Welcome to the first edition of NIV in this new year. 2022. Can hardly believe it. Trying to make sense of 2021 seemed to be an exercise in futility. Crypto found PMF, Covid has re-architectured society in ways we didn’t think possible and startups have taken flight to levels no one saw coming (except maybe Balaji). What’s next? No one really knows. But it will definitely not be boring and, as always, I will be present with you to make sense of things one Internet article at a time.
Links of the Week
Startups - The fast-fashion behemoth Shein has truly upended the traditional hierarchy in that space (dominated by H&M and Zara). It is now challenging Amazon in just a few years of relentless execution. But what exactly is Shein and how does it work behind the scenes? This article goes into fascinating detail. (Link)
Climate - Steel production accounts for about 7% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Logically, reducing the industry’s footprint and making cost-competitive ‘green’ steel is a problem worth working on. The New Yorker investigates. (Link)
Interview - I am a huge fan of the interviews Sriram Krishnan is doing with prominent tech individuals. My favorite bits are usually about their decision-making styles and how they structure their day (their ‘productivity stack’ to use the annoying lingo). This interview with the Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes lives up to expectations. (Link)
Business - We always think of Amazon as a behemoth with no parallels. But might Sears provide a view into where the retailer is headed (with the caveat that AWS and Amazon’s media and entertainment divisions are probably way too different to compare)? (Link)
India - India’s software exports have started eclipsing Saudi Arabia’s oil exports. Think about that for a moment. And then read this Bloomberg deep-dive into where the software industry is headed. As I said, wild times. (Link)
Energy - I am usually pro-nuclear but, for balance, here’s a bear case on the possibilities and current competitiveness of fission. (Link)
China - Dan Wang’s annual write-ups are always majestic. His insights into the Chinese socio-economic and political landscapes are always worth reading and this year’s letter is no different. (Link)
Happy reading!