How the US Became a Science Superpower

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Salutations, Olio aficionados! 👋

Midweek greetings to all, as we unveil the 159th chapter of Weekly Olio—a delightful concoction of laughter, insight, and a sprinkle of mystery. Within these pages, you'll discover a handpicked selection of fascinating finds from the vast realms of the internet.

Keep your eyes peeled for this week’s Publisher’s Parmesan, arriving this Sunday!

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The Quote󠀢 💭

The Tweet 🐦

Almost everything in life - personal or professional - tends to be a negotiation. This thread is a great collection of best practices when entering a negotiation.

The Infographic 💹

Ok, Wales wins this one easily.

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The Short Read 📝

What’s Quietly Killing D2C Startups in India? - by Gracy P K

Many people think D2C startups fail because it's expensive to get customers or there's not enough demand. However, if you speak with founders of new activewear or food and beverage brands in India, they'll tell you something else. The real problem is the operational side of things. While marketing teams focus on Instagram and influencer partnerships, the logistics, supply chain, and delivery processes are causing these companies to struggle. Most Indian D2C startups aren't failing because they can't find customers; they're failing because they can't effectively deliver their products to them. Read more…

The challenges facing D2C startups in India are no longer hidden; they're obvious if you look closely. While having great products and attractive branding is important, the real key to lasting success is strong operations. Founders should think of their startups like building a rocket: you need powerful engines (technology and operations), efficient fuel (wise use of money), and a clear plan (infrastructure-driven go-to-market strategy). This approach helps D2C businesses not only launch successfully but also remain successful over time, gaining the trust and business of India's smart consumers.

The Long Read 📜

How the US Became a Science Superpower - by Steve Blank

Since World War II, the United States has been the world’s largest scientific power - some of the most meaningful inventions/discoveries that underline the modern world came from American inventors and researchers. But how did that happen? Britain led the Industrial Revolution but then the baton passed on to the Americans post World War II. A large part of this shift can be attributed to the choice of scientific advisors for both countries after World War I.

Under Churchill, Britain’s advisors focused on centralizing all research in Government funded labs and controlling what projects got funded. In contrast, Vannevar Bush, had a dim view of Government led research and managed to convince the US President to move research from Govt. funded labs to civilian-run weapons labs run by University professors. He further expanded by helping move research to Universities themselves. This one single move helped catalyze the rise of US as a scientific superpower. While this funding was meant to fund projects during WWII, the amazing results convinces the Congress to continue this system post war as well. Read more…

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That’s all for this week. If you enjoyed this edition, we’d really appreciate if you shared it with a friend, family member or colleague.

We’ll be back in your inbox 2 PM IST next Wednesday. Till then, have a productive week!

Peeyush and Mohit

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual.