Hello everyone! Welcome back to Week in Review, the newsletter where we summarize the most-read TheTechWarrior stories from the past seven days. Want it in your inbox? Register here!
Unfortunately, the most read story on the site this week was again about layoffs – this time at Microsoft. While the company plans to grow its workforce in the coming months, it is currently cutting “less than 1%” of its 180,000 workforce as it focuses on “realigning business groups and roles.” “Less than 1%” may not sound huge, but 1% of 180,000 is still almost 2,000 jobs…
other things
Lofi Girl gets removed: YouTube still hasn’t discovered the issues with fake DMCA takedowns. This week, the ridiculously chill YouTube music stream Lofi Girl was hit with a false DMCA claim. The channel is a favorite among students/programmers/anyone looking for some soft beats to focus on, so the complaints were loud and everywhere. YouTube acknowledged and reversed the flaw, but not before the channel’s two-year streaming streak was cut.
TikTok is eating…what?: After years of incredible growth, you would probably expect TikTok to have taken a lot of user activity from competing social networks – the Facebooks, the Snapchats, etc. But would you bet it had an impact. .. say, Google Maps? A senior VP at Google says that’s the case.
Airlift shuts down: Airlift, one of the top startups in Pakistan, suddenly shut down this week. Employees were told on Tuesday that the on-demand delivery service’s operations would be halted the following day after a crucial fundraising round failed.
DoorDash wants larger orders: Do you use DoorDash’s “DashPass” service a lot? Bad news. The “subtotal minimum” on your orders — basically the amount you need to order before DashPass actually does anything — is likely to rise in the coming weeks. The company was previously hard set at $12 for food or $35 for groceries, but the new minimum will “varies by store, city, and time of day.” In other words: algorithmssss.
Tesla loses a top AI executive: When it was announced in March that Tesla’s director of AI, Andrej Karpathy, would be taking a temporary sabbatical, it was rumored that it was just the first step towards his more official exit from the company. And yes: Karpathy announced on Wednesday that he is out. Karpathy says he has “no concrete plans” for what’s next.
Nothing official: A few years ago, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei left the company to start a new hardware venture called Nothing. This week, after months of teasing/rumors/hype, the company announced its first phone: the aptly named Phone (1). Brian Heater spent some time on the phone and shares his thoughts on it — and the wild LED setup on the back — here.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
audio stuff
Ever wondered what your favorite TheTechWarrior writer sounds like? Probably not! But if you… watch our podcasts! This week:
On the Equity podcast, Alex/Natasha/Mary Ann talked about how the Roe v. Wade reversal could affect how/where companies are built. At Chain Reaction, Lucas and Anita discussed the latest twists and spins on the rollercoaster ride that is crypto, including GameStop launching an NFT marketplace. Bowery Farming founder Irving Fain joined Darrell and Jordan on the Found podcast to explain what vertical farming is and why it matters.
extra stuff
Already a TheTechWarrior+ member? If not, you’re missing out on some great reads. While most of the stuff we put on TheTechWarrior is completely free, a lot of really great content is only available to TC+ subscribers.
Your startup’s pricing strategy: Product pricing can make or break a business, but the right price today isn’t necessarily the right price tomorrow. How do you adjust prices “without looking parasitic”? How do you price something in a “completely new category”? Michael Perez, growth director for early-stage VC firm M13, goes into detail.
Here’s how to protect your equity if you’re fired: If you’re fired… what happens to that equity you received as part of your compensation package? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always clear – but Adam Keesling of Compound has a rundown of what to keep in mind to make sure you keep what you’ve earned.