Happy Holidays!

As we wrap up the last 48 hours of 2023, I'll keep this newsletter brief, providing a handful of must-read reports to jumpstart success in the coming year

1. “Martech in 2024” — Get in the know of what’s next

2. State of startups in 2023 (USA). Find out what industries/locations are hot, current valuations, trends, and more.

3. Generative AI having a Napster moment?

4. Year End Review docs

5. A few interesting links

Features

🔸 Martech for 2024 Report

Consolidation? What about innovation? Especially in a generative and AI world. Explore the most recent market trends and advancements in marketing stacks. This report is an essential read for C-suites or anyone building Martech startups.

🔸 Carta - State of US Startups 2023

It wasn't just you. For startups, this past year ranked among the toughest since perhaps 2000 or 2007. This year saw 260k layoffs, as reported by Layoffs.fyi (layoffs tracker). According to a few friends, it's been a bloodbath for both early-stage technology companies, banks (bank run + SVB failure) and venture capital firms. Those employed in later-stage companies have also experienced a kind of upper-middle-class recession. Carta dropped their year end report, and despite it being a crummy year, it’s worth checking out. Particularly as the market bounces back, legacy companies often thrive in the aftermath of recessions.

Attached are a few screenshots below, and I'm resharing my previous blog post with some suggestions for founders navigating “raising Venture Capital in 2024”.

🔸 Generative AI Approaches Napster Moment?

A few days ago, The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft regarding the AI's utilization of copyrighted work. While the situation may seem intricate, The Times is pursuing the destruction of ALL Large Language Model (LLM) models and training data. Could this potentially set a precedent for others? I'm closely monitoring the situation, and it feels reminiscent of a Napster moment.

Beijing gAI Lawsuit

A groundbreaking verdict emerged from a Beijing Court regarding generative AI art. The legal dispute revolved around a “AI Vincentian Picture” generated using Stable Diffusion.

The judge's ruling establishes that elements of the creation process, such as prompts and parameters, are recognized as intellectual property (IP). Furthermore, the judgment asserts that the human user who engages creatively with the AI retains the copyright. [Link — use google translate]

After the NYT case, there might be an industry-wide reassessment of AI use and copyright. The legal outcome could set precedents for how AI models engage with copyrighted material, shaping the future landscape. I'll be eager to see how this unfolds.

Q - Do you see an issue with these outputs?

Do you have predictions or thoughts? Hit reply and I’ll include them in the next issue

Other

🔸 YearCompass - Reflect & Plan

If looking to conduct a year end review, this one might be for you..

🔸 Interesting Links

• Duolingo has cut ties with a large number of translators (contractors), opting for the speed and efficiency of AI-driven translations. [Link]

• 'It was exhausting': LA vegan restaurants are putting meat back on the menu. 'If you're just targeting vegans, you're losing out on a larger demographic,' says one plant-based restaurant owner [Link]

• Red Sea Attacks Mean Double Wages for Danish Crew [Link]

• Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, invested $50 million in the acquisition of texts.com. Why? Messaging. Expect more details in 2024.

• 1 in 3 Companies Will Replace Employees With AI in 2024 [Link]

Wrap Up - Let's make 2024 spectacular

Thx for reading — enjoy the last weekend of the year!

Kenny

P.S. Whenever you're ready, 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 pitch deck?

3. Are you an IC seeking your next adventure, or are you considering a side gig (because AI tools have given you more free time)? Fill out this form.

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 b2b2c 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.

Thanks for being here. Not yet subscribed? No worries. You can check out the archive, or sign up here.