Max Chafkin

Max Chafkin is a contributing writer with Fast Company, and the author of Design Crazy: Good Looks, Hot Tempers, and True Genius at Apple. His work has appeared in The Best American Magazine Writing 2014 and The Best Business Writing 2012.

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Fast Company Magazine

Can Airbnb Unite The World?

After the attacks in Paris, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is redoubling his efforts to expand his business—and close the cultural gaps between us.

Tech

Why Walking Tours, Snacks, And, Yes, Sex Tourism, Are Key To Airbnb’s Future

Inside CEO Brian Chesky’s plans to transform Airbnb into a company that offers more than just cheap rooms.

Fast Company Magazine

Elon Musk Powers Up: Inside Tesla’s $5 Billion Gigafactory

Elon Musk is venturing headfirst into the battery business. Here’s why it might be his boldest bet yet.

Creativity

Shark Tank S7, Ep 5: Five Jerks And A Drone

Things look dark and then the sharks team up to save the day.

Fast Company Magazine

How Failed JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson Is Redeeming Himself With Enjoy

The former Apple retail guru was severely humbled after flaming out at JC Penney. Only a startup could save him.

Tech

SolarCity’s Rooftop Panels Are About To Get Way, Way Better

SolarCity has a big announcement that may help reshape the economics of renewables.

Fast Company Magazine

What Makes Uber Run

The transportation service has become a global brand, an economic force, and a cultural lightning rod.

Tech

Admit It, You Love Uber

We’ve gotten it into our heads that in order to be a socially conscious, 21st-century citizen, we should shun Uber. That’s crazy. Here’s why.

Fast Company Magazine

Y Combinator President Sam Altman Is Dreaming Big

The Silicon Valley startup factory that birthed Airbnb and Dropbox has grown even more ambitious under its new leader.

Tech

Here’s What It Looks Like When A Startup Wins Big at Y Combinator

The first stage of YC success is fundraising. How Mashgin went from a pitch to more than $1 million in seed funding in four business days.

Tech

What Happens After Y Combinator: The Marathon After The Sprint

Startup founders obsess about “winning” Demo Day. But even the winners will struggle to build sustainable businesses.

Tech

Ebola Drugs, Prison Inmates, Real, Live Rockets: Y Combinator’s New Launchpad

This year’s Demo Day showcases a bold new Y Combinator.

Tech

The Y Combinator Chronicles

Catch up on Fast Company ‘s series following the startup factory Y Combinator ahead of Demo Day (happening now in Mountain View).

Tech

How Y Combinator Startups Manufacture FOMO

In the run-up to the all-important Demo Day, entrepreneurs do whatever it takes to create momentum while staying cool.

Tech

Why Y Combinator Funded a Radical Political Party in Argentina

Silicon Valley investors are betting that the ideas that turned Airbnb and Dropbox into megahits can work for social enterprises.

Tech

Legendary Angel Investor Ron Conway Isn’t Looking At Your Idea, He’s Looking At You

With Demo Day fast approaching for the current batch of YC founders, we check in with legendary angel investor Ron Conway.

Tech

The Secret Million That Y Combinator Invests In All Its Startups

How Transcriptic, an on-demand life sciences lab, benefits from the startup factory’s growing array of free services.

Tech

How, and Why, Y Combinator Got Serious About Diversity

This weekend YC hosts its second annual Female Founders Conference, the women-in-tech showcase. It’s a worthy cause. And good business.

Fast Company Magazine

Warby Parker Sees the Future of Retail

For building the first great made-on-the-Internet brand.

Tech

“Guys, Let’s Grow The Hell Out Of This Company”: How Y Combinator Startups Go Big

The startup factory’s philosophy can be summed up simply: Grow fast! A look at how startups figure out what that means.

Impact

In a battle between this endangered flower and a lithium mine, who should win?

Impact

The price tag for a net zero transition: $3.5 trillion a year

Impact

This guaranteed income pilot gives low-income New York mothers $1,000 a month

News

A Dutch TV mogul blamed women for not reporting sexual abuse. This was their response

News

You may be done with the pandemic but the pandemic isn’t done with you

News

CDC: As omicron spread, unvaccinated were 5 times more likely to get infected than boosted adults

Co.Design

From plaid to Prada backpacks, see the ’90s fashion that’s making its museum debut

Co.Design

Why one UK city is requiring new buildings to include a special brick for birds and bees

Co.Design

Experience the hilariously sad dystopia of getting hired in 2030

Work Life

This is how to skip the small talk and have more meaningful conversations according to science

Work Life

We’re not getting back to normal. Ever. Here are 3 strategies to manage now

Work Life

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Max Chafkin

Can Airbnb Unite The World?

After the attacks in Paris, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is redoubling his efforts to expand his business—and close the cultural gaps between us.

Why Walking Tours, Snacks, And, Yes, Sex Tourism, Are Key To Airbnb’s Future

Inside CEO Brian Chesky’s plans to transform Airbnb into a company that offers more than just cheap rooms.

Elon Musk Powers Up: Inside Tesla’s $5 Billion Gigafactory

Elon Musk is venturing headfirst into the battery business. Here’s why it might be his boldest bet yet.

Shark Tank S7, Ep 5: Five Jerks And A Drone

Things look dark and then the sharks team up to save the day.

How Failed JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson Is Redeeming Himself With Enjoy

The former Apple retail guru was severely humbled after flaming out at JC Penney. Only a startup could save him.

SolarCity’s Rooftop Panels Are About To Get Way, Way Better

SolarCity has a big announcement that may help reshape the economics of renewables.

What Makes Uber Run

The transportation service has become a global brand, an economic force, and a cultural lightning rod.

Admit It, You Love Uber

We’ve gotten it into our heads that in order to be a socially conscious, 21st-century citizen, we should shun Uber. That’s crazy. Here’s why.

Y Combinator President Sam Altman Is Dreaming Big

The Silicon Valley startup factory that birthed Airbnb and Dropbox has grown even more ambitious under its new leader.

Here’s What It Looks Like When A Startup Wins Big at Y Combinator

The first stage of YC success is fundraising. How Mashgin went from a pitch to more than $1 million in seed funding in four business days.

What Happens After Y Combinator: The Marathon After The Sprint

Startup founders obsess about “winning” Demo Day. But even the winners will struggle to build sustainable businesses.

Ebola Drugs, Prison Inmates, Real, Live Rockets: Y Combinator’s New Launchpad

This year’s Demo Day showcases a bold new Y Combinator.

The Y Combinator Chronicles

Catch up on Fast Company ‘s series following the startup factory Y Combinator ahead of Demo Day (happening now in Mountain View).

How Y Combinator Startups Manufacture FOMO

In the run-up to the all-important Demo Day, entrepreneurs do whatever it takes to create momentum while staying cool.

Why Y Combinator Funded a Radical Political Party in Argentina

Silicon Valley investors are betting that the ideas that turned Airbnb and Dropbox into megahits can work for social enterprises.

Legendary Angel Investor Ron Conway Isn’t Looking At Your Idea, He’s Looking At You

With Demo Day fast approaching for the current batch of YC founders, we check in with legendary angel investor Ron Conway.

The Secret Million That Y Combinator Invests In All Its Startups

How Transcriptic, an on-demand life sciences lab, benefits from the startup factory’s growing array of free services.

How, and Why, Y Combinator Got Serious About Diversity

This weekend YC hosts its second annual Female Founders Conference, the women-in-tech showcase. It’s a worthy cause. And good business.

Warby Parker Sees the Future of Retail

For building the first great made-on-the-Internet brand.

“Guys, Let’s Grow The Hell Out Of This Company”: How Y Combinator Startups Go Big

The startup factory’s philosophy can be summed up simply: Grow fast! A look at how startups figure out what that means.

Impact

In a battle between this endangered flower and a lithium mine, who should win?

The price tag for a net zero transition: $3.5 trillion a year

This guaranteed income pilot gives low-income New York mothers $1,000 a month

News

A Dutch TV mogul blamed women for not reporting sexual abuse. This was their response

You may be done with the pandemic but the pandemic isn’t done with you

CDC: As omicron spread, unvaccinated were 5 times more likely to get infected than boosted adults

Co.Design

From plaid to Prada backpacks, see the ’90s fashion that’s making its museum debut