Ambitious Startup Ideas and Why They Are Terrifying

The author discusses how the most ambitious startup ideas can be quite frightening. They can make you feel inadequate and question your own ambition. The article highlights that these ideas tend to repel you rather than attract you, as they challenge your identity and make you question your capabilities.

• These big ideas are not just challenging because they require a lot of work but also because they threaten your sense of self.
• The author uses the analogy of a scene from the movie "Being John Malkovich" where a woman tells the nerdy hero that if he ever got her, he wouldn't know what to do with her.

Replacing Email: A New Todo List Protocol

The article suggests replacing email with a new protocol that acts as a todo list rather than a messaging system. The author argues that email, as we currently use it, is a disastrously bad todo list.

• The new protocol should provide more control to the recipient by restricting what can be added to their todo list and providing more context about the request.
• The author believes that replacing email is a challenging but necessary task, as email is an antiquated system that is unlikely to be sustainable in the long run.
• The author emphasizes the need for speed and efficiency in the new email alternative, as current platforms like GMail are slow and inefficient.

Replacing Universities: A Disruption of Traditional Learning

The article explores the possibility of replacing universities with alternative learning platforms. The author argues that the traditional university model has become outdated and can be improved upon.

• The author believes that universities won't disappear entirely but will lose their monopoly on certain types of learning.
• Learning will become fragmented into smaller pieces, and alternative methods of learning and credentialing will emerge.
• Y Combinator is cited as an example of a successful alternative to traditional university education.
• The author suggests that disrupting the university system is a challenging yet achievable goal.

The Next Steve Jobs: Redefining Hardware Innovation

The article explores the possibility of a startup creating the next wave of hardware innovation, similar to Apple under Steve Jobs. The author believes that existing tech companies are unlikely to achieve this level of innovation due to their lack of product visionaries.

• The author suggests that a new startup, led by a product visionary, is the only way to achieve this level of hardware innovation.
• The startup has the advantage of learning from Apple's success and using Steve Jobs as a model for innovation.
• The author highlights the need for bold leadership and a clear vision of the future to succeed in this ambitious endeavor.

Bringing Back Moore's Law: Parallel Computing and the "Sufficiently Smart Compiler"

The article discusses the potential of a startup to bring back the old Moore's Law, which promised faster CPU speeds every 18 months, by utilizing parallel computing and developing a "sufficiently smart compiler." This compiler would automatically parallelize code for programmers, making it easier to write software that takes advantage of multiple CPUs.

• The author acknowledges the challenge of creating such a compiler, which is often considered an impossible feat.
• However, the potential reward for such a breakthrough is immense, as it could revolutionize software development and give programmers the convenience of the past.
• The article proposes various approaches to this challenge, including building a semi-automatic system with human optimization in the loop.
• The author explores the idea of an optimization marketplace where programmers can sell their optimizations for other users' code.

Ongoing Diagnosis: Revolutionizing Healthcare

The article discusses the potential of a startup to revolutionize healthcare by developing a system for ongoing, automatic medical diagnosis. This system would continuously monitor patients' health and identify potential problems before they become serious.

• The author argues that waiting for symptoms to appear before diagnosing conditions like heart disease and cancer is outdated and will seem barbaric to future generations.
• The author acknowledges that overcoming the resistance of the medical profession will be a significant hurdle.
• The author believes that such a system could eliminate false alarms and provide patients with proactive healthcare, leading to better outcomes.
• The author suggests that despite the challenges, ongoing medical diagnosis is a necessary and achievable goal.

Tactics for Building Ambitious Startups

The author provides tactical advice for startups tackling ambitious projects. They advise against making direct frontal attacks on large problems and instead recommend starting with deceptively small things.

• Start by focusing on a smaller, more manageable problem and gradually expand from there.
• Don't reveal your grand ambitions too early, as it could lead to unrealistic expectations and criticism.
• The author highlights the importance of starting small for both the sake of the startup and its founders.
• It's better to have a blurry vision of the future than a clear but potentially flawed one.