#nick-curtola
#nick-curtola

Venture

Exclusive: Eigen raises a seed round from Benchmark to build the world's first 'mutual friend' | Fortune

Software development

I'm the CTO of a startup. Software engineering has changed so much that we've changed our hiring process.

Information security

Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says real problem is fixing, not finding, them | Fortune

fromsfist.com

NYC startup

New Boutique in SF's Cow Hollow Is Completely Run by AI, Which Manages Human Staff

3 hours ago

This founder was an AI layoff 9 months ago. Then he built an instantly profitable company with 2 partners and 12 agents | Fortune

Sam Brown turned a layoff due to AI into an opportunity, co-founding Fathom AI, which achieved significant revenue with minimal investment.

fromComputerworld

21 hours ago

Robot Zuckerberg shows how IT can free up CEOs' time

AI could threaten CEO positions as superintelligence may outperform human executives in the near future.

Exclusive: Eigen raises a seed round from Benchmark to build the world's first 'mutual friend' | Fortune

AI's impact on social connection is concerning, as shared cultural experiences diminish and hyper-personalization may exacerbate loneliness.

I'm the CTO of a startup. Software engineering has changed so much that we've changed our hiring process.

AI coding agents have transformed software engineering, changing hiring practices and the skills required for engineers.

Information security

Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says real problem is fixing, not finding, them | Fortune

Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview AI model identifies cybersecurity vulnerabilities, but experts question its impact on fixing existing issues.

NYC startup

fromsfist.com

New Boutique in SF's Cow Hollow Is Completely Run by AI, Which Manages Human Staff

An AI agent successfully launched a retail store but failed to schedule staff for opening day.

more#ai

#san-francisco

6 hours ago

AI startups are shifting the economic center of gravity of San Francisco

San Francisco's tech center is shifting to smaller neighborhoods due to return-to-office mandates and the rise of AI startups.

What San Francisco's AI billboards say about the state of the industry

San Francisco's billboards reflect a booming AI industry focused on practical applications, largely ignoring safety and governance issues.

6 hours ago

AI startups are shifting the economic center of gravity of San Francisco

San Francisco's tech center is shifting to smaller neighborhoods due to return-to-office mandates and the rise of AI startups.

What San Francisco's AI billboards say about the state of the industry

San Francisco's billboards reflect a booming AI industry focused on practical applications, largely ignoring safety and governance issues.

This Tech Investor Hasn't Touched a Laptop or Desktop Computer Since 2010. Here's Why.

Keith Rabois has operated without laptops since 2010, using only mobile devices for increased focus and productivity.

Digital life

Keith Rabois explains why he gave up laptops and desktops

Keith Rabois prefers mobile devices over laptops for work, citing portability and reduced distractions as key benefits.

Digital life

21 hours ago

This Tech Investor Hasn't Touched a Laptop or Desktop Computer Since 2010. Here's Why.

Keith Rabois has operated without laptops since 2010, using only mobile devices for increased focus and productivity.

Digital life

Keith Rabois explains why he gave up laptops and desktops

Keith Rabois prefers mobile devices over laptops for work, citing portability and reduced distractions as key benefits.

Why the Quietest Voices Often Build the Best Startups

Founders should focus on the quiet strengths within their teams to build resilient companies.

2 weeks ago

Careers

Netflix Cofounder Reed Hastings Learned An Unconventional Leadership Lesson From His First Boss, Who Washed Office Coffee Cups At 4:30 A.M.

Growth hacking

Why the Quietest Voices Often Build the Best Startups

Founders should focus on the quiet strengths within their teams to build resilient companies.

Careers

2 weeks ago

Netflix Cofounder Reed Hastings Learned An Unconventional Leadership Lesson From His First Boss, Who Washed Office Coffee Cups At 4:30 A.M.

Reed Hastings learned a leadership lesson from CEO Barry Plotkin, who washed his coffee cups to demonstrate humility and support for his team.

more#leadership

Cancer

1 hour ago

Venture capitalist Ron Conway says he is starting treatment for a 'rare' cancer

Ron Conway, a prominent venture capitalist, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and is stepping back from SV Angel to begin treatment.

Wellness

5 hours ago

I visited a members-only tech hub to see the biohacking tricks Silicon Valley founders swear by. It wasn't what I expected.

Biohack Miami's wellness event in San Francisco showcased practical biohacking tips focused on immediate well-being rather than solely on longevity.

Productivity

Should you attend a conference if you're not speaking?

Attending a conference without a speaking role can be beneficial depending on personal goals, networking opportunities, and learning experiences.

NYC startup

16 hours ago

Sam Altman's project World looks to scale its human verification empire. First stop: Tinder. | TechCrunch

World project integrates verification tech into various sectors, starting with dating apps, to distinguish human users from AI.

Netflix co-founder and chair Reed Hastings to leave board | TechCrunch

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix's board to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits after significantly impacting the company's culture and success.

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix. These are 3 of the biggest takeaways from his leadership book.

Reed Hastings is stepping down from Netflix's board in June 2026 after co-founding the company and shaping its corporate culture.

fromVulture

NYC startup

Reed Hastings Is Stepping Down From Netflix

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix after 29 years

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix's board to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits after a long tenure with the company.

fromwww.aljazeera.com

Netflix cofounder Hastings to step down after it lost Warner Bros deal

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix, causing an 8% stock drop, while the company maintains its ambitious mission and growth outlook.

Netflix co-founder and chair Reed Hastings to leave board | TechCrunch

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix's board to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits after significantly impacting the company's culture and success.

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix. These are 3 of the biggest takeaways from his leadership book.

Reed Hastings is stepping down from Netflix's board in June 2026 after co-founding the company and shaping its corporate culture.

fromVulture

NYC startup

Reed Hastings Is Stepping Down From Netflix

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix after 29 years

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix's board to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits after a long tenure with the company.

fromwww.aljazeera.com

Netflix cofounder Hastings to step down after it lost Warner Bros deal

Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix, causing an 8% stock drop, while the company maintains its ambitious mission and growth outlook.

Anthropic launches Claude Design, a new product for creating quick visuals | TechCrunch

Claude Design allows users to create visuals easily, targeting those without design backgrounds, and complements existing design tools like Canva.

Madrid food

fromBusiness Matters

Javier Burillo Azcarraga: Building Success on His Own Terms

Javier Burillo Azcárraga chose hospitality over media, starting from the bottom and building successful ventures, culminating in the acclaimed Las Ventanas al Paraíso.

#apple

22 hours ago

Apple

An Apple exec who retired after 31 years shared the nostaglic checklist from his last day

Apple

fromAxios

Apple could win the AI race without running

Apple aims to maintain its high-end hardware sales as AI becomes more integral to consumer technology.

Apple

How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice | TechCrunch

22 hours ago

Apple

An Apple exec who retired after 31 years shared the nostaglic checklist from his last day

Apple

fromAxios

Apple could win the AI race without running

Apple aims to maintain its high-end hardware sales as AI becomes more integral to consumer technology.

Apple

How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice | TechCrunch

Apple is blocking updates and removing vibe coding apps from the App Store, citing developer agreement violations.

Quote of the Day by Steve Jobs: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." - Silicon Canals

Loving what you do is essential for great work; if you haven't found it, keep searching and don't settle.

SF politics

fromMission Local

They want to represent S.F. in Congress. Here's how they'd tackle AI, crypto and tech.

Candidates for California's 11th congressional district emphasize tech regulation, with differing views on federal digital currency and the role of tech in government.

Podcast

fromDefector

A New Space In Which To Be Stupid, With Michael Schur | Defector

Baseball's emotional impact fluctuates, with teams' performance affecting fans' feelings throughout the season.

Web design

fromForbes

How To Choose A Web Design Company That Understands Your Customers

The right web design company can optimize websites for higher conversions by understanding business needs and integrating necessary systems.

Don't Miss the Hidden Advantage Most Founders Ignore in the Age of AI

Data drives decisions, but stories create emotional connections and lasting impact.

fromPsychology Today

Bootstrapping

Entrepreneurship Is Creative Work, but We Don't Call It That

fromZDNET

Want to build a startup that gets acquired? This founder shares 5 proven tips

Successful startups require a cautious approach, exploring and developing iteratively to survive and thrive.

Startup companies

This startup raised $27 million to help 'solopreneurs' run their businesses with AI. Read the pitch deck.

TaskRabbit founder: the pivot is the point

Successful entrepreneurship often requires the ability to pivot rather than persist with an original plan.

Entrepreneurship was never easy, but it doesn't need to be relentless

Entrepreneurs face overwhelming mental loads and financial pressures, impacting their ability to innovate and grow their businesses.

Marketing

Don't Miss the Hidden Advantage Most Founders Ignore in the Age of AI

Data drives decisions, but stories create emotional connections and lasting impact.

Bootstrapping

fromPsychology Today

Entrepreneurship Is Creative Work, but We Don't Call It That

Entrepreneurship is a form of creativity that involves cognitive processes like divergent thinking and adaptability.

fromZDNET

Want to build a startup that gets acquired? This founder shares 5 proven tips

Successful startups require a cautious approach, exploring and developing iteratively to survive and thrive.

This startup raised $27 million to help 'solopreneurs' run their businesses with AI. Read the pitch deck.

Nuseir Yassin raised $27 million for Nas.com, an AI platform aiding solo entrepreneurs in launching online businesses without technical skills.

TaskRabbit founder: the pivot is the point

Successful entrepreneurship often requires the ability to pivot rather than persist with an original plan.

Entrepreneurship was never easy, but it doesn't need to be relentless

Entrepreneurs face overwhelming mental loads and financial pressures, impacting their ability to innovate and grow their businesses.

more#entrepreneurship

Real estate

fromwww.housingwire.com

fromMetro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Auction.com names Ali Haralson co-CEO alongside Jason Allnutt

Auction.com appoints Ali Haralson as co-CEO alongside Jason Allnutt to enhance leadership and drive growth in the distressed real estate market.

Books

Tina Seelig in Menlo Park | Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Luck is a result of deliberate action and consistent efforts.

The billionaire Anthropic cofounder who majored in literature and says knowing how to ask the right question beats knowing how to code | Fortune

AI is highlighting the value of liberal arts degrees, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and interdisciplinary thinking for future careers.

Higher education

An Anthropic cofounder's advice on what to study in college

Higher education

The billionaire Anthropic cofounder who majored in literature and says knowing how to ask the right question beats knowing how to code | Fortune

AI is highlighting the value of liberal arts degrees, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and interdisciplinary thinking for future careers.

fromwww.socialmediatoday.com

Higher education

An Anthropic cofounder's advice on what to study in college

Ad Tech Briefing: The Trade Desk's 'changing of the guard' and a 'sign of the times'

Independent ad tech companies face challenges as MiQ expands through acquisitions while The Trade Desk experiences significant executive departures.

Social media marketing

Snapchat highlights opportunities for insurance brands

Snapchat users are proactive insurance decision-makers, with a high likelihood of owning policies and switching providers after life changes.

US politics

fromWIRED

fromMetro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Silicon Valley Is Spending Millions to Stop One of Its Own

Alex Bores, a former Palantir employee, advocates for strict AI regulations, facing opposition from Silicon Valley's elite as he runs for Congress.

Anon(ymous) in Mountain View | Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, featuring a star-studded cast, tells the epic tale of Odysseus, who embarks on a ten-year journey to return home.

London music

Brooklyn

fromsfist.com

Day Around the Bay: Billionaire Michael Moritz Eyes Union Square Building

Michael Moritz plans to lease the former Barney's building for his Crankstart Foundation headquarters.

The cofounder of this $2.9 billion company takes a 4 p.m. nap every day

"When I'm irritated, tired, stressed, or anxious, a nap literally cures everything. It really changed my life."

Mindfulness

Two suspects have been arrested for allegedly shooting at Sam Altman's house

The SFPD's Special Investigation Division took over the case and have since detained both 25-year-old Amanda Tom and 23-year-old Muhamad Tarik Hussein, seizing three firearms in the process with the help of a warrant.

San Francisco

Parenting

fromFatherly

Gary Vaynerchuk Just Wants Us All To Be (And Raise) Nice Guys

Parents must shield their children from the manosphere's negative influences and choose positive role models instead.

fromYcombinator

3 hours ago

Digital life

Why your company will never scale (or maybe why it will) | Hacker News

User and competitor laziness are key to scaling a business beyond just a product.

18 hours ago

Shuttered startups are selling old Slack chats and emails to AI companies

Defunct startups are monetizing their digital data by selling it to AI companies, raising significant privacy concerns.

fromTheregister

18 hours ago

Anthropic debuts Claude Design, because who needs designers?

Anthropic launched Claude Design, an AI service for creating visual assets, impacting the design industry and potentially displacing jobs.

The CEO of a $19.9 Billion Startup Says Businesses Are In Danger of Being Replaced By Vibe Coding - But This One App Is 'Quite Safe'

Vibe coding uses AI to write code from plain language prompts, raising software quality and threatening companies reliant on outdated tools.

Careers

This CEO pirated video games as a teen and became a hacker for the Air Force. Now he's built a $3 billion cyber firm | Fortune

Gen Z should trust instincts in career paths, as demonstrated by Kyle Hanslovan's unconventional journey to CEO of a $3 billion cybersecurity firm.

fromTNW | Artificial-Intelligence

Accel raises $5 billion AI fund after Anthropic and Cursor returns soar

Accel has raised $5 billion for late-stage AI investments, targeting 20-25 companies with average cheques of $200 million.

Growth hacking

Innovation Looks Like Hype Before It Really Works - Here's Why

Innovation progresses slower than public perception, leading to overhyped technology trends and narratives that can be difficult to change.

StrictlyVC San Francisco is in less than a month | TechCrunch

StrictlyVC event in San Francisco on April 30 focuses on AI funding insights with notable speakers.

fromMetro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Bryan Johnson's advice to monk mode founders: neglecting relationships hurts your work

No one wants to write a shitty code base. You want healthy code. And so, what founders don't realize is, when you're not taking care of your health, you are shitty code. You are not beautiful code.

Wellness

SF music

Accusefive in San Jose | Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Accusefive, a Taiwanese trio, delivers addictive dance rock and performs at the San Jose Civic, creating an intimate concert experience.

Marketing tech

fromThe Motley Fool

Alphabet vs. Meta Platforms: Which Digital Advertising Giant Is the Better Buy? | The Motley Fool

Alphabet is diversifying and exploring long-term growth, while Meta's ad business is growing faster despite its AI challenges.

Social media marketing

fromAbove the Law

The Dark Side Of LinkedIn Networking: How To Recognize Harvesting And Protect Your Professional Network - Above the Law

Predatory networking practices on LinkedIn exploit engagement for personal gain rather than fostering genuine connections.

fromAdExchanger

fromMetro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Hot Take: YouTube Shouldn't Rely On Creators To Convince Brands It's TV | AdExchanger

YouTube aims to position itself as a television alternative to attract larger advertising budgets.

Austin Nasso in Sunnyvale | Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Austin Nasso rebranded himself as a tech-savvy 'bro' comedian, attracting Silicon Valley's edge lords while maintaining a good-hearted and fun comedic style.

Silicon Valley

fromTNW | Startups-Technology

Auctor emerges from stealth with $20M led by Sequoia

Auctor aims to improve enterprise software implementation by addressing fragmented processes and capturing institutional knowledge, backed by significant funding.

fromTheregister

Salesforce debuts Headless 360 agentic platform

Salesforce's Headless 360 expands app-building tools beyond traditional developers, enabling API-driven interactions across various platforms.

Careers

Why Entrepreneurs Start to Feel Lost After 40

Midlife disorientation in entrepreneurs signals a misalignment between identity, values, and business direction, necessitating recalibration for clarity and alignment.

Social media marketing

fromMail Online

Co-AI-chella! AI influencers cash in on the California music festival

AI influencers are generating significant content and revenue from events like Coachella despite not being real individuals.

Marketing tech

Veteran tech investor Keith Rabois says the product manager role in tech 'makes no sense' in the era of AI

Keith Rabois believes the product manager role is becoming obsolete due to rapid advancements in AI technology.

fromSilicon Canals

20 hours ago

Research suggests the average founder of the fastest-growing startups isn't 25 - it's 45, and a 50-year-old is more than twice as likely to build a breakout company as a 30-year-old - Silicon Canals

The average age of successful startup founders is 41.9 years, challenging the stereotype of young entrepreneurs.

fromThe Nation

How Silicon Valley Is Turning Scientists Into Exploited Gig Workers

Silicon Valley's success is deeply rooted in government-funded research, which has been crucial for foundational technologies.

fromInfoWorld

Where will developer wisdom come from?

Agentic coding allows software creation without traditional developer wisdom, relying instead on AI like Claude Code for implementation and problem-solving.

6 days ago

The 3 reasons why VCs invest: Faith, opportunity, or evidence

Venture capital rounds are driven by three core reasons: faith, opportunity, and evidence.

This simulation startup wants to be the Cursor for physical AI | TechCrunch

Antioch aims to close the sim-to-real gap, addressing the challenge of making virtual environments realistic enough for robots to operate reliably in the physical world.

Startup companies

Growth hacking

2 weeks ago

Why Most Founders Get Their First Marketing Hire Wrong

Founders should prioritize hiring for revenue impact over visibility in early marketing roles.

Reid Hoffman says leaders need to update their AI strategy. His advice: weekly check-ins.

Managers should experiment with AI tools across all business areas rather than treating it like a software update.

Reid Hoffman says leaders need to update their AI strategy. His advice: weekly check-ins.

Executives must adapt their AI strategies to prioritize rapid experimentation across all business areas rather than traditional software rollout methods.

fromAol

Reid Hoffman says leaders need to update their AI strategy. His advice: weekly check-ins.

Managers should experiment with AI tools across all business areas rather than treating it like a software update.

Reid Hoffman says leaders need to update their AI strategy. His advice: weekly check-ins.

Executives must adapt their AI strategies to prioritize rapid experimentation across all business areas rather than traditional software rollout methods.

more#ai-strategy

fromSlate Magazine

One of Silicon Valley's Hottest Companies Is Facing a Revolt-From Its Own Fans

Anthropic's refusal to allow military use of its AI technology has positioned it as a leader in ethical AI development.

Former Instagram VP shares 5 tips for young software engineers

Curiosity is key for young engineers. Asking a lot of questions is a great way to build relationships within a company, according to James Everingham.

Careers

a16z's Ben Horowitz sees 'AI anxiety' consuming Silicon Valley founders. Workers' fear of something else is killing adoption | Fortune

Two distinct AI anxieties exist: founders fear rapid change while workers fear replacement.

Silicon Valley has no monopoly on AI brain power. That's why Demis Hassabis is very happy to stay in London | Fortune

Demis Hassabis emphasizes extreme dedication and planning in achieving goals, advocating for diverse AI innovation centers beyond Silicon Valley.

Exclusive: Can AI judge journalism? A Thiel-backed startup says yes, even if it risks chilling whistleblowers

Aron D'Souza's startup Objection uses AI to challenge journalism claims, aiming to restore trust in media.

#ai-development

Artificial intelligence

Mark Zuckerberg moved his desk and is coding again, Meta president says

Mark Zuckerberg is deeply involved in Meta's AI development, coding daily and collaborating closely with researchers to enhance the company's AI capabilities.

fromMail Online

Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI CLONE to replace him in meetings

Meta is developing an AI clone of Mark Zuckerberg to engage with employees and reduce meeting demands.

Mark Zuckerberg moved his desk and is coding again, Meta president says

Mark Zuckerberg is deeply involved in Meta's AI development, coding daily and collaborating closely with researchers to enhance the company's AI capabilities.

fromMail Online

Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI CLONE to replace him in meetings

Meta is developing an AI clone of Mark Zuckerberg to engage with employees and reduce meeting demands.

more#ai-development

The fall of OneTaste: Ellen Huet on Nicole Daedone's sentencing and Silicon Valley's culture of belief

Nicole Daedone was sentenced to nine years in prison for forced labor conspiracy related to her startup OneTaste.

fromHarvard Business Review

The Challenges of Scaling a Technology for Social Good

Access to safe sanitation is critical for over three billion people, impacting public health, gender equity, and economic development.

OpenAI buys its second startup in a month

For decades, personalized financial guidance has been too expensive, too generic, or too hard to access. ChatGPT is finally changing that.

Startup companies

fromForbes

The Hottest Debate In Tech: Ads In AI

The debate in AI centers on the introduction of advertising in chatbot interactions and the financial implications of running AI systems.

fromAbove the Law

The Startup Bet Lawyers Keep Misunderstanding - Above the Law

Lawyers must embrace uncertainty in startups, viewing their careers as investments rather than relying solely on traditional risk-averse training.