Something Different

It’s always interesting to hear what industry experts have to say about the current state of technology, specifically as it relates to our very own city by the bay. David Weir, journalist and media consultant who covers technology for 7×7, has a keen eye for what interests this tech-savvy generation. Having been an editor for a number of publications including 7×7 and Rolling Stone while also having articles published in top tier outlets including The New York Times, David is an expert in media and technology.

With a breadth of experience covering the technology space in San Francisco, David has worked with and profiled a number of ambitious companies from food and healthcare to education and beyond. His recent book, 30 Startups to Know Now, dives into the way these companies have the potential to transform the way we live our lives. David discusses this current boom that is centered around the convergence of several technological trends and available data.

I recently got the chance to ask him a few questions about current trends, what he’s been covering, and what he anticipates we’ll be seeing in the coming months.

B+G: What trends have you seen in the technology/startup space over the past year?

David: Where to start? Mobile platforms took center stage; tablets are replacing e-readers; more people are using smartphones for everything, all the time. Designers at startups have started optimizing their UIs for tablets rather than the larger screen sizes of desktops and laptops. Thus, increasingly websites look like tablets rather than the other way around.

More entrepreneurs are following “The Lean Startup” approach. This means launching a “minimum viable product,” and then iterating on the basis of the data generated by their users. More are building actual products before seeking any funding. Crowd-funding (like Kickstarter) is exploding. Collaborative consumption startups are creating new marketplaces in a variety of sectors, including transportation, office space, and task-sharing.

B+G: What predictions do you have when it comes to the tech space as we look forward in 2013?

David: I don’t like making predictions, because I’m usually wrong – plus, I like surprises. But, since you asked, this year app fatigue may be setting in, and there is bound to be a shakeout, with over 700,000 apps in both the Apple and Google stores. That said, I don’t see any slowdown in the effort to launch new apps yet. There should be more emphasis on business models now.

I’m concerned we may be seeing evidence of a bubble forming; investors are becoming more cautious, But with the growth in 3D printers, AI, computer learning, bendable screens, and other innovations, there should be plenty of amazing technology stories to come.

B+G: What are you tired of seeing/being pitched?

David: In general, the launch of a new app by an existing company is not a development I’m likely to cover. I focus more on trying to tell the company’s story as it develops – its narrative, you could say, rather than one short chapter. There are exceptions, as in when it represents a pivot or generates interesting new data.

B+G: What is the best way to pitch you? (do you prefer email, honor embargoes, do you want briefings or would you rather just be sent a release?)

David: Email works fine. I always respect embargoes; I rarely publish on the embargo date anyway – I prefer to take my time and do my own kind of story, rather than follow the pack of tech coverage.

B+G: What is the most exciting story/project you’ve gotten to work on, your favorite?

David: Currently, for 7×7.com, the entrepreneurs trying to work toward solutions of critical problems like climate change, reducing our carbon footprint, and that operate in other socially responsible ways are among the ones that attract me. Plus, I enjoy just really cool new technologies.

But I worked on many huge stories earlier in my career as an investigative reporter and editor. Some of the biggest were the series on Patty Hearst’s kidnapping I co-authored for Rolling Stone in the seventies, and a book I co-authored, “Circle of Poison” in the eighties. And the Henry Hyde scandal for Salon in the nineties. I’ve always loved writing long-form narratives; even my blog posts are longer than most!

Interviewed by Raisa Mirza