Apple launches Apple Sports, Google releases Gemma 2B and 7B

Top News

Apple launches Apple Sports, a free app offering scores and stats for the NBA, Premier League, and more, in the US, Canada, and the UK, on iOS 17.2 or later. - Link

Google releases Gemma 2B and 7B, open-source AI models that let developers more freely use the research that went into Gemini, its flagship closed-source model. - Link

WhatsApp rolls out support for bulleted and numbered lists, block quotes, and inline code to highlight and organize messages on Android, iOS, web, and macOS. - Link

Apple had the seven best-selling smartphones globally in 2023, and Samsung had the next three; iPhone 14, 14 Pro Max, 14 Pro, and 13 were top four. - Link

Reddit plans to reserve some of its IPO shares for 75K loyal users, an unusual move that could build loyalty, and list its shares on the NYSE in March. - Link

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Advice of the Day

Opinion-Based Decisions

Tony Fadell, co-creator of the iPod, iPhone, and Nest, discusses Steve Jobs' exceptional leadership and decision-making skills. He highlights Jobs' attention to detail, ability to challenge his team and focus on critiquing the work instead of the person. Fadell emphasizes Jobs' expertise in making opinion-based decisions. He explains that data is often unavailable for the first versions of revolutionary products, so making decisions based on vision and belief is necessary. Jobs excelled in articulating the 'why' behind these decisions, helping the team understand and commit to the vision. Fadell notes that Jobs was open to reversing decisions if new data proved his assumptions wrong. This flexibility and foresight in decision-making were key to developing groundbreaking products. - Link

Startup Demo of the Day:

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This Week in Startups

E1900: Rahul Sidhu discusses the Aerodome drone system's role in responding to 911 calls, addressing privacy concerns, regulatory compliance, and its business model, as well as the challenges and opportunities of selling public safety technology to government sectors. - Watch

E1889: David Weisburd, Mark Suster, Samir Kaji, and Jason cover IVP's $1.3 billion fund, strategies in venture capital such as DPI and secondaries, and insights on the 2024 fintech sector and venture capital apprenticeship models. - Watch

E1898: Alex Edelson from Slipstream Investors discusses fund of funds, emphasizing their appeal due to diversification in selecting underlying funds. The conversation covers strategies for identifying promising venture funds and companies, the importance of fund size, and the nuances of investing at different stages. - Watch

E1897: Sunny Madra and Jason demo AI products, including AgentHub, Lucite, and Google’s Bard rebranded to Gemini, and debate the competitive landscape among tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, Apple, and Meta. They highlight the need for AI that can fact-check other AI and speculate on future industry leaders. - Watch

E1896: Brian Singerman of Founders Fund discusses strategic adaptation in venture capital, emphasizing the significance of founder dynamics and investment strategies while reflecting on personal and industry-wide challenges and insights. - Watch

This Week in Startups Paid Partnerships

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