42 Conference in Moscow

Took part in 42 conference in Moscow. 42 is the answer for the ultimate question of life. Made a couple of records after the event.

http://www.businessinsider.com/y-combinators-paul-graham-on-apple-without-steve-jobs-2012-3

Just one quote:
"So if Apple's not going to make the next iPad, who is? None of the existing players. None of them are run by product visionaries, and empirically you can't seem to get those by hiring them. Empirically the way you get a product visionary as CEO is for him to found the company and not get fired. So the company that creates the next wave of hardware is probably going to have to be a startup."

That was exactly the point I was telling any people who was wondering what I think about the future of Apple without Jobs. It will soon become an Apple without jobs. And the true innovation will come from some other source.

I'm totally not happy with it, but it's somewhat pleasant to know that someone shares your ideas at last.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/03/news/economy/fed_decision/index.htm

Do you fill positive about QE2? Do you think $900 billion will be enough to make the economics work?

Is Skolkovo Innograd project really worth RUR 110 bln. (about $3.7 bln) Russian government going to invest in it?

Experts divided into two opposite groups: 'definitely pro' and 'definitely contra'. Almost no one takes any position between these two end points.

Those who are in 'pro' sector state that Russia needs to show all the other world and its own citizens that it is really changing her attitude to innovations. Innograd intended to become a Russian version of Silicon Valley in the USA must become a growing point of Russian innovative economy.

'Contra' group says that this project will be a good chance for Russian bureaucracy to get these $3.7 bln and successfully put them into their fathomless pockets. And nothing more.

I cannot be fully with each group of experts. I am sure
a) that the cost of the project will exceed $3.7 bln 3 or 4 times;
b) that a great part of these money will reach the offshore accounts and stay there;
c) that Silicon Valley cannot be just replicated with any sum of money;
d) that Russian business does not need Innograd;
but
e) still this project can yield Russian economy.

Paradox? Not a bit.

The cost of long-term projects exceeds estimate all over the world, and that is not surprising. As Russia has one of the most corrupted management structure, nothing strange is in expecting these money to be stolen (at least a part).

Replicating SV cannot be done just because it cannot. Imagine, you see a child of your neighbour, and you like it very much. Could you replicate him? How much money will help you to make it?

The main problem with Innograd project is Russian business does not need it. The main problem for companies is the lack of qualified professionals. And Skolkovo cannot do much with it. Each year we go deeper into demographical gap, and thus the problem becames deeper. Russia is losing is competitiveness due to losing people. Can Innograd help solving this main problem? Drectly - no.

But it may have indirect influence by bringing more confidence into the people's mind. And this PR effect will, of course, bring some dividends to Russia. By the way, people in Russia do not pay attention to any initiative, unless it is something extraordinary, enormous, great. This brings us to understanding, that making just a PR campaign and spending $10-20 mln. per year won't make any change in Russian mind. That's why the action must be somewhat out-of-line.

Spending billions for this overall useless idea may be such trigger, that will shift conceptions in Russian mind.

Let me tell you a little story.

A little girl - the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful.
When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg.
At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it.
By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last.
For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.
One day she actually won a race, and then another. From then on she won every race she entered.
Eventually this little girl - Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.

Winners never quit !