Caterina Fake, Cofounder of Flickr & Yes VC on the effect of technology on humanity
With mistrust in the technology sector at an all-time high, rather than asking ‘could this exist’ should we now be asking ‘should this exist’. Caterina Fake is Silicon Valley’s most eloquent commentator and dot-connector on technology and the human condition. As a humanist with a deep passion for history, literature, arts and culture, she has a unique perspective on the myriad unforeseen ways technology can impact our world. And as a celebrated tech pioneer herself, Caterina brings a deep knowledge of technology and an optimistic enthusiasm for entrepreneurs. In the early 2000s, Caterina co-founded Flickr and introduced many of the innovations — newsfeeds, hashtags, “followers,” “likes” — that laid the foundation for modern social media. (Though she’s quick to point out where social media has gone wrong, as you’ll hear in this podcast). As an angel investor, advisor and board member, she helped build companies like Etsy, Kickstarter and Stack Overflow — which defined and nurtured new types of human-centered online communities. She’s now co-founder of Yes VC, an investment fund in search of ideas that elevate our collective humanity. For Caterina, hosting Should This Exist? reflects her career-long dedication to helping technology fulfil its promise. Don’t miss this episode of This Much I Know as Caterina shares her fascinating journey, from the massive highs and lows as a founder and the effects of radical transparency, to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs at Yes VC and why humanising technology has been one of the most important jobs across her entire career. Links: Caterina Fake: twitter.com/caterina Yes VC: https://yes.vc Should this exist podcast: https://shouldthisexist.com Carlos Espinal: twitter.com/cee Seedcamp: www.seedcamp.com