Tuesday, April 29, 2025

29: China

Emerging markets set to become battlegrounds in trade war Developing nations face a poisoned chalice of influx of cheap goods from China and tariff penalties for trade diversion ....... “China is really interested in selling to the 7.5bn people who don’t live in the US”, says Johnstone, co-head of emerging and frontier markets at Redwheel, the investment manager. “And China is putting in the manufacturing capacity to sell to that global consumption base.” ....... China’s exports to big developing economies have already more than doubled since Trump was first elected president, from below $670bn in 2017 to $1.35tn in the year to February, representing more than a third of total exports .......... In recent years, countries such as Pakistan and South Africa loaded up on imports of cut-price Chinese solar panels to help overcome rolling power blackouts and energy shortages. ........ Chinese-made panels and batteries are also enabling the rollout of solar energy in Saudi Arabia with some of the lowest costs in the world as the kingdom tries to diversify beyond oil. ....... But it has been a different story for emerging-market makers of

steel, chemicals, textiles and low-cost electronics.

These are classic examples of export industries that traditionally helped countries climb the ladder of economic development......... They have been hit by waves of cheap Chinese supply as Beijing has continued to support manufacturers in these areas, even as it is pursuing production of goods further up that ladder, such as electric cars......... “Trade imbalances are not just a US-China irritant any more . . . emerging countries including India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey are launching trade defence cases to stave off what they see as injurious imports” ......... Beijing recently removed tariffs on imports from dozens of Africa’s poorest countries, after complaints on the continent about widening trade deficits with China.

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Paul Graham’s Timeless Advice for Tech Startups: A Masterclass in Building the Future

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Paul Graham’s Timeless Advice for Tech Startups: A Masterclass in Building the Future

When it comes to tech startups, few voices are as respected — and reread — as Paul Graham’s. As a cofounder of Y Combinator and author of dozens of seminal essays, Graham has shaped how generations of founders think about startups. His advice is practical, deceptively simple, and deeply wise.

Here’s a distilled guide to Paul Graham’s best advice for building a successful tech startup:

1. Start With a Real Problem

"The very best startup ideas tend to have three things in common: they’re something the founders themselves want, that they themselves can build, and that few others realize are worth doing."

Don't chase trends. Find a real problem — ideally one you personally feel — and solve it. The best ideas come from founders solving problems they deeply understand, not from brainstorming sessions or market research alone.

2. Build Something People Want

"Make something people want."

This is the core of everything. A startup succeeds by creating real value for users. If users truly love what you’ve built, everything else — growth, revenue, buzz — follows. If they don’t, no clever marketing or fundraising will save you.

3. Start Small, Grow Fast

"It’s better to make a few people really happy than to make a lot of people semi-happy."

Start with a small group of users — even 10 or 100 — and obsess over making them love you. Dominating a small niche is the seed from which larger success grows.

4. Launch Early

"If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late."

Don't over-perfect in secret. Get something out quickly, even if it's basic. Real feedback from real users is infinitely more valuable than speculation.

5. Do Things That Don’t Scale

"A lot of would-be founders believe that startups either take off or don't. Actually, startups take off because the founders make them take off."

Hand-hold users. Recruit them one by one. Deliver an exceptional experience manually if needed. Early scrappiness lays the foundation for later automation and scaling.

6. Be Relentlessly Resourceful

"What matters is not ideas, but the people who have them. Good people can fix bad ideas, but good ideas can’t save bad founders."

Founders succeed through resourcefulness, determination, and adaptability. Being able to figure things out and push through walls is more important than initial brilliance.

7. Find a Great Cofounder

"It's like getting married. Choose carefully."

Solo founders have a harder time. A great cofounder complements your skills, shares your vision, and sticks through hard times. The chemistry between cofounders often determines a startup’s fate.

8. Stay Focused

"Startups rarely die because of competition. They die because they get distracted."

Most startup death comes from losing focus: chasing too many ideas, pivoting aimlessly, or burning out. Ruthless prioritization is key.

9. Understand the Importance of Growth

"Startup = growth."

What defines a startup is not the type of product or the age of the company but the pursuit of rapid, exponential growth. Constantly measure and drive toward sustainable growth metrics.

10. Fundraising Is a Means, Not an End

"Raising money is not success."

Yes, venture capital can help. But building something users love is the real measure of success. Chasing investors instead of customers leads to hollow startups.

11. Default Alive or Default Dead?

"Are you on track to reach profitability before you run out of money?"

Always know whether you are on a trajectory to survive without new funding. Many startups die simply because they run out of money without clear paths to profitability.

12. Beware of Bad Advice and Conventional Wisdom

"Large organizations are very good at suppressing new ideas."

Startups thrive by questioning assumptions, moving fast, and staying unconventional. Herd mentality kills creativity.

13. Persistence Wins

"It's not about having an idea. It's about making it happen."

Many startups succeed simply because the founders refused to quit. Persistence through the “trough of sorrow” — the tough times when growth stagnates — is critical.

Final Thoughts

Paul Graham’s startup wisdom boils down to a few profound principles:

  • Solve real problems.

  • Start small and focus on delighting users.

  • Move fast and stay scrappy.

  • Stay alive at all costs.

Building a startup is a rollercoaster of uncertainty, excitement, and hard work. But armed with Graham’s timeless advice, founders can tilt the odds a little more in their favor — and maybe even change the world.


Beyond Motion: How Robots Will Redefine The Art Of Movement
ChatGPT For Business: A Workbook
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Quantum Computing: Applications And Implications
Challenges In AI Safety
AI-Era Social Network: Reimagined for Truth, Trust & Transformation

Beyond Motion: How Robots Will Redefine The Art Of Movement
ChatGPT For Business: A Workbook
Becoming an AI-First Organization
Quantum Computing: Applications And Implications
Challenges In AI Safety
AI-Era Social Network: Reimagined for Truth, Trust & Transformation

Beyond Motion: How Robots Will Redefine The Art Of Movement
ChatGPT For Business: A Workbook
Becoming an AI-First Organization
Quantum Computing: Applications And Implications
Challenges In AI Safety
AI-Era Social Network: Reimagined for Truth, Trust & Transformation

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