As a technology, the internet is young and changing.

For all practical purposes, it’s only about 20 years old. For a new media and communications technology, that’s not a long time at all. All previous communications technologies have taken decades to mature and stabilise.

In its short life, the internet has already changed significantly. It has moved away from static linked webpages, to dynamic, rich, eco-systems. We’re currently undergoing further foundational changes, as the value of apps and app stores is diminishing fast, social platforms continue to increase in number and usage, and people are realising that there are many interfaces to the internet, some of which are much more appropriate to their business than building an app.

These changes lead me to conclude that the next generation of startups won’t build apps, or if they do the app will be only one component in a multi-interface solution. This was the theme of my talk on our Inside Intercom tour. Check it out below.