Magnitude and Direction — Issue #161
DIY satellites, catch up on the Olympics, and the worst dating app ever?
Welcome to the latest installment of my bi-weekly newsletter, covering some of my favorite new developments in the fields of biotech, data science, engineering, and more. If this is your first issue, it's great to have you! For everyone else, thanks for coming back!
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Notes
A little late on today’s edition, but I’m gonna blame that on the nonstop meetings I’ve had today.
This edition’s font is a colorful contribution called Bungee Spice. (It also kinda reminds me of Jurassic Park - I think it’s the color gradient)
Jobs
No new job opportunities in this edition, check earlier editions for previous posts.
Hardware, Prototyping, and Fabrication
🛰️ For any of you planning to launch a satellite in the not-too-distant future, this guide to pocket satellite designs might be helpful.
🌉 Would you cross a bridge that could be folded up like origami?
🌧️ This story of a wifi network that only works when it rains is a great reminder of all the ways software can still be subservient to hardware.
Software and Programming
🎞️ MSCHF may mostly be a shoe company these days, but the ASCII Theater proves they can still do something cool and subversive when they feel like it. (All you need is a UNIX-based terminal to enjoy.)
😬 Someone please tell me this app was made for the latest Bad Idea Hackathon.
Science, Engineering, and Biomedicine
🫗 How do you go from silly little desk toy to functional source of electricity?
💈 These combs probably won't be able to help you get out of a bad hair day, but they can help you solve a bunch of other problems.
⚖️ Earthquakes have been in the news recently, so now's as good a time as any to take a fresh look at Taipei 101's unique mass damping system.
Mapping, History, and Data Science
🏅 There's another Olympics happening this year, and these data visualizations are a great way to quickly recap the Olympics of years past and start prepping for this year's later this summer.
🛒 What does your Instacart say about you?
Events and Opportunities
What are you doing this Sunday???
⭐Sunday, 4/14 Mouthy Baby @ Heaven Can Wait. New York's favorite tooth-adjacent rock band is back for our first show of the spring at Heaven Can Wait in the heart of the East Village. The lineup includes all the Mouthy Baby originals you've come to love and a few classics that get the crowd going as well. Come chase away the Sunday Scaries and join us for an evening of good times and great tunes.
Monday, 4/15 Transit Techies Meetup: Bus-Based Innovations. Join the Transit Techies meetup for a dynamic session hosted by NYU's Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) in partnership with Transit Techies NYC. This event will delve into the innovative strategies behind the digital transformation and electrification of school bus operations, spearheaded by NYCSBUS, New York City's pioneering non-profit school bus provider.
Tuesday, 4/16 Civic Tech'ish Happy Hour. Join data enthusiasts, technologists, and civic leaders for a casual gathering and an informal and fun opportunity to connect with folks interested and/or working in the civic space. Whether you’re currently involved in civic tech or looking to learn more about its vibrant community in New York, all are welcome to attend!
Tuesday, 4/16 (+ 3rd Tuesday of the month) Mid-Atlantic Bio Angels 1st Pitch Office Hours. Continuing the tradition that began with their 1st Pitch Life Science™ series of live events, MABA Office Hours are meant to provide constructive feedback to companies that may be too early for funding, and those who wish to pitch for feedback. This monthly office hours session gives companies 10 minutes to pitch a panel of MABA investors, followed by 10 minutes of feedback from the panel. You need not be part of a startup to attend, either — these pitch events are open to all to attend.
Wednesday, 4/17 3rd Annual CAT Symposium. The 3rd annual CAT symposium will showcase CUNY-wide academic-industry research and workforce development partnerships that further innovation and entrepreneurship in NY. The event will feature exciting NYC-based startup companies representing diverse applications such as Sensing, Sustainable Materials, Climate Tech, Energy Storage, and Drug-Discovery sharing first-hand experiences navigating the challenges of funding, partnerships, and lab-to-scale of their technologies. Find out what’s happening in the West Harlem Innovation Triangle and discuss the present and future of frontier technology development to advance human and planetary health.
Wednesday, 4/17 Sustainability in Biotech. Join Nucleate NY, MilliporeSigma, and NYU Biolabs for a discussion on sustainability in biotech! Following the panel, connect with experts, the Millipore team, and the broader New York biotech community over drinks and light bites.
Thursday, 4/18 IndieBio NY Coffee Break. Are you developing a new product or technology? Are you looking for a co-founder or your next key hire? Are you looking for a job or an internship? Considering making a career pivot into the start-up ecosystem? Then come join IndieBio NY for their next Coffee Break to learn more about the IndieBio NY program, and meet fellow members of the NY biotech community.
Saturday-Thursday 4/20, 4/21, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25 NYC Taste of Science Festival. The taste of science festival is back and better than ever, with a week of great science planned for the city that never sleeps! With topics ranging from birdwatching, to monitoring microbes, to brain imaging (and even a big block party), this festival will have something for everyone to enjoy.
Thursday 4/25 New York Hardware Meetup. The April edition of NYC's monthly gathering of hardware enthusiasts, founders, and innovators is back at robotics company Viam for a jam-packed lineup of talks exploring how innovation in hardware are making cities smarter, safer, and more sustainable.
Saturday, 5/4 (+1st Saturdays all Summer) The Bronx Night Market. As the longest-running event series in the northmost borough, the Bronx Night Market stands as a transformative force, revolutionizing the foodie scene and cultivating a deep connection to the identity of the Bronx. With a remarkable lineup of 50 local vendors, this iconic market draws over 4,000 guests each time, making it a thriving hub for community engagement and culinary exploration.
Thursday, 5/9 WCBA & ABCT Pitch Day. Join FirstXFounder for the culminating event of their WCBA and ABCT biotech entrepreneurship programs, featuring presentations by founders of the region’s newest healthcare ventures. Attendees will include investors, corporate sponsors and members of the life sciences ecosystem. Use discount code GROBIO for $35 off standard tickets!
Friday, 5/10 Nucleate New York 2024 Activator Demo Day. Join Nucleate New York to celebrate their 2024 Activator cohort and the growing biotech/deep tech ecosystem in New York! Cohort teams and participants span all major biomedical institutions in the region, with cohort ventures based on pioneering academic work, creating therapies for unmet medical needs, novel therapeutic platforms, and sustainable technologies for planetary health.
Wednesday-Friday, 6/12-6/13 Due Diligence Master Class. Join the FirstXFounder team and active biotech investors for their annual Due Diligence Master Class to prep for your fundraising outreach, meetings, negotiation and close, featuring two days of education and networking with an in person reception. Gain insights from key players in the funding ecosystem on data room check lists, cap table do’s and don'ts, and tips on productive relationship building with investors.
Use discount code 8KQ0KU for 20% off! The code expires June 1st.
Other events coming up you think I should know about? Let me know here!
Map of the Month
🏙️ I’ve been obsessed with this map since I saw it in the BetaNYC community Slack last week. Definitely a must-have for anyone who plans on moving to a new city or neighborhood anytime soon.
Odds & Ends
👶 You can't give your daughter any of these names in Iceland.