In Case You Missed It: Launch Links - Week of July 14, 2019
- 7.18.2019
Some interesting links we found across the web this week:
How AI Companies Can Avoid Ethics Washing
Ethics washing is the practice of fabricating or exaggerating a company’s interest in equitable AI systems that work for everyone, and it’s a trap that even the most well-meaning AI companies can fall into. However, to navigate ethical AI, companies need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, and recognize that they may make some mistakes along the way. This VentureBeat article provides some tips on how companies can embrace “constructive dissent” and inclusion initiatives, which are small but meaningful steps towards making sure AI works for people of all backgrounds.
China Startup Deals Shrink as Fundraising for Investors Plummets
A cooling economy in China plus the trade war with the US has resulted in half of the deal-making activity for in the first half of 2019 as compared to the first half of 2018. Additionally, private equity an venture capital firms aren’t able to secure as much investment as they were a year ago. This article from TechCrunch provides other trends in investment in China, as well as the types of companies that are still able to secure funding.
The Problem With France’s Plan to Tax Digital Companies
France recently approved a 3% tax on generated by large digital companies in its territory. This move will obviously affect the US tech giants, but is also a response to an increasingly digitized and international society. With large tech companies taking over the roles of small local businesses (think newspapers and small shops), governments are losing out on tax otherwise needed to fund welfare programs, education, and other important initiatives. However, in this HBR article, four business school professors argue that a one-size-fits-all tax will be counterproductive, stifling innovation, and probably not actually generating that much after all.
8 Entrepreneurial Milestones That Deserve to be Celebrated
Being an entrepreneur means celebrating any win you get: the big and the small. Whether you just completed your first successful year or finally felt ready to hire more for your team, these milestones should not go unnoticed. This Inc.com article surveyed a number of business leaders for what they learned from the various stages of creating a profitable company.
Why Michigan Could Become a Startup Powerhouse
When you think of hubs, you probably think of Palo Alto. If you’re in the biotech space, you may think of Boston. But you probably don’t think of Michigan. However, with a quickly growing cohort of unicorns, including StockX, Rivian, and OneStream Software, Michigan may be the place to look next. This article by Forbes discusses the landscape in Detroit and Ann Arbor, and makes a pitch for what these cities could do to continue to attract talent and capital.
Links compiled by Meghan Muncey.
