This week's startup news and trends will be the focus of the weekly column. You have to subscribe to get this.
I wrote about the big question on every startup's mind for 2021, how will a catastrophic event such as a Pandemic show up in post-pandemic innovation? We are nearing the end of another Pandemic year, and it seems like this state will be our world for longer than I would like to predict. I would like to pose a new question because my question didn't age well.
I have a question for the tech community in the year 2022, how can they sneak activation energy into startup's built by historically overlooked founders? I am not talking about hype machines or weekly luncheons, I am talking about more elusive services.
I think entrepreneurs need more human resources in this cash rich environment to build their company. The gender gap in raising money continues to be an embarrassing issue that needs to be fixed. We need to figure out how to keep the same people in an increasingly competitive environment as we spotlight the need to get more checks to more founders. Even though venture doesn't fix all things, it can complicate the growth of a startup.
Every day, the energy looks different. I wrote about Z Fellows, a company that pays people $10,000 to take a week-long break from their day job and try to build a startup idea.
The program has successfully convinced first-time founders to take a jump because of the average age of the Z Fellow being 20 to 25 years old. The pre-requisite for the program is that you have to take a week off from work.
Levy said that the best programs require high commitment, big life decisions, whether it is dropping out of school or going full-time on an idea. Don't do that, just kind of mimic what life would be like for a couple of days or a week: If you like it, great, if you don't, no harm.
While Levy shows the importance of time, I think we'll see a growing importance for founders to lean on community and mental health support. In my column, I say that more than another check, founders need activation energy.
Thank you so much for your continued readership. We brought together a lot of different things, from haircuts to tech mafias to a modern refresh. We thought too much about dollars and not enough about hot due diligence. We went sector specific, giving notes on why NFTs needCrypto and other forms of financial services. We spoke about why democratization can hurt more than help, and how you can build vulnerability into your workflows.
It was an exhausting year, but it was also marked by a lot of learning that will shape how ideas turn into companies and realizations turn into thoughtful stories. I will be taking a break so you won't hear from me until the first week of January.
For one last time in 2021, let's get started on the rest of the newsletter. We will discuss diversity in money, climate and the trucking creator economy. You can follow my thoughts on my social media accounts.
Company culture is trying to not be foolish.
The image is called filo
John de Souza, co-founder of Ample, was interviewed by Rebecca Bellan, who was born and raised in Ethiopia. Bellan notes that the odds are against the serial founder of the electric vehicle battery swapping company because of a well-capitalized competitor. The entire interview is worth a read, but I found most of his notes on culture to be of interest, even in the heart of a red hot sector.
The problem with growing companies is that they have high turnover and it is hard to grow the company while you are losing. If you can stem the people leaving you can grow the company very efficiently, and so we realize the way to keep people is not just to pay them to stay, but to create company culture. This line shows how the great resignation changed what employees want from their companies and how internal communications at a company will be a big topic in 2022.
Culture can't be ignored.
The start of the week is...
The image is from alashi, which opens in a new window.
Notus! The startup wants to help other companies find the best journalists and influential people on the social web. They used their own method to target me.
The startup has confirmed that 776 led a $1.25 million round with participation of angels from Glossier andTesla. It is harder for a brand to reach and truly understand their audience as the internet unbundled media makes it more difficult. Mary Ann spoke about Notus' limitations despite the opportunity going forward.
Mentions of honorable nature.
The gift guide for the tech company.
Across the week.
There is a person seen on a website.
A new growth equity outfit raised $100 million to buy stranded startups.
Space Florida has a very small Rivian stake.
TikTok has a Discord.
The irrational exuberance of the internet.
The valuations of startup companies are a forgery.
There is a person seen on the internet.
Metaverse startup with $1M in revenues going public.
How to maneuver the latest travel bans.
I can't wait to talk next year, if you have a safe end to the holiday season.
N.
