Beyond Gradients | Mark Chen | Substack

2025 Reflections: A Year of Breaking, Building, and Becoming

What I learned this year—through wins, losses, and the ideas that shaped me—helped me grow into a better builder, a stronger leader, and a clearer…

Dec 1 •

How to Read Machine Learning Papers Fast but Still Learn - The Top 7 Strategies from ICLR Reviewer

Master the art of decoding ML papers—grasp key ideas, skip the fluff, and learn smarter in less time - The top 7 strategies to approach scientific…

Oct 8 •

The 8 Essential Traits That Define Great Researchers

An insider’s perspective on the characteristics that separate extraordinary researchers from the merely competent.

Sep 26 •

New Personal Website Template is Now Live

My Latest Premium Personal Website Template with Substack and YouTube Integration is Now Available on Gumroad

Sep 9 •

Not All Things Are Valued Equally

The Hidden Code Behind the 1% of Projects, Assets, and Wealth

Aug 17 •

Most Popular

The 8 Essential Traits That Define Great Researchers

Sep 26 • Mark Chen

Journey Before Destination: What I Didn’t Expect When Building an AI Venture

May 24 • Mark Chen

Not All Things Are Valued Equally

Aug 17 • Mark Chen

How to Read Machine Learning Papers Fast but Still Learn - The Top 7 Strategies from ICLR Reviewer

Oct 8 • Mark Chen

Journey Before Destination: What I Didn’t Expect When Building an AI Venture

Lessons-Learned from Building an AI start-up from zero to one

May 24 •

About Ascent Lab - A Platform of Growth and Reflection

A Quick Introduction to the Ascent Lab - A Platform of Growth and Reflection from Mark Chen at Mindify AI.

Aug 22, 2024 •

Beyond Gradients

Beyond Gradients

Beyond Gradients is Mark Chen’s journal on intelligence, startups, and the art of becoming. It explores how we build minds—artificial and human alike—through curiosity, experimentation, and reflection. Each essay blends research, innovation, and personal.

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