Meet Chris Messina

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Messina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
My mission is to make myself useful. I want to create a social web that serves humanity. I made a dent with the hashtag. I still believe in improving technology. It should be more useful, universal, and accessible to more people.

I contribute to free and standardized social web technologies. More competition in social networking improves social software. This should help individuals regain control of their social media use. And it will encourage more apps that meet personal needs or unique preferences.

However, improving digital technology alone is insufficient. As our everyday tech evolves, so must our “technology of the self.” This includes our self-awareness, integrity, and ability to build relationships. It also includes our capacity to join and contribute to communities.

To develop this “technology of the self”, I encourage:

1. Introspection and self-inquiry
2. Cultivating curiosity about other people
3. Focusing on three crucial relationship areas:
– The relationship to the self
– The relationship to others
– The relationship to machines and AI

We must develop healthy habits and strategies in each area. This will help us cope with the rapid changes of a modernizing society and culture.

My generation is the first to live through the great tsunami wave of the internet. We must be the first to learn to live with it and master its effects on society, culture, and humanity. We’re struggling. Unhealed traumas and identity politics divide us. We struggle to confront the wars within and between us, and struggle to align against existential threats. As a determined optimist, I believe we can tame the chaotic hydra of social media. With effort and persistence, we can regain our focus. Then, we can learn to thrive in abundance.

The LLM offers with a chat interface to humanity’s collective knowledge. Its rise demands that we change. We must harness this new technology with confidence and imagination.

From my tiny perch on the web, I hope to nudge the world toward a brighter, more inclusive, and participatory future. At the end of my life, I wish to leave a smudgy fingerprint of goodness, integrity, and optimism. I want it to inspire others. I want them to believe we can make a better world if they simply decide to start.

What should our readers know about your business?
I coach founders and entrepreneurs. I also invest through the Ride Home AI Fund.

Just over a year old, the AI Fund invests in promising applications of generative AI and LLMs. My co-GP and I seek co-founders who possess a mix of subject matter and domain expertise. They should also have backgrounds in AI, machine learning, or related fields. We seek product-led people who value their craft. They should learn by iterating with customers. We want them to build sustainable, AI-based businesses, not gimmicky ones. We invest in pre-seed, seed, and Series A companies.

What sets me apart is my diverse experience in Silicon Valley. I’ve played nearly all the characters in a great simulation game of Silicon Valley. They are: founder, investor, developer advocate, product designer, consultant, community organizer, marketer, and early adopter. These experiences help me quickly understand and empathize with the founders I coach. They enable me to improve their storytelling, focusing on product differentiation and the market moment.

My career spans various roles. I’ve worked at big tech firms like Google and Uber, my own startup, and smaller firms. I’ve learned to listen deeply to people to understand their view of the problem domain. I approach each engagement with an open mind. I want to understand how they have tried to solve their challenges. I assume they know better than me. When I can understand the motivations behind their approach, I can offer better guidance.

We are all shaped by our experiences, interactions, and relationships. I assume the builders I work with receive ample input. I aim to find new, unique, or subtle solutions. Founders are often so close to a problem that it feels scary to step back. They fear losing sight of the solution they’re pursuing. But, it’s my job to take stock of their progress. I must nudge them toward relevant re-frames and practical solutions. I need to help them see better paths forward.

Besides being a founder myself, my work is one of the best avenues to scale my long term impact.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend visited the Bay Area for a week, I’d want them to have the best coffee, food, cocktails, and views. Here’s a glimpse into the unforgettable time we’d have:

**Coffee Adventures:**

We’d start each day at top spots like Sightglass, Reveille, Ritual, Blue Bottle, and Saint Frank. Each offers a unique and high-end coffee experience to set the tone for our adventures.

**Culinary Delights:**

For food, we’d hit up Tartine Bakery for their legendary pastries. Then, we’d try Viridian for Asian-inspired dishes. Next, Nightbird for a hushed, intimate tasting menu. After that, Rich Table for inventive, hearty meals. Finally, Commis in Oakland for a Michelin-starred experience.

**Cocktail Evenings:**

We would spend our evenings discovering the best cocktail bars. Trick Dog, Bourbon & Branch, Third Rail, Blackbird, The Interval at Long Now, True Laurel, and Prizefighter would all be on our list.

A personal favorite is Viridian’s “Tomato Beef” cocktail. This signature drink has clarified tomato water, blanco tequila, basil eau de vie, and a component called “not lime.” It’s a must-try! It tastes like the best tomato you’ve ever had. It’s absolutely delicious.

**Scenic Vistas:**

To soak in the beauty of the Bay Area, we would explore several standout vistas. The Ferry Building and Embarcadero, Dolores Park, Lands End, and Golden Gate Park would all be on our list.

For a quirky adventure, we’d definitely visit the Albany Bulb. This strange, whimsical, manmade island has a history with San Francisco. You must visit to believe it. It’s a great example of an East Bay hidden gem that you would have no idea exists unless a local took you there. The art installations and views are unique. They make it a memorable spot.

By week’s end, my friend would have enjoyed the best coffee, food, cocktails, and views that San Francisco and Oakland offer. Each spot is special to me, and I’d love to share them with someone close.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to Jo Portia Mayari. She is my life partner, lover, co-parent, growth agent, and collaborator. We are nearing six years together. In that time, we have taken on divorce and separation, growing kids, raising a home, seeding and sowing a garden, building community, engaging in inner work, and developing intimacy, resiliency, fondness, and connection.

We’ve worked hard to recognize our maladaptive behaviors and trauma responses when triggered by each other. We’ve learned to self-soothe in stressful times. We’ve also learned to repair after conflicts.

We’ve grown in our capacities as co-parents, teaching our kids self-reliance and how to connect with others. This dance of growth and support has been tough but rewarding. It has strengthened our bond and our ability to navigate life’s complexities together.

Website: https://chrismessina.me

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chris

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/factoryjoe/

Other: https://threads.net/@chris https://chrismessina.me/call-me 

Image Credits
Jo Portia