Peter Bell

@bhalligan 1

Dear listeners of my Long Strange Trip pod, Sometimes I have folks on that doing the pod circuit. Should I (1) assume my ceo deep dive is unique and not worry about it OR (2) not spend time filming folks on the circuit as it’s too repetitive? Bh.

@TimelessTrvlr Narragansett, RI

Let’s do something fun. Drop the name of any city or town in the world. I’ll reply with a photo or short video of it. Hidden gems. Famous icons. Tiny villages. Doesn’t matter. Let’s see where this goes... 👇

@bhalligan With AI changing everything, how do you imagine MIT will rethink what you actually teach — how fast do you need to move? how will the undergrad experience look 10 years from now at MIT and other top colleges and universities?

I’m interviewing Sally Kornbluth, MIT’s President, this week for Long Strange Trip. What would you like me to ask her?

@MikeLupica @TrevorHass

@bhalligan ❤️

This is a photo of my 5 years ago today. I’m quite sure, life can be short. Live it. Love it.

@jakeottiger Way to go @jakeottiger 🦅!

last friday was my final day at Thrive. witnessing the herculean effort that went into closing Thrive X was the way to finish. it resembled everything i love and admire about the place and its people. so what's next... i left to build any and all software for any and all businesses. an ~ai~ consulting company of sorts. i've craved to run a service based business like this where i know my customers and they know me. there's no amorphous corporate blob to deal with. clients deal with me. now, with leverage from AI, they can get world class, personalized service from one guy at a reasonable rate. i hope this model lets me build trust and goodwill between tech and the long tail of industries from Anthropic's survey. (important note: i will also work with startups and tech companies given my mandate is literally any business) i've started with a used machine shop in Louisville, a wayfinding company in Cleveland, and a distributor of rags (literal towels not RAG...) in LA. we'll see how it goes...

@bhalligan @ashray_malhotra 😂

Please send donations to The Boston Red Sox Foundation in lieu of flowers. H/t @ashray_malhotra

@bhalligan Well done Brian. Thanks for taking the lead on re-catalyzing the Boston startup ecosystem. SSC Venture Partners has backed over 60 companies founded by Boston College students and alums. sscventurepartners.com

There’s a lot of movement since this original X post. A bunch of folks are working on things that should help create the very fertile ground for a whole new generation of Boston tech startups to rise. Here are some things I know about. 1. There are conversations w both YC and South Park Commons about cranking up here. We’re at the right level and there’s interest. I’m hopeful one of them steps up. Given founders of 17 of the top 50 ai companies went to school here, I think it’s a good idea for them. 2. @sequoia is doing two new things in Boston. (a) We are spinning up a “Starter Series” where we connect high potential students in Boston to Sequoia, other founders, etc. & (b) We have an opening for an associate/analyst/principal type and I’d like to find that person here in Boston. I’d like someone w a technical degree who went to school in the Cambridge ecosystem in last few years that is outgoing. If you’ve got the perfect referral, hit me up on DM or LI. I’m strict on the profile, so please keep it tight as my inbox runeth over these days. 3. @A16Z is programming a bunch of content in Boston. 4. We are talking to the government about making Boston an even better place to live and thrive for those founders. The average age of a Fortune 50 AI founder is 28, so we need to make it great for that crowd. We had a good first call with the mayor and are scheduling a meeting with the governor. Hats off to them for reaching out. Housing costs, transportation, & fun, oh my. 5. The @Whoop folks were already working on and just launched the "Massachusetts AI Coalition" which is going to bring ai talent to Boston and be a major convener in the city. HubSpot has signed up to be part of this as well as @Suno, @Lovable, @Draftkings, @Wayfair, @Klaviyo, @circle , and a bunch of the next gen startups. Big big props to @willahmed & @Durkin. 6. MIT is working on some amazing new stuff that’s not ready to be talked about yet. 7. Some good signals from @epaley about revisiting the non-compete & non-solicit rules. 8. Discussions with the existing early stage incubators are happening. 9. The Patriots won their first playoff game in 7 years and the Red Sox signed an excellent pitcher. A lot more convening. A lot more west coast energy. #FertileGround Most of this is being done by other people. Since I started all this trouble I thought I’d just document all the great stuff that folks were doing. Thanks everyone. If you’re in Boston and doing amazing stuff that I missed that will help it be a place where the next 28 year old ai superstar founder starts her company, put in the replies.

@Matt_Pinner All 20 for me. Not sure that is good or bad. 😆

10 for me!!….I feel confident nobody Has all 20!! How many for you?

@abarrallen @bhalligan Totally agree!!!

@bhalligan If Sequoia opened the Brian Halligan office in Boston and you were the first stop for MIT & Harvard CS students looking to start companies, that could go a long way.

I’m starting to worry about Massachusetts 1. Biotech is way off from a few years ago 2. Only 1 of the top 50 ai companies are in MA 3. The Fed research funding cuts hitting MIT, Harvard, Whoi are brutal. 4. The millionaires tax is working in the short run, but I know a lot of wealthy folks preparing for a FL move. 5. A glut of empty condos 6. It’s not “cool” for young folks 7. It’s expensive as sh-t. I honestly don’t think the MA/Boston govt can do that much about it as they are kind of macro issues. I give them big credit for working on building more housing and fixing the T, which will help. I’m trying to help w HubSpot, partnering w WHOI, teaching at MIT. I’d like to help more. Specifically I’d like to encourage and help more ai and climate companies in the state. I think ai and climate should be our dual growth engines.

@bhalligan ❤️ lovable

Here's the criteria I use to evaluate founder-CEOs: First principles Lovable Obsessive Chip on shoulder Knowledgable I do each of these on a scale of 1 to 10 after every pitch. Founders who rank high have money, talent, and customers "FLOCK" to them.

@gradypb @roelofbotha @Alfred_Lin @sequoia

With immense gratitude and appreciation for @roelofbotha and his legendary leadership over the better part of a decade, @Alfred_Lin and I are honored to accept the torch and become the next stewards of @sequoia Here is the note I shared internally:

@billclerico @gradypb @BostonCollege

I met @gradypb when I was 17 years old, interviewing for the presidential scholarship at @BostonCollege. I learned over the 23 years of friendship since that he is one of the most principled, smartest, competitive, kindest & thoughtful people you will ever meet. Despite an incredibly tough act to follow, @sequoia ‘s brightest days are still ahead in his capable hands.

Peter Bell ’86 and Tom Coburn ’13 built Soaring Startup Circle, or SSC, to help entrepreneurs in the BC community turn bold ideas into businesses. With mentorship, funding, and a thriving network, SSC proves great entrepreneurship starts with community. loom.ly/0hFM3Ck

Feeling inspired 🦅 linkedin.com/posts/peterwbe…

@ShamsCharania 🙏

Loyola University Chicago's Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt has passed away at 106 years old. She was a Catholic nun, campus minister and official chaplain of the Ramblers men's basketball team. RIP.

Elton John, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, or Billy Joel?

Is this the best song ever? open.spotify.com/track/2aQ7xE57…

@OnlyInBOS share.google/lLkrzc7KJrQE7S…

21st Birthday. First Drink. Boston. Where are you going?