Drones, Defense Tech, and The Consumer Hardware Trap with Chris Anderson

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#Tech #Entrepreneur #Business #Bryce Roberts #Indie.vc #Investing #Fundraising #Entrepreneurship

1:36:55

What’s up, Tribe, and welcome back to Good Moms Bad Choices! January was amazing, but its time to turn the page on the calendar and embrace beautiful new energy as we enter ‘The Journey of Love February.’ This month is all about the heart - join Erica and Milah to catch up and discuss what’s new in the world of motherhood, marriage, and amor! In this week’s episode, the ladies offer witty and sharp perspectives about personal growth in love, supporting your kids through their friend drama, and how to honor your true needs in a partnership. Mama Bear to the Rescue! The Good Moms discuss protective parenting and helping your kids fight their battles (8:00) Bad Choice of the Week: Help! My kids saw me in my lingerie! (20:00) My Happily Ever After: Erica and Milah discuss the prospect of marriage, dreams of becoming a housewife, and the top 5 ways to be confident in love (32:00) Yoni Mapping: Releasing Trauma and Increasing Pleasure (57:00) Its OK to fuck up, but also, what do you (really) bring to the table: The Good Moms have an honest discussion about finding accountability and growth before love (1:03:00) Watch This episode & more on YouTube! Catch up with us over at Patreon and get all our Full visual episodes, bonus content & early episode releases. Join our private Facebook group! Let us help you! Submit your advice questions, anonymous secrets or vent about motherhood anonymously! Submit your questions Connect With Us: @GoodMoms_BadChoices @TheGoodVibeRetreat @Good.GoodMedia @WatchErica @Milah_Mapp Official GMBC Music: So good feat Renee, Trip and http://www.anthemmusicenterprises.com Join us this summer in paradise at the Good Vibe Rest+Vibe Retreat in Costa Rica July 31- August 5 August 8 - August 13 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 1:14:07

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Chris Anderson can’t talk a lot about what he is up to these days. At least on camera.

His LinkedIn profile says he’s currently an Engineer at “Stealth". Prior to this current professional opacity, he was at Kitty Hawk, the electric aircraft maker founded by Sebastian Thrun (legendary Stanford Professor and former lead of Google’s self-driving car team that led to Waymo) and backed by Google Co-founder, Larry Page.

I became familiar with Chris while he was leading Wired Magazine as Editor-in-Chief. His work there was groundbreaking and set much of the pace, tone, and agenda for the early days of Web 2.0 and the Maker movement. After seeing a TedX talk about a side hustle he had selling cellophane bags of electrical parts and open source autopilots for DIY Drones I slid into his DM’s.

There is a lot of buzz around drones today, but note the date on that DM — November 3rd, 2010.

Little did I know at the time, that this little drone business was just beginning to grow from Chris and his kids packing orders at their dinner table to a proper manufacturing and distribution center along the border of Mexico.

As things happened, that DM turned into a conversation that turned into an investment in a company, 3D Robotics, that took Chris away from Wired and into the uncharted worlds of manufacturing, consumer hardware, and defense tech. He was early and 3DR didn’t play out the way that we’d all hoped but it laid the foundations for much of what he’s working on now — even though he can’t talk much about that publicly.

To say Chris has a knack for living in the future would be a massive understatement.

In this conversation we unpack his process for exploring possible futures — spoiler: Chris has started writing science fiction as a way to explore complex technological implications. He writes a book a month, using fiction as a computational tool to play out scenarios with artificial agents and see where they lead. We get into what he got right and what he got wrong about drones specifically and defense tech more broadly. And we discuss the culture of Silicon Valley, where we spar a bit on the amount of waste and wandering built into the system that ultimately leads to so many unexpected breakthroughs.

Since that first DM, he has become a dear friend, coconspirator, and sounding board for me. The unedited conversation here went on for nearly 3 hours (which reminds me that we really do need an “indie uncut” channel) but that’s the kind of person Chris is — generous in sharing his time, ideas, and insights.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this one.

36 episodes

INDIE AUDIO

Drones, Defense Tech, and The Consumer Hardware Trap with Chris Anderson

INDIE AUDIO

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Chris Anderson can’t talk a lot about what he is up to these days. At least on camera.

There is a lot of buzz around drones today, but note the date on that DM — November 3rd, 2010.

To say Chris has a knack for living in the future would be a massive understatement.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this one.

36 episodes

#Tech #Entrepreneur #Business #Bryce Roberts #Indie.vc #Investing #Fundraising #Entrepreneurship

All episodes

INDIE AUDIO

1
A Process for Having it All with Jason Jacobs 1:05:44

7 weeks ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Jason Jacobs wants it all. As a father to young children, he wants to be active in their lives, but as an ambitious founder, he’s compelled to build and chase down opportunities that often require sacrificing the time with his family that he longs for. This is not a new tension for a repeat founder, but the current moment has presented Jason with an opportunity to reflect and explore whether the new tools and timing available today may make this next time... different. I first met Jason when we funded his startup, Runkeeper, the first fitness tracking app for the iPhone. It was a fascinating ride for the both of us as Jason piloted a rocket ship whose engine stalled as he pushed to tell a story that made investors swoon and customers scratch their heads. Runkeeper ended as a success via its acquisition by ASICS in 2016 and started a new chapter for Jason as a successfully exited founder. After a false start raising money for his first idea post-Runkeeper, Jason began to develop a process for discovering what comes next for him in his pursuit of entrepreneurial purpose and impact. He applied this process first in climate, ultimately founding the venture capital firm, MCJ. Recently, he’s begun the process again with The Next Next which he describes as: My hope with this expedition is I can unpack what we as humans need out of work in this next era, what is possible with emerging tools, and how they can be applied most effectively to building startups. I am hoping it will lead to my next venture (iteratively, using this newsletter as an important feedback tool), and that if I find success with this new playbook, it can be a template for a new way of company building that many others will follow. Some takeaways from this conversation: - Chasing trends or investor expectations at the expense of your core mission can derail even a promising startup. Jason candidly admits that Runkeeper lost its way when it tried to expand beyond its core running focus into the broader “Health Graph” vision. This pivot, driven by the allure of venture capital and external validation, created internal friction and diluted the company’s identity. - Realigning your business with its foundational strengths when navigating challenges. Jacobs’ decision to refocus Runkeeper on its original running mission marked a turning point for the company. By cutting unnecessary initiatives, streamlining operations, and regaining profitability, the team was able to position itself for acquisition by ASICS. - The importance of “staying true to your weirdness” and building in a way that aligns with your values and strengths. Whether it’s rejecting the grind culture of traditional startups or refusing to compromise on family priorities, his journey highlights that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal fulfillment. For Jacobs, autonomy is not just a preference—it’s essential for achieving greatness. - Learning in public as a superpower. After Runkeeper, Jacobs embraced the power of learning in public by sharing his explorations into climate tech and, later, AI through newsletters, podcasts, and social media. This approach not only helped him build credibility in new fields, but also attracted like-minded collaborators who became part of his growing tribe. - Jason is now on a mission to prove that it’s possible to build impactful companies without sacrificing family, health, or balance. Leveraging AI tools to reduce operational overhead, he aims to build differently while maintaining control over his time and energy. I have an expansive relationship with Jason, and I think that comes through in the video. We cover much of the struggles he had with investors, managing his psychology as a founder, and his process of discovery that he has unquestionable conviction in. My hope is that people will see some of themselves at various stages in Jason’s journey and find inspiration in both his mission and his process. I hope you enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed recording it.…

INDIE AUDIO

1
Riding an AI Rocketship with Mikey Shulman, CEO of Suno 57:55

10 weeks ago57:55

57:55

Mikey Shulman is having a great time. He’s running a rocket ship of a company, has $100M+ in funding from some of the top VCs, and is working on an opportunity that he’s passionate about. Mikey hit my radar because of a text from my friend TJ . His firm was an early backer of Suno , and he said that if any company they work with was going to hit our “4 Min Mile” challenge of $100M in revenue with fewer than 10 employees, it'd be Suno. That was the conversation I was planning to have with Mikey when we stepped into the studio at Suno HQ in Cambridge. What unfolded was a conversation with much more nuance and range than I’d originally anticipated. Some takeaways: Mikey emphasizes the importance of fun in AI development , contrasting with the industry’s focus on productivity gains. He sees AI as a tool for enhancing human creativity in music, potentially leading to new heights in artistic expression. Shulman sees AI as a tool that, like humans, learns from past data to create new expressions . He disagrees with the notion that AI can only look backward, arguing that it can be a powerful instrument for innovation in music when guided by human creativity. The company’s rapid growth was aided by staying somewhat removed from the AI hype cycle , allowing them to focus on building value and iterating quickly based on user feedback. Despite raising significant capital, Shulman actively tries to avoid fixating on the company’s war chest. He believes constantly thinking about available funds can distort decision-making and lead to inefficient resource allocation. Shulman credits much of Suno’s success to his talent for hiring and building a strong team , rather than his own ideas. He stresses the value of finding people who are passionate and committed to the company’s mission. As Suno approaches the $100M mark with a much bigger team than 10, I can’t help but wonder if there’s more indie can be doing to encourage and support founders who are thinking similarly about small teams with ambitions for massive scale. We’re doing that already through our direct investing, but I wonder if there’s a program we could put together that would involve investment and shared learnings from a group of like-minded founders working towards a similar goal that could help the whole get there that much quicker. If you have thoughts on this, please share. It’s something we’re actively thinking through, and I would value additional ideas and points of view. As always, we hope you enjoy watching this one as much as we enjoyed recording it. If you’re working on something with a similar ethos to Suno and looking for investment, don’t hesitate to reach out. — Bryce…

INDIE AUDIO

1
Discovering What Your Company Wants to Be with Mike Salguero, CEO of ButcherBox 1:12:26

11 weeks ago1:12:26

1:12:26

Today’s conversation with Mike Salguero went in a direction I really wasn’t anticipating. Initially, I was interested in talking to Mike because he’s lived multiple lives as a Founder. First, buying and then raising 10s of millions for a crafts persons marketplace called Custommade.com. Then, after winding down Custommade, starting what he would term a “hobby business” to recover a bit from the toll a large “venture scale” swing took on himself, his health, and his family. Interestingly, the big swing didn’t work. But the less ambitious “hobby business” has grown to $500M+ in revenue with zero outside funding. In our Indie Era of Startups talk, we theorize that: — WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE THE BIGGEST CLASS OF SV-EDUCATED FOUNDERS IN HISTORY — THEY'LL BUILD INDEPENDENT, INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD — THESE FOUNDERS WILL LOOK FOR MORE FLEXIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ALIGNED FUNDING PARTNERS Mike is a great example of those ideas personified, along with Alan from last week's video. The movement we’re building indie to support is happening, and Mike’s experiences and lessons learned are emblematic of many returning venture backed founders and early employees. Some other takeaways from this one: The power of constraints — Mike built a $550M empire on just $10K, proving you don’t need hoards of VC cash to disrupt an industry. The constraints he placed on the business early allowed ButcherBox to maintain control and focus on long-term growth rather than chasing short-term metrics to please investors. Work-life balance isn’t just fluff — Mike built ButcherBox while prioritizing taking care of his body and his growing family. This approach demonstrates that success doesn’t always mean sacrificing personal well-being, and can actually lead to more sustainable growth and better decision-making. Playing the long game — With a 25-year vision, ButcherBox is aiming for iconic brand status. This long-term perspective allows the company to focus on transforming the meat industry and building a lasting legacy rather than seeking quick exits or short-term gains. The “barbell strategy” is pure hiring gold — Pairing fresh grads with industry vets creates a powerhouse team. As a VC backed founder, he was pushed to hire the most pedigreed and impressive over the most experienced or most hungry. This unique barbell approach combines the energy and fresh perspectives of young talent with the deep experience and mentorship capabilities of seasoned professionals. Doing things you can’t at a VC backed Startup — When Mike said “hit our goals, we’re going to Mexico,” the team crushed it. A VC run board would have shut down the idea as not worth the significant expense but he was able to deliver on his promise even when it hurt the wallet. This commitment to following through on promises, no matter the cost, has built a culture of trust and motivation within the company. The final, and I thought most interesting, takeaway from this conversation was Mike’s idea that companies know what they want to be. Finding and being true to that has been the key to his success and ignoring it was the foundation of his failures. With Custommade, he wanted it to be something it didn’t want to be — a massive marketplace for craftspeople to connect and transact. What it wanted to be was a simple listing service. With Butcherbox, Mike wanted it to be a hobby business so he could outsource everything and collect a check every month from a beach. But what the business wants to be is a force within the world of meat for better quality products and more humane treatment of the animals and land. In both cases, and in different ways, he’s fought what the company is telling him about what it wants to be. When he’s embraced his role as a steward for an idea, a business and a culture that will continue long after he’s out of the day to day grew. That’s what I took away from this one. I’m curious about your take away from this one, too. Let’s try something new this week — leave a comment on the YouTube video with your takeaways or thoughts, and any experiences you’ve had that relate to what Mike shares. Don’t hesitate to call BS if there’s something you think he or I miss the mark on. I’ll be monitoring and responding to as many comments as I can. Hoping this will be a fun addition to our weekly tradition of sharing these conversations and artifacts with you. As always, I hope you enjoy listening and commenting as much as we enjoyed recording this one. And if you’re working on something you think could be a fit for an investment from indie, please reach out. — Bryce…

INDIE AUDIO

48 weeks ago45:00