The document discusses how information and technology are shaping society and business. It notes how controlling information has always been important for those in power. Several quotes praise Y Combinator and its embodiment of the Silicon Valley spirit. The document considers entrepreneurs as the new labor and two optimistic scenarios for the future. It concludes with references for further reading on related topics.
6. Information as
Ideology
“Controlling the general
population has always been
a dominant concern of
power and privilege,
particularly since the first
modern democratic
revolution in seventeenth-
century England.”
7. "This is the new model."
– Bradley Horowitz, VP of Product
Management, Google
"Y Combinator is a big change from the way
business is usually done in tech circles."
– USA Today
"We love YC!"
– Fred Wilson, Managing Partner, Union
Square Ventures
"I love everything about Y Combinator. It
captures the essence of Silicon Valley."
– Michael Arrington, Editor, TechCrunch
10. "This is the new model."
– Bradley Horowitz, VP of Product
Management, Google
"Y Combinator is a big change from the way
business is usually done in tech circles."
– USA Today
"We love YC!"
– Fred Wilson, Managing Partner, Union
Square Ventures
"I love everything about Y Combinator. It
captures the essence of Silicon Valley."
– Michael Arrington, Editor, TechCrunch
22. Reading List
[Forbes] Entrepreneurs Are The New Labor
[Wired] One Startup’s Struggle to Survive the
Silicon Valley Gold Rush -
[Formation 8] The Smart Enterprise Wave
[Book] The Master Switch
Notas do Editor
The industrial revolution completely changed the playing field.
The assembly line reached into the realm of artisans, and took what
Usually is long pain-staking work into commodities.
In order to power the assembly lines, human workers were needed, but
Instead of , they were fungible and commodities and had very little
Bargaining power in how deals were structured. In an effort to gain more, they unionized
In order to demand collective bargaining.
That same trend is happening in entrepreneurs today. Entrepreneurship used to be a rare phenomenon.
Corporate jobs were stable, and well paying, only someone slightly crazy would go and try to start their
Own company.
Today, with web technology as cheap as it is, starting a consumer facing startup has never been easier.
What is the factory? Who are owners?
Tony Hsieh is 40 years old this year, and worth 850 MM. His online retail company Zappos began by selling shoes, and now sells a bajillion other things. However, what really stands out about the company is their amazing customer service. People who buy things off Zappos have received hand written thank you notes from the customer support.
In 2011, he decided that
We’ve allocated $350 million to aid in the revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas. We’re investing $200 million in real estate, $50 million in small businesses, $50 million in education, and $50 million in tech startups through the VegasTech Fund.
Having studied computer science in school, tony is fascinated by the complex interactions of people move through ecosystems. Recently he gave a talk at the Long Now Foundation that described his analytic and empathetic thinking:
collisions, co-learning and connectedness.
You don’t have to be a billionaire to start experimenting with your information feed. You are the average of the 5 people
You hang out with the most. Look around you, look at your 5 friends.
A few weeks ago, I moved into that house above with 2 friends, to create a place where we can experiment with culture and information the same way that Tony Hsieh is doing, but at a smaller scale. We are very lucky to be able to work with Campus, a startup created by a Thiel Fellow, that is doing a lot of the heavy lifting to bring co-op houses. Make sure that you choose the right people.
We are still looking for 2 housemates. If information, cultural experimentation and deep views on history are interesting to you, then come find me afterward the talk.