Alejandro Martinez

Consigning "boring meetings" to the artifact dustbin is a great idea. But not all good meetings are "decision meetings" and decision meetings as currently conceived can be just as deadly boring and ineffective as any poorly managed pre-meeting. Well-managed "discovery meetings" can precede a decision meeting and be invaluable: creative, energizing, engaging, and ultimately more collaborative -- resulting in higher probabilities of success for any subsequent decision meeting. It's not just about fewer meetings, it's about better meetings.

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Notion vs Glean reminds me a lot of Tesla vs Waymo... Just like I think Tesla is going to solve the 'software' problem of autonomous vehicles before Waywmo solves the 'hardware' problem... I think that Notion is going to solve 'enterprise knowledge search' before Glean solves the problem of document and knowledge creation... Why? A couple reasons: 1) Just like Tesla, Notion has a huge advantage when it comes to the amount of underlying data and documents to train on... They already have 100M+ users, and likely 10x that in terms of the number of documents, files, etc. in team's workspaces. 2) It's very hard to change people's behaviour re: where/how they create 'work'. It's why a lot of companies have come and gone in that category... As exciting as Glean's AI writing assistants might seem, most people are just fine (or even prefer) a good old fashioned editor/writer. I could be way off here, but this will be an intersting one to follow. Thoughts? Where am I getting it wrong? #ai #enterprise #knowledge #management #notion #glean

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It’s not often I refer to a tech entrepreneur as a force of nature, but I can’t think of a better way of describing Ana Zucato, cofounder and CEO of Brazilian neobank, Noh. I had never heard of Noh until Ana responded to a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Nubank. Hers was a truly magnificent example of self-promotion (and I mean that in the nicest way!) which piqued my interest enough to write about her. [You can also read my prior posts on Substack.com – search for anttheantidote]. The best way I can describe Noh is as a lifestyle bank for couples. Actually, it’s less about banking and more about helping couples manage their financial lives together. And that’s why the bank's called Noh – it’s a play on the Portuguese word for ‘knot’ (as in tying people together). This is the USP which, to my mind, sets Noh apart from the 30+ neobanks already operating in Brazil. [Oddly, Noh does not appear in the list published at https://lnkd.in/diP9M5PU so there may well be more!] Based on this proposition, Noh has an elegant and purpose-based app which allows couples to create a Noh account linked to each partner’s personal account with other banks. The couple decides how payments are to be apportioned and Noh does the rest. There’s much more to it than that, but that’s the nub of the matter. Ana has also been ever so smart in partnering with Nathália Rodrigues, whose social media following as Nath Finanças has made her one of the most influential sources of financial advice for her generation. In fact, the co-marketing is so intense you might well believe that Noh is really the ‘Ana and Nath’ show (see pic - Ana on the right)! How Noh works ‘under the covers’ will be a topic for another post as it is a perfect example of the opportunities (and threats!) afforded by Brazil’s Central Bank ‘Open Finance’ initiative. But let me just say this for now. Brazil has embraced ‘open banking’ in a way that is far ahead of the game compared to the UK. It has truly changed the lives of millions of Brazilians who were previously ill-served, underserved, or excluded from traditional banking and financial services. With Noh, Ana Zucato is tapping in to the market for couples whose financial needs are ill-served by traditional banks. But what it will all come down to is whether she can develop the business model into one that can capture and expand that opportunity profitably for the long haul. I have no doubt at all about her determination to do so.

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Smart execution is the key to success in hardware startups Boom Supersonic's Blake Scholl discusses: - The importance of leveraging existing technologies - Refinement over reinvention - Prioritizing practical and user-centered design

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I spent over half a decade working with driverless cars. I see massive potential for these vehicles to reshape NYC real estate. Waymo recently raised $5.6 billion in a Series C round led by Alphabet and supported by many other leading companies. Meaning the future of this technology feels closer than ever. These are the biggest Opportunities & Challenges Driverless cars present in the NYC market: 1. Reduced need for parking could free up valuable urban space, converting parking lots into housing, retail, or green areas. 2. Easier commutes may drive up outer borough property values, balancing Manhattan and other more densely populated areas of the City 3. NYC’s notorious traffic, pushback from unions on automation, unpredictable weather, and high foot traffic require advanced tech and regulatory adaptation. The next steps will be crucial as real estate, tech, and policy leaders navigate how driverless cars might reimagine our cities. How do you think driverless tech will impact real estate in NYC? P.S This is me in a driverless car back in 2017

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A few weeks ago, I was at Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator Meeting with a dozen different companies. - I love getting to help people bring their vision to the life. - Seeing their products start as seeds and then become reality. - Building the future in emerging tech or any industry. It always reminds me of the reason I founded First Principles. ↳ To improve the human condition, one product at a time. There can be tough days in the journey for founding teams: - Losing deals you spend hours, weeks, or even months developing. - Investing time testing great ideas only to discover no one cares. - Creating good content no one reads or bad content everyone loves 🙂. - Sacrificing time and focus when with family and friends. But being in a room full of motivated people at the earliest phases of the journey always re-energizes my personal mission. Because nothing feels better than helping others to have an impact on a seemingly intractable problem.

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#ObsessivelyEnthusiasticInvestor #UnreasonablyEnthusiasticInvestor #IrrationallyEnthusiasticInvestor at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund. We look for the people we believe are doing the best work in Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology; Attempting the impossible. Then we go all-in on them. With obsessive, unreasonable, and irrational enthusiasm. We back them with evangelical zeal. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital #DemandTheImpossible #UnreasonableEnthusiasm #ObsessiveEnthusiasm #IrrationalEnthusiasm

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Little can be added to those statements. Hardware can be one of your best competitive advantages, if done right.

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Austin continues demonstrating its broad startup strengths, coming in at number 6 overall and ranking in the top ten in five key sectors. Notably, we are number 2 in hardware—We build! Peter Walker's latest ecosystem analysis highlights the expected top regions: Silicon Valley, NYC, Boston, and LA. San Diego and Austin are essentially tied at 5th and 6th, separated by only ~$60M. While Austin was ranked 5th in the previous analysis, this slight shift reflects the minor pullback seen in other Q1 venture data. Austin's sector diversity continues to be a strong foundation: ⚙️ Hardware: Number 2 💳 Fintech: Number 5 🏥 Healthtech: Number 7 🌐 SaaS and 🛍 Consumer: Number 8 While all of this showcases an overall healthy ecosystem, I'm a bit concerned about 2024's fund raising traction. If we extrapolate based on what's been announced so far, the region will come in between $2B-$2.5B for the year. Significantly lower than the roughly $4B in 2023. We were one of the few ecosystems to show positive momentum coming out of the 21/22 venture bubble. I hope this is more a lack of a funding announcements and not an actual regression. What’s Next?

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Groq Partners with Aramco to Propel Saudi AI Ambitions In a groundbreaking move, Groq, the innovative chip startup renowned for its cutting-edge technology, has inked a significant deal with aramco, the world’s leading oil company. This strategic partnership is set to be a game-changer for Saudi Arabia's burgeoning AI landscape. What This Means: Groq’s advanced chip technology will play a crucial role in supporting Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance the computational power available for AI applications, paving the way for breakthroughs in various sectors including energy, healthcare, and smart cities. Key Highlights: Boosting AI Capabilities: Groq’s state-of-the-art chips are designed to handle complex AI tasks with unprecedented speed and efficiency, aligning perfectly with Saudi Arabia's AI objectives. Strategic Alignment: This partnership reflects a broader trend of technological alliances aimed at fostering innovation and economic diversification in the region. Future Impact: By leveraging Groq’s technology, aramco and Saudi Arabia are positioning themselves at the forefront of the AI revolution, potentially setting new standards in the industry. As the tech world watches closely, this deal underscores the growing intersection of AI and semiconductor technology, and how strategic collaborations are shaping the future of these industries. For more information: Bloomberg https://lnkd.in/dr89qeCV #AI #ChipTechnology #Innovation #TechPartnerships #Groq #Aramco #SaudiArabia #FutureOfAI #TechNews

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The DMV area showing some traction https://lnkd.in/gxMXC8x4

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AI Innovation Taking Center Stage The recent news of /dev/agents raising a staggering $56M seed round at a $500M valuation is a testament to the transformative potential of AI-driven developer productivity tools. This massive funding round highlights: -The growing demand for AI agents that streamline workflows, enhance efficiency, and supercharge development teams. -How investors are betting big on technologies that redefine traditional software development processes. As someone passionate about leveraging AI for impact, this news reinforces the importance of continuous innovation. Tools like these aren’t just about productivity—they’re shaping how the world builds technology. Kudos to the /dev/agents team for this milestone! What are your thoughts on the future of AI in development? #AI #StartupFunding #Innovation #TechTrends https://lnkd.in/gXnd5DaB

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#ObsessivelyEnthusiasticInvestor #UnreasonablyEnthusiasticInvestor #IrrationallyEnthusiasticInvestor at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund. We look for the people we believe are doing the best work in Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology; Attempting the impossible. Then we go all-in on them. With obsessive and unreasonable enthusiasm. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital #DemandTheImpossible #UnreasonableEnthusiasm #ObsessiveEnthusiasm #IrrationalEnthusiasm 

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💡 What separates Innovation from Incremental Progress 💡 Oftentimes innovation programs will start off hot (compelling ideation, early validation of prototypes and market testing) but then plateau into run of the mill operations (e.g. waterfall development of established concepts). Why? It typically boils down to linear vs nonlinear thinking. Linear thinking is, well, linear. Once an established trend or pattern is formed, linear thinking pushes you along that trend or pattern to the next logical spot. - Relies on past data and existing solutions - Structured and predictable - Follows established logical processes - Aims for quick, definitive conclusions Examples: 1️⃣ Offering the same products, but better, cheaper, faster. 2️⃣ Interpolation -- if we offer two products A and B, let's offer a goldilocks product C which fits in the middle. 3️⃣ Inductive reasoning -- we've digitally transformed functions A, B, C....now let's do D, E, F. Nonlinear thinking creates new patterns/logical processes on the fly. It then tests various inputs and explores the generated outputs whether they fit an existing trend or not. - Embraces complexity and interdependence - Encourages "what if" scenarios - Jumps between ideas non-sequentially - Seeks novel and unexpected solutions Examples: 1️⃣ Invention of GPS: researchers first learned how to track a moving satellite from a fixed position on earth. Then, the logic was completely reversed, where a satellite in steady orbit can track a moving object on earth. Boom: GPS. 2️⃣ AWS: Amazon built up a lot of servers for the holiday retail surge, and then most of that capacity was left idle the rest of the year. They created a new web service -- S3 -- as a clever way to monetize the unused capacity. Nonlinear thinking are not just about 'bigger' breakthroughs, but updating the paradigm upon which new linear thinking is formed. #innovation #innovationsystems #nonlinearthinking

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Excerpt from an Angel Squad memo that we invested in recently: “[Company] is led by a team of scientists and engineers with PhD-level expertise in Machine Learning, Engineering Simulations, and Computational Materials Science. The team is headed by CEO, [Name], who previously led AI development at two early-stage startups. [Name] is joined by CTO, [Name], who has deep experience in machine learning and materials science, and Chief Science Officer, [Name], a doctoral researcher at the [School]. “ Investing at the earliest stages of value creation often means taking big bets on a founding team. At Angel Squad and Hustle Fund, we love founders with deep expertise and super domain knowledge, particularly in deep tech verticals.

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Big Company or Big Network: Which is the better partner? When you think partnerships, It’s easy to think of collaborating with companies. But have you considered partnering with a network? When I was in Austin, I struck a deal with Capital Factory. Community of 100,000 entrepreneurs. Portfolio valuation of $21 billion. This partnership opened doors to New brands, New investors, New level of growth. The takeaway? Partnering with a network doesn’t just add value— it channels it 🔮 #Networking #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

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We are quickly entering the "trough of disillusionment" in the hype cycle for generative AI. While GPTs excel in automating certain tasks (and can even automate away large portions of some jobs) they often fall short in others. Like all new technology, the issue lies in misapplying generative AI for tasks it wasn't designed for. This is a problem compounded by the GPTs themselves suggesting they can handle these tasks (often cheerfully!). This misalignment creates frustration and unmet expectations which we're starting to see more of these days. As the dust settles I firmly believe we'll recognize GPTs as a transformative technology across many industries. However it's crucial to understand their limitations and apply them appropriately. What are your thoughts on the current state of generative AI and its future applications?

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