Startups, VC & PE

Bitcoin Uncensored/Junseth's World Playlist

Seed To Series A, Part II (Semil Shah, Rebecca Lynn, Brian O'Malley)

Seed To Series A, Part I (Hunter Walk, Roy Bahat, Josh Elman, Maha Ibrahim)

Whether you think of it as a distributed ledger, decentralized database, computing infrastructure, open source/ software development platform, cryptocurrency, transaction platform, or financial services marketplace, the bitcoin blockchain is driven by two key features: that it is a peer-to-peer network, and that it unbundles trust. Imagine moving from Googling for things to offering proof-as-a-service instead (which itself begins with rethinking identity).

In fact, there's a lot of parallels -- both in evolution and development -- with the blockchain and the internet before it. Only the blockchain doesn't need the web. And that has profound implications for what applications and new businesses are now possible, especially in financial services. But if "the worst place to develop a new business model is from within your existing business model", then how can banks move beyond mere process innovations to offering entirely new services built on the blockchain? Many financial institutions are trying to get ahead of the blockchain disruption by exploring it proactively, but how do they overcome the innovator's dilemma and looking at startups like animals in a zoo?

In this episode of the a16z Podcast, William Mougayar, the author of the new book The Business Blockchain: Promise, Practice, and Application of the Next Internet Technology shares how traditional, established industries can overcome the innovator's dilemma in this case; what the future of banks might be; and what new applications, services, and startups are possible due to the features -- really, benefits -- of the blockchain. Because the blockchain, ultimately, is an innovation platform.

a16z Podcast: Banking on the Blockchain

"Raise prices." Regular listeners of our podcast have heard this advice more than once. But why is this so key and yet so hard for many technical founders? And how should startups go about raising prices -- or more specifically, creating value -- for their products?

In this episode of the a16z Podcast, former sales VP Mark Cranney (and head of a16z's EBC and go-to-market practice for startups) and former startup founder (and general partner focused on all things infrastructure) Martin Casado talk to managing partner Scott Kupor about pricing for startups ... especially for category-creating businesses. It's not all "pricing, pricing, pricing" though -- there's another important "p" in there too!

a16z Podcast: Pricing, Pricing, Pricing

Welcome to the worst first show in the history of Podcasts. Paul Sports is on this as yet unnamed show. He prepared the notes, so get ready for a really boring show, starting with the deep depression that Paul's been going through since the BU breakup.

* Paul's turned to the illustrious mind-poop of Brian Hoffman, CEO of Shitty Shopify. He's has been picking up the slack. We re-visit a couple of the videos. You should consider watching all of them. 
Watch all of them! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSzDUzOTgQmx-WqFIQMrMA

* Paul explores the mental health of Bitcoiners. His prognosis: not good. Is it drugs? Is it age? We still don't know. But at least it's endlessly entertaining.

* Ever wonder what happens if you break the code of the Chatham House Rules? Paul knows. He's got a Yale degree... I think. Paul also understands extension blocks. Ridiculously smart, boring section ensues. Fast-forward through this if you want laughs. Listen if you want 

* Soft fork your mom if you want soft fork. In the ephemeral, wise words of Jihan Woo, we discuss the reasons that miners do what miners do. It might be that they are rational. Then again, that might be giving them too much credit. That said, if they are rational actors, Paul throws down a few conspiracies explaining why miners might favor a hard fork over a soft fork.

*What's ASIC Boost and why do you need it? Would it have been rational for Jihan to just support Segwit? Would it have hurt his boosting prospects? AAAAASSSSSSIC BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOST (Read like "Falcon Punch"). Let's be honest, ASIC boost is awesome, and you would have done the same. Blockchains aren't morality games.

*Then again the Dao of Daos and the necessity of Turing complete smart contract on a blockchain is discussed. Why oh why do we need them? Can even one man answer the question? http://imgur.com/QKlMaky

*Oh... and Drivechain. What's going on with that? Big announcement! It's basically ready. At least that's what Paul claims. So... I guess all our side chain, sofa-based dreams can come true. Me, I think it's a dream and I poop all over Paul's parade - a parade which includes the development of a prediction market. **Are prediction markets stupid?** Short answer is I think yes, Paul says they are the most important thing since sliced bread. Only time will tell.

* Paul discusses religion. He's Unitarian... Duh. God's disappoint in the backsliding Catholic Paul has become.

* What is Samson Mow's new job? Is he actually needed? Is his job literally tweeting? And what's with Ghengis Khan raping everybody? What an ass hole.

*When will Roger Ver go away? And which blockchain will survive in the end? The rest is in the show.

I hope you like it as much as Paul enjoyed recording it. That's as low a bar as I can give you.

Episode 1 - Replay Attack of the Bandersnatch

Izabella Kaminska and Joshua Unseth chat ICOs, bitcoin and blockchain.

FTAVchatsICOs

This is the most obscure adaptation of the Sneetches ever written. It is a tale describing how we must come together as a community and decide where to stick our problems.

The Anals of Seuss: The Sneetches Adapted for Bitcoin

As ICO season is under way everyone has lost their minds. The current state of investment in crypto resembles the wild west but without the Sheriff. In this interview, I discuss with Daniel Haudenschild of Ernst & Young exactly what is going on with Polybius. Polybius has been using EY's name in their ICO to raise funds. We explore the ethics behind the promotion of these ICOs, the need to disclose material facts, and what obligations the company issuing tokens has to investors.It shouldn't be a surprise, but the answers to these questions are probably as stupid as you think.

Check out the Polybius ICO here: https://polybius.io/ and a archive of their site as it is when this interview was done here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161758/https://polybius.io/

RootProject ICO Interview w/ Nick Judge & Anton Kraminkin

Junseth's World