Tech Brew Ride Home (BNS) John Borthwick Of Betaworks
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Sep 13, 2025 
Join John Borthwick, a key player in New York City's tech scene, as he takes you through his tech journey from early programming to the rise of the World Wide Web. He recalls the vibrant 90s tech culture and reflects on the creation of Total New York and the lessons from the AOL acquisition. Borthwick discusses the impact of the dot-com bubble and highlights landmark innovations like Photolog in early social media. He emphasizes how constraints can foster creativity and the evolution of Betaworks as a hub for innovation in AI.
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Seeing The Web Changed His Path
- John Borthwick discovered the web in 1994 by driving five hours to see an SGI-hosted site and felt he had "seen the future."
- That moment made him drop plans and dedicate himself to building on the web immediately.
We Cling To Old Metaphors For New Tech
- Early web metaphors borrowed from physical worlds like maps and directories but concealed the web's novelty.
- Borthwick notes humans cling to familiar metaphors when facing new technologies.
AdaWeb: Artists Meet Engineers
- Borthwick started AdaWeb to pair artists and engineers and produced projects like Jenny Holzer's web-based truisms.
- He rented modems, drove upstate to demo the internet, and then launched commercial ventures months later.