Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast

After explaining April 15th and #42 to enough people, I decided to make it into a quick podcast.  Racism being a frequent topic of this podcast, Michael White joins us to explain the significance of April 15th and the #42.  On April 14, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American player (since the 1880s) to play professional baseball in the "Major" leagues.  Also discussed are the Negr...

In part 2, Kent Lindstrom continues his talk with Jonathan Abrams -- founder of Friendster, Nuzzel, Founders Den (with a few others), as well as Socializr and Hotlinks.  He is on the board of Girls in Tech.  In this continued conversation, some of the evils of VC firms are discussed.  Also discussed are sexism in Silicon Valley (a serious topic) and TV shows, and Sci Fi books (not a serious topic)...

Jonathan Abrams founded Friendster -- the first social network, whose patent on social networking is now owned by Facebook.  He also founded Hotlinks, Socializr, and Founders Den.  He is currently CEO of social news site Nuzzel, which he also founded. Jonathan has also invested in many seed stage startups, and sits on the board of Girls in Tech. Jonathan has a unique perspective on Silicon Valley...

Part 2 of 2 of Kent's conversation with Michael White, wherein he discusses his thesis of why Silicon Valley's unique economics and culture will lead to the Bay Area dominating professional sports. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the w...

Fan favorite Michael White discusses his theory:  That Basketball (The Warriors), Baseball (The San Francisco Giants) and Hockey (the San Jose Sharks) will dominate professional sports, due to unique characteristics of Silicon Valley.  Part 1 of 2.

Note:  This is the full episode of Kent's conversation with Shaun:    "Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, including how to c...

"Black people and Asian people SHOULD work together in Oakland".  So this one begins..  Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, i...

We turn to Oakland.  Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, including how to connect lower income people to the tech industry, w...

Allison White, Silicon Valley school principal, discusses transgender kids.  This is the full conversation.  Some of the media referenced in this podcast:  1) John Oliver show on transgender; 2) TED Talk "Norman Spack"; 3) NBC Nightly News on Transgender Kids; 4) Rolling Stone Article "About a Girl -- Coy Mathis".    

In part 2 of this conversation with Allison White, Silicon Valley school principal -- we continue the discussion about transgender kids in Silicon Valley.  Some of the referenced elements can be found by:  Search for NBC Nightly news, the Atlantic and John Oliver stories on transgender issues.  Rolling Stone -- search for "Coy Mathis".     -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insid...

Kent sits down with Silicon Valley school principal Allison White to discuss transgender kids.  Many in Silicon Valley are only slowly beginning to understand transgender issues in the Valley and how to be supportive.  In this discussion the issues faced by transgender kids and families in Silicon Valley are discussed. Show Notes -- referenced in this podcast: TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/no...

Part 2 with Ian McFarland -- technologist, author.  Currently of Pear Therapeutics, also founder of Neo Innovation.  We continue our wide-ranging discussion of everything from bitcoin to the "Series A crunch".   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way...

Ian McFarland literally wrote the book -- on the Tomcat server.  He is one of Silicon Valley's great technologists -- from Hotwired, through being an executive and Principal at Pivotal Labs, to his current role as Chairman of Neo Innovation.  We roam widely through topics including (what else?) housing in Silicon Valley, whether Bitcoin matters, and his first computer.   -- In the Something Ventur...

Entrepreneur Ben Cheung, founder of Genee, details his journey from Southern China to the US, and eventually to Intel and VMware. Ben discusses the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur, as he describes his path to making Genee a success.   Genee is a virtual assistant that coordinates meetings for individuls or groups.  But his story will be a familiar one to most entrepreneurs. -- In t...

In the 2015 "Pridecast", Kent discusses 2 transgender people from the world of technology who you sould know:  Lana Wachowski and Martine Rothblatt.   --  In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online.... and beyond.

Dan Carucci, M.D., Ph. D. has served in the US Navy -- as head of its malaria program. He has served as director of science for the Foundation for the National Institutes for Health.  He has also spent time with the Gates Foundation, and escorting billionaires around Africa to study various health initiatives.  As wealth is created in Silicon Valley, many turn to funding large scale global health...

Neil Cohen -- CMO and lecturer and San Francisco State University continues the conversation about how -- and how not -- to optimize a career in Silicon Valley. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley Insider Kent Lindstrom goes behind the scenes in Silicon Valley as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online -- and beyond.

Neil Cohen -- Silicon Valley CMO and San Francisco State lecturer talks about the etiquette of job searching and of hiring candidates in Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley's hot job market doesn't keep candidates from making wealth minimizing mistakes -- so Kent and Neil discuss how to get it right. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom goes behind the scenes in...

In this part 2 of 2, Charlie Recksieck continues the conversation on music.  We begin by explaining Mark Zuckerberg and his foray into Wirehog, before Facebook.  Also discussed are how the music business works today -- how new technologies impact how artists get paid, and the implications for promoting and monetizing band tours.  Charlie's band is The Bigfellas, whose music was featured in the 201...

Charlie Recksieck is an entrepreneur, engineer and musician.  His band is "Leaders in the Clubhouse". Discussed in this episode are the (many) impacts technology has had on music.  From 8-track tapes to Napster.  The episode begins with a brief explanation of Napster and Mark Zuckerberg's brief foray into peer-peer music, before....Facebook.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley I...

In episode 2 of 2 with Preet Anand, we discuss Blue Light, the startup focused on public safety, of which Preet is CEO and Founder.  Topics include -- the process (and game) of fundraising.  Also discussed is the uniqueness of a startup in the public safety space, as well as the ups and downs of being an entrepreeur in Silicon Valley.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley insider K...

Bluelight founder and CEO Preet Anand discusses the ups and downs of his startup in this first of 2 episodes.  In "Something Ventured" fashion the first episode covers -- yes -- housing in Silicon Valley.  Also discussed are Preet's experiences at Zynga, and observations of life in the Bay Area.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley Veteran Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behi...

Internet exec and  San Francisco State professor Neil Cohen talks marketing.  Often misunderstood in Silicon Valley, the marketing role is a key one for almost any successful company of any size.  Also in this episode -- Neil and Kent poke fun at some Silicon  Valley marketing fails -- and those billboards on the 101. -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explo...

Neil Cohen is a marketing executive and advisor with experience ranging from Sega and Hilton to numerous successful startups.  He is a board member of SF State UCORP and a Mentor to StartupMexico.  In this podcast, Neil and Kent discuss the booming entrepreneurial scene in Mexico City, and contrast it to Silicon Valley -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley veteran Kent Lindstrom expl...

On October 30, 2014, Tim Cook -- Apple's CEO -- came out as gay.  He never denied it, but now said  " I haven't acknowledged it publicly, until now". Tim Cook and other gay Silicon Valley executives were discussed in an earlier podcast with executive Vincent Robinson.  Here, we replay that episode. Happy holidays.  Kent Lindstrom.... @kentlind -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley i...