The Observer's Notebook: Welcome to Volume II
Volume II | November 14, 2024
After 16 weeks posting 2x/week, I've decided to evolve the regular Thursday post into a cleaner format called “The Observer's Notebook” focused exclusively on sharing insights from my journey. I’ve moved a condensed “takeaways” section into the show notes for the Tuesday podcast release, which will make regular content more focused and digestible. I’m starting this new format fresh with Volume II - you can find Volume I with all 216 previous lessons learned here. What do you think about the new approach?
001: Nuclear is HOT.
In the last week, I've had two separate conversations with experienced VCs who are both closely watching the nuclear energy space. Curtis Feeny [Episode 17 - 41:00] and Larry Warnock [Episode 16 - 46:00] independently highlighted nuclear as a critical investment trend to watch. Curtis pointed to it as essential for global energy transition, while Larry highlighted the massive power demands of AI and data centers driving innovation in micro-reactors - he even visited a company last week working on micro reactors for data centers. These are both massive drivers.
Know anybody working in this space? If so, please introduce me - I'd love to have them on the show.
002: Delaying AI Literacy is a Mistake
Several times over the last week someone said to me “Oh wow, I should learn how to use AI more but I just don’t have the time.”
That’s a mistake.
Sure, it’s an upfront investment of time (and possibly a little $) to learn. But the net efficiency gained over the long haul for anyone that works in an “information” role (aka, most white collar roles) is so dramatic it’s just unbelievable.
003: Just Take the Next Step
Yesterday I attended the Texas Business Hall of Fame’s annual gala. One of the 6 inductees was Joe Gebbia, cofounder of AirBnB. During his acceptance speech, his advice to the entrepreneurial community was essentially this: don’t overthink it, just take the next step.
So good.
Bookmarks (Formerly “3 Interesting Links”)
A product messaging scale from “simple to WTF”🤯| Andrew Chen @A16z (link)
Questions when reviewing a syndicate deal❓| Kera Demars @Hustle Fund (link)
Best quant analysis of seed “valuations” I’ve seen📊| Nnamdi Iregbulem @Who Is Nnamdi (link)
Thanks for reading - have a great week.
-Andrew
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New to The Observer's Notebook? Check out the 216 lessons learned from Volume I.
How did I do this week?
About Me
I cultivate flourishing.
I'm also the CEO of PitchFact, where our mission is to cultivate flourishing specifically through efficient and collaborative early-stage diligence. I'm a proud husband, grateful father, and honest friend. My love languages include brisket, bourbon, and espresso.