Chris Messina: Tech Pioneer and Inventor of the Hashtag
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Chris Messina, the inventor of the hashtag and a prominent figure in the tech industry, discusses various topics in his interview on the Remarkable People Podcast. Messina believes that the hashtag represents a different version of success, one that focuses on non-monetary and non-exit based returns. He explains the origins of the hashtag, which he created to bring the behavior of topical channels into the Twitter space. Despite initial skepticism, the hashtag gained significance and cultural meaning through its use in community conversations like #BlackLivesMatter and MeToo.
Messina also talks about his role as the number one product hunter on Product Hunt, a website featuring new products. He shares his joy in discovering and sharing cool products with the community, but acknowledges the limitations of his role and the evolving nature of Product Hunt. He discusses his current role at Republic, a crowdfunding platform that allows users to invest in the companies and founders they support, providing them with potential financial gain if the company succeeds.
Messina touches on the concept of open-source, explaining its evolution and the recognition that it can enable complex and interesting systems. He compares open-source to the NFL, creating a set of rules that allow for innovation within a specific space. He emphasizes the importance of open-source in encouraging generative outcomes and collaboration.
Regarding Elon Musk's proprietary supercharger network for Tesla, Messina suggests that the government could regulate the charging infrastructure to make it accessible for all electric cars. He draws parallels to the web and open-source, mentioning the antitrust complaint against Microsoft for tying their dominant operating system to their browser technologies.
Messina's thought process involves visualizing connections and relationships, constantly asking why things work the way they do. He shares a personal example of investigating his own behavior and realizing the importance of aligned incentives and integrity. The episode concludes with a reminder to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
Chris Messina, the inventor of the hashtag and a prominent figure in the tech industry, discusses va