Noahpinion
Macroeconomics: The predator of foolish regimes
One thing no ruler can control.
3 days ago
One thing no ruler can control.
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…
Working Theorys
The Generational Business Trap | Theory No. 11
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
a year ago
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Nine reasons screenshots are awesome
By taking a screenshot, you can “export” from any app on any device. You can “import” screenshots...
over a year ago
By taking a screenshot, you can “export” from any app on any device. You can “import” screenshots back into any app that imports photos…
Noahpinion
The Democrats' new sunny vibes
Suddenly, the country has an opportunity to leave the madness of the 2010s behind.
4 months ago
Suddenly, the country has an opportunity to leave the madness of the 2010s behind.
Blog posts of...
The Founder’s Lie About Comfort Zones
There is a lot of talk going on about the endurance and struggle that startup founders go through....
over a year ago
There is a lot of talk going on about the endurance and struggle that startup founders go through. How long the hours are, we all...
Noahpinion
Asia is much more important to U.S. interests than the Middle East
We need to prioritize, and our priorities should be clear.
a year ago
We need to prioritize, and our priorities should be clear.
Rest of World -...
The obscure social media app beloved by China’s tech scene
Jike might be the most important social network in Chinese tech.
a year ago
Jike might be the most important social network in Chinese tech.
Rest of World -...
Chip dreams: Young tech workers are flocking to Taiwan
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a...
8 months ago
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a talent gap at the world’s top producer.
Working Theorys
Status Limbo | Theory No. 27
To get status, you have to give up status.
11 months ago
To get status, you have to give up status.
SatPost by Trung...
The Reading Unlock
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang,...
a year ago
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang, Sarah Blakely, Chip Wilson and Phil Knight.
Working Theorys
One-Round Wonder | Theory No. 23
Can a startup have the best of both bootstrapped and venture funded paths?
a year ago
Can a startup have the best of both bootstrapped and venture funded paths?
Internal Tech Emails
Instagram cofounder on Mark Zuckerberg
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
a year ago
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
Devmoh
Why did Meta open-source Llama 2?
Meta seems to be all in on open-source AI. They released Llama 2, which features some impressive...
a year ago
Meta seems to be all in on open-source AI. They released Llama 2, which features some impressive benchmarks compared to other open source language models. Why does Meta keep releasing open-source models? What is their incentive? To attract and retain top AI talent.
Noahpinion
Stop saying "there is no decoupling". There is!
Decoupling will take time, and it won't look like the Iron Curtain, but it's happening.
a year ago
Decoupling will take time, and it won't look like the Iron Curtain, but it's happening.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
A horrific video sparks a national reckoning in India
The northeastern state of Manipur has plunged into violence since May as the two major ethnic groups...
a year ago
The northeastern state of Manipur has plunged into violence since May as the two major ethnic groups fight over identity, land, and influence.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#26)
The U.S. economy, U.S. energy, Millennial wealth, medical administrators, and standardized tests
11 months ago
The U.S. economy, U.S. energy, Millennial wealth, medical administrators, and standardized tests
Rest of World -...
The Vietnamese military has a troll army and Facebook is its weapon
Force 47 abuses Facebook's safety tools to silence government critics at home and anywhere in the...
a year ago
Force 47 abuses Facebook's safety tools to silence government critics at home and anywhere in the world.
Folklore.org:...
Round Rects Are Everywhere!
Steve inspires Bill by pointing out something about the real world
a year ago
Steve inspires Bill by pointing out something about the real world
Tech + Economics +...
I can't believe this needs to be said.
I can't believe this needs to be said, but no - the reason Disney's movies
have bombed lately is...
11 months ago
I can't believe this needs to be said, but no - the reason Disney's movies
have bombed lately is not because they aren't advertising on Birdchan.
There are a plethora of reasons behind their recent box office failures.
But they have nothing to do with diminishing...
Rest of World -...
Japan’s sleepy tech scene is ready for a comeback
After decades of slumber, the country that brought us bullet trains and Nintendo has mustered some...
a year ago
After decades of slumber, the country that brought us bullet trains and Nintendo has mustered some momentum.
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).
AVC
The AI Assist
I wrote last week that I have started coding again. And I have been amazed at how much easier it is...
a year ago
I wrote last week that I have started coding again. And I have been amazed at how much easier it is now that I can code and deploy in the cloud without having to spin up anything myself. But the other massive improvement in programming is the “AI assist.” I am working in a...
Essays - Benedict...
Competing in search
A quarter century after ‘don't be evil’ a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in...
4 months ago
A quarter century after ‘don't be evil’ a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in search. But no-one knows what happens next, and
whether this ruling will change anything. Will Apple build a search engine?
Will ChatGPT change search? Does it matter?
AVC
NFT Art CDMX
We spent this past weekend in Mexico City at Bright Moment’s NFT Art CDMX. Bright Moments is the...
over a year ago
We spent this past weekend in Mexico City at Bright Moment’s NFT Art CDMX. Bright Moments is the premier NFT art “gallery” in the world. I use that term in parentheses because Bright Moments is much more than a gallery but that word is well understood. USV is a member of the...
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…
Aaron's Essays
Distributed Capital
In theory, the hard part about finding capital for unproven founders with unproven technologies in...
over a year ago
In theory, the hard part about finding capital for unproven founders with unproven technologies in unproven markets should be that no one wants the risk. There was a time when that was true, but it isn’t anymore.[1] For a founder, the issue is different: venture capital is...
Noahpinion
Progressives need to embrace progress
Stasis won't lead to a prosperous or equitable society.
a year ago
Stasis won't lead to a prosperous or equitable society.
Noahpinion
Why is China producing so many export goods, anyway?
Six theories.
7 months ago
Rest of World -...
The most popular payment app in the Philippines has a side bet: online gambling
The GCash app is ubiquitous in the Philippines, and is being blamed for rising gambling addiction in...
2 months ago
The GCash app is ubiquitous in the Philippines, and is being blamed for rising gambling addiction in the country, particularly among women.
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...
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.
Rest of World -...
Around the world with Rest of World
Put your geography knowledge to the test.
3 months ago
Put your geography knowledge to the test.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
eBay vs Amazon: decentralized vs centralized e-commerce
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay...
over a year ago
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay employee. But all the opinions expressed below…
Essays - Benedict...
AI and problems of scale
Generative AI means things that were always possible at a small scale now
become practical to...
7 months ago
Generative AI means things that were always possible at a small scale now
become practical to automate at a massive scale. Sometimes a change in
scale is a change in principle.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Come for the tool, stay for the network
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for...
over a year ago
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for the network.” The idea is to initially…
Aaron's Essays
Fundraising isn't predictable
I recently had a conversation with a founder who'd just finished a number of unsatisfying...
over a year ago
I recently had a conversation with a founder who'd just finished a number of unsatisfying conversations with investors. The founder's company was growing well, had crossed $1mm ARR, but still couldn't raise money. According to conventional wisdom, that should have been enough to...
Tech + Economics +...
How we turned into assholes
The internet was supposed to unite us.
So what the fuck happened?
And how did we become a...
a year ago
The internet was supposed to unite us.
So what the fuck happened?
And how did we become a cross-generational digital nation of assholes?
We dreamed of a global, decentralized network spreading information,
enabling communication, and connecting humanity. But somewhere...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Competition is overrated
Your #1 competitor starting out will always be the BACK button, nothing else. – Garry Tan Suppose...
over a year ago
Your #1 competitor starting out will always be the BACK button, nothing else. – Garry Tan Suppose you have an idea for a startup, and then…
Noahpinion
Why the U.S. should fight Cold War 2
And what it means to "fight" in this case.
a year ago
And what it means to "fight" in this case.
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…
Rest of World -...
Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates
The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful...
3 months ago
The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful pushback against low earnings.
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
Blog posts of...
Why i am leaving my own company.
Fortunately I was able to tell this already to many people in person. But a quick public blog post...
over a year ago
Fortunately I was able to tell this already to many people in person. But a quick public blog post might help to clarify and simpl...
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.
Noahpinion
Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper
Yes, market-rate!
9 months ago
Nadia Asparouhova
Cultivating agency
I didn’t always know that I wanted to have kids. I wasn’t against it, necessarily – for awhile,...
over a year ago
I didn’t always know that I wanted to have kids. I wasn’t against it, necessarily – for awhile, there were just more reasons in the “why not” column than the “why”: uncertainty about whether I’d be a good parent, fear of losing my identity, a lack of maternal instinct. Those...
Rest of World -...
Clickworkers are turning against each other
Brazil’s online gig workers, who power features like social media moderation and AI training, are...
a year ago
Brazil’s online gig workers, who power features like social media moderation and AI training, are increasingly wary of newcomers.
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.
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,...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things: The new conservative era (#53)
Conservative poll shift; Democratic machine politics; science and politics; some good news; better...
3 weeks ago
Conservative poll shift; Democratic machine politics; science and politics; some good news; better teachers; the AI slowdown; consumer confidence
Rest of World -...
AI’s “tech tsunami” is coming for call center workers
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
a year ago
The Philippines’ 1.6 million outsourced workers fear they may soon be automated out of a job.
Rest of World -...
The augmented-reality app helping Muslims pray toward Mecca
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction...
2 months ago
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction for their prayers.
Noahpinion
New Industrialist Roundup 2024
What people are writing about rebuilding America.
4 months ago
What people are writing about rebuilding America.
Steve Blank
Be Where Your Business Is
This post previously appeared on the readwrite blog. A CEO running a B-to-B startup in needs to...
a year ago
This post previously appeared on the readwrite blog. A CEO running a B-to-B startup in needs to live in the city where their business is – or else they’ll never scale. I was having breakfast with Erin, an ex-student, just off a red-eye flight from New York. She’s built a...
Rest of World -...
Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them
Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's...
3 months ago
Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's terrible gridlock.
Rest of World -...
The most surprising tech champions of 2024
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions...
2 weeks ago
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions stood out for their impressive growth this year.
Blog posts of...
A model that’s mental
Maybe… This anxiety isn’t anxiety it’s just your raw excitement that you are misunderstanding. This...
over a year ago
Maybe… This anxiety isn’t anxiety it’s just your raw excitement that you are misunderstanding. This creeping imposter syndrome jus...
Blog posts of...
AngelList is the NASDAQ of our generation.
It’s fair to say that Angellist is the most exciting (web/mobile) tech startup in 2013. Even before...
over a year ago
It’s fair to say that Angellist is the most exciting (web/mobile) tech startup in 2013. Even before they launched syndicates, earl...
Tom Blomfield
Unit Economics
The old joke describes a lot of companies at the moment - “I’ll sell at a loss but make it up on...
over a year ago
The old joke describes a lot of companies at the moment - “I’ll sell at a loss but make it up on volume.” Pilloried in the press, startups burn through vast sums of capital before spectacularly imploding.
Let’s go back to 2012-13. The world was finally emerging from a punishing...
Rest of World -...
Beyond a Barbie ban, Vietnam sets its censors on Netflix
It’s not just the summer blockbuster that’s hit a nerve.
a year ago
It’s not just the summer blockbuster that’s hit a nerve.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Never Forgive Them
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried...
6 days ago
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried again and again to work out why everything digital feels so broken, and why it seems to keep getting worse, despite what tech’s “brightest&
Rest of World -...
OpenAI is making a risky bet on live translation
The company has a stunning demo — but can the product live up to the hype?
7 months ago
The company has a stunning demo — but can the product live up to the hype?
Aaron's Essays
Utopia Bets / Apocalypse Bets
I think that it is nearly impossible to figure out the exact changes that new technologies will...
over a year ago
I think that it is nearly impossible to figure out the exact changes that new technologies will create in the world. That's problematic because investing in startups is largely about figuring out whether or not a team with a new technology - or application of existing technology...
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.
AVC
Coding Again
It has been many years since I’ve written code. I’ve hacked around in HTML and CSS a bit on this...
a year ago
It has been many years since I’ve written code. I’ve hacked around in HTML and CSS a bit on this blog and a few other places. But I have not actually written an application in a very long time. I think it might be thirty years since I’ve done any real programming. Over the...
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.
Blog posts of...
Refactoring larger legacy codebases
This article is based on a comment of mine to a HackerNews question. Thought it might be useful to...
over a year ago
This article is based on a comment of mine to a HackerNews question. Thought it might be useful to explain it here a bit more in d...
Steve Blank
How To Find Your Customer In the Dept of Defense – The Directory of DoD Program Executive Offices
Finding a customer for your product in the Department of Defense is hard: Who should you talk to?...
3 months ago
Finding a customer for your product in the Department of Defense is hard: Who should you talk to? How do you get their attention? How do you know if they have money to spend on your product? It almost always starts with a Program Executive Office. The Department of Defense (DoD)...
Noahpinion
What just happened in San Francisco politics?
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
9 months ago
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
Business Brainstorms
Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I...
10 months ago
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I recently started looking for an AI meeting note taking software we can use in our sales and clients calls. Fireflies, Fathom, MeetGeek, tl;dv… there are just so many of them and they...
David Perell
I Hate Writing (and So Will You)
When I hate writing, it’s because I love it so much. An experienced writer is somebody who knows...
a year ago
When I hate writing, it’s because I love it so much. An experienced writer is somebody who knows when the hatred is temporary.
The post I Hate Writing (and So Will You) appeared first on David Perell.
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft execs on Apple's music store
We were smoked.
a year ago
Articles -...
Naming a company
Great company names are worth millions.
In fact, choosing a name is one of the most important...
a year ago
Great company names are worth millions.
In fact, choosing a name is one of the most important decisions you will make as an entrepreneur.
Your company's name could be a lever that separates you from your competition.
It could be the key element that helps your customers...
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.
Platformer
Meta doubles down on layoffs
The company's recent products have flopped with consumers. Will a more focused team reverse the...
a year ago
The company's recent products have flopped with consumers. Will a more focused team reverse the trend?
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?
Noahpinion
Europe is not ready to be a "third superpower"
For that, it would need to act as a unified entity, defend itself against Russia, and embrace new...
a year ago
For that, it would need to act as a unified entity, defend itself against Russia, and embrace new technology.
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…
Essays - Benedict...
Unbundling AI
ChatGPT and LLMs can do anything, so what can you do with them? How do you
know? Do we move to...
a year ago
ChatGPT and LLMs can do anything, so what can you do with them? How do you
know? Do we move to chat bots as a magical general-purpose interface, or do
we unbundle them back into single-purpose software?
Aaron's Essays
Asymmetries in Fundraising
Too often, founders approach fundraising as if they are supplicants to the investors. They...
over a year ago
Too often, founders approach fundraising as if they are supplicants to the investors. They understand that fundraising features many asymmetries, but the founders mostly see the asymmetries that are tilted towards the investors. Here’s the thing - in today’s market, the...
Steve Blank
The Semiconductor Ecosystem – Explained
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS...
over a year ago
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS Act, our dependence on Taiwan and TSMC, China, etc. But despite all this talk about chips and semiconductors, few understand how the industry is structured. I’ve found the best way to...
Rest of World -...
Our favorite Rest of World photos from 2023
39 photographers, 31 cities, 22 countries. This is what global tech looked like this year.
12 months ago
39 photographers, 31 cities, 22 countries. This is what global tech looked like this year.
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
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Skydio
I’m excited to announce today that Andreessen Horowitz is leading a $3M financing of Skydio, a...
over a year ago
I’m excited to announce today that Andreessen Horowitz is leading a $3M financing of Skydio, a startup developing artificial intelligence…
Paul Graham: Essays
A Word to the Resourceful
over a year ago
tomcritchlow.com
Slouching Towards Innovation
A lot of innovation work revolves around shiny objects - maybe a slick interactive prototype, or a...
over a year ago
A lot of innovation work revolves around shiny objects - maybe a slick interactive prototype, or a concept video. A lot of innovation projects never see the light of day.
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.
Rest of World -...
WhatsApp voice notes are revolutionizing farming in Senegal
For farmers in Senegal who struggle to read or write, sending voice notes has unlocked a new world...
a year ago
For farmers in Senegal who struggle to read or write, sending voice notes has unlocked a new world of collaboration across the industry.
Platformer
The regulators come for OpenAI
From data privacy to defamation, officials have questions
a year ago
From data privacy to defamation, officials have questions
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...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
There are three New York Cities
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born...
over a year ago
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and…
Noahpinion
At least five things to finish your week (#19)
Real wages, why North Korea is poor, China's stalled catch-up, the economics of social media, AI...
a year ago
Real wages, why North Korea is poor, China's stalled catch-up, the economics of social media, AI takes some jobs, and a comic about rabbits
tomcritchlow.com
Becoming Creative
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few...
a year ago
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few links that I deeply love about starting, finishing and promoting creative acts…
The Thinking Cap
Your Platform Is as Strong as Its Identity Layer
Analyzing platforms through a layered cake of identity, social networking, and super apps.
over a year ago
Analyzing platforms through a layered cake of identity, social networking, and super apps.
Noahpinion
Is immigration raising rents in America?
No, but in a few big cities it might be.
a year ago
No, but in a few big cities it might be.
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.
SatPost by Trung...
Beating the Auction Duopoly
Sotheby's and Christie's are a combined 538 years old. Can the 48-year old Heritage Auctions topple...
11 months ago
Sotheby's and Christie's are a combined 538 years old. Can the 48-year old Heritage Auctions topple this duopoly?
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.
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...
Platformer
Why you can't trust Twitter's encrypted DMs
A promised audit hasn't actually happened, sources say. PLUS: Twitter's Turkey problem, and a new...
a year ago
A promised audit hasn't actually happened, sources say. PLUS: Twitter's Turkey problem, and a new CEO
Aaron's Essays
Pro rata is a bad term
For a long time, I was a strong believer in investor pro ratas. As a founder, I understood the trade...
over a year ago
For a long time, I was a strong believer in investor pro ratas. As a founder, I understood the trade and was comfortable with it. As a partner at YC, I thought it made enough sense that I helped design an entire programmatic pro rata system that covered every investment YC made....
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Be an Angel Investor
over a year ago
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
Don’t Rock the Vote
Democrats are the party that benefits from low voter turnout. They just don’t know it yet. (Guest...
5 months ago
Democrats are the party that benefits from low voter turnout. They just don’t know it yet. (Guest post by Wally Nowinski)
Unpacked
Tech's Pledge To Fight AI Election Interference & Twillio’s woes with Segment | EP 6
Last week, 20 tech companies across Big Tech, social networks and AI providers signed a voluntary...
10 months ago
Last week, 20 tech companies across Big Tech, social networks and AI providers signed a voluntary pledge to fight election interference from AI-generated content going through 2024. We dive into the timing of the announcement (2024 is a big election year across the globe), some...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The problem with online “local” businesses
One of the most popular areas for startups today is “local.” I probably see a couple of business...
over a year ago
One of the most popular areas for startups today is “local.” I probably see a couple of business plans a week that involve local search…
Rest of World -...
Hong Kong politicians are making a splash on Chinese social media – and finding mainland fans.
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
a year ago
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
Devmoh
Protobufs Explained, and why Google, Apple, and LinkedIn use it over JSON
Faster than JSON, clearer than XML, cross-language, type-safe, and backwards compatible.
a year ago
Faster than JSON, clearer than XML, cross-language, type-safe, and backwards compatible.
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...
Working Theorys
Second Encounters
Firsts are overrated
9 months ago
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.
Rest of World -...
Worldcoin has a problem
India already has a Worldcoin competitor, and other countries are taking note.
a year ago
India already has a Worldcoin competitor, and other countries are taking note.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"The Future of Reading Depends on the Future of Learning Difficult to Learn Things"
Socrates’ complaints about writing included “Writing removes the need to remember”. He meant that a...
over a year ago
Socrates’ complaints about writing included “Writing removes the need to remember”. He meant that a prosthetic brace on a healthy limb will…
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...
David Perell
Rob Henderson: An Internet Academic
Rob Henderson is one of my favorite up-and-coming writers. I like him because he’s one of those...
over a year ago
Rob Henderson is one of my favorite up-and-coming writers. I like him because he’s one of those people who doesn’t fit into a category. He’s a Ph.D. candidate in psychology, but I met him in a book club about technological stagnation. He’s spent years in the academy, first at...
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
It’s hard to believe today, but 10 years ago Wikipedia was widely considered a doomed experiment…
Today, Wikipedia is widely considered an invaluable resource. There are occasional errors and...
over a year ago
Today, Wikipedia is widely considered an invaluable resource. There are occasional errors and controversies, but for the most part it…
David Perell
Li Jin: Creating the Creator Economy
My guest today is Li Jin, the founder and managing partner at an early-stage venture capital...
over a year ago
My guest today is Li Jin, the founder and managing partner at an early-stage venture capital firm called Atelier. Before recording this introduction, I didn’t know what an atelier was, so I looked it up and it’s right on brand for Li: it’s defined as a workshop or a studio,...
Noahpinion
China at the peak
The country's rise is complete, but don't expect a rapid decline.
a year ago
The country's rise is complete, but don't expect a rapid decline.
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...
Noahpinion
You're not going to like what comes after Pax Americana
Welcome to the jungle.
a year ago
Working Theorys
Weekend Theorys No. 3
Books as athleisure, Twitter/X goes Substack, and oh yeah, Apple's Vision Pro
10 months ago
Books as athleisure, Twitter/X goes Substack, and oh yeah, Apple's Vision Pro
Rest of World -...
Indonesia has more than 700 languages. Can AI save them?
Most LLMs such as GPT, Llama, and Gemini are trained largely in English, but several Southeast Asian...
7 months ago
Most LLMs such as GPT, Llama, and Gemini are trained largely in English, but several Southeast Asian firms are focusing on Bahasa Indonesia and other regional languages.
Dustin Curtis
The 16-inch MacBook Pro: A Faster Horse
From Apple’s announcement of the 16-Inch MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago:
“Our pro customers tell...
over a year ago
From Apple’s announcement of the 16-Inch MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago:
“Our pro customers tell us they want their next MacBook Pro to have a larger display, blazing-fast performance, the biggest battery possible, the best notebook keyboard ever, awesome speakers and massive...
42!
Optimising bank working hours
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if...
over a year ago
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if you ever ran a traditional business back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as I did, one of the most frustrating things ever was trying to get my banking done over the counter.
Almost...
Folklore.org:...
Eulogy for Brian
Eulogy for Brian Howard, Macintosh hero, 1944-2010
a year ago
Eulogy for Brian Howard, Macintosh hero, 1944-2010
Paul Graham: Essays
The Pooled-Risk Company Management Company
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some tips for interacting with the press
Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years about the best ways for entrepreneurs to interact...
over a year ago
Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years about the best ways for entrepreneurs to interact with the press (by press I mean blogs as…
Stephen Diehl
The Handwavy Technobabble Nothingburger
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
China’s EV giant BYD is picking up speed in Jordan
How Jordan became a battleground for Chinese EVs.
a year ago
How Jordan became a battleground for Chinese EVs.
Unpacked
Instacart IPO: Race against market saturation
The company's journey to IPO is impressive but long-term upside hinges on the success of its...
a year ago
The company's journey to IPO is impressive but long-term upside hinges on the success of its long-term bets like ads and the enterprise platform
Rest of World -...
Samsung knowingly exposed workers to highly toxic chemicals, whistleblower claims
In Vietnam, a key production base, a former safety officer alleges the factory also dumped chemicals...
a year ago
In Vietnam, a key production base, a former safety officer alleges the factory also dumped chemicals into waterways.
AVC
The Blackbird Platform
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends...
a year ago
The first project launched this week on our portfolio company Blackbird‘s platform. It is a friends and family program at a restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn called Gertie. Blackbird wrote about it today on their excellent Supersonic blog: Throughout, when you tap Gertie’s...
Rest of World -...
China’s AI boom depends on an army of exploited student interns
As part of China’s digital underclass, vocational school students work as data annotators – for low...
a year ago
As part of China’s digital underclass, vocational school students work as data annotators – for low pay and little future prospects.
Rest of World -...
Chinese internet trolls are adopting American racism to taunt Black users
Users are harassing Black creators with profile pictures of white police officers.
a year ago
Users are harassing Black creators with profile pictures of white police officers.
Noahpinion
The China 2023 series
All the posts in one handy list
a year ago
All the posts in one handy list
Blog posts of...
The simplest and most important dashboard for early stage startups.
This blogpost is part of a small series of posts that cover the basics of startup metrics. My...
over a year ago
This blogpost is part of a small series of posts that cover the basics of startup metrics. My personal goal is to help early stage...
Noahpinion
A vote for Trump is a vote for chaos
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
11 months ago
Let's leave the 2010s in the past where they belong.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Rot Economics - An Interview With MIT's Daron Acemoglu
Want to listen to this interview instead? Download the latest episode of Better Offline! You can...
5 months ago
Want to listen to this interview instead? Download the latest episode of Better Offline! You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you can insert an RSS feed.
Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Daron Acemoglu — one of the world’s most
cdixon.org RSS Feed
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…
Noahpinion
Putin is a rest stop on the road of post-Soviet collapse
The narrative of Russian revitalization is more hype than reality.
a year ago
The narrative of Russian revitalization is more hype than reality.
Blog posts of...
The unannounced updates to Facebook’s Social Plugins and how to use them!
Since the launch of platform, Facebook has the approach of shipping features early, very early. They...
over a year ago
Since the launch of platform, Facebook has the approach of shipping features early, very early. They ship first, ask later and doc...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#27)
Chaos Climbers, gender wars, union wars, social media toxicity, a good spending bill, and urban...
10 months ago
Chaos Climbers, gender wars, union wars, social media toxicity, a good spending bill, and urban agglomeration
AVC
The New York Tech Sector
The New York Times had a piece yesterday suggesting that tech will no longer be a growth engine for...
a year ago
The New York Times had a piece yesterday suggesting that tech will no longer be a growth engine for NYC and the surrounding metro area as it has been for the last twenty years. I am not going to link to the piece because it is behind a paywall but if you want to read […]
Articles - Alex...
Big questions for big data
Big data is big news. Search for it and Google will return 75 million
results. That’s a different...
over a year ago
Big data is big news. Search for it and Google will return 75 million
results. That’s a different article for every 100 people on earth. There
are also 18 million videos on the topic. At 5 minutes each, it would take
170 years to watch them all. Then there’s the one million...
Essays - Benedict...
Building AI products
How do we build mass-market products that change the world around a
technology that gets things...
6 months ago
How do we build mass-market products that change the world around a
technology that gets things ‘wrong’? What does wrong mean, and how is that
useful?
Rest of World -...
ShopeeFood underestimates delivery distances. Gig workers in Vietnam are paying the price
Rest of World reviewed nearly 50 orders on Vietnam’s second most popular food delivery app, and in...
9 months ago
Rest of World reviewed nearly 50 orders on Vietnam’s second most popular food delivery app, and in most cases, the distance was estimated lower than Google Maps’ estimate.
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.
Rest of World -...
Why Silicon Valley’s biggest AI developers are hiring poets
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities...
a year ago
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities experts to improve AI creative writing.
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…
Noahpinion
The best-case scenario for Trump's second term
An optimistic Thanksgiving post.
3 weeks ago
An optimistic Thanksgiving post.
Rest of World -...
Why thousands of Chinese young people use a pink dinosaur as their alias
Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment and protect personal...
a year ago
Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment and protect personal privacy on Douban and Xiaohongshu.
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.
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
Paul Graham: Essays
The Power of the Marginal
over a year ago
SatPost by Trung...
Learning to Slow Down Time
It feels like time is moving faster when we age. How to slow it down? Nature, vacations, events,...
6 months ago
It feels like time is moving faster when we age. How to slow it down? Nature, vacations, events, novelty and random day trips to Disneyland.
Platformer
Six questions about Google Bard
The company's new large language model has arrived. Now what?
a year ago
The company's new large language model has arrived. Now what?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
A massive misallocation of online advertising dollars
In an earlier blog post, I talked about how sites that generate purchasing intent (mainly “content”...
over a year ago
In an earlier blog post, I talked about how sites that generate purchasing intent (mainly “content” sites) are being under-allocated…
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…
Paul Graham: Essays
The Anatomy of Determination
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
What comes after the blockchain?
A new crop of fintech startups are tackling blockchain-inspired problems without the blockchain.
a year ago
A new crop of fintech startups are tackling blockchain-inspired problems without the blockchain.
Stephen Diehl
Congressional Letter Campaign
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Overworked and unable to quit: Delivery drivers in Brazil found something worse than gig work
Trapped in a subcontracting nightmare, some delivery drivers are facing grueling hours, low pay, and...
a year ago
Trapped in a subcontracting nightmare, some delivery drivers are facing grueling hours, low pay, and no control over their work.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
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…
Rest of World -...
How AI shook the world in 2023
With commercial tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney becoming widely available, AI was used for all...
11 months ago
With commercial tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney becoming widely available, AI was used for all things wonderful … and worrying.
Noahpinion
Strategies to secure America's supply chains
A guest post by Yann Calvó López and Ben Golub.
2 months ago
A guest post by Yann Calvó López and Ben Golub.
Rest of World -...
Teaching inmates in Argentina to make video games in prison
“Gaming studios need employees, and the formerly incarcerated need a place to work once they’re...
a year ago
“Gaming studios need employees, and the formerly incarcerated need a place to work once they’re released.”
Noahpinion
My sci-fi novel recommendations
A repost with some updates, just in time for the holidays.
12 months ago
A repost with some updates, just in time for the holidays.
Noahpinion
Here...comes...INDIA!!!
The world has a new largest country, and it's on the move.
a year ago
The world has a new largest country, and it's on the move.
Rest of World -...
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.
Working Theorys
Second Nature Skills
What can you do without trying that hard?
4 months ago
What can you do without trying that hard?
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Business Brainstorms
Never launch, AI as an anti-signal, slow news, zero shame in pulling the plug.
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 “Billing for software is broken. Stripe is REALLY good...
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…
Noahpinion
Plentiful, high-paying jobs in the age of AI
Comparative advantage is very subtle, but incredibly powerful.
9 months ago
Comparative advantage is very subtle, but incredibly powerful.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“Meaningful” startups
There is generally a lot of enthusiasm in the startup world these days. But some observers worry...
over a year ago
There is generally a lot of enthusiasm in the startup world these days. But some observers worry that too many startups are working on…
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s dictatorship abducted babies in the 1970s. An AI project imagines them today
“Our search is real, but these images aren’t.”
a year ago
“Our search is real, but these images aren’t.”
Rest of World -...
23 Rest of World stories that defined 2023
This year, Rest of World published around 500 articles from more than 50 countries. Here are our...
12 months ago
This year, Rest of World published around 500 articles from more than 50 countries. Here are our favorites.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Stored Hashcash
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights...
over a year ago
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights like spam and denial-of-service attacks are…
Rest of World -...
Mexico’s $100-billion auto parts industry is reinventing itself for the EV era
Behind the excitement around electrification, Mexican manufacturers are figuring out what their own...
a year ago
Behind the excitement around electrification, Mexican manufacturers are figuring out what their own transition will look like.
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.
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...
Nadia Asparouhova
How to do the jhanas
The jhanas are a series of eight (or nine) altered mental states, which progress from euphoria, to...
6 months ago
The jhanas are a series of eight (or nine) altered mental states, which progress from euphoria, to calm, to dissolution of reality – culminating in cessation, or loss of consciousness. They are induced via sustained concentration, without any external stimuli or substances. This...
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
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…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Inside versus outside financings: the nightclub effect
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing...
over a year ago
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing an inside round, where the existing…
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”
Blog posts of...
Quick tips for hiring remotely
You are most likely already experienced with hiring so think of this more as a quick FYI focusing on...
over a year ago
You are most likely already experienced with hiring so think of this more as a quick FYI focusing on hiring remotely… What issues...
tomcritchlow.com
How do You Cultivate Customer-Centric Executives?
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is...
9 months ago
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is customer-centric - someone who has a rich mental model for what customers want and is able to step into the customer's shoes.
I theorize that beyond a culture of being customer-centric it's the...
Rest of World -...
Forget Quibi. Chinese streamers are hooking Americans with werewolf love triangles
Billionaire werewolf love triangles, that is.
a year ago
Billionaire werewolf love triangles, that is.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Improbable: enabling the development of large-scale simulated worlds
Over the past decade, computing resources that were previously available only to large...
over a year ago
Over the past decade, computing resources that were previously available only to large organizations became available to almost anyone…
Noahpinion
Trumpism is kakistocracy
A cult of personality prizes loyalty above competence, resulting in "rule by the worst".
a month ago
A cult of personality prizes loyalty above competence, resulting in "rule by the worst".
Roberto Vitillo's...
Scalability patterns of distributed systems
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems ! It explores the different...
over a year ago
I have released a new chapter of Understanding Distributed Systems ! It explores the different patterns at your disposal when designing…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Crypto token roundup
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred...
over a year ago
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred Wilson — ICOs and VCs here, Ethereum in 2…
Internal Tech Emails
Sam Altman emails Elon Musk
The mission would be to create the first general Al and use it for individual empowerment—ie, the...
9 months ago
The mission would be to create the first general Al and use it for individual empowerment—ie, the distributed version of the future that seems the safest.
Dustin Curtis
iPad in 2020
A couple of months ago, I switched entirely to an iPad Pro for about two weeks. I did not use my...
over a year ago
A couple of months ago, I switched entirely to an iPad Pro for about two weeks. I did not use my MacBook Pro at all, and forced myself to do everything on the iPad. After that experience, I planned to write some kind of review, but it turned out that my conclusions were pretty...
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
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
Facebook’s response to Yahoo’s patent lawsuit
Like many in tech, I believe all software patents should be abolished. That said, I think Facebook...
over a year ago
Like many in tech, I believe all software patents should be abolished. That said, I think Facebook made the right move by filing a lawsuit…
Tom Blomfield
Five Unbreakable Rules for Startups
I’ve been involved with 4 startups over the last 10 years or so, 3 as a co-founder. I’m a follower...
over a year ago
I’ve been involved with 4 startups over the last 10 years or so, 3 as a co-founder. I’m a follower of Paul Graham and the YC camp of startup wisdom. There’s now a great deal of literature laying out the unbreakable rules for startups. Despite studying this literature, I’ve...
XO Capital - Field...
2023 In Review
2023 was a tough year. It started out with a bang (high expectations, everything going right) and...
a year ago
2023 was a tough year. It started out with a bang (high expectations, everything going right) and ended with a whimper for us. The zero interest rate environment really came down hard on a few products like Cold Email Studio and now that the AI craze is cooling off, we&
42!
F1, Sport and Reality TV
It’s been two days now since I stayed up late to watch the final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi...
over a year ago
It’s been two days now since I stayed up late to watch the final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi with my sons.
Full disclosure, we are all team Hamilton fans here, and were excited to watch the final deciding race as to who would take out the 2021 World Driver’s...
Working Theorys
The 20/20 Workweek | Theory No. 26
The 40-hour, 80-hour, and 4-hour workweek are out. What comes next?
11 months ago
The 40-hour, 80-hour, and 4-hour workweek are out. What comes next?
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 -...
China’s AI elite rethink their Silicon Valley dream jobs
The West may lose out in the talent race amid U.S. national security and immigration hurdles
5 days ago
The West may lose out in the talent race amid U.S. national security and immigration hurdles
David Perell
What I Got Wrong About Business
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the...
over a year ago
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the domain expertise that leads to entrepreneurial ideas.
The post What I Got Wrong About Business appeared first on David Perell.
Tech + Economics +...
Internet access is a human right.
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has...
12 months ago
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has become a necessity and a function of modern society.
The digital divide, the gap between those with and without internet access,
has profound implications for an individual's...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
And then, suddenly, it works
The other day a friend was demoing a new app he was working on. My first reaction was: “Yeah, yeah....
over a year ago
The other day a friend was demoing a new app he was working on. My first reaction was: “Yeah, yeah. This is nicely executed version one of…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Showing up
Mark Twain famously quipped that “80 percent of life is showing up.” Running a startup, I’d say it’s...
over a year ago
Mark Twain famously quipped that “80 percent of life is showing up.” Running a startup, I’d say it’s more like 90 percent. For example, I…
Steve Blank
Quantum Computing – An Update
In March 2022 I wrote a description of the Quantum Technology Ecosystem. I thought this would be a...
2 months ago
In March 2022 I wrote a description of the Quantum Technology Ecosystem. I thought this would be a good time to check in on the progress of building a quantum computer and explain more of the basics. Just as a reminder, Quantum technologies are used in three very different and...
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.
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.
The Thinking Cap
The Future of No Code is Low Code
Or why we should write more programming languages instead of trying to build virtual legos.
over a year ago
Or why we should write more programming languages instead of trying to build virtual legos.
Noahpinion
How we'll know if Trump is going to sell America out to China
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
a week ago
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
Roberto Vitillo's...
The costs of microservices
An application typically starts its life as a monolith. Take a modern backend of a single-page...
over a year ago
An application typically starts its life as a monolith. Take a modern backend of a single-page Javascript application, for example - it…
Noahpinion
Hispanics as the new Irish
A historical analogy to help us understand the present moment.
11 months ago
A historical analogy to help us understand the present moment.
Platformer
How banning one Palestinian slogan roiled Etsy
The company secretly banned the phrase “from the river to the sea” on sellers’ wares. Some employees...
a year ago
The company secretly banned the phrase “from the river to the sea” on sellers’ wares. Some employees aren’t happy
Noahpinion
Manufacturing is a war now
And the democracies are losing.
2 weeks ago
And the democracies are losing.
Steve Blank
Profound Beliefs
This post previously appeared in EIX. In the early stages of a startup your hypotheses about all the...
a year ago
This post previously appeared in EIX. In the early stages of a startup your hypotheses about all the parts of your business model are your profound beliefs. Think of profound beliefs as “strong opinions loosely held.” You can’t be an effective founder or in the C-suite of a...
Data Boutique
How To Improve QA With Data Boutique For In-House Web Scraping
Independent data help you get to 99% reliability
a year ago
Independent data help you get to 99% reliability
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🙈 Copying doesn’t matter
a month ago
Noahpinion
Why has U.S. manufacturing productivity stagnated for over a decade?
A few hypotheses about a very disturbing trend.
5 months ago
A few hypotheses about a very disturbing trend.
Data Boutique
Stop Scraping H&M (And Other Things Live on Data Boutique)
Web Scraped Data Catalog June 2023
a year ago
Web Scraped Data Catalog June 2023
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,...
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...
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...
Rest of World -...
The industry behind the industry behind AI
It’s outsourcing all the way down.
a year ago
It’s outsourcing all the way down.
Rest of World -...
The startup founder bootstrapping his creator economy business
Douglas Kendyson, a former engineer at Flutterwave and Paystack, has built a profitable bootstrapped...
10 months ago
Douglas Kendyson, a former engineer at Flutterwave and Paystack, has built a profitable bootstrapped African startup.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some lessons learned
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier...
over a year ago
Note: Google was kind enough to invite me to give a short talk at their Zeitgeist conference earlier this week. It was a really interesting…
Noahpinion
The student debt revolt failed, but Millennials will be fine
My generation will bear some minor economic scars into our prosperous middle age.
a year ago
My generation will bear some minor economic scars into our prosperous middle age.
Stephen Diehl
Dive into GHC: Targeting Core
over a year ago
Stephen Diehl
Exotic Programming Ideas: Part 2 (Term Rewriting)
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Why Kenya has the potential to be Africa’s EV powerhouse
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
5 months ago
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
Nothing Human
The Tyranny of the Marginal User
why consumer software gets worse, not better, over time
a year ago
why consumer software gets worse, not better, over time
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
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.
Noahpinion
How much can you really learn about a country from visiting it?
Not as much as people think.
6 months ago
Not as much as people think.
Tech + Economics +...
The responsibility of AI titans in a post-work society.
Advocates of AI (and yes, before the pedants chime in, I'm aware that LLMs
are not technically AI,...
a year ago
Advocates of AI (and yes, before the pedants chime in, I'm aware that LLMs
are not technically AI, but for the purposes of popular debate and
perception – we'll go with it) will tell you that automation will create
new jobs and generate broad societal value such that it...
Noahpinion
Decoupling is just going to happen
Chinese policy and geopolitical risk are doing a lot of the work here.
a year ago
Chinese policy and geopolitical risk are doing a lot of the work here.
Working Theorys
Weekend Theorys No. 2
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild.
10 months ago
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild.
Rest of World -...
How Urban Company built an empire of female gig workers
By disrupting the age-old home services industry, the Indian unicorn offered many women a rare...
a year ago
By disrupting the age-old home services industry, the Indian unicorn offered many women a rare opportunity for social mobility. Now, they want more.
Rest of World -...
An end of an era for Latin American tech
Foreign businesses are making strides in the region while local tech companies reshuffle.
a year ago
Foreign businesses are making strides in the region while local tech companies reshuffle.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google’s social strategy
It is widely believed that Facebook presents a significant competitive threat to Google. Google...
over a year ago
It is widely believed that Facebook presents a significant competitive threat to Google. Google itself seems to believe this – Larry Page…
Paul Graham: Essays
Why Smart People Have Bad Ideas
over a year ago
AVC
Subscribing To AVC
For many years, there were three ways to subscribe to AVC: 1/ Email – Get new posts delivered to...
a year ago
For many years, there were three ways to subscribe to AVC: 1/ Email – Get new posts delivered to your inbox 2/ RSS – Get new posts delivered to your RSS reader 3/ X – Follow AVC on X X revoked the API access that I was using to autopost three or four months ago. […]
Rest of World -...
How to launch a Chinese smartphone in Mexico
Antonio Tercero is guiding Infinix’s Mexico expansion, facing off against Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo.
11 months ago
Antonio Tercero is guiding Infinix’s Mexico expansion, facing off against Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo.
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.
Blog posts of...
Startup Mentoring Sessions: How to get the most out of it.
Everyone is doing pitch training. Almost no-one does training for the mentoring session, but this is...
over a year ago
Everyone is doing pitch training. Almost no-one does training for the mentoring session, but this is where most startups get the m...
SatPost by Trung...
Why Are the Olympics So Expensive?
Olympic host cities take on enormous financial risks in hopes of economic and cultural rewards....
6 months ago
Olympic host cities take on enormous financial risks in hopes of economic and cultural rewards. Tokyo 1964 was the ultimate triumph, but Paris 2024 may find it harder to justify the expense.
Rest of World -...
How Microsoft and the UAE got caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China tech war
Geopolitical tensions have ensnared Microsoft’s deal for AI company G42.
5 months ago
Geopolitical tensions have ensnared Microsoft’s deal for AI company G42.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Athletic Greens used to be a sketchy looking affiliate offer in 2011. Ranked #1 on Clickbank...
a year ago
#1 💡 Athletic Greens used to be a sketchy looking affiliate offer in 2011. Ranked #1 on Clickbank and was promoted by every direct response marketer. Always inspiring to see humble beginnings like this and a good reminder that most businesses are not sexy from day 1.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Six strategies for overcoming “chicken and egg” problems
Products with so-called networks effects get more valuable when more people use them. Famous...
over a year ago
Products with so-called networks effects get more valuable when more people use them. Famous examples are telephones and social networks…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Comma.ai
I wrote a blog post last month highlighting some of the exciting trends in the computing industry....
over a year ago
I wrote a blog post last month highlighting some of the exciting trends in the computing industry. One trend I discussed is the rapid…
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Pricing to the demand curve
Many college microeconomics courses include the following exercise. The teacher offers the students...
over a year ago
Many college microeconomics courses include the following exercise. The teacher offers the students an imaginary trip to Hawaii, and asks…
Essays - Benedict...
Ways to think about a metaverse
Your boss wants a metaverse strategy, but what would that be, and what does
metaverse even mean?...
over a year ago
Your boss wants a metaverse strategy, but what would that be, and what does
metaverse even mean? If we strip away the noise, what can we say about
this, and what can we predict?
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.
Rest of World -...
South Korean streamers struggle with Twitch’s sudden exit
The streaming giant attributed its departure to high network fees.
9 months ago
The streaming giant attributed its departure to high network fees.
Rest of World -...
Chinese EV upstarts to battle Japanese heavyweights for Thailand’s pickup truck market
Toyota and Isuzu have long dominated Thailand’s pickup truck market. As they prepare to launch EV...
5 months ago
Toyota and Isuzu have long dominated Thailand’s pickup truck market. As they prepare to launch EV trucks, they face competition from Chinese firms.
Rest of World -...
How this mental health care app is using ChatGPT to improve its chatbot
Andrea Campos is the founder and CEO of Yana, a mental health care app and chatbot for Spanish and...
6 months ago
Andrea Campos is the founder and CEO of Yana, a mental health care app and chatbot for Spanish and English speakers.
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.
Noahpinion
The pushback against industrial policy has begun
So far, it's a vague broadside instead of a targeted criticism.
a year ago
So far, it's a vague broadside instead of a targeted criticism.
Stephen Diehl
Currency in the Age of Digitization
over a year ago
AVC
AI Art
There has been a lot of discussion about how AIs can make art and possibly replace artists, but I...
a year ago
There has been a lot of discussion about how AIs can make art and possibly replace artists, but I think the opposite is more likely to happen. Artists have been using AI to make art for a while now and the pace has picked up a lot in recent years. I have always loved the […]
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…
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
Rest of World -...
Women in South Africa’s gig economy feel forced to work extra hours for free
Women who work as domestic cleaners with SweepSouth, an on-demand app, say clients frequently ask...
11 months ago
Women who work as domestic cleaners with SweepSouth, an on-demand app, say clients frequently ask them to do unpaid work, and the company hasn’t responded to their complaints.
Steve Blank
The Secret History of Polaroid CEO Edwin Land – part 1
The connections between the world of national security and commercial companies still has surprises....
7 months ago
The connections between the world of national security and commercial companies still has surprises. December 1976 – Vandenberg Air Force Base, U.S. military space port on the coast of California As a Titan IIID rocket blasted off, it carried a spacecraft on top that would change...
Data Boutique
The Impact of ChatGPT on the Web Scraping Industry
Access to live web data is just the tip of the iceberg, advanced analytics and enterprise model push...
a year ago
Access to live web data is just the tip of the iceberg, advanced analytics and enterprise model push web data adoption
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The most important question to ask before taking seed money
There is a certain well respected venture capital firm (VC) that has a program for fledgling...
over a year ago
There is a certain well respected venture capital firm (VC) that has a program for fledgling entrepreneurs. The teams that are selected…
Rest of World -...
As muggings spike, phone thieves in Brazil have an easy target: Gig workers
Losing a phone can devastate gig workers’ ability to make a living, while the apps they work for...
a year ago
Losing a phone can devastate gig workers’ ability to make a living, while the apps they work for provide little support.
AVC
Coming Back Up For Air
The last time I posted was May 23rd, three weeks ago. There was a time when I wrote every day. When...
a year ago
The last time I posted was May 23rd, three weeks ago. There was a time when I wrote every day. When I had not yet posted on any day, I felt like something was missing, like I had not yet had my cup of coffee. Clearly, I have moved on from that need to write […]
Working Theorys
When founders outgrow their startups
On the rise of personal power and the new founders' dilemma.
3 months ago
On the rise of personal power and the new founders' dilemma.
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...
Rest of World -...
Foreign tech workers hit hard by South Africa’s new immigration laws
Lured by rich job opportunities in South Africa's tech scene, thousands of migrants from across the...
a year ago
Lured by rich job opportunities in South Africa's tech scene, thousands of migrants from across the continent flooded into the country. Now, those jobs are out of reach.
Noahpinion
Great news about American wealth
Regular Americans are getting richer.
a year ago
Regular Americans are getting richer.
Noahpinion
Why you should not ignore economists
They aren't always right, but they almost always have something important to add.
3 months ago
They aren't always right, but they almost always have something important to add.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting...
a year ago
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting themes: What does the guy actually do? Is he actually important for the company? Surely other people, the technicians, are responsible for the breakthroughs, right?
Rest of World -...
Amid a surge in violence in Tijuana, ride-hailing apps and authorities implement new safety measures
Uber launched a panic button linked to state-run emergency centers to keep drivers and users safe —...
3 months ago
Uber launched a panic button linked to state-run emergency centers to keep drivers and users safe — but violence remains unabated.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The decline of the mobile web
People are spending more time on mobile vs desktop: And more of their mobile time using apps, not...
over a year ago
People are spending more time on mobile vs desktop: And more of their mobile time using apps, not the web: This is a worrisome trend for…
Stephen Diehl
Stablecoins Do Not Deserve Special Treatment
over a year ago
David Perell
A Divine Intuition
Under a secular mindset, intuition is all about you — your wants, needs, passions, and desires. A...
a year ago
Under a secular mindset, intuition is all about you — your wants, needs, passions, and desires. A heavenly, God-inspired intuition is different.
The post A Divine Intuition appeared first on David Perell.
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...
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