Welcome to my new subscribers - stoked to be writing again!

In this edition:

• AI Predictions from Ray Kurzweil

• Builder Updates - lessons from building a niche fitness app (and trying not to puke)

• De Minimis and the Tariff Situation - fast fashion what?

• Five Interesting Shares - things that might get your senses going 👃🏼

Hoping to write more regularly, but keeping these emails shorter and more focused on actual findings and my results. Suggestions and feedback welcomed.

If we haven’t met, hit reply and let me know what you’re working on. If we have met, it’s been a minute - do the same!

Thanks for being here. Let’s go!

Featured

🔸 The last 6 Decades of AI, And Where We’re Going

Ray Kurzweil, the og AI visionary, dropping a Ted talk with game changing predictions. According to him, AI will take over literally everything, and we’re on the verge of longevity escape velocity, meaning dramatically longer lifespans by 2030.

In The Arena

🔸 Doing Things

🔸 Week 07 Builder Updates

The Niche Fitness App

It's been more than a few months since my last update (October or November?), and I wanted to share what happened with my AI-assisted fitness app project.

Using Claude as my coding partner, I managed to build out a pretty sophisticated point system with leaderboards and multi-service integrations which honestly felt like magic at times. But, while it supercharged development, it also led me down some painful rabbit holes that felt more like venus flytraps. One example, I spent days troubleshooting API features that had been quietly deprecated, only to discover this after Claude had helped me write elaborate implementations. The final twist, or more like the nail in the coffin came when Strava updated their API policies, which devastated not only my little pet project app, but the entire Strava development ecosystem.

Before Claude and I even started coding, I reached out to 6 popular Strava app developers to get a feel for the ecosystem. Got mixed responses, but you know how it goes; sometimes you need to learn things the hard way.

A bit of Reddit sniping in November revealed that some of my planned features (the major idea) had been tried years ago but never caught on. Then came that Strava API announcement, giving Twitter platform vibes, when they suddenly pulled the rug out from 3rd party app developers. It was a seriously frustrating reminder that when you're building on someone else's platform, the ground can shift beneath you overnight. Something I've encountered multiple times in my career, but I thought strava was going to be a-okay, or so thought everyone.

After that announcement, I stopped coding and cut back on logging my personal workout activities in Strava. Since then, the idea of building something natively with Apple (instead of leveraging Stravas ecosystem) has been on my mind, but it's beyond the scope of a multi-weekend AI hackathon project. And there are bigger fish to fry.. RIP Fitness App.

Looking back now, I can laugh about some of the shortcut mistakes like thinking I could skip version control for the first few days (spoiler: you obv can't), or watching feature creep sneak in as AI made everything seem possible in just a few prompts.

Working with Claude was amazing, but give it an inch and it'll refactor your entire codebase without you even realizing it! I learned to carefully monitor each commit to prevent it from duplicating features or going off on well-intentioned but unnecessary optimization or refactoring sprees.

The biggest lessons? Even with AI's incredible coding capabilities, the fundamentals still matter:

• verify current API docs with all 3rd party services (the trained data is prob outdated)

• stick to shipping a lean v1 (get v1 shipped asap)

• context windows suck (start new sessions regularly)

• don't let the ease of AI development seduce you into building features just because you can

• start with detailed requirements, break down complex projects into smaller pieces (use prompts to build PRDs, and stress test them before writing code)

While that project is currently paused or forever dead, I'm actually grateful for these lessons. They'll definitely shape my next ai build.

Office Hours - Let’s Connect

Looking to collab, co-market, or want to explore funding opportunities for something I'm working on? I’m currently taking on new clients and special projects. Whether you’re looking for a collaborator, need a hand on a specific task, or are interested in supporting a unique idea, let’s chat! Hit reply or schedule a time.

Ecommerce

🔸 An overview on “De minimis”

Tariffs and the future of fast fashion is a fairly big deal atm. It's essential watch and a game changer for anyone in ecommerce or purchases products internationally. What will happen to shein, temu, etc

Other

🔸 Five Interesting Links

• Indie Perfuming is a thing, and ngl, it looks like everything [Link]

• The stinking truth about The Phantom’s Opera House. [Link]

• Red light therapy is trendy right now. One of (Apple) Siri’s co-founders has launched the Ammortal chair, helping athletes and high performers boost mental clarity, enhance physical performance, and accelerate recovery. The Chamber harmonizes and amplifies your body, mind and spirit, through a guided experience that blends light, vibration, magnetics, molecular hydrogen, music, meditation, breath work, and intention. [Link]

A Wholesome Haven for Simple Memories

This website or tv channel you didn’t know you needed - free from influencers, threadbois, clickbait thumbnails, algos, hooks, flashy CapCut edits, and engagement traps. Just everyday people sharing simple moments.

Constraints and Determination Spark Innovation and Record Breakthroughs

The YouTube algo gods delivered this gem: a documentary on amateur cyclist Graeme Obree, whose unconventional riding position and homemade bike from the early ’90s make for a fascinating and inspiring story. Go Scotland! A true testament to ingenuity and perseverance.

Qs or Quotes Bouncing in My Brain

Personal Camera Roll

A few snaps from the last 3 weeks

Smell You Later

Bye for now.

Kenny

P.S. If you want, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Ready to grow your startup from 0 to 1 in less time? Let's chat. >> Schedule a call with me.

2. Want an extra pair of eyes on your product or pitch deck?

3. Hit reply, and I'll share a funny joke as a thank you for reading this

Newsletter Vibecheck

How'd I do? Slam dunk or airball? Lmk your thoughts on this issue so I can level up future content.

About

Hi there! I help B2A2C startups go from 0 to 1 with resources, consulting, advisory, and writing, spanning product, marketing, team formation, frontier technology, and the good life. Prev helped 50+ startups and launched 20+ digital products. Although my perspective is universal, I mainly cover the frontier of North America and Southeast Asia.

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