Applications for Scale Ready Studio are open through 1/21. A 12-week, revenue-first accelerator for NYC-based women founders building tech-enabled companies. Proud to support this initiative, powered by Women.NYC & NYC Economic Development Corporation, designed by Get Sh!t Done. scalereadystudio.com

AI, Hammers & Shiny Objects

Calling something AI-enabled is like calling it Home Depot-enabled without saying if you’re using hammers or lawn mowers, or why. When everyone has the same tools, real innovation is knowing when and where they belong and having the skill to use them well. kishau.com/ai-strategy-...

Should I watch Pluribus? I love sci fi and I have time.

Here's a playlist to set the mood for Tuesday's Rapture. You're welcome. Feat. Anita Baker, Usher, Fantasia, Shirley Caesar, Lenny Kravitz, Jeffrey Osborne, Simple Minds, Thelma Houston, Blondie, Kirk Franklin ... open.spotify.com/playlist/5YG...

Done. Canceled Hulu & Disney+. Will reroute funds to PBS.

One button. “No notifications. Ever.” That’s all I want.

Q: How does a quilting class relate to building a business?

New Rules: 2025 Fundraising Insights from Founders & Investors

This weekend’s project is to upgrade a pair of Late 2013 iMacs using OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). If you’ve done it before, share tips so I’m not fighting for my life all weekend 😂 1. Yes, I have a plan (Media Center). 2. Yes, I’ve upgraded RAM

“What If?” is my blog series on speculative scenarios that spark curiosity + big-picture thinking. First up: skip-reading, a surrealist method that disrupts linear thought and opens new ways of seeing problems, decisions, and reality.

Issue 02 | Quilting, AI and Choosing the Right Tools

Creative Practice: Quilting, AI and the Art of Picking the Right Tool

Creative sabbatical update: I took a quilting class. Before class, the instructor emailed a supply list that ended with, “Bring your sewing machine.” Bless her heart for assuming 😂 More on my quilting adventures, + insights on AI as a tool & prototyping in my latest newsletter kishau.com/issue-02/

This summer, I started a creative sabbatical to recharge and rebuild my creative muscle. I’m sharing my adventures on my blog, with insights for tech & entrepreneurship. First adventure: collaging. Here are my notes from preparing for class. Apply wherever useful + subscribe to follow the series.

I've relaunched my newsletter. After over 20 years as a full-time entrepreneur, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about building with what you have, where you are. Issue 01 is about challenging your mindset & trusting your instincts when the usual formulas don’t work. 📖 Read: kishau.com/issue-01/

The Secret to Being More Innovative (or" will AI fix it?): A Thread. You don’t need another blueprint, tool, or expert. You need more practice using what’s already in your toolbox.

You would think they’d issue Real IDs automatically at renewal or for all new licenses, but that would’ve made too much sense. Tried to get a Real ID several times over the years & kept hitting roadblocks. When I renewed last year, I didn’t get one because the only person who handled it was OOO 🤷🏽‍♀️

100 unarmed men won’t stay focused long enough to beat a gorilla. Things will probably fall apart once they witness the first few get effortlessly ripped to shreds. That’s assuming they can even agree on who’s going first. They’d probably turn on each other before they ever touch the gorilla

I’ve served as President of the VCU Computer Science Industry Advisory Board for many years. As a proud CS alum, I always enjoy previewing the senior capstone projects. These students continue to raise the bar every year! Congrats to the Class of 2025! 🎓 #RamPride

Built a workflow that transcribes voice notes automatically: record on phone → auto-sync → auto-transcribed locally with Python + Whisper → file saved + renamed. No cloud AI. Useful for capturing reflections, strategy, team updates, & other content while on the go.

I had a TIME last week. Shared my work and reconnected with brilliant minds from NY to FL. Grateful to speak at Hearst (Time Study is in their portfolio) and at UF’s CAME (I’m affiliate faculty). Big 🙏🏽 to HearstLab for putting our faces on the building at 57th & 8th. My kids are impressed. More soon

Finally watched the White Lotus finale. Great season. The slow buildup felt right for character development. Each character was both good and terrible in their own human way. No spoilers, but the ending was chaotic, answered some questions, left others, & kept just enough suspense for another season

I’ve started a blog series called “What If.” The latest post was inspired by skipreading, a surrealist technique that pulls meaning from words or images, used to break linear thinking. I applied it using 5 random photos. The word that surfaced: perspective. Read more 👉🏽 kishau.com/what-if-you-...

I’m juggling multiple week-to-week shows like it’s the 1900s. I guess the streaming companies finally figured out that binge-watching isn’t great for business. What are you watching right now?

I write a series on my site called From the Inbox, where I tackle real questions from founders and peers. The latest: "How do I avoid common mistakes when hiring MVP devs?" Here are 5 to avoid 🧵

✋🏽 I’m Kishau (Kih-shaw), engineer-turned-4x entrepreneur, CEO, advisor & investor. Since 2003, I’ve bootstrapped, raised $10M+ in VC, built & scaled businesses, & deployed tech across industries. Just relaunched my site to share that 20+ year journey. Check it out + share! ✨ 🔗 kishau.com

If these newfangled gold cards are $5M, then what’s the going rate for an authentic “vintage” American citizenship? It’s pre-loved and has original paperwork. Bidding will start at $10M …

Wondering how many business days it’ll take for folks to realize that this had little to do with Drake. #SuperBowlLVIX 🇺🇸

Most people will need a translator and time to fully grasp Kendrick’s performance. I thought it was brilliant, historically significant, and the visuals were 🔥

Do we really need another damn data protection act to stop an illegitimate department, led by an unelected civilian and a team of junior hackers with no security clearance, from accessing federal databases?

Discover how Embodiology blends ancestral wisdom with modern movement techniques to spark creativity and enhance collaboration. Read more in my latest blog post. kishau.com/embodiology-...

How are y’all doing?

I recently relaunched my blog, and my latest post explores how perspective shapes reality. Check it out and let me know your thoughts! kishau.com/what-if-you-...

Jan 28, 2025: At the start of every meeting, we exchange polite greetings, then let out a collective, soul-weary sigh, like we’re all living the same exhausting day on repeat

Want to think about something else? Here are a few great movies and shows to check out.

A desperate shriek echoed through the house as the children came to terms with the demise of their beloved app, TikTok. #RIP

My TikTok prediction: First, a temporary ban. Then, a short-term ‘save’ (likely a 90-day extension). Then, a backroom deal to sell the platform, a process that’s probably already underway. What’s happening now is political theater 🎭

atp if “social” connection is the goal, the best platforms are phone calls, group texts, snail mail, and open-source or community-owned spaces for smaller, niche communities

Are we funeralizing Liv ... or not? I can hold it down for the dramatic aunties.

Welcome to Black Mirror S7, an immersive experience * waves around * futurism.com/the-byte/fac...

People that rush to the front lines of NYE in Times Square need to be studied.

RIP President Carter. IMO he exemplified the true spirit of public service and provided a lasting blueprint for those in the highest offices.

Lil Wayne’s managers, accountants, & attorneys took $5M+ of his $8M pandemic grant. Chris Brown pocketed $5M of his $10M. DJ Marshmello used a loophole to keep all $9.9M. Alice in Chains pocketed $3M of a $4M grant, just after earning $48M selling copyrights … www.businessinsider.com/lil-wayne-ch...

Amazon earns ~$15,000 per second, yet getting customer support requires navigating a maze of bots disguised as unhelpful humans. If you're lucky you can reach a disempowered rep whose sole job is to wear you down until you give up.

U.S. Citizens, every night, for a month: There are car-sized drones flying overhead Government authorities:

“A lot of people refuse to do things because they don’t want to go naked, don’t want to go without guarantee. But that’s what’s got to happen. You go naked until you die.” –~Nikki Giovanni, RIP 🕊️ www.npr.org/2024/12/09/n...

Refreshing to see raw talent get some light. I love everything about this: the bars, the beats, the band, the braids, the beads … This is turning into a Doechii stan account🐊 youtu.be/-91vymvIH0c?...

Can we catch a break between all these historic events?

My Spotify Wrapped isn’t about me, it’s a collective playlist of life with band kids, artists & highly-sensitive people (me) feat. R&B/HipHop to Steampunk). Most played? A piece from Christopher Larkin’s Hollow Knight soundtrack (likely thanks to our resident gamer/pianist) youtu.be/cB4zw0DgVbk?...