Hey there! Thanks for opening this up.
It’s been a few hectic weeks with summer wrapping up, but not just that, it seems like everyone is trying to pack as many events in as possible before the cold weather in New York City approaches.
With the changing of seasons comes a reminder that the year is almost over. Aware of this, and with the encouragement of a friend, I planned out my goals for the end of the year over Labor Day Weekend.
Having a sense of direction comes in handy when making plans and adjusting them on the fly, especially when there is so much going on. What works best for me is understanding what the most important task is, and adjusting everything based on that - oftentimes cutting down on some things to continue course towards others. Cheers to mutual advancement!
Essay
China: Learning from the “Other”
Having lived in China, family who came from China, and an interest in the latest innovations, which the country has a lot of, I wrote a piece showing what’s out there regarding coverage of China outside of the mainstream media, emphasizing that there is much more to this country than the trade ware, copyright infringement, or the protests going on in Hong Kong.
“Wittgenstein once stated “the limits of my language means the limits of my world.” The same could be said for culture: a better understanding of other cultures leads to more knowledge of one’s own.”
Strategy
Betaworks Studios on Synthetic AI
NYC-based Venture Studio Betaworks gives an overview of Synthetic Reality, where human experience is enhanced by interactions with intelligent machines. Several areas include tools for creating synthetic media (e.g. virtual influencers), artificial media detection systems, and new forms of connection with media.
AI may be able to help achieve end results such as the production of an article or connection with an individual, but that won't replace the skills individuals develop in the act of these processes: data collection, synthesis, and presentation - all part of social decision-making.
Mary Meeker Internet Trends 2019
Each year, internet research analyst Mary Meeker publishes a comprehensive report on the trends of the internet. (I know I’m a bit late to the game, this came out a few months ago…)
Interesting highlights include what’s going on outside of the US - similar to my essay, there’s much to be learned from developments outside of one’s immediate locale, for example, hot companies including:
Pinduoduo - innovative Chinese e-commerce company with functionality including group buying and group advertising
GrabPay - the Southeast Asian ridesharing app has a payments function banking the 73% of adults in the region who are unbanked
Trending
Why Aren’t We Talking About LinkedIn?
The New York Times provides an overview of the current state of LinkedIn vs. FB and Twitter, user behavior, and reasons why.
"Scaling job two — looking good at work — up to a social network creates a new sort of venue: a non-office office, with thousands of bosses, none of them yours, all of them potentially watching."
LinkedIn may be an overlooked platform… but only for those who are their own bosses. There’s a form of self-censorship, hence the only ones posting “vlogs” on LinkedIn end up being independent digital marketers.
Thoughts
If Sapiens were a blog post
Neil Kakkar spent over 25 hours condensing the book "Sapiens" into a 30-minute blog post, covering the start in the development of brains through a number of revolutions, ending in the present situation of what humans may become.
There are various ramifications in understanding how the human mind and body developed, both within oneself and together as a society - our gifts of the imagination, our continued struggles having transitioned from a nomadic to agrarian society, and our artificial hierarchies created from shared beliefs.
Thoughts
7 Practical Facts about the Human Brain I wish Everyone Knew
Leo presents 7 facts of the brain and how they can be applied to mental well-being.
Areas covered include the unconscious, various states, habits, paralanguage, and triggers.
I put my interpretation in bullet form as well:
This works as a TLDR of a book; however, it would only be effective if you know a baseline knowledge
This is also similar to belief systems - there is scientific evidence, but what if there are counterexamples - both scientific, and personal?
Leo Widrich has such a interesting background having co-founded a startup called Buffer, trained in the art of somatic experiencing, and is now a coach for entrepreneurs
Talk to me about startups!
I’m looking to get exposure to as many business ideas as possible and give feedback from a venture capital perspective - if you or anyone you know are working on something and would like to talk, please get in touch.
Find Me
That’s it for this issue!
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-Leo