More tech layoffs...

PLUS: Founders don’t care about sustainability?

Author

Wishu
December 04, 2023

Hello. It’s worth manually updating to the latest version of Google Chrome within its settings to avoid your system being left exposed. If you already have your Chrome browser set to update automatically, then you may not need to take any action.

— James Xu-Johnson

2024 is looking like a much better year for tech startups

2024 Startups Will Have to Endure Less Than 2022 and 2023 for 3 core reasons: Many tech companies are expecting a growth rebound next year, venture capital totals could bounce off 2023-era lows, and the IPO market could defrost itself.

One venture capital firm thinks that AI-powered automation is set to make startups more efficient. That means less burn, and better overall profitability ratios. Mix in an easier growth landscape and, well, next year could be a rebound period for startups. 

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3 top headlines 💬

Chrome’s next weapon in the War on Ad Blockers: Slower extension updates: In Google's escalating battle against ad blockers, Chrome's upcoming Manifest V3 extension platform, set to be enforced in June 2024, takes aim at limiting extension updates, particularly for ad blockers, by introducing delays through the Chrome Web Store review process, raising concerns about potential hurdles for developers striving to keep pace with evolving ad delivery tactics.

Spotify cuts 17% jobs amid rising capital costs: Spotify is cutting 1,500 jobs, 17% of its workforce, due to economic challenges and rising capital costs, as CEO Daniel Ek aligns the company's size with financial goals amid a broader trend of layoffs in the tech sector and beyond.

ZOOOOM: Zoom quietly launched an Apple TV version of its meetings app, allowing users with a 2nd gen or later Apple TV 4K to conduct large-screen Zoom meetings through Continuity Camera, leveraging their iPhones as webcams.

Happy 1st birthday ChatGPT

In the year since ChatGPT's launch, it has emerged as the poster child of the AI revolution. Over 100 million users accessed ChatGPT's website within two months of its launch, according to data analytics firm Similarweb. 

ChatGPT's reach extended far beyond tech. Its rising popularity stoked concern over AI replacing workers. A Goldman Sachs report published in March projected that AI could disrupt as many as 300 million jobs worldwide.

Founders don’t care about sustainability?

Fewer than 1% of founders mention ‘sustainability’ in their fundraising docs. Startups are at the forefront of innovation and change, and the choices you make today will shape our world tomorrow. If we don’t think about sustainability at this point, there soon won’t be much else worth fighting for.

Sustainability is no longer optional: It's a critical tool for risk management and long-term viability. Think beyond the immediate — efficient resource use, waste reduction and a smaller carbon footprint are your shields against the unpredictable tides of global markets and environmental crises.

It's also good for business…Focusing on sustainability is about unlocking tomorrow’s opportunities. You have the unique chance of leading and creating groundbreaking, eco-friendly companies and business models.

Articles & links we dig

💸 30 Under 30 Venture Capital 2024: Meet the young investors backing next-gen startups from AI to space tech.

👀 Innovation-killing noncompete agreements are finally dying.

🚀 Shein faces an uphill battle to sustain growth.