Founder Mode - 16 April 2026

Hi there,

Welcome back to Founder Mode.

Everyone's betting on AI this week. A sneaker company pivoted to become an AI compute provider. Snapchat is replacing 16% of its workforce with AI tools. And Jensen Huang went on Dwarkesh's podcast to explain why Nvidia's moat is deeper than anyone thinks.

For readers in Singapore, you’re welcome to join the next AI Salon that I’m hosting.

Thanks for reading, and let’s dive in!

🔥 Top Finds

Snapchat owner cuts 1,000 jobs as says AI will reduce repetitive work
Snap is laying off 16% of its global workforce (~1,000 employees) and closing 300 open roles, citing AI tools that enable smaller teams to move faster.

Key Takeaways:

• CEO Evan Spiegel's memo said "rapid advancements in artificial intelligence enable our teams to reduce repetitive work, increase velocity, and better support our community."

• Snap expects to cut its annualized cost base by more than $500M by H2 2026, putting it on a clearer path to net-income profitability.

• Affected U.S. staff get four months of severance, healthcare coverage, equity vesting, and career transition support -- one of the more generous packages in recent tech layoffs.

Snap is the clearest case yet of a mid-size tech company using AI as both the reason for layoffs and the strategy for what comes next. The $500M cost reduction target is significant for a company that's never been consistently profitable. If Snap actually delivers on that while maintaining product velocity, it becomes a playbook other companies of similar scale will follow aggressively.

Amazon signs $11B deal for Globalstar to challenge Musk's Starlink
Amazon acquires Globalstar at $90/share, gaining S-band spectrum licenses and an operational satellite fleet. Apple signs a long-term deal to run iPhone Emergency SOS through Amazon's new satellite network.

Apple will launch 15+ new products later this year
The lineup includes the first foldable iPhone, smart glasses preview, a touchscreen HomePod, and a full Mac refresh with M5 and M6 chips.

NASA's Artemis II crew splashes down after historic moon flyby
The first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 returned safely after a 10-day, 700,000+ mile journey. The crew captured 7,000+ images of the lunar surface, including a solar eclipse from Orion's vantage point. The future of spacetech is bright.

🎯 Opportunities Radar

WAIC FUTURE TECH Pitching Competition 2026

This is a rare chance to participate at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 in July — China's flagship AI conference & the world's most influential AI platform. Gain direct access to China's AI ecosystem, capital networks, and market opportunities.
Winners will join a fully sponsored immersion program to Shanghai and WAIC.

Deadline: 24 April 2026

SLINGSHOT 2026

Asia’s deep tech startup pitching competition is back with its 10th edition! Compete for attractive grant prizes, connect with top investors, and showcase your innovation at SWITCH 2026.

Deadline: 30 June 2026

The Pitch by Deel

Enter with your 2-minute pitch to win a $1,000,000 investment for your startup. The Pitch is a global tournament built to reward the world’s best founders.

Deadline: 23 Mar 2026 Onwards depending on region

🛠 Tool of the Week

Beehiiv
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💬 Founder Mode Quotes

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