Apply to First Round’s AI/ML Unconference to Learn From Fellow Builders

Apply to First Round’s AI/ML Unconference to learn from fellow builders in the industry. The Unconference is designed to tackle the tactical challenges of everyday building such as cleaning and labeling... ...datasets, fine-tuning models, and monitoring them in production in the fast-paced world of AI and ML. First Round has long-standing partnerships with companies like Labelbox and Verkada, and backs... ...newer startups like Rewind and Together, which are innovating in the AI and ML space. The Unconference format allows attendees to share and learn in dynamic, focused breakout discussions,... ...fostering multi-dimensional conversations among people with different perspectives. The event aims to build the strongest community of technical startup leaders by providing a forum for folks to swap tactics and share learnings. The First Round AI Unconference will take place on Monday, August 28, from 5-8 pm in San Francisco. Attendees will participate in small breakout discussions on the most burning questions for... ...AI and ML leaders, and get a chance to interact with early-stage companies in this space. The content of the Unconference is tailored to cover top-of-mind topics from AI & ML leaders across the org chart in sessions covering areas like selecting... ...between Foundation Model providers, building a moat for generative AI applications, open-source vs closed-source models and devtools, and more. Applications are currently being accepted for leaders or operators in the AI or ML space. The application deadline is Friday, August 25.

#Unconference#leaders#Round

Seizing the Moment: Strategies for Startups to Outmaneuver Competition in a Turning Economy

The Federal Reserve no longer predicts a recession, indicating a potential positive turn in the economy. Economic data such as housing starts are exceeding forecasts, suggesting economic improvement. 80% of public companies are surpassing earnings estimates, which is three percentage points higher than the five-year average. Despite positive signs, uncertainties still exist in the market, causing a decrease in... ...public software companies' share prices by an average of 10% in the past 30 days. Startups with substantial balance sheets can gain an advantage during this period of economic fluctuation. In the past three to four quarters, many companies have focused on efficiency, trimming excess costs, and improving sales efficiency and burn ratios. Startups with larger balance sheets have two strategic options: acquisitions and scaling marketing and sales. With the fundraising market not fully recovered, many startups will look to raise funds starting in September.... ...This situation creates an opportunity for selective technology and team acquisitions at reasonable prices. The second option involves scaling marketing and sales spending as unit economics justify. Startups with bigger balance... ...sheets can ramp up much quicker than those needing to raise capital, which can lead to increased market share. Making the right strategic bet on either of these options can provide a significant advantage for startups entering the next economic cycle.

#economic#companies#market

10 Creative Company Profile Examples to Inspire You [Templates]

A company profile can connect with customers, differentiate your brand, justify higher prices, and build your brand's reputation. Six free customizable company profile templates are available to help you start your company profile. The company profile should state its purpose, be it attracting investors or customers, and this should guide the entire profile writing process. Companies need to decide on the format or style of their profile depending on their target audience. Authentic storytelling about the company's journey should be part of the profile. The company's mission statement and history should be included in the profile. The company profile should describe the products and services offered, any awards received, and include customer testimonials. A call to action and all possible contact information should be included at the end of the profile. Examples of company profiles include those of Starbucks, Wales Bonner, Diehl Group Architects,... ...Bloomberg, Nike, Seattle Cider, Delta, Roam Loud, MAD Architects, and Topicals. Starbucks' profile stands out due to its unique mission and values, while Diehl Group Architects' profile is easy to navigate and mirrors the company's purpose. Bloomberg uses a compelling video to convey its story, and Nike's profile portrays a larger, grander vision. Seattle Cider Company's profile is minimal and uses animations, while Delta's profile is well-organized and shows the company's values. Roam Loud’s profile is personal and simple yet effective, and MAD Architects' profile is simple, informative, and highlights its accomplishments. Topicals' profile is interactive and educative, teaching people about skincare.

#profile#company#Architects

The 23 Best Cover Letter Examples: What They Got Right

The cover letter is an opportunity to highlight creativity and share stories the resume only outlines. 45% of job seekers don't include a cover letter when applying for a job, which is a mistake. Cover letters can be used to showcase unique skills and experiences. The blog post provides 23 distinct cover letter examples, each catering to different circumstances and job roles. Examples include the standard cover letter, data-driven cover letter, entry-level cover letter,... ...cover letter that explains 'why', and the 'we're meant for each other' cover letter. The blog also provides customizable cover letter examples that can be downloaded and personalized. The effectiveness of a cover letter can be enhanced by personalizing it and using it to show passion for the prospective employer. Cover letters that establish a connection with the company before the interview can be particularly effective. The cover letter can also be used to show alignment with company values, as in the case of the cover letter with H.E.A.R.T for HubSpot. Short and sweet cover letters can also be effective, as seen in the three-sentence cover letter example. The blog also provides links for further reading on specific cover letter tips for different job roles like sales and customer service.

#cover#letter#letters

Final parts of the cost bottleneck of scaleups

Reviewing and governing the technology portfolio in a scaleup is a critical step to overcoming the cost bottleneck. Optimization of rates can greatly assist in easing the cost pressure on a scaleup. Implementing cost efficiency initiatives throughout the life-cycle of the scaleup can contribute significantly to overcoming cost bottlenecks. Sofia Tania and Stefania Stefansdottir's examination provides valuable insights into tackling the cost-related challenges in scaleups. The final part of their examination specifically focuses on technology portfolio governance, rate optimization, and cost efficiency initiatives. The governance of the technology portfolio involves continuous review and management to ensure cost-effectiveness. Rate optimization involves finding the best rates for services and resources to minimize costs. Cost efficiency initiatives should be an ongoing effort, not just a one-time initiative.... ...They should be integrated into the scaleup's life-cycle for sustained cost management.

#cost#scaleup#technology

The NVIDIA GPU Scarcity Madness

The GPU market, particularly with regards to NVIDIA, is currently facing a significant scarcity issue. Elon Musk has famously said that GPUs are harder to get than drugs. The dependence on NVIDIA GPUs has become a major barrier to accelerating innovation in the AI industry. The scarcity is impacting all aspects of the ML model lifecycle, especially the pretraining of foundation models. Large tech companies are often securing multiyear leases for NVIDIA GPUs, which is pricing out innovative startups. The scarcity of NVIDIA GPUs may be due to supply chain issues; the situation could improve once supply meets demand. Despite the scarcity, the AI industry remains incredibly innovative. Predicted developments due to the GPU scarcity include the emergence of GPU marketplaces, the development of proprietary... ...GPU technology by big tech companies, and increased attractiveness of alternative GPU vendors like AMD or Intel. GPU startups could become a hot area for VC investments. Other sources of GPUs, such as Bitcoin mining pools or gaming infrastructures, might attempt to retool for AI. The combination of these factors could balance the supply and demand issues in the GPU market. The New York Times recently published an article exploring the impact of the NVIDIA GPU scarcity on the AI startup ecosystem. The article highlights the unprecedented hardware-software dependencies in the tech industry.

#scarcity#NVIDIA#GPUs

How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Business proposals are critical for bridging the gap between a business and potential clients.... ...They outline the business's value proposition and persuade companies to do business with them. Business proposals are different from business plans. While business plans assist... ...in finding investors for the business, proposals help in seeking new customers. There are two types of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited. Unsolicited proposals are those where a business... ...approaches a potential customer with a proposal, while solicited proposals are requested by prospective clients. A business proposal should include a statement of the problem the organization is facing, a proposed solution, and pricing information. Understanding the company you're writing the proposal for is crucial. If they've sent... ...a Request for Proposal (RFP), read it carefully to understand what they want. A business proposal usually includes a title page, an executive summary, a statement of... ...the problem, a proposed solution, qualifications, pricing options, and a conclusion. The title page should introduce you and your business, and include your name, your company's name,... ...the date you submitted the proposal, and the name of the client you're submitting the proposal to. The executive summary should detail why you're sending the proposal and why your solution is the best for the prospective client. The proposed solution should be customized to the client's needs and include the deliverables... ...you'll provide, the methods you'll use, and a time frame for your proposed solution. Share your qualifications in the proposal, including case studies, client testimonials, relevant awards, and industry accreditations. Include pricing options that detail a pricing breakdown, how product features align with pricing choices,... ...pricing for different needs and budgets, and how your pricing compares with competitors. The conclusion should summarize the proposal, share your qualifications, and confirm your availability to discuss the next steps. There are several business proposal templates available that can help you create your proposal, including web design proposals, SEO proposals, sales... ...proposals, marketing project proposals, business consulting proposals, social media marketing proposals, and content marketing proposals. When writing a business proposal, start with an outline to help you stay focused, keep it simple,... ...stay on brand, and ensure quality control by checking for consistency, clarity, and accuracy.

#business#proposals#proposal

Securing AI

AI technologies need to be secure to prevent potential misuse and exploitation by malicious actors. Cybersecurity strategies for AI systems are critical to protect sensitive data and maintain functionality. AI systems should have built-in safeguards to detect and respond to threats in real time. Regular updates and patches are necessary to fix any security vulnerabilities in AI systems. User privacy should be a priority in AI systems; data anonymization and encryption techniques can be used to protect user data. Training employees and users on the security aspects of AI can help prevent breaches. Collaboration within the tech industry can lead to the development of more advanced and secure AI technologies. Implementing a robust cybersecurity framework can help identify potential security gaps in AI systems. Regular audits of AI systems can also help ensure that they remain secure and up-to-date. Lastly, transparency about AI security measures can build trust among users and stakeholders.

#systems#security#secure

Ride your own bike

Enjoying a bike ride is the main goal, not racing or speed. It's not necessary to have a high-end, handmade carbon bike to enjoy cycling. Cycling should be a personal experience, not a competition against others. It's okay to be slower than other cyclists; everyone rides at their own pace. The realization that biking isn't a race can make the experience more enjoyable. Speed isn't a measure of success in biking, the journey is. It's important not to compare yourself to other cyclists, as everyone has different skills and equipment.

#bike#experience#cyclists

5 Top Things to Remember When Starting a Company

You must take the time to form the right founding team. Having co-founders that are aligned with your vision and goals is crucial for success. Your initial market research could be off, especially if you lack deep domain expertise... ...in your industry. Invest in understanding your market and getting customer feedback. Plan to take 24 months to develop a Minimum Sellable Product (MSP). Twelve to eighteen... ...months is often not enough in SaaS to create a product that customers will pay for. Being a founder is extremely challenging, with constant pressure and stress to achieve the impossible. Be prepared for this reality. Seek out the best investors, advisors, and mentors. The right help can significantly accelerate your business, while mediocre assistance can waste your time.

#time#right#market

When the Enterprise Vendor is Cheaper Than the SMB Vendor

Enterprise vendors often price their services based on units that scale organically within... ...an enterprise such as seats or workflows, making them more affordable for smaller teams. SMB vendors, on the other hand, monetize their biggest customers the most, hence can be more expensive particularly for large scale usage. The price difference between enterprise and SMB vendors can be significant, as evidenced by... ...SaaStr's experience where the SMB vendor was 5x more expensive than the enterprise vendor. It is not always about the price, the switching cost also matters. In SaaStr's case, the... ...higher price plus the switching cost led them to stick with the enterprise vendor. Pricing tiers and packages in the software industry can greatly impact customers. If not... ...well thought through, it could lead to loss of customers around certain price tiers. It's important for businesses to regularly benchmark their pricing against both the competition and adjacent applications for each category of customer. It's also crucial to be aware of pricing across different customer segments. Some businesses may be okay with overpricing... ...in certain segments and losing customers there as long as they are aware and have done their modeling. Algolia, a search software company, experienced a similar situation where they discovered mispricing... ...across segments. After adjusting their pricing, their revenue increased within a quarter. The issue of SMB vendors being more expensive than enterprise vendors is not always the case but it's a trend that's worth being aware of.

#vendors#price#enterprise

Semantic search without the napalm grandma exploit (Ep. 600)

The podcast episode features Michael Foree, director of data science and data platform,... ...and Alex Warren, senior software developer, who worked on the launch of Overflow AI. Overflow AI, an AI-driven product, was launched from the stage of WeAreDevelopers by Stack Overflow. Stack Overflow Labs is a place to learn more about AI-driven products and features that are currently in development. One of the projects Alex Warren is involved in is a semantic search, an API, and a new search experience for Stack Overflow for Teams. Large language models (LLMs) can be vulnerable to jailbreak attacks like the napalm grandma exploit. Each guest and host has a presence on various social media platforms such as GitHub and LinkedIn. The Lifeboat badge winner is Pushpendra, who resolved the error: Invalid postback or callback argument. The discussion in the episode covers the topics of semantic search, the launch of Overflow AI, and potential vulnerabilities of LLMs to certain exploits.

#Overflow#Stack#search

Monetizing passions, scaling marketplaces, and stories from a creator economy vet | Camille Hearst (Spotify, Patreon, Apple, YouTube)

Camille Hearst is the Head of Fan Monetization at Spotify, where she works on finding... ...new ways for artists to monetize their work and for fans to connect with them. She previously held the position of Head of Product for Creators at Patreon, and was a Product Marketing Manager at YouTube. Hearst was the second Product Manager at iTunes and Vice President of Product at Hailo. She co-founded a company called Kit, which was acquired by Patreon in 2018. Hearst discusses the best and worst parts of working with artists and building products for them. She shares her insights on the future of the creator economy and current trends in the content creation world. Hearst offers advice on building a successful career as a creator and on selling your startup. She highlights the importance of content curators in the creator economy. Her experience as the second Product Manager at iTunes included a memorable meeting with Steve Jobs. Hearst discusses the unique approach of Apple's product teams and the opportunities in the platform side of content creation. She shares about her early years growing up in a creative tech family and her favorite frameworks. Hearst's podcast episode covers a wide range of topics, from the supply side of marketplaces to the story of her startup, Kit.

#Hearst#Product#Manager

Lessons on Leadership: Michael Abrashoff on Turning the Worst Ship in the Navy into the Best

Michael Abrashoff transformed the USS Benfold from being one of the worst-performing ships... ...in the navy to the highest-performing within three years without changing the crew. Abrashoff encourages organizations to reward risk-takers and innovators, not those who avoid change and controversy. He believes that the key to leadership is understanding oneself first, which can lead... ...to a transformation in how leaders interact with their team and make decisions. He stresses that leaders need to allow their subordinates to fulfill their talents to the utmost, emphasizing that... ...many limitations are self-imposed by the leader due to their own fears, ego needs, and unproductive habits. Abrashoff argues that command-and-control is not the most efficient way to tap into people's intelligence... ...and skills. Instead, he advocates for creating a culture where employees take ownership. He believes that rules should be questioned and challenged, as many may become obsolete over time. Abrashoff found that people leave organizations mostly due to lack of respect, inability to impact the... ...organization, not being listened to, and not being given more responsibility, rather than low pay. He suggests leaders should see the world through the eyes of their subordinates, which can make it easier to identify and address problems. Abrashoff criticizes systems that reward micromanagement, which he believes disempowers subordinates and removes ownership and accountability. He encourages leaders to constantly seek better ways to do things and to implement processes that people enjoy carrying out. Abrashoff argues against creating extensive rules and policies for every possible contingency, as they become difficult to change and discourage ownership. He believes that giving the right people direction and autonomy increases the odds of success. Instead of rules, Abrashoff suggests organizations should use principles, allow for exceptions... ...and judgement, and train people to think and make decisions on their own. His book, "It's Your Ship," details the techniques he used to win trust, create an environment where people felt accountable, and gain commitment.

#Abrashoff#people#believes

What does GTM actually mean?

GTM stands for Go-To-Market strategy. A GTM strategy often begins with a deliberate tradeoff that gives the company an advantage over its competitors. The right tradeoff and leverage enable companies to generate differentiated value. This differentiated value is used to create user and business impact. A successful go-to-market strategy starts with a tradeoff and ends in profits. An example of a GTM strategy is Apple, which focuses on four core products instead of 15, allowing them... ...to ship products more frequently, learn from mistakes faster than competitors, and innovate often. This approach by Apple has led to a strong and beloved brand and given them pricing power. GTM strategies are not static; they require constant refinement and adjustments as market conditions evolve.

#strategy#tradeoff#competitors