1. We are creating and encouraging a culture of distraction where we are increasingly disconnected from the people and events around us and increasingly unable to engage in long-form thinking. People now feel anxious when their brains are unstimulated.
  2. We are losing some very important things by doing this. We threaten the key ingredients behind creativity and insight by filling up all our “gap” time with stimulation. And we inhibit real human connection when we prioritize our phones over our the people right in front of us.
  3. What can we do about it? Is this path inevitable or can balance be restored?

by Joe Kraus

TechStars Episode 2

The companies settle into the Loft. How will they deal with mentor whiplash — conflicting advice from dozens of the top minds in tech? Which company will stand out and win facetime with their tech idol? 

(Source: bloomberg.com)

Making Data More Human: Jer Thorp

Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson

LinkedIn Co-Founder: The Future of Social Media

(Source: video.cnbc.com)

TechStars New York Episode 1

The entrepreneurs battle for the few spots in the Loft. Meet the Davids, who run the elite incubator, and the top minds in tech who will mentor the companies through the toughest three months they’ll ever face as entrepreneurs. Who’s got problems with their business right off the bat?

(Source: bloomberg.com)

The biggest thing we all knew was that cofounders tend to do better than single founders; more controversial will be the finding that younger founders do better. That’s a hotly debated idea at TechCrunch, and the key is looking at companies that either have had or are expected to have outsized results. When it comes to the macro-startup economy, that’s what keeps all of us in business.

(Source: TechCrunch)

Many people really do not understand what Twitter is all about. On this video Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter addressed much of the misinformation about Twitter.

(Source: allthingsd.com)

Many corporations test products during the development cycle but not early or often enough with actual customers. R&D is the most expensive step in the innovation process. If you wait until you have something close to a finished product before getting user feedback, large sunk costs will make your team reluctant to employ significant changes.
For Successful Innovation, Release Imperfect Products by Larry Popelka