HNHacker News
TopNewBestAskShowJobs

mbloom1915

69 karma · joined January 18, 2012

Slay the mighty Set
submissionscomments
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)
I'm working on https://memoryindex.io/ :

A better way to track real-time pricing of DRAM and HBM pricing in the market specific to equipment type, manufacturer, and other metrics. Feedback welcome to improve and see if there is a market for something more in-depth.

mbloom1915··on I made a memory chip price tracker in five minutes
A dumb sales guy with no code experience made this website in five minutes, and it has shown me the light to a new way of working with simple AI tools. Criticize it for accuracy, image, etc whatever you want...none of that matters when you get a 90% ready site complete this quickly.
mbloom1915··on Oracle slashes 30k jobs
yeah... their "value prop" is keeping monoliths trapped and embedded in their systems with customizations out the wazoo. slow, painful death
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Is anybody building an alternative transformer?
AI aside, the world could also use an alternative electric transformer. The backlog from main suppliers is 40+ weeks and far too expensive. There is a MAJOR manuf and supply issue here as all new build construction competes for same equipment...
mbloom1915··on Boom XB-1 First Supersonic Flight [video]
Mach 1.1! *Xoldplay's 'speed of sound' song starts*
mbloom1915··on Zildjian, a 400-year-old cymbal-making company in Massachusetts
Zildjian's history and global reach is truly exceptional. I've tried many cymbals over the years but Zildjian has a nailed a specific deep resonating sound others can't compete with. Heres to another 400 years!
mbloom1915··on COBOL has been “dead” for so long, my grandpa wrote about it
almost all major financial institutions, utilities, gov't agencies, etc still rely heavily on COBOL today. If it ain't (extremely) broken, don't fix it?

COBOL developers are literally dying out which has made for a competitive market for remaining talent. I've heard of some large consultants charging over $500/hr to their clients for a COBOL developer!

mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2023)
AmpUp | Remote/Hybrid – Santa Clara, Boston | Electric Vehicles, Software, Climate Tech, Utilities | https://ampup.io

AmpUp is the leading electric vehicle (EV) charging operating system that enables drivers, hosts, and fleets to charge stress-free. Our technology makes it easy for businesses and property owners to manage multiple charge stations and locations on one platform. We enable our customers to achieve their electrification goals faster and easier than they imagined possible.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Government & Utility Analyst to support sales across US & Canada. The analyst will be responsible for identifying, responding, and winning RFPs as well as support new business opportunities within the electric vehicle charging market.

Please email 'gnu@ampup.io' with your resume and cover letter if interested.

mbloom1915··on The EV Transition Explained: Can the Grid Cope?
Very related and timely:

“Installing, wiring, and connecting the pieces of a traditional post-and-frame switchgear takes about 50 hours of on-site electrical labor,” Seitz said. “And that doesn’t take into consideration the time, costs, and difficulty of sourcing components from various manufacturers and supply houses.” Traditional switchgear is composed of electrical panels that are tasked with receiving, distributing, and protecting the site’s power. The components include a power disconnect panel, a current transformer (CT) cabinet, utility meter, distribution panels, and a transformer.

“Just measuring, cutting and assembling the typical post-and-frame structure for these panels takes two days,” Seitz said. “That’s before the electrician even begins handling the electrical components.” Next steps include:

Removing all dead fronts from tubs panels Mounting the panels, cabinets and enclosures Removing all the conduit knockouts Installing conduit fittings and conduit Mounting all breakers and internal equipment to bus bars Running wire through conduit Terminating all wires Making the external field wiring conduit connections

source: https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/ev-charger-deployments-mus...

mbloom1915··on The EV Transition Explained: Can the Grid Cope?
sadly utilities are both run inefficiently AND slow to adopt new technology. If you cut their budgets they still print money and come out profitable. Since many utilities are beholden to their shareholders, there are incentivized to NOT upgrade and sweat assets until end of life...

Although critical to safety, much of the clean energy transition is in the hands of utilities to move quicker. With a 50+ year track record of not doing so I'm curious what government and/or private sector can do to remove the utilities involvement or red tape.

Level 2 chargers have been easier to install but the DC Fast Chargers backed by big IRA bucks will be a tough slog. Utility transmission line drops (12 months), battery storage, installation/engineering (3 months) trenching, concrete pouring, permitting (3-6 months), union labor, DOT involvement (6 months). The day is soon approaching where we have far more EVs than charge stations ready to install.

mbloom1915··on [dead]
I've been freaking out all day with these Slack thread bugs lol
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2022)
AmpUp | Multiple positions: Marketing Analyst, Gov't & Utility Affairs Analyst, Business Development Reps | Full-Time | Remote/Hybrid, offices in Cupertino, CA & Boston, MA | https://ampup.io

Email matt@ampup.io with a resume if interested

mbloom1915··on Ontario bans non-competes and creates right to disconnect from work
non-compete rule does not apply to: "Executives, defined as "any person who holds the office of chief executive officer, president, chief administrative officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief information officer, chief legal officer, chief human resources officer or chief corporate development officer, or holds any other chief executive position."

lol - cofounder is fine, as well as board member, head of sales... really whatever you want your title to be

mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2021)
AmpUp | Government & Utility Intern | Remote | Part-Time | https://ampup.io

AmpUp is an electric vehicle (EV) software company and network provider that enables drivers, hosts, and fleets to charge stress-free. We are hiring a gov't and utility intern to assist with bids, RFPs, and grant writing, as well as other business development activity.

Job Requirements & Responsibilities: * Undergraduate degree minimum, Graduate degree or candidate preferred * 2-5 years of experience in utility and/or government relations * Experience with utility, clean energy, and/or government bids a plus * Strong technical writing and communication skills * Experience in grant writing and program research * Interest and passion for electric vehicles and/or clean energy * Ability to work flexible hours to meet RFP and bid deadlines

Interested candidates should send their resume and a short introduction to matt@ampup.io

mbloom1915··on Adobe Lightroom v6 is Falling Apart
Figma FTW
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: What is the best money you have spent on professional development?
Venture University - just an awesome way to immerse yourself into how venture capital works and what it takes for both the startup and investor to achieve their goals.

So much of our future falls in the hands of companies and investors funding them, so knowing how all of this works is crucial to understanding why and when company's make huge decisions that impact us.

https://www.venture.university/

mbloom1915··on A16Z struggles to earn passing grade in crypto fund II investor letter
mostly accurate piece. I can't say I agree with the stablecoin analysis since many are being used as novel financials instruments, but I see where he is coming from.
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2019)
Apply at https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/1533610759/
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2019)
ampUp (YC W18) | Mobile & Web UI/UX Designer | Cupertino, CA | On-site/Remote | https://ampup.io

ampUp is the largest reservable electric vehicle (EV) charger network born out of shared public and private chargers. EV drivers can find, reserve, and pay for a charge with a few clicks, while hosts can rent out their chargers on the ampUp network to earn money. Our app is also home to one of the most extensive maps of EV chargers in North America.

ampUp is seeking a UI/UX designer for our main mobile app available on iOS and Android, as well as 2 web applications recently released.

Basic requirements:

- 1-2 years of experience in mobile app design

- Cares deeply about user experience

- Cares about the environment

- Strong work ethic

Preferred:

- 3+ years of experience in mobile app design

- Experience in user experience research/testing

- Strong portfolio to demonstrate design passion

- Ability to communicate with engineers

- Speaks Vietnamese a plus

- Ability to manage contracting designers for marketing

- Drives or is familiar with an electric vehicle

- Can work in our Cupertino office 1-2 times a week

If you are interested, please send your resume to tom@ampup.io

mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (August 2019)
Location: Boston, MA Remote: N/A Willing to relocate: Yes Technologies: operations and biz dev, venture capital (not a developer!) Résumé/CV: Upon request Email: mbloom1915@gmail.com
mbloom1915··on Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (January 2019)
Location: Boston, MA

Remote: Willing

Willing to relocate: Yes

Currently working in software venture capital but seeking full-time biz dev and/or partnerships positions in Boston, NYC, and other major cities. High experience in project management and cleantech/energy VC.

Résumé/CV: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbloom1/, email for resume

Email: mbloom1915@gmail.com

mbloom1915··on PG&E stock plunged 32% after it disclosed a possible link to California’s fire
Equipment decades old coupled with IT systems equally antiquated- this is a core problem for all utilities not just PG&E (I would know, I work for one). Unfortunately, I think we can expect more utility faults as well as severe weather that will continue to cause damage to people and homes. Utilities do not invest in IT unless they are incentivized to do so through rate recovery. This has plagued them to fall drastically behind in IT capability and hiring talent, as well as outsourced a majority of their operations (ie. Siemens, ABB, IBM, etc not only provide the solution but are hired to run the project management and strategy). It sucks companies so vital to reliable electricity see IT investment as a balance sheet stop sign but it will not change unless regulators force their hand...
mbloom1915··on SurveyMonkey S-1
take a look at their VC history, could one assume the BAC, JPs, TRowes needed this exit soon? https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/surveymonkey
mbloom1915··on After rising for 100 years, electricity demand is flat
good point, utilities essentially get gov't approval to spend money and receive a return on that investment of 5-10% (depending on performance)...its a consistently profitable yet low-growth model and perhaps nothing wrong with it if not for them being investor-owned.
mbloom1915··on After rising for 100 years, electricity demand is flat
As someone who works for an investor-owned utility it is more than clear that IOUs are entering riskier markets such as solar, energy storage, EV charging stations, and wind. Utilities will either be pipes and wires companies or new-age energy solution providers to businesses and residents. Many already have the new sexy solutions making up 20%+ of their business, which just 5 years ago would of been unbelievable for the industry. This trend will continue and thus long-term winners (imo) will be the ones looking for new energy revenue models to make up the majority of their revenue. Vector (New Zealand) is a great example of this and they've done so in a short amount of time...

P.S. Utilities don't necessarily make more money by providing more electricity, they often ask customers to lower consumption so the utility assets don't blow up. Utilities try to sweat assets as long as possible and that cost deferral across multiple towns, states, etc adds up to millions or billions saved per year.

mbloom1915··on Building a backup bee: A novel replacement for the embattled honeybee
the word "building" already scares me -- black mirror digital bee horror engage!
mbloom1915··on Show HN: A platform for sharing DIY solar projects
=D awesome! if anyone is looking to test further with a utility please reach out (mbloom1915@gmail.com)
mbloom1915··on It’s not ok for billion-dollar companies to crowdfund
what better way to market test product then crowdsource interest and sales? all points made above mine make it clear this is not a problem nor new
mbloom1915··on VW announces $84B investment in electric cars and batteries
Don't forget VW has to build EV infrastructure worth billions in U.S. as part of their false emissions settlement. Makes a lot of sense to capitalize on all the new chargers you build with the car offering...
mbloom1915··on Coinbase raises $100M Series D led by IVP
lots of people have used cash to buy drugs...
Page 1 of 3Next →