This Month at Silicon Valley Icons
February 2024
Dear SV Icons Community:
Welcome to the monthly edition of the Silicon Valley Icons Newsletter. In February 2024, we had the privilege of engaging with some of the most pioneering minds in technology and venture capital. Our dinner discussions spanned a wide array of topics, from the future of work and digital currencies to the essence of startup success and the impact of technology on society.
TL;DR:
Garrett Lord (Handshake CEO) shared insights on revolutionizing college recruiting, emphasizing democratizing job access, and building user-centric platforms.
Craig Newmark (Craigslist Founder) reflected on creating a trusted community marketplace, highlighting simplicity, safety, and social impact.
Chris Larsen (Ripple Co-Founder) discussed blockchain's role in transforming global payments, aiming for a more efficient and inclusive financial system.
Garry Tan (Y Combinator CEO) offered wisdom on nurturing startup success, the importance of early support, and building diverse founder communities.
Mark Pincus (Zynga Founder) explored the challenges and rewards of scaling online games, focusing on user engagement and the power of social gaming.
Transforming the Job Market with Garrett Lord, CEO of Handshake
Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake, delved into the challenges and triumphs of revolutionizing college recruiting. Lord shared Handshake’s journey from its inception at Michigan Tech to becoming the leading career platform for college students nationwide. He discussed how Handshake leverages technology to connect talent with employers in meaningful ways. Lord's insights into building user-centric platforms and fostering inclusive work environments provided valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The story of Handshake is very much mission-oriented. Garrett and his co-founders wanted to democratize access to opportunity. Everyone talks about looking for missionary founders – Garrett is one of them. The root of the word passion is Latin for suffering. To be passionate about something, there has to be a mission bigger than you, and in this case, it was clearly there. And it’s what kept Garrett and his team going, despite all the setbacks. Garrett urges all founders to make sure that what they’re going after has a mission bigger than themselves because when the going gets tough and everyone is telling you no, that is all you have.
Reimagining Classifieds with Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist
Craig Newmark’s conversation was a deep dive into the ethos behind Craigslist and its impact on how people buy, sell, and connect. Newmark reflected on the importance of simplicity and trust in creating a platform that has stood the test of time. He discussed Craigslist’s commitment to serving the community and addressed the challenges of maintaining privacy and safety online. Newmark’s perspective on social impact and his ongoing work with Craig Newmark Philanthropies offered inspiring takeaways for those looking to make a difference through technology.
There are some quotes from Newmark’s exclusive sharing:
You can be doing well by doing good.
Treat people like you want to be treated. You should know when enough is enough. Be your sister's keeper, your brother's keeper. That should set your moral compass.
Know when to step down. Sometimes, the best thing for your company is to give the reins to others who share your vision but are better managers and leaders.
Simple and fast design philosophy: sometimes, keeping things simple and fast is best. Speed online is key. You don’t always need fancy websites that get in the way of function. Sometimes it's nice to have something that gets the job done. And then you can get on with your life.
Trustworthy press is the immune system of democracy.
Philanthropy is needed because the government doesn’t always have the resources and moves slower because of so much red tape.
Pioneering Digital Currency with Chris Larsen, Ripple Co-Founder
Chris Larsen, a co-founder of Ripple, provided an expert analysis of the evolving landscape of digital finance. Larsen explored the potential of blockchain technology to transform global payment systems, making them more efficient, secure, and accessible. He shared insights into Ripple’s approach to facilitating cross-border payments and discussed the broader implications of cryptocurrency adoption for financial institutions and regulators. Larsen’s forward-looking vision for a more inclusive financial system captured the imagination of all attendees.
Cultivating Startup Success with Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator
Garry Tan, President and CEO of Y Combinator offered a masterclass in startup acceleration and venture funding. Drawing from his experiences at Y Combinator, Tan outlined what it takes to turn a startup idea into a global phenomenon. He shared stories of mentorship, innovation, and the critical role of early-stage support in the startup ecosystem. Tan’s discussion on the future of technology startups and the importance of building diverse and resilient founder communities was particularly impactful.
Gaming and Beyond with Mark Pincus, Founder of Zynga
Mark Pincus, founder and former CEO of Zynga, took us through the journey of creating some of the world’s most popular online games. Pincus discussed the challenges of scaling a gaming company, engaging millions of users, and staying innovative in a competitive market. He shared valuable lessons on user engagement, company culture, and the power of social gaming to connect people. Pincus’s reflections on the potential of interactive entertainment to shape culture and build communities were both enlightening and inspiring.
We summarized some of Pincus’s insights:
Winning Instincts vs. Winning Ideas: Your instinct is correct 95% of the time; your ideas - 25% of the time. Trust your instincts, not your ideas.
Small Ideas but Big Ambitions: Start small with big ambitions.
Proven, Better, New: Each product is an aggregation of individual features where some features are ‘proven’, other features are ‘better’ than the existing ones, and there are ‘new’ features that did not exist before. It is about making the product, as a whole, better. Otherwise (reciting Steve Jobs), by trying to make every feature 10% better, you may make the product 50% worse.
All New Fails: Assume new fails, and you can find a way to work around it.
Death By a Thousand Compromises: If you make too many compromises as a founder, you may end up building a company you don’t want to work at. Build a house you want to live in. Decide how ambitious you really are. No judgment, just intellectual honesty. Identify things that matter to you, lines you would not cross, trade-offs you would be willing to make. “I’m a team player; if I’m running the team, I have to be CEO”
Taste and creativity: You have to constantly increase your bar, develop your taste, and make it better. Care at a pixel level. Watch for true signals.
Lessons Learned: You can’t be naïve to a new space; you have to learn on the go. Copy what works well, whether it's proven, better, or new. Allow yourself to be too early—it may be hard, but it has to be done to discover a new planet. Understand what your ego is and how to avoid the pitfalls that come with it.
Happiness: Being and feeling useful to a community you care about.
This month's dinners have once again highlighted the incredible breadth of innovation and leadership within the Silicon Valley Icons community. Each speaker brought a unique perspective on navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving tech landscape. As we look forward to the next series of dinners, we remain committed to fostering meaningful conversations and connections among the next generation of technology leaders.