How great companies build products, the super-connector of NY's tech, tech workers are sick of LinkedIn, the best speech you've ever heard.

Welcome to the weekly newsletter What I Learned This Weekend, which brings posts worth saving, people to follow, articles I've read, what I found on social media, and a newly added, "Innovative Profiles Headlines". Each week I share what I learned from the past week(end) so you don't have to. You can take a look at previous editions here.

First, catch up on the latest edition of my biweekly Stop Selling; Start Helping newsletter where you will find Thought Leadership, Lessons, and Rumblings from three decades in sales.

If you're wondering what a holistic approach to businesses is, and how Growth•listic delivers a powerful combination of a fresh, customer-centric perspective from outside your company and access to a meticulously curated network of specialists, you can learn about both here.

Posts worth saving from the past week.

• Kevin Jurovich - Co-founder, and CEO at Circles a video-first platform that gives you real-time insights into bars and restaurants before you arrive, posted, How The Best Companies Build Their Products🚀- We are living in the best time in human history for learning. Kevin shares that when he first broke into tech, he found Lenny Rachitsky to be his virtual mentor. Jurovich goes on to list several companies and how they went about building their products. Lenny does a deep dive into how companies like Figma, Notion, Shopify, Duolingo build products and the playbook of Airbnb.

• Elana Gold (Dickman) Partner at Red Beard Ventures, VC & Angel Investor, Launched a new weekly newsletter, The Cap Table where she will be sharing everything she's learning in the Venture Capital space while being a partner at a fund, running one of the most active syndicates on AngelList, investment opportunities for the companies she's syndicating, and founder stories that inspire her and others. In her first edition, she shares the steps she took to start Angel Investing:

↳ Join Syndicates: If you're an accredited investor, make an account on AngelList and apply to different syndicates that fit your thesis.

↳ Review Deals: Once accepted, decide on a deal-by-deal basis if you want to invest.

↳ Invest: Minimum investments usually start at $1k. Syndicate leads take a carry % for bringing the deal.

↳ SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) provide:- Participation in high-profile deals for smaller investors.- Exposure to a variety of assets or companies.- Experienced professionals handling due diligence.- Diversification across different sectors/companies.

Check out her newsletter and the entire article here.

• Greg Isenberg CEO of Late Checkout , boldly stated that if your website is longer than 280 characters, it's too long. Short is sweet. When you've got more to say, just add a 2-minute video. It'll get your point across better anyway. The future of web design looks more like a short tweet than a long article.

Less is more.

The future of web design:- More images- More video Less words- Scannable - Rewards for loyalty/engagement- Feels like a game (drops, games, etc)- More interviews, less about pages- Enjoyable to browse.

• Tzakhi Freedman , CEO at Meet.Capital gave a glimpse at what his company provides for free:

1. A curated list of 500 active seed VCs (US/EU/UK)

2. A curated list of 100 US family offices investing in early startups

3. A guide on how to use an investor-list effectively

4. A guide for founders: an investor-ready LinkedIn profile

5. 2 case studies of brilliant founders and their seed-capital fundraising strategies

And of course - 5 success tips from top startup investors, founders, and experts, sent weekly.

Visit the post to get access to the info.

• Finally Jason Fried , Co-founder & CEO of 37signals (and co-author of one of my favorite books, Rework) shared questions he asks when checking references. Here are my favorites:

↳ If you were at another company, would you absolutely hire this person again for a similar role?

↳ What's the one thing nearly everyone would say about them?

↳ Do you still keep in touch even though you don't work together anymore?

↳ Who do they naturally gravitate to inside an organization? Or naturally avoid?

Here I share who I recently followed this past week or the top previous profiles I've followed.

• Alexa von Tobel , Founder, Managing Partner at Inspired Capital , and host of Inc. Magazine 's For Starters podcast. Business Insider recently described Alexa as the super-connector of New York's tech ecosystem. The former LearnVest CEO built her career by growing — and being generous with — a vast personal and professional network.

• Nicole Vasquez , Community Activator • Author • Advisor • 3x Founder and CEO of MBD Partners . Nicole is a force in Miami and beyond.

• Adam White CEO of Front Office Sports the leading multi-platform media and news organization covering the business of sports. I appreciate the insights provided on the business side of sports.

• Mark Gaisford , former Co-Founder and CEO of RedSprout Media came up on my feed after reading from his business partner Olivia Webb that they had closed the doors of their media company back in June. I appreciated reading Olivia's post and learning how they had a 25-year age gap between each other. After reading Mark's post on his reasons for finishing this chapter, "It ended as it began, in a pub", I spent some time on his profile and genuinely connected with his content. I'm sure you will too and probably learn a few things along the way.

Each week I share articles I've read that I found interesting or helpful.

(Pocket app has been a crucial tool for me over the years. I use it to save articles to read later and it's also helpful in printing them out in a better format.)

• I first heard about Perplexity partnering with publishers via LinkedIn News .

TL;DR

Perplexity AI announced a partnership program with several media companies that aims to share advertising revenue. TIME , Fortune and The Texas Tribune are among the partners set to receive payments if their content is referenced in its AI-powered search engine. The startup, which aims to compete with Google in search, plans to introduce ads “in the coming months.” The partnerships follow allegations from Forbes and Conde Nast that Perplexity scraped their content without permission, which Perplexity denies. Amazon has also launched its own investigation into the startup.

• Dasha Shunina shared in Forbes How To Choose The Right Program For Your Startup. Not only are accelerators often the first substantial outside investment you’ll receive, but you’re also dedicating months to a program that could change the trajectory of your startup.

TL;DR

Accelerators and incubators are essential tools for startup growth, providing more than just early-stage investment. They offer accelerated growth, credibility, extensive networks, and product validation. Programs like Y Combinator , Techstars , and Berkeley SkyDeck offer comprehensive support, mentorship, and community. Choosing the right program depends on your startup's vertical, stage, and funding needs. Acceptance requires a strong team, a clear market need, and a compelling vision. While challenging to get into, the benefits extend beyond funding, fostering vital connections and long-term success. Participating in multiple programs can be advantageous if it addresses critical growth needs.

• I posted about how the SFGATE had an eye-opening article how laid off California tech workers are sick to death of LinkedIn . It's a bit harsh but for jobseekers experiencing looking for a job on the platform, it's been a tough go and many hate the site.

TL;DR

Laid-off tech workers in California increasingly rely on LinkedIn for job hunting but find it frustrating and full of corporate jargon. Despite its flaws, LinkedIn's extensive network and job search features make it indispensable in a competitive job market. Users describe it as a "cesspool" of self-promotion, yet acknowledge its role in helping them secure new positions.

• "Is It Time To Return To Handwritten Notes?" by Virginia Hogan, a writer for Forbes & stand-up comedian brings up a subject I can relate to, particularly how she begins, "As someone whose hand cramps easily, I get the struggle: I want to get off my laptop, but a notebook feels too painful.

TL;DR

Handwritten notes have benefits like better memory retention, improved comprehension, and fewer distractions compared to digital notes. However, they are slower, harder to organize, and less convenient for sharing and collaboration. A hybrid approach might be the best solution to leverage the strengths of both methods.

• Did you read about the #1 draft pick this year for the National Football League (NFL) , Caleb Williams asked the Chicago Bears to pay him as an LLC and the league didn't allow it?

TL;DR

He wanted his $39 million deal paid through an LLC or as a forgivable loan to avoid Illinois state taxes. The NFL rejected both requests, stating the money can't go to a business entity. While innovative, these requests were unprecedented in the league.

Entrepreneurs on IG shared this beauty from Naval Ravikant how first-timers are often overly secretive about their startup ideas, while experienced entrepreneurs are more open. Once you've started multiple ventures, you understand the challenges and risks involved, and you may become eager to share your idea widely, hoping to attract attention and users.- @Naval

Angela Duckworth 's groundbreaking research on grit reveals that perseverance and passion are the most significant predictors of future success. Grit is not just about talent; it's about having a long-term goal and relentlessly pursuing it despite the challenges. Embrace the power of grit by setting a clear vision for your future, staying committed, and pushing through obstacles. SEI content agency

One of the best speeches and deliveries I've ever heard. I've watched Mohammed Qahtani , the World Champion of Public Speaking speech multiple times. "A mouth can spit venom, but can also mend a broken soul"

Jeff Weinstein a Principal at Stripe , focuses on corporate development and strategic initiatives. He plays a key role in identifying growth opportunities, partnerships, and acquisitions that support the company’s expansion in the fintech industry. He shared his best advice from founder John Collison .

The newest addition to the newsletter is some unique headlines I've seen.

I've seen some pretty funny headlines of profiles on LinkedIn. Some are smart, others plain stupid, and others are a clear attempt at getting your attention, hoping you'll click to see their profile.

If you learned something new or enjoyed this edition, please let me know in the comments.

If you have someone to follow, posts you found interesting, articles you've read, found something you enjoyed from social media, or seen some crazy profile headlines this past week, please share it in the comments!

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