3 ms·

There are plenty of geeks who care deeply about the planet. No offense, but it doesn't sound like you're looking very hard. In terms of superstar techies, how a

by sharp11 11y ago

There are plenty of geeks who care deeply about the planet. No offense, but it doesn't sound like you're looking very hard. In terms of superstar techies, how about adding Bill Gates to your list? How about Google's investments in solar? We're in the midst of a vast societal transformation to sustainability -- certainly all the sectors you mention -- and it's being invented by techies.

mijustin 11y ago
I agree: I see movement at the top (Gates, Elon, Google, Cook). But it doesn't feel like there's much of a grassroots movement. Maybe I'm just missing them, but are there examples of this? I've been looking for prominent new startups attacking this problem, and haven't come up with much. (For example, search Product Hunt for: climate change, sustainable, ecology, solar... It doesn't feel like there's much there)
- rnovak 11y ago
  I don't think that the lack of a "grass roots movement" implies a lack of caring (on any groups part, but specifically "geeks"). Also, I don't think the lack of startups in the (pardon the buzzwords) "sustainability space" implies that tech people don't care. Maybe the tech people that do care work for established companies in that industry? Maybe there are constraints that make it extremely hard for a startup to (again, pardon the buzzwords) "gain traction" in the industry, i.e. companies that already have huge market share, overbearing regulations, etc. idk, I just think it's a little premature to think that "geeks" don't care about renewability/climate change just because there aren't a ton of tech specific startups trying to solve it. There are tons of companies that don't list themselves on Product Hunt, etc. There are tons of engineers that don't use twitter (and that's not specific to engineers).
- sharp11 11y ago
  You couldn't be more wrong (about the grassroots). Use the google. Just to take one (random) example: the past decade has seen a swell of innovation in business models that make home solar affordable through pooling of capital, volume buying, long-term lease deals, etc. These are startups.

by sharp11 11y ago

mijustin 11y ago

I agree: I see movement at the top (Gates, Elon, Google, Cook). But it doesn't feel like there's much of a grassroots movement. Maybe I'm just missing them, but are there examples of this? I've been looking for prominent new startups attacking this problem, and haven't come up with much. (For example, search Product Hunt for: climate change, sustainable, ecology, solar... It doesn't feel like there's much there)

rnovak 11y ago
I don't think that the lack of a "grass roots movement" implies a lack of caring (on any groups part, but specifically "geeks"). Also, I don't think the lack of startups in the (pardon the buzzwords) "sustainability space" implies that tech people don't care. Maybe the tech people that do care work for established companies in that industry? Maybe there are constraints that make it extremely hard for a startup to (again, pardon the buzzwords) "gain traction" in the industry, i.e. companies that already have huge market share, overbearing regulations, etc. idk, I just think it's a little premature to think that "geeks" don't care about renewability/climate change just because there aren't a ton of tech specific startups trying to solve it. There are tons of companies that don't list themselves on Product Hunt, etc. There are tons of engineers that don't use twitter (and that's not specific to engineers).
sharp11 11y ago
You couldn't be more wrong (about the grassroots). Use the google. Just to take one (random) example: the past decade has seen a swell of innovation in business models that make home solar affordable through pooling of capital, volume buying, long-term lease deals, etc. These are startups.