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Today’s edition captures tech at its most revealing: a CEO who still drives his own riders to stay sharp, Meta quietly negotiating for Google’s silicon, and the inventor who turned 5,127 failed attempts into a household empire.
Crypto is back in YC’s halls, robotaxis are scaling, and data centers are now building their own power plants.
A neat reminder: the future doesn’t arrive all at once; it shows up in these small, decisive shifts.
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🎙 Catch the punchline hidden in this week’s headlines 🎙
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Six bullets of updates
🚗 Lyft's CEO drives incognito every 6 weeks to spark features like $2.99 Price Lock, as 2024 was first full‑year profit.
🔋 An 88-acre solar project will rise beside a Memphis data hub, powering AI with renewable energy directly on site .
🤝 Meta eyes a multi-billion dollar deal for Google's TPUs to power its data centers starting in 2027.
🚀 YC is welcoming a wave of new crypto startups, with over 30 blockchain ventures joining its latest batch.
🚗 Pony.ai aims to deploy 3,000 robotaxis worldwide by end of 2026 as part of its global expansion push.
🌀 After 5,127 prototypes and years of frustration, persistence turned a simple annoyance into a global appliance empire.
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AI-Powered Tools for Personalized Hair Loss Diagnosis and Treatment
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
MyHair AI uses computer vision to analyze scalp images, spot hair‑loss patterns, and suggest evidence‑based options. Think a mirror that talks back, politely. It turns scalp photos into triage and routes users to vetted clinics and treatments.
Playbook: capture high‑intent search, convert with quick answers, monetize via tele‑derm partners, referrals, or subscription follow‑ups. Expect competition with Hims/Hers, Keeps, and derm apps; whoever controls longitudinal photo data owns the moat. Clinics benefit if this drives qualified leads via clinic marketplaces.
Key risks: medical claims vs. “wellness” framing, accuracy across hair types, consented data reuse, and possible SaMD scrutiny. If outcomes tracking proves efficacy (before/after, adherence), this could graduate into payer‑friendly triage rather than vanity tech.
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How to Calculate Customer Lifetime Value the RIGHT Way
💡 Most startups calculate their Customer Lifetime Value wrong.
In this episode, Caya breaks down how to actually measure CLTV (and CAC) like a pro; using real templates, realistic churn, and actual payback periods. We’ll cover the most common mistakes in LTV math, how to adapt it for SaaS, e-commerce, and marketplaces, and what your numbers really mean for growth.
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The Vault Just Opened on a $2T Market Opportunity
Elf Labs owns 100+ priceless trademarks for icons like Cinderella & Snow White. They’ve already earned $15M+ in royalties, and are now using AI to turn these legends into living, interactive worlds for the next generation. With patented tech & a $2T market opportunity ahead, the next chapter of entertainment is being written in real time.
This is a paid advertisement for Elf Lab’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://www.elflabs.com/
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🧘 Smart wellness perks can lift recruiting, retention, and culture; e.g., 6 trainer sessions/mo + a massage every 6 weeks.
🪟 Transparent decisions deepen trust, mute politics, and sustain culture, backed by four clear steps leaders can apply.
🦃 Thanksgiving is a prompt; leaders can use 5 simple moves to keep recognition rolling year-round to lift retention.
Slidebean Revenue Data
Mistakes were made as we grew Slidebean, but those mistakes shaped the lessons that helped us thrive. The journey wasn’t just about surviving—it was about learning and evolving.
To give you an honest glimpse into what growth really looks like, we’re sharing our actual financial numbers from the formative years of Slidebean. Download them now and see the ups, downs, and everything in between that built the company we are today.
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Tech Industry Forecasts Predict Future AI and Human Collaboration
Photo by Katja Anokhina on Unsplash
AI’s next phase puts humans in charge, not sidelined: AI in the loop to set intent while models and robots execute. Expect companionship tech for elders, a renaissance developer who ships faster (not vanished), and a scramble as quantum‑safe becomes the only safe. Yes, the new roommate might charge via USB‑C.
Implications: near‑term demand in eldercare, defense‑to‑civilian spillovers, and personalized tutoring. Prioritize human‑supervised workflows, liability/safety tooling, and data provenance. Incumbents will win via distribution; challengers via regulated wedges. Monetize PQC migrations, edge autonomy for disaster response, and enterprise co‑pilots. The 12–24 month window is real; ship before compliance sets the moat.