Winner Take All
249 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWinner Take All is a business & tech news show covering the world of platform businesses, tech antitrust, regulations, and innovation. Hosted by Alex Moazed and Nick Johnson, authors of the Amazon Best-Seller Modern Monopolies.
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Episodes
Interview with Adrien Nussenbaum, Mirakl Co-founder and CEO - Marketplace Lessons Learned
June 01, 2023 12:05 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThis week, we had the opportunity to sit down with Adrien Nussenbaum, Co-founder and CEO of Mirakl. With over 400 marketplaces powered by its technology and surpassing $6 billion in gross merchandise volume, Nussenbaum is an invaluable resource into the industry's trajectory and the future it holds. From humble beginnings in 2012, Mirakl has become a driving force behind the B2B marketplace revolution. The company empowers businesses to create and operate their own online marketplaces, conn...
ChemDirect CEO Tyler Ellison Interview - Logistics and Supply Chain in B2B Chemical Distribution
May 09, 2023 10:53 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBIn this interview, we sit down with Tyler Ellison, the founder of ChemDirect, a leading B2B marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers in the chemical industry. Tyler shares his insights on how logistics and supply chain services have been a key driver for ChemDirect. He also discusses the unique characteristic of having users who are both buyers and sellers on the same B2B platform. This interview provides a fascinating look into the world of B2B marketplaces and the challenges and opportu...
Fintech & Payments in B2B Distribution - Interview with Bar Geron, Co-Founder & CEO at Balance
May 04, 2023 10:26 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBAlex Moazed speaks with Bar Geron, founder of Balance, a fintech company that focuses on digitizing B2B e-commerce payments by developing one-click checkout payment tools. Balance was co-founded by Bar Geron and Yoni Shuster, who were former employees of PayPal, the company helps B2B e-commerce merchants and marketplaces to get paid instantly, process any payment method, and offer flexible terms. Balance has raised $87 million in total funding, including a recent $56 million Series B fundi...
Fabrice Grinda Interview - The World's #1 Marketplace Investor 📈
April 20, 2023 10:02 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBIn this interview, I speak with Fabrice Grinda, a founder of FJ Labs. With over a thousand unique investments made across different life cycles of FJ funds, Fabrice shares his Marketplace-centric approach to investing, and the importance of investing in extraordinary people who are trying to solve the world's problems. Fabrice also talks about his accidental transition from being a tech founder and CEO to becoming a VC and why he chooses to invest in network effect businesses and marketplace...
Institute for New Economic Thinking President Rob Johnson | The Meltdown of Trust, Bank Closures 🏦
March 24, 2023 15:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBIn this interview, we speak with Rob Johnson, the President of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, about the state of the U.S. economy in 2023 and the recent closure of Silicon Valley Bank. Johnson shares his insights on a range of topics, including: - The overall health of the U.S. economy and its prospects for growth in the coming year - The impact of inflation on consumers and businesses, and whether it is likely to persist - The role of the Federal Reserve in shaping economic pol...
FDIC Chief Innovation Officer Sultan Meghji | Is the U.S. Throwing Away Global Financial Leadership?
February 10, 2023 13:50 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBIn this interview, I sit down with Sultan Meghji, a seasoned entrepreneur and former Chief Innovation Officer at the FDIC. Sultan was the FDIC's first ever Chief Innovation Officer and ended up leaving the position and penning an op ed in Bloomberg titled: Why I Quit as FDIC Innovation Chief: Technophobia. I talk with Sultan about the blockers he ran into at the FDIC and what he witnessed as the agency continuously jury-rigged 20th-century rules to cover 21st-century technology. Get ...
Winner Take All #222 | 2023 Predictions, TikTok Under Fire, Inflation Reverberations, EU vs Amazon
January 05, 2023 14:59 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBWe open the show with a look at the ongoing turmoil around TikTok and parent company ByteDance. We look at what AI ChatGPT thinks of TikTok and at news that ByteDance is expanding into enterprise software offerings. Next, Twitter files have revealed that the Federal Government sent payments to Twitter. We look at the emerging evidence about these payments and ponder what Elon being Cheif Twit means for these arrangements. Also covered, the long term effects of the FEDs rate hikes and inflati...
JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia Interview | Innovation in FashionTech, B2B Payments, and Wholesale Digitization
December 19, 2022 11:41 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBI connect with Kristin Savilia to talk about JOOR, a platform that connects brands and retailers globally to deliver seamless digital wholesale management from connection to payment. Applico ranked JOOR #2 in our 2022 Top 50 B2B Marketplaces ranking. 00:00 - Follow Applico for the latest on platforms 00:20 - Joor in Applico's Top 50 B2B Marketplaces ranking 00:44 - Kristin Savilia background 01:31 - What does Joor do? 02:58 - Joor growth and GMV 04:19 - Joor's hybrid apporach to...
Winner Take All #221 | Amazon vs India, Rogan vs Zuck, B2B Revenue for Home Depot, YComb Switch
December 05, 2022 13:31 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBIt's a packed episode with analysis of Amazon's complaints about regulation in India, YCombinator changing up it's president to Garry Tan, and Home Depot moving into B2B. Also covered in this episode, Reid Hoffman sticks by the blitz scaling strategy, and what Zuckerberg said during his visit with highly scrutinized podcast kingpin Joe Rogan. 00:00 - Subscribe and fight big tech! 01:28 - Amazon vs India regulators 09:27 - YCombinator Exec Changes 15:39 - Home Depot and Lowe's target...
Winner Take All #220 | Farfetch Buys Yoox Net-a-porter, GameStop's Weak NFTs, Tencent is Divesting
December 02, 2022 12:23 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBThe episode kicks off with an in-depth look at Farfetch's deal to buy Yoox Net-a-porter from Richemont. The luxury fashion space is an especially interesting vertical for platform innovation and there's a lot of unpack and ideate on with this new deal. Next, news has come out that Chinese tech giant Tencent is divesting its assets under pressure of an economic downturn and aggressive tech regulation in China. We close the show with a laugh at GameStop's newly launched NFT marketplace....
Winner Take All #219 | eBay Buys Trading Cards, DoorDash Teams Up w/ Facebook, Penn + Barstool Deal
November 23, 2022 12:39 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBThe show opens looking at the Twitter leak from whistleblower Peiter “Mudge” Zatko. Next, eBay has purchased a trader card company called TGCplayer. Is this a good move for the struggling auction based eCommerce platform? Also covered, Penn National completing its acquisition of Barstool sports and DoorDash teaming up with Facebook to deliver marketplace items. 00:00 - Subscribe and fight big tech! 00:18 - Twitter Whistleblower 11:56 - eBay buys TCGplayer 23:50 - Penn National acqui...
Twitter Takeover Day 1 - Elon Musk Takes Twitter Private in $44 billion Deal
November 09, 2022 11:46 - 7 minutes - 6.96 MBElon Musk has successfully completed his $44 billion deal to purchase Twitter. The newly self dubbed "Chief Twit" walked into Twitter offices carrying a sink. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal have left the company after day one of Elon's takeover. Musk will take the company private and many reports indicate Twitter will see trimming of unnecessary staff members. The Tesla CEO marked the occasion by tweeting “the bird is freed". #elonmusknews #breakingnews #twitterdeal
Winner Take All #218 | Elon and Twitter, ByteDance Founder Out of China, B2B Manufacturer Mistakes
October 27, 2022 15:50 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBWe kick off the show with an update on Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. Next, I document why I think manufacturers are making a big mistake around tech investments and why B2B distributors need to be weary. We close the episode with a look at two happenings out of China, a new article detailing how Chinese startups depend on U.S. market public offerings and what is going on with Bytedance founder Zhang Yiming. 00:00 - Subscribe and fight big tech 01:29 - Elon is Buying Twitter 1...
Winner Take All #217 | American Innovation and Choice Online Act, Manufacturers
October 15, 2022 11:03 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBIt's a quick episode of the show covering two topics! First off, I look at the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a bill that prohibits certain large online platforms from giving preference to their own products on the platform. I look at how this bill could benefit companies damaged by big tech's ongoing anti-competitive practices and, to be fair, also look at Amazon's literature on the subject. Next, I detail continued investments from Manufacturers into tech startups. I ana...
Winner Take All #216 | Rumble Sues Google, Facebook's Misdeeds, Startup Debt Deals Incoming
October 06, 2022 11:52 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBWe kick off the show looking at a new leak showcasing Facebook's devious actions in Australia after Australia had passed a world-first law aimed at making Google and Facebook pay for news content on platforms. Also as a bonus, we have a laugh at Facebook's anti-facebook chat bot. Next, video platform Rumble is suing Google for suppressing search results and favoring YouTube. Also in this episode, continued volatility of tech and PE valuations and why startup debt deals may become more ...
Winner Take All #215 | Big Tech Job Cuts, Grocery Delivery, YCombinator, Google Antitrust
September 22, 2022 10:57 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBThe episode starts with a look at tech companies big and small cutting back on workers and slowing hiring. Next, an in-depth look at grocery delivery analyzing what incumbent grocers are rolling out delivery tech and whether or not they're keeping up with disruptive startups in this space. Also in this episode, startup accelerator YCombinator pivots away from having larger class sizes and Google faces a new antitrust battle. The show closes looking at Butler Hospitality's sudden closur...
Lessons on Disrupting The Media Industry | Mitch Lowe - MoviePass CEO, Netflix Exec, Redbox
September 06, 2022 10:05 - 43 minutes - 40 MBApplico CEO Alex Moazed and Director Nick Johnson sit down with 3 time tech disruptor Mitch Lowe. Lowe is known for heading up MoviePassas CEO, being a founding executive at Netflix, and President of RedBox. Mitch has detailed his amazon journey from high school dropout to tech executive in his new book Watch and Learn: How I Turned Hollywood Upside Down with Netflix, Redbox, and MoviePass—Lessons in Disruption. We asked Mitch about the new relaunch of MoviePass, the role Web3 will pl...
Winner Take All #214 | Amazon Goes After Health, Valuation Mania, What Inflation?, Twitter Users
August 26, 2022 11:27 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWe start the show with a look at the bizarre narrative around inflation and why so many sources are trying to claim that a recession is not happening in the United States (and how big tech is helping spread this misinformation). Next, Amazon has made waves with its proposed acquisition of One Medical, a technology-powered national primary care organization. Also covered, how some big tech players have failed to innovate around health, Twitter's kerfuffle about user growth before the ...
Winner Take All #213 | Amazon B2B Data, Golf Platform Battle, Congressional Stock Trading
August 22, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBThe show opens with a look at LIV, a new professional golf tour funded by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. LIV has quickly become a challenger to the PGA via a marquee strategy. I do some analysis on how sports leagues can be considered platforms and what strategies are being employed in this new battle for the top spot. Next, a look at how members of congress trade stocks and a bill that may put a stop to lucrative trading on insider information. We close out with a look at ...
Winner Take All #212 | U.S. Limiting Chinese Tech Investment, TikTok Response to Leak, Elon in China
August 19, 2022 11:29 - 20 minutes - 19 MBTo start the episode we take a look at a recent Financial Times story detailing how fake social media posts from Chinese misinformation groups attempted to derail a new rare earths mining operations in the U.S.. Next, Alex looks at TikTok's response to the BuzzFeed leaks and a report detailing how China is putting pressure on Elon Musk over Starlink internet being used in the Ukraine. The show concludes with a look at the U.S. potentially limiting tech investment into China. #podcas...
Winner Take All #211 | Amazon Aggregators, Grubhub Joins Prime, Livestream Shopping, Inflation
August 03, 2022 11:25 - 46 minutes - 43 MBThe episode kicks off with a look at inflation and some real estate data that may hint as to whether or not the FED's rate hikes are working effectively. Next, we take a look at Elon Musk announcing that he is backing out of the Twitter deal and I discuss if I think this transaction will ever actually happen. Also covered, Amazon striking a deal with Grubhub that could net the eCommerce giant a 15% stake in the delivery platform and a look at the livestream shopping landscape in the W...
Winner Take All #210 | Pinterest CEO Steps Down, Recession 2022 is Official, Netflix's Ad Business
July 18, 2022 11:33 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBIt's the first official day of the recession in the U.S. and we kick off the episode looking at what this means and why the media doesn't seem to be paying attention. Next, in a move predicted on WTA pre pandemic, Pinterest has finally made a change at CEO. Will new CEO Bill Ready be able to finally tackle commerce on the platform? Also covered, venture capital firms hurting as startup valuations continue to drop and Netflix announcing they will offer an advertisement supported subscri...
Winner Take All #209 | B2B M&A Deals, Revlon Bankruptcy, Downturn Startup Strategy, Centaur Startups
July 06, 2022 11:05 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBWe're back and broadcasting from Minnesota for the summer! The show starts with a look at rising inflation in the U.S. as we question how the Federal Reserve is measuring and reacting to the tumultuous economic environment. Next, a look at how startup valuations are falling and the changing relationships between VCs and early stage startups. We also have some new research from Applico on B2B tech acquisitions and whether distributors or manufacturers are leading investment into new dig...
Winner Take All #208 | Ford Cuts Out Dealers on EVs, China Tech Update, SoftBank LatAm Goes Rogue
June 29, 2022 11:20 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBThe episode opens up with a look at Airbnb's decision to exit the Chinese market, a move that I see as part of a larger exodus of foreign tech companies who've been unwelcome in China and continuously managing complicated relationships with the Chinese government's regulators. Next, as we see foreign companies exiting China, the government has pledged to now support its domestic tech enterprises. Is this the end of China's "crackdown on tech" or just more posturing? Also covered in th...
Winner Take All #207 Feat. Nick Johnson | Open and Closed Marketplaces, Growth Startup Slowdown
June 28, 2022 11:17 - 40 minutes - 37 MBMy Modern Monopolies co-author Nick Johnson joins the episode and our discussion starts with Sequia Capital's presentation to growth startups urging founders to focus on profitability and positive cash flows. Also covered, how some VC may have over extended during the current downturn and an explanation on open vs. closed marketplaces. #podcast #startupnews #marketplaces —
Winner Take All #206 | B2B Acquisitions, Aussie Big Tech News Update, Chinese Market Outflow
June 06, 2022 12:24 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBWe start the show with a look at how Australia's law requiring big tech companies to pay for news sharing has been going 1+ years in. Next, we share some Applico data on M&A activity among B2B distributors and adjacent competitors looking to disintermediate incumbents and disrupt the traditional supply chain. The second half of the show covers some washy data on market outflows coming out of China and why Carvana has gone from a rising tech star on Wall Street to a sputtering linear au...
Winner Take All #205 | Walmart Marketplace + China, WhatsApp vs Facebook, NFLX Outlook
May 24, 2022 11:50 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBThe episode opens up looking into the tumultuous market conditions as of late and Netflix's reporting that subscriber numbers are declining. Next, Elon Musk has announced the Twitter deal is on hold pending verification on the number of fake/bot users. I discuss what these means for the deal price and if this could be the end of this transaction. Also covered, Nike files a lawsuit against sneaker marketplace StockX and Walmart's marketplace sees a huge influx of Chinese sellers. We wra...
Winner Take All #204 | B2B News: Amazon + Home Depot Launch VC Funds, B2B Tech Investment Ramps Up
May 17, 2022 10:23 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBIt's a special edition of the show focused on news in the B2B industry. First, we take a look at both Amazon and Home Depot making announcements that they'll be launching funds to invest in B2B technology startups. I break down what these companies have invested in so far and explain why this should be a wake up call for traditional distributors in B2B. Also in this episode, a look at a top HVAC distributor and a top IT distributor embracing marketplace and tech investment. #VCInves...
Winner Take All #203 | Bezos on Twitter Buyout, Shopify Fulfillment, Tech in India
May 09, 2022 11:41 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThe episode starts with SEC documents that reveal what the breakup fee is between Elon Musk and Twitter. We discuss if the size of this fee is a signal on how serious each side is on making this deal happen. Another story concerning the Twitter buyout, we look at what Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has to say about the transaction and Elon's business ties with China. We also dig into eCommerce fulfillment, looking at news that Walmart's marketplace fulfillment service has grown 500% and Sho...
Winner Take All #202 | Top 100 Marketplaces, Battle for Twitter, Weibo Uprising
May 06, 2022 10:54 - 28 minutes - 26 MBWe start off with an update on Elon Musk's attempts to purchase a majority share in the social platform Twitter. With the Twitter board now instituting a poison pill strategy to ward off hostile takeover attempts, it would appear things are getting tense. I still think Elon can make a purchase of Twitter happen but it's going to have to be done the hard way. Next, a look at Chinese netizens voicing dissent on the social platform Weibo. We close out the episode with a look at Andreesse...
Winner Take All #201 | Elon's Twitter Takeover, Esty Sellers Strike, Farfetch + Neiman Marcus Deal
May 04, 2022 21:10 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThe episode starts with a detailed look at the saga between Elon Musk and Twitter. At the time of recording, Elon had rejected an offer to join Twitter's board and was holding an almost 10% stake in the social platform. Next, a look at the Etsy seller strike over the craft marketplace's increases to its take rate. Is this a classic example of a dominant platform squeezing its producers or does Etsy need this increased revenue to spend on platform improvements? The show closes with a l...
Winner Take All #200 | EU and US Eye New Tech Regulations, GameStop's $30 Million Bill
April 13, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBWe dive into new tech regulations in this episode, begining with a look at the EU's troublesome new Digital Markets Act. This new EU regulation aims to curb the power of gatekeeper tech companies but unfortunately the set definition for a "gatekeeper" is much too broad and I think this one will cause much more chaos than good. Next, we look at some comments from the U.S. on how tech companies may be regulated before the end of 2022. We close out with a look at why GameStop is refusing to pay...
Winner Take All #199 | Uber Adds Taxis, Instacart Drops Valuation, Pinterest in Peril
April 07, 2022 11:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBThe episodes kicks off looking at Uber's decision to integrate taxis onto the platform in NYC and San Francisco. Next, a look at Pinterest's failed attempts to add commerce to its platform and the company's spectacular failure to acquire Verishop. We also cover two stories on Instacart, looking at the delivery platform deciding to slash its valuation by 40% and a new suite of SaaS tools being offered to grocers. The episode closes with our announcement of Dot Foods acquisition of Morsu...
Winner Take All #198 | FED Hikes Rates, Chinese Stock Volatility, EU Bans Russian Media
March 24, 2022 12:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBThe episode starts with a look at the European Union banning Russian media from spreading on the web. While I've supported businesses right to cease business with Russia, I think an outright ban on information is a more complicated issue. Next, discussion on the SEC asking for more information from Chinese companies and some signs that the tech crackdown from Chinese regulators may be easing. We end the episode with a look at the FED announcing they will raise interest rates by 25 basi...
Winner Take All #197 | Automakers Cut Out Dealers, Carvana Goes Into Auctions, Our Curbo Investment🚗
March 14, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBI dig into the auto industry with Applico Managing Director Nick Johnson! We start off with a big announcement concerning Applico Capital and the LatAm auto market. Next, Carvana's purchase of ADESA is analyzed as Nick and I breakdown why the digital enabled car retailer might want to own a B2B auction provider. We finish off the episode looking at how some auto manufactures are leaning towards direct to consumer sales. 00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big Tech 00:29 - Investing in Cur...
Winner Take All #196 | Corporate Exodus in Russia, eBay Market Share Sinks, I Sold My NFT!
March 09, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWe dive right into the episode with Alex discussing why he decided to sell his "beloved" mfers NFT. He details if this venture into the NFT world was profitable and if he would recommend others try out the "investment". For our second topic, a look at Elon Musk supplying the Ukraine with Starlink internet equipment so that the nation can access internet while in conflict with Russia. Also covered, eBay's declining market share has now sunk below 5% and what companies are pulling out of...
Will the FED Crash the Market? How Easy Money Broke The American Economy | Chris Leonard Interview
February 25, 2022 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThe Federal Reserve has broken our American economy and I sit down with Chris Leonard to discuss his new book that details how our monetary system ended up here teetering on ruin. Chris is a New York Times best selling author and his new book The Lords of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy is a "fascinating and propulsive story about the Federal Reserve" and how quantitative easing and political posturing have put America's monetary system in peril. I talked to C...
Winner Take All #195 | Spotify Needs Podcasting, Peloton Getting Acquired?, Facebook Plummets $200 B
February 24, 2022 12:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBThis episode of Winner Take All starts by looking at Peloton, a downtrodden exercise equipment and "media" company that activist investors are peddling to everyone from Disney and Netflix to Berkshire Hathaway. Alex comments on why he thinks the business is in decline and criticizes Peloton for claiming to have Network effects. Next, discussion on why music isn't profitable for Spotify, how the company's cash flow is not as it appears, and the controversy surrounding its marquee podcaster Jo...
Why Independent Platforms Are The Future | RightForge Founding Partner Christopher Bedford Interview
February 23, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBI talk with Christopher Bedford, a founding partner at RightForge, about building a new internet infrastructure company in the shadow of big tech. RightForge is an internet infrastructure provider that claims to be a first of its kind company operating infrastructure while being committed to American ideals online. RightForge is positioning themselves to be a key player for enabling independent free speech platforms to operate outside the gargantuan grasp of big tech providers like Am...
Winner Take All #194 | Bolt vs. Y Combinator, DoorDash Delivery Engineers, Sonos Beats Google
February 11, 2022 13:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBI start the show with a look at the epic Twitter battle between (now former) Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow and Y Combinator. Are Breslow's claims anointing Y Combinator and Stripe as mob bosses of Silicon Valley accurate? Next, a story that DoorDash engineers are outraged at the company policy requiring all employees to do a food delivery once per month. We wrap up looking at Robinhood's stock price being in the basement (time to fire Vlad maybe?) and Sonos beating Google via its patents. 00:00 ...
The Platform Delusion - Columbia Business School's Jonathan A. Knee Interview
February 07, 2022 18:35 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBNick and I welcome Jonathan A. Knee onto the show, author of The Platform Delusion: Who Wins and Who Loses in the Age of Tech Titans. Knee is Professor of Professional Practice and Co-Director of the Media and Technology Program at Columbia Business School and also a Senior Advisor at Evercore Partners. At a quick glance, The Platform Delusion appears to stand in opposition to Nick and I's book, Modern Monopolies. Tim Wu describes Jonathan's new book as "a jolting and often hilarious expo...
Prime Minister Hudayar: Tech Censorship, Boycott of Beijing Olympics, East Turkistan Gov in Exile
February 04, 2022 17:59 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBI sit down with Salih Hudayar, Prime Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile. The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile claims to be the sole representation of East Turkistan and its people on the international stage. East Turkestan is an area annexed by the People's Republic of China in 1949 and is officially recognized as the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region despite The East Turkistan Government in Exile's calls on the U.S. and other governments to recognize East Turkistan. I ta...
Update! - Monopsony Big Tech Platforms Targeted by FTC Antitrust Regulators! ⚖️ [Breaking News FEB 2022]
February 01, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 8.53 MBThe FTC has reshaped its arguments against big tech monopolies and will now look at potential regulation with monopsony power in mind. Alex and Nick discuss how this new angle being used by U.S. competition regulators at the Federal Trade Commission, lead by Biden-appointed FTC chairwoman Lina Khan, has the potential to actually prove big tech platforms like Amazon and Google are monopsonies. How the FTC Is Reshaping the Antitrust Argument Against Tech Giants: https://www.wsj.com/art...
Winner Take All #192 | Food Delivery Fintech, Mods Want Pay, Platforms vs Inflation, Rogan Off Gettr
February 01, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBAlex starts the show looking at a CNBC story that claims ultra-wealthy investors are buying platform stocks as a hedge against inflation in the United States. Next, a look at the unpaid army of moderators that run platforms like Reddit and Wikipedia. Alex analyzes how much power these users hold and whether or not platforms should be paying them. Also covered in this episode, why food delivery platforms are adding in fintech functions and reports that Joe Rogan already hates alt-tech social ...
Winner Take All #191 | Y Combinator Deal Changes, Microsoft's Gaming Buy, Inflation Protected Bonds
January 25, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBThe episode starts with a look at Microsoft's massive deal to buy Activision Blizzard inc.. Alex breaks down the deal and questions Microsoft's positioning that this deal is a play towards the metaverse. Next, news that Y Combinator will change its standard deal offered to startups in the accelerator to now invest as much as $500,000. We discuss how this change may affect seed investments for YC startups and share some reactions and thoughts from Y Combinator alums that work at Applico. The ...
Winner Take All #190 | Metaverse Acquisitions, Taxi Medallions, China VC Declines
January 18, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBAlex starts the show with a look at the metaverse acquisitions Facebook has been making and whether or not Mark Zuckerberg can just buy Roblox. Next, Alex explains why he loves Rocket Mortgage's move to buy TrueBill, a personal finance suite for users who'd like to track spending and rid themselves of delinquent subscriptions. Also covered, why China is seeing a decline in venture capital investing and the SEC's investigation into Medallion Financial Corp.. 00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big...
The 2022 Platform IPOs to Watch 📉📈
January 10, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBApplico CEO Alex Moazed breaks down platform and platform adjacent companies that are expected to go public in 2022. These companies span multiple spaces and industries including B2B, fintech/payments, food, delivery, eCommerce, buy now pay later, social media, content, and more. Moazed looks at various fundraising by these platforms, current valuations, and gives his thoughts on market fit and IPO timing. 00:00 - Subscribe and Follow the Fight Against Big Tech 00:15 - Instacart IPO 0...
Winner Take All #189 | Reddit IPO, Amazon's CCP Books, Marketplaces 2021 Review
December 24, 2021 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBAlex kicks off the episode looking at eBay's changes to how the company will be reporting gross merchandise volume and he breaks down what eBay's claimed immaterial differences between the old and new GMV numbers actually are. Reddit has confidentially filed for IPO and we take a look at how profitable of an investment Reddit could turn out to be for Advance Publications who acquired the platform back in 2006. Also covered, Amazon opening a bookstore for the Chinese Communist Party, Cathie W...
Winner Take All #188 | DWAC + Rumble Team Up, Apple's $275B China Deal, Alt Tech Not For Sale
December 20, 2021 19:20 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThe show opens looking at an interview with Palantir CEO Alex Karp where he calls out Silicon Valley's reluctance to work with the U.S. government. Alex commends Karp for his criticisms and calls for big tech to have more of a backbone when it comes to supporting the U.S.. Next, discussion of The Information's exposé revealing Apple's clandestine $275 billion investment into China. The show closes with some alt tech news that includes former President Trump's SPAC DWAC (Digital World Acquisi...
Winner Take All #188 | DWAC + Rumble Team Up, Apples $275B China Deal, Alt Tech Not For Sale
December 20, 2021 19:20 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThe show opens looking at an interview with Palantir CEO Alex Karp where he calls out Silicon Valley's reluctance to work with the U.S. government. Alex commends Karp for his criticisms and calls for big tech to have more of a backbone when it comes to supporting the U.S.. Next, discussion of The Information's exposé revealing Apple's clandestine $275 billion investment into China. The show closes with some alt tech news that includes former President Trump's SPAC DWAC (Digital World Acquisi...