AI warnings??, startup salaries??, elevator pitches??
Igor Curic, CFA, MBA
I help startup founders be investment ready. Newsletter and courses about the process??
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Despite his pivotal contributions, Hinton has voiced concerns about AI's rapid advancement, warning that it could eventually surpass human intelligence and pose significant risks. He resigned from Google in 2023 to freely express his worries about the technology's potential to disrupt society and outpace human control.
Europe's "flight shame" movement is pushing travelers to swap planes for trains, supported by expanded rail networks and climate policies like France's limited flight ban. While rail use is growing, infrastructure and demand challenges hinder a full shift from air travel.
The two-seater Cybercab, priced under $30,000, is slated for production by 2026, while details on the Robovan were sparse. Investors were disappointed due to the lack of specifics and concerns over potential delays, especially after Tesla's recent third-quarter delivery numbers fell short of expectations.
A modern startup playbook focused on building exceptional products, leveraging storytelling, optimizing growth, prioritizing retention, using automation, and maintaining flexibility. It encourages startups to adapt to changes in the market and technology, such as AI and the end of easy funding.
Ethereum's market sentiment is more bearish than Bitcoin's, with traders hedging against ETH's downside risks as the U.S. election approaches. While optimism for BTC rises with Trump's lead in prediction markets, expectations for ETH's recovery remain muted until late December.
Replit's journey to product-market fit started as a college side-project to simplify coding collaboration. After gaining traction, founder Amjad Masad pivoted from browser-based tools to cloud-native development, embracing multiple languages and early AI adoption.
Matthew Stuller’s company excels through rapid delivery, manufacturing flexibility, and customer service, becoming a go-to source for diamonds and precious metals. His business's scale allows for significant influence over the jewelry market, with operations spanning sourcing, design, and distribution.
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Interesting Research & Reports ??
In the first half of 2024, startup compensation trends showed flat salary and equity levels, indicating a new norm following declines in previous years. Hiring activity remained subdued, with layoffs decreasing significantly. Startups that successfully raised funding operated with smaller teams compared to past years, highlighting a shift towards leaner operations.
Perplexity AI is redefining search by offering conversational, context-driven responses rather than traditional link lists. Using models like GPT-4, it creates personalized summaries and allows deeper exploration. Despite rapid growth, it faces profitability challenges and competition from AI-enhanced search engines like Google.
What % of shares companies set aside for the option pool, how long companies choose for the options vesting period, whether companies opt for a vesting cliff and if so, how long, what vesting frequency companies choose, whether companies offer accelerated vesting, when companies allow holders to exercise options, what % of companies have EMI and Unapproved schemes, etc.
Topline figures paint a sobering picture for venture, as both global funding and deals ticked down quarter-over-quarter (QoQ). The quarterly levels place Q3’24 on par with where VC was in 2016/2017.
In Q3 2024, European tech fundraising fell sharply, with €11 billion raised across 891 deals, down nearly 60% from €28 billion in Q3 2023. This decline reflects cautious investor behavior amid challenging global economic conditions.
The Chinese venture collapse? More like an evolution. The venture ecosystem of China has reset, is on the way back, and this time it's self sufficient.
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4 周A great initiative my friend
CEO @SellMeThisPen AI | Helping Sellers Master Sales with AI Coaching
1 个月Igor Curic, CFA, MBA Great stuff my friend! One of the best at sharing insights and advice since he's been there and done that!
Chief Marketing & Growth Officer | Author | Startup Advisor | ex Roku, IMVU, Texture
1 个月Great insights. I have subscribed.
Insightful roundup on AI's potential risks alongside startup opportunities. Balanced coverage is key as innovation accelerates.