Category Archives: article

Building Cybersecurity for SMEs: Lessons from Cyber Smart’s Jamie Akhtar

In this fireside chat, Jamie Akhtar shared the journey of building Cyber Smart, his lessons in scaling, fundraising, and pivoting the business to focus on cyber hygiene for SMEs. Learn how he navigated the ups and downs of the startup world.

Continue reading

The Life and Times of Brion Gysin: Multi-Dimensional Artist from Teenage Surrealist to Multimedia Wunderkind

Brion Gysin, an artist, writer, and key figure in the 20th-century avant-garde, straddled multiple artistic movements, leaving a profound influence on literature, art, and music. This article explores Gysin’s early fallout with the Surrealists, his pivotal collaboration with the Beat Generation, and his role in introducing the Master Musicians of Joujouka to the West. It highlights his invention of the Dreamachine, his development of the cut-up technique with William S. Burroughs, and his influence on musicians like Brian Jones and David Bowie. Gysin’s legacy of experimentation, mysticism, and boundary-pushing creativity endures, despite his battles with cancer in his later years.

Continue reading

Waste, Luxury, and the Human Condition: Intersectionality of Violet Paget’s Satan the Waster, Siegfried Sassoon’s At the Cenotaph, and Rory Sutherland’s views on Ferraris in London

While browsing YouTube Shorts, mainly for Tacticus Tips and Warhammer 40K fan fiction, I stumbled upon a video featuring Rory Sutherland discussing the absurdity of Ferraris in central London. His thoughts on waste reminded me of a book I encountered in the school library at KEGS Aston around 1983: Vernon Lee’s Satan the Waster. This article discusses the nature of waste, drawing a comparison with Siegfried Sassoon’s At the Cenotaph. Through this lens, it explores how both Sassoon and Violet Paget (writing as Vernon Lee) critique the senselessness of war, using waste as a symbol for the destruction of human life, resources, and potential, much like how ridiculous luxury goods are symbols of impractical extravagance.

Continue reading

Cracking Government and SME Markets: Customer Acquisition Insights from Adie Holt

Adie Holt explored the complexities of working with government and SME clients, offering practical advice for navigating long sales cycles, building strategic relationships, and overcoming procurement challenges in the Cyber Runway: Scale accelerator.

Continue reading

Navigating the Defence and National Security Sector: Lessons from James Gayner MBE

James Gayner MBE provides a comprehensive overview of how startups can engage with the defence and national security sectors. Learn how to navigate the complex procurement landscape, build relationships with prime contractors, and overcome the hurdles faced by SMEs in this challenging but rewarding space.

Continue reading

Mastering Product and Commercial Fit: A Guide for Startups with Nick Gardner

Nick Gardner’s workshop in the Cyber Runway: Scale program explored the elusive concept of product-market fit (PMF) and how startups can practically identify and maintain it. Learn how to target the right customer segments and adjust your market strategy for sustainable growth.

Continue reading

How to Identify the Moment You’ve Achieved Product-Market Fit: Insights from Dave Palmer

This article delves into Dave Palmer’s actionable advice on how startups can know when they’ve truly achieved product-market fit (PMF). Discover the key moments that signal PMF and learn how to overcome the inevitable challenges along the journey.

Continue reading

Exploring the Metaphysics of Quality (MOQ): A Comprehensive Series

This series delves into Robert M. Pirsig’s Metaphysics of Quality (MOQ), exploring its philosophical foundations, practical applications, and its profound impact on various fields such as education, business, environmental ethics, and personal identity. Each article examines different facets of the MOQ, from the balance between static and dynamic quality to its connections with Eastern philosophies, aiming to provide a thorough understanding of Pirsig’s work and its relevance today.

Continue reading

Integrating Static and Dynamic Quality: Lessons from Diverse Perspectives

Discussing how the unique insights from Asperger’s Syndrome, hyperreality, and pataphysics can be integrated to enhance the understanding of static and dynamic quality. Case studies and examples of integrating different perspectives, benefits of a holistic approach to quality.

Continue reading

Attention to Detail: Asperger’s Syndrome and the Metaphysics of Quality

Exploring how the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of Asperger’s Syndrome aligns with Pirsig’s concept of quality. Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome, connection to static quality, and the impact of detailed perception on understanding quality.

Continue reading