I think one of the difficulties here is that Austin and his colleagues are doing this through their personal and professional networks, just like anyone starting a project. Unless the Manifold team were to make some sort of a blinded application process (which has it’s own costs and burdens), I don’t really see a way around the obstacle of recruiting mainly from people you know. An organization can change this overtime. But despite how much I dislike how much harder it is to get funded if you’re not well-connected in the Bay Area community, not relying on connections at the start strikes me as very challenging.
I’ll also share my opinion that Austin has the right response here: he is open to suggestions and willing to consider them.
I think one of the difficulties here is that Austin and his colleagues are doing this through their personal and professional networks, just like anyone starting a project. Unless the Manifold team were to make some sort of a blinded application process (which has it’s own costs and burdens), I don’t really see a way around the obstacle of recruiting mainly from people you know. An organization can change this overtime. But despite how much I dislike how much harder it is to get funded if you’re not well-connected in the Bay Area community, not relying on connections at the start strikes me as very challenging.
I’ll also share my opinion that Austin has the right response here: he is open to suggestions and willing to consider them.