https://businessriff.com

Marie Patterson from InfinityPath Ventures talks about AI infrastructure for Startups

AI Infrastructure: Hardware and Software

Marie explained that AI infrastructure encompasses both hardware and software components at the server and chip levels, including supporting systems like cooling and power supplies. She emphasized the importance of creating "frictionless planes" for software solutions to drive efficiency, particularly for companies that sell AI as their product. Marie clarified that AI infrastructure benefits are not limited to companies that primarily use AI, as many businesses leverage it in various aspects like marketing, production, and inventory management. She also highlighted the current concentration of compute power in four major companies and the risk of outages in this brittle system.

Sovereign Compute: A Secure Solution

Marie discussed the concept of sovereign compute, which involves businesses maintaining their own hardware in secure locations rather than relying on public cloud services. She explained that the investment for such data centers is in the tens of thousands, and highlighted inefficiencies in current computer systems that are designed to run AI, leading to energy waste and environmental impact. Marie emphasized that the problem affects not just AI companies, but everyone, due to the cascading effects of inefficient energy use in data centers.

Data Centers in Opportunity Zones

Marie explained that new data centers are being built weekly in the United States, primarily in opportunity zones, which are economically challenged areas offering tax breaks to large tech companies like Meta and Google. She noted that while these data centers bring jobs and stimulate local economies, they often require utility companies to upgrade grids, sparking controversy over community acceptance. Marie emphasized the importance of addressing efficiency issues at their root cause through engineering analysis, rather than solving problems downstream.

Efficient Server Cooling Solutions

Marie discussed a software solution that could significantly improve server efficiency, reducing the need for extensive cooling systems and energy consumption in data centers. She explained that this solution is being developed by startups she is investing in as an emerging fund manager. Mary expressed interest in connecting investors with Marie's group and encouraged startups working on similar solutions to reach out to Marie.

Marie's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-e-patterson

https://starteryou.com

Michael Berlingo from Starteryou talks about using Students as a Resource for Startups.

Student Resources for Startup Success

Mary and Michael discussed the benefits of using students as a resource for startups. Michael explained that students are eager, passionate, and can be shaped and molded to develop various skills beyond their initial role. He emphasized that students can be turned into versatile generalists, which is valuable for startups with small employee sizes and budgets. They also discussed how Starter U, Michael's organization, trains students in multiple areas of development to prepare them for various roles in the tech industry.

Student Employment Platform Opportunities

Michael and Mary discussed the benefits and potential roles for students working on a platform focused on student employment, particularly in marketing and tech-related positions. Michael highlighted the advantages of remote work for students, including managing social media, creating content, and serving as student ambassadors. Mary suggested using students for beta testing and market research, while Michael agreed and emphasized students' adaptability and proficiency with tools like AI.

Starter U: Student Internship Platform

Mary and Michael discussed the features of Starter U, a platform that connects students with employers for internships. They explained that students can search for investors, create pitch decks, and find internships, both paid and unpaid. Michael noted that Starter U lists whether internships are paid or unpaid to avoid confusion. They also compared Starter U to other job platforms like Handshake, highlighting Starter U's focus on internships and its lower cost.

Internships as Scalable Hiring Solution

Michael discussed the challenges startups face in hiring and suggested utilizing interns as a scalable solution. He emphasized the benefits of offering unpaid internships for college credit, as it provides students with valuable experience and the potential for future employment. Mary highlighted the success of local universities in connecting students with small businesses through internships. The conversation concluded with Mary encouraging startups to book a call with her for further support.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mblingo/

Starteryou Events Page: https://luma.com/starteryou?k=c

Alfredo Matthew III from SPCC.1 talks about Revenue & Focus for Startups

Startup Success: Validation, Revenue, Profit

Mary and Alfredo discussed key strategies for startups to succeed, emphasizing the importance of customer validation, revenue generation, and profitability. Alfredo highlighted the need for startups to focus on securing early customers, building a tiered service or product offering, and gradually increasing contract values. He stressed the significance of understanding break-even points and net profitability, warning that many businesses fail to cross the revenue chasm between $2 million and $5 million. Mary and Alfredo agreed that startups must validate their ideas, generate revenue, and ensure profitability to create a valuable business that can attract investors or be acquired.

Business Connections and Startup Opportunities

Mary, representing BusinessRiff, met with Alfredo Matthew III from SPCC.1 to discuss potential business connections and opportunities. They briefly exchanged information about their respective organizations and discussed the benefits of booking a call with Mary for startup success. Mary expressed her goal of connecting startups with valuable resources and invited Alfredo to join future Stuck? Time to Improv! sessions.