I’ve maybe never interviewed anyone in my entire time as a historian and podcaster who has had a career as broad and varied as Susan Lyne. Yes, I obviously wanted to talk to Susan about her role helping startup Gilt Group, and her current role as the managing partner of the VC firm BBG Ventures. But, holy how. Susan also launched and oversaw the golden era of Premiere Magazine. She was the CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia when Martha had to step away to, you know, go to prison. And she was the President of ABC Entertainment. She oversaw the development of shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Lost. So, like, yeah. We needed to do two episodes. So this is part one, with the great, Susan Lyne.

Chapters:

00:00 From Boston to Berkeley: A Transformative Journey

08:00 The Rise of Alternative Media: Village Voice Era

16:06 Hollywood Calling: The IPC Films Experience

23:12 Launching Premier Magazine: Inside Hollywood

36:14 Navigating the ABC Landscape: A New Era

40:28 Developing Grey's Anatomy And Lost

Takeaways

• Susan's upbringing in Boston shaped her perspective on expectations and identity.
• Her time at UC Berkeley was transformative, exposing her to diverse ideas.
• Freelancing in journalism helped her develop a passion for storytelling.
• Working at City Magazine under Francis Ford Coppola was a unique experience.
• The Village Voice was a golden era for alternative media in New York.
• Susan's transition to Hollywood was driven by her love for storytelling.
• Premier Magazine aimed to provide in-depth insights into the film industry.
• At ABC, she focused on creating shows that appealed to women.
• Susan learned the importance of having a supportive partner in leadership.
• Her experience at ABC taught her valuable lessons about resilience and change.

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In the more than 200 episodes I’ve done for this podcast, never has the designation “legend” been more appropriate. Esther Dyson is a legend of modern technology, having been present for so many key moments from the early PC era through to the AI era. She’s advised, interviewed and mentored basically every major tech figure over the last several decades. Dyson shares her unique journey from growing up in a family of prominent scientists to becoming a leading figure in tech investing and journalism. She discusses her philosophy of embracing mistakes, the evolution of her career, and her insights into the tech landscape, including the dot-com bubble and the rise of AI. Dyson also reflects on her experiences in Eastern Europe, health tech initiatives, and her adventures in space, culminating in a captivating story about a cosmonaut suit.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Connection

03:42 Growing Up in a Unique Environment

10:12 Transitioning to Tech and Investing

18:03 Creating Impactful Conferences

22:35 Navigating the Dot Com Bubble

27:25 Reflections on Predictions and AI

32:31 Governance and the Evolution of the Internet

40:03 Investment Philosophy and Learning from Experience

45:19 Eastern Europe: A Tech Narrative

54:42 Investing in Space: A Personal Journey

Takeaways

Always make new mistakes to learn and grow.

Understanding economics can change the world more than politics.

Journalism trains you to ask the right questions.

Investing is about learning, not just earning.

Creating impactful conferences requires engaging formats.

The dot-com bubble taught valuable lessons about business models.

Investing in Eastern Europe was a rewarding experience.

Health tech initiatives should aim to empower communities.

AI's future is uncertain, but its impact is undeniable.

Personal experiences shape investment decisions.

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Henry Blodget shares his journey from a history major to a prominent figure in finance and journalism, discussing the rise of the internet, the dot-com bubble, and the lessons learned from that era. He reflects on his career, including his famous $400 price target Amazon prediction, the evolution of media with the launch of Business Insider, and the current landscape of AI and investing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Early Life

02:42 Career Beginnings in Journalism

05:44 Transition to Finance and Technology

08:19 Analyzing Internet Companies

11:33 The Internet Boom and IPOs

14:39 Lessons from the Dot-Com Bubble

17:40 The Rise of Influencers in Finance

20:34 The Amazon Call and Its Impact

23:21 Wall Street's Perspective on Tech Companies

26:45 The AOL Time Warner Lesson

29:47 Merrill Lynch and Global Internet Research

32:38 Post-Bubble Reflections and Reinvention

35:31 The Birth of Business Insider

38:39 The Evolution of Media and Journalism

41:37 Building a Talented Newsroom

44:28 Parallels Between AI and the Dot-Com Era

47:46 Advice for Individual Investors

50:33 New York City as a Startup Ecosystem

53:44 Current Projects and Future Aspirations

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Hugging Face Founder Clément Delangue discusses his journey to founding Hugging Face, emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and open-source technology in the AI landscape. He reflects on the evolution of AI technology, the significance of user feedback, and the need for a diverse range of AI models.

Takeaways

• Clem's first computer experience involved internet trading with siblings.
• Minitel was a significant early digital communication tool in France.
• Clem transitioned from being a successful eBay seller to an intern at eBay.
• Unishared aimed to create a collaborative platform for students.
• Moot Stocks introduced Clem to computer vision and AI technologies.
• Mention was a social listening startup that brought Clem to New York.
• New York's tech scene offers a blend of European and American cultures.
• Hugging Face started as a chatbot project but pivoted to open-source AI.
• The name Hugging Face was inspired by the popularity of emojis.
• Clem emphasizes the importance of community feedback in product development.

Chapters:

00:00 The Early Days of Computing and Internet Trading

03:02 Minitel: A French Innovation in Digital Communication

05:05 From eBay Seller to Intern: A Journey Begins

07:10 The Birth of Unishared: Collaborative Learning for Students

10:23 Moot Stocks: Exploring Computer Vision and AI

12:55 Mention: Social Listening and the Move to New York

14:44 The New York Tech Scene: A Blend of Cultures

16:45 Founding Hugging Face: The AI BFF Chatbot

19:06 The Name Behind Hugging Face: A Playful Choice

21:02 Pivoting to Open Source: The Birth of a New Vision

23:58 Building a Community: The Power of Collaboration

26:37 Navigating User Feedback: Balancing Vision and Signals

28:51 Investor Relations: Framing a Pivot

31:19 Positioning as Switzerland: Neutrality in AI

34:06 The Business Model of Hugging Face: Freemium Success

35:51 Evaluating AI Models: A New Approach

40:33 The Need for Open Source AI Models

42:27 Fostering Open Data Initiatives: A Call to Action

45:18 The Future of Open AI: Efficiency and Specialization

48:05 The AI Bubble: Reality vs. Perception

49:30 The Growing Startup Ecosystem in Europe

51:11 Why New York City is Ideal for AI Startups

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John Borthwick shares his journey from a tech-savvy youth to a prominent figure in the New York tech scene. He discusses his early experiences with computers, the transformative impact of the World Wide Web, and the vibrant tech culture of the 90s. Borthwick reflects on his role in creating Total New York, the lessons learned from the AOL acquisition, and the challenges faced during the dot-com bubble burst. He also highlights the rise of social media platforms like Photolog and the evolution of BetaWorks as a hub for innovation, particularly in the AI space. Throughout the discussion, Borthwick emphasizes the importance of creativity, constraints, and the ever-changing landscape of technology.

Chapters:

00:00 The Early Days of Tech and Personal Journey

02:11 Education and Its Impact on Career

05:15 Experiencing the World Wide Web

08:09 The New York Tech Scene in the 90s

11:08 Creative Projects and the Internet

16:01 Total New York: A Local Information Hub

21:40 Lessons in Distribution and Audience Engagement

24:57 The Evolution of Internet Distribution

27:58 AOL: The Internet's First Giant

35:54 The Dot-Com Bubble and Its Aftermath

37:46 Photolog: A Precursor to Social Media

44:56 Navigating Abundance and Constraints in AI

49:37 BetaWorks: A Hub for Founders and Innovation

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Welcome BACK to the Internet History Podcast. After essentially a 5 year hiatus, the Internet History Podcast is back, fully back, a whole slate of episodes coming to you, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have our relaunch episode be with Jimmy Wales. What can I tell you? He’s the founder of Wikipedia. We get deep into the history of all that but also get into how he’s thinking about the web and Wikipedia in this age of AI.

Chapters

00:00 The Return of the Internet History Podcast

00:58 Exploring Trust in the Digital Age

04:09 Growing Up with Knowledge

11:53 The Journey into Technology and Finance

16:58 The First Encounters with the Internet

18:38 The Spark of Entrepreneurship

20:09 The Birth of Bomis and New Ideas

27:13 The Transition from Newpedia to Wikipedia

31:57 Navigating Challenges and Building Trust

42:25 Moments of Realization and Trust in Wikipedia

48:05 From Startup to Nonprofit: A New Direction

51:17 Lessons in Nonprofit Fundraising

53:02 Transparency and Community Engagement

01:00:21 Wikipedia in the Age of AI

01:07:29 The Future of the Open Web

01:08:58 Defining Purpose in Knowledge Platforms

01:12:05 Building Trust in Personal and Political Life

Takeaways

Wikipedia's growth was fueled by community engagement and open editing.

Trust is essential for the success of any platform.

The transition from Newpedia to Wikipedia was a pivotal moment.

Transparency in operations fosters community trust.

AI's impact on knowledge sharing is significant but manageable.

Defining a clear purpose helps in moderating content.

Wikipedia's model demonstrates the power of decentralized knowledge.

The importance of assuming good faith in online interactions.

Nonprofit status allows for a focus on mission over profit.

Building trust in personal and political life is crucial for society.

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People know that a16z changed tech by turning VCs and founders into rock stars. You know the names. But there’s one name you might not know, that real heads, deep inside the industry have known very well over the years. The legend, Margit Vennmachers. You know all those a16z names because of Margit, because of how she helped Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz and others build a16z into the most prominent VC firm in the world. This is a conversation with Margit about her entire career, her philosophy on coms and marketing and PR, and how a16z evolved. From the story behind Software Is Eating The World to how startups can build and burnish their own legend, from the woman who, behind the scenes, those in the know knew was making it happen.

Chapters

00:00 Intros

02:13 From Farm Life to Tech Dreams

03:56 Navigating Grief and Independence

09:38 Cultural Shifts: From Germany to Silicon Valley

12:25 The Early Days of Silicon Valley

21:05 Launching Outcast Communications

25:15 Building Credibility in the Startup World

27:31 The Rise of Facebook and Industry Cycles

29:43 Navigating Economic Cycles and Client Relationships

30:53 The Decision to Sell Outkast

32:43 Founding A16Z: The Backstory

36:48 Marketing Strategies for A16Z

42:00 The Evolution of Tech Leadership

43:53 The Role of an Operating Partner

46:39 Crisis Management in Tech

51:42 The Concept of 'Software is Eating the World'

55:41 Lessons from Two Decades with Mark and Ben

56:49 The Future of Tech and AI

58:06 Margit's Transition to Partner Emeritus

Takeaways:

Margit's upbringing on a small farm shaped her resilience.

Grief can lead to early maturity and self-reliance.

Her first tech job sparked a curiosity about the industry.

Cultural differences in Silicon Valley were eye-opening.

Founding Outcast Communications was driven by inspiration, not frustration.

Crisis management is crucial in maintaining a company's reputation.

PR for startups requires a focus on storytelling and relationships.

The dot-com bubble taught valuable lessons about sustainability.

A16Z's approach to venture capital emphasizes personality and visibility.

The future of tech is intertwined with the responsible use of AI.

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For my entire career in tech and startups, Fred Wilson has been like the god-level VC in the New York City ecosystem. Fred got his start investing before the dotcom bubble, rode the bubble investing in the earliest internet companies to great success, and then turned Union Square Ventures into the premier venture capital firm on the east coast. Hear the story of Fred’s investments in Geocities, Etsy, Coinbase, MongoDB among others. When I first started this podcast almost 12 years ago, Fred was one of the top 5 people I wanted to talk to.

Chapters

00:00 The Four Technological Revolutions

11:08 Fred Wilson's Journey into Venture Capital

21:34 The Rise of New York's Tech Scene

34:53 Founding Union Square Ventures

48:00 The Evolution of Web 2.0

57:16 Current Technological Intersections and Future Outlook

Takeaways

There are four major technological revolutions happening simultaneously: AI, synthetic biology, energy transition, and crypto.

Fred Wilson transitioned from naval engineering to venture capital due to a passion for technology and finance.

The New York tech scene began to emerge in the early 90s with digital media and online services.

Flatiron Partners was founded to focus on internet investments during the dot-com boom.

Investing in companies like GeoCities and Etsy showcased the potential of the internet.

The dot-com crash taught valuable lessons about sustainable business models.

Union Square Ventures was founded during a challenging economic period, emphasizing the importance of the application layer of the internet.

The rise of social media and user engagement became central to investment strategies in the 2000s.

Fred's blog became a platform for sharing ideas and attracting founders to his firm.

Current technological advancements are driven by the convergence of AI, biology, energy, and crypto.

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Serial entrepreneur Shirish Nadkarni came to the U.S. as a teenager with $25 in his pocket. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he worked at Microsoft where he engineered the $400 million acquisition of Hotmail and launched MSN.com, the world’s leading web portal.

Striking out on his own in 1999 at the height of the dot-com boom, he founded TeamOn Systems, an early pioneer of mobile email that was later acquired by BlackBerry before becoming BlackBerry Internet Email servicing over 50 million users at its peak.

His great new book is: From Startup to Exit: An Insider's Guide to Launching and Scaling Your Tech Business

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