Silicon Florist links arrangement for April 28, 2026

Rick Turoczy

4 hours ago

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

Requests for Startups | Y Combinator

AI has stopped being a feature and started being the foundation. We’re excited about a new wave of startups rebuilding software, services, and silicon— and pushing AI into the physical world. Several come directly from YC founders sharing what they’re seeing on the frontier.

The AI Splurge Is Costing Big Tech Its Workforce – WSJ

Tech companies are in effect playing a game of chicken with each other on capital-spending plans. They are shelling out as much as they can—more than their rivals, they hope—on AI chips and data centers that could put them in the lead in a race they feel they can’t afford to lose. That in turn is heightening competition over who can use AI to help do more with a lot less, freeing up money to spend on expensive chips.

More than 80 Republicans vie for party’s nomination in legislative races ahead of May primary • Oregon Capital Chronicle

Republican strategists hope party winners in the primary will flip several House and Senate seats in the Willamette Valley and along the Oregon Coast

NEA’s Tiffany Luck On How Startup Founders Can Build Moats In Vertical AI

Today, Luck’s thesis centers on the AI application layer, betting on vertical AI and the “last mile” of automation to bridge the gap between horizontal model potential and tangible enterprise ROI.

Why starting a hobby as an adult can feel so hard — and why you should embrace beginnerhood

Leisure activities and hobbies can improve well-being by increasing satisfaction. Beyond simple enjoyment, hobbies support psychological health by offering opportunities for emotional regulation, stress relief and by helping mitigate burnout and symptoms of depression.

Sustainable Business Growth: Why Grow at All Costs Fails

There is a particular kind of organizational delusion that sets in when revenue is climbing. It goes something like this: if growth is good, more growth is better, and anything standing in its way is an obstacle to be eliminated. The pitch deck gets bolder. The hiring plan balloons. And then, somewhere between the ambitious projections and reality, things quietly begin to come apart.

The task is not the job – by Luis Garicano

Human origin itself is, in some markets, part of the value. René Girard argued that human desire is mimetic: we want what others want, and we want it more when they cannot have it. Imas and Kristóf Madarász show experimentally that the winner pays a premium for possessing what others cannot. Imas and Graelin Mandel found that when the scarce good is produced by a machine, the exclusivity premium falls by half.

Tim Knopp to outline Oregon’s economic vision at Salem event

Salem Capitol Connections will host its next monthly networking meeting on April 28, 2026, featuring Tim Knopp, Oregon’s Chief Prosperity Officer, presenting “Oregon’s Prosperity Roadmap.” The event, held at Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry, will bring together entrepreneurs, small business owners, and public and private sector leaders for discussions, updates, and networking. Organizers aim to foster sustainable business relationships and provide access to resources, training, and procurement opportunities.

The Moat or the Commons — Warman Notes

American capital financed AI on the assumption it would be the next great monopoly. Open-weight models are commoditizing the capability that monopoly was supposed to protect. The collision between the two now defines the direction of the U.S. AI industry — and the country.