Out of Office Semil Shah is Out Of Office
16 snips
Dec 4, 2025 
Semil Shah, a renowned seed investor and founder of Haystack, shares insights on navigating the current tech landscape. He discusses the implications of OpenAI's dominance on startup categories and emphasizes the need for unique strategies to compete. Generative media's evolution and its impact on marketing trends are explored, along with the risks seed investors face from larger funds. Shah remains optimistic about seed investing's potential and advocates for investing in exceptional founders, despite the chaotic environment. Their conversation also touches on sports betting culture and innovation in prediction markets.
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No App Category Is Safe
- OpenAI's ability to ship hit apps shows no app category is inherently safe anymore.
- Semil Shah warns founders and investors must assume incumbents will play and win across categories.
Zig When Everyone Zigs
- Do zig when others zig by choosing formats and content that feel different and personal.
- Michael Mignano suggests create for yourself and avoid burnout from chasing trends.
The Launch Video Arms Race
- Generative media collapses video production cost and time, making launch videos ubiquitous.
- Increased supply will amplify good products but won't save weak ones from market neglect.