Ender’s Post

This is why Linear is built different. https://lnkd.in/dsYByhdz

In engineering, solving problems is about more than just finding the fastest path. Recently, I’ve come to realize how crucial it is to think beyond immediate needs and look toward solutions that last. Whether in a startup racing against time or a big tech firm focused on scalability, there’s a balance to strike. Here’s something I’ve been trying lately: I give myself a “time box” to explore alternative approaches to a problem, even when there’s a quicker fix available. While this might feel time-intensive, it often leads to more durable solutions, avoiding costly mistakes later on. Taking time to balance efficiency with foresight is how we can build solutions that endure. In the end, it’s not just about solving today’s problem; it’s about solving it in a way that works tomorrow, too. https://lnkd.in/dd8Hr9fS #data #tech #engineering

The scientific method isn't only for scientists. It can help us all learn faster. Study of 759 startups: teaching scientific thinking boosts revenue. Founders become quicker to abandon bad ideas. A key to good judgment is treating plans as hypotheses and choices as experiments.

Interesting read.

I HATE MARKET RISK Have you ever built a piece of hardware? Have you ever gone through the process of deciding on features, materials, sizes, and processes to use? If you have, you know how expensive every error is. Why do so many people accept to take these decisions before knowing what the market actually wants? I've been thinking about this problem since committing this error myself multiple times during my first years as an engineer. Then, I read about Ian Rountree's concept of "Full-Stack Deep Tech" and it clicked: the best hardware companies don't take market risks. Here's my new rant about my own interpretation of what this means. Christopher Spillane

"Zero to One" is a book written by Peter Thiel, an academician, co-founder, and investor in start-ups like Facebook, PayPal, Palantir, and SpaceX. In this book, Thiel discusses the challenges of the future and how to overcome them. To my guess, the book's central theme is that future success will not come from duplication but through the creation of something entirely new, which Thiel refers to as "Zero to One." Thiel argues that the movement from zero to one involves two types of learning processes: horizontal learning and vertical learning. Horizontal learning includes duplication and imitation, often seen in globalization where practices and technologies that work in one place are copied and implemented elsewhere. Vertical learning, on the other hand, is about creating something new from nothing, like the innovations seen in Silicon Valley. The author highlights that in bureaucratic hierarchies, progress is often slow, and entrenched interests tend to avoid risk. In contrast, while a lone genius might create a remarkable work of art, they cannot single-handedly create an industry. Therefore, Thiel believes that startups are the silver bullet for creating new industries and driving progress. Excited about the next chapter, which will delve into creating the future of progress through the principle of "Zero to One." Image source( Linkedin, Adam Dudley)

NEW BLOG POST - Market Research: 5 Reasons Why it is Vital for Research-based Ventures. Link in the comment section ⤵ For research-based deep tech ventures, inventions serve as the engines propelling businesses’ growth, requiring years of testing and development, and funding. While it’s easy to prioritise rapid scaling and technological advancement; integrating market research as a continuous and parallel activity to turn inventions into innovations is vital. This post seeks to highlight the significance of market research as it is the backbone for successful fundraising campaigns, customer satisfaction, future revenue, and more. Read about five key reasons research-based deep tech ventures should focus a little extra on market research. https://lnkd.in/dzuK_BZt

Just shared a post about why market research is a well-spent activity for ventures with solutions based on disruptive technologies (link in comments). ⤵ If you are a researcher and entrepreneur running your own research-based venture and want to read about five compelling reasons to spend more time on market research, this post is for you. And of course, if you know someone that your think might find it insightful, please don't hesitate to share it with them.

"Attention is all you need!" If you're in the AI community, you'd know that this sentence refers to a very well known Google paper on the transformer architecture, basically a blueprint of all LLMs today. And the very same sentence hits the core of our "human" problems in addition to LLM problems. I may even claim that all family and social troubles originate from #LackOfAttention. At a dinner table, we may ask, "How was your day?" But do we ask with "attention" and are you ready to listen? Or is it an empty question, just a step before you move onto your important stuff like YouTube, Insta, Tiktok… We become #TooBusyToAsk with real attention. #AttentionIsAllYouNeed. Attention is all you need to give to your loved ones.  Attention is all we need from our loved ones.  Although being a small startup, #WeStory has a big ambition to bring your attention to your loved ones through storytelling. But even before #WeStory, we should be able to take charge and recover our attention which has been stolen by Shorts, Reels,... and redirect to where it belongs. #AttentionIsAllYouNeed!     

How do you evaluate a PhD during #deeptech due diligence? You might NOT need a PhD yourself to do that. Let me explain: 📝 Typically on academic papers, the first and sometimes the second author on the paper are the folks who drove and led the research. Everyone else listed was involved, but didn't play as critical of a role. 📝 So, if a founder you're talking with is the 4th, 5th, 55th author on an academic paper...Is that something that should stop you from investing? Maybe -- or maybe not. After all, this is just one of the MANY data points that you need to consider in #duediligence. I hope this hack helps you the next time you bump into #startup with PhD's on their team! And I'm also curious: How do YOU evaluate deeply technical founders when considering making an investment? #venturecapital