Sarah Drinkwater
@sarahdrinkwater
Knowledge beachcomber interested in the ownership economy, flourishing communities, ecosystem building, magic, and knowledge as an end to itself.
Sarah Drinkwater
Third, most emerging fund managers do not have to worry about succession plans or manage an existing brand and track record. They can be focused on deliverying on their chosen strategy,
Francesco Perticarari • Why new VC funds offer the greatest opportunities in Venture Capital
Collective genius and Self-fashioning
ON EMOTION, FAITH AND DIRECTION - It is the haunted intersection of technology and the liberal arts. And it’s finally a hill I am willing to die on… I think there’s a hidden power in reaching something you’re willing to fail with. I’ve never seen that written about. But I’ve reached it, and that feels like a new type of signal to me.
ON NY SCENIUS -
NYC has produced really great technology wins, yes. But it has failed to create a win that truly structures the surrounding NYC technology scene.
By this I mean a consumer facing win, where technology is at the center, instead of the related industry pulls around it. NYC tech is often defined by our relationship to other industries, as we have such a diverse business ecosystem that holds the promise of our melting pot. Finance, retail, real estate, music, consulting, the list goes on.
But the harsh reality is this — Tumblr didn’t do what it needed to do, FourSquare didn’t do what it needed to do, Giphy didn’t do what it needed to do, WeWork is a failure, BlueApron is a failure…
And now the scene has grown as a function of Google owning half of Chelsea and several Facebook buildings. But WHO ARE WEEEEEEEEEEEE
The first consumer technology win, born and raised in NYC will get to actually determine that. The same way Google and Facebook have in the broader valley. I’ve believed this since 2016 when I started working at Rough Draft Ventures, and continually forced the issue in 2017 when I moved to NYC after school despite being told it would ruin my career to not go to SF.
Recently Verci launched a campaign about powerful innovations in cultural hubs, and the vision of their Soho co-working space for NYC Tech. While I like Verci, I do think it misses some pretty core things. They point to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Google at Stanford…
I would argue that Kennedy is a sort of anti-environment. Similar to Los Almos… it’s the isolation of incredible people towards a superhuman mission. Google at Stanford is an interesting reference as well. While I wouldn’t call Stanford an anti-environment, universities do hold a clear inner-outer dynamic through campus culture that I think is really unique. And calls to mind Campus Complex.
What is clear is the shared vision for NYC Tech to be something more. Something new. Something equally ambitious. And there are projects ranging from Verci to Terminal to WeBuildOurIdeas, that are all stoking the communal fire. I think these will actually all come together in unique ways to both collaborate and challenge each other in 2024.
In-group Cheems is the reflexive cynicism of advice-givers (whether that advice is solicited or otherwise) about someone’s dreams or ambitions.
#1: In-group Cheems
Are these limitations helping you be more creative?
— Exactly. It’s the most critical part. With any kind of creative work you start disabling as much as possible and narrow it down only to the necessary tools you need, and from there start making the work. That’s what I believe makes you super creative.
The founder of Teenage Engineering opens up to his creative space
I think the McLuhan-esque take is to say that Fandoms are themselves voluntary culture-war militias recruited from the general population.
An argument could be made that groups like Antifa, BLM, Proud Boys, Patriot Front, etc... are in essence fandom para-military orgs with $$$.
The second structural problem with the VC industry is that most venture firms are selling a product that is fundamentally an undifferentiated commodity — capital.
Erik Torenberg • Productizing Venture
2. See how they treat service workers
People reveal their true natures when they deal with others who have no power and can never return a favor.
This is one of the most reliable indicators of trustworthiness that you will find.
3. Discover what experiences formed their character in early life