Digital Native

Digital Native, authored by Rex Woodbury, explores the dynamic intersection of technology and human behavior, focusing on the digital transformation across various sectors such as retail, AI, investment, and social changes. It delves into how technology reshapes industries, influences personalization, and drives startup strategies while highlighting the impact of digital evolution on everyday life and global markets.

Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence Investing and Venture Capital Retail and E-commerce Social and Cultural Changes Technology and Productivity Healthcare Innovation Marketing and Branding Sustainability

The hottest Substack posts of Digital Native

And their main takeaways

AI's Interface Revolution

1 HN point • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Interfaces Startups Distribution Privacy
  1. AI is revolutionizing how we interact with products and services, blurring lines between human relationships and digital companions.
  2. The AI interface revolution is happening quickly, similar to the mobile revolution that some companies almost missed.
  3. New AI applications are changing how we shop, find support, and communicate, with AI-native companies emerging and traditional distribution strategies evolving.

25 Predictions for 2025

0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Digital Media Robotics Venture Capital Social media
  1. Taylor Swift is expected to write an open letter about artist rights and AI, which could change how artists and tech companies interact. This might help establish clearer boundaries on using an artist's work and likeness in AI.
  2. TikTok is likely to survive despite previous discussions of a ban, possibly due to intervention from high-profile individuals or legal decisions. This will be significant for many creators who rely on the platform for income.
  3. Digital clones of real people might become more popular, allowing fans to interact with AI versions of their favorite celebrities. However, there may be pushback against completely AI-generated creators, as they can feel unsettling and less authentic.

The Huberman-ization of America

0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Performance Aesthetic Health
  1. The Huberman-ization of America showcases the growing importance society places on health and wellness. Andrew Huberman's rise reflects a broader trend of people investing more in their bodies and minds.
  2. The shift towards health is evident in three main categories: Performance, Aesthetic, and Health. Each category is experiencing a surge in startups and innovation driven by consumer spending on personalized health solutions.
  3. GLP-1 agonists and health startups are addressing the obesity epidemic and driving significant changes in consumer habits and industries like airlines. Investment in health is increasing across different sectors, such as insurers, employers, and consumers.
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Business-in-a-Box 2.0

0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💼 Business Technology Training Discovery Administration
  1. Franchises are not only about fast food but have a long history; businesses like hair salons and Great Clips have thrived through franchising.
  2. The rise of 'business-in-a-box' companies is fueled by AI and a cultural shift towards self-driven work, with Gen Z showing a strong desire for entrepreneurship.
  3. These companies provide training, customer discovery, and administrative support to help people launch businesses in various industries, leveraging AI to automate tasks and streamline operations.

The Future Is a Dupe

0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Virtual reality Infrastructure Generative AI Spatial Computing
  1. Gen Z is interested in finding cheaper alternatives to expensive products, known as 'dupes', and platforms like TikTok are popular for sharing these recommendations.
  2. New technologies like Sora and Vision Pro are changing the way we create and experience content, with AI models generating videos from text prompts and devices like Vision Pro offering immersive experiences.
  3. The integration of AI and spatial computing in our daily lives brings both positive and negative implications, with opportunities for improved communication and accessibility, but also potential challenges in job displacement and ethical concerns.

How Impact Investing Applies to Venture Capital

0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
💼 Business Education Healthcare Climate Technology
  1. Impact investing intersects with venture capital through startups driving social change at scale.
  2. Education needs innovation to bridge the gap between traditional teaching methods and the fast-changing digital world.
  3. Climate change demands urgent solutions, and startups are key in driving sustainability and innovation across all sectors of business.

Why the Tech Pessimists Are Wrong

0 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
  1. Technology amplifies creativity by giving everyone the tools to express ideas and create things easily.
  2. Technology boosts productivity, making work more efficient and better, especially for knowledge workers.
  3. Technology connects people, allowing them to form new relationships, communities, and even find new jobs online.

Tech's Blind Spots: The Startups Building for Underserved Markets

0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Children Labor Startups
  1. Silicon Valley tends to build products for itself, but there are large opportunities in underserved markets like Baby Boomers and Gen Alphas.
  2. Startups are starting to focus on overlooked groups like industrial workers and internet labor, offering solutions tailored to their needs.
  3. There is potential in catering to the growing class of internet-native small businesses, from creators to e-commerce entrepreneurs.

10 Charts That Capture How the World Is Changing (Part I)

0 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💼 Business Finance Venture Capital Market Trends Consumer behavior Startup Ecosystem
  1. Prediction markets are gaining popularity as people can now bet on real-life events. This trend allows individuals to use their knowledge and insights to potentially earn money.
  2. The venture capital landscape is shifting, and experts believe 2025 could see a turnaround with more returns and IPOs. There's hope that a new wave of companies might provide big payouts to investors.
  3. People are increasingly spending on experiences rather than just goods. This trend reflects a cultural shift where memorable experiences are valued more, driven by social media and a desire for unique moments.

Beauty Is in the Algorithm of the Beholder

0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Beauty Standards Health trends Social media Consumer behavior
  1. Beauty standards are always changing based on what is seen as desirable. For a long time, being plump was a sign of wealth, but nowadays, being thin is often seen as the ideal.
  2. New drugs like Ozempic are making weight loss more accessible, which could shift beauty standards again. If everyone can easily lose weight, we might see a change in what is considered beautiful.
  3. The rise of social media and technology is influencing how we perceive beauty. With tools for photo editing and cosmetic procedures becoming more common, people are more focused on looking good in photos and online.

Crazy Ideas

0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI AR Entertainment Startups Innovation
  1. Questioning the status quo and imagining a different world is crucial for predicting future innovations and business opportunities.
  2. Advancements in AI technology are shaping a future where subtitles may become obsolete as AI translations and avatars become more advanced.
  3. The blending of physical and digital worlds through technologies like AR will revolutionize entertainment, storytelling, and everyday life.

The Hyper-Personalization of Everything

0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Startups Internet Personalization
  1. Cultural shift towards hyper-personalization, where individualistic expectations have become the norm.
  2. Emerging technologies like AI are enabling mass customization and more tailored experiences for individuals.
  3. The shift from mass production to bespoke consumption in the 21st century, with the Internet and AI enabling highly personalized products and services.

10 Charts That Capture How the World Is Changing (October 2023)

0 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Tech Trends Health tech Space Tech
  1. Employee productivity is increasing as technology allows workers to do more in less time.
  2. Platforms like OnlyFans represent the rise of digitally-native entrepreneurs seeking flexible and economically-rewarding work.
  3. Healthcare expenditures continue to rise in the U.S., prompting innovation in digital health solutions and a shift towards consumer-focused healthcare approaches.

The Resale Revolution: Fashionably Sustainable

0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
💼 Business Fashion Sustainability Technology
  1. Resale is growing rapidly and offers a sustainable solution to the fashion industry's environmental impact.
  2. Connecting resale to the point of purchase can increase average order values, conversion rates, and reduce cart abandonment.
  3. There is a significant market opportunity in the resale industry, especially with the younger generation driving the demand for sustainable and affordable fashion.

Seed Investing: The State of the Union

0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Investing Market Trends Fundraising Financial Strategy
  1. Seed investing is experiencing a rough period due to market downturn, impacting both pre-seed and seed stages.
  2. Despite the challenges, early-stage investing remains compelling, attracting multi-stage investors looking for opportunities in Seed.
  3. Seed valuations are relatively high, but a focus on reasonably-priced rounds at the earliest stages can lead to significant returns for investors.

LLMs for Dummies

0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Language Models Applications Training Data Transformers
  1. Large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3 have rapidly improved in recent years, showing exponential growth in size and capability.
  2. LLMs work by translating words into numbers using word vectors stored in multidimensional planes, helping to capture relationships between words.
  3. There are various frameworks for LLM applications, such as solving impossible problems, simplifying complex tasks, focusing on vertical AI products, and creating AI copilot tools for faster and more efficient human work.

24 Predictions for 2024 (Part I)

0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Tech Trends AI Startups AR/VR
  1. A new trend in dating apps will emerge with AI-powered features aiming to improve user experience.
  2. Interest rates are projected to remain flat in 2024, impacting various sectors like venture capital funding.
  3. 2024 will be a challenging year for fundraising in the venture capital industry, with limited partners facing difficulties due to market conditions.

The Five Pillars of Startup Impact

0 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
💼 Business Technology Health Learning Community
  1. Economic mobility in America is declining, despite technological innovation.
  2. Young talent is drawn to work for mission-driven startups that aim to make a tangible positive impact.
  3. The most successful technology companies create ecosystems that provide jobs for more people than just their direct employees.

The Retail Revolution (Part 2/2) 🛍

0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
💼 Business Retail Technology Sustainability E-commerce Finance
  1. The retail landscape has shifted from traditional malls to digital-first strategies like immersive virtual worlds.
  2. AI tools are helping consumers navigate through overwhelming product choices, especially in online shopping platforms like Amazon.
  3. Sustainable commerce is on the rise with a focus on secondhand markets, excess inventory management, and cleaner practices due to increasing environmental concerns.

How Notion Used Community to Scale to 20M+ Users

0 implied HN points • 10 May 23
💼 Business Community Marketing Product Growth Influencer
  1. Notion used community to scale to over 20 million users, proving the importance of leveraging community for growth.
  2. Community can be a versatile tool for startups, serving as both a marketing distribution channel and a source of product feedback.
  3. Building a strong community requires authenticity, relationship-building, and understanding different user preferences, and it can significantly impact product development.

The Age of Fragmentation: AI’s Impact on Content and Code

0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Content Startups Digital Culture
  1. AI is changing culture by making it easier for people to create and share content. This leads to more options and fewer shared experiences, making culture more fragmented.
  2. The cost of creating both content and software is dropping thanks to AI. This means more people can create, leading to a burst of new ideas and projects that weren't possible before.
  3. Successful companies in the future will focus on building tools for creating content and software, while also creating communities for collaboration. This network aspect will help them stay valuable and competitive.

How AI Will Reinvigorate Consumer Tech

0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Consumer Fintech Gaming Video Education Health
  1. AI is poised to transform consumer technology across various sectors. This means we could see innovative changes in areas like gaming, shopping, and healthcare.
  2. Investing in consumer startups might be more valuable than it seems. Notable past consumer companies have shown that the potential gains can be significant, indicating a resurgence in consumer-focused ventures is on the horizon.
  3. New tools powered by AI could revolutionize how we interact with everyday activities, making things like learning, dating, and even shopping much more personalized and engaging.

25 Predictions for 2025 (Part II)

0 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Gaming Media Education Healthcare Finance
  1. In 2025, we might see the rise of a new type of video game that keeps changing forever based on how players play. This could mean that instead of finishing a game, players could enjoy an endless adventure that adapts to their choices.
  2. Expect to see Pixar create a short film using AI technology. This will allow them to produce content faster and cheaper, leading the way for more AI involvement in film and animation.
  3. Google is likely to launch an AI tool that helps students learn better in schools. This could personalize education in a way that's never been done before, making learning more accessible to everyone.

The Evolution of the Creator

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Creator Economy Digital Tools AI Development Social media Content creation
  1. The idea of being a 'creator' is evolving. It's not just about influencing others but also about creativity and self-expression.
  2. New technologies, especially AI, are making it easier for anyone to create content. This means more people can make cool stuff with less effort.
  3. Successful creator businesses need to focus on three main things: making good content, sharing it widely, and finding ways to earn money from it.

The "Why Now" for Healthcare

0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Regulation Healthcare Innovation Policy Demographics
  1. Regulatory capture is when special interests take priority over public needs, often leading to higher prices and limited competition, like the expensive COVID tests in the USA compared to other countries.
  2. Healthcare is at a turning point due to several shifts, including aging populations, advances in technology like telehealth and AI, and increased focus on wellness. These changes are driving demand for innovative healthcare solutions.
  3. Despite challenges, there are growing opportunities for startups in healthcare, especially in areas like Medicaid and telehealth, as more people seek affordable and effective services.

To Go Broad, Go Deep

0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Startups Philanthropy Healthcare Entrepreneurship Market Trends
  1. To truly make a wide impact, you first need to understand your area deeply. This is about getting to the roots of a problem before trying to solve it on a larger scale.
  2. Founders should keep engaging with their customers as they grow. Staying connected with the people they serve helps them keep important insights and improve their offerings.
  3. Personal experiences can lead to great business ideas. If founders draw from their own knowledge and insights, they often find unique solutions that resonate with others.

Play It Cool: Chasing Heat vs. Being Contrarian in Venture Capital

0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment strategy Market Trends Healthcare Innovation
  1. Venture capital often rewards those who can spot unique opportunities instead of following trends. If most investors are chasing the same hot market, it’s hard to find standout success.
  2. Certain sectors like healthcare, consumer products, and education may be undervalued today but could become hot investment areas in the next few years. Being ahead of the curve can lead to big wins.
  3. There are emerging fields like psychedelics, longevity, and AI-driven digital media that show potential for growth. Investors should keep an eye on these areas as they may heat up sooner than we think.

10 Charts That Capture How the World Is Changing (Part II)

0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI E-commerce Music Venture Capital Video
  1. Generative music is on the rise, thanks to AI, allowing anyone to create songs by mixing different styles and moods. This could change how we produce and enjoy music in the future.
  2. Shopify is experiencing significant growth, showing a strong recovery after recent challenges. With e-commerce still expanding, there are plenty of opportunities for startups in this space.
  3. Video content is dominating internet usage, with a huge shift from text and images. As new tools emerge, like AI video generators, we can expect even more video creation and consumption.

How Consumer Psychology Informs AI Product Design

0 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Product Development User Interface Market Trends
  1. The IKEA Effect shows that people value products more if they contribute to making them. In AI design, letting users personalize tools can make them feel more attached and in control.
  2. Having too many choices can overwhelm people and even stop them from making a decision. AI products should simplify options to help users feel more secure and focused.
  3. People like to follow trends and see what others are doing, known as the Bandwagon Effect. AI tools can improve by being more social and allowing users to share their experiences and creations with friends.

Techno-Optimism and Horizon Expansion

0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Venture Capital Education Healthcare Sustainability
  1. People are growing more skeptical of AI, especially in creative fields like film. This backlash shows a general distrust in new technology is becoming more common.
  2. Despite concerns, technology can improve access and affordability in areas like education, healthcare, and finance. AI is expected to help make expensive services more available to everyone.
  3. History shows that new technology often causes fears and backlash, but it usually leads to positive changes. It's important to focus on shaping and regulating these advances for better outcomes.

How AI Changes Customer Acquisition

0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
💼 Business Marketing Advertising AI Technology Customer Acquisition Growth Strategies
  1. AI is making ad creation easier and faster. You can make your own ads in just a few minutes with AI tools, saving time and costs.
  2. Search is changing too, with AI providing quick answers instead of users sifting through links. Brands now have to focus on being visible in AI search results.
  3. Influencer marketing is evolving with AI, allowing influencers to license their likeness for ads. This offers new passive income opportunities for them and makes the ad process more efficient.

What Taylor Swift Can Teach Us About Business

0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing Community Management Brand building Product Development Customer Engagement
  1. Great products revitalize and expand markets, like Taylor Swift did with country music to pop.
  2. Cultivating loyal communities and engaging with fans online is crucial for businesses, just as Taylor Swift did on Tumblr.
  3. Strong branding is a valuable moat for companies, as seen with Taylor Swift's well-defined brand that evolves with culture.