Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has remained immersed in technology while pursuing divergent interests since leaving the revolutionary company he started with the late Steve Jobs in 1985.
Wozniak’s side projects included competing on “Dancing With The Stars” in 2009 and a guest appearance on “Big Bang Theory” during its fourth season. He is now participating in an online video show called “Unicorn Hunters” that assesses the ideas of entrepreneurs vying to build startups potentially worth $1 billion or more. Wozniak is on a jury that includes former US Treasurer Rosie Rios and NSYNC singer Lance Bass.
Wozniak, 71, is planning a return for the second season of Unicorn Hunters. He recently discussed the show and the tech landscape with The Associated Press.
Q: What drew you to “Unicorn Hunters”?
A: I’m kind of surprised that I’m not actually in the financial community like the tech community, but the connection actually came from a good friend that I trust a lot. She is such a good producer that she even got me involved in ‘Dancing with the Stars’, which is one of the most fun things you can ever do. What interests me (about Unicorn Hunters) are the interesting new things that other people don’t know about.
Q: What do you think of the current state of technology?
A: I think a lot has been done that really enhances your life. Over the past decade, look at the Internet of Things, the cameras we’ve put in our home, Ring doorbells, various locking systems, control your lights, and talk to personal assistants like Siri or Alexa.
Q: Do you think the recent conviction of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes will change the culture of Silicon Valley?
A: I’m not completely offended by her, as if she was a criminal. I have never been. I thought that when you start a company, and you try to do something well, you might encounter technical difficulties, and sometimes the impossible is impossible. And oh my goodness, I can understand how she would have to start some kind of cover-up just to keep the company having a chance to do some good. And I can see it from that angle. It is not right to deceive and lie knowingly.
But I think she was trying to do something good. If she’s driven too much by money, she’s not my type.
To have the passion, the drive and the idea has to do the world a lot and it doesn’t have to be driven by money. Many people think, “I’m going to get into this field of entrepreneurship and as soon as I start one company, I can buy a house in San Francisco, (then) I’m going to do my next company and my next company.” It is just a formula to make money. I don’t like it, that’s not what I used to be.
Q: Did you and Steve Jobs ever feel that you had to expand the scope of truth during the early days of Apple?
A: No, it was all gold and the Apple II computer (released in 1977) was far ahead of the competition in years we didn’t have to worry. We were so far ahead of what the others were trying to do, they were trying to do something I actually did five years ago.
Q: How would you rate the startup offerings at Unicorn Hunters?
A: I try to think, when you judge them, “What if Apple had a show in the early days?” And it’s going to look like, “Okay, this idea is going to go somewhere,” but the big computer companies don’t really believe in it. How do you spot those apples when they’re right in front of you?
Q: What do you think are the most interesting trends in technology?
A: There is always the latest fad. The Internet of Things was a huge fad, and it turned into a lot of big companies. And then they were kind of consolidated. I like when it’s open to investment, when it’s open to all kinds of people who have great ideas, just outside of universities and want to start a startup. I am interested in that.
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