This post offers a concise summary of various links, book recommendations, a personal update, and other developments. While writing activity was limited in 2023, the published content is highlighted.
Blog posts from 2023
- How to design a referral program. A framework is provided for understanding referrals as an ask/target/incentive/payback, breaking down each component. The frequency of asking for referrals is emphasized as a crucial, often overlooked aspect. The post also discusses the limitations of referral programs compared to intrinsically viral products.
- The pitch deck for a16z GAMES FUND ONE. The author’s primary focus involves establishing and leading the new Games fund at Andreessen Horowitz, which contributed to reduced writing frequency. The majority of the pitch deck for this fund, launched in mid-2022, is published, offering an interesting example of a fund pitch deck.
- What to do when product growth stalls. Many companies face reduced spending on marketing and growth, with users less likely to engage. A framework is presented to help diagnose core issues and determine next steps when product growth stalls.
- The Next Next Job, a framework for making big career decisions. A framework for significant career decisions is presented, inspired by Bubba Murarka, emphasizing a long-term perspective on career progression, such as planning for a “next next job” years in advance.
- Creator Economy 2.0: What we’ve learned, why it’s hard, and what’s next. Creators are key players in the social media landscape, leading to many startups catering to their needs. Insights gained from early Creator Economy companies are discussed, addressing challenges such as difficulties in working with creators, revenue concentration, and inherent fragility.
- How I use AI when blogging and writing. Experiments with AI tools like ChatGPT and Oasis AI for writing are explored, noting their varying effectiveness.
- Lessons from launching SPEEDRUN, the Games x Tech startup accelerator. SPEEDRUN, a startup accelerator focused on games and tech, was launched in 2023. Lessons and insights from this experience, which has been highly engaging and is being expanded, are shared.
- When AI is too verbose, full of repetition and says sorry for being an AI. Strategies for improving ChatGPT responses by adding specific instructions are shared to mitigate verbosity and repetitive apologies.
Beyond blog posts, a significant number of X (formerly Twitter) posts have been published, with more real-time activity occurring on that platform. A selection of highly favorited posts on X is provided:
Life update
A brief personal update for 2023 is provided, highlighting an incredible and eventful year.
Personal highlights:
- Marriage to Emma Waldron.
- Increased time spent with family.
- Second year in Los Angeles, with continued visits to San Francisco.
- Travel to new regions, including the Middle East, Morocco, and Ireland.
- Involvement in a significant car accident (no injuries, but vehicles totaled).
- Honeymoon in Japan, including a visit to Naoshima.
Work highlights:
- Expansion of the Games Fund team at a16z, with numerous hires in Marketing, Investing, and Talent.
- The launch of SPEEDRUN, a new accelerator, attracted thousands of startup applications and resulted in over $20M in investments.
- a16z Tech Week was held again in SF, NYC, and LA, featuring over 1000 events and tens of thousands of attendees.
- Significant achievements and challenges within the portfolio, including mark-ups and crucial interventions in difficult scenarios.
- Increased focus and investment in AI, leading to over a dozen investments in Games x AI startups.
- Appreciation for family, extended family, and the team.
Books and other stuff
A selection of favorite (mostly non-work) books read over the past year is presented:
- The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles. A historical account of Los Angeles from over a century ago, focusing on water acquisition from eastern California, early religious movements, and the emergence of Hollywood.
- Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry that Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East. This book was part of a deeper exploration of the Middle East following a visit to the region, reframing decades of conflict as a rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two oil powers with different religious sects and proxy wars.
- Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. This book has gained attention as a foundational text for AI safety discourse; its first half offers a compelling thought experiment. However, the latter half is perceived as making numerous unsubstantiated assumptions and presenting weaker arguments.
- The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams, and the Making of Modern China. As part of a deep dive into Chinese history, this book offers an interesting contrast to Japan’s concurrent Meiji restoration, highlighting the risks of resisting progress and technology.
- Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. A popular read, this book advocates for an hour of daily exercise, alternating between Zone 2 cardio and strength training, inspiring renewed engagement in running and cycling.
- Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Following the success of its TV adaptation, the book offers an entertaining, albeit possibly fictionalized, account of a foreign journalist’s immersion in the yakuza world. It contributed to a deeper understanding of Japan prior to a honeymoon trip.
- Elon Musk. This biography of Elon Musk features a strong first half, detailing his childhood and dedication to SpaceX. The latter half is viewed as overly critical of his Twitter acquisition, with an assessment that a definitive biography is yet to be written.
- Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World’s Most Critical Technology. A comprehensive history of the semiconductor industry, tracing its origins in Silicon Valley to its current state in Asia, and exploring the geopolitical dynamics between the US, China, and Taiwan.
- Solaris: The Definitive Edition. A classic science fiction novel where a protagonist arrives at a research station orbiting a planet with a mysterious, possibly sentient ocean, and must uncover the events that transpired.
- The Cold War: A New History. A concise summary of the Cold War, from the end of WWII to the collapse of the USSR, incorporating modern scholarship on internal Soviet Union affairs.
These recommendations aim to offer new and interesting insights. A goal for the coming year is to increase reading, potentially by limiting streaming services to weekends and dedicating evening hours to reading and note-taking to inspire more writing.
Plans for 2024 include spending more time in San Francisco, with SPEEDRUN 2 and 3 accelerators scheduled there, involving in-person work with new Games x Tech companies for a significant portion of the year.
Wishing everyone a Happy 2024. A humorous internet meme is included as a final thought.
(Let’s not take ourselves too seriously next year)
