Science & Technology

How Film Captures the Space Between Hope and Despair | Mounia Akl | TED

When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos — and the power of art to create some sense of order. In this poetic, moving talk, Akl shares the story of how she and her crew finished their film as the city recovered from…

Published

4 years ago

March 14, 2022

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20 Comments

McMaschio

March 14, 2022 at 3:04 pm

I found my creative side a little less than a year ago when i started making youtube videos .. and i can honstly say its the best thing i did … i belive everyone should have a creative outlet .. have you found yours yet ?

Reply
- DarkAgent
  
  March 14, 2022 at 3:39 pm
  
  Great that you found yours and continue with the flow! I totally agree with you, the sense of creativity should always stay nearby. Makes for a life with the chance of experimentation for fun and the excitement!
  I’d say I found my creative side around 3 years ago, also when I started making YouTube videos. Eventually I’ve been raising my expectations to direct short-films and I really dig it! No matter the difficulty you should always welcome creativity with open arms! It will help you 🙂
  
  Reply
মেঘনা পারভীন

March 14, 2022 at 3:05 pm

Awesome! How positive she is! Isn’t she! That constant lovely smile is everything.

Hello everyone who is reading this comment.

Reply
Joakim Johannsen

March 14, 2022 at 3:06 pm

Within the first minute ticket

Reply
- Andistrophic MADE
  
  March 14, 2022 at 3:16 pm
  
  Thank you ????
  
  Reply
pips

March 14, 2022 at 3:15 pm

She looks like lorde (musician)

Reply
- see the truth ????
  
  March 15, 2022 at 4:44 am
  
  my first thought too haha
  
  Reply
Andistrophic MADE

March 14, 2022 at 3:16 pm

This lady doesn’t speak.

She narrates.

Reply
see the truth ????

March 14, 2022 at 3:18 pm

her talk is so moving and immersive, thank you for sharing your story Mounia

Reply
DarkAgent

March 14, 2022 at 3:47 pm

This is a story that really shouldn’t be taken for granted…
Despite all the hardships the crew went through they still managed to finish the film, they should really be proud of themselves!
Her speech was also beautiful 🙂

Reply
heavy gloom

March 14, 2022 at 3:53 pm

i thought she was mj in the thumbnail ????????‍♂️

Reply
Hammou Baamara

March 14, 2022 at 4:07 pm

Awesome! Let’s make a hope great than failure

Reply
Ria James

March 14, 2022 at 4:39 pm

I don’t know what I loved in this the most..was it the story,or her personality,or her smile ,or her accent or her outfit or her hair. Oh in short I loved everything about her

Reply
Freddy Chavez

March 14, 2022 at 5:49 pm

After hearing all the things that other people go through my own problems seems so trivial now my life is easy now that I can look at it with out clouded eyes!

Reply
Trumpyfilip

March 14, 2022 at 9:11 pm

That space is called Ukraine

Reply
A MILLION VOICES

March 15, 2022 at 12:18 am

This is a very heartwarming and heartbreaking talk. Thank you Mounia for sharing your story

Reply
jayanto choudhury

March 15, 2022 at 12:54 am

An inspiring presentation. The fluent delivery was matched by the lyrical content, with references ranging from Kahlil Gibran and Maya Angelou. Her message gives hope to all who live in conflict zones, where life is uncertain and destruction an everyday events. A story of resilience in which the film becomes a vehicle for catharsis. A wonderful way to start the day. Thank you.

Reply
DEER GOD

March 15, 2022 at 1:55 am

I was scrolling through my subscription box and glanced over “Hope and Despair” and was like “wait, are there Danganronpa topics discussed at TED”?

Reply
Parag Bharadia

March 15, 2022 at 9:08 am

thank you for uploading , organizing ted regularly.. Thank youu Mounia AKl..

Reply
Charles Edward Hinkel II

March 15, 2022 at 5:31 pm

Searching for the mother of three. Hot issue.

Reply

Science & Technology

Learn What VCs Actually Want, From a Founder Who’s Raised $1B l Build Mode

Investors want founders who understand the financial reality of their business. Messy data, misunderstood metrics, or waiting until you’re nearly out of cash to start fundraising can cost founders leverage, valuation, and even a term sheet. In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle…

Published

14 hours ago

August 20, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle and Startup Battlefield alum, to talk about what he’s learned from building companies that have raised more than $1 billion collectively.

Sasha breaks down what investors look for during fundraising, which financial metrics founders should know by heart, and why VCs don’t expect your startup to be perfect—they expect you to understand its reality. He also shares how he nearly lost a term sheet because his data room wasn’t ready, how fundraising diligence changes as a startup grows, and why getting your financial house in order can help founders raise with more confidence and leverage.

They get into:
– What raising more than $1 billion across multiple companies taught Sasha about fundraising
– Why investors value founders who have a strong grasp of their company’s financial reality
– The financial metrics founders should know before pitching VCs
How investor expectations change from pre-seed and seed through Series A, B, and beyond
– Why revenue growth and the quality of that revenue are critical fundraising metrics
– How runway, margins, sales efficiency, and profitability factor into investor decisions
– Why waiting until you’re running out of cash can hurt your fundraising leverage
– How Sasha nearly lost a term sheet because his data room wasn’t ready
– Why financial organization and compliance can influence investor confidence and startup valuations
– What founders should have prepared for the due diligence process
– Why VCs don’t expect perfection—and why being honest about what isn’t working can make for a stronger pitch
– How Sasha’s own fundraising and finance frustrations ultimately led him to build Puzzle
– How AI could change the way startups manage accounting and understand their financial health

Chapters:
00:00 – Why VCs Want Founders Who Understand Reality
01:26 – Sasha Orloff’s Journey to Building Puzzle
05:05 – Why Puzzle Started With Startup Founders
08:38 – What Founders Should Know Before Fundraising
11:08 – What Investors Look for During Due Diligence
14:37 – Understanding the Financial Health of Your Startup
17:52 – The Financial Mistakes Founders Make
20:19 – When Startups Need Accountants and Finance Teams
24:04 – How Sasha Almost Lost a Term Sheet
26:10 – The Financial Metrics Founders Should Know Cold
28:20 – Lessons From Raising $1B+ Across Multiple Companies
31:45 – Why Financial Readiness Matters to Investors
33:49 – How AI Is Changing Startup Accounting
37:17 – Inside Puzzle’s Series A With General Catalyst
38:52 – Launching Puzzle at Startup Battlefield
40:38 – Sasha’s Advice for Early-Stage Founders

Subscribe to Build Mode:
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New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday.

Science & Technology

How Satellites and AI Can Protect the Planet | Robbie Schingler | TED

Published

15 hours ago

August 20, 2026

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Space technologist Robbie Schingler cofounded a satellite company that images the whole planet every day, making visible changes on Earth. He shows how pairing that data with AI creates a “planetary intelligence” we can use to spot emerging threats we might not have seen otherwise. Now he asks: Can we close the gap between seeing a crisis coming and actually stopping it? (Followed by a note from TED guest curators Divya Siddarth and Audrey Tang) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)

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CNET

That Voicemail Isn’t Real, It’s AI. The New Wave of AI-Impersonation Scams

Scammers are using AI to impersonate high-profile targets, such as celebrities and politicians. Here’s how you can stay safe. You can find the products mentioned in this article linked below Commerce Link *CNET may get a commission on these offers Link to CNET article: Read more about X on CNET.com: Timecode Chapters: 00:00 The Threat…

Published

18 hours ago

August 20, 2026

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Scammers are using AI to impersonate high-profile targets, such as celebrities and politicians. Here’s how you can stay safe.

You can find the products mentioned in this article linked below
Commerce Link
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Link to CNET article: Read more about X on CNET.com:

Timecode Chapters:
00:00 The Threat of AI Impersonation
01:25 How Deepfakes Are Used in Politics
04:07 The Rise of Hyper-Personalized Fraud
05:42 Testing a Voice Clone on My Boss
07:11 Audio Blind Taste Test With My Sister
11:10 How to Stay Vigilant Against AI Clones

Video Credits:
Host: Katelyn Chedraoui
Scripted by:Katelyn Chedraoui
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Carly Marsh
Video Editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

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