
27 segments available
Diana Hu cofounded Escher Reality, which went through the Summer 2017 batch of YC. They were acquired by Niantic and she is now the head of their AR platform. https://twitter.com/sdianahu https://www.ar.dev/ The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon. https://twitter.com/craigcannon Y Combinator invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups (recently 200), twice a year. Learn more about YC and apply for funding here: https://www.ycombinator.com/apply/ *** Topics 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Getting into AR 2:30 - Her first exposure to AR 4:15 - AR's future role in media 7:20 - Deciding where to go with the product 9:30 - Innovations that enabled AR 14:00 - Building a product in a new market 17:00 - Raising money for a new market 21:15 - Advice for founders after an acquisition 26:15 - Immigrating to the US 30:45 - Advice for Immigrant founders 33:24 - Advice for founders in/after YC
Diana Hu shares her serendipitous journey into augmented reality (AR), highlighting the diverse technical disciplines that contribute to creating immersive AR experiences. She discusses her background in cloud television and computer vision, emphasizing her belief that AR represents the next evolution in technology, blending digital information with the real world.
"all right Diana whoo welcome to the podcast thank you for having me here correct so maybe we should start from now and then go backwards in time so you're working on a are at Niantic after your compan..."
In this segment, Diana Hu explains the engaging nature of AR, contrasting it with escapism. She reflects on her first exposure to AR technology and how it allows for deeper engagement with reality through layered information. Diana also shares her excitement about the potential of AR to transform how we perceive and interact with the world.
"lot of curious very very curious about that what it could take to be able to see information blend in in the real this is this concept of like pixels photons where as where's the line to now between p..."
Diana discusses the future of AR as a 'first-class citizen' in media, alongside traditional formats like video and audio. She explains the technology cycles that AR is currently navigating, including the installation phase where foundational technologies are developed, and the eventual deployment phase that will lead to widespread application and innovation.
"I guess audio yeah I think it will it will take time because we're at the early stages I think the progress of technology has like different cycles I mean if you read some of the work by like Carlota ..."
In this insightful segment, Diana Hu emphasizes the importance of timing in the success of AR startups. She discusses how current technological trends, such as advancements in mobile infrastructure and processing power, are creating a conducive environment for AR development. Diana highlights the need for foundational technologies to be in place before AR can reach its full potential.
"of groundwork that needs to be there's some early choke is because you do need examples of applications to be able to inform and build the right kind of OS infrastructure to accelerate that and in par..."
In this segment, Diana Hu explains how the existing mobile infrastructure has facilitated the development of augmented reality. She points out that advancements in sensors, cameras, and processors from the mobile industry are being repurposed for AR applications, making it easier to build AR products.
"one it is AR is tagging a law along a lot of the infrastructure that the mobile mobile world built like it is very easy now to build like a phone if you want it there's like the supply chain for all t..."
Diana Hu elaborates on Moore's Law and its implications for augmented reality technology. She discusses how improvements in computing power and efficiency are enabling more complex AR applications on mobile devices, making them increasingly powerful and energy-efficient.
"the mobile space so second technology trend that really hitting for AR to be something real besides more law Moore's law everyone is familiar with it we're computing getting faster every 18 months twi..."
In this segment, Hu introduces Edmunds Law and its relevance to augmented reality. She explains how advancements in wireless technology, such as 5G, are crucial for AR applications that require high data transfer rates, thus enhancing the user experience.
"which is if you really look at the numbers the last time I looked at it the iPhone 7 beats and all benchmark for CPU and power and sorry for CPU loads or GPU loads when you compute something as much a..."
Diana Hu shares her insights for founders looking to enter the augmented reality space. She discusses the challenges of navigating an emerging market filled with unknowns and emphasizes the importance of focusing on core technology development before pursuing application-based solutions.
"you feel certain constraints on the actual hardware side and then getting there so shrinking so that's another one yeah power efficiency the third one another law their law is Edmunds law okay comes f..."
In this segment, Hu reflects on her experience securing investment for her AR startup. She highlights the significance of connecting with investors who share a vision for the future of AR and the importance of demonstrating technological feasibility to gain their support.
"better than dial-up in the 90s relative to a r44 networking right so that applications built in a R and D are there will be very data hungry because there's a lot of you're pushing pixels a lot of con..."
Diana Hu discusses the importance of creating a minimum viable product (MVP) in the AR space. She explains how demonstrating a functional product can attract interest from investors and validate the technology, which is crucial in an emerging market.
"starting a company in a relatively I mean light as you described like ARV are its kind of been around for 50 years whatever but relatively nascent area what is your advice for like a founder thinking ..."
In this segment, Hu shares her experience showcasing an AR demo that captivated potential investors. She emphasizes how effective demonstrations can bridge the gap between skepticism and belief in new technology, making it essential for founders to present their ideas compellingly.
"the highway when oculus got acquires like hyped up the whole space yeah right after that has been difficult for sometimes to raise money for that space for content creators can be difficult sometimes ..."
Diana Hu shares her experience in securing early investment for Escher Reality, emphasizing the importance of finding investors who believe in the vision of a new market. She discusses how connections made during Y Combinator's demo day helped attract the right backers, highlighting the significance of showcasing a working product to generate interest.
"tech sometimes it's difficult because of this yeah finding what was that process like how'd you find the right right folks so and one sense we we had the good timing that Eric it just got launched at ..."
In this segment, Diana explains how demonstrating a functional AR product, like a multiplayer version of Pong, helped attract attention from investors. She emphasizes the need to prove the technology's viability and how a compelling demo can create buzz and interest in a startup's vision.
"those folks through demo day through intros how did they find you because I think we're invariably people are asked me to say how do I find the right investor to support my my vision so part of it is ..."
Diana reflects on the challenges of raising funds in a new market, discussing how to handle investor rejections. She shares insights on the importance of persistence and finding independent thinkers who can see the potential in emerging technologies, even when others are hesitant.
"different than I you know other founders friend with sometimes that that that first first thing is really having more actual paying customers or early when when the technology is more straightforward ..."
After the acquisition by Niantic, Diana discusses the rapid transition from startup to a larger company. She shares her thoughts on how to maintain passion and motivation while adapting to a new corporate culture, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the company's vision.
"with a lot I guess whatever I'm kind of asking is like you know the people didn't say yes who maybe gave you a no or like you know maybe if this develops further which is basically no how did those co..."
Diana offers advice to founders who have been acquired, focusing on how to integrate into a larger organization while still pursuing their original vision. She highlights the importance of maintaining relationships and adapting to new challenges in a hyper-growth environment.
"everything is only for us it's a bit of an anomaly how it happened but we they get some nose but it's okay you kind of go and keep trying right worked out worked out yeah so related to working out you..."
In this segment, Diana discusses the learning opportunities that come with working at a rapidly growing company like Niantic. She reflects on the skills gained from navigating a larger scale of operations and the excitement of being part of a team that is scaling quickly.
"you started and there's there's a degree of passion in your thing that's really hard to feel for someone else's thing mm-hmm so how do you make it work and and get satisfaction out of it it's a very g..."
Diana addresses the cultural challenges faced when transitioning from a startup to a larger company. She emphasizes the need for patience and understanding as teams merge, and the importance of building rapport with new colleagues to foster a cohesive work environment.
"skip fast-forward it's what it felt like the other thing is to take this opportunity and reframe it a bit is still a very valuable space to learn other kinds of skills so now it's kind of more taking ..."
Diana shares her personal story of immigrating from Chile to the US during high school. She discusses the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, and how these experiences shaped her perspective on opportunities and innovation in her career.
"be difficult because there's different cultures right it's kind of like immigration immigration yeah there's there's a mutual respect for things that we can learn from from each other and work togethe..."
In this segment, Diana reflects on the importance of seizing opportunities that come with immigration. She discusses how her curiosity and passion for technology drove her to take risks and explore new paths, ultimately leading to her success in the AR industry.
"the ten developers to work on our platform to see what else they could build outside of the Niantic world so that was like started as a conversation with one of the leaders at Niantic I'm gonna with i..."
Diana Hu shares her journey of immigrating from Chile to the US during her teenage years. She discusses the challenges of adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and starting life from scratch. This segment highlights the resilience required to navigate these significant life changes and the motivation to seize opportunities in a new environment.
"its having taking time patience to work through those things and having faith in the long term it's kind of making it happen and so the this is funny you mentioned it already but like it's all tied ba..."
In this segment, Diana reflects on her educational challenges after moving to the US. She describes the intense effort required to catch up academically, including taking advanced placement classes and mastering subjects like calculus and physics in a short time. This experience shaped her determination and resilience, crucial traits for her future endeavors in tech and entrepreneurship.
"were trying to find a better life outside of China because of all the situations that was that was happening back in the 70s so they applied for a visa and when wherever it took them first and the fir..."
Diana discusses the life lessons learned from her immigration experience, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability. She reflects on the difficulties faced by her family and herself, and how these challenges motivated her to pursue a successful career in engineering and entrepreneurship. This segment underscores the transformative power of overcoming adversity.
"we've done that once already we could do it again but it's really hard but think of it I take this opportunity to do something I know there was scene that I've been always curious and been good at tin..."
Diana offers valuable advice for immigrant founders looking to start their own companies in the US. She highlights the unique opportunities available in the US, the importance of a supportive community, and the entrepreneurial mindset that can thrive in an environment of abundance. This segment encourages immigrants to leverage their experiences and perspectives to innovate and succeed.
"could do and it was it was really challenging I mean coming to this new space and being by myself in school and it was the hardest thing I had to do back then and also all of that and because I had to..."
In this segment, Diana discusses the advantages of the immigrant mentality in the tech industry. She emphasizes how immigrants often bring a unique perspective and determination that can lead to successful startups. Diana reflects on the supportive network of like-minded individuals she found in the US, which fostered her entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
"yeah so with the one about immigrants I think the thing that's exciting about us versus SHL and imagine other countries as well is a lot of this positive determinism mentality yeah but really intrapre..."
Diana shares her insights on making the most of the Y Combinator (YC) experience for startup founders. She discusses the importance of focus, leveraging resources, and building connections with batch mates. This segment provides practical advice for navigating the challenges of early-stage startups and emphasizes the value of community and mentorship in the entrepreneurial journey.
"there will be challenges of course coming from depending as an immigrant what type of company you start there are some that need more understanding of the cultural norms or laws are you kind of some t..."
In this concluding segment, Diana reflects on the challenges faced by startups and the importance of high-leverage activities. She encourages founders to embrace the unique advantages of being a small company, such as agility and innovation. Diana's insights provide a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of building a successful startup.
"because I think that's something that often stresses people out yeah there's a lot of angst about what to do your life and so I see the pinnacle or things like that it's but it's a process in your lif..."