New York Times

Technology’s Rainbow Connection

“Discrimination still occurs,” said Ari Kalfayan, the 29-year-old founder of GoBoldly, an app that connects users of all orientations with people who share their passions. “Let’s not kid ourselves. We still live in an old boys’ club. There is an institutionalized network.... I have investors who shall not be named who work at Fortune 500 companies at the corporate level who say that if they talk about their partners, they become ‘that gay person.’ ”

“The norm has not been set,” Mr. Kalfayan said. “Luckily in the start-up and tech world, we get to reset culture.”

New York Times

The Silicon Valley Hustle

Tales of enormous fortunes created by the technology industry brought a gold rush in recent years that has gripped San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. Many young dreamers – entrepreneurs, geniuses, idealists – flocked to the area with the hope of starting a successful start-up or striking it rich by joining the right company at the right time.

Three entrepreneurs, Noah Levenson, Nick Cole and Oliver Page, seen from left to right, mingled at an industry networking event at the W Hotel in San Francisco in August 2014. The event — the Start-Up and Tech Mixer — is held every few months and typically draws hundreds of attendees. 

Many entrepreneurs have said they need to be in the area precisely for these types of events, so that networking opportunities can eventually help them to raise funds and build their companies.

Wired

Hack, Hustle, Nap, Repeat: Life as a Young Techie in San Francisco

People snuggle with stuffed animals and each other in a “cuddle puddle” at tech entrepreneur Ari Kalfayan’s house in San Francisco. The party was a fundraiser to buy even more stuffed animals for a giant cuddle puddle at Burning Man.