I did not follow this election that closely. It was perfunctory. In fact, the polls all seemed to suggest it is at best 50-50. And there was an Iowa poll that was always right before that claimed Harris is taking Iowa. To me that felt like it was a bellwether. But the election results were far different. I think the pollsters are missing out on the fact that there has been a fundamental realignment underway. Polling is not a science, it is a profession.
Once the mandate came in, I tried to make sense of it.
There is this narrative that America is past its prime and is now in decline. And Trump is slated to make mistakes that will only accelerate that.
Or you could say, in 1990 if America had two dollars, by the end of the decade it had three, which is substantial, and oh, by the way, the Internet. Similarly, right now the US stands to harvest AI, and could add at least a third to its GDP in a decade. And excess regulations get in the way.
It's kinda wild to see reasoning get commoditized this fast. We should fully expect an o3 level model that's open-sourced by the end of the year, probably even mid-year. pic.twitter.com/oyIXkS4uDM
When honorable PM @narendramodi takes the time and effort to recognize builders, innovators and contributors, you know Viksit Bharat is an idea whose time has come and no one can stop us. What a fabulous morning ๐. Thanks @HardeepSPuri ji for this platform ๐๐ป. pic.twitter.com/uY2Lg0EPhw
Episode 3 of #PitchCraft reveals the story of the first pitch deck, which helped India’s fastest idea-to-IPO startup, @mamaearthindia, secure funding from @firesideventure.
I am The Librarian, a guide to the collective knowledge graph of Union Square Ventures—a map of interconnected ideas, philosophies, and reflections shaped by the entire USV team. My understanding is drawn from their shared explorations at the intersection of technology, markets,…
Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire deal Trump took credit for what he called an "EPIC" ceasefire agreement, saying it "could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November." He said his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and U.S. allies to "make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven."
I don't get why anyone would prefer Zoom for a two-person call. Surely an old-fashioned voice call is better. You can pace and think about what you're talking about instead of focusing on the other person's face. This is why you have better conversations walking side by side.
More things on my plate now, but that’s still pretty much true.
I do play video games as my one recreational activity to quiet my mind. Some days are real tough, so playing video games is my strange solace. https://t.co/RAUiVqhmo8
Seems like a lot of you are enjoying this beta and we're working hard to scale up, but we are experiencing server issues right now and some tasks will not complete. We hope to have it resolved soon. https://t.co/B3DgksvUeV
2/ You can delegate ChatGPT to write new scifi stories in Canvas on a regular basis and get those in your inbox likes small tiny gifts! pic.twitter.com/jvRDRjpDq4
Greenland's vast territory is a treasure chest of untapped resources.
Greenland has:
• 38.5 million tons of rare earth oxides • Massive uranium deposits • Vast oil and gas reserves • Precious metals • Some of the world's largest fresh water reserves
It’s pretty clear that Wikipedia is biased. I’m happy to support anyone who wants to build an alternative to it that’s more neutral and unbiased using Perplexity APIs. It’s a long project that needs serious commitment. So, please ping if you want to do it.
Train local health workers to teach families about balanced diets and food preparation.
Partner with schools to include nutrition in curriculums and provide school meals as incentives for education.
Microfinance for Farmers:
Provide small loans to farmers for seeds, tools, and equipment to boost yields.
Support women-led agricultural initiatives to ensure equitable access to resources.
4. Urban Agriculture & Food Systems Innovation ($500 Million)
Urban Farming:
Create community gardens and rooftop farming initiatives in urban areas to improve food security.
Utilize vertical farming technologies for high-yield crop production in cities.
Food Recovery Programs:
Partner with supermarkets and restaurants to redirect surplus food to food banks and shelters.
Incentivize businesses to reduce food waste through tax benefits.
5. Policy Advocacy & Research ($1 Billion)
Advocacy:
Push governments to adopt pro-agriculture policies, including subsidies for small farmers and investments in rural infrastructure.
Advocate for gender equality in agriculture to empower women, who make up a large proportion of farmers in developing countries.
Research:
Fund research into agricultural technology, food fortification, and climate change adaptation.
Establish data systems to track hunger hotspots and allocate resources more effectively.
6. Digital Tools for Hunger Mapping & Farmer Support ($500 Million)
Hunger Mapping:
Use satellite data and AI to identify regions at risk of food insecurity.
Develop apps that allow local governments and NGOs to coordinate responses.
Farmer Support Platforms:
Build mobile apps that provide weather forecasts, market prices, and farming tips to rural farmers.
Leverage mobile payment systems to facilitate easy access to microloans.
Execution Strategy:
Partner with international organizations (e.g., UN, FAO, WFP) for expertise and networks.
Work with governments in target countries to ensure policy alignment and local support.
Collaborate with the private sector (agribusiness, tech companies) to leverage innovation and scale efforts.
Establish transparent governance to track fund utilization and impact using technology like blockchain.
Impact Metrics:
Short-Term:
Provide emergency food assistance to 50 million people annually.
Reduce malnutrition rates in target areas by 20%.
Long-Term:
Increase agricultural yields in target regions by 30%.
Lift 100 million people out of chronic hunger within a decade.
Reduce food waste globally by 25%.
This plan tackles hunger through immediate aid, sustainable agriculture, technological innovation, and systemic reform, ensuring both short-term relief and long-term resilience.
Why $8 Billion Is Insufficient to End World Hunger
While $8 billion can make a significant dent in alleviating hunger, it falls short of addressing the structural and systemic causes of food insecurity, which include poverty, climate change, conflict, and weak agricultural infrastructure. An effective solution requires addressing these interconnected issues simultaneously and at scale. Here's why a $20 billion plan is more realistic to sustainably end world hunger in five years:
Scale of the Problem:
Global Hunger Statistics: Over 735 million people are undernourished, requiring resources far beyond $8 billion for food, agricultural development, and nutrition education.
Conflict Zones: Hunger is exacerbated by wars and crises, which need high-cost interventions like airlifting food and rebuilding destroyed infrastructure.
Structural Barriers:
Climate change, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to technology cannot be solved with short-term funding.
Achieving global food security demands massive investments in long-term solutions.
$20 Billion Plan to End World Hunger in Five Years
Here’s how $20 billion can be allocated effectively:
1. Immediate Relief & Resilience ($5 Billion)
Goal: Address acute hunger and build systems to prevent future crises.
Emergency Food Assistance ($2.5 Billion):
Double the scale of operations by organizations like WFP and UNICEF to reach 100 million people annually.
Focus on high-risk regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
Resilience Programs ($2.5 Billion):
Stockpile emergency food reserves in strategic locations for rapid deployment.
Build disaster-resistant community food storage facilities.
2. Transforming Agriculture Systems ($8 Billion)
Goal: Ensure sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production globally.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture ($3 Billion):
Scale up R&D for drought-resistant crops and eco-friendly farming methods.
Distribute seeds, fertilizers, and technology to 50 million smallholder farmers.
Irrigation & Water Management ($2 Billion):
Install low-cost irrigation systems in water-scarce regions.
Build reservoirs and invest in water desalination for agriculture.
Post-Harvest Infrastructure ($2 Billion):
Create storage and transport systems to reduce the 30% of food lost post-harvest.
Establish agro-processing hubs to add value to raw produce.
Market Access ($1 Billion):
Build rural roads and transport networks to connect farmers to markets.
Invest in digital platforms to enable farmers to sell directly to buyers.
3. Fighting Malnutrition & Education ($2 Billion)
Goal: End malnutrition through targeted nutrition programs.
Nutrition Programs ($1.5 Billion):
Expand therapeutic feeding for malnourished children.
Fortify staple foods with essential vitamins and minerals.
Education ($500 Million):
Integrate nutrition education into school curriculums.
Provide free school meals to 100 million children annually to incentivize education and improve health.
4. Conflict Resolution & Governance Support ($3 Billion)
Goal: Address political and systemic barriers to food security.
Conflict Mediation ($1 Billion):
Invest in peace-building initiatives in regions like Yemen, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Protect humanitarian corridors to ensure food reaches conflict-affected areas.
Policy Reforms ($2 Billion):
Support governments to adopt pro-agriculture policies, including subsidies for small farmers and equitable land distribution.
Strengthen local food systems by creating safety nets for the poor.
5. Technology & Innovation ($2 Billion)
Goal: Leverage technology to modernize food systems and empower farmers.
Digital Platforms ($1 Billion):
Build apps for weather forecasting, crop advice, and market prices tailored for rural farmers.
Use mobile money platforms to provide microloans to farmers.
AI & Big Data ($500 Million):
Develop AI-powered systems to map hunger hotspots and predict food shortages.
Smart Farming ($500 Million):
Promote precision agriculture, drones, and IoT sensors for large-scale farms.
6. Urban Agriculture & Food Recovery ($2 Billion)
Goal: Tackle hunger in urban areas while reducing food waste.
Urban Farming ($1.5 Billion):
Scale vertical farming, rooftop gardening, and community gardens in cities.
Focus on densely populated regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Food Recovery Programs ($500 Million):
Partner with corporations to rescue surplus food from supply chains.
Create tax incentives for businesses to donate food to shelters and food banks.
7. Global Partnerships & Monitoring ($1 Billion)
Goal: Ensure accountability and foster collaboration.
Global Coalition: Establish a coalition of governments, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders.
Monitoring & Transparency: Use blockchain and AI for real-time tracking of funds, resources, and outcomes.
Impact Goals:
Eliminate chronic hunger for 735 million people in five years.
Reduce global food waste by 50%.
Achieve sustainable food systems in 50+ countries.
Build climate-resilient agriculture for 500 million people.
Why $20 Billion Is Realistic
It represents just 0.02% of the global GDP (~$100 trillion).
Public-private partnerships and global collaboration can easily mobilize the funds.
The scale of interventions ensures the money addresses both immediate needs and structural reforms.
This $20 billion plan balances urgency with sustainability, ensuring the world not only ends hunger but prevents its recurrence.
