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 -...
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.
SatPost by Trung...
How Hermès Sells "Time"
The ~$250B French luxury giant creates the most sought after leather bags through craftsmanship,...
10 months ago
The ~$250B French luxury giant creates the most sought after leather bags through craftsmanship, heritage and long-term thinking.
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…
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.
Roberto Vitillo's...
Leader election best practices
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that...
over a year ago
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that can access a shared resource or assign…
Articles - Alex...
The pitfalls of purpose
Purpose is polarising. There are those who promote it as a paragon of
positioning and a...
over a year ago
Purpose is polarising. There are those who promote it as a paragon of
positioning and a silver-bullet strategy for success. Then there are those
who refute purpose’s power and dispute its capacity to connect with
consumers. It is clearly a debate that divides. For every...
SatPost by Trung...
Coca-Cola: "A cure for all nervous affections"
How cocaine, the "patent medicine" industry and mass advertising created the world's most iconic...
a year ago
How cocaine, the "patent medicine" industry and mass advertising created the world's most iconic beverage.
Noahpinion
Secrets of Japanese urbanism (part 2)
A review of "Emergent Tokyo", by Jorge Almazan and Studiolab
9 months ago
A review of "Emergent Tokyo", by Jorge Almazan and Studiolab
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Who will control the software that powers the Internet?
Originally published by Wired. As the internet has evolved over its 35-year lifespan, control over...
over a year ago
Originally published by Wired. As the internet has evolved over its 35-year lifespan, control over its most important services has gradually…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Critics and practitioners
“When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get...
over a year ago
“When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy…
Rest of World -...
Welcome to Exporter
A new way of thinking about the global tech industry.
a year ago
A new way of thinking about the global tech industry.
Steve Blank
The Secret History of Minnesota Part 1: Engineering Research Associates
This post is the latest in the “Secret History Series.” They’ll make much more sense if you watch...
a year ago
This post is the latest in the “Secret History Series.” They’ll make much more sense if you watch the video or read some of the earlier posts for context. See the Secret History bibliography for sources and supplemental reading. Silicon Valley emerged from work in World War II...
Stephen Diehl
Dive into GHC: Targeting Core
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Why African startups must invest in tech policy conversations
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia discusses the biggest challenge startups face when dealing with government...
a year ago
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia discusses the biggest challenge startups face when dealing with government policies and regulators.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Web services should be both federated and extensible
One of the most important developments of the web 2.0 era is the proliferation of full featured,...
over a year ago
One of the most important developments of the web 2.0 era is the proliferation of full featured, bidirectional APIs. APIs provide a way to…
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....
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The NYC tech scene is exploding
The pace of innovation in the New York area is very impressive right now. Some of the top...
over a year ago
The pace of innovation in the New York area is very impressive right now. Some of the top entrepenuers in the country are building and…
Rest of World -...
Another week, another push to “Make in India”
The Indian government mandates companies to get a license if they want to import laptops, tablets,...
a year ago
The Indian government mandates companies to get a license if they want to import laptops, tablets, and PCs. Experts call it “protectionism.”
SatPost by Trung...
Disney Loves (and Hates) Public Domain
Disney lost copyright on the "Steamboat Willie" version of Mickey Mouse. It's the culmination of...
11 months ago
Disney lost copyright on the "Steamboat Willie" version of Mickey Mouse. It's the culmination of decades in which the company used a ton of public domain but prevented others from doing so.
Noahpinion
China's demographics will be fine through mid-century
There is no imminent crisis.
6 months ago
There is no imminent crisis.
Rest of World -...
How Tesla’s Mexico plans stalled out
When the Monterrey factory finally arrives, will Elon still want it?
6 months ago
When the Monterrey factory finally arrives, will Elon still want it?
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 -...
“Gig reviewers” are endorsing fake products for quick cash in Brazil
For a few dollars, paid reviewers will record a video vouching for anything. Scammers love them.
a year ago
For a few dollars, paid reviewers will record a video vouching for anything. Scammers love them.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on the iPhone contact list controversy and app security
1. I’ve heard rumors that lots of apps have been uploading user contact lists for years. One person...
over a year ago
1. I’ve heard rumors that lots of apps have been uploading user contact lists for years. One person who knows the iOS world well told me “if…
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…
SatPost by Trung...
Travelogue: Central & Eastern Europe
17 thoughts from a trip to Munich, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Dubrovnik
4 months ago
17 thoughts from a trip to Munich, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Dubrovnik
Tom Blomfield
Monzo growth
I’ve been asked a few times recently how we got customers to sign up to Monzo in the early years and...
over a year ago
I’ve been asked a few times recently how we got customers to sign up to Monzo in the early years and I haven’t been able to give a satisfactory answer in a sufficiently short space of time. I thought I’d write out my thoughts in a longer piece so I can feel less bad about giving...
Rest of World -...
How a bored NYU graduate captured the absurdity of Chinese diaspora life
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram...
a year ago
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram account.
Aaron's Essays
Fooled by experts
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into...
over a year ago
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into thinking that experts are always right. This is because they are...experts. They are authoritative and knowledgeable. This is especially true when it comes to trying new things in...
Stephen Diehl
FPTs: Pure Fungibility on the Blockchain
over a year ago
Stephen Diehl
Exotic Programming Ideas: Part 1 (Module Systems)
over a year ago
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...
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…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Good bizdev cannibalizes itself
A few successful websites were built almost entirely through viral growth. The vast majority,...
over a year ago
A few successful websites were built almost entirely through viral growth. The vast majority, however, started off by partnering with other…
Noahpinion
Uphold territorial integrity
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
a year ago
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
Roberto Vitillo's...
Understanding Distributed Systems 1.1
Coordination is expensive as it reduces the availability and performance of distributed applications...
over a year ago
Coordination is expensive as it reduces the availability and performance of distributed applications (PACELC theorem). I have extended…
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Be an Expert in a Changing World
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Instagram helps Brazilians dodge a national sales ban on vapes
As Brazilian law clashes with Meta’s policies, illegal vapes flood social media and the streets.
2 months ago
As Brazilian law clashes with Meta’s policies, illegal vapes flood social media and the streets.
Rest of World -...
South Africans are using a power outage notification app to sell weed, find odd jobs
With blackouts devastating the country’s economy, EskomSePush’s AskMyStreet feature has become a...
a year ago
With blackouts devastating the country’s economy, EskomSePush’s AskMyStreet feature has become a rare bright spot for gig workers.
Rest of World -...
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.
AVC
The Newest Members of the USV Team
Last Thursday, three new blog posts hit USV.com announcing our three new analysts: This is our...
a year ago
Last Thursday, three new blog posts hit USV.com announcing our three new analysts: This is our tradition at USV. When someone starts at USV, we ask them to write a post on the USV blog introducing themselves. This helps founders who come to talk to us about their companies...
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...
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…
David Perell
Ambitious People Need Each Other
Ambitious people don’t just need peers. They need mentors. They need people who will encourage them...
a year ago
Ambitious people don’t just need peers. They need mentors. They need people who will encourage them to pursue hard and meaningful projects.
The post Ambitious People Need Each Other appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
Pakistan’s China-style firewall is rattling its tech industry
Internet speeds in the country have dropped by up to 40% due to the government's efforts to monitor...
3 months ago
Internet speeds in the country have dropped by up to 40% due to the government's efforts to monitor internet traffic, said service providers.
haseeb qureshi
Launching the Introduction to Cryptocurrency
Today I’m launching Introduction to Cryptocurrency, an online course teaching the basics of...
over a year ago
Today I’m launching Introduction to Cryptocurrency, an online course teaching the basics of programming cryptocurrencies. The first two modules are already released, and the remainder of the course will be coming out over the next few months.
Introduction to Cryptocurrency is a...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Internal Tech Emails
Facebook vs. TikTok | Elon Musk emails Tesla's board
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
over a year ago
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
Noahpinion
Why China's economy ran off the rails
A short, simplistic, but fairly reasonable story.
a year ago
A short, simplistic, but fairly reasonable story.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
App store shenanigans
I’ve downloaded and tested a few hundred iPhone and iPad apps. One thing that I’ve noticed is that...
over a year ago
I’ve downloaded and tested a few hundred iPhone and iPad apps. One thing that I’ve noticed is that many of the top rated and ranked apps…
Rest of World -...
How Prime Video failed so spectacularly in Africa
Filmmakers, critics, and users blame the platform’s struggle in Africa on poor user experience, a...
9 months ago
Filmmakers, critics, and users blame the platform’s struggle in Africa on poor user experience, a lack of local content, and mediocre publicity.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The risks of being a small investor in a private company
With the passage of the JOBS act, it seems that many more Americans will soon be able to buy equity...
over a year ago
With the passage of the JOBS act, it seems that many more Americans will soon be able to buy equity in private companies. I am no expert on…
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...
Platformer
Microsoft kickstarts the AI arms race
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
a year ago
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Founder Stories
Erick Schonfeld from TechCrunch asked me a few months ago if I’d be on a TechCrunch video show where...
over a year ago
Erick Schonfeld from TechCrunch asked me a few months ago if I’d be on a TechCrunch video show where we interviewed startup founders. I love…
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?
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...
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 -...
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.
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...
Essays - Benedict...
AI and the automation of work
ChatGPT and generative AI will change how we work, but how different is
this to all the other...
a year ago
ChatGPT and generative AI will change how we work, but how different is
this to all the other waves of automation of the last 200 years? What does
it mean for employment? Disruption? Coal consumption?
Noahpinion
The end of the "vibecession"?
Maybe people are being irrationally pessimistic. Or maybe it's just all about real wages.
a year ago
Maybe people are being irrationally pessimistic. Or maybe it's just all about real wages.
Rest of World -...
WhatsApp vigilantes in India are converting Christians by force
How far-right Hindu nationalists use WhatsApp to target Christian families when they’re most...
2 months ago
How far-right Hindu nationalists use WhatsApp to target Christian families when they’re most vulnerable — by preventing them from burying their dead.
Noahpinion
Decade of the Battery
A repost with some updates.
6 months ago
A repost with some updates.
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.
Unpacked
Regulating AI: The case for a mechanisms-based approach
Targeting specific mechanisms mitigates AI risks more effectively, is easier to get consensus on,...
a year ago
Targeting specific mechanisms mitigates AI risks more effectively, is easier to get consensus on, and avoids unintended consequences of brute force approaches
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Burst Damage
Soundtrack: Masters of Reality - High Noon Amsterdam
I have said almost everything in this piece in...
4 months ago
Soundtrack: Masters of Reality - High Noon Amsterdam
I have said almost everything in this piece in every one of these articles for months. I am not upset, but just stating an obvious truth. The current state of affairs effectively pushes against the boundaries of good sense,...
Steve Blank
A Simple Map for Innovation at Scale
An edited version of this article previously appeared in the Boston Consulting Group’s strategy...
over a year ago
An edited version of this article previously appeared in the Boston Consulting Group’s strategy think tank website. I spent last week at a global Fortune 50 company offsite watching them grapple with disruption. This 100+-year-old company has seven major product divisions, each...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The only college major that matters
If you want to work in venture capital focusing on internet/software companies, or start one of...
over a year ago
If you want to work in venture capital focusing on internet/software companies, or start one of those companies, or work as an employee in…
Essays - Benedict...
TV, merchant media and the unbundling of advertising
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest...
over a year ago
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest fast-fashion retailer in the US, with no stores. US
pay TV subscribers have fallen by a third. Where do ad budgets go, where
does rent go, and how many brands will there be?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Computers that can make commitments
Blockchains are computers that can make commitments. Traditional computers are ultimately controlled...
over a year ago
Blockchains are computers that can make commitments. Traditional computers are ultimately controlled by people, either directly in the case…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google’s feature creep
Microsoft used to be considered the king of feature creep. Here was Microsoft Word when it was most...
over a year ago
Microsoft used to be considered the king of feature creep. Here was Microsoft Word when it was most cluttered: I don’t use any of…
Rest of World -...
Sierra Leone’s first lady hopes going viral on TikTok will secure Saturday’s elections
Amid economic turmoil, President Julius Maada Bio is seeking re-election in Sierra Leone. His wife,...
a year ago
Amid economic turmoil, President Julius Maada Bio is seeking re-election in Sierra Leone. His wife, Fatima, is dancing to a crowd of over 200,000 on TikTok to drum up votes.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Man and superman
There are two broad philosophical approaches to explaining the forces that drive world events. The...
over a year ago
There are two broad philosophical approaches to explaining the forces that drive world events. The first one is sometimes called the Great…
Working Theorys
Unbundling Cash & Equity | Theory No. 15
a heretical take on "total compensation"
a year ago
a heretical take on "total compensation"
Noahpinion
The Middle East is getting older
Why I'm optimistic about the waning of conflict in the region.
a year ago
Why I'm optimistic about the waning of conflict in the region.
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…
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…
AVC
Machine Learning and Schools
I read last week that the NYC Department of Education has banned ChatGPT from its networks and...
a year ago
I read last week that the NYC Department of Education has banned ChatGPT from its networks and devices. I understand that reaction and mentioned the issues that AI/ML create for educators in a post a few weeks ago. I attended a dinner this past week with USV portfolio founders...
Noahpinion
The positive case for Joe Biden
It's not just about being anti-Trump.
7 months ago
It's not just about being anti-Trump.
Platformer
TikTok nears the endgame
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost....
a year ago
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost. PLUS: How Twitter keeps competitors off its For You page
Rest of World -...
Elon Musk said he’d eliminate bots from X. Instead, election influence campaigns are running wild
In a year of global elections, X is making it easy to meddle.
4 months ago
In a year of global elections, X is making it easy to meddle.
Paul Graham: Essays
What Kate Saw in Silicon Valley
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Casualties of the Chip War
The biggest threat to Nvidia isn’t coming from China
a year ago
The biggest threat to Nvidia isn’t coming from China
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#28)
Cultural stagnation, pedestrian deaths, evidence on decoupling, the benefits of education, and why...
10 months ago
Cultural stagnation, pedestrian deaths, evidence on decoupling, the benefits of education, and why philosophers read the classics
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The ideal startup career path
For most people I know who join or start companies, the primary goal is not to get rich – it is to...
over a year ago
For most people I know who join or start companies, the primary goal is not to get rich – it is to work on something they love, with people…
Rest of World -...
Nigeria’s dating app for people who want to stop dating and get hitched already
What started out as a matchmaking WhatsApp group has turned into a popular dating app with over 2.1...
a year ago
What started out as a matchmaking WhatsApp group has turned into a popular dating app with over 2.1 million recorded matches and 44 marriages.
Paul Graham: Essays
Where to See Silicon Valley
over a year ago
David Perell
Annual Review 2022
This year was an emotional odyssey. At times, it was tormenting, at others intoxicating. Here, I...
a year ago
This year was an emotional odyssey. At times, it was tormenting, at others intoxicating. Here, I share my joys and struggles, my dreams and regrets. 2022 completely changed my life.
The post Annual Review 2022 appeared first on David Perell.
Paul Graham: Essays
What Business Can Learn from Open Source
over a year ago
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...
Working Theorys
Accountability as a Service
Hey you, did you do the thing you said you would do?
7 months ago
Hey you, did you do the thing you said you would do?
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.
Rest of World -...
Uber’s largest vehicle financing partner is an African startup with global ambitions
From India to the U.K., UAE, and Thailand, Nigeria-founded Moove is chasing profitability.
8 months ago
From India to the U.K., UAE, and Thailand, Nigeria-founded Moove is chasing profitability.
essay – snarfed.org
I’m not eating my own dog food
PetMD …or if you prefer, eating my own cooking, or scratching my own itch, or drinking my own...
a year ago
PetMD …or if you prefer, eating my own cooking, or scratching my own itch, or drinking my own champagne. Sure. These are all metaphors for the idea that if you build something, it turns out better if you use it yourself, especially if you want it yourself. However, when I think...
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 -...
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.
Nothing Human
Metrics, Cowardice, and Mistrust
why we need better ideologies than "data driven decision making"
a year ago
why we need better ideologies than "data driven decision making"
Rest of World -...
Small-scale investors are building Vietnam’s EV charging network
Anyone with spare land in a good location can become a franchisee for a charging company, but with...
2 weeks ago
Anyone with spare land in a good location can become a franchisee for a charging company, but with no government support it can take years to break even.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Two Kinds of Moderate
over a year ago
David Perell
Gagan Biyani: Building Silicon Valley Startups
My guest today is Gagan Biyani, the current CEO of an education startup (where I’m both an investor...
over a year ago
My guest today is Gagan Biyani, the current CEO of an education startup (where I’m both an investor and an advisor) that helps teachers run Cohort-Based Courses on the Internet and has students from around the world. Gagan also founded a multi-billion dollar online education...
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...
Rest of World -...
OpenAI cuts its last and most important link to China
A milestone in the militarization of AI.
5 months ago
A milestone in the militarization of AI.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Pitching the VC partnership
The last step to raising venture capital is normally a 1 hour pitch to the whole partnership during...
over a year ago
The last step to raising venture capital is normally a 1 hour pitch to the whole partnership during their weekly monday meeting. This is…
Essays - Benedict...
Remaking the app store
The EU has finally made Apple redesign the App Store, 15 years after we
started arguing about it,...
10 months ago
The EU has finally made Apple redesign the App Store, 15 years after we
started arguing about it, and no-one is happy with the result. In the next
few years there’ll be a lot of shouting and some giant fines, but in the
end, nothing much will change.
Rest of World -...
Traffic laws can’t keep up with Mexico City’s electric mopeds
Chinese-made mopeds have become popular in the traffic-clogged city, but users and manufacturers...
4 months ago
Chinese-made mopeds have become popular in the traffic-clogged city, but users and manufacturers aren’t sure which laws apply to them.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Steve Blank
Is a $100 Million Enough?
Capitalism has been good to me. After serving in the military during Vietnam, I came home and had a...
9 months ago
Capitalism has been good to me. After serving in the military during Vietnam, I came home and had a career in eight startups. I got to retire when I was 45. Over the last quarter century, in my third career, I helped create the methods entrepreneurs use to build new startups,...
Steve Blank
The Department of Defense Is Getting Its Innovation Act Together – But More Can Be Done
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of...
11 months ago
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of threats from China and elsewhere, there’s no agreement on what types of adversaries we’ll face; how we’ll fight, organize, and train; and what weapons or systems we’ll need for...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
New York City is poised for a tech revival
One thing that was puzzling about the “web 2.0 boom” from 2003-2008 was how irrelevant the East...
over a year ago
One thing that was puzzling about the “web 2.0 boom” from 2003-2008 was how irrelevant the East Coast, and particular New York City, was…
Tech + Economics +...
A reminder.
We are living through the first year of pretending the pandemic never
happened and that everything...
a year ago
We are living through the first year of pretending the pandemic never
happened and that everything is back to normal. Nobody has had a chance to
heal, and this holiday season is going to break a whole lot of people.
Be kind.
Dustin Curtis
Bourdain on The Journey
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your...
over a year ago
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with...
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…
Rest of World -...
Anxious and online, Chinese youth embrace spirituality apps
Young Chinese people are hiring online tarot readers and feng shui masters to seek cheap therapy.
a year ago
Young Chinese people are hiring online tarot readers and feng shui masters to seek cheap therapy.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
You Can't Make Friends With The Rockstars
You cannot make friends with the rock stars...if you're going to be a true journalist, you know, a...
2 months ago
You cannot make friends with the rock stars...if you're going to be a true journalist, you know, a rock journalist. First, you never get paid much, but you will get free records from the record company.
[There’s] fuckin’ nothin' about you that is
Noahpinion
Heat pumps, heat pumps, heat pumps!!
A simple but incredibly useful machine is quietly transforming our buildings.
a year ago
A simple but incredibly useful machine is quietly transforming our buildings.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
It’s not East Coast vs West Coast, it’s about making more places like the Valley
I’ve written a few times about what seems to be an exploding tech scene in NYC. This is sometimes...
over a year ago
I’ve written a few times about what seems to be an exploding tech scene in NYC. This is sometimes interpreted as arguing that NYC is a…
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 -...
The betting app fueling fantasy cricket’s rise in India
On Dream11, Indian sports fans create groups, participate in tournaments, and win millions by...
a year ago
On Dream11, Indian sports fans create groups, participate in tournaments, and win millions by picking their favorite players.
Steve Blank
Here’s What Happened When Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks visited Stanford’s Gordian...
It was an honor to host US Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks at Stanford’s Gordian Knot...
over a year ago
It was an honor to host US Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks at Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. (Think of the Deputy Secretary of Defense as the Chief Operating Officer of a company – but in this case the company has 3 million...
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.
Working Theorys
Don't Build a Social Network, Build a Social Utility | Theory No. 21
We often think of “social products” as synonymous with “social networks,” but they’re not. Social...
a year ago
We often think of “social products” as synonymous with “social networks,” but they’re not. Social networks are just a subset of social products, though arguably the most popular and lucrative kind that we’ve become used to hearing about. But I think it’s the wrong time to build a...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What the smartest people do on the weekend is what everyone else will do during the week in ten...
Many breakthrough technologies were hatched by hobbyists in garages and dorm rooms. Prominent...
over a year ago
Many breakthrough technologies were hatched by hobbyists in garages and dorm rooms. Prominent examples include the PC, the web, blogs, and…
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
Stephen Diehl
The Twilight of the Securities Act
over a year ago
Data Boutique
Scrape Or Buy? The Zalando Case Study
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
a year ago
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
Tech + Economics +...
A few thoughts on the end of Omegle.
In 2009, Omegle was more than just a website to me; it was a lifeline when
I felt adrift and...
a year ago
In 2009, Omegle was more than just a website to me; it was a lifeline when
I felt adrift and isolated from any real sense of community or network. I
was struggling with depression, alcohol abuse and the recent end of my
music career and my life on tour.
Omegle's premise...
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...
Rest of World -...
The workers at the frontlines of the AI revolution
The global labor force of outsourced and contract workers are early adopters of generative AI — and...
a year ago
The global labor force of outsourced and contract workers are early adopters of generative AI — and the most at risk.
Noahpinion
On immigration, what Americans want is democratic control
Nations - even democratic ones - are exclusive clubs. And that's OK.
a month ago
Nations - even democratic ones - are exclusive clubs. And that's OK.
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Tom Blomfield
Taking Risk
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities;...
7 months ago
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities; Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College. Along with UCL, these British universities represent 4 of the top 10 universities in the world. The US - a country with 5x more people and...
essay – snarfed.org
New job, hello climate tech
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to...
over a year ago
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to prevent deforestation and sequester more carbon in trees. A few years ago, I looked around for a side project on the climate crisis. Nothing big, maybe 5-10 hours a week, but I was ready...
Paul Graham: Essays
Default Alive or Default Dead?
over a year ago
Stephen Diehl
The Simple English Argument Against Crypto
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The best articles we didn’t publish in 2023
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
12 months ago
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
Internal Tech Emails
"I'm on the edge of revolt"
I've been both a supporter and I believe friend to Google and its senior management through all...
a year ago
I've been both a supporter and I believe friend to Google and its senior management through all these years, but I must say I'm on the edge of revolt now that Google's actions are so punitive, not just for Expedia, but also for IAC and all the players that depend upon something...
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.
David Perell
Thoughts on Montreal
I visited Montreal for the first time. Here are my general impressions of the city, based on walks...
over a year ago
I visited Montreal for the first time. Here are my general impressions of the city, based on walks around town and casual conversations with friends: Culture: My favorite thing about Montreal is its commitment to culture. French is the dominant language, which is partially why it...
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…
Dustin Curtis
Contribution and abundance
Ben Horowitz gave this remarkable response to a question about joy and happiness on Time Well Spent:...
over a year ago
Ben Horowitz gave this remarkable response to a question about joy and happiness on Time Well Spent:
In my experience there are really two things that lead to happiness and everything else is mostly noise. The two things are contribution and abundance.
Contribution is basically...
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 -...
Nigeria’s Ogun State wants to lead the country’s EV revolution
But experts fear long-term success may not follow as Nigeria lags other African countries when it...
a month ago
But experts fear long-term success may not follow as Nigeria lags other African countries when it comes to EV adoption.
Rest of World -...
Indonesia is trying to block LGBTQIA content from the internet
A new broadcast bill imposes curbs on LGBTQIA content and other “negative” material, potentially...
6 months ago
A new broadcast bill imposes curbs on LGBTQIA content and other “negative” material, potentially hurting content creators and broadcasters in Indonesia.
Rest of World -...
The job listing app where you can slide into a recruiter’s DMs
Boss Zhipin’s AI connects job seekers directly with recruiters, and it’s thriving on China’s...
a year ago
Boss Zhipin’s AI connects job seekers directly with recruiters, and it’s thriving on China’s employment crisis.
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?
Rest of World -...
Microsoft is building a data center in a tiny Indian village. Locals allege it’s dumping industrial...
“These big companies think they can enter small villages like ours, take our land, and destroy it.”
4 months ago
“These big companies think they can enter small villages like ours, take our land, and destroy it.”
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
Rest of World -...
Nigeria will become a net exporter of tech talent: Nigerian Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani
The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his...
2 months ago
The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his administration’s priorities for advancing AI in Nigeria, and the difficult task of choosing between allies.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The myth of the Eureka moment
I’ve been involved in the development of a number startups over the years, including three I...
over a year ago
I’ve been involved in the development of a number startups over the years, including three I co-founded. I have also observed the idea…
AVC
The Daily Bolster
USV is an investor in Bolster, a marketplace for fractional and full-time executive talent for...
a year ago
USV is an investor in Bolster, a marketplace for fractional and full-time executive talent for startups and growth companies. This week Bolster launched a daily short (5min) podcast and email with actionable insights and advice from founders, operators, and investors. It is...
Platformer
Elon Musk fires a top Twitter engineer over his declining view count
Inside Twitter 2.0, turmoil leaves employees stretched to the max
a year ago
Inside Twitter 2.0, turmoil leaves employees stretched to the max
Data Boutique
Economics of Web Data: ROI
Customer's Value Standpoint
a year ago
Customer's Value Standpoint
Rest of World -...
Latin Americans are the world’s most in-demand remote workers
They still struggle to get paid in a volatile region, though, with many asking for payment in...
a year ago
They still struggle to get paid in a volatile region, though, with many asking for payment in crypto.
Working Theorys
Word Association Fame
The new attention playbooks will be full of old plays.
9 months ago
The new attention playbooks will be full of old plays.
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…
tomcritchlow.com
Notes on my Remarkable Tablet
I love my Remarkable 2. I’ve been using it pretty heavily for almost a year now. It’s my every day...
10 months ago
I love my Remarkable 2. I’ve been using it pretty heavily for almost a year now. It’s my every day companion device. Here’s some notes and ideas.
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.
Rest of World -...
Why Southeast Asia became a spyware hotspot
A new Amnesty International report raises difficult questions.
7 months ago
A new Amnesty International report raises difficult questions.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Thales the Milesian
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a...
over a year ago
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a philosopher: There is the anecdote of Thales the…
Business Brainstorms
Podcast translations, Apple opportunity, being unreasonable, don't hire corporate executives, the...
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 “When the Apple VR headset drops tomorrow, every social...
Paul Graham: Essays
High Resolution Fundraising
over a year ago
Paul Graham: Essays
Good and Bad Procrastination
over a year ago
AVC
Read Write Own
Chris Dixon, who leads the A16Z crypto fund, and has been an entrepreneur, VC, and friend of mine...
11 months ago
Chris Dixon, who leads the A16Z crypto fund, and has been an entrepreneur, VC, and friend of mine for over twenty years, has written a book called Read Write Own that is available for pre-order now and will start shipping at the end of the month. Chris gave me a copy right before...
Platformer
Why TikTok's future has never been so cloudy
ByteDance thought it had a deal with the government in August. Then came the bans — and a spying...
a year ago
ByteDance thought it had a deal with the government in August. Then came the bans — and a spying scandal
David Perell
After Minimalism
It's time for us to move beyond minimalism. If we want a dynamic world, we should splash our...
over a year ago
It's time for us to move beyond minimalism. If we want a dynamic world, we should splash our buildings with enthusiastic colors, bold patterns, and visions of a better tomorrow.
The post After Minimalism appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
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.
Blog posts of...
ADHD 🧠
I want to preface this by saying that I have only a mild case of ADHD, eg I don’t take any...
over a year ago
I want to preface this by saying that I have only a mild case of ADHD, eg I don’t take any medication. I get regularly asked about...
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…
SatPost by Trung...
6 thoughts on "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson
Including the Twitter deal, SpaceX's "Idiot Index", the manufacturing "algorithm", management style...
a year ago
Including the Twitter deal, SpaceX's "Idiot Index", the manufacturing "algorithm", management style and Big Tech beefs (Bill Gates, Larry Page, Jeff Bezos).
XO Capital - Field...
Deal Structures
A couple of people have asked about deal structures so here are a few we commonly use for buying...
10 months ago
A couple of people have asked about deal structures so here are a few we commonly use for buying micro saas companies.
All Cash
Pretty straight forward. You do all cash. Usually it's 100% into escrow.com and release maybe 50% before asset transfer and 50% after asset
Working Theorys
In Defense of 'Tarpit Ideas'
In the startup world, there’s a term called “tarpit ideas.” These ideas look enticing at first. They...
6 months ago
In the startup world, there’s a term called “tarpit ideas.” These ideas look enticing at first. They have universal surface appeal, but they end up being huge drains on time and resources, and ultimately, they fail. The common trope is that young, first-time founders pursue...
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.
Rest of World -...
This renewable energy startup helps companies decarbonize across the Pacific
Bor Hung Chong from Nefin Group discusses green energy solutions beyond solar panels.
a year ago
Bor Hung Chong from Nefin Group discusses green energy solutions beyond solar panels.
Noahpinion
The Super-Scary Theory of the 21st Century (repost)
The haunting specter of techno-authoritarianism has only gotten more haunting
a year ago
The haunting specter of techno-authoritarianism has only gotten more haunting
AVC
Flooding
I spent a good part of my childhood at West Point, the US Military Academy. I got an email yesterday...
a year ago
I spent a good part of my childhood at West Point, the US Military Academy. I got an email yesterday with photos of the flooding at West Point. My dad and brother used to work in that grey stone building called Mahan Hall. And the same storms that did this to West Point did worse...
42!
The case of WOPR and the lost code...
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming...
over a year ago
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming forum that was posted over two decades ago!
I couldn't for the life of me remember what I had said, but he reiterated that it was about a simulation that I wrote in BASIC that was...
Noahpinion
The elemental foe
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
5 months ago
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
Noahpinion
Mike Bird and Noah Smith debate industrial policy
In which we hash out at least a few of our differences.
a year ago
In which we hash out at least a few of our differences.
Noahpinion
Chinasplaining will backfire
A review of "China's World View", by David Daokui Li
9 months ago
A review of "China's World View", by David Daokui Li
42!
Embracing AI
I could only avoid AI in my startup for so long before I actually found a
use for it… How I used...
a year ago
I could only avoid AI in my startup for so long before I actually found a
use for it… How I used ChatGPT to make the life of my support team easier.
Paul Graham: Essays
This Year We Can End the Death Penalty in California
over a year ago
SatPost by Trung...
Trader Joe's: The Anti-Grocer
The grocer created a cult brand with sales of $16B+ a year by doing the opposite of industry...
a year ago
The grocer created a cult brand with sales of $16B+ a year by doing the opposite of industry best-practices (from wages to product to ads).
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 -...
Why Tesla isn’t worried about BYD
Two companies, two visions of our EV future.
11 months ago
Two companies, two visions of our EV future.
Noahpinion
No, NEPA really is a problem for clean energy
A guest post by Aidan Mackenzie and Santi Ruiz
a year ago
A guest post by Aidan Mackenzie and Santi Ruiz
SatPost by Trung...
Steve Jobs, Rick Rubin and "taste"
The Apple co-founder and the super-producer share similar ideas regarding taste and creativity.
a year ago
The Apple co-founder and the super-producer share similar ideas regarding taste and creativity.
Folklore.org:...
Folon
Early Mac art from Jean-Michel Folon
a year ago
Early Mac art from Jean-Michel Folon
Steve Blank
You’re Invited: Hacking for Defense and Lean LaunchPad Final Presentations
Join us for the final presentations of our two Stanford classes this Tuesday June 4th and Wednesday...
6 months ago
Join us for the final presentations of our two Stanford classes this Tuesday June 4th and Wednesday June 5th. Tuesday = Hacking for Defense Wednesday = Lean Launchpad The presentations just get better every year. Attend in person or via Zoom. This year AI seems to be part of...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The economic logic behind tech and talent acquisitions
There’s been a lot of speculation lately about why big companies spend millions of dollars acquiring...
over a year ago
There’s been a lot of speculation lately about why big companies spend millions of dollars acquiring startups for their technology or talent…
Business Brainstorms
Squeeze page builders, better Bible App, why you're stuck, 1X vs. 2x Founders, talk to people!
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “There is a desperate need for new software devs in the...
Rest of World -...
The Chinese app where women socialize over their menstrual cycles
On Meet You, women track, discuss, and pray for their periods.
a year ago
On Meet You, women track, discuss, and pray for their periods.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How bundling benefits sellers and buyers
There is a widespread belief in technology circles that bundling of cable TV, newspaper, magazine...
over a year ago
There is a widespread belief in technology circles that bundling of cable TV, newspaper, magazine and other information goods will go away…
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?
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
The new industrial policy, explained
We're starting to learn what replaces the old free-trade consensus.
a year ago
We're starting to learn what replaces the old free-trade consensus.
essay – snarfed.org
Possible futures for Bridgy Fed
Tomorrowland / Walt Disney People regularly ask me whether Bridgy Fed is ready to scale and support...
a month ago
Tomorrowland / Walt Disney People regularly ask me whether Bridgy Fed is ready to scale and support more users. It’s a technical question, but their underlying motivation is usually broader: they believe in the social web, and the fediverse(s), and they want them to connect...
haseeb qureshi
DeFi in Eth2: Cities, suburbs, and farms
Ethereum today is incredibly congested—it’s even more congested now than it was during the height of...
over a year ago
Ethereum today is incredibly congested—it’s even more congested now than it was during the height of the ICO bubble.
This is impressive, but also worrying! Ethereum 2.0 is still a ways away, but the tiny island of Ethereum 1.0 is already populated to the point of...
Noahpinion
Give us your ideas on how to deal with Chinese chips!
A policy competition from the Federation of American Scientists, Chris Miller, ChinaTalk, and me
6 months ago
A policy competition from the Federation of American Scientists, Chris Miller, ChinaTalk, and me
Noahpinion
You're not going to like what comes after Pax Americana
Welcome to the jungle.
a year ago
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...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Bangladesh’s internet blackout immobilizes its booming tech industry
The government and internet service providers blame each other for the blackout amid massive...
5 months ago
The government and internet service providers blame each other for the blackout amid massive protests.
Tech + Economics +...
Apparently, Magic Leap still exists?
VentureBeat:
While Apple’s device will be tough to compete with, Magic Leap has a
slight...
11 months ago
VentureBeat:
While Apple’s device will be tough to compete with, Magic Leap has a
slight pricing edge, with a price of $3,300 versus Apple’s $3,500
device. But it is interesting that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment
Fund, which is already the majority owner...
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?
Rest of World -...
The CEO who believes Africans must make their own AI tools
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need...
9 months ago
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need less data and other resources.
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…
AVC
Bi-Directional EV Charging
EV sales in the US are on the rise, reaching 7% of all car sales in Q1 2023, up from 4.6% a year...
a year ago
EV sales in the US are on the rise, reaching 7% of all car sales in Q1 2023, up from 4.6% a year earlier. If that rate of growth continues, EVs will be 10% of the US car market by next year. Most people who own an EV charge it at home, using an EV […]
haseeb qureshi
How DeFi cannibalizes PoS security
On-chain lending has become the most popular decentralized finance (DeFi) application today,...
over a year ago
On-chain lending has become the most popular decentralized finance (DeFi) application today, with over $600M in loans originated this year across MakerDAO, Compound, and dYdX. On-chain lending has the potential to disrupt traditional secured lending. But it seems it may do more...
SatPost by Trung...
Sculpting Ourselves
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
a year ago
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
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…
Noahpinion
The reverse OPEC maneuver
Pricing power in the oil industry is shifting, and will shift more.
a year ago
Pricing power in the oil industry is shifting, and will shift more.
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...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
We're Watching Facebook Die
In the first quarter of 2024, Meta made $36.45 billion dollars - $12.37 billion dollars of which was...
6 months ago
In the first quarter of 2024, Meta made $36.45 billion dollars - $12.37 billion dollars of which was pure profit. Though the company no longer reports daily active users, it now uses another metric: “family daily active people.” This number refers to “registered and logged-in
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs on iPod and DRM
Guys – We need to make sure that when Music Match launches their download music store they cannot...
a month ago
Guys – We need to make sure that when Music Match launches their download music store they cannot use iPod. Is this going to be an issue?
Inverted Passion
Notes on how Facebook ads work
I was studying Facebook ads system for Nintee, made some notes that you might find useful. Resources...
a year ago
I was studying Facebook ads system for Nintee, made some notes that you might find useful. Resources Facebook Doesn’t Make as Much Money as It Could—On Purpose How to Save Millions With Marketability Testing Facebook Bid Strategies
The post Notes on how Facebook ads work appeared...
Rest of World -...
Mexico is using an AI-powered app to prevent suicides
MeMind has connected 10,000 at-risk people with mental health treatment, contributing to a 9% drop...
a week ago
MeMind has connected 10,000 at-risk people with mental health treatment, contributing to a 9% drop in suicides.
The Thinking Cap
Generative AI Builds Bridges Between Creative Mediums
On architecting a new Internet paradigm for rapid content creation and sharing.
over a year ago
On architecting a new Internet paradigm for rapid content creation and sharing.
Paul Graham: Essays
What You'll Wish You'd Known
over a year ago
Unpacked
StackOverflow's pivot: From disruption to opportunity
OverFlowAI takes the company’s core asset, exposes answers in a highly usable interface, and in turn...
a year ago
OverFlowAI takes the company’s core asset, exposes answers in a highly usable interface, and in turn creates a loop using gen AI to fire up the content engine.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the end of your week (#16)
Michael Lewis and SBF, how to win Cold War 2, American manufacturing, Target and shoplifting, and...
a year ago
Michael Lewis and SBF, how to win Cold War 2, American manufacturing, Target and shoplifting, and yet more on housing supply
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Coinbase
One of the interesting things about Bitcoin is the contrast between how it is portrayed in the press...
over a year ago
One of the interesting things about Bitcoin is the contrast between how it is portrayed in the press and how it is understood by…
tomcritchlow.com
LinkedIn is not a social or professional network, it's a learning network
The world of work is changing.
9 months ago
The world of work is changing.
Noahpinion
America's semiconductor policy is missing a key piece
A guest post by Steven Glinert.
7 months ago
A guest post by Steven Glinert.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some ideas for native bitcoin apps
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin...
over a year ago
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin "native Bitcoin apps". Most of the…
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.
Data Boutique
How To Monitor Retailer's Prices
A Practical Data Boutique Use Case
a year ago
A Practical Data Boutique Use Case
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
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.
Working Theorys
Before the Crowd Shows Up
The arena rewards those who arrive early.
9 months ago
The arena rewards those who arrive early.
Blog posts of...
Everyone is doing 1on1s wrong. I think.
Our calendars are packed with meetings. We communicate mostly in 1on1on1on1 trains. Nobody is happy....
a year ago
Our calendars are packed with meetings. We communicate mostly in 1on1on1on1 trains. Nobody is happy. Nothing gets done. Can we fix this?
Platformer
14 predictions about 2024
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
a year ago
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
Rest of World -...
Vietnam’s made-to-measure fashion brands are thriving in the TikTok era
As shoppers sour on Chinese fast fashion, more sustainable Vietnamese brands — loved by K-pop...
6 months ago
As shoppers sour on Chinese fast fashion, more sustainable Vietnamese brands — loved by K-pop artists and Western celebrities alike — are booming online.
Noahpinion
The age of SASEA
South Asia and Southeast Asia are globalization's next frontier.
5 months ago
South Asia and Southeast Asia are globalization's next frontier.
Articles - Alex...
The Millennial myth
It seems that a day doesn’t pass without another article hitting the
headlines exposing the...
over a year ago
It seems that a day doesn’t pass without another article hitting the
headlines exposing the shortcomings of the Millennial generation. It seems
we are obsessed with the concept of demographic cohorts. Or, to put it more
specifically, we are obsessed with the idea that...
Rest of World -...
Mexico’s growing e-commerce infrastructure is built on top of its smallest shops
Amazon and MercadoLibre get all the credit, but it’s really a patchwork of mom-and-pop shops that...
a year ago
Amazon and MercadoLibre get all the credit, but it’s really a patchwork of mom-and-pop shops that keep Mexico’s e-commerce running.
Tech + Economics +...
The block button is the ultimate source of dopamine. Use it.
I’m seeing this debate pop up on Threads and Mastodon, and I’ve speed-run
the whole discourse so...
a year ago
I’m seeing this debate pop up on Threads and Mastodon, and I’ve speed-run
the whole discourse so many times from Twitter to Bluesky that I’m
exhausted. But let me be clear. It's perfectly okay to use the block
function on any and every single platform. Block whoever you...
Steve Blank
What Does Product Market Fit Sound Like? This.
I got a call from an ex-student asking me “how do you know when you found product market fit?”...
2 months ago
I got a call from an ex-student asking me “how do you know when you found product market fit?” There’s been lots of words written about it, but no actual recordings of the moment. I remembered I had saved this 90 second, 26 year-old audio file because this is when I knew we had...
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Four types of mobile apps
If you are a founder trying to create a new mobile app or an investor trying decide whether an app...
over a year ago
If you are a founder trying to create a new mobile app or an investor trying decide whether an app has enduring value, it is helpful to…
Platformer
How the Brazil riots change Facebook's Trump equation
After a new string of riots against democracy, let's game out whether Meta should restore the former...
a year ago
After a new string of riots against democracy, let's game out whether Meta should restore the former president's account
Paul Graham: Essays
The Acceleration of Addictiveness
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
What global investors need to know about funding Pakistani startups
Hasib Malik is the co-founder and CEO of Tiger Global-backed financial services startup CreditBook.
6 months ago
Hasib Malik is the co-founder and CEO of Tiger Global-backed financial services startup CreditBook.
SatPost by Trung...
Becoming the Tuna King
What are the table stakes for a profession? Do you want to pay it?
a year ago
What are the table stakes for a profession? Do you want to pay it?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Is now a good time to start a company?
Back in 2006, my co-founder at Hunch, Caterina Fake, wrote a blog post called “It’s a bad time to...
over a year ago
Back in 2006, my co-founder at Hunch, Caterina Fake, wrote a blog post called “It’s a bad time to start a company.” There were no doubt…
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…
Paul Graham: Essays
An Alternative Theory of Unions
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Should Apple be more open?
It is almost religious orthodoxy in the tech community that “open” is better than “closed.” For...
over a year ago
It is almost religious orthodoxy in the tech community that “open” is better than “closed.” For example, there have widespread complaints…
David Perell
Surrendering to Your Nature
A mark of maturity is surrendering to the person you actually are instead of the one you wish you...
a year ago
A mark of maturity is surrendering to the person you actually are instead of the one you wish you were.
The post Surrendering to Your Nature appeared first on David Perell.
42!
Basecamp's house of cards...
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
Character is like toothpaste - it really only comes out under pressure...
over a year ago
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
Character is like toothpaste - it really only comes out under pressure (unknown)
I don’t know where I first heard the above quote, but the events of the last week have really shown how true this saying is.
I will start by saying that I have been an...
Noahpinion
A better way to build a downtown
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
2 months ago
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
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...
Dustin Curtis
Bill Gates is Angry
Steven Levy interviewed Bill Gates for Wired, and it is quite an illuminating conversation. In past...
over a year ago
Steven Levy interviewed Bill Gates for Wired, and it is quite an illuminating conversation. In past public appearances, Gates – like most experts – has attempted to walk the line between antagonizing the Trump administration and promulgating real science. But now he appears to be...
Inverted Passion
Games are problems people pay to solve
Good definitions are powerful. Lately, while reading The Art of Game Design, it became clear to me...
a year ago
Good definitions are powerful. Lately, while reading The Art of Game Design, it became clear to me that the author’s definition of games makes a lot of sense. He defines games as problems that people pay to solve with either their time or money. Unlike movies or books, games are...
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.
Rest of World -...
Kenya’s biggest protest in recent history played out on a walkie-talkie app
More than 40,000 Kenyans have downloaded Zello since protests began against the government’s plan to...
5 months ago
More than 40,000 Kenyans have downloaded Zello since protests began against the government’s plan to raise taxes.
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.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Blog posts of...
How I think about Code Management
You might have the worst codebase in the world. It was written by people who had no standards or...
over a year ago
You might have the worst codebase in the world. It was written by people who had no standards or didn’t care about code quality. H...
Steve Blank
The Venture Mindset – Worth A Read
Ilya Strebulaev at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Director of the Stanford Venture...
7 months ago
Ilya Strebulaev at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Director of the Stanford Venture Capital Initiative just came out with a book that should be on your reading list – The Venture Mindset. The books premise is that Venture Capitalists (who were responsible for the...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Forces that affect whether a large company will buy your product (according to Marc Andreessen)
From Marc Andreessen’s “Moby Dick Theory of Big Companies“: You can count on there being a whole...
over a year ago
From Marc Andreessen’s “Moby Dick Theory of Big Companies“: You can count on there being a whole host of impinging forces that will affect…
Blog posts of...
🙏
Over the years i met several people that left quite an impact on me and in many cases helped me...
over a year ago
Over the years i met several people that left quite an impact on me and in many cases helped me along the way. I tried to summariz...
Noahpinion
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.
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
There are two ways to make large datasets useful
I’ve spent the majority of my career building technologies that try to do useful things with large...
over a year ago
I’ve spent the majority of my career building technologies that try to do useful things with large datasets.* One of the most important…
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
What if Xi Jinping isn't that competent? (repost)
Plus a new update showing how right I was.
a year ago
Plus a new update showing how right I was.
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…
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.
Noahpinion
Why did the U.S. miss the battery revolution?
We were early to the party on every other technological revolution, but we missed this one.
4 months ago
We were early to the party on every other technological revolution, but we missed this one.
Unpacked
IRS Direct Tax Filing: the end of Intuit's lobbying
Thirty-eight years since the launch of e-filing, the IRS will pilot its own tax filing system ending...
a year ago
Thirty-eight years since the launch of e-filing, the IRS will pilot its own tax filing system ending two decades of Intuit's regulatory capture of the tax software market
Inverted Passion
You can only succeed if you know how you can fail
We want to be successful with our decisions. Even though failure is often glamorized, nobody wants...
a year ago
We want to be successful with our decisions. Even though failure is often glamorized, nobody wants it on purpose. Everyone wishes to be successful when they’re starting a company, launching a product, hiring a leader or even while buying a house. It may sound obvious, but the...
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…
Stephen Diehl
Congressional Letter Campaign
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
TikTok follow-up Lemon8 is flopping in the U.S.
Users complain the ByteDance app feels inorganic and curated, prioritizing the needs of influencers...
a year ago
Users complain the ByteDance app feels inorganic and curated, prioritizing the needs of influencers over ordinary people.
Noahpinion
Does the notion of a "Global South" still make any sense?
There are really four Global Souths.
a year ago
There are really four Global Souths.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Offline first, mobile enabled
One of the major trends in tech startups what Fred Wilson calls “Mobile first, web second.”...
over a year ago
One of the major trends in tech startups what Fred Wilson calls “Mobile first, web second.” Instagram is a great example of mobile first…
Entrepreneur's Edge
Revenue is easy, profit is harder
The fundamentals needed to run a business in the next economic cycle.
a year ago
The fundamentals needed to run a business in the next economic cycle.
Steve Blank
Finding and Growing the Islands of Innovation inside a large company – Action Plan for A New CTO
This post previously appeared in Fast Company. How does a newly hired Chief Technology Officer (CTO)...
over a year ago
This post previously appeared in Fast Company. How does a newly hired Chief Technology Officer (CTO) find and grow the islands of innovation inside a large company? How not to waste your first six months as a new CTO thinking you’re making progress when the status quo is working...
Rest of World -...
How Mexico learned to stop worrying and love EVs
Despite its standing as a global auto manufacturing power, Mexico’s position as a hub for electric...
a year ago
Despite its standing as a global auto manufacturing power, Mexico’s position as a hub for electric vehicles was far from given until recently.
AVC
Open Office Hours at NYC Tech Week
NYC Tech Week is next week. It will be a week filled with events for the tech sector to engage and...
a year ago
NYC Tech Week is next week. It will be a week filled with events for the tech sector to engage and connect with each other. A particularly great part of tech week is VC Open Office Hours. There are over 100 VC investors signed up to participate next week. Here is how it works: 1/...
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