In which we talk about new social media player Ello (https://ello.co)—some initial impressions, venture capital’s influence in Silicon Valley and its *distinctive* shape there vs. elsewhere, and thoughts on business model and communication. ◦ Intro (0:44) ◦ Definitely Still a Beta (0:44–5:27) ◦ That’s Not a Gift (5:27–14:02) ◦ How People React to News (14:02–22:32) ◦ A Working Business Model (22:32–28:32) ◦ Conclusion (28:32–30:04) ◦ Outtake (30:04–30:10) Music ◦ “Aldebaran Serpent” (http://falconarrow.bandcamp.com/track/aldebaran-serpent) from Tower (http://falconarrow.bandcamp.com/album/tower) by Falcon Arrow. Used by permission. (Isn’t that album art fantastic?) ◦ “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly) by Chris Krycho. We asked him for permission, and he said “Yes.” Links ◦ Ello (https://ello.co/) • About: ◦ What is Ello? (https://ello.co/wtf/post/about-ello) ◦ Who Created Ello? (https://ello.co/wtf/post/founders) ◦ Ello Manifesto (https://ello.co/wtf/post/manifesto) ◦ Ello Doesn’t Have Ads (https://ello.co/wtf/post/why-no-ads) • Criticism: ◦ Aral Balkan: “Ello, goodbye.” (https://aralbalkan.com/notes/ello-goodbye/) ◦ Ello user Andy Baio (@waxpancake) (https://ello.co/waxpancake) on Ello’s venture capital (https://ello.co/waxpancake/post/oy73kFfDdhOPh8Jv9z9pFA) ◦ fresh Tracks Capital (http://www.freshtrackscap.com/) • Their information page on Ello (http://www.freshtrackscap.com/fund-iii-companies/Ello) • Ello’s and freshTrack’s responses: ◦ Ello Founder Says VC Funding Is No Big Secret: ‘That’s Silly’ (http://betabeat.com/2014/09/ello-founder-says-vc-funding-is-no-big-secret-thats-silly/) ◦ Ello investor, co-founder: Funding or not, we hate ads and we want to “shift values” (https://gigaom.com/2014/09/25/ello-investor-co-founder-funding-or-not-we-hate-ads-and-we-want-to-shift-values/) ◦ Ello Cofounder: ‘We Have NO Exit Strategy’ (http://betabeat.com/2014/09/ello-cofounder-we-have-no-exit-strategy/) ◦ Ben Thompson: “Ello and Consumer Friendly Business Models” (http://stratechery.com/2014/ello-consumer-friendly-business-models/) • The Vox: “31,000 people an hour are joining the social network Ello. The anti-Facebook, explained.” (http://www.vox.com/2014/9/26/6844633/what-is-ello-should-i-care) • 86: Moving the Party to the Bar Down the Block (http://atp.fm/episodes/86) (Accidental Tech Podcast) • “Considering the audience” (https://ello.co/chriskrycho/post/n4U3NdHR_gqBVj64YE075A) – Chris’ conversation with @oluseyi (https://ello.co/oluseyi) (and others) on Ello about iOS and Android ◦ Other social networks attempting to break free of the ad-driven model: • App.net (https://app.net/) • Tent.is/Cupcake.io (https://cupcake.io) • Diaspora (https://joindiaspora.com) ◦ Markdown (http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/) – a simple syntax for writing text for the web. • Chris’ post on using Markdown for academic writing (http://2012-2013.chriskrycho.com/web/markdown-and-academic-writing/) ◦ Previously on the show: • 0.04 Tell Me What to Do (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/03/tell-me-what-to-do/): on Editorially and startup business models, and also on bands making genre shifts. • 0.13 Ten Thousandth Lightbulb (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/05/ten-thousandth-lightbulb/): on App.net, social media, and funding models. • 1.07 They Both Start With T? (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/08/they-both-start-with-t/): on Taylor Swift, Twitter, and messaging. • 1.11 We Need Life Editors (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/09/we-need-life-editors/): in which we inveighed gainst the going-it-alone approach to the arts. Follow/Subscribe ◦ iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/winning-slowly/id807603957?mt=2) ◦ App.net (https://alpha.app.net/winningslowly) ◦ Ello (https://ello.co/winningslowly) ◦ Twitter (https://twitter.com/winningslowly) ◦ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast)