Startup
Bill Gates’ secret formula to read more books faster
Having trouble getting through your reading list and feeling swamped by all the information out there? Well, buckle up because, in this article, we’re about to uncover Bill Gates’ top-secret method for devouring books at an impressive speed.
Despite having a busy schedule running tech giant Microsoft, Bill Gates managed to read an impressive number of books. So, let’s deep dive into his strategies and see how you can apply them to your reading routine.
Why entrepreneurs should read books?
Reading is essential for expanding our knowledge, stimulating our minds, and improving our cognitive abilities. It allows us to explore new ideas, gain different perspectives, and enhance our creativity. In the business world, reading more books faster can give you a competitive edge and help you stay ahead in your personal and professional life.
Sneak peek into Bill Gates’ reading strategy
So, what is Bill Gates’ secret formula to read more books faster? The key lies in setting aside dedicated time for reading each day. Gates makes reading a priority by scheduling specific time slots in his calendar for this activity. By treating reading like any other important task, he ensures that he devotes enough time to it regularly.
But is that all? No, another crucial aspect of Gates’ reading strategy is taking notes. In a world filled with constant notifications and interruptions, it is easy to miss out on those crucial little details while reading. So keep a pair of pencils that you can use to jot down your thoughts.
If you want to opt the Bill’s way of taking notes, he generally engages with new information and tries to connect it with what he already knows. This is a great method to absorb information more efficiently.
Before reading a book, it’s helpful to have a broad framework of the concept. For example, if you want to learn about branding, researching its history, evolution, and popular strategies beforehand will help you understand the information better.
Other than that, Bill reads more during vacations. In a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread he stated he spends around 3 hours every day to read books. However, he also mentioned that he takes notes on only 20% of what he reads since it is time-consuming. Last but not least, Gates finishes every book he reads, this is an important rule to become a habitual reader.
Tip: If you want to know Bill Gates’s booklist, you can check out the list here!
Practical tips to read more books faster
Now that we’ve uncovered Bill Gates’ secret formula, here are some practical tips to help you read more books faster:
Block a time for reading
Treat reading as a priority and allocate specific time slots in your schedule. It would be best to keep around 30-60 minutes aside for reading to build a good pace and habit.
Eliminate distractions
Find a quiet and secluded place where you can focus on your reading without interruptions. This is a key practice that will help you remember important information or facts and boost concentration.
Set reading goals
Establish targets for the number of books you want to read and track your progress to stay motivated. Even though we might be tempted to finish more than one book as a beginner, it is important to take things slow when you are new to this.
Read your way
In an interview, Bill Gates revealed that he prefers using physical books. However, for busy professionals like entrepreneurs, it might be tough to do so. Even so, everyone has their own style of how they like to read. Whether it is e-readers, audiobooks or any other format, feel free to explore your options!
Start reading more books faster today
Reading more books faster is not just about speed-reading but also about understanding and retaining information effectively. By adopting Bill Gates’ secret formula and incorporating practical tips into your reading routine, you can become a more efficient and avid reader. With dedication and consistency, you can improve your reading speed, comprehension, and enjoyment. Happy reading!
Startup
Juspay cuts losses by 7.7% as revenue surges 49.6% in FY24
Payments startup Juspay Technologies saw its losses narrowing in FY24 as revenue growth outpaced expenditure. It narrowed its total loss for the period to Rs 97.54 crore, down 7.76% from Rs 105.75 crore in FY23.
According to the consolidated financial statements accessed from the Registrar of Companies, the SoftBank-backed fintech firm’s revenue from operations surged 49.64% to Rs 319.32 crore, up from Rs 213.39 crore in FY23.
Juspay’s primary revenue source—payment platform integration fees—brought in Rs 286.52 crore. Additional operating revenue from services like product implementation and support added Rs 32.80 crore.
Total expenses rose by 29.52% to Rs 443.74 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 342.59 crore in the previous year. This increase was largely driven by employee benefit expenses, which saw a 41.73% jump to Rs 303.36 crore, while other expenses increased slightly over 3.56% to Rs 123.76 crore.
Juspay, founded in 2012 by Vimal Kumar and Ramanathan RV in Bengaluru, specialises in developing payment orchestration solutions that act as a technology layer over traditional payment gateways.
The Accel-backed startup has also developed Namma Yatri, a mobility app focusing on ride-hailing services, leveraging Juspay’s strengths in payments and open-source protocols. Namma Yatri is built on the Beckn Protocol and aligns with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), aiming to provide low-cost ride-hailing options and open access to digital mobility services.
Recently, Juspay decided to spin off Namma Yatri as an independent entity to attract separate investors and scale further. In February, the company said it acquired LotusPay in an all-cash deal to strengthen its offerings to the BFSI segment and merchants.
LotusPay, founded in 2016, pioneered NACH Debit technology with cloud-based software for merchants and banks. Using NPCI’s NACH Debit, it facilitates recurring payments for loans, insurance, and subscriptions.
Startup
Flipkart selects five startups for third cohort of Flipkart Leap Innovation Network
Flipkart Leap Innovation Network (FLIN).
has selected five innovative startups for the third cohort of its flagship startup accelerator programme,The cohort is introducing startups that are driving advancements across GenAI, omnichannel, analytics, and video commerce, the company said in a statement.
The selected startups— Intelligence Node, Invenzo Labs, StoryBrain, Phyllo, and D-ID— are set to run pilot programs with Flipkart to develop solutions.
“The selected startups get access to mentorship, resources, and the opportunity to execute pilot projects within the Flipkart ecosystem, scaling their solutions to meet the demands of India’s digital economy and e-commerce growth,” the company said.
Since its launch in 2022, the accelerator programme aims to accelerate the growth of the startup ecosystem in India, driving collaboration, and championing cutting-edge retail innovations.
“Through the FLIN programme, Flipkart continues to expand its role as a catalyst for innovation within India’s startup ecosystem, providing a collaborative platform for startups to test, refine, and deploy solutions that can shape the future of e-commerce in India,” said Naren Ravula, Vice President and Head – Product Strategy and Flipkart Labs.
The programme is designed to engage with startups through commercial partnerships in Flipkart’s areas of interest. Successful startups get the opportunity to scale up to a business partnership.
Over 20 startups from the initial two cohorts have concluded pilots working closely with the Flipkart Product and Engineering teams.
The company added that four startups from the previous cohort— Anagog, Speedsize, Sangti, and Vtion— have recently concluded successful pilot projects with Flipkart.
Startup
Thesys secures $4M funding led by Together Fund
AI startup Thesys bags $4 million funding in a round led by Together Fund. The round also saw participation from 8VC, the company said in a statement.
The startup will use the funding to bridge the gap of user experience with AI agents. As a visual collaboration tool, the company will also provide a platform that will enable businesses to ideate, visualise, and ship intelligent experiences at scale.
“The way we engage with technology is changing faster than ever. Static interfaces simply don’t meet the demands of today’s AI-capabilities…At Thesys, we’re building tools that make it possible for businesses to adapt and thrive in this new era,” said Parikshit Deshmukh, Co-founder, Thesys.
This evolution is about unlocking the full potential of AI-driven interactions and delivering unparalleled user experiences, he added.
“The future of AI relies as much on intuitive, adaptive interfaces as it does on backend capabilities. Thesys’ vision for Generative UI aligns perfectly with Together Fund’s commitment to enabling founders who are redefining the user experience,” said Manav Garg, Co-founder and managing partner of Together Fund.
“By empowering teams to create real-time, personalized interactions, Thesys is setting a new standard for AI-driven interfaces. We’re excited to support their journey in transforming the role of design and development tools for the next generation of AI applications,” he added.
The company, founded by Rabi Shanker Guha and Parikshit Deshmukh this year, emerged from the understanding of the need to provide support in the shift towards AI-driven interfaces, it said.
“Thesys envisions a future where all interfaces dynamically adjust to each user’s behavior, preferences, and needs—driven by what the company calls “Generative UI”. Unlike traditional static interfaces that rely on predefined paths, Generative UI uses AI to create unique, adaptive user interfaces on-the-fly, allowing businesses to provide truly personalized digital experiences,” the company added.
The company plans to launch a UI SDK that is set to enable developers to seamlessly integrate Generative UI into their applications. Additionally, post its closed beta launch, the company plans a general availability (GA) with its product within the next quarter positioning itself as the go-to product toolkit for businesses looking to stay ahead in the AI revolution.
“Thesys is pioneering a transformative shift in UI design workflows by integrating AI-driven adaptability… Their Generative UI approach aligns with our commitment to investing in technologies that drive innovation in user experiences,” said Bhaskar Ghosh, partner at 8VC.
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