Iterate Weekly - Issue 58
This week we're looking at the next Silicon Valley, a Social Learning App, Vegan Babybel, Naked drawings for aliens, and the new Toro y Moi album!
Welcome to issue 58 of Iterate Weekly!
Just a reminder that you can always reply to this email or leave a comment on the web version. I read all of them, and I appreciate the feedback, questions, and insights from all of you.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Is North Carolina the Silicon Valley of The Metaverse?
I live in the Bay Area. I’m in the North Bay these days, a bit removed from the actual “Silicon Valley” that lies to the south. Still, I’m just a stone’s throw away from what has been the hottest job market and arguably the region producing the most innovation anywhere on earth.
So I find it particularly fascinating whenever a region earns the title of “The Next Silicon Valley”. This Digiday article makes the case for North Carolina (specifically Charlotte & Raleigh) becoming the “Silicon Valley of the Metaverse”.
Here’s what the region has going for it.
Proximity to Top Research Universities
Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State are just a few of the schools found within this region. Much like Stanford and UC Berkeley fueled Silicon Valley’s growth, these schools can provide a deep pool of talent for tech companies looking to lay down roots in the Tar Heel State.
Network Infrastructure
It may seem obvious, but tech companies need to be connected to an infrastructure that supports them. In other words, they need really solid power and internet connections. Things that many of us take for granted but can still be hard to come by in many parts of even major cities in the US. The favorable weather and topography around Raleigh has led to high percentage of businesses having access to some of the fastest fiber-optic networks in the country.
Government Support
It’s clear that politicians in North Carolina are trying to make their state as hospital as possible to new tech businesses. Apple is taking advantage of a huge subsidy to build a new campus near Raleigh. While many say that these deals could hurt the state in the long-run, they’re extremely temping for big tech companies like Apple. The hope is that deals like this will open the door for future homegrown companies to stay put in Carolina.
This all seems like a perfect storm for companies looking to make it big in The Metaverse. Development in this area requires even more bandwidth than the typical tech startup, and there certainly will be a need for employees who come from various fields of academic research beyond just computer science.
Like most things in The Metaverse, it all feels speculative right now. But there is no doubt that North Carolina is in a prime spot to be the hub of innovation in the space for decades to come.
🎓 Education
We Are Six - The Social Learning App
Whether you’re a student or just want to brush up on a certain subject of study, there is ample research that learning in a group is best. You may be the most dedicated student out there, but it’s just easier and more fun to go on your journey with a group of like-minded learners.
A new app called “WeAreSix” has launched to help connect people who want to learn together. The name comes from the idea of re-connecting with our six-year-old selves. Do you remember what learning was like in Kindergarten or First Grade? No, probably not. But it was fun! It relied on group connection and support. And there are ways to rekindle this as adults.
I’ve worked in online education for a long time and I’ve seen students thrive when they’re able to better connect with their fellow students. This is relatively straightforward with in-person learning, but it can be challenging to connect when taking online courses.
WeAreSix will work with any of the big EdTech platforms (Coursera, EdX, etc.). You’ll be connected with a study group that matches your interests. Then you’ll be able to support each other and see your progress through whichever course you’re working through.
Right now they are beta testing in a few popular programs with hopes to roll out more widely soon. Would something like this get you more excited to take online courses?
♻️ Health & Environment
Babybel Launches a Plant-Based Version
This story really speaks to me as a formerly strict vegan and a parent of a 2-year old who can’t seem to get enough Babybel cheese.
Babybel is launching a new plant-based version!
These days I do consume some fish & dairy, but still consider my diet to be about 90% plant-based. So I’m always excited to try any new meatless meat or vegan cheese. The plant-based Babybel comes in a helpful green wax wrapper to distinguish from its traditional counterpart. The ingredients list looks fairly short with no soy to speak of. It is lacking in protein, but still has some of the nutrients you’d expect in cheese.
Vegan cheese has been a tough one for companies to get just right. For a long time, I found Daiya products to be the only ones worth trying. These days, there are plenty of worthy options including the excellent Miyokos which is based right down the road from me.
I have yet to try the vegan Babybel but it will certainly be in my shopping cart (both virtual or physical) as soon as I come across it. The question is whether or not it will pass my daughter’s taste test.
🛍 Grab Bag
NASA Sends Nude Drawings Into Space
You’d think that NASA would have more important things to be working on. But no, they’re going to send some nude drawings into space to see if we can catch the eye of any aliens.
The idea here is to send the most basic proof of life out into the void to see who may respond. The drawings won’t be like anything you’d find in magazines or websites. No, they’ll be more abstract, pixelated outlines of the human form with accompanied DNA information. There will even be some binary audio data that should be recognizable to anything that may be living out there.
The whole process is fascinating if not laughable. Our whole mighty civilization boiled down to some drawings and binary sound. Really makes you feel small right?
Let’s hope that whoever finds it will come in peace…
💬 Quote of the Week
“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.”
- Carl Sagan
🎧Content Recommendation
Mahal by Toro y Moi
It’s been a while since I’ve recommended some music!
I’ve enjoyed Toro y Moi (aka Chaz Bundick aka Chaz Bear) since his 2011 release Underneath the Pine. His career has meandered in a few directions but he’s still most appropriately lumped into the “chillwave” genre.
His latest album is called Mahal and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it. Bundick relocated to the Bay Area from his native South Carolina a few years back and the retro van and Golden Gate Bridge on the cover are a nice touch.
It’s the perfect late-spring/early-summer album to chill-out to from start to finish. It’s been a solid soundtrack for some of my runs lately. It’ll make you dance, it’ll make you zone out, it’ll make you think. I highly recommend it.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
The bandcamp widget embed looks super cool!