Jekyll2026-02-04T07:58:35+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/feed.xmlPhilip’s BlogThe bloger will share his life experience and thinkings
Philip ZENGAI Insight Report2025-06-17T00:00:00+00:002025-06-17T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/17/aireportThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future trends of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and its applications in various industries (with special focus in robotics and agents). It covers both technological advancements and business strategies, offering insights for stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.
]]>Philip ZENGCrypto Insight Report2025-06-16T00:00:00+00:002025-06-16T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/16/cryptoThis report provides an in-depth analysis of the evolution of blockchain technology, covering its three major phases: Blockchain 1.0 (Bitcoin), Blockchain 2.0 (Ethereum), and Blockchain 3.0. It also explores decentralized exchanges and prediction markets, highlighting their significance in the crypto ecosystem.
]]>Philip ZENGVenture Capital Observations2025-06-15T00:00:00+00:002025-06-15T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/15/vcThis report delves into the venture capital (VC) industry, examining the business models of VC firms and providing insights into investment strategies and trends. Insights are drawn from panel discussions, podcasts, and articles by leading VC experts.
]]>Philip ZENGStartup Pitches2025-06-14T00:00:00+00:002025-06-14T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/14/startup_pitchSharing interesting startup projects and investment opportunities recently seen, summarizing questions worth asking when analyzing projects, and drafting investment highlights and narrative logic.
Cyncratik: AI Powered Call Agents
Source: Trojan Tank
Service calls challenges
High turn around rate
Do not have dedicated engineer to build and maintain call agents
Target Customers
Small businesses
No paying customer yet, partnered and tested with flowershops in Seattle
Use cases: Clinics (in LA), Housing management, Sales outreach
Clinic have many patient calls
Voice Solution
Appointment booking automation
Calendar, CRM integration (10 days)
Customized training for each client (2 days)
Describe agent characteristics, provide guardrails to set up the agent
Twin Memory: Help People Slow Down Cognitive Decline
Source: Trojan Tank
Target audience: People with mild cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, alzheimers
Challenges
Expensive to check for cognitive decline regularly
Advantages
Slow down the process from mild cognitive decline to alzheimers
Market Validation
Interviewed 25+ patients who suffer from mild cognitive decline
Business model
Pricing strategy
Individuals Subscription: $20/70 per month per patient
Partnerships: Licensing fees
Solution
Licensing
Allow clinics to run their model in the clinics’ own system so that data never leaves the clinic
Data
Record multi-modal data: voice, video, text of patient
Collect sensor data
User can talk to the device daily, record responses
From the interactions, rate cognitive state
Ask 20-30 questions to set up initial personalized database
Uizo: Social Marketplace for Local Discovery
Source: Trojan Tank
Problems
Google, Yelp have fake reviews
Social media is not structured, trust is missing
Small businesses struggle to get discovered
Chances
Small businesses are investing more in local ads
Talked to small business owners to ask how they get customers, most say word of mouth
Solution
Content creator get incentives to create local content
AI feed discovery
Users can transact and book directly from the app
Agentic e-commerce
How it will fit in when agents can browse the web and make purchases on behalf of users
AeroInk: Automobile Waste Collection
Source: Trojan Tank
Solution
Collect waste from automobiles and use it to produce inks
When the chamber is full, it can be replaced with a new one
Patents in India
Current vehicle waste collection methods are inefficient
Current Target market: Public transportation
Future plans: Expand to factories
Cost: $100 per chamber
Rumo: College Application Process Automation
Source: Trojan Tank
Challenges
Interview: Brazilian students face challenges applying to US colleges
Need to pay college application consulting fee, very expensive
Solution
Questionnaire to understand student profile
College search: auto retrieve all deadline
Custom timeline with AI milestones
Auto-imported prompt + version control
Streamline platform
Business model
$10-15 per month subscription
Sell to school and application consultants: $5 per student per month
In testing phase, no paying customers
Target customers
10-11 grade high school students
International students
Fragmented market challenge
How to acquire new users and scale
Customer acquisition cost: cooperate with school consultants, so they bring in students
Customer retention
May want to keep customers engaged after they are accepted to colleges
Project Blue: Visual AI Copilot
Source: Trojan Tank
Problems
Workforce shortage in technician field
Solution
Stores video and label it
When technician ask question, it provides video to guide them
Allow new technician to work with on the same level of efficiency as experienced ones
Intelligent video retrieval system
Advantages
Youtube has many unstructured videos
No much coverage on electrician/technician work
Business model
Subscription based
Target customers
Electricians
Data
20 videos collected from 2 technicians and youtube
Partnered with producers to provide product installation videos
NEC compliant videos
Go to market
Start with small businesses or indiviual contractors, new technicians
Tummi: Gut Tracker in Water Bottle
Source: Trojan Tank
Solution
Personalized gut health tracker
Give personalized recommendations based on gut health
Hospital & bottle test gases: hydrogen, methane
Client
100+ waitlist
Target segment
People with IBS
Fitness market
PuraSkin: Water Softer for Healthier Skin
Source: Trojan Tank
Problems
Hard water is bad for skin, and is across US
Solution
Replace the filter every 7 days
Target market
Rental households
Younger population
Go to Market
Korean skincare product level effectiveness
Price point
$250-300 per unit
Cost is $60-120
Zorro Mobility: Personal Urban Air Vehicle with Zero Emissions
Source: Trojan Tank
Challenges
EVTOL: 100K+ per piece, too expensive for personal use
Solution
1/4 price of existing solution
Not propeller based
Vibrational motors
]]>Philip ZENGNasdaq Stock Exchange2025-06-13T00:00:00+00:002025-06-13T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/13/nasdaqA good question to start is: Why is the Magnificent Seven (Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, Tesla) all listed in Nasdaq but not other stock exchange in the US? What mechanism makes it so special?]]>Philip ZENGStartup Ecosystem2025-06-12T00:00:00+00:002025-06-12T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/12/startup_ecosystemWhat makes sillicon valley’s startup ecosystem special can be seen from how people ask questions when you first meet them, they ask “What do you build?” instead of “What position, company, school you come from?”. If we attend a hackathon in sillicon valley, we will soon get a taste of such building atmosphere and feel the urge to build something to join their “cosplay” and conversation.]]>Philip ZENGTrading and Asset Management2025-06-10T00:00:00+00:002025-06-10T00:00:00+00:00https://philip-zeng.github.io/2025/06/10/tradingThis report explores various aspects of trading, including asset management, valuation techniques, positioning and risk control strategies, and the impact of macroeconomic factors on trading decisions. It serves as a record of the author’s personal study and reflections on trading.