How New Technology Creates New Businesses

Dalton and P. Michael point to earlier waves of opportunity: building websites as the internet grew, reselling goods on eBay, using open-source software, and renting cloud servers through Amazon. They argue that people who learned new tools early could build useful businesses with fewer resources.

They see AI as a possible new technology shift that could let small teams do work that once required more people. They also describe how online marketplaces and platforms lowered startup costs: eBay reduced the need for a storefront, Airbnb let people rent a room, and Shopify helped people open online stores.

They say new platforms can support both large venture-backed companies and smaller businesses that cover living costs. As examples, they mention high school students selling on Whatnot and the new industry that grew around Twitch.

They argue that people should test new tools instead of waiting for schools or established communities to explain them. Early users often learn from online communities, including subreddits, by sharing what they discover.

They suggest that more people may use powerful tools to run businesses instead of taking jobs inside companies. They frame this as a chance to create value independently, rather than only as a risk that workers may be needed less.