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Digigram | November 2023

Published by Gert Christen

In this edition of Digigram: #1: One Year of ChatGPT – What Have We Learned? – In the whirlwind year since its inception, ChatGPT has dazzled with its conversational and creative prowess, while also contending with the inevitable growing pains of misinterpretations (plus some puzzling weekend CEO-firing entertainment, re-hiring by the biggest investor & customer, followed by employee revolt, followed by the board getting fired and re-hiring of the same CEO under a new board, which now includes the biggest investor and customer…) and the learning curve associated with scaling a complex tech business. Yet, the most challenging hurdles have emerged from ethical and regulatory concerns over misinformation, privacy, and potential misuse, revealing the complex tapestry of how we might integrate AI into society. As we reflect on the groundbreaking journey of ChatGPT, one question looms: What comes next for AI, and how will we balance innovation and responsibility on the path forward? #2: USA Launching Pad’s Fall 2023 Cohort – Two pioneering companies, Hypt and Flowit are in San Francisco as a part of their USA Launching Pad …

ChatGPT: A Year in Review – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Published by Gert Christen

Over the last year, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, captivating imaginations and stirring debates across the digital landscape. Once again, a startup from San Francisco is disrupting an entire industry, and the way we search and create information – is truly groundbreaking. As it approaches its anniversary, it’s time to unpack the rollercoaster ride that has been ChatGPT’s existence — the breakthroughs, the stumbling blocks, and the downright facepalm moments. The Good: Revolutionizing Human-Machine Interaction ChatGPT has been nothing short of revolutionary. Its ability to understand and generate human-like text has transformed our interactions with technology. It has become an invaluable tool for education, assisting students with learning and researchers in data analysis. Businesses have leveraged their capabilities to enhance customer service, automating responses without losing the personal touch. Creatives have found in ChatGPT a muse, aiding in everything from drafting poetry to brainstorming script ideas. It has democratized access to information, providing insights and knowledge in a conversational style that is unprecedented. Its flexibility and scalability have seen it being used …

USA Launching Pad: New Businesses Coming to America Now

Published by Gert Christen

Our business at USA Launching Pad continues to grow, and recently, we had another cohort of international trailblazers come to Silicon Valley to accelerate their expansion into the U.S. market. These companies are crossing the Atlantic with fresh, transformative ideas: Hypt: Amplifying Word-of-Mouth in the Digital Age Hypt is a marketing dynamo reinventing how businesses harness word-of-mouth in the digital realm. Their ingenious platform activates customers immediately after a high rating, encouraging referrals while swiftly addressing negative feedback before it escalates. In a landscape where a single review can make or break a reputation, Hypt’s service is invaluable. With an eagle eye on privacy, they navigate the complex web of regulations to comply even with the highest standards (banking…) to ensure that every piece of data is handled with the utmost care. The founders solved how to bring word-of-mouth to the internet in a scalable and compliant way: A game-changer for businesses keen on maintaining sterling reputations in an increasingly review-driven economy. Flowit: Streamlining Talent Management Flowit enters the market, offering a much-needed solution for …

The E-Commerce Holiday Hustle: Tackling Waste and Emission Woes for a Merrier and Greener Gift Season

Published by Gert Christen

As we ramp up for the e-commerce holiday shopping frenzy, it’s not just about snagging the best deals anymore. The environmental footprint of our online shopping sprees has come into sharp focus. With millions of packages crisscrossing the globe, the convenience of online shopping brings with it a sleigh-load of packaging waste and an expanding carbon footprint. (Image: Actor Colin Firth enjoying Christmas presents and a gloriously ugly sweater in the movie “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) As we ramp up for the e-commerce holiday shopping frenzy, it’s not just about snagging the best deals anymore. The environmental footprint of our online shopping sprees has come into sharp focus. With millions of packages crisscrossing the globe, the convenience of online shopping brings with it a sleigh-load of packaging waste and an expanding carbon footprint. Unwrapping the Waste Problem Let’s talk numbers. During the holiday season, packaging waste skyrockets. A statistic that might shock you is that 30% (or 82 million tons) of all garbage in the U.S. comes from packaging alone. It’s estimated that in the United …

Digigram | September 2023

Published by Gert Christen

In this edition of Digigram:  #1: AI Boom in San Francisco: The Next Gold Rush? – The whole world seems to be bashing San Francisco for empty offices, high prices, and drug addicts downtown. Away from this noise, AI startuppers have quietly taken over the Hayes Valley neighborhood behind the Opera House and turned it into the world’s leading AI hub under the cryptic name of “Cerebral Valley”. From state-of-the-art hacker houses to a focus on inclusivity and transformative technology, this enclave has become the stage for the next wave of startups. Can Cerebral Valley revive San Francisco’s tech scene and establish it as the epicenter of the AI boom? The VCs think so and are all over this emerging community. #2: When Tech Titans Rebrand: Driven by Business or Ego?  – Bye-bye Twitter; meet “X.” Farewell Facebook, hello “Meta.” Adios, Google, call me “Alphabet.” When big tech companies suddenly change their names, is it a brand makeover for the better or just an ego show of their high-profile CEOs? While Elon Musk seems to …

AI Boom in San Francisco

Published by Gert Christen

If You Think San Francisco is Dying, You’re Looking in the Wrong Place: Cerebral Valley Is The New Epicenter of the AI Gold Rush While downtown San Francisco grapples with vacant office spaces—equivalent to “more than 14 Salesforce Towers”—a seismic shift occurs a few miles away in a neighborhood called Hayes Valley: Meet Cerebral Valley. Cerebral Valley is rapidly establishing itself as the epicenter of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Why Hayes Valley? If you think the San Francisco tech industry is fading, you’re simply not looking in the right place. Strategically positioned in an upwardly mobile neighborhood, Hayes Valley offers a unique blend of modernism and intellectual brain power. It has become a thriving nucleus of AI innovation, no longer merely a hotspot for boutiques and trendy restaurants. The influx of AI-focused “hacker houses” provide shared living spaces and act as incubators, setting the stage for hackathons, fireside chats, and AI meetups. These are not just makeshift accommodations; AGI House, for example, is a $58 million mansion with a koi pond and a climate-controlled wine …

When Tech Titans Rebrand: Driven by Business or by Ego?

Published by Gert Christen

In an era where the pace of change is breakneck, even giants in the tech industry are not immune to the impulse—or necessity—to rebrand. A logo tweak? Sure. A new color scheme? Why not. But completely changing a company’s name? That’s a seismic shift with far-reaching consequences. To dive into this high-stakes game, let’s examine a few notable examples: Twitter’s transition to “X” post-acquisition by Elon Musk, Facebook’s morphing into Meta under Mark Zuckerberg’s directive, and Google’s metamorphosis into Alphabet. The Pros: A Fresh Coat of Paint Twitter to X: Fueling Aspirations Badly When Twitter was acquired and rebranded as “X” by Elon Musk, it was more than just a name change—it signaled a broader ambition. The rebrand set the stage for the platform to stretch beyond its 280-character comfort zone, potentially tapping into other Musk ventures. This bold move captured investors’ imaginations (Twitter needs more revenue streams. Always did!) and users’ wrath. The intransparent, clumsy communications led to confusion, causing advertising clients to cancel their campaigns. My personal opinion: this blunder was so unnecessary …

Best of Digigram Results

Published by Gert Christen

Happy 4th birthday to us, and what better way to celebrate than by reflecting on the stories that have shaped our community! We asked our readers to vote on your favorite “Best of Digigram” articles. Boy, did you come through! The contenders ranged from a fascinating look at the winning teams behind the ‘Connected Life’ Entrepreneurship Class at UC Berkeley to the all-important discussion on “Silicon Valley Mindset Post-Covid Takeaways.” We even had hot topics like “Streaming Overtaking Cable,” “Hybrid Work and San Francisco Commercial Real Estate don’t go well together,” and the emerging “Browser wars reloaded: The emergence of ARC.” There was something for everyone, and the competition was stiff! And the winner is… drumroll please… our in-depth feature on the security device Mitipi and our exclusive interview with the company’s founder in “Mitipi and KEVIN’s USA Launching Pad!” You showed your keen interest in learning about the brains behind groundbreaking products. It’s especially exciting to hear you are eager to learn about innovative startups looking to break into the American market via the …

Gert’s Digigram Newsletter of June 2023!

Published by Gert Christen

Happy summer! This season brings not only many exciting tech highlights (including $3500 VR goggles, more below) but also many great opportunities to travel, explore, and enjoy some much-needed sunshine after a rainy winter season. In this edition of Digigram: 1: Best of Digigram – Digigram is turning four years old with this edition, a great reason to celebrate. Let me know which topics you like best. Cast your vote for the stories that have connected with you the most! Which topics of the last few issues resonated with you, and what do you want to see more of? #2: Climate Change as a Business Opportunity – With the pressing issue of climate change, I am convinced that innovation is a critical key to winning the race to stall or reverse damaging effects on the climate. Environmentally sustainable solutions and climate tech are booming, and entrepreneurs have a tremendous opportunity to solve global issues with ideas and businesses that scale. Over the last six months, I have given a talk on this topic at many conferences …

AR/VR Google Wars – Is Apple Vision a Vision of the Future?

Published by Gert Christen

Several companies offer augmented reality headsets, from Magic Leap to Meta’s Quest to Microsoft’s Hololens to specialized makers such as Almer for industrial use. However, the only one people could talk about this month was the new Apple Vision Pro augmented reality headset unveiled at the WWDC 2023 conference. Here’s what we know about the device: The price tag is HIGH! Early adopters might want to save their pennies when the device is released early next year – its starting price is $3,499! It comes with its proprietary operating system. The Vision Pro runs on visionOS, Apple’s dedicated operating system designed specifically for spatial computing, encompassing augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences. The three-dimensional interface of visionOS promises a new experience, allowing Apps to appear side by side at varying scales. The user interface cleverly incorporates adaptation to the surrounding light and adds shadows to convey the scale and a 3D effect. The launch App partners include native Unity apps for gamers, Adobe Lightroom for creatives, and Microsoft’s Office suite for the enterprise. And everybody else can use FaceTime to brag to their friends. Other …