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msis

204 karma · joined August 25, 2015

[ my public key: https://keybase.io/msis; my proof: https://keybase.io/msis/sigs/CVFUR2-4Zub0mzpSzNJuLzw3AP-RNwUHn7hzDx5YV4Y ]
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msis··on Ask HN: Can shares be canceled without notice?
So all common stock gets canceled? Including finding team? What prevents founders/board of doing this many times over to prevent dilution?
msis··on I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
Hi Peter, I've got an EB-1A (August 2018 approved in September 2018) and NIW (November 2018 approved in January 2020) petitions approved, and yet I haven't gotten my adjustment of status issued. The adjustment of status was filed with the NIW in Nov. 2018. I didn't file an adjustment of status for the EB-1A because the priority date wasn't current. Is there anything I can do to get anything issued? I've followed up regularly until I was told to stop calling...
msis··on Ask HN: Are there any decent GitHub Copilot Alternatives?
If you have time in your hand, try following this and see if it suits your needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VyGlSKsYeo

I honestly think that $10/month is more than worth it. I found that having copilot is cheaper than hiring a junior dev. I mostly use it for C++, python, and TypeScript and has been really satisfied with it.

msis··on MIT deploys autonomous Roboat on canals of Amsterdam
Disclaimer: I'm the founder of blkSAIL (black sail) that builds AI and autonomy for ocean-going maritime ships. We are an MIT CSAIL spinoff. We started with an aim to become Uber for the waterways, then pivoted to large ships. Many of the comments below touch on many key points: (1) most commercial ships have a crew between 8 to 20, (2) auto-pilot in ships exist since the GPS was invented, (3) when ship hits the fan, there's not much you can do.

(1) Autonomy in maritime is not to replace seafarers, the navigation crew is less than 30% of the crew. And crew is negligible OPEX compared to fuel etc. (2) Because the industry is the backbone of global trade, it moves much slower in adopting technology for the sake of technology. However, when there's a simple reliable system that can clear benefit, the adoption happens. So given that there's few[1] lanes in the ocean, you can easily go from one waypoint to the next. (3) Onboard a ship, there's no such thing as breaks. In most cases, you know about a collision or a grounding 12+ minutes in advance. The challenge is in getting the predictions right and abide by the rules of the road. Most advanced LIDAR have 1km range, which is too close, cameras don't see much neither[2].

[1]: there are quite few channels around ports to ease traffic that are one-way. [2]: the resolution is too low to see far out. When using zoom, the stabilization is a nightmare.

msis··on Autonomous boats seem more solvable than autonomous cars
Disclaimer: I'm the founder of blkSAIL (black sail) that builds AI and autonomy for ocean-going maritime ships. We are an MIT CSAIL spinoff. We started with an aim to become Uber for the waterways, then pivoted to large ships.

Many of the comments below touch on many key points: (1) most commercial ships have a crew between 8 to 20, (2) auto-pilot in ships exist since the GPS was invented, (3) when ship hits the fan, there's not much you can do.

(1) Autonomy in maritime is not to replace seafarers, the navigation crew is less than 30% of the crew. And crew is negligible OPEX compared to fuel etc. (2) Because the industry is the backbone of global trade, it moves much slower in adopting technology for the sake of technology. However, when there's a simple reliable system that can clear benefit, the adoption happens. So given that there's few[1] lanes in the ocean, you can easily go from one waypoint to the next. (3) Onboard a ship, there's no such thing as breaks. In most cases, you know about a collision or a grounding 12+ minutes in advance. The challenge is in getting the predictions right and abide by the rules of the road. Most advanced LIDAR have 1km range, which is too close, cameras don't see much neither[2].

[1]: there are quite few channels around ports to ease traffic that are one-way. [2]: the resolution is too low to see far out. When using zoom, the stabilization is a nightmare.

msis··on Tim Cook says employees who leak memos do not belong, according to leaked memo
It would be amazing if this latest memo had different wordings per group of people. They search would be narrowed and they would have truly made an effort to track these leaks.
msis··on Show HN: Terminal Multiplexer Inspired by I3
How is this different than https://www.byobu.org/ ? You can run byobu with screen or tmux.
msis··on Ask HN: Non-VC backed founders, any tips on growth?
Getting a VC usually sounds like a good idea and is definitely the myth that we were all told that without a VC you cannot succeed.

This is actually not true. If you have clients and your having enough money to pay yourselves a little bit, ride that wave. Focus on growing your business with more satisfied clients and building a brand. VC money can be useful if you see a small but very lucrative opening that will get you to get 10 to 100 folds more return and your clients cannot advance you money for that. If you’re lean enough and running a tight ship, building only features that have great value for the customers; have great channels to grow your customer base; and are financially sustainable; then why a VC?

And remember, the longer you run your company without external funding, the better the return is later for you and your friends, whether you decide to sell, IPO, or get VC. You will always own more of your company.

But if you’re close to bankruptcy, because of your burn rate , and you’re still growing, then maybe start raising money when you have 6 months or so worth of runway left.

PS: I do have some doubts about the 2 startups though. If you’re running 2 at the same time, then you’re not in any of them 100%... And that’s not in the best interest of your startups