TLDR Founders 2024-07-24

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Tech leaders are increasingly supporting Donald Trump, marking a significant shift from the industry's historically Democratic leanings. This change stems from a perceived disconnect between tech's capitalist ideals and the Democrats' focus on wealth redistribution and regulation, particularly in areas like crypto and AI. To win back tech, Democrats need to embrace innovation, reduce regulatory barriers, and foster a collaborative relationship with tech entrepreneurs.

AI is likely to continue advancing rapidly in the coming years, potentially reaching human-level performance across a wide range of tasks. While there is uncertainty about the exact timeline and whether artificial general intelligence (AGI) will be achieved, organizations should plan for multiple possible futures involving AI disruption. Engaging in scenario planning exercises can help prepare for the significant changes that AI may bring to work and daily life.

Startups aiming to tackle large markets should begin by focusing on a strategic niche or "killer wedge" that allows for rapid customer acquisition and product refinement. This approach enables startups to gather high-quality data and insights that inform their long-term strategy and go-to-market approach. However, it's crucial for startups to remember that a killer wedge is a stepping stone, not the final destination, and they must adapt and expand beyond their initial niche to achieve significant growth and success.

Mercury has an unconventional approach of using zero-commission sales compensation in a product-led growth (PLG) context. The potential benefits of this model include better alignment with long-term goals, a focus on customer value, and the development of a collaborative culture. This approach could be particularly effective for PLG companies, especially in the early stages or during significant go-to-market shifts. The article outlines implementation strategies and potential challenges.

The shift from perpetual license software models to software-as-a-service (SaaS) models is a challenging but often rewarding transition for companies. SaaS models offer more predictable revenue streams, scalability, and opportunities for upselling and cross-selling, but require significant changes to business operations, including revenue recognition, billing, and sales compensation. Companies that make the transition successfully can experience improved financial performance and increased customer satisfaction.

To achieve ambitious revenue targets, companies need a comprehensive and integrated Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy that goes beyond simple calculations and avoids common planning biases. Effective GTM planning requires asking the right questions, utilizing frameworks like MOVE and the 8-Pillar GTM Operating System, and ensuring Clarity, Alignment, and Team (CAT) within the organization. Implementing these strategies can help companies create high-performing GTM revenue teams, stay aligned on common goals, and maximize output and efficiency.

An event on July 30 that discusses how AI product and design development differs from traditional processes.

Build real relationships to close winning deals.

Open-source user auth and management.

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Effective communication is crucial in the workplace, and it starts with clear and concise messaging. To achieve this, it's essential to prepare by considering the purpose, goal, and audience of the message. Then, write in a simple and straightforward style, avoiding jargon and unnecessary words. Finally, review and edit the message to ensure it is easy to understand and free of unnecessary information.

AI has had a significant impact on the content and SEO ecosystem, with machine-generated content challenging human-written content in terms of quality. As a result, SEOs are shifting towards building automated AI workflows and learning new skills with the help of AI, while writers are focusing more on editing and curating AI-generated content to bring it from good to great.

The transition from research to commercialization is accelerating, with top talent leaving academic and corporate research labs to start venture-backed companies at earlier stages of technological readiness. This shift is driven by a "researcher's prisoner's dilemma," where researchers feel compelled to raise venture capital to avoid being left behind by their peers. While this trend may temporarily slow progress due to fragmentation, it ultimately concentrates talent and capital into a few successful applied research companies that benefit from competition and drive innovation forward.

Seventeen-year-old Eric Zhu's startup Aviato, which offers a sophisticated analytical platform for private market data, has secured $2.3 million in seed funding from notable investors, including 8VC and SoftBank.

A US-based satellite communication company has been removed from China's sanction list, marking the first instance of a US company being delisted.

As agentic systems become more prevalent, the procurement process for software startups will evolve to focus on performance evaluation in specific contexts rather than generic benchmarks.