Cerf on science: The father of the Internet talks string theory, the physics of Angry Birds & more
When Vint Cerf talks about Google’s upcoming global Science Fair, you can hear the infectious enthusiasm in his voice.
“I just am a huge cheerleader for getting kids interested in science and technology,” he told VentureBeat in a phone conversation yesterday.
But the Father of the Internet, who is also now a Googler, isn’t simply being patronizing. Oh, look at the kiddies playing with their toy volcanoes, how cute. He truly expects great science and … Continue Reading
New Internet business in four days: Wharton School workshop for MBAs
Create an Internet business in four days; that’s the goal of the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania’s workshop that finished yesterday. Students spent four days turning ideas into business prototypes and competing against each other in the course’s Innovation Tournament.
In four days, Jan 2 – 5, MBA students learned how to pitch, create and launch a new web-based business. Each student entered the class with an idea and through a process of elimination, … Continue Reading
Is innovation leading to higher unemployment? Meet the new haves & have-nots
Technology entrepreneurs love to talk about disruption while simultaneously touting themselves as job creators, but the two roles are often contradictory.
By definition, disruptive innovations are characterized by a streamlining of process or product that is more efficient. Typically, the inefficiencies removed from the incumbent system result in less required labor. Less labor means fewer jobs.
Consider Amazon. For all the jobs created by Amazon’s online sales model, I suspect there were significantly more jobs … Continue Reading
Amex throws $100M at its biggest problem: suiting up for the digital revolution
American Express has just earmarked a $100 million fund to “identify and develop innovative technologies that will help… accelerate the company’s digital transformation.”
The company, which was founded in 1849, is now establishing a Silicon Valley office to stay on top of the latest developments in mobile and finance technologies.
The new office and fund will be led by Harshul Sanghi, the former head of Motorola Mobility Ventures.
“As we enter the next chapter in … Continue Reading
Fans still holding vigil for Steve Jobs outside Apple Store (photo gallery)
Apple fans are nowhere near done paying their respects to the man who arguably jump-started the smartphone revolution.
Dozens of fans are still gathering at the Apple retail store in New York City and across the country to pay their respects to Steve Jobs, the company’s former chief executive officer, who passed away on Wednesday at age 56. Some left notes, some left flowers, some left apples and personal messages. A security official on staff … Continue Reading
Whether from respect or faith, Apple’s market value remains unaffected by Jobs’ death
Trigger-happy investors have historically been prone to trading on Apple whenever news about its head honcho, Steve Jobs, arose. But in the wake of his death yesterday, shares of Apple have only risen 1.5 percent as of 7:30 a.m. today, only dropping 0.12 percent at their lowest level from the company’s opening price.
Apple, the most valuable technology company in the world, is back to vying with Exxon-Mobil to claim the title of most valuable … Continue Reading
Ad innovation takes the stage at Y Combinator event (video)
A few lucky people got a peek at the future of online advertising recently, thanks to a Y Combinator event.
Close to 200 entrepreneurs, marketers, publishers, and venture capitalists packed Y Combinator headquarters in Mountain View on Sept. 14 for the startup incubator’s first ever Ad Innovation Conference. The two-hour event was open to the public and designed to showcase companies developing ad-related technologies.
What with Demo, TechCrunch, Intel Developer Forum and Microsoft Build last … Continue Reading
How Jeff Bezos’ long-term thinking paid off big for Amazon
This post is part of a series brought to you by Columbia Pictures Moneyball. As always, VentureBeat is adamant about maintaining editorial objectivity.
After Amazon’s success with the Kindle and its complete dominance of e-retailing, it’s difficult to imagine that it was once a company that struggled to make a profit. It’s even harder to fathom that was exactly what Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos planned.
The company, which launched in 1995, went over … Continue Reading
Killing innovation with corner cases
This post is part of a series brought to you by Columbia Pictures Moneyball. As always, VentureBeat is adamant about maintaining editorial objectivity.
After Amazon’s success with the Kindle and its complete dominance of e-retailing, it’s difficult to imagine that it was once a company that struggled to make a profit. It’s even harder to fathom that was exactly what Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos planned.
The company, which launched in 1995, went over … Continue Reading
