In partnership with

Hey there, web3 legends and career climbers!

🥳 The Birth of Smart Contracts Turns 10 Today (And You're Invited to the Party!)

Remember when your parents said crypto was just "fake internet money"? Well, Ethereum just hit double digits, securing over $75 BILLION in DeFi. That's more money than the GDP of several countries combined. Not bad for something that started in Vitalik's dorm room dreams.

Quick reality check: On July 30, 2025, Ethereum celebrates 10 years of changing the game. While Bitcoin walked, so crypto could run, Ethereum taught it how to fly with smart contracts. The network that powers everything from your favorite NFT to that DeFi protocol you definitely understand (wink wink)😉 is throwing the party of the decade.

Here's the kicker: The Ethereum Foundation is lighting up a special "Torch NFT" 🔥that's being passed wallet-to-wallet among crypto's biggest names. Think of it as the Olympic torch, but for people who understand gas fees. Joseph Lubin kicked it off, and it's making rounds through the who's who of Web3.

Your move: Join the global livestream on July 30 at 10:30 AM EST and mint your free commemorative NFT. This isn't just another JPEG, it's your ticket to saying "I was there when..." Plus, with ETH trading volumes surging 25% around anniversary hype, being part of the celebration might just pay off.

And if you read this newsletter religiously when it drops, you might need to click on that link now!👇

💋 From PR Nightmare to Marketing Masterclass: The $10M Kiss That Launched 1,000 Memes

You know that moment when you're caught doing something embarrassing and wish the ground would swallow you whole? Astronomer's CEO lived it, on a stadium Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert. With his HR chief. While married. Yikes. 🙊

But here's where it gets genius...

Instead of hiding under a rock, Astronomer hired Gwyneth Paltrow (yes, Chris Martin's ex) as their "very temporary spokesperson." The video announcing this has gone more viral than the original scandal. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade or in this case, turning a kiss cam catastrophe into a case study Harvard Business School will be teaching for years. 👌

The numbers don't lie:

• Coldplay's streams jumped 25% (free marketing for the band)

• Astronomer went from unknown to trending globally

• Their new video got millions of views in 48 hours

• "Coldplayed" is now officially in the dictionary (verb: to be caught cheating in public) 😂

Why this matters to you: Next time you face a crisis, whether it's a failed product launch, a Twitter mishap, or your startup imploding, remember Astronomer. They didn't just survive; they thrived. Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort agency orchestrated this comeback, proving that with the right strategy, your worst moment can become your best marketing. 👏

Pro tip: Start building relationships with creative agencies NOW. You never know when you'll need to turn disaster into dollars. And maybe keep your workplace relationships professional or at least away from kiss cams.🙈 

🎯 Tech Layoffs Hit 100K: Your Battle Tested Survival Guide

While Astronomer's making headlines for creative comebacks and a CEO losing a hefty paycheck, tech workers are facing a different reality. Over 100,000 jobs cut in 2025, and we're only in July. Intel alone axed 12,000 positions. Microsoft? 10,000. Even the "safe" companies aren't safe anymore.

But before you panic-update your LinkedIn, here's your action plan:

The New Rules of Tech Survival:

1. AI-Proof Yourself (Starting Today)

   • 40% of developer layoffs happened because AI now writes code

   • Learn AI/ML NOW, not next month, not next week

   • Focus on what AI can't do: creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, human connection

2. Diversify Like Your Career Depends on It (Because It Does)

   • Master cloud platforms (AWS, Azure are hiring despite layoffs.)

   • Cybersecurity roles grew 35% while other tech jobs shrank

   • Side hustles aren't optional anymore; they're insurance

3. Network Like It's 1999

   • 85% of jobs never hit job boards

   • Coffee meetings > LinkedIn requests

   • Join communities where hiring managers hang out (hint: not just LinkedIn)

4. Geographic Arbitrage is Your Friend

   • Remote work opened global opportunities

   • Consider markets beyond Silicon Valley

   • Your next role might be with a European startup paying US salaries

🎰 Stop Everything: FREE Interview Workshop

"You Got the Interview. Don't Blow It" Normally invite-only for OpenAI/Meta/Google candidates. We're sneaking you in.

Ex-Meta leaders who built Superinterviews (one user landed THREE offers) are spilling their secrets.

FREE includes:

• 60-min workshop on becoming the obvious hire

• Private Slack with people landing FAANG offers

• Superinterviews access code ($900 value)

Register NOW: [Secure your spot here] - spaces filling fast.

In a 100K layoff market, qualified isn't enough. Be prepared.

Do this: Register + commit 30 min/day to one new skill. #TechSurvival2025

🏆 Pitch Competition Alert: Your Shot at Millions

Mark your calendars, future unicorns:

August 2025:

• AgeTech After Dark (Aug 31 deadline) - Perfect for solving aging problems

• EforAll Pitch (Multiple dates) - Local competitions with mentorship

• Tech Fuel San Antonio (Apply early Aug) - $100K grand prize for Texas startups

September 2025:

• SXSW EDU Launch (Sept 7 early deadline) - Education startups, pitch March 2026

• 3686 Festival Nashville (Sept 8-10) - Southeast's premier startup summit

October 2025:

• SXSW Pitch 2025 (Nov 3 deadline) - The big one! 93% of participants get funded

• Milken-Penn GSE (Apply now) - $80K for education ventures

• AgeTech Open Mic (Oct 23) - Quick pitch opportunity

November 2025:

• AWE EU Vienna (Nov 19-20) - XR/AR/VR focus

• Web Summit PITCH (Nov 10-13) - Battle with 105 top startups

Year-End Power Moves:

• Veteran Shark Tank (Dec 8) - $50K grand prize during Army/Navy week

• CES 2026 Startup Stage (Apply now) - Multiple competitions, $25K+ prizes

Pro tip: Y Combinator Fall 2025 batch closes Aug 4th. Start that application NOW.

Ready to pitch? Pick ONE competition above and commit. Winners aren't just lucky—they're prepared.

🎬 Still Reading? You're Already Ahead of 97% of Your Competition

📊 Quick Poll: What's Your Biggest Move This Week?

🎰 The Million Dollar Question

💬 Last Thing: Drop Your Win

Made it this far? You deserve recognition.

Reply with your biggest win this week, whether it's a new job, a side project launch, a successful raise, or just surviving another week in tech.

Best story gets:

• Featured in the next issue

• Our secret "Interview Ace" template pack

• Bragging rights forever

Who's ready to make moves? 🚀

Share this newsletter like your career depends on it. Because in this market, it might.

Thank You To Our Partners

Start learning AI in 2025

Keeping up with AI is hard – we get it!

That’s why over 1M professionals read Superhuman AI to stay ahead.

• Get daily AI news, tools, and tutorials

• Learn new AI skills you can use at work in 3 mins a day

• Become 10X more productive

Sign up and start mastering AI

Former PepsiCo Exec Invented A Plastic That Dissolves in Water

If anyone knows a thing about plastic’s impact on the planet, it’s Manuel Rendon. The former PepsiCo executive and environmental engineer is using his 20 years of expertise to solve one of the world’s biggest problems with Timeplast.

Up to 450 million metric tons of plastic are wasted each year. Microplastics seep into our bodies, and mountains of bottles pile up in the ocean. But Timeplast has patented a water-soluble, time-programmable plastic that vanishes without harming the environment.

Major players are already partnering with Timeplast for its patented technology—their sales grew 6,000% in the first month.

You have just a few days left to invest as Timeplast scales in its $1.3T plastic market, from packaging to 3D printing. Become a Timeplast shareholder by midnight, 7/31.

Invest in Timeplast now.

_{This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.}

🤝 PARTNER WITH US

Contact EMAIL US for sponsorship opportunities.

P.S. - You've invested 5 minutes reading this. Invest 5 more in taking action. That's the difference between readers and achievers.

P.P.S. - Send those Pitch Competitions to a founder in need, a hungry investor who wants deal flow, or those conference heads

P.P.P.S. - If you're reading this sentence, you're the kind of person who pays attention to details. That's exactly why you'll succeed. Now, prove me right by taking action on something above and refer someone to this newsletter ;)