Danny Crichton is a man of many talents. He’s got a background in computer science, has worked in the worlds of foreign policy, was a managing editor at Techcrunch, and now serves as Head of Editorial at Lux Capital.
As Lux’s de-facto games master, Danny also devises their Riskgames: strategic simulations that immerse players in complex scenarios reflecting real-world challenges and dynamics. These games – whose players include senators, major generals, congressmen and, think-tank CEOs – include scenarios like ‘Hamptons at the Cross-Roads’ (that deals with climate change and maritime security) and ‘Powering Up’ (that deals with China’s global EV dominance).
Danny and I discuss the origins of Riskgaming and the lessons he’s learned in high-stakes games with tech founders and government officials. Plus, we riff on our shared Minnesotan roots, and discuss ways to combat the uncertain fog of war in our careers.
I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.
Important Links:
Show Notes:
- Origins of Riskgaming
- The Different Play Styles between Technologists and Policymakers
- One-off games vs. Iterative games
- The Game Theoretic Foundations of Riskgaming
- It’s All About Tough Decisions
- Parable of the First Mover Disadvantage
- The Importance of Incentives
- Why Insurance Companies are Obsessed with Truth in the Market
- How AIs Can Cut Through Bureaucratic Slog
- How Danny Builds Scenarios
- Why Riskgaming Teaches Better Decision Making
- Danny’s Thoughts on Intellectual Humility
- Danny and Jim’s Minnesotan Heritage
- Danny’s experience launching TechCrunch+
- Facing the Fog of War
- The Importance of Agility
- Danny as Emperor of the World
Books Mentioned:
- Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter
- Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places; by Paul Collier
