Hi,
is anyone from HN going to Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight (http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/events/nov-innovation-series-peter-thiel-2/)? I wanted to go but unfortunately, it sold out before I knew about it. Would anyone who is attending be so kind and write a short summary afterwards for those who cannot attend? I think that I would not be the only one who would greatly appreciate it.
Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
1–8 of 8 posts
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#2The live stream starts at 6:15 EST. http://www.justin.tv/mitef
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#3I'm here at MIT, and we didn't even hear about it. ):
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#4The live stream starts at 6:15 EST. http://www.justin.tv/mitef
Will there be a recording?
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#5I'm here at MIT, and we didn't even hear about it. ):
Yeah I go to the "other" school and there were no announcements about it either. I read about it yesterday in an email from Boston startup digest.
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#6He's just going to say you should drop out. Skip it.
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#7I'm going. I'll make a blog post about it and provide a link.
I heard about it because I signed up for the MITEF's mailing list (I was a member a few years ago). They often have some very good events. The events can be a little expensive for students since the organization is somewhat targeted at alums and faculty. But, I'd recommend following them.
If you don't want to be on their mailing list, they have a Twitter news feed: https://twitter.com/mitentforum
Re: Ask HN: Peter Thiel's talk at MIT tonight
#8The live stream starts at 6:15 EST. http://www.justin.tv/mitef
Will there be a recording?
Yes, it was recorded: http://justin.tv/mitef/b/273997550
Be warned that the audio isn't so wonderful and the running time is 1h41m.
Thiel had some verbal tics that were distracting at times, but the talk was totally fascinating. Off the top of my head, the most memorable points: * The rate of change of innovation peaked at the end of the 1960s and people's expectations/aspirations regarding major technological breakthroughs are far lower/more modest than during the era when men were landing on the moon. (Nixon said that the cure for cancer would take 5 years. We're not going to see a Jetsons robot that does all of your household chores in our lifetimes.) Thiel blames this state of affairs on a dearth of entrepreneurs willing to take the requisite risk. * His investments/mentoring is very Silicon Valley centric, but he did make a flattering comment about the high density of intelligent people in Boston. * If given the choice between investing in a team of engineers and a team of MBAs, it's a no-brainer. * He's steered clear of biotech and cleantech-- too capital intensive, not profitable. * He does not believe that there's a shortage of capital per se, but the sweet spot for game-changing technology companies is >$1M and Disclaimer: views are Peter Thiel's, not necessarily my own and this post is not a comprehensive summary by any means. Search for Twitter hashtags #mitforum and #mitef for 140 character snippets from other audience members and watch for the flurry of blog posts/coverage in the coming days on VentureFizz, BostInnovation, Greenhorn Connect, OnStartups, and Mass High Tech.