Jeffkom Story

The social media world is witnessing another major shake-up. As TikTok faces backlash over alleged political censorship following its U.S. ownership transition, a rising competitor  UpScrolled  is rapidly gaining attention, downloads, and users looking for a more transparent platform. The surge reflects growing distrust among creators, activists, and everyday users who believe their voices are being restricted on TikTok after recent policy and ownership changes. UpScrolled Climbs App Store Rankings UpScrolled, a short-form social media platform offering video creation, editing tools, and text-based posts, has quickly climbed the Apple App Store charts. As of Monday afternoon, the app ranked No. 9 among free apps , surpassing TikTok, and reached No. 2 in the social networking category . The influx of users was so sudden that UpScrolled’s servers briefly crashed. In a statement shared on Instagram, the company thanked new users and described itself as an “alternative to plat...

Sequoia Capital is rewriting one of Silicon Valley’s oldest rules. The legendary venture firm is reportedly investing in Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude, despite already backing OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI. Traditionally, VCs avoided funding direct rivals, choosing one winner per category to limit conflicts. In AI, that rule is clearly fading. Anthropic’s funding round is massive. Led by GIC and Coatue, the company is targeting $25 billion or more at a reported $350 billion valuation—more than double its valuation from just four months ago. Microsoft and Nvidia are also in, committing up to $15 billion combined. An IPO could follow as soon as this year. The move is especially striking given OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s earlier comments that investors with access to confidential information could lose that access if they actively back competitors. Yet Sequoia appears comfortable navigating those boundaries. This marks a sharp shift from Sequoia’s past. In 2020, the firm walked awa...

“College dropout” has become a strange badge of honor in the startup world. Thanks to legends like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, leaving college early is often seen as proof of boldness. Even today, during the AI startup boom, this myth is stronger than ever. At events like Y Combinator Demo Days, many founders openly mention dropping out. Not as a weakness. But as a signal. A signal of conviction. A signal of speed. A signal that they are all in. AI has created a fear of missing out. Many young founders believe the opportunity window is small. Waiting even one year feels risky. So they choose to build now and figure out the rest later. But the reality is more balanced. Most successful founders still have degrees. Investors rarely punish someone for finishing college, especially if they are close to graduating. What really matters is execution, learning speed, and understanding the market. College also offers hidden value. Networks. Credibility. Brand. Some investors eve...