Weekend Reading
Writing worth reading 27th/28th September 2025
“The notion of a “Methuselah” trust has a long history—and as with many peculiar notions, Benjamin Franklin got there first. Upon his death in 1790, Franklin’s will contain a peculiar codicil setting aside £1,000 (about $4,550) each for the cities of Boston and Philadelphia to provide loans for apprentices to start their businesses. The money was to be invested at compound interest for one hundred years, then a portion of the fund was to be used in Boston for a trade school. For Philadelphia, he recommended using the money for “bringing, by pipes, the water of Wissahickon Creek into the town”—or perhaps “making the Schuylkill completely navigable.” The whole scheme was perfectly suited for a man who once half-jokingly proposed that, in preference “to any ordinary death” he be “immersed in a cask of Madeira wine” for later revival, as he had “a very ardent desire to see and observe the state of America a hundred years hence. …”
Anti signals by Sriram Krishnan
“ “I think these companies like Apple aren’t entrepreneurial for many reasons but the biggest one re Apple is that they work in silos. Bc ppl don’t know what other groups do, so I don’t think you learn that much on company building imo outside of the product you’re working on...”
How Klarna’s boardroom spat exposed a schism at Sequoia Capital by George Hammond & Ivan Levingston
“The continued presence of the old leadership [on start-up boards] communicates to the outside world that they are not confident in the new leadership,” said a Sequoia “limited partner”, a term for one of the financial institutions that has invested in its venture funds. “The magnitude of the egos in the VC world indicate that might be the case here.…”
Founders (need) Focus
This week we shared that we’re starting Founders Focus, a new membership program from 9others; a space for you to carve out time to work on the hard things that really matter. Check out the announcement here.
What does it do?
Founders Focus keeps you focused, accountable and connected.
Who it’s for?
Founders Focus will suit Solo Founders, Remote (Co) Founders, and Freelancers, Coxs and Side Hustlers.
Qs?
Read more and check out the FAQs on the 9others Notion, here.
We hope you’ll join us.