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Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

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Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

#1
In the article, "Silicon Valley's Youth Problem" [1] the author mentions Meraki (now Cisco-Meraki) as an example of a startup working on advances in technology rather than the latest web app.

Do you know of other companies that fit the description?

Follow up: Are they (you?) hiring?

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/magazine/silicon-valleys-youth-problem.html

Re: Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

#3
I read this a few months ago. I agree with its interpretation over the current state of the entrepreneur culture amongst the youger cohort of emerging adults. I believe that I am working on a unique problem. One that involves being able to create a behavioral profile on an individual based off what their online behavior (i.e. their public timeline information) and connecting it to how the tend to spend. (categories or unusual trends) Not currently hiring, but open to talk to people interested in it.

Re: Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

#4
nvidia is doing amazing work, and many of their employees are in the bay area. 3072 cores for $999 - http://www.geforce.com/.../geforce-gtx.../specifications

The number of companies using this device to solve real problems is growing. Jeremy Howard just started an interesting one - http://www.enlitic.com

Re: Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

#6
I submitted this to slashdot a few weeks ago, but it got declined:

"For some time now, I have been following the "startup scene" and frankly, I am left with a sense of dismay. How many of the startups actually do anything of any real value to mankind? It seems to me that the startup ideas just keep getting more ridiculous and stupid by the day and I think I would go as far as to call the whole thing deeply broken.

I am not going to name any specific startup, but I would like to ask the readers of Slashdot a question.

I know this is not how the world works, but I am still curious to know what kind of ideas would prosper if the primary aim of a startup was not to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible. So, if your startup idea would be judged by the amount of good it would to mankind, what would it be?"

Re: Ask HN: What startups are working on hard, technically challenging problems?

#9
A super incomplete list:

Databases:

- PipelineDB

- Snowflake (Computing)

Internet of Things / Communications:

- Helium

Robotics:

- Pneubotics

- Kuka, namely the research department

Autonomous Systems / "Self Driving Car" et al.:

- Kiva

- Anki

Computer-Vision / VR based:

- Jaunt

- Oculus VR (especially the 'research' department)

Agriculture:

- Blueriver http://www.bluerivert.com

(there are many more super-interesting companies in this area!)

Computing:

- Mill Computing; though quite dubious

- D-Wave

and than there is Microsoft Research working on super interesting stuff in programming languages, computer architecture (FPGAs).

Additionally, I believe really challenging problems will alwyas be coming from creative people, companies in that area; such as Pixar, architecture, and design (keywords, just to give a start: generative {design, art, ...}).

Hope this helps!

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