Randolph F. Wiggins

Global tech ecosystem-builder, VC & tri-sector leader driving innovation, investment & impact | @princeton @OmidyarNetwork @whitehouse alum & @billgates scholar

[Jaynit @jaynitx]

Elon Musk explains his 5-step algorithm for solving any problem:

"The most common mistake of smart engineers is to optimize a thing that should not exist."

"I have this very basic first principles algorithm that I run as a mantra."

Elon breaks it down:

Step 1: Question the requirements.

"Make the requirements less dumb. The requirements are always dumb to some degree, no matter how smart the person who gave you those requirements. You have to start there, because otherwise you could get the perfect answer to the wrong question."

Step 2: Try to delete it.

"Try to delete the part or the process step entirely. If you're not forced to put back at least 10% of what you delete, you're not deleting enough. Most people feel like they've succeeded if they haven't been forced to put things back in. But actually they haven't, they've been overly conservative and left things in that shouldn't be there."

Step 3: Optimize or simplify.

"The most common mistake of smart engineers is to optimize a thing that should not exist. So you don't optimize until after you've tried to delete."

Step 4: Speed it up.

"Any given thing can be done faster than you think. But you shouldn't speed things up until you've tried to delete it and optimize it otherwise, you're speeding up something that shouldn't exist."

Step 5: Automate.

"And then the fifth thing is to automate it."

Elon explains why the order matters:

"I've gone backwards so many times where I've automated something, sped it up, simplified it, and then deleted it. I got tired of doing that. So that's why I have this mantra."

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

Last week on a panel during New York Tech Week, I encouraged all founders to learn from the example of @KingJames .

Not the billionaire 4-time NBA champion, but the young man who entered the NBA and committed to doing all of the little things right.

https://t.co/m5afFxDjOA

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

No further validation needed. Back to work. #nygtic #davos #worldeconomicforum

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

@cornell_tech Incredible energy, vision, and collaboration on full display. Grateful to @wef, @NSF, @Cornelltech, @BankofAmerica and all of our early partners for supporting our vision, mission and work. The road to $12 Trillion in global impact and value creation starts now. 🌍🚀 #NYGTIC

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

The right people with the right purpose are everything and can achieve anything. Thank you @satyanadella

[Satya Nadella @satyanadella]

At the end of the day, the greatest privilege of my job is working with people who are driven by mission. These last 5 days, I saw people across OpenAI remaining calm and resolute in driving their mission despite all that was happening around them. And I saw people across Microsoft remain focused on our mission and serving our customers and partners, stepping up to help in every way. This is what I’m especially thankful for going into the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you for your resolve and for the work you do each day to advance AI safely and responsibly and distribute its benefits to all of humanity.

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

“Built in support for perhaps the most important feature - A.I. safety.” Building safety and responsibility into the technology stack is truly a game changer as we enter this new era of technology. Thank you Satya Nadella and Microsoft for learning from t…https://t.co/ftkSZnc5Qo

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

As the internet revolution has increased efficiency, the climate tech revolution will decrease negative externalities - with the best companies creating value through the actions we take everyday. Thank you Larry Fink and John Doerr for your leadership. https://t.co/HcHLVlkyMs

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

Heartened to see the President in the center of world innovation leading in the work that brought me to Silicon Valley and into tech. #itstimetobuild #ethicalos #responsibletech #techforgood #yeswecan https://t.co/snwVY1OMQK

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

Minority fund managers... DO NOT MISS THIS! I'd say it's worth $5MM-15MM into your fund.

It's well designed to lock out majority firms who try to hire a single Black GP at a low ownership %. It also is focus on non tech hubs. (We worked directly with them on both)

VERY excited!

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

We launched our new site today for @lightshipcap . Please check it out & share... https://t.co/sK6Yu2w22U

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

@BrianBrackeen How can we help them?

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

❤️ Tulsa. ⁦⁦We are going to invest in 15 companies here. Apply on the ⁦@lightshipcap⁩ website.

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

Join us in changing history. #Tulsa

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

Just finished walking / mentoring founders here in Tulsa. It’s 12:47am. So tired & so happy. I’ve met with founders literally every night this week and been impressed. Tonight was no different.

TULSA HAS TALENT.

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

You see these signs all over Tulsa. You see them in storefronts owned by people of all races. It’s really impactful to feel wanted in town. Let’s normalize this.

[Brian Brackeen @BrianBrackeen]

I've met two Black AI founders in Tulsa in the last 2 weeks. Not a surprise to me, is it a surprise to you?

[Randolph F. Wiggins @randyfwiggins]

@BrianBrackeen @LABuchananESQ @CandiceBrackeen I like direct, but as a Capricorn, we’re often misunderstood too. Glad to have your directness here in Tulsa. #buildintulsa #hill7 #capricorn

[Candice Matthews Brackeen @candicecincy]

@BrianBrackeen @LABuchananESQ @randyfwiggins Direct is an understatement, @BrianBrackeen.