Alex Konrad
@alexrkonrad.bsky.social
Founder and editor of @upstarts.bsky.social, a new tech publication focused on the startup ecosystem. Previously Forbes
senior editor. Email: tips@upstartsmedia.com
senior editor. Email: tips@upstartsmedia.com
Pinned
Alex Konrad
@alexrkonrad.bsky.social
· Mar 25
I am thrilled to announce the launch of my new tech media brand, Upstarts Media 🎉
Upstarts will focus on the startup ecosystem, from inception through IPO 📈
We launch a twice-weekly Upstarts newsletter next week. Video, podcast, and events to follow!
Read more: open.substack.com/pub/upstarts...
Upstarts will focus on the startup ecosystem, from inception through IPO 📈
We launch a twice-weekly Upstarts newsletter next week. Video, podcast, and events to follow!
Read more: open.substack.com/pub/upstarts...
"People thought it was insane." Now women's health startup Gameto has helped with 9 healthy births and raised $127M to date.
CEO Dina Radenkovic Turner spoke with
@upstarts.bsky.social about her startup's plans to take on menopause and ovarian health next.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/exclusive-...
CEO Dina Radenkovic Turner spoke with
@upstarts.bsky.social about her startup's plans to take on menopause and ovarian health next.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/exclusive-...
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
"People thought it was insane." Now women's health startup Gameto has helped with 9 healthy births and raised $127M to date.
CEO Dina Radenkovic Turner spoke with
@upstarts.bsky.social about her startup's plans to take on menopause and ovarian health next.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/exclusive-...
CEO Dina Radenkovic Turner spoke with
@upstarts.bsky.social about her startup's plans to take on menopause and ovarian health next.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/exclusive-...
Of the age now where I got a good back crack getting out of bed, and I’ll now be thinking about it all day
November 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Of the age now where I got a good back crack getting out of bed, and I’ll now be thinking about it all day
Would you trust a drone security system at your business if it cost one-tenth the price of a guard?
Sunflower Labs seems smart for big footprint worksites — but it’s the startup’s turnaround from near-death that made me interested in covering its new round led by Sequoia in @upstarts.bsky.social.
Sunflower Labs seems smart for big footprint worksites — but it’s the startup’s turnaround from near-death that made me interested in covering its new round led by Sequoia in @upstarts.bsky.social.
His Drone Security Startup Almost Crashed. Now Sequoia's Investing $16M.
Sunflower Labs CEO Alex Pachikov's startup almost went under during the pandemic. Now his autonomous drone system cuts security costs at commercial sites and high-net-worth homes.
www.upstartsmedia.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Would you trust a drone security system at your business if it cost one-tenth the price of a guard?
Sunflower Labs seems smart for big footprint worksites — but it’s the startup’s turnaround from near-death that made me interested in covering its new round led by Sequoia in @upstarts.bsky.social.
Sunflower Labs seems smart for big footprint worksites — but it’s the startup’s turnaround from near-death that made me interested in covering its new round led by Sequoia in @upstarts.bsky.social.
My trusty wooden umbrella of the past 16 years did not survive today's windy rain in NYC 😭
Farewell, umbrella friend, you made it through 2 years of college, being momentarily forgotten at countless parties and dive bars, and at least 4 apartment moves. Stay dry in the sky 🫡
Farewell, umbrella friend, you made it through 2 years of college, being momentarily forgotten at countless parties and dive bars, and at least 4 apartment moves. Stay dry in the sky 🫡
October 30, 2025 at 7:23 PM
My trusty wooden umbrella of the past 16 years did not survive today's windy rain in NYC 😭
Farewell, umbrella friend, you made it through 2 years of college, being momentarily forgotten at countless parties and dive bars, and at least 4 apartment moves. Stay dry in the sky 🫡
Farewell, umbrella friend, you made it through 2 years of college, being momentarily forgotten at countless parties and dive bars, and at least 4 apartment moves. Stay dry in the sky 🫡
Many startups have tried and failed to solve the "tar pit" of a personal CRM for better keeping in touch with contacts.
So I'm genuinely excited to try Goodword, a new app that launched today. It uses AI to better track connections, but requires a human touch.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/goodword-a...
So I'm genuinely excited to try Goodword, a new app that launched today. It uses AI to better track connections, but requires a human touch.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/goodword-a...
Can AI Help To Restore The Art Of Networking?
Chief alum Caroline Dell's new startup Goodword, which combines AI insights with a personal touch, is launching with $4 million in funding led by Human Ventures to find out.
www.upstartsmedia.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Many startups have tried and failed to solve the "tar pit" of a personal CRM for better keeping in touch with contacts.
So I'm genuinely excited to try Goodword, a new app that launched today. It uses AI to better track connections, but requires a human touch.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/goodword-a...
So I'm genuinely excited to try Goodword, a new app that launched today. It uses AI to better track connections, but requires a human touch.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/goodword-a...
Reposted by Alex Konrad
My TikTok book is out in stores today!
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
The rise of the most effective attention-algorithm ever invented, and the superpower struggle to control it.
EVERY SCREEN ON THE PLANET: THE WAR OVER TIKTOK by Emily Baker-White.
In Stores 9.30.25.
wwnorton.com/books/every-...
EVERY SCREEN ON THE PLANET: THE WAR OVER TIKTOK by Emily Baker-White.
In Stores 9.30.25.
wwnorton.com/books/every-...
September 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
My TikTok book is out in stores today!
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Really enjoyed this chat with the great @hunterwalk.com about what we're building at @upstarts.bsky.social as we approach our 6 month mark.
Feedback includes:
"You are SUCH a nerd my god" 🤓
and
"You really nailed the balance of promo + substance here!" 😂
Feedback includes:
"You are SUCH a nerd my god" 🤓
and
"You really nailed the balance of promo + substance here!" 😂
Tech Reporter Alex Konrad on Going Independent with Upstarts, What Drives Subscribers (vs Just Views) and How He Uses AI in His Content Creation
Got to know Alex while he was at Forbes, a tenure which basically made him one of, if not *the*, go-to reporters for exclusives launches and fund announcements. As a result of our friendship, I kne…
hunterwalk.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Really enjoyed this chat with the great @hunterwalk.com about what we're building at @upstarts.bsky.social as we approach our 6 month mark.
Feedback includes:
"You are SUCH a nerd my god" 🤓
and
"You really nailed the balance of promo + substance here!" 😂
Feedback includes:
"You are SUCH a nerd my god" 🤓
and
"You really nailed the balance of promo + substance here!" 😂
When I still worked at Forbes, I'd annoy our IT helpdesk by filing tickets to update Signal and WhatsApp seemingly every week.
One-year-old startup Console, which just raised $23M, uses AI agents to automate away basic IT requests like that.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/console-ai...
One-year-old startup Console, which just raised $23M, uses AI agents to automate away basic IT requests like that.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/console-ai...
September 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
When I still worked at Forbes, I'd annoy our IT helpdesk by filing tickets to update Signal and WhatsApp seemingly every week.
One-year-old startup Console, which just raised $23M, uses AI agents to automate away basic IT requests like that.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/console-ai...
One-year-old startup Console, which just raised $23M, uses AI agents to automate away basic IT requests like that.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/console-ai...
When Margot was a puppy, she tried to say hi to a skunk and got sprayed pretty bad. Years later, she still freaks out when she sees black and white dogs.
Which raises an important question: does she think the dogs are skunks, or that skunks are just a spooky kind of dog 🤔
Which raises an important question: does she think the dogs are skunks, or that skunks are just a spooky kind of dog 🤔
September 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
When Margot was a puppy, she tried to say hi to a skunk and got sprayed pretty bad. Years later, she still freaks out when she sees black and white dogs.
Which raises an important question: does she think the dogs are skunks, or that skunks are just a spooky kind of dog 🤔
Which raises an important question: does she think the dogs are skunks, or that skunks are just a spooky kind of dog 🤔
— Scene: outside a fancy new Brooklyn high rise, 1pm —
Broker [suit, clipboard in hand]: sir, do you have an appointment?
Me [gym clothes, stomping on 50 spotted lanternflies]: no, just getting my steps in!
Broker [suit, clipboard in hand]: sir, do you have an appointment?
Me [gym clothes, stomping on 50 spotted lanternflies]: no, just getting my steps in!
September 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
— Scene: outside a fancy new Brooklyn high rise, 1pm —
Broker [suit, clipboard in hand]: sir, do you have an appointment?
Me [gym clothes, stomping on 50 spotted lanternflies]: no, just getting my steps in!
Broker [suit, clipboard in hand]: sir, do you have an appointment?
Me [gym clothes, stomping on 50 spotted lanternflies]: no, just getting my steps in!
Chatted with Klarna's CEO from NYSE during their IPO week.
We talked about what he learned from IKEA and Walmart, Klarna's evolving mission, his stance on crypto, personally vibe coding fixes for bad customer text messages, handling CEO pressure and much more.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/klarna-ceo...
We talked about what he learned from IKEA and Walmart, Klarna's evolving mission, his stance on crypto, personally vibe coding fixes for bad customer text messages, handling CEO pressure and much more.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/klarna-ceo...
September 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Chatted with Klarna's CEO from NYSE during their IPO week.
We talked about what he learned from IKEA and Walmart, Klarna's evolving mission, his stance on crypto, personally vibe coding fixes for bad customer text messages, handling CEO pressure and much more.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/klarna-ceo...
We talked about what he learned from IKEA and Walmart, Klarna's evolving mission, his stance on crypto, personally vibe coding fixes for bad customer text messages, handling CEO pressure and much more.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/klarna-ceo...
Tech legend Jack Dangermond founded Esri in 1969. Now 80 years young and with a net worth of $10B+, he's still "all in" on his company and global mission.
@upstarts.bsky.social spent an hour with Jack this week for one of our best interviews yet, full of lessons on startup-building and life.
@upstarts.bsky.social spent an hour with Jack this week for one of our best interviews yet, full of lessons on startup-building and life.
Esri Founder Jack Dangermond's 'Secrets' To Building A Legendary Business
The 80-year-old software billionaire shares startup and life lessons that have kept him "all in" while running a high-impact global business for 50+ years.
www.upstartsmedia.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Tech legend Jack Dangermond founded Esri in 1969. Now 80 years young and with a net worth of $10B+, he's still "all in" on his company and global mission.
@upstarts.bsky.social spent an hour with Jack this week for one of our best interviews yet, full of lessons on startup-building and life.
@upstarts.bsky.social spent an hour with Jack this week for one of our best interviews yet, full of lessons on startup-building and life.
Reposted by Alex Konrad
Intel has been touting partnerships with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms as Trump announces that the USG is taking a stake in the company:
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Intel Worked With Chinese Firms Sanctioned For Enabling Human Rights Abuses
As the U.S. government takes a 10% stake in Intel, Forbes has learned the tech company partnered with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms Uniview, Hikvision and Cloudwalk.
www.forbes.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Intel has been touting partnerships with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms as Trump announces that the USG is taking a stake in the company:
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Scoop: Meta has held talks with Midjourney about a partnership including a potential acquisition, among several previously-unreported AI video startups it's met recently, sources tell me at @upstarts.bsky.social.
Midjourney's been busy, too, pitching an API.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/meta-talks...
Midjourney's been busy, too, pitching an API.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/meta-talks...
Scoop: Meta Held Talks With Midjourney As Part Of Video AI Talent Search
Meta has talked deals with Midjourney and video AI startups including HeyGen and Krea as part of its researcher talent hunt, sources tell Upstarts, while Midjourney has pursued other partnerships.
www.upstartsmedia.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Scoop: Meta has held talks with Midjourney about a partnership including a potential acquisition, among several previously-unreported AI video startups it's met recently, sources tell me at @upstarts.bsky.social.
Midjourney's been busy, too, pitching an API.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/meta-talks...
Midjourney's been busy, too, pitching an API.
www.upstartsmedia.com/p/meta-talks...
it’s a beautiful San Francisco day in NYC
August 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
it’s a beautiful San Francisco day in NYC
need burning man to start already so I can finally catch up on email
August 20, 2025 at 10:08 PM
need burning man to start already so I can finally catch up on email
The status quo in Medicare is grim: call center brokers spamming senior citizens to change plans, in hopes of a commission.
YC alumni startup careCycle and founders Alex Doonanco and Evan Roubekas think they have a win-win solution: voice AI. They've raised $2M to build it. But questions remain.
YC alumni startup careCycle and founders Alex Doonanco and Evan Roubekas think they have a win-win solution: voice AI. They've raised $2M to build it. But questions remain.
The Startup Bringing AI Voice To Medicare
Y Combinator alum careCycle thinks its AI calls are better for Medicare policy sellers and senior citizens alike. Now it's raised $2 million to build a Medicare-focused CRM.
www.upstartsmedia.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The status quo in Medicare is grim: call center brokers spamming senior citizens to change plans, in hopes of a commission.
YC alumni startup careCycle and founders Alex Doonanco and Evan Roubekas think they have a win-win solution: voice AI. They've raised $2M to build it. But questions remain.
YC alumni startup careCycle and founders Alex Doonanco and Evan Roubekas think they have a win-win solution: voice AI. They've raised $2M to build it. But questions remain.
Sequoia not even cracking the top 350 (!) VC firms on TIME's new Midas list knockoff is a wild troll and instantly invalidating
August 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Sequoia not even cracking the top 350 (!) VC firms on TIME's new Midas list knockoff is a wild troll and instantly invalidating
Exclusive: Startups in the AI race are throwing money at growth. But the result is often "chaos."
Roadway, a new startup by veteran Webflow and Notion growth marketer Tim Dalrymple, has launched today with $3.2M in funding and customers like Clay and Decagon to use AI tools of its own to help.
Roadway, a new startup by veteran Webflow and Notion growth marketer Tim Dalrymple, has launched today with $3.2M in funding and customers like Clay and Decagon to use AI tools of its own to help.
The New Startup Using AI To Solve Growth Marketer 'Chaos'
Roadway, led by Webflow and Notion veteran Tim Dalrymple, is launching with $3.2 million in funding and customers like Clay and Decagon.
www.upstartsmedia.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Exclusive: Startups in the AI race are throwing money at growth. But the result is often "chaos."
Roadway, a new startup by veteran Webflow and Notion growth marketer Tim Dalrymple, has launched today with $3.2M in funding and customers like Clay and Decagon to use AI tools of its own to help.
Roadway, a new startup by veteran Webflow and Notion growth marketer Tim Dalrymple, has launched today with $3.2M in funding and customers like Clay and Decagon to use AI tools of its own to help.
AI is sparking a moment of big change in cybersecurity.
I sat down with Wiz co-founder Ami Luttwak to talk in depth about how his security startup is thinking about AI - as well as the latest on its $32B acquisition by Google, his take on CyberArk's big deal, and his advice for founders today.
I sat down with Wiz co-founder Ami Luttwak to talk in depth about how his security startup is thinking about AI - as well as the latest on its $32B acquisition by Google, his take on CyberArk's big deal, and his advice for founders today.
Exclusive Interview: Wiz's Co-Founder On AI, Security And Google
CTO Ami Luttwak dishes on how AI has changed cybersecurity and Wiz's product roadmap -- plus life since Wiz's announced $32 billion acquisition by Google.
www.upstartsmedia.com
July 31, 2025 at 12:48 PM
AI is sparking a moment of big change in cybersecurity.
I sat down with Wiz co-founder Ami Luttwak to talk in depth about how his security startup is thinking about AI - as well as the latest on its $32B acquisition by Google, his take on CyberArk's big deal, and his advice for founders today.
I sat down with Wiz co-founder Ami Luttwak to talk in depth about how his security startup is thinking about AI - as well as the latest on its $32B acquisition by Google, his take on CyberArk's big deal, and his advice for founders today.
Can a financial market for GPU compute improve access for startups, and help finance big datacenter projects better?
Today's @upstarts.bsky.social post talks to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Milgrom about his newest project to create such a market, a partnership with startup OneChronos.
Today's @upstarts.bsky.social post talks to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Milgrom about his newest project to create such a market, a partnership with startup OneChronos.
www.upstartsmedia.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Can a financial market for GPU compute improve access for startups, and help finance big datacenter projects better?
Today's @upstarts.bsky.social post talks to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Milgrom about his newest project to create such a market, a partnership with startup OneChronos.
Today's @upstarts.bsky.social post talks to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Milgrom about his newest project to create such a market, a partnership with startup OneChronos.
Best thing about flying Delta is the chance to watch Delta CEO Ed Bastian’s 2025 CES Keynote over and over again
July 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Best thing about flying Delta is the chance to watch Delta CEO Ed Bastian’s 2025 CES Keynote over and over again
Can insurance underwriting and a new SOC 2-like certificate help AI startups grow faster? Or will it just create a new "racket" for them to pay?
I spoke with the founder behind the idea, AIUC CEO Rune Kvist, as well as with a bunch of other AI startup leaders, to dive in 👇
I spoke with the founder behind the idea, AIUC CEO Rune Kvist, as well as with a bunch of other AI startup leaders, to dive in 👇
Startup AIUC Launches New Certificate For Safer AI
Led by an early Anthropic staffer, AIUC has raised $15 million from Nat Friedman, Emergence and others to sell a certificate of safety for AI tools, called AIUC-1, and develop an insurance market.
www.upstartsmedia.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Can insurance underwriting and a new SOC 2-like certificate help AI startups grow faster? Or will it just create a new "racket" for them to pay?
I spoke with the founder behind the idea, AIUC CEO Rune Kvist, as well as with a bunch of other AI startup leaders, to dive in 👇
I spoke with the founder behind the idea, AIUC CEO Rune Kvist, as well as with a bunch of other AI startup leaders, to dive in 👇
Reposted by Alex Konrad
WSJ claimed the Trump–Epstein article was an “exclusive.” But what if I told you they fully intended to show it to people? storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
July 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
WSJ claimed the Trump–Epstein article was an “exclusive.” But what if I told you they fully intended to show it to people? storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...