{"id":3852,"date":"2015-12-07T11:50:08","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T16:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/company\/press\/inaugural-cornell-tech-bloomberg-speaker-series-welcomes-y-combinator\/"},"modified":"2015-12-07T11:50:08","modified_gmt":"2015-12-07T16:50:08","slug":"inaugural-cornell-tech-bloomberg-speaker-series-welcomes-y-combinator","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/company\/press\/inaugural-cornell-tech-bloomberg-speaker-series-welcomes-y-combinator\/","title":{"rendered":"Inaugural \u201cCornell Tech @ Bloomberg\u201d Speaker Series Welcomes Y Combinator"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Bloomberg<\/a><\/p>\n

Bloomberg CTO Shawn Edwards kicked off the Cornell Tech @Bloomberg series, introducing Michael R. Bloomberg.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“Tech entrepreneurship is close to my heart,” said Michael R. Bloomberg as we welcomed more than 150 members of the NYC technology community for the inaugural Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series.<\/p>\n

After sharing stories about the company\u2019s early beginnings and how tech entrepreneurship played a major role in its success, Bloomberg introduced the new speaker series and first participant Y Combinator<\/a> President Sam Altman.<\/p>\n

Tom Giles, executive editor of Bloomberg Media’s \u00a0global technology team, interviewed Altman and learned that when it comes to the venture capital gains tax debate, his viewpoint is “investors like him should pay more<\/a>.” In fact, Altman said he donates the extra cash from the tax break.<\/p>\n

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\"Tom<\/a><\/p>\n

Tom Giles, executive editor of Bloomberg Media’s global tech team, interviews Y Combinator President Sam Altman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Altman also discussed\u00a0 \u00a0Y Combinator’s growing commitment to tech industry diversity through initiatives like their Females Founders Conference<\/a> and offering special office hours for underrepresented groups in tech.<\/p>\n

Giles didn’t let Altman leave the stage before having him offer advice to early startup founders. Addressing the pitfalls many of them face primary \u2013 Altman said \u2013 was how some founders spend too much time on socializing, networking and trying to raise money, as opposed to actually focusing more energy and time on building the best possible product and company. Founders often confuse networking for actual work.\u00a0 Altman called this a “high class problem” \u2013 but one that ruins companies. \u201cWe try to intervene whenever we see this occurring,\u201d he stated. “But sometimes it is too late.”<\/p>\n

Dan Huttenlocher, dean and vice provost of Cornell Tech, closed out the session by stating: \u201cWe\u2019re very excited to grow our relationship with Bloomberg LP and to be working in partnership on this series. It presents the Cornell Tech community with a unique opportunity to listen to, ask questions of and learn from leading global technology figures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch highlights of the event:<\/p>\n