Will Mayo

Please sign this letter if you live in Colorado and work with AI. The proposed bill attempts to solve a non-existent problem in the wrong way. It's poorly written, complete with bad definitions, strange carveouts, pointless disclosures, and makes fundamental assumptions about AI that are incorrect. I see this bill as a response to the AI hype in the media (and maybe a few science fiction movies)—not what is actually happening on the ground. If and when AI models need their own specific regulation, I am confident we can do much better.

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Local in-person events are giving you access to rooms you would never be able to join otherwise. I've never experienced this fact so vividly like on Pavilion's #GTM2024 in Austin. Lauren Shleifer Goldstein led an outstanding session on "Organizing GTM Operating Capabilities for PE and VC firms", which opened my eyes to the fact above. During the pandemic, I've been a huge fan of online formats. While it was a pure necessity to be online vs. face to face, I felt that it opened up an endless opportunity to learn and grow for me. However, after a while things became repetitive, energy draining and I disconnected. The pure and unique thing about meeting in person is that every interaction could be an opportunity to open up a completely new part of your network, a new perspective on a perception you had or simply a door to a room which I would just not have able to tap into being connected online. Did you experience this the same way? There are three events coming up in Amsterdam which will open up these exact rooms as a commercial leader 🔥 ➡️ Oct, 31st: First Pavilion Amsterdam Associate meet-up hosted by Violeta Dauksta and Ken C.. Your development as a leader. Broaden your horizon as you progress in your career from a tactical role to a strategic one. As part of that, the focus is finishing 2024 strong and planning ahead for 2025. ➡️ Nov, 7th: Pricing strategies with Laurent-David Hostyn. During this session, we'll discuss the dual tasks of value packaging and pricing. Value packaging involves assembling your value proposition effectively, including features and services and pricing isn't just about setting the right price model for your value, it's also about how salespeople and marketers communicate pricing across various channels. ➡️ Nov, 26th: Wine, bites & Revenue Architecture: An evening at the amazing Shiraz Jardin des Vins to break down a simple approach to Revenue Architecture. We are going to build a step by step approach of Winning by Design's RevArch models for the real life situations Pavilion members experience in their business. If you want to join for any of these, we'll gladly open that room for you (meaning: DM me 😎). #RevenueArchitecture #Events #Community

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🎯 Seeking: A Design Visionary for Forge™ In the 90s, Jony Ive helped transform Apple's design language. Now, FORGE Inc. seeks an even more ambitious visionary -> someone who can define how humans and AI companions will interact for decades to come. Our aiRobot™ family isn't just another product line -> it's the beginning of a new era in human-AI relationships. We need someone who sees beyond current design paradigms to create something truly revolutionary. We're seeking a design pioneer who: Has shaped revolutionary products before Understands that tomorrow's classics are born from timeless principles Can envision AI companionship in its purest, most elegant form Believes in making sophisticated technology deeply human This is an opportunity to define an entirely new category -> one that will influence how generations connect with AI. If you're a design visionary with the experience and passion to shape this future, let's connect! ✅ michael@aientityforge.org Help us bring the FORGE™ aiRobot™ family to life in 2025. MIchael Founder & CEO FORGE™ | aiRobots #Design #Innovation #AI #ProductDesign #IndustrialDesign #FutureOfTechnology #AICompanion #FORGE #Leadership

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B&H Creators are going to TX! 🎥 Exciting News! 🎶 I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be teaching a workshop at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 11, 2025, titled: “Elevate Your Content: Impact with Visuals” In this hands-on session, we’ll dive into essential techniques for creating high-quality, long-form video content. Whether you’re making music videos, branded content, or video podcasts, you’ll learn how to: ✨ Master Lighting: Set up three-point lighting for a professional look. 🎤 Optimize Audio: Choose the right microphones for clear, dynamic sound. 📸 Upgrade Video: Dial in camera settings for stunning visuals. Expect radical tips, live demonstrations, and plenty of Q&A to help you level up your content creation skills. You’ll leave with practical tools — and the confidence — to produce your own standout videos. 📅 Mark your calendars: Workshop Date: March 11, 2025 Where: SXSW Music Festival I can’t wait to connect with fellow creators and share techniques that make a real impact. Let me know if you’ll be there — see you in Austin! #SXSW2025 #ContentCreation #VisualStorytelling #VideoProduction #CreativeCommunity #LevelUpYourContent #VideoPodcasting

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Women building tech — Here is a database of 1,208 investor resources with 545 supporting women and underrepresented founders! ➡️ Type: fund, accelerator, angel, etc ➡️ Filter by Women focused ➡️ Categorize by industry or vertical ➡️ Direct link to their website In my mission to bringing access to women building tech, cutting down time and money for them to find these resources is really critical. 💰Funds - are you missing from this list? Let me know so I can add you! 🔗 GET THE LIST in comments!! — Hi, I'm Nomiki, Founder & CEO of PDS Lab, a tech accelerator for women. I am on a mission to bring access to women building their first tech solutions through product training, education, resources, and community. Follow my journey as I disrupt the tech ecosystem by bringing ACCESS to women building tech.

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Exciting news from Techstars for our #Colorado ecosystem! Thanks, Nicole Glaros, Natty Zola, and David Cohen, for your collaboration in reimagining how best to support founders in #Colorado. #startups #entrepreneurship #ecosystem #innovation

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Join us tomorrow to hear Lisa Orr talk about navigating your next career move as a senior product manager, and me talking about the "mirage" of AI hallucinations. When artificial intelligence (AI) outputs don’t match our shared reality, people have been saying it’s "hallucinating." But hallucination makes it sound like AI is conscious and distracts from the part we humans play in generating synthetic meaning. Do words matter? Learn why we should all change how we talk about AI to promote better understanding in a future world with the ✨sparkling intelligence✨ of AI.

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Who are some awesome marketplace founders in Austin? We're putting together a community meetup for marketplace founders & teams in Austin and trying to see how many spots we should keep open for invites. We always try to keep a few spots open for invites, so it would be great to get a sense of what that local marketplace scene is like and anyone that should join us. Please let me know in the comments below!

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Calling all #Founders! Do you struggle with pitch deck challenges like these? Come join us for a FREE workshop all about creating powerful pitch decks, hosted by Founder Institute! How do you trim down everything you need to say into just a 3 minute pitch? How can I avoid common pitch mistakes? How do I make my technical innovations easily accessible? We'll tackle all this & more! Sign up now! #freeevent #pitchdecks #presentations #fundraising #startups

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One of my favorite things I do with the Nobody Studios team is to pull apart everything we know and attempt to make sense of it. A #trend that has been hot lately is the deconstruction and rebuilding of life paths. We have seen that traditional milestones defining success—education, career, marriage, homeownership, retirement—are being reshaped. We have seen new limitations, necessities, and opportunities, significantly shifting demographics. OBSERVATIONS... - Changes are driven by technological advancements, evolving gender roles, rising living costs, and shifting values. - The pandemic has accelerated these transformations. - People are planning less than a year into the future, prioritizing flexibility and personal fulfillment. THE OUTTAKE When launching startups we must support unique life paths and emerging mindsets. This is the future we need to build for. Are humans focusing on being more present? We hope so! #futureplanning #venturestudio

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📣 Hey friends! After a year and a half, 3 rounds of fundraising and building out the design practice at MotherDuck I'm ready for new opportunities! I joined as the Head of Design and the first hire back in fall 2022, and helped shape what design means for the company. I hope you can feel the 'ducking' awesomeness through the product and brand. Now, I'm looking to explore head of design or staff roles in early to growth stage companies and even larger organizations. Can't wait to connect with compassionate founders seeking a design leader versed in UI, UX, IXD, UXR. But first, let me share some startup lessons I've learned over the last 14 years: 1. 🗺️ Have a clear vision A clear vision, articulated and illustrated through design, is a powerful tool. It's the magic that unites your team and customers, helping them SEE where you're going. Design leaders, in sync with the CEO and CPO, can bridge the gap between user expectations and their dream come true. 2. 💎 Quality matters when it matters With limited resources, small teams need to be strategic. A design leader should understand when to focus on the details or backlog them. Foster a culture of experimentation and user feedback. Remember, even as an SME, you might have bias. Listen to your users carefully. 3. 🌟 Lean into your super powers Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is key. If you have the right team, rely on their technical abilities instead of trying to be an expert at everything. It’s tough when you're small, but encourage adaptability and ownership. 4. 📂 Get organized Small messes grow into big ones, which turn into big expenses. Establish clear processes for documentation, meetings, note taking practices and sharing information. Standardize things at the company level and stay organized to scale efficiently. 5. 🤗 Lead with compassion Trust is hard won and easily lost. Leaders who put their ego aside and lead with compassion create a more open culture. Deep relationships, compassion, and a willingness to take a hit for your team will reap rewards in the long run. 6. 🙋 Know your users Get to know your customers and users. Invest time and money in foundational research around their needs and use cases. Share insights and find themes. Eventually, you might have a research function to do this at scale. Until then, let your users lead the way. You'll be amazed at what you learn. 7. 🥳 Have fun If you’re not, you’re not in the right place, find the team that will make you happy, healthy and hoping for more. If you’re constantly stressed, losing sleep, or finding yourself in the hospital for stress induced blood clots then you need to get out. Find partners that get your craft, respect it’s value and hold you up. Life is short, love those around you and make the world a better place. If you’re a compassionate founder with a goal to make amazing things with amazing people let’s design a better world together. https://raphaelhyde.com/

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In this new episode of #TheBuilders, we dive into the fascinating dynamics between makers and managers with executive coach David Bates. With a background spanning from IBM to venture capital, he shares his insights on respecting deep work and managing interruptions for better team communication and performance. Here are some gems you'll hear: 💎 Coaching should be tailored to each person, focusing on individual growth and goals. 💎 It's crucial to recognize and appreciate different work styles to create a productive team environment. 💎 Clear communication protocols are essential for high-performing teams. 💎 Leaders need to protect their deep work time for strategic planning. 💎 Valuing every team member's contributions is key to organizational success. From creator to manager, we all are required to do deep work. This episode is packed with practical advice to boost your team's productivity and harmony. Tune in now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/dcF4j59J #teamcommunication #communicationiskey #teamenvironment #leadership #businesstalks #businesspodcast #entrepreneurship #thebuildersfm

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Lemme vent for a second about how value of this platform is dimishing thanks to: - #recycled #content - #propoganda and #bots - retirees using this platform as a substitute for Facebook - #Utah tech bros bearing their religious testimonials (I lived in Utah off/on for nearly 30 years and this does not get any less cringe) Folks are sharing the same videos from Telegram and news articles (even those written by AI). Some of y’all are even paying to promote your posts (yes, looking at you Skydio.) That’s real SMFH vibes. Anyway - the next few weeks are going to be massive for the #West and related #industrialbase for #drones: - we just had Anduril Industries and PDW win #MRR (I would have loved to have seen Edge Autonomy and Quantum Systems on there but I digress) - #SRR announce is IMMINENT - between Skydio and Teal Drones (Utah LFG!) - this is one of the largest contracts and programs of record in our industry. It would be nice to see both companies awarded, tbh, as it really helps the industrial base and more so, creates a massive black eye for the loser. I’m long #RCAT btw and would love to see these jobs brought to my hometown of #SLC. - #BlueUAS Refresh applicants get notified this week if their solutions were accepted for the first round of vetting. Curious to see who makes it and who doesn’t. - lots of #FPV stuff coming out of the woodwork, I’ve got eyes on #Europe 👀 - #SkydioAscend24 will unveil the #dock for X10 - it’s better than the predecessor, but larger and more expensive. Plus, lots of #software features like better #autonomy. (tbh, I’m always stoked on what Charles Wood and his crew are doing - the guy has had me eating my words like cereal on a few occasions about their products and despite the posts I relish being wrong and coming to a different conclusion - whether re: drones or something else). Word on the street is that they’re raising $$, again. (Quick take: if Skydio loses SRR, I believe the company will double-down on #DFR to alleviate any #investor concerns.) - Zipline (presumably) taking the wraps off of their P2 #dronedelivery platform. Keenan Wyrobek you’ve got everyone’s attention, as per usual. Photo of my dog, because Churro is cute and real (TRL-9) - unlike the render of that prototype product that needs multiple revisions and won’t be available for months.

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The next generation of problem solvers and builders. KVUE - Elon Musk's new Montessori school gets permit to open in Bastrop County. https://lnkd.in/gR3AQRgH Opening in Bastrop County, Texas, the State of the Future. Ad Astra is dedicated to nurturing the innate curiosity of children, cultivating their creativity, and honing their critical thinking skills. Inspiring future generations to Build the Future like JFK did for aerospace. Ad Astra’s curriculum is supported by modern scientific research to promote advanced executive functions in children. Bastrop County is the Epicenter and will be the 21st-century Murray Hill. Accelerating Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zones nationwide. https://lnkd.in/etWT-HU5 Atomic Energy was born in a New Mexico desert; the Pursuit of Space in the swamps of Florida; the Energy superpower in the Tennessee Valley; Automotive Titans in Detroit; and the Silicon Economy in the orchards of California. Now for Texas, the State of the Future. Texas is leading the nation with Industry 4.0 by establishing a CONTINUUM of Innovation Capital and Building in the Physical World. Building a Stronger & More Connected Nation. Autonomy Institute Bastrop County https://lnkd.in/gWApH6ia

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CEO reads book and implements org wide change. What could go wrong? But really, deep work is where it's at. Check out the post to learn about the thought process behind implementing it at Warrior-Scholar Project and some of the early results we've seen. #twobittuesday #productivity https://lnkd.in/ghtmN2wH

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Leveraging proven frameworks helps founders accelerate their technology, culture, sales, and operations. Frameworks help founders for us in action instead of struggling to figure it out. Join Julie Penner, Jim Franklin, Larson Stair, and myself as we delve into how frameworks have been game changers for us in this Denver Startup Week panel. Tuesday, September 17, 10am Techstars Denver #FrameworksForFounders #startups #DSW2024 #CTO CTO Levels

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It's been too long. Between work and family commitments, I haven't attended one of my favorite (un)conferences — ProductCamp Austin —in years. So, I’m super excited to participate this week in the 30th edition of PCA. In fact, it’s hard to believe that I attended the first one 16 years ago! Even better, I'm going to submit a session titled "From Corporate Chains to Consulting Gains: My PMM’s Journey to Independence." Two years ago, I took a leap of faith and transitioned from a corporate role into running my own PMM consulting practice. It has been an incredible journey of growth and learning, filled with insights and milestones that I'm eager to share. If you happen to attend ProductCamp this week, please don't forget to vote for my session 😊 #ProductCampAustin #PMM #Consulting #CareerTransition #Entrepreneurship

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TAKING THE STAGE We've learned a lot about #ai in the sales space over the last year. Our take: Every company will fall into one of three buckets. 1. You embrace Ai in your #sales today and start separating yourself from the pack. 2. In 2-3 years, you look for an off the shelf solution so you don't lose too much market share. 3. You refuse to #adapt and get left behind. We'll be talking about where the industry is right now and the options you have. Should be a fun one! #presentation #SASW2024 #training

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Congratulations to the Antler Spring 2024 Cohort! 🎉 As a Spring 2023 alum with Layerpath, I relate to your intense journey. The IC decision, while significant, is just one step in a much larger adventure. Here are a few key takeaways and next steps for all of us early-stage founders: 1) Embrace the Journey: A founder's path is filled with ups and downs. Every decision from accelerators or VCs is part of your growth. Stay focused on your long-term vision. 2) Conviction and Resilience: Believe in your mission and be ready to embrace both successes and failures. Progress, no matter how small, is what truly matters. 3) Community Support: Let's support each other. If you're feeling down or need advice, please reach out. As someone who's been through this process and is 12 months ahead, I'm here to chat, make introductions, or share resources to help you navigate the next steps. Founders grow stronger together. Let's keep pushing forward and supporting one another! 🙌 Tagging some fantastic fellow Antler cohort members who have become friends for life! Soham, Adie, Hazim, Carin, Milad, Sharath, Dana, Sakib, Tord, Sahil, Fauzan, Fauzi, Satwant, Sujith, Rohan, Nijansh, Nikita, Emily, Pradyu, Vidushi, Devyani, Willem, Catherine, Dana, Dan! #Founders #StartupLife #Accelerators #FounderLife

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