TLDR FOUNDERS 2024-01-12

WILL US COMPANIES HIRE FEWER ENGINEERS DUE TO SECTION 174?

Section 174 of the US tax law made it so all costs related to R&D cannot be expensed, increasing the costs of hiring of software engineers.

TECHNO-OPTIMISM FOR 2024

There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic this decade with major technological breakthroughs such as advanced generative AI, effective anti-obesity drugs, and progress in biotech, battery technology, and space exploration. These innovations are attributed to long-term investments post-2005 and the economic growth of the last decade. The future will be filled with technological surprises and advancements.

2024 STATE OF EMAIL NEWSLETTERS

The latest data, trends, and innovations shaping the newsletter industry.

WATER BOTTLES & LESSONS IN VIRAL GROWTH

Stanley, a 111-year-old company known for its vacuum-seal bottles, saw a dramatic increase in sales from $70 million in 2019 to $750 million in 2023 thanks to modern marketing strategies and the popularity of its Stanley Quencher water bottle. The company's shift from a traditional, outdoorsy male target market to a broader, trendier audience, combined with savvy use of influencer marketing, social media, product variation, and collaboration, led to viral success and a strong brand presence, especially among Gen Z consumers.

INSIDE REWIND’S PATH TO 170 SERIES A OFFERS

AI startup Rewind pivoted from its initial product Scribe to a Mac app leveraging Apple's Silicon M1 chip. Focused on augmenting human memory, Rewind underwent a year of development and a high-touch early user onboarding process, leading to a successful launch with over 300,000 waitlist signups and a $350M valuation in a public Series A fundraise.

CAN A CUSTOMER BE A NUMBER?

The widespread use of analytics in business has led to more data-driven decisions, enhancing efficiency and growth across industries. However, this reliance on analytics may limit our understanding of customers, as it often fails to capture the complexities and irrationalities of human behavior. We need to recognize the limitations of analytics to fully grasp customer motivations.

TEXTLA (PRODUCT)

Schedule SMS campaigns, set up keyword opt-ins, communicate 1:1 via shared inbox, track analytics, and view deliverability with an affordable and intuitive platform.

AI TOOLKIT

AI Toolkit is a header-only C++ library that brings finite state machines, behavior trees, utility AI, and goal-oriented action planning to game NPCs.

KLART AI (PRODUCT)

An AI assistant for everyone in your organization.

GRADING COMMANDBAR’S YC APPLICATION

Getting into YC isn't an indicator that your idea is worth working on for an entire summer/winter - it's an indicator that the idea is decent enough to back you as a founder and allow you to explore the idea intensely for a few weeks or pivot until you find the right product.

THE TECH SECTOR NEEDS TO REDISCOVER FUN

The recent launch of the Rabbit R1 challenges the current trend of sleek, minimalistic tech design and embodies a spirit of creativity and innovation. The device represents a shift from the predictable, reminding us that innovation can be unconventional and fun. While some may dismiss it as a gimmick, history shows that many groundbreaking technologies started as quirky ideas.

PACE YOURSELF

This piece discusses making annual predictions, noting their typical inaccuracies. There is still value in the process as a synthesis of human history and a way to anticipate future craziness.

I QUIT MY JOB TO WORK FULL TIME ON MY OPEN SOURCE PROJECT

A look at how a developer built their company to the point where they were able to quit their job.

INTRODUCING THE GPT STORE

OpenAI has launched its store for custom GPTs.

SPOT BITCOIN ETF RECEIVES OFFICIAL APPROVAL FROM SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission has officially approved the United States’ first regulated spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

YOUR REFERRAL LINK - https://tldr.tech/founders?ref=2613930