Founder Weekly (Issue 655 September 25 2024)

Founder Weekly - Issue 655

September 25, 2024

Founder Weekly

Welcome to issue 655 of Founder Weekly. Let's get straight to the links this week.

General

In this article, Vinod Khosla explores the dual potential of artificial intelligence as either a dystopia or utopia. He argues that while AI poses risks such as job displacement and social manipulation, these challenges can be mitigated through thoughtful policy and societal choices, ultimately leading to a future of unprecedented abundance and enhanced human capabilities.

Just as software ate the world and dramatically transformed industries in the last era, taste is now eating software—and with it, Silicon Valley.

The road to hell is paved via collaboration, consensus, inclusiveness, stability.

The article argues that startups have a chance against big tech in the AI era, drawing parallels from historical tech cycles like the web, mobile, and cloud revolutions. It suggests that while incumbents may dominate initially, many future AI-native industry leaders haven't been founded yet, and the best opportunities for startups may emerge in the coming years.

The article outlines the process of launching a brand in 2024, using the author's experience with their game "Block Talk" as a case study. It emphasizes the ease of product design, manufacturing, and storefront setup through modern tools and services, while also highlighting the complexities of global commerce and fulfillment logistics.

Marketing, Sales and PR

How do we position a product that doesn't have any advantages over the alternatives? Let's start by entertaining the idea that maybe we're wrong about that. 

Tactics to increase your TAM, improve net retention, and increase ARPU.

This video features an interview with Zeb Evans, the Founder and CEO of ClickUp, discussing his entrepreneurial journey and the growth of his company. The conversation covers topics including ClickUp's bootstrapping to $10 million ARR, scaling challenges, product evolution, early adoption of AI features, and the launch of new chat and video call functionalities.

Money and Finance

No two fintech companies measure gross profit the same way. For a more reliable measure of profitability, we suggest entrepreneurs understand the true variable costs to their business—and build towards contribution profit instead.

The article examines whether platform shifts like AI truly produce significant infrastructure outcomes, comparing current AI infrastructure investments to historical patterns in cloud and mobile. It argues that while platform shifts create opportunities, the most successful infrastructure companies often solve broader problems rather than platform-specific issues, and cautions against overhyping AI-specific infrastructure investments.

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