Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply • Hacker News Board

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#11

Post by danicgross » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:27 PM UTC

staunch wrote: post #8

danicgross wrote: post #2

(Pioneer founder here.) Nat Friedman and I launched AI Grant last year ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14851806 ). The idea was to give out money to promising AI researchers around the world. To date, we've funded 50 researchers, from high school students in Hawaii to aspiring researchers in Africa. We’ve been inspired by the fellows we’ve funded all over the word. I’m following it with a new project called Pi…

I listened to your Kara Swisher interview recently and one part stood out above everything else. You admitted that if you had not been accepted by YC, you would likely not have had the success you've had. That kind of honest self-reflection is something sorely missing in Silicon Valley. Far too many people think their success was inevitable and completely self-made. Very few acknowledge the very rare kinds of help th…

Thank you! I wrote some more about that here: https://pioneer.app/blog/hello. Everyone needs their first stepping stone, and I'm hopeful with Pioneer that we can provide that in a much more scalable way.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#12

Post by myWindoonn » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:27 PM UTC

No.

As idlewords has pointed out, many smart folks seem to subsist on sorrow, video games, and cannabis, while working a loser's job and trying to keep from going under. This isn't coincidence.

Existence has quite a lot of suffering. For some of us, we want to get out of the way, stop being part of the problem, and find ways to positively contribute to society. These folks offer a path to getting in the middle of things, make more problems, and make a pile of money for all involved.

No.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#13

Post by memebox3v » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:34 PM UTC

You want me to give you my best ideas? Lol, no. I can create them myself thanks.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#14

Post by pluto9 » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:34 PM UTC

myWindoonn wrote: post #12

No. As idlewords has pointed out, many smart folks seem to subsist on sorrow, video games, and cannabis, while working a loser's job and trying to keep from going under. This isn't coincidence. Existence has quite a lot of suffering. For some of us, we want to get out of the way, stop being part of the problem, and find ways to positively contribute to society. These folks offer a path to getting in the middle of thi…

Wrong thread?

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#15

Post by opportune » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:39 PM UTC

I really like the idea behind this, but I take issue with the fact that if someone does start a company, Pioneer will take 3% with the option of buying 5% more of the company for $20,000. That seems pretty unfair.

I would be inclined to participate if this term didn't exist, or if it were either more financially generous or took less equity. But I wouldn't want to develop any idea through Pioneer if any future idea (for the next 8 years) could be poached for so little. It almost strikes me as a lazy way of running a semi-accelerator. I do think it's great that you're giving $5000 grants to help people develop projects and themselves, but this seems to disproportionately penalize people who want to commercialize their current or any future ideas

(Edit: why was my comment moved from being the top reply to the danicgross comment to a reply to the top level article?)

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#16

Post by yc-kraln » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:41 PM UTC

Looks good; how do you handle the fact that most 'lost einsteins' are working a crushing 9-5 and don't have the time or capacity to conceptualize (let alone work on) their passion projects?

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#17

Post by danicgross » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:43 PM UTC

telospolis wrote: post #5

danicgross wrote: post #2

(Pioneer founder here.) Nat Friedman and I launched AI Grant last year ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14851806 ). The idea was to give out money to promising AI researchers around the world. To date, we've funded 50 researchers, from high school students in Hawaii to aspiring researchers in Africa. We’ve been inspired by the fellows we’ve funded all over the word. I’m following it with a new project called Pi…

"We expect a fraction of Pioneers to start companies. In exchange for the investment and benefits below, Pioneer will retain 3% of any company you found over the next eight years. Pioneer will also have the option of investing an additional $20,000 for 5% in any of those companies. These conditions apply if you already have an incorporated company." yeah, as an outsider looking for entry into startup - it just doesn'…

If you have the opportunity to join other programs, go for it! Our hope is that this model enables us to reach the billions of people that are outside the network of Silicon Valley. They might not even be sure if they have a "company". They just want support on whatever project they're pursuing.

We're hoping that becoming a Pioneer vastly increases the odds that you turn your "shower-thought" into something real, even if it takes a few years to mature.

We're going to be making bets on folks substantially before they have the indicia of success that investors screen for. Before anyone could even say "This person will someday found a company." The math for this to be sustainable requires that the equity slice be higher than someone would ask for if they knew 100% of their investments were in high-potential companies.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#18

Post by lev99 » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:43 PM UTC

Pioneers offer: https://pioneer.app/offer

> Pioneer will retain 3% of any company you found over the next eight years. Pioneer will also have the option of investing an additional $20,000 for 5% in any of those companies.

3% of all companies founded over eight years is a very big ask.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#19

Post by rndmwlk » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:47 PM UTC

opportune wrote: post #15

I really like the idea behind this, but I take issue with the fact that if someone does start a company, Pioneer will take 3% with the option of buying 5% more of the company for $20,000. That seems pretty unfair. I would be inclined to participate if this term didn't exist, or if it were either more financially generous or took less equity. But I wouldn't want to develop any idea through Pioneer if any future idea (…

I could swallow the 3%, the networking opportunities are probably worth that to be honest (especially for a 'project' that isn't a tangible company or product yet), but the option is ridiculous.

I also don't understand the system. I have to put my idea for a project on some leader board for other people to vote on? If I feel my idea has any worth why would I do that?

I actually just planned on starting up a project, and I'd be interested in applying - but I don't want to put my plans out on a forum full of ambitious, eager, and talented people.

Re: Wanted: ‘Lost Einsteins.’ Please Apply

#20

Post by rndmwlk » Thu, Aug 09, 2018, 5:50 PM UTC

petermcneeley wrote: post #9

danicgross wrote: post #2

(Pioneer founder here.) Nat Friedman and I launched AI Grant last year ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14851806 ). The idea was to give out money to promising AI researchers around the world. To date, we've funded 50 researchers, from high school students in Hawaii to aspiring researchers in Africa. We’ve been inspired by the fellows we’ve funded all over the word. I’m following it with a new project called Pi…

"we’re trying to do most of the screening in software. Becoming a Pioneer requires winning the Pioneer Tournament" Is this a code challenge? Where do I find it?

https://pioneer.app/

Looks like it's more of a popularity contest than anything else.