Morgan Stanley acquired E*Trade, and Intuit is reportedly acquiring Credit Karma; both are about improving customer acquisition, but the competitive impacts differ.
2020
Exponent Podcast: Competing with Spotify and Regulating Acquisitions
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss The Daily Update Podcast and First, Do No Harm. Listen to it here.
Apple’s Investor Warning, Foxconn’s Investor Warning, An Interview with Dan Wang
Apple issued its second revenue warning in two years, and while the circumstances were very different, both were about China. Then, Foxconn is diversifying — will that speed up? Plus, an interview with Dan Wang about supply chains in China.
The Rationale Behind the Daily Update Podcast, Podcasts and Email, Spotify and the Three Bens
An explanation of the strategy undergirding the Daily Update Podcast, how the implementation fits into that strategy, and how Spotify’s podcast strategy impacts Stratechery’s approach.
The Daily Update Podcast
Stratechery is launching a new feature for subscribers: The Daily Update, as a podcast. Now you can read or listen to every post on Stratechery.
DOJ Public Workshop on Venture Capital and Antitrust
Video of Ben’s appearance on a panel for a Public Workshop on Venture Capital and Antitrust hosted by the Department of Justice
First, Do No Harm
As regulators look closer at acquisitions they should be extremely wary of unintended consequences. The current system works well for everyone, most of the time.
Brandless Closes, The DTC Facebook Challenge, DTC Versus Softbank
Brandless is closing down, which is being spun into a commentary on Softbank. This is fair, but the bigger takeaway is about DTC broadly.
The Corona Virus Whistleblowers; NBA Salary Cap Decreases; Apple, Benefits, and Risks
The Coronavirus continues to spread in China, even as reports emerge of why it was not dealt with in time to make a difference, reframing the costs of authoritarianism.
Spotify Earnings, Podcasts and Lifetime Value, The Ringer Acquisition
Spotify’s mixed earnings, why podcasts are uniquely valuable to the company, and where The Ringer fits in.