cdixon.org RSS Feed
How Aristotle Created the Computer
The philosophers he influenced set the stage for the technological revolution that remade our world....
over a year ago
The philosophers he influenced set the stage for the technological revolution that remade our world. Originally published by The Atlantic…
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 -...
India’s electric rickshaws are leaving EVs in the dust
Little-known e-rickshaw companies like YC Electric are at the forefront of the country’s EV...
8 months ago
Little-known e-rickshaw companies like YC Electric are at the forefront of the country’s EV revolution.
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Dividing equity between founders
A friend asked me recently if I knew of any good guidelines for dividing up equity between founders,...
over a year ago
A friend asked me recently if I knew of any good guidelines for dividing up equity between founders, and specifically what to do in the case…
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…
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.
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
Noahpinion
Realistically, how much damage could Trump do to the U.S. economy?
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
a month ago
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
An internet of people
Over the past few years, a bunch of web-based marketplaces have gotten popular – Etsy, Kickstarter,...
over a year ago
Over the past few years, a bunch of web-based marketplaces have gotten popular – Etsy, Kickstarter, AirBnb, to name a few. Many of these…
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…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The credentials trap
I talk a lot to people who are deciding between startups and established companies. They’re usually...
over a year ago
I talk a lot to people who are deciding between startups and established companies. They’re usually early in their careers and have been…
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.
Rest of World -...
The Book of Unexpected
Make way for the robot elephants: Technology is providing surprising updates to long-standing...
2 months ago
Make way for the robot elephants: Technology is providing surprising updates to long-standing traditions.
Working Theorys
The Creator Search Fund
Don't buy a company, commercialize a creator.
10 months ago
Don't buy a company, commercialize a creator.
Steve Blank
Hacking for Defense @ Stanford 2024 – Lessons Learned Presentations
We just finished our 9th annual Hacking for Defense class at Stanford. What a year. Hacking for...
6 months ago
We just finished our 9th annual Hacking for Defense class at Stanford. What a year. Hacking for Defense, now in 60 universities, has teams of students working to understand and help solve national security problems. At Stanford this quarter the 8 teams of 40 students collectively...
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.
Stephen Diehl
Fintech and Practical Utopianism
over a year ago
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
Let's evaluate Kamala Harris' entire economic policy program!
Fun!!
2 months ago
Rest of World -...
Apple’s biggest competition in India? Used iPhone sellers
“We give them the same phone, in the same brand-new condition,” says one seller.
a year ago
“We give them the same phone, in the same brand-new condition,” says one seller.
Noahpinion
Why so many of us were wrong about missile defense
Writing about military spending is difficult.
8 months ago
Writing about military spending is difficult.
Platformer
Five reasons Threads could still go the distance
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
a year ago
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
Rest of World -...
TikTokers are documenting — and monetizing — anti-government protests in Kenya
At least 23 people have reportedly been killed as crowds oppose proposed tax increases.
a year ago
At least 23 people have reportedly been killed as crowds oppose proposed tax increases.
Working Theorys
Rise of the Silicon Valley Small Business | Theory No. 7
In 2023, we’ll see more Silicon Valley startups that operate like small businesses. And some of them...
a year ago
In 2023, we’ll see more Silicon Valley startups that operate like small businesses. And some of them will have big outcomes. Perhaps even billion-dollar ones. I call this phenomenon the Silicon Valley small business (an SV-SB for short).
Noahpinion
Interview: Heather Boushey, economist and member of the Council of Economic Advisers
In which we talk all about Bidenomics.
a year ago
In which we talk all about Bidenomics.
Paul Graham: Essays
Are Software Patents Evil?
over a year ago
The Thinking Cap
You Should Watch More Canceled TV Shows
An argument against the Lindy Effect. How can we sample from the long tail?
over a year ago
An argument against the Lindy Effect. How can we sample from the long tail?
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
“There’s a way to do it better. Find it.” Thomas Edison 💡Human QA At least based on my experience...
6 months ago
“There’s a way to do it better. Find it.” Thomas Edison 💡Human QA At least based on my experience this seems like a service a ton of companies desperately need. Automated checks are awesome, but they can never spot all the weird edge cases that a human can.
Steve Blank
How Saboteurs Threaten Innovation–and What to Do About It
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet...
2 months ago
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet today?” coffee with Rohan, an ex-student. His three-year-old startup had been slapped with a notice of patent infringement from a Fortune 500 company. “My lawyers said defending this...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"We leverage the billions of dollars spent on the consumer mobile phone business"
NYTimes has an excellent profile of Planet Labs, a startup that makes low-cost satellites: These...
over a year ago
NYTimes has an excellent profile of Planet Labs, a startup that makes low-cost satellites: These satellites are powered by batteries…
Rest of World -...
Investors are unsettled as funding is drying up for Africa’s startup ecosystem
As funding to Africa’s once fast-growing startup ecosystem dries up, industry insiders are worried...
a year ago
As funding to Africa’s once fast-growing startup ecosystem dries up, industry insiders are worried that the ecosystem is unprepared.
Rest of World -...
This app makes sure dinner is halal
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards...
2 months ago
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards of Islamic law.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#38)
WW2 production; "Neopopulism"; fake science; desire modification; deregulation ideas
6 months ago
WW2 production; "Neopopulism"; fake science; desire modification; deregulation ideas
Rest of World -...
In Southeast Asia, Ramadan is an online shopping bonanza
An e-commerce battle brews between Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop with the continued rise of...
8 months ago
An e-commerce battle brews between Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop with the continued rise of livestream selling.
Rest of World -...
Venture capital’s cold war
...or how I learned to stop worrying and love decoupling.
a year ago
...or how I learned to stop worrying and love decoupling.
Aaron's Essays
The Hindsight Game
There are all kinds of strategies for evaluating startup ideas - investors talk about having a...
a year ago
There are all kinds of strategies for evaluating startup ideas - investors talk about having a “prepared mind,” others build market maps, I like to think about toys, and we could go on. What everyone wants to do is predict the future. That’s honestly impossible. But we can...
SatPost by Trung...
Economics of Taylor Swift's $2B+ Eras Tour
Breaking down the numbers for the most successful concert tour ever.
a week ago
Breaking down the numbers for the most successful concert tour ever.
Rest of World -...
“China’s K-pop moment”: Wukong’s global success sparks government embrace of video games as soft...
China is changing its long-critical stance thanks to the smash hit, according to Chinese game...
2 months ago
China is changing its long-critical stance thanks to the smash hit, according to Chinese game developers and industry analysts.
Steve Blank
Why The Pentagon Can’t Count: It’s Time to Reinvent the Audit
This article previously appeared in War on the Rocks. In the past, headlines about the Pentagon...
over a year ago
This article previously appeared in War on the Rocks. In the past, headlines about the Pentagon failing its financial audit again would never have caught my attention. But having been in the middle of this conversation when I served on one of the Defense Department’s advisory...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"A lot of the best tech startups are ideas that have been around for years"
A lot of the best tech startups are ideas that have been around for years but the time is finally...
over a year ago
A lot of the best tech startups are ideas that have been around for years but the time is finally right. * Some people get jaded. "We tried…
Aaron's Essays
Things that aren't progress
A few months ago, I wrote about things that look like work, but aren't. As I paid more attention to...
over a year ago
A few months ago, I wrote about things that look like work, but aren't. As I paid more attention to founders doing these things, I started thinking about why they were happening. I realized that the behaviors were largely a function of bad goal setting.
When founders choose bad...
Essays - Benedict...
There’s no such thing as data
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own...
over a year ago
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own our data, and be paid for it. But really, there is no
such thing as data, it’s not yours, and it’s not worth anything.
Rest of World -...
Apple finally breaks Android’s grip on Southeast Asia
Rising wealth in the region has young professionals ditching cheaper Chinese smartphones for...
a year ago
Rising wealth in the region has young professionals ditching cheaper Chinese smartphones for iPhones.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Never Forgive Them
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried...
6 days ago
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried again and again to work out why everything digital feels so broken, and why it seems to keep getting worse, despite what tech’s “brightest&
XO Capital - Field...
Fresh Cheddar
Couple of announcements:
We've got some fresh cheddar!
We just got access to up to $2M to deploy....
11 months ago
Couple of announcements:
We've got some fresh cheddar!
We just got access to up to $2M to deploy. We're looking for 1-2 businesses:
b2b saas
$30k+ MRR
This is about 2x what we've already deployed so far which is a big deal. We will
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...
Noahpinion
Uh, guys, we really should think about spending more on defense
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
a year ago
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
Rest of World -...
This Chinese startup believes it can take augmented reality glasses mainstream
Peng Jin, co-founder and head of commercialization at AR glasses startup Nreal, discusses how his...
a year ago
Peng Jin, co-founder and head of commercialization at AR glasses startup Nreal, discusses how his product will revolutionize the display experience.
Rest of World -...
Mexico botched the end of daylight savings
Banal change combined with everyday tech can upend everything in unexpected ways.
a year ago
Banal change combined with everyday tech can upend everything in unexpected ways.
Steve Blank
Before there was Oppenheimer there was Vannevar Bush
I just saw the movie Oppenheimer. A wonderful movie on multiple levels. But the Atomic Bomb story...
a year ago
I just saw the movie Oppenheimer. A wonderful movie on multiple levels. But the Atomic Bomb story that starts at Los Alamos with Oppenheimer and General Grove misses the fact that from mid-1940 to mid-1942 it was Vannevar Bush (and his number 2, James Conant, the president of...
Noahpinion
A DemTech Economic Agenda: Ten Steps Towards Collective Resilience
A guest post by by Liza Tobin, Warren Wilson, Brady Helwig, and Connor Martin of the Special...
a year ago
A guest post by by Liza Tobin, Warren Wilson, Brady Helwig, and Connor Martin of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)
Working Theorys
The Prestige-Prosperity Gap
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up...
5 months ago
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up proportionately, and vice versa. But the modern world is a lot messier. There can be bizarre mismatches between prestige and prosperity. Some people have social or professional status far...
Data Boutique
Web Data Is A Commodity And Needs A Marketplace To Grow
The Advantages Of Central Markets
a year ago
The Advantages Of Central Markets
Rest of World -...
The apps were designed for home security. They’re being used to watch and harass domestic workers
Tiger Global-backed MyGate and Google-backed NoBrokerHood are digitizing social biases.
a year ago
Tiger Global-backed MyGate and Google-backed NoBrokerHood are digitizing social biases.
Noahpinion
Four reasons not to vote for Trump, and four reasons to vote for Harris
Summing up my thoughts on the 2024 election.
a month ago
Summing up my thoughts on the 2024 election.
Working Theorys
Companionship Content is King | Theory No. 29
Why short-form video has a ceiling & how companionship content escapes it.
10 months ago
Why short-form video has a ceiling & how companionship content escapes it.
Platformer
Meta unspools Threads
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri on the company's big new swing at Twitter
a year ago
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri on the company's big new swing at Twitter
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Apple and the TV industry
The TV industry is a major segment of the consumer electronics industry and Apple is the leading...
over a year ago
The TV industry is a major segment of the consumer electronics industry and Apple is the leading consumer electronics company in the world…
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 -...
Ride-hailing in Pakistan: A driver’s endless struggle for a clean car
This inDrive worker says he is tired of passengers treating his car like a donkey cart.
a year ago
This inDrive worker says he is tired of passengers treating his car like a donkey cart.
Platformer
14 predictions about 2024
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
a year ago
AI! Elections! Threads! Media! And more
Rest of World -...
Chinese streaming platforms and chill?
In Southeast Asia, Netflix has competition from Baidu's iQiyi and Tencent's WeTV
a year ago
In Southeast Asia, Netflix has competition from Baidu's iQiyi and Tencent's WeTV
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.
Rest of World -...
A changing tech landscape makes for weird birthdays online
As social media as we know it crumbles around us, birthday greetings have become the province of...
a year ago
As social media as we know it crumbles around us, birthday greetings have become the province of aunties and corporations.
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
What jobs are users hiring your product to perform?
One of Clay Christensen’s favorite concepts is that instead of dividing your customers into segments...
over a year ago
One of Clay Christensen’s favorite concepts is that instead of dividing your customers into segments and asking which features each segment…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Underhyping your startup
I recently tweeted: New early-stage start up trend: get big quietly, so you don’t tip off potential...
over a year ago
I recently tweeted: New early-stage start up trend: get big quietly, so you don’t tip off potential competitors. Chris Sacca agreed: @cdixon…
SatPost by Trung...
5 Good Evergreen Podcasts
Baller topics include food, explorers, record labels, Vietnam War films and iconic sounds.
a year ago
Baller topics include food, explorers, record labels, Vietnam War films and iconic sounds.
Noahpinion
Repost: Weebs!
Everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about the non-Japanese people who love Japanese pop...
a year ago
Everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about the non-Japanese people who love Japanese pop culture.
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Ten million users is the new one million users
Entrepreneurs and investors have been enamored with consumer internet startups for the last few...
over a year ago
Entrepreneurs and investors have been enamored with consumer internet startups for the last few years. But there are signs this is ending…
Articles - Alex...
The ageism in advertising
The advertising industry is addicted to youth. We are obsessed and
possessed. We crave it in our...
over a year ago
The advertising industry is addicted to youth. We are obsessed and
possessed. We crave it in our agencies and we covet it in our audiences. We
believe younger staff are more creative and younger consumers are more
valuable. But this is nothing more than received wisdom....
SatPost by Trung...
The $650m+ Spirit Halloween business
Spirit Halloween has over 1,450 pop-up shops and makes all its money in only 2 months (September,...
a year ago
Spirit Halloween has over 1,450 pop-up shops and makes all its money in only 2 months (September, October)
cdixon.org RSS Feed
One man came to Mozart and asked him how to write a symphony.
One man came to Mozart and asked him how to write a symphony. Mozart replied, “You are too young to...
over a year ago
One man came to Mozart and asked him how to write a symphony. Mozart replied, “You are too young to write a symphony.” The man said, “You…
Rest of World -...
The chilling power of Gaza’s internet blackout
Ongoing bloodshed makes the territory’s digital ties even more important.
a year ago
Ongoing bloodshed makes the territory’s digital ties even more important.
Unpacked
OpenAI's web crawler and FTC missteps
OpenAI launches a default opt-in crawler, continuing to scrape the Internet, while the FTC focuses...
a year ago
OpenAI launches a default opt-in crawler, continuing to scrape the Internet, while the FTC focuses on an obscure consumer deception investigation into OpenAI.
Paul Graham: Essays
What You'll Wish You'd Known
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
VC’s care about the upside case, not the mean
The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when pitching VCs is to argue that their startup is likely to...
over a year ago
The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when pitching VCs is to argue that their startup is likely to succeed. Instead, they should argue…
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec: "my recent discussions with Steve [Jobs]"
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing...
a year ago
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing Apple to do a lot of stuff they'd rather not do (using Office as leverage)
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 -...
Argentina’s “TikTok nun” is bringing Catholicism to the masses
Sister Cattaneo has gained 200,000 followers through cumbia dances, influencer collabs, and...
2 months ago
Sister Cattaneo has gained 200,000 followers through cumbia dances, influencer collabs, and preaching
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Builders and extractors
Tim O’Reilly poses a question every entrepreneur and investor should consider: are you creating more...
over a year ago
Tim O’Reilly poses a question every entrepreneur and investor should consider: are you creating more value for others than you capture for…
David Perell
The Perks of Niche Fame
There are two kinds of fame: Celebrity-Fame and Niche-Fame.
The post The Perks of Niche Fame...
over a year ago
There are two kinds of fame: Celebrity-Fame and Niche-Fame.
The post The Perks of Niche Fame appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
How we measured air quality for gig workers in South Asia
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could...
9 months ago
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could gather data on what they breathe.
David Perell
Ash Fontana: Building Artificial Intelligence
Ash Fontana is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. As an entrepreneur, he was only of the early...
over a year ago
Ash Fontana is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. As an entrepreneur, he was only of the early employees at an online investing platform called AngelList. From there, he became the Managing Director at Zetta, the first investment fund focused on artificial intelligence. Now,...
Rest of World -...
A Ponzi scheme targets desperate workers amid Zimbabwe’s employment crisis
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
a year ago
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
Stephen Diehl
Gamestop, Bitcoin and the Commoditization of Populist Rage
over a year ago
David Perell
Beer Mode and Coffee Mode
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused...
over a year ago
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused play where you discover new ideas. In contrast, coffee mode is a state of focus where you work towards a specific outcome. The problem with traditional productivity advice is that...
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.
Steve Blank
The Semiconductor Ecosystem – Explained
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS...
over a year ago
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS Act, our dependence on Taiwan and TSMC, China, etc. But despite all this talk about chips and semiconductors, few understand how the industry is structured. I’ve found the best way to...
Articles - Alex...
The age of average (encore)
The shift to music streaming has led to songs getting shorter, music
getting less melodically...
9 months ago
The shift to music streaming has led to songs getting shorter, music
getting less melodically diverse and lyrics getting more repetitive. Or to
put it another way, just as our visual culture has become more homogeneous,
so too has the music that accompanies it. Let’s run...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Three types of acquisitions
There are three types of technology acquisitions: - Talent. When the acquirer just wants the team...
over a year ago
There are three types of technology acquisitions: - Talent. When the acquirer just wants the team (generally just engineers and sometimes…
Stephen Diehl
Purely Narrative-driven Bubbles
over a year ago
Dustin Curtis
Tesla and Storytelling
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no...
2 months ago
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no steering wheel or pedals, and an autonomous humanoid robot, called Optimus2, that can walk and has fully functioning hands and feet. Both of these products have been depicted in...
Noahpinion
What America needs to do now on national security
The Ukraine-and-TikTok bill is a good start. Here are five more things we need to work on.
8 months ago
The Ukraine-and-TikTok bill is a good start. Here are five more things we need to work on.
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.
Internal Tech Emails
Tim Cook's notes | Steve Jobs emails himself
We made a fundamental error with the launch. Normal fan base focused on iPhone XS/XS Max. Momentum...
over a year ago
We made a fundamental error with the launch. Normal fan base focused on iPhone XS/XS Max. Momentum from event wasn’t sustained. Didn’t need to be last year but in retrospect we should have done more to keep the buzz going.
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?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Technology predictions
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past...
over a year ago
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past predictions to try to discern patterns in what…
Working Theorys
The Rise of the Software Creator
In the age of AI, software creators, like content creators, will emerge as the industry’s...
6 months ago
In the age of AI, software creators, like content creators, will emerge as the industry’s non-professional creative class.
Rest of World -...
India banned a Chinese app four years ago. Government agencies are still using it
CamScanner was one of 59 Chinese apps the Indian government banned in 2020, amid a border conflict...
3 weeks ago
CamScanner was one of 59 Chinese apps the Indian government banned in 2020, amid a border conflict with China.
Working Theorys
Some Thoughts on Airchat
For people in a tiny slice of the world and internet, there’s no greater canon event than the...
8 months ago
For people in a tiny slice of the world and internet, there’s no greater canon event than the prospect of a new social app taking off. Sometimes there are multi-year droughts. In a plentiful year, there are one or two prospects that excite us. (And I wrote a stream of...
AVC
The Rebrand
I’d guess that upwards of half of USV’s portfolio companies have changed the name of their company...
a year ago
I’d guess that upwards of half of USV’s portfolio companies have changed the name of their company during their lifetime. It is not hard to understand why. Founders start out with an idea and not much more. By the time they have built a product, built a team, and found product...
Rest of World -...
When EV startups shut down, will their cars still work?
As Chinese EV makers close, drivers of “smartphones on wheels” say software updates and maintenance...
3 months ago
As Chinese EV makers close, drivers of “smartphones on wheels” say software updates and maintenance are in jeopardy.
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...
Folklore.org:...
First day with the Macintosh team
Rod Holt, who remember every technical detail in the world, forgot he hired me
a year ago
Rod Holt, who remember every technical detail in the world, forgot he hired me
Rest of World -...
Cricket, influencers, layoffs: Alibaba’s risky bet in Pakistan
Since its acquisition by the Chinese giant, e-commerce site Daraz has been experimenting to reach...
a year ago
Since its acquisition by the Chinese giant, e-commerce site Daraz has been experimenting to reach new buyers amid an economic crisis.
Rest of World -...
Five globally successful Chinese companies you’ve never heard of
TikTok and Shein are household names, but ShareIt and Yalla aren't far behind.
a year ago
TikTok and Shein are household names, but ShareIt and Yalla aren't far behind.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Full stack startups
Many of today's most exciting startups were tried before in a different form. Suppose you develop a...
over a year ago
Many of today's most exciting startups were tried before in a different form. Suppose you develop a new technology that is valuable to some…
Steve Blank
How to Flip the Script, Beat China and Russia – And Fix the Broken Department of Defense
A version of this post previously appeared in War on the Rocks. This version has been updated with...
2 weeks ago
A version of this post previously appeared in War on the Rocks. This version has been updated with suggestions from leaders across the Department of Defense and Venture Capital community. BLUF: In WW II, the U.S. outsourced advanced weapons systems development to civilians. The...
Data Boutique
How to Price Web Scraped Data
5 Factors that Drive Data Pricing
a year ago
5 Factors that Drive Data Pricing
Stephen Diehl
Reflecting on Haskell in 2016
over a year ago
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
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...
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…
Roberto Vitillo's...
Don't trust default timeouts
Modern applications don't crash; they hang. One of the main reasons for it is the assumption that...
over a year ago
Modern applications don't crash; they hang. One of the main reasons for it is the assumption that the network is reliable. It isn't. When…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The inevitable showdown between Twitter and Twitter apps
People usually think of business competition as occurring between substitutes – products that serve...
over a year ago
People usually think of business competition as occurring between substitutes – products that serve similar functions for the user. Famous…
Platformer
How TikTok failed to make the case for itself
After a rocky appearance before Congress, the company has reason to reflect
a year ago
After a rocky appearance before Congress, the company has reason to reflect
Noahpinion
How tariffs on China could help the world
Looking for the silver lining in a messy policy.
4 months ago
Looking for the silver lining in a messy policy.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Trouble with the Segway
over a year ago
Ed Zitron's Where's...
In Response To Google
Google has chosen to send a response to my article to Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable....
8 months ago
Google has chosen to send a response to my article to Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable. Here is my response.
(1) On the March 2019 core update claim in the piece: This is baseless speculation. The March 2019 core update was designed to improve the quality of our search
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
Noahpinion
Our climate change debates are out of date
Solar and batteries are going to win, and our thinking needs to adjust accordingly.
a year ago
Solar and batteries are going to win, and our thinking needs to adjust accordingly.
Rest of World -...
Nigeria’s currency devaluation is a disaster for startups
“So many businesses will die. It’s not a matter of if but when.”
a year ago
“So many businesses will die. It’s not a matter of if but when.”
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…
Dustin Curtis
Building new worlds
Earlier this summer, the New York Times published an opinion piece titled The World Is a Mess. We...
over a year ago
Earlier this summer, the New York Times published an opinion piece titled The World Is a Mess. We Need Fully Automated Luxury Communism, by Aaron Bastani:
To say the present era is one of crisis borders on cliché. We inhabit a world of low growth, low productivity and low wages,...
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why decentralization matters
The first two eras of the internet During the first era of the internet — from the 1980s through the...
over a year ago
The first two eras of the internet During the first era of the internet — from the 1980s through the early 2000s — internet services were…
Unpacked
Uber Ads: Accelerating the path to profitability
What makes advertising attractive is that it's a 100% margin product that can subsidize the lower...
a year ago
What makes advertising attractive is that it's a 100% margin product that can subsidize the lower margin core business.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The return of podcasting
Kevin Roose recently wrote about the renaissance of podcasting: Sometime around 2009 or 2010, the...
over a year ago
Kevin Roose recently wrote about the renaissance of podcasting: Sometime around 2009 or 2010, the podcast scene seemed to wither. The…
Rest of World -...
These women fell in love with an AI-voiced chatbot. Then it died
An AI-voiced virtual lover called users every morning. Its shutdown left them heartbroken.
a year ago
An AI-voiced virtual lover called users every morning. Its shutdown left them heartbroken.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#25)
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry,...
11 months ago
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry, and the effect of corporate tax cuts
Inverted Passion
Why you will skim this article
Most likely, you’re going to read this sentence and hit the back button. Still here? Good, then...
a year ago
Most likely, you’re going to read this sentence and hit the back button. Still here? Good, then you’re likely to scan through a few paragraphs in this article and then give up. (Unless, you’re a long-time reader and trust that my writing is worthy of your time. More on this...
Internal Tech Emails
"Thoughts on OpenAI"
To: Satya Nadella; Bill Gates
7 months ago
To: Satya Nadella; Bill Gates
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...
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.
essay – snarfed.org
Blockchain’s real world problem
A while back, early in the blockchain hype cycle, a startup called Verisart popped up and promised...
over a year ago
A while back, early in the blockchain hype cycle, a startup called Verisart popped up and promised to “fix” fine art. Not sure if that painting is real? Can’t find out who owns it, or where they got it? Worried that the gallery you’re emailing is a scammer? Worry no more!...
Platformer
Here come the ChatGPT bans
Blocked in schools, forbidden at a machine learning conference. What should OpenAI do about it?
a year ago
Blocked in schools, forbidden at a machine learning conference. What should OpenAI do about it?
tomcritchlow.com
Work is a Place
My buddy Luke recently started a band called Tattoo Mustache. While we were chatting, his eyes lit...
9 months ago
My buddy Luke recently started a band called Tattoo Mustache. While we were chatting, his eyes lit up talking about jamming in the studio with his bandmates - his arms were flailing and you could feel the energy coming off him like steam from a hot pan. These weekly jam sessions...
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
Rest of World -...
How an economic crisis shifted Sri Lanka’s e-commerce industry
Rakhil Fernando of Daraz talks about how the company had to shift its focus from lifestyle products...
a year ago
Rakhil Fernando of Daraz talks about how the company had to shift its focus from lifestyle products to essentials.
Noahpinion
Some ideas for science fiction in the 2020s
The future ain't what it used to be.
a year ago
The future ain't what it used to be.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Financing risk
Startups that raise seed funding face the risk of not being able to raise additional money. This is...
over a year ago
Startups that raise seed funding face the risk of not being able to raise additional money. This is what is sometimes known as “financing…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“The typical path of how people respond to life-changing inventions
I’ve never heard of it. I’ve heard of it but don’t understand it. I understand it, but I don’t see...
over a year ago
I’ve never heard of it. I’ve heard of it but don’t understand it. I understand it, but I don’t see how it’s useful. I see how it could be…
Rest of World -...
China is six months behind the U.S. on AI, the US has to move faster: Div Turakhia
The India-born tech investor, entrepreneur and billionaire businessman spoke to Rest of World about...
2 months ago
The India-born tech investor, entrepreneur and billionaire businessman spoke to Rest of World about the promise of AI technology, why the U.S. needs to move faster to compete with China, and the advantage the UAE has in building AI.
Rest of World -...
The best articles we didn’t publish in 2023
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
12 months ago
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Notes on the acquisition process
Ten years ago, startup financing was an insider’s game. Since then, the topic has been widely...
over a year ago
Ten years ago, startup financing was an insider’s game. Since then, the topic has been widely discussed on blogs, to the great benefit of…
Rest of World -...
Running a food-delivery service in Nigeria is hard; Chowdeck makes it look easy
Bolt, Glovo, and Jumia struggle with long delivery times, but this Y Combinator-backed startup has...
a year ago
Bolt, Glovo, and Jumia struggle with long delivery times, but this Y Combinator-backed startup has impressive tech and rider incentives on its side.
Unpacked
Highlights: First Quarter of Unpacked
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things...
a year ago
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things continue. This post is a bird’s eye view of the seventeen articles published on Unpacked in the past quarter.
Noahpinion
A data-driven case for productivity optimism
A guest post by Brian Albrecht of Economic Forces.
4 months ago
A guest post by Brian Albrecht of Economic Forces.
Tech + Economics +...
Portfolio careers are the future of work.
The traditional idea of sticking to one career path for life, once seen as the golden standard of...
a year ago
The traditional idea of sticking to one career path for life, once seen as the golden standard of work success, is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Now, we're moving towards the paradigm of the "portfolio career."
Think of a portfolio career like a patchwork quilt of jobs....
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…
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...
Platformer
Inside Discord’s reform movement for banned users
Most platforms ban their trolls forever. Discord wants to rehabilitate them
a year ago
Most platforms ban their trolls forever. Discord wants to rehabilitate them
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.
Rest of World -...
AI’s “tech tsunami” is coming for call center workers
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
a year ago
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How to select your angel investors
I’ve seen a number of situations recently that are something like the following. A VC firm signs a...
over a year ago
I’ve seen a number of situations recently that are something like the following. A VC firm signs a term sheet with an early stage company…
Noahpinion
America needs a bigger, better bureaucracy
They're from the government, and they really are here to help.
a year ago
They're from the government, and they really are here to help.
Rest of World -...
This Indian state wants to be a tech hub. But the government keeps shutting down the internet
Manipur’s startup community is struggling to survive, with tech professionals moving to Bengaluru or...
a month ago
Manipur’s startup community is struggling to survive, with tech professionals moving to Bengaluru or Hyderabad.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
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
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.
Rest of World -...
The truth behind VinFast’s stunning stock market debut
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
a year ago
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
Rest of World -...
Conservative evangelicals use social media to sway Brazil election
The popularity of evangelical content, which often amplifies criticisms of the ruling party, could...
5 months ago
The popularity of evangelical content, which often amplifies criticisms of the ruling party, could play an important role during October’s municipal elections.
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
What Business Can Learn from Open Source
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
TikTok wants to turn millions of Americans into paid shopping influencers
You only need around 1,000 followers to earn money eating noodles and selling toys on TikTok Shop.
2 months ago
You only need around 1,000 followers to earn money eating noodles and selling toys on TikTok Shop.
Aaron's Essays
Raise less money
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that good companies are increasingly over-diluting themselves...
over a year ago
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that good companies are increasingly over-diluting themselves in their seed and A rounds. Counterintuitively, dilution seems to rise along with price. One would expect the opposite correlation. Strong founders who command high prices should...
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...
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...
essay – snarfed.org
Deep piano
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old...
over a year ago
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old Brooke started learning, and we suddenly had a keyboard in the house again, so I joined her. It’s been great! I’m playing scales and exercises, diving into Rachmaninoff and Debussy,...
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 -...
Sam Altman’s India comments spark a heated backlash
The OpenAI CEO’s dismissal of an Indian competitor launched a debate over the country’s tech...
a year ago
The OpenAI CEO’s dismissal of an Indian competitor launched a debate over the country’s tech capabilities.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
E-commerce startups
Very few successful e-commerce companies were started in the 2000s. Since then, e-commerce startups...
over a year ago
Very few successful e-commerce companies were started in the 2000s. Since then, e-commerce startups have enjoyed a revival. Dozens of…
Working Theorys
Second Nature Skills
What can you do without trying that hard?
4 months ago
What can you do without trying that hard?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What carries you up will also bring you down
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original...
over a year ago
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original business plans for companies he…
David Perell
Own It Mentality
My goal is simple: Be a man of my word. Do what I say I'm going to do, when I say I'm going to do...
a year ago
My goal is simple: Be a man of my word. Do what I say I'm going to do, when I say I'm going to do it. That means showing up on schedule, communicating clearly, and getting things done on time.
The post Own It Mentality appeared first on David Perell.
Tech + Economics +...
Is Twitch losing its edge with draconian content regulation?
The Verge: Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked
Twitch is changing its sexual...
11 months ago
The Verge: Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked
Twitch is changing its sexual content policies again, this time to
prohibit implied nudity on the platform. The platform already prohibits
nudity, but Twitch’s new attire policy, which goes into effect...
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
Why did Skype succeed and Joost fail?
Skype and Joost are interesting companies to compare – they are about as close as you can get to one...
over a year ago
Skype and Joost are interesting companies to compare – they are about as close as you can get to one of those sociological studies that…
Dustin Curtis
Luxury for everyone: thoughts on Vision Pro and Apple's DNA
In 2009, Microsoft released an enormous 200lb coffee table with an embedded 30-inch touchscreen...
7 months ago
In 2009, Microsoft released an enormous 200lb coffee table with an embedded 30-inch touchscreen called Surface. Although the iPhone had been around for a little while, the larger screen made Surface feel absolutely futuristic: in the Photos app, you could toss around pictures...
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 […]
Stephen Diehl
The Joy and Agony of Haskell in Production
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Why skilled immigration (usually) benefits both countries
When to worry about brain drain, and when not to worry.
a year ago
When to worry about brain drain, and when not to worry.
Roberto Vitillo's...
How to conduct a system design interview
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview....
over a year ago
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview. You can find a lot on the Internet on how…
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…
SatPost by Trung...
Gordon Ramsay's Apprenticeship
The iconic chef said a top-tier mentor (Marco Pierre-White) taught him the value of learning high...
8 months ago
The iconic chef said a top-tier mentor (Marco Pierre-White) taught him the value of learning high standards and how to take the reins.
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Be an Angel Investor
over a year ago
Tom Blomfield
Peter Nixey: Cook something or get out of the kitchen
Peter Nixey: Cook something or get out of the kitchen:
peternixey:
I seem to have a lot of...
over a year ago
Peter Nixey: Cook something or get out of the kitchen:
peternixey:
I seem to have a lot of conversations recently with people who find themselves in the kitchen but without the means to cook anything.
As a cook myself they often ask me how to go about finding themselves a chef...
Noahpinion
What just happened in San Francisco politics?
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
9 months ago
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
Noahpinion
Three more books about the technology wars
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
a year ago
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
Tech + Economics +...
The eternal victimhood of the right-wing mind.
The right-wing has become obsessed with what they term the 'Victimhood
Olympics.' Conservative...
a year ago
The right-wing has become obsessed with what they term the 'Victimhood
Olympics.' Conservative politicians and pundits have made a cottage
industry out of the idea that progressives indulge in a competitive display
of grievances, vying for the spotlight of sympathy and the...
Data Boutique
AI Depends Massively on Web Scraping
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
a year ago
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
Platformer
The TikTok bans are accelerating
With a key vote scheduled for tonight, the company's options are growing limited
a year ago
With a key vote scheduled for tonight, the company's options are growing limited
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...
Rest of World -...
This delivery app takes away health insurance when workers don’t meet quotas
Rest of World spoke with 40 riders for Swiggy in India. Many described losing coverage when they...
8 months ago
Rest of World spoke with 40 riders for Swiggy in India. Many described losing coverage when they needed help the most.
Business Brainstorms
The Algorithm, rebuilding GA3, a new drink for the productivity-chasing professional managerial...
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 “Huge startup opportunity to just literally rebuild...
Paul Graham: Essays
Is There Such a Thing as Good Taste?
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Six ideas for Poland
Poland is a developed country. But it can still get richer.
3 months ago
Poland is a developed country. But it can still get richer.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Twelve months notice
Generally speaking, there are two approaches to relating to other people in the business world. The...
over a year ago
Generally speaking, there are two approaches to relating to other people in the business world. The first approach is transactional and…
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.
tomcritchlow.com
8 Years on the Road
Being self-employed feels a bit like being on an extended road trip. Untethered and free, but lonely...
over a year ago
Being self-employed feels a bit like being on an extended road trip. Untethered and free, but lonely and unsupported too. Ultimate freedoms combined with shallow roots. Every year I write a recap, around the anniversary of quitting my last job (Oct 24th, 2014). Here’s my recap of...
Rest of World -...
Can a church exist exclusively on the internet?
Inside the emerging virtual-preaching economy in internet-obsessed Kenya.
4 months ago
Inside the emerging virtual-preaching economy in internet-obsessed Kenya.
AVC
Etsy Lens
I am the Chair of the Etsy Board and have been an investor and board member at Etsy since the...
a year ago
I am the Chair of the Etsy Board and have been an investor and board member at Etsy since the mid-2000s. It is a company that I love and get great joy from being part of. Last year Etsy quietly launched a feature that has completely changed the way I use Etsy. It is called […]
Stephen Diehl
The Underlying Technology Shibboleth
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
China is betting on battery swaps to tackle EV chargers shortage
Rarely seen globally, there are already thousands of battery swap stations across China.
8 months ago
Rarely seen globally, there are already thousands of battery swap stations across China.
Tech + Economics +...
There is only one form of passive income worth celebrating. It’s a UBI.
The romanticised notion of passive income typically conjures up picturesque
images of digital...
a year ago
The romanticised notion of passive income typically conjures up picturesque
images of digital nomads lounging on immaculate beaches, their bank
accounts growing with the profits from their latest online course on
becoming a digital nomad.
Dividends from investments in...
SatPost by Trung...
Nike’s Marketing Blindspot
What can we learn from Nike losing Lionel Messi and Stephen Curry?
a year ago
What can we learn from Nike losing Lionel Messi and Stephen Curry?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The challenge of creating a new category
One of the hardest things to do as a startup is to create a new category. Bloggers and press have a...
over a year ago
One of the hardest things to do as a startup is to create a new category. Bloggers and press have a natural tendency to “pigeonhole” – to…
Working Theorys
Pursuits that can’t scale
What you should do "instead of going to therapy”
10 months ago
What you should do "instead of going to therapy”
XO Capital - Field...
We 10x-ed screenshotapi.net and sold it
Before we jump in, I was on a pod talking through content, acquisitions, etc:
This exit is bitter...
3 months ago
Before we jump in, I was on a pod talking through content, acquisitions, etc:
This exit is bitter sweet. Screenshot was our first ever acquisition. We 10x-ed it, and it is really the reason XO exists today. If this first acquisition hadn't gone well, I think I would
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#21)
Saudi oil, delayed economic optimism, the EV revolution, U.S. education performance, Indian...
a year ago
Saudi oil, delayed economic optimism, the EV revolution, U.S. education performance, Indian industrialization, and Chinese urbanism
Platformer
In latest round of Twitter cuts, some see hints of its next CEO
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
a year ago
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
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.
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.
SatPost by Trung...
The LEGO Star Wars Inception
LEGO and Star Wars created a $1B+ a year toy monster by combining two iconic brands that appeal to...
8 months ago
LEGO and Star Wars created a $1B+ a year toy monster by combining two iconic brands that appeal to both children and adults.
Rest of World -...
How we’re tracking AI incidents around global elections
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in...
8 months ago
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in a regularly updated tracker.
Platformer
Apple prepares for a platform shift
Will the Reality Pro be the metaverse’s iPhone moment?
a year ago
Will the Reality Pro be the metaverse’s iPhone moment?
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft's gaming strategy
we are exactly like Polaroid. We are core gaming which isn't growing its TAM (analogous to film...
a year ago
we are exactly like Polaroid. We are core gaming which isn't growing its TAM (analogous to film photographers) while mobile gaming MAU is growing WW at a significant rate (like digital photography was growing).
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....
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.
Tech + Economics +...
The patriarchy is a modern invention, not the natural order.
The "patriarchy", a male-dominated social order with entrenched hierarchies
giving power and...
11 months ago
The "patriarchy", a male-dominated social order with entrenched hierarchies
giving power and authority to men over women, is pitched by masculinity
influencers and pop social scientists as humanity's natural state. They
argue patriarchy represents the primal hard-wiring of...
Steve Blank
Mapping the Unknown – The Ten Steps to Map Any Industry
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step Lǎozi 老子 I just had lunch with Shenwei, one...
over a year ago
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step Lǎozi 老子 I just had lunch with Shenwei, one of my ex-students who had just taken a job in a mid-sized consulting firm. After a bit of catching up I offered he was looking a bit lost. “I just got handed a project to […]
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#31)
Indian poverty reduction, America's friends, Canada's economy, Europe grows a spine, and Japan's...
9 months ago
Indian poverty reduction, America's friends, Canada's economy, Europe grows a spine, and Japan's DARPA
Data Boutique
Web Scraping Legal Context
As the need for data grows, so does the need for clearer regulation
a year ago
As the need for data grows, so does the need for clearer regulation
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.
Noahpinion
Indiamerica
A new quasi-alliance is born, but there are still some challenges to overcome.
a year ago
A new quasi-alliance is born, but there are still some challenges to overcome.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What’s Next in Computing?
The computing industry progresses in two mostly independent cycles: financial and product cycles....
over a year ago
The computing industry progresses in two mostly independent cycles: financial and product cycles. There has been a lot of handwringing…
Noahpinion
Japan isn't quite "back", but it has a fighting chance
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
10 months ago
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
Rest of World -...
How Shein and TikTok Shop are trying to shake the ‘Made in China’ reputation
Chinese platforms came for global customers. Now they want global sellers.
a year ago
Chinese platforms came for global customers. Now they want global sellers.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of predictability for platform developers
A platform is a technology or product upon which many other technologies or products are built. Some...
over a year ago
A platform is a technology or product upon which many other technologies or products are built. Some platforms are controlled by a single…
Internal Tech Emails
Facebook vs. TikTok | Elon Musk emails Tesla's board
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
over a year ago
Today we see a shift towards social media products serving as “discovery engines.”
Rest of World -...
How Presto became Libya’s most successful tech startup
The delivery app now plans to expand to neighboring countries.
2 months ago
The delivery app now plans to expand to neighboring countries.
Rest of World -...
Becoming a tech powerhouse is harder than you think
Rio’s gambit to become Latin America’s tech hub is analogous to Brazil and Latin America’s struggle.
a year ago
Rio’s gambit to become Latin America’s tech hub is analogous to Brazil and Latin America’s struggle.
Working Theorys
The Co-Sign That Changes Everything
Ascendancy in any domain is a game of two moves: self-made wins and high-status vouches. You...
3 months ago
Ascendancy in any domain is a game of two moves: self-made wins and high-status vouches. You alternate between the two, taking leaps from one step to the next, aiming for that mythical high point (before either crashing down or fading away under the same community’s judgment or,...
Aaron's Essays
A framework for choosing what to do
A year ago, I left YC and felt a bit lost about what to do next.[1] A lot of people were pretty sure...
over a year ago
A year ago, I left YC and felt a bit lost about what to do next.[1] A lot of people were pretty sure they knew what I should do. But...I didn't and most of their suggestions didn’t excite me.
As I thought through my possible paths, I realized that I didn't have a useful framework...
Noahpinion
Five big trends that have changed in the last few years
In which I pay attention to the world so you don't have to.
a year ago
In which I pay attention to the world so you don't have to.
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…
Rest of World -...
What it takes to raise a $300 million VC fund for Africa
Tidjane Deme talks about convincing investors to back Africa-focused tech funds amid a global...
8 months ago
Tidjane Deme talks about convincing investors to back Africa-focused tech funds amid a global funding slump.
Rest of World -...
Before you start celebrating a possible Tesla factory in India …
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos...
a year ago
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos Elon Musk.
Stephen Diehl
The Complete Argument Against Crypto
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Africa fell in love with crypto. Now… it’s complicated
Trust is fading, startups are shutting down, and Web3 workers are reconsidering their career...
a year ago
Trust is fading, startups are shutting down, and Web3 workers are reconsidering their career choices.
Aaron's Essays
Why VCs sometimes push companies to burn
Originally posted on the YC blog,...
over a year ago
Originally posted on the YC blog, here: https://blog.ycombinator.com/why-vcs-sometimes-push-companies-to-burn-too-fast/
In Investors and their incentives, I tried to give a broad breakdown of the incentives that drive the major types of startup investors. I want to dig deeper...
Rest of World -...
Ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria are suffering after government triples fuel prices
Uber and Bolt drivers say the fuel subsidy removal has put them at risk of losing their livelihoods.
a year ago
Uber and Bolt drivers say the fuel subsidy removal has put them at risk of losing their livelihoods.
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 -...
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.
Stephen Diehl
Sunsetting "What I Wish I Knew"
over a year ago
Aaron's Essays
Bad Terms
Every startup fundraising process is influenced by the balance of power between the founder and the...
over a year ago
Every startup fundraising process is influenced by the balance of power between the founder and the investor. When the founder has a company that is doing incredibly well, and is being chased by lots of investors, the founder has more leverage. When the founder is inexperienced,...
Internal Tech Emails
Travis Kalanick on self-driving | SBF and the Bahamas
Basically got to keep bezos, cook, musk, zuck, page on our minds
over a year ago
Basically got to keep bezos, cook, musk, zuck, page on our minds
SatPost by Trung...
The Dorito-fication of Media
How the evolution of media created ultra-processed junk food for our mind.
a month ago
How the evolution of media created ultra-processed junk food for our mind.
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Question from a reader
I’ve gotten some emails recently from readers of this blog with questions about early stage...
over a year ago
I’ve gotten some emails recently from readers of this blog with questions about early stage startups. I’m sorry if I haven’t responded to…
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.
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…
Internal Tech Emails
"I just need to decide if we're going to buy Instagram"
We have this big issue right now because gaming is shifting from us to mobile platforms.
a year ago
We have this big issue right now because gaming is shifting from us to mobile platforms.
Working Theorys
Collective Experiences | Theory No. 8
On the value of creating shared context in the age of personalized, on-demand media.
a year ago
On the value of creating shared context in the age of personalized, on-demand media.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Increasing velocity
Two common discussions in the startup world right now are 1) the increasing speed at which new...
over a year ago
Two common discussions in the startup world right now are 1) the increasing speed at which new apps/websites can gain mass adoption…
Noahpinion
Why Can't the U.S. Build Ships?
A guest post by Brian Potter of Construction Physics.
3 months ago
A guest post by Brian Potter of Construction Physics.
Noahpinion
Toward a shallower future
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
11 months ago
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
AVC
The Annual Computer Science Fair
Ten years ago, a small group of folks in the K12 Computer Science Education community in NYC decided...
a year ago
Ten years ago, a small group of folks in the K12 Computer Science Education community in NYC decided to put on a “mock job fair” for high school students who were taking computer science classes in the NYC public schools. That was the start of an annual day of engagement and...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Notes on raising seed financing
Last night I taught a class via Skillshare (disclosure: Founder Collective is an investor) about how...
over a year ago
Last night I taught a class via Skillshare (disclosure: Founder Collective is an investor) about how to raise a seed round. After a long…
Tech + Economics +...
Why are we so obsessed with the multiverse?
Why are we so drawn to the idea of multiple realities? More than a trend,
it seems to come from a...
a year ago
Why are we so drawn to the idea of multiple realities? More than a trend,
it seems to come from a deep emptiness within us—a longing for a place
where our world's limits don't exist, where anything is possible. From the
alternate timelines and worlds of Scott Pilgrim Takes...
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.
Rest of World -...
Tears of a get-rich-quick guru
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur...
a year ago
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur fantasy.
Unpacked
Apple's (reluctant) App Store changes, and Semafor tries AI news
This week, we dive into two meaty topics. First, we dig into Apple’s recent App Store changes to...
10 months ago
This week, we dive into two meaty topics. First, we dig into Apple’s recent App Store changes to support third party payments in the US (sort of), and additionally support side-loading of apps (i.e. supporting non-Apple app stores) in the EU. Spoiler: Apple is pushing the limits...
Noahpinion
Progressives need to learn to take the W
Outrage is only one motivation for change, and it comes with a cost.
3 months ago
Outrage is only one motivation for change, and it comes with a cost.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
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 -...
Desperate taxi drivers in Argentina are finally joining Uber
Amid the country’s economic turmoil, thousands of cabbies turn to the Uber Taxi function to make...
a year ago
Amid the country’s economic turmoil, thousands of cabbies turn to the Uber Taxi function to make ends meet.
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
Noahpinion
Three holes in the U.S.' economic strategy against China
Legacy chips, drones, and coordination with allies.
6 months ago
Legacy chips, drones, and coordination with allies.
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