Let’s just say it: When compiling a record of the tech industry’s blunders this year, it’s tempting to zoom in on Facebook and leave it at that. The company had an annus horribilis so rich in scandal, embarrassment, and turmoil that it’s tough to keep track of them without a scorecard. Read more
I could make a career just of writing about Amazon. I’m impressed how it’s gotten into AI chips recently, that it will open more AmazonGo stores (finally) and that its evolution into healthcare, advertising and banking is more serious than most people can imagine. Read more
Emoov has gone into administration and the assets may be sold by the administrator soon so that existing property vendors and the staff may be ok – time will tell. Shareholders like Episode 1 have lost 100% of the money invested. Read more
Morning Markets: Next year’s unicorn IPOs are accelerating. That’s not surprising. Many famous technology unicorns—growth companies valued at over $1 billion—that have remained private longer than historical norms are looking to go public next year. Their calendar, however, just shrank. Read more
More than seven years ago, a research outfit called the Startup Genome Project set out to determine the top reasons why funded startups fail. Are they crushed by larger rivals? Doomed by incompetent founders? Hounded to collapse by regulators? Read more
The Fate of Self-Driving Cars Hangs on a $7 Trillion Design Problem. Waymo One is the world’s first self-driving taxi service. Just two rides in, and we’re already bored of the future. Read more
For a top candidates to join your startup, they have to believe two things: Your startup can give them the return they’re looking for—be it in their bank account, career, or personal life. Your startup will survive long enough for them to realize that return. Read more
Setting salaries, bonus levels and equity grants can be a hard task. Getting it right, avoiding misperceptions and keeping motivation and retention where they need to be, are the art and science of good HR. Read more
[Dear readers, this essay is on the future of marketplaces. Is there still room for marketplace startups to innovate? We answer, emphatically, yes! Am excited to share a vision on the past and future of the service economy, in a collaboration by my a16z colleague Li Jin. Read more
When talking to startup founders about launch PR, I’m frequently presented with similar concerns and queries – I thought it would make sense to lay down my thoughts here on recommended dos and don’ts. Read more