencers spread hate speech to their millions of followers on TikTok and...
5 months ago
Conservative Muslim influencers spread hate speech to their millions of followers on TikTok and YouTube, with little pushback from authorities or platforms.
Noahpinion
Argentina's macroeconomic situation is even worse up close
A guest post by Karl T. Muth
a year ago
A guest post by Karl T. Muth
Rest of World -...
Online sports betting in South Asia has a new target: Archery
Teer, a century-old game in India, is now attracting gamblers from Bangladesh and Bhutan.
a year ago
Teer, a century-old game in India, is now attracting gamblers from Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Throwable
AI is Coming for Software Engineers (I'm a Software Engineer)
There seems to be a lot of AI anxiety across professions and I'm here to tell you that no one should...
a year ago
There seems to be a lot of AI anxiety across professions and I'm here to tell you that no one should worry as much as software engineers.
Essays - Benedict...
The AI summer
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big...
5 months ago
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big company has done a pilot, but far fewer are in
deployment. Some of this is just a matter of time. But LLMs might also be a
trap: they look like products and they look magic, but...
Internal Tech Emails
Apple execs on Facebook
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it...
a year ago
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it sounds reasonable.
Data Boutique
Stop Scraping H&M (And Other Things Live on Data Boutique)
Web Scraped Data Catalog June 2023
a year ago
Web Scraped Data Catalog June 2023
Noahpinion
Singapore urbanism
Thoughts from a visit to the solarpunk city.
a year ago
Thoughts from a visit to the solarpunk city.
Essays - Benedict...
The VR winter continues
Meta has spent at least $50bn on VR and AR so far, but we’re still in the
VR winter: the devices...
5 months ago
Meta has spent at least $50bn on VR and AR so far, but we’re still in the
VR winter: the devices aren’t good enough or cheap enough and the user base
is flat. But no matter how good the devices get, how many people will care?
Platformer
OpenAI's alignment problem
The company's board failed the institution. But did it have a point?
a year ago
The company's board failed the institution. But did it have a point?
Rest of World -...
Uber’s big plan for India: buses
Uber Shuttle, a shared bus ride service, is available in two Indian cities. The company plans to...
2 weeks ago
Uber Shuttle, a shared bus ride service, is available in two Indian cities. The company plans to launch in three more cities soon.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
They're Looting The Internet
Last week, Meta revealed (in a motion trying to dismiss an FTC anti-monopoly lawsuit) that Instagram...
8 months ago
Last week, Meta revealed (in a motion trying to dismiss an FTC anti-monopoly lawsuit) that Instagram made an astonishing $32.4 billion in advertising revenue in 2021. That figure becomes even more shocking when you consider Google's YouTube made $28.8 billion in the same period....
Roberto Vitillo's...
The costs of microservices
An application typically starts its life as a monolith. Take a modern backend of a single-page...
over a year ago
An application typically starts its life as a monolith. Take a modern backend of a single-page Javascript application, for example - it…
Paul Graham: Essays
Why Twitter is a Big Deal
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket"
Nikola Tesla predicted the development internet-connected smartphones back in 1926: From the...
over a year ago
Nikola Tesla predicted the development internet-connected smartphones back in 1926: From the inception of the wireless system, I saw that…
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…
Working Theorys
Background Social
Theory #41: on apps that let you tell me what you're up to without telling me what you're up to.
6 months ago
Theory #41: on apps that let you tell me what you're up to without telling me what you're up to.
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...
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 This is an extremely interesting playbook: use an expensive model to generate high quality...
10 months ago
#1 💡 This is an extremely interesting playbook: use an expensive model to generate high quality training data. Then use this data to fine tune a much cheaper model you can run at scale. Also seems like there’s plenty of opportunity to build consulting/service businesses around...
Raw Thought (from...
Look at yourself objectively
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The new economy
According to the Business Insider, Facebook is “‘Beating The S— Out Of Its Numbers’ Thanks To...
over a year ago
According to the Business Insider, Facebook is “‘Beating The S— Out Of Its Numbers’ Thanks To Zynga’s Virtual Goods.” I wanted to try to…
Rest of World -...
African startups need more than just funds from their investors
Anne-Marie Chidzero, chief investment officer at FSD Africa Investments, talks about the risks and...
a year ago
Anne-Marie Chidzero, chief investment officer at FSD Africa Investments, talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups.
David Perell
Where the Liberal Arts Went Wrong
We’ve lost touch with the ultimate purpose of education: to transform our being and improve our...
a year ago
We’ve lost touch with the ultimate purpose of education: to transform our being and improve our character. The liberal arts are the ends, not the means.
The post Where the Liberal Arts Went Wrong appeared first on David Perell.
Essays - Benedict...
AI and problems of scale
Generative AI means things that were always possible at a small scale now
become practical to...
7 months ago
Generative AI means things that were always possible at a small scale now
become practical to automate at a massive scale. Sometimes a change in
scale is a change in principle.
Rest of World -...
Inside Foxconn’s struggle to make iPhones in India
Chinese engineers are flying to India to train the next generation of iPhone builders.
a year ago
Chinese engineers are flying to India to train the next generation of iPhone builders.
Rest of World -...
OpenAI is making a risky bet on live translation
The company has a stunning demo — but can the product live up to the hype?
7 months ago
The company has a stunning demo — but can the product live up to the hype?
AVC
What Happened In 2022
I like to bookend the New Year holiday with two posts, one looking back at the year that is ending...
a year ago
I like to bookend the New Year holiday with two posts, one looking back at the year that is ending and one looking forward to the year ahead. This is the first of these two posts. The second one will run tomorrow. What happened in 2022 is the bottom fell out of the capital...
Noahpinion
How will you save small midwestern towns without mass immigration?
What really happens when a "flood of migrants" gets "dumped" on a small heartland town.
3 months ago
What really happens when a "flood of migrants" gets "dumped" on a small heartland town.
essay – snarfed.org
Sleep is so weird
Ian Dyball Our bodies are designed such that we need to lose consciousness, entirely, for a full...
10 months ago
Ian Dyball Our bodies are designed such that we need to lose consciousness, entirely, for a full third of every day. This is evidently necessary for some kind of regular brain maintenance, maybe forming long term memories, who knows what else. If we don’t sleep, we quickly become...
Rest of World -...
China’s favorite resale app is a youth subculture hotspot
You can sell anything on it, and millions do, but it's also become a forum for fandoms and birthed a...
a year ago
You can sell anything on it, and millions do, but it's also become a forum for fandoms and birthed a unique style of confessional item listings.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Thomas Jefferson on Patents
If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the...
over a year ago
If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an…
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,...
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs emails Adobe's CEO
One of us must change our policy. Please let me know who.
a year ago
One of us must change our policy. Please let me know who.
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
Internal Tech Emails
Apple exec on App Store complaints
In the end it all really comes down to whether we will ever open up the iPhone for developers to...
a year ago
In the end it all really comes down to whether we will ever open up the iPhone for developers to distribute apps on their own, bypassing our store.
Stephen Diehl
Sunsetting "What I Wish I Knew"
over a year ago
Blog posts of...
Why Lean Startup sucks for startups.
If you go to Lean Startup events you will find first time founders, consultants, accelerator...
over a year ago
If you go to Lean Startup events you will find first time founders, consultants, accelerator managers, r&d people, enterprise intr...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Selling to enterprises
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as...
over a year ago
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as “enterprises.” I’m guessing the word was…
Business Brainstorms
Operational Minimalism, Zero shame in pulling the plug, OpenAI blog posts, ...
Welcome to another edition of Business Brainstorms - your weekly dose of invaluable insights, trends...
a year ago
Welcome to another edition of Business Brainstorms - your weekly dose of invaluable insights, trends and opportunities served up fresh from the cerebral kitchen of Jakob Greenfeld. Time to brainstorm! 💡 Opportunities “Whoever can find out how to crack the operational hurdles of...
Rest of World -...
Why Mexico’s delivery workers are ditching food for packages
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more...
5 months ago
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more appealing to deliver packages than food orders.
Tech + Economics +...
Nazis don’t deserve free speech.
Reality check: Nazism is not an intellectual hypothetical that bears good
faith discussion. It's...
a year ago
Reality check: Nazism is not an intellectual hypothetical that bears good
faith discussion. It's not a controversial thought experiment. It is a
historical movement designed to demonise and exterminate the Other. Born in
the tumultuous aftermath of World War I, Nazi...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Revisited: big VCs investing in seed rounds
A few years ago, the trend of companies raising smaller seed rounds combined with the emergence of...
over a year ago
A few years ago, the trend of companies raising smaller seed rounds combined with the emergence of new seed funds caused many big VCs to…
Aaron's Essays
The hot round fallacy
I originally wrote this essay for The Information, where it was published on Feb 16.
Here's a fun...
over a year ago
I originally wrote this essay for The Information, where it was published on Feb 16.
Here's a fun little paradox in fundraising: Founders and the media love to talk about how quickly funding rounds happen these days—think about the big, rapid-fire raises...
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....
Nothing Human
Reflections on Politics at Thanksgiving Dinner
political incorrectness as bid for closeness
3 weeks ago
political incorrectness as bid for closeness
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s OnlyFans stars are becoming coaches for a new generation of performers
Lessons include tips to attract customers with provocative poses and seductive words, and how to...
6 months ago
Lessons include tips to attract customers with provocative poses and seductive words, and how to withdraw money from the platform.
SatPost by Trung...
Mailbag Request
PLUS: Super Sports App, Economics of Ski-ing and more Apple Vision Pro memes.
10 months ago
PLUS: Super Sports App, Economics of Ski-ing and more Apple Vision Pro memes.
Essays - Benedict...
Back to the trend line?
The Covid Rotation turns, and ecommerce penetration is back to the trend
line. But which trend...
over a year ago
The Covid Rotation turns, and ecommerce penetration is back to the trend
line. But which trend line, and which penetration?
Unpacked
NVIDIA Explained: Origins, GPUs and AI stock bump | EP8
NVIDIA has seen their valuation 5x over the last 5 years and is now worth more than $2 trillion. In...
8 months ago
NVIDIA has seen their valuation 5x over the last 5 years and is now worth more than $2 trillion. In the latest episode, we dive a few layers deep into the company. We start with the origin of the company and the launch of their first GPU in 1999 which unlocked several...
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…
Rest of World -...
African universities are failing to prepare tech graduates for jobs in AI
Dozens of new AI training startups are filling the gap, offering online courses, hackathons, and job...
7 months ago
Dozens of new AI training startups are filling the gap, offering online courses, hackathons, and job placement help.
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…
SatPost by Trung...
OpenAI, Humane and Apple's Shadow
The future of consumer AI hardware is coming into focus. Who will win?
a year ago
The future of consumer AI hardware is coming into focus. Who will win?
Roberto Vitillo's...
Spark best practices
Spark execution model Spark's simplicity makes it all too easy to ignore its execution model, and...
over a year ago
Spark execution model Spark's simplicity makes it all too easy to ignore its execution model, and still manage to write jobs that eventually…
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.
Tech + Economics +...
I hate work.
The piercing sound of my alarm shatters the stillness of my room at the
ungodly hour of 5 AM, and...
a year ago
The piercing sound of my alarm shatters the stillness of my room at the
ungodly hour of 5 AM, and I reluctantly drag myself out of bed. It’s the
same daily grind, a routine I’ve been stuck in for years, first as a sound
engineer, then as a tech exec, and now as an indie...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Bubble Trouble
As I previously warned, artificial intelligence companies are running out of data. A Wall Street...
8 months ago
As I previously warned, artificial intelligence companies are running out of data. A Wall Street Journal piece from this week has sounded the alarm that some believe AI models will run out of "high-quality text-based data" within the next two years in what an AI researcher called...
Rest of World -...
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.”
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Which VC firm should I pitch?
A friend asked me the other day “Which VC firms should I pitch?” and I started to respond to him,...
over a year ago
A friend asked me the other day “Which VC firms should I pitch?” and I started to respond to him, but then realized that most of my…
Rest of World -...
Rest of World’s 2024 global playlist
What's that sound? It's your perfect soundtrack to just about everything.
6 months ago
What's that sound? It's your perfect soundtrack to just about everything.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Three levels of enthusiasm for technology
Most businesses today believe that technology can dramatically improve the way they operate. But...
over a year ago
Most businesses today believe that technology can dramatically improve the way they operate. But they embrace technology with varying levels…
Rest of World -...
China’s bite-sized soap operas are peddling cheap plots for big profits
Sex scenes, revenge, and cliffhangers are jam-packed into minutes-long smartphone dramas.
a year ago
Sex scenes, revenge, and cliffhangers are jam-packed into minutes-long smartphone dramas.
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...
Aaron's Essays
Asymmetries in Fundraising
Too often, founders approach fundraising as if they are supplicants to the investors. They...
over a year ago
Too often, founders approach fundraising as if they are supplicants to the investors. They understand that fundraising features many asymmetries, but the founders mostly see the asymmetries that are tilted towards the investors. Here’s the thing - in today’s market, the...
Tom Blomfield
Automate Everything
Performing manual, repetitive tasks enrages me. I used to think this was a corollary of being a...
over a year ago
Performing manual, repetitive tasks enrages me. I used to think this was a corollary of being a programmer, but I’ve come to suspect (or hope) that this behaviour is inherent in being human.
But being able to hack together scripts simply makes it much easier to go from a state of...
Rest of World -...
The most important news from Apple isn’t about AI
Reuniting the world’s text messages — one app at a time.
6 months ago
Reuniting the world’s text messages — one app at a time.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Making industries “garage ready” for startups
One of the most important events in the history of modern computing was the advent of...
over a year ago
One of the most important events in the history of modern computing was the advent of “fabless” (“fabrication-less”) semiconductor companies…
Rest of World -...
Indian tech CEO to ChatGPT’s Altman: India can dominate AI
Tech Mahindra CEO explains why he believes India has the potential for global AI supremacy.
a year ago
Tech Mahindra CEO explains why he believes India has the potential for global AI supremacy.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Stickiness is bad for business
It is common to hear entrepreneurs and investors talk about the high level of engagement (what we...
over a year ago
It is common to hear entrepreneurs and investors talk about the high level of engagement (what we used to call “stickiness”) of their…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The problem with tranched VC investments
In venture capital, tranching refers to investments where portions of the money are released over...
over a year ago
In venture capital, tranching refers to investments where portions of the money are released over time when certain pre-negotiated…
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Articles - Alex...
The forecasting fallacy
Marketers are prone to a prediction. You’ll find them in the annual tirade
of trend decks. In the...
over a year ago
Marketers are prone to a prediction. You’ll find them in the annual tirade
of trend decks. In the PowerPoint projections of self-proclaimed prophets.
In the feeds of forecasters and futurists. To understand the extent of our
forecasting fascination, I analysed the websites...
Noahpinion
At least five things for your Thanksgiving weekend (#20)
The OpenAI coup, "deaths of despair", Japan's stagnation, solar panel waste, and the Inequality Wars
a year ago
The OpenAI coup, "deaths of despair", Japan's stagnation, solar panel waste, and the Inequality Wars
Working Theorys
Rabbitholes as Portals
Fall down the right ones
9 months ago
Essays - Benedict...
Do App Store Rules Matter?
After a decade of arguing, regulators will change Apple’s App Store rules.
How much money is...
over a year ago
After a decade of arguing, regulators will change Apple’s App Store rules.
How much money is involved, what might happen next and, most importantly,
who cares? This is a big deal for Spotify, but does it matter to anyone
else?
Rest of World -...
Uber hates this app that tells drivers whether it’s worth picking you up
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
a year ago
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
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.
tomcritchlow.com
Working With Founders Who Have Conviction and Taste
Consulting can be easy money. Fleecing clients for cheap tricks. Clients have problems, you have...
8 months ago
Consulting can be easy money. Fleecing clients for cheap tricks. Clients have problems, you have powerpoints. It’s easy to flip a few quick slides into a chunk of cash and cackle off into the mountains.
Rest of World -...
ShopeeFood drops non-compete clause after Rest of World reporting
Drivers for the Vietnam delivery company had used workarounds but feared detection. After Rest of...
8 months ago
Drivers for the Vietnam delivery company had used workarounds but feared detection. After Rest of World's reporting, the clause was dropped.
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.
Stephen Diehl
The Underlying Technology Shibboleth
over a year ago
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...
Working Theorys
Product vs. Production | Theory No. 9
HQ Trivia, TikTok Trivia, & the not-so-subtle art of creating compelling live media.
a year ago
HQ Trivia, TikTok Trivia, & the not-so-subtle art of creating compelling live media.
SatPost by Trung...
Who Will Run Berkshire After Buffett?
PLUS: Group Chat Rules, 5 Banks in Disguise, Chipotle's Memo.
6 months ago
PLUS: Group Chat Rules, 5 Banks in Disguise, Chipotle's Memo.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
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…
Noahpinion
Americans hate inflation more than they hate unemployment
Lesson #2 from Trump's victory.
a month ago
Lesson #2 from Trump's victory.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some problems are so hard they need to be solved piece by piece
Andrew Parker had a great post a few years ago where he sketched out all the startups going after...
over a year ago
Andrew Parker had a great post a few years ago where he sketched out all the startups going after pieces of Craigslist: Startups that have…
Rest of World -...
When disaster strikes, the world opens WhatsApp
Meta's messaging app has transformed communication in conflict and crisis areas.
a week ago
Meta's messaging app has transformed communication in conflict and crisis areas.
Data Boutique
How to Price Web Scraped Data
5 Factors that Drive Data Pricing
a year ago
5 Factors that Drive Data Pricing
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Give away the diagnostic, sell the remedy
Companies that employ the “freemium” business model give away a product or service for free and then...
over a year ago
Companies that employ the “freemium” business model give away a product or service for free and then charge for additional features. The…
Working Theorys
24 Working Theorys for 2024
Twenty-four ideas across four major themes: startups & investing, social products, media & creators,...
11 months ago
Twenty-four ideas across four major themes: startups & investing, social products, media & creators, and lifestyle
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.
Rest of World -...
A preacher who moonlights as a cab driver is suing Uber and Bolt in Kenya
Zakaria Johana believes ride-hailing apps have been playing dirty, and is among a growing group...
a year ago
Zakaria Johana believes ride-hailing apps have been playing dirty, and is among a growing group taking them to court to prove it.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The experience economy
Before World War 2, the middle-class in the developed world struggled to afford basic needs. In the...
over a year ago
Before World War 2, the middle-class in the developed world struggled to afford basic needs. In the post-war boom, standards of living rose…
Essays - Benedict...
Rocket ships and tractors
For some companies, revenue is a feature.
over a year ago
For some companies, revenue is a feature.
Noahpinion
Yes, we still have to work
The automated luxury paradise is still just science fiction.
5 months ago
The automated luxury paradise is still just science fiction.
Rest of World -...
How Indians are watching Succession after HBO ditched Disney
With HBO walking away from Disney+ Hotstar, shows like Succession, The Last of Us, and Game of...
a year ago
With HBO walking away from Disney+ Hotstar, shows like Succession, The Last of Us, and Game of Thrones can no longer be streamed in the country.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#33)
TSMC Arizona back on track, drawing arrows on graphs, the downsides of inclusionary zoning, why...
8 months ago
TSMC Arizona back on track, drawing arrows on graphs, the downsides of inclusionary zoning, why people hate inflation, and interesting ideas about market power
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of asking people questions
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good...
over a year ago
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good philosophy. I think one of the simplest ways to…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
A massive misallocation of online advertising dollars
In an earlier blog post, I talked about how sites that generate purchasing intent (mainly “content”...
over a year ago
In an earlier blog post, I talked about how sites that generate purchasing intent (mainly “content” sites) are being under-allocated…
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs and Palm
This is not satisfactory to Apple.
a week ago
This is not satisfactory to Apple.
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
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