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Winner Take All

Winner Take All

By Alex Moazed

Winner 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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Winner Take All #208 | Ford Cuts Out Dealers on EVs, China Tech Update, SoftBank LatAm Goes Rogue

Winner Take AllJun 29, 2022

00:00
27:06
Interview with Adrien Nussenbaum, Mirakl Co-founder and CEO - Marketplace Lessons Learned

Interview with Adrien Nussenbaum, Mirakl Co-founder and CEO - Marketplace Lessons Learned

This 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, connecting buyers and sellers on a global scale. Mirakl has also launched additional product offerings around related value added services like financing, advertising, finding suppliers, seller operations, and product data.


Nussenbaum’s new book, The Online Marketplace Advantage, is a comprehensive guide to launching, operating, and scaling online marketplaces in today's dynamic eCommerce landscape. The book explores factors driving the exponential growth of online marketplaces and offers insights from 30+ leading brands that have successfully transformed their businesses.

Jun 01, 202347:24
ChemDirect CEO Tyler Ellison Interview - Logistics and Supply Chain in B2B Chemical Distribution

ChemDirect CEO Tyler Ellison Interview - Logistics and Supply Chain in B2B Chemical Distribution

In 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 opportunities that come with connecting buyers and suppliers in a highly specialized industry.

#chemical #supplychain #founderstories —


May 09, 202326:60
Fintech & Payments in B2B Distribution - Interview with Bar Geron, Co-Founder & CEO at Balance

Fintech & Payments in B2B Distribution - Interview with Bar Geron, Co-Founder & CEO at Balance

Alex 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 funding round led by Forerunner. The company works with hundreds of merchants and dozens of B2B marketplaces, targeting legacy industries not as digitally savvy in payments, including lumber, chemicals, steel, retail, and food. The checkout space is reflective of a new stage of the economy, where Balance is taking the next step in eCommerce for the entire supply chain, offering self-serve transactions in ways that were only previously available in B2C channels.

#fintech #b2b #startupfounders

May 04, 202336:54
Fabrice Grinda Interview - The World's #1 Marketplace Investor 📈

Fabrice Grinda Interview - The World's #1 Marketplace Investor 📈

In 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 marketplaces. Throughout the interview, Fabrice discuss various topics related to investing in marketplaces, including investing in marketplaces all over the spectrum from B2C to B2B, both product and service-oriented platforms. This interview is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in the world of marketplaces and VC investing!


Fabrice talks about how he believes B2B marketplaces are at the very beginning of their journey both in the US and globally. Fabrice highlights that the penetration of digital is very low in B2B and about how the entire supply chain needs to be digitized, including ERP integration, payments tracking, and how suppliers are involved. Grinda suggests that in some cases, the elasticity of supply and/or demand is such that a platform cannot have a take rate.


Fabrice suggests that there are many tricks to making B2B marketplaces work, such as offering a free tool to the supply side or demand side to help them manage their business better. Also highlighted, that monetization of B2B marketplaces may not come from the transaction of the marketplace component. Instead, B2B marketplaces may monetize through SaaS or by offering ancillary services for insurance, factoring, or logistics. Fabrice gives an example of a hairdresser and barber shop marketplace that grew to a volume of billions of annual GMV and monetized by getting an extraordinary deal on payments and sharing part of that discount with the barber shops.


#venturecapital #marketplaces #investorinsights

Apr 20, 202327:47
Institute for New Economic Thinking President Rob Johnson | The Meltdown of Trust, Bank Closures 🏦

Institute for New Economic Thinking President Rob Johnson | The Meltdown of Trust, Bank Closures 🏦

In 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 policy and its response to recent events

- The closure of Silicon Valley Bank and what it says about the state of the tech industry and the broader economy


Johnson brings a wealth of experience to these topics, having served as Chief Economist of the Senate Banking Committee and as a Managing Director at Soros Fund Management. He is a leading voice on economic policy and has been featured in numerous media outlets.

#economy2023 #economicpolicy #techindustry


📚 Grab a copy of the Amazon Best Seller Modern Monopolies: https://amzn.com/B017RC8CBC


❓ Are you part of a large enterprise interested in spinning out a platform business? Connect with us here: https://resources.applicoinc.com/wta-contact/


🎧 Listen to an audio version of the WTA Podcast here: https://anchor.fm/winnertakeall


At Applico, we identify untapped, intrinsic assets that give existing enterprises an enormous advantage to spin-out new tech companies. WisdomTree licensed Applico's Platform Insights Data Product to aid in the creation of the PLAT ETF.

Mar 24, 202352:43
FDIC Chief Innovation Officer Sultan Meghji | Is the U.S. Throwing Away Global Financial Leadership?

FDIC Chief Innovation Officer Sultan Meghji | Is the U.S. Throwing Away Global Financial Leadership?

In 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 an inside look into Sultan's journey from his background in finance  to his innovative work at the FDIC, and gain valuable insights into his  thoughts on the future of innovation, crypto, and global leadership in  the financial sector.  

Why I Quit as FDIC Innovation Chief: Technophobia: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-02-22/i-quit-as-fdic-innovation-chief-because-of-regulators-technophobia  

#FDIC #Fintech #innovation  —  

📚 Grab a copy of the Amazon Best Seller Modern Monopolies: https://amzn.com/B017RC8CBC  

Feb 10, 202332:21
Winner Take All #222 | 2023 Predictions, TikTok Under Fire, Inflation Reverberations, EU vs Amazon

Winner Take All #222 | 2023 Predictions, TikTok Under Fire, Inflation Reverberations, EU vs Amazon

We 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 inflation now coming down, Amazon settling with the EU (sorta)", and an overview of how B2B distributors are looking at tech going into 2023.


00:00 - Follow Applico for the latest on platforms

00:38 - ChatGPT on TikTok

04:32 - ByteDance Expanding to Enterprise Software

05:46 - Why was Twitter paid by the Federal Government?

11:49 - Interest rates and inflation in 2023

19:23 - Amazon settles with the EU

29:08 - B2B Distribution Tech Survey


#techpodcast #b2bbusiness #2023predictions 

Jan 05, 202335:06
JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia Interview | Innovation in FashionTech, B2B Payments, and Wholesale Digitization

JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia Interview | Innovation in FashionTech, B2B Payments, and Wholesale Digitization

I 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 the fashion industry
06:33 - Brands and catagories on Joor
08:59 - Fashion is a relationship business
10:09 - Will Joor look to monetize building new connections/relationships for brands?
11:01 - Marketplace is only one segment of Joor's business
14:18 - The SaaS to marketplace trend
16:47 - Rollout of Joor Pay
20:36 - Joor's international geograpies
22:01 - Partnerships vs building tech yourself
25:01 -- Do retailers get product data from Joor?
26:26 - A one stop procurement solution for retailers, buyers and merchandisers
29:33 - Will Joor expand into other verticals like cosmetics and home?
31:50 - How Joor is approaching sustainability and supply chain vetting
35:39 - Kristin Savilia bullish on this kind of fashion marketplace
37:50 - Joor's focus and priorities for 2023
39:35 - Why DTC brands need to consider wholesale
41:01 - Closing remarks   

JOOR | The World's Premier Wholesale Management Platform - https://www.joor.com/ 

#Joor #fashion #wholesale  —

Dec 19, 202241:23
Winner Take All #221 | Amazon vs India, Rogan vs Zuck, B2B Revenue for Home Depot, YComb Switch
Dec 05, 202257:38
Winner Take All #220 | Farfetch Buys Yoox Net-a-porter, GameStop's Weak NFTs, Tencent is Divesting

Winner Take All #220 | Farfetch Buys Yoox Net-a-porter, GameStop's Weak NFTs, Tencent is Divesting

The 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.  

00:00 - Subscribe and fight big tech!
00:44 - Farfetch YNAP Deal
20:27 - Tencent sells off investments
28:40 - Gamestop's NFT Marketplace  

Tencent divestment strategy sends chill through China’s tech sector: https://www.ft.com/content/24f7b605-3052-4476-ae2d-a2d0028e70a4  

#businessnews #B2Bnews #platformbusiness  —

Dec 02, 202235:55
Winner Take All #219 | eBay Buys Trading Cards, DoorDash Teams Up w/ Facebook, Penn + Barstool Deal
Nov 23, 202241:52
Twitter Takeover Day 1 - Elon Musk Takes Twitter Private in $44 billion Deal

Twitter Takeover Day 1 - Elon Musk Takes Twitter Private in $44 billion Deal

Elon 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  

Nov 09, 202207:36
Winner Take All #218 | Elon and Twitter, ByteDance Founder Out of China, B2B Manufacturer Mistakes

Winner Take All #218 | Elon and Twitter, ByteDance Founder Out of China, B2B Manufacturer Mistakes

We 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
16:29 - B2B Manufacturers grave mistake
32:03 - Chinese Startups Need U.S. IPOs
41:48 - Bytedance Founder Leaves China?  

#elonmusknews #b2bmarketplace #ipostocks  

Oct 27, 202247:37
Winner Take All #217 | American Innovation and Choice Online Act, Manufacturers

Winner Take All #217 | American Innovation and Choice Online Act, Manufacturers

It'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  analyze some recent deals and question whether or not manufacturers may  just be teeing up the B2B industry for a big tech takeover.  

#BigTech #Podcast #Anticompetitive

Oct 15, 202224:35
Winner Take All #216 | Rumble Sues Google, Facebook's Misdeeds, Startup Debt Deals Incoming

Winner Take All #216 | Rumble Sues Google, Facebook's Misdeeds, Startup Debt Deals Incoming

We 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 commonplace  over the next few years. We end with a look at Flow, WeWork founder  Adam Neumann's new venture backed by Andreessen Horowitz.  

#investingnews #startupinvesting #bigtech  —

Oct 06, 202235:43
Winner Take All #215 | Big Tech Job Cuts, Grocery Delivery, YCombinator, Google Antitrust

Winner Take All #215 | Big Tech Job Cuts, Grocery Delivery, YCombinator, Google Antitrust

The 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 closure in what  appears to be a catastrophic management failure.  

#podcast #MBA #bigtech  —

Sep 22, 202240:50
Lessons on Disrupting The Media Industry | Mitch Lowe - MoviePass CEO, Netflix Exec, Redbox

Lessons on Disrupting The Media Industry | Mitch Lowe - MoviePass CEO, Netflix Exec, Redbox

Applico 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  play as media evolves, how he managed the enormous growth MoviePass  experienced, what COVID would've done to the subscription service, and  lessons learned from Netflix and from Reed Hastings.  

#moviepass #ceointerview #startupinvesting  —

Sep 06, 202243:40
Winner Take All #214 | Amazon Goes After Health, Valuation Mania, What Inflation?, Twitter Users

Winner Take All #214 | Amazon Goes After Health, Valuation Mania, What Inflation?, Twitter Users

We 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  whole Elon Musk Saga, and a hindsight view at the tech valuation mania  of the past few years.  

#podcast #startupinvesting #venturecapital  —

Aug 26, 202230:50
Winner Take All #213 | Amazon B2B Data, Golf Platform Battle, Congressional Stock Trading

Winner Take All #213 | Amazon B2B Data, Golf Platform Battle, Congressional Stock Trading

The 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  some updated analysis on Amazon's efforts in B2B markets.  

#AmazonB2B #StockTrading #Podcast —

Aug 22, 202224:19
Winner Take All #212 | U.S. Limiting Chinese Tech Investment, TikTok Response to Leak, Elon in China

Winner Take All #212 | U.S. Limiting Chinese Tech Investment, TikTok Response to Leak, Elon in China

To 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.  

#podcast #businessnews #China

Aug 19, 202220:46
Winner Take All #211 | Amazon Aggregators, Grubhub Joins Prime, Livestream Shopping, Inflation

Winner Take All #211 | Amazon Aggregators, Grubhub Joins Prime, Livestream Shopping, Inflation

The 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  West. The show ends with discussion on Thrasio, an Amazon seller  aggregation business that is struggling with the current economic slowdown.   

Originally Aired: 07/15/22 

#Amazon #Podcast #Inflation —

Aug 03, 202246:58
Winner Take All #210 | Pinterest CEO Steps Down, Recession 2022 is Official, Netflix's Ad Business

Winner Take All #210 | Pinterest CEO Steps Down, Recession 2022 is Official, Netflix's Ad Business

It'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 subscription  tier. We close out the show looking at news that TikTok's U.S. user data  is being accessed from China, something the platform had claimed was  not happening.  

#Podcast #NetflixAds #businessnews

Jul 18, 202236:13
Winner Take All #209 | B2B M&A Deals, Revlon Bankruptcy, Downturn Startup Strategy, Centaur Startups

Winner Take All #209 | B2B M&A Deals, Revlon Bankruptcy, Downturn Startup Strategy, Centaur Startups

We'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 digital  business models. Also covered, Freightos' SPAC deal, Revlon going  bankrupt, Materiel Bank making an acquisition, historic data on M&A  deals during downturns, and what the definition of a "centaur" startup  is.  


#B2BPodcast #marketplace #podcasts  —

Jul 06, 202201:10:35
Winner Take All #208 | Ford Cuts Out Dealers on EVs, China Tech Update, SoftBank LatAm Goes Rogue

Winner Take All #208 | Ford Cuts Out Dealers on EVs, China Tech Update, SoftBank LatAm Goes Rogue

The 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  this episode, SoftBank's LatAm division leaving to start a new outside  venture and Ford CEO Jim Farley's comments on taking Ford's EV sales  direct-to-consumer, potentially cutting out Ford's vast American  dealership network.  

#podcast #Airbnbstock #techindustry  

Jun 29, 202227:06
Winner Take All #207 Feat. Nick Johnson | Open and Closed Marketplaces, Growth Startup Slowdown

Winner Take All #207 Feat. Nick Johnson | Open and Closed Marketplaces, Growth Startup Slowdown

My 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  —

Jun 28, 202240:22
Winner Take All #206 | B2B Acquisitions, Aussie Big Tech News Update, Chinese Market Outflow

Winner Take All #206 | B2B Acquisitions, Aussie Big Tech News Update, Chinese Market Outflow

We 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 auto  business down over 90%.  

#Podcast #B2B #chinastocks

Jun 06, 202228:31
Winner Take All #205 | Walmart Marketplace + China, WhatsApp vs Facebook, NFLX Outlook

Winner Take All #205 | Walmart Marketplace + China, WhatsApp vs Facebook, NFLX Outlook

The 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 wrap  up with JP Morgan's accidental "uninvestable" rating given to Chinese  internet stocks, WhatsApp employees speaking out against Facebook, and  India cracking down on Amazon and Walmart abusing legal loopholes.  

#Podcast #BusinessNews #NFLX —

May 24, 202257:34
Winner Take All #204 | B2B News: Amazon + Home Depot Launch VC Funds, B2B Tech Investment Ramps Up

Winner Take All #204 | B2B News: Amazon + Home Depot Launch VC Funds, B2B Tech Investment Ramps Up

It'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.  

#VCInvesting #B2B #Distribution  

May 17, 202219:47
Winner Take All #203 | Bezos on Twitter Buyout, Shopify Fulfillment, Tech in India

Winner Take All #203 | Bezos on Twitter Buyout, Shopify Fulfillment, Tech in India

The 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 Shopify  making a potential acqusition to bolster services for its sellers. We  close out the episode looking at how tech protectionism in India has  fostered growth of domestic TikTok competitors.  

#Podcast #technews #twitterupdate  

May 09, 202221:06
Winner Take All #202 | Top 100 Marketplaces, Battle for Twitter, Weibo Uprising

Winner Take All #202 | Top 100 Marketplaces, Battle for Twitter, Weibo Uprising

We 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  Andreessen Horowitz's 2022 top 100 marketplaces rankings.  

#podcast #ElonMusk #twitterupdate  —

May 06, 202228:21
Winner Take All #201 | Elon's Twitter Takeover, Esty Sellers Strike, Farfetch + Neiman Marcus Deal

Winner Take All #201 | Elon's Twitter Takeover, Esty Sellers Strike, Farfetch + Neiman Marcus Deal

The 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 look at luxury fashion platform Farfetch making a $200 million  investment into luxury department store owners Neiman Marcus Group.  

00:00 - Subscribe and fight big tech!
00:37 - The Elon Twitter takeover
17:56 - Etsy sellers on strike
26:48 - Farfetch invests in Neiman Marcus  

Originally Aired: 04/12/22 

#Farfetch #ElonTwitter #TwitterBuyout

May 04, 202232:47
Winner Take All #200 | EU and US Eye New Tech Regulations, GameStop's $30 Million Bill
Apr 13, 202219:07
Winner Take All #199 | Uber Adds Taxis, Instacart Drops Valuation, Pinterest in Peril

Winner Take All #199 | Uber Adds Taxis, Instacart Drops Valuation, Pinterest in Peril

The 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 Morsum.

#Instacart #RideSharing #Podcast —

Apr 07, 202228:08
Winner Take All #198 | FED Hikes Rates, Chinese Stock Volatility, EU Bans Russian Media
Mar 24, 202223:44
Winner Take All #197 | Automakers Cut Out Dealers, Carvana Goes Into Auctions, Our Curbo Investment🚗
Mar 14, 202219:29
Winner Take All #196 | Corporate Exodus in Russia, eBay Market Share Sinks, I Sold My NFT!

Winner Take All #196 | Corporate Exodus in Russia, eBay Market Share Sinks, I Sold My NFT!

We 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  the Russian market.  

Originally Aired: 03/03/22
#eBay #NFTs #Podcast —  

📚 Grab a copy of the Amazon Best Seller Modern Monopolies: https://amzn.com/B017RC8CBC  

❓ Are you part of a large enterprise interested in spinning out a platform business? Connect with us here: https://resources.applicoinc.com/wta-contact/  

At Applico, we identify untapped, intrinsic assets that give existing  enterprises an enormous advantage to spin-out new tech companies.  WisdomTree licensed Applico's Platform Insights Data Product to aid in  the creation of the PLAT ETF.

Mar 09, 202230:46
Will the FED Crash the Market? How Easy Money Broke The American Economy | Chris Leonard Interview

Will the FED Crash the Market? How Easy Money Broke The American Economy | Chris Leonard Interview

The 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 Chris about how the United States Federal Reserve has printed an astronomical amount of money under FED Chairs Ben S. Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Jerome Powell. We dig into why the Federal Reserve was originally created and how the institution has changed over the years to become, as meme lords would put it, the folks who make the "money printer go brrr". Chris offers his insights into why a crash is all but imminent for the American economy and what role inflation plays in accelerating this in 2022.  

See more 👀 of our interviews with founders, economists, scholars, and business mavens on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... 

00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big Tech
00:39 - How has the FEDs money printing recently been unprecedented?
03:19 - How the FED has jumped the shark from its original thesis
06:56 - Becoming a lender of last resort to everyone
09:32 - How the FED does quantitative easing
16:14 - Purchasing corporate junk debt
19:20 - The Federal Reserve is now a backstop for the Federal Deficit? How does that work?!
24:37 - Is it even possible to avoid a crash now?
30:32 - The FEDs failed attempts to normalize the economy
32:33 - Have Americans lost confidence in the FED?
37:27 - Has the FED lied and set us up for ruin with its short term actions?
46:19 - When will the U.S. economy crash happen?
48:24 - What should Americans do with their money?
50:16 - Is China's manipulation of its monetary system worse than the U.S.?
53:56 - Closing remarks  

#FederalReserve #Inflation2022 #MoneyPrinting

Feb 25, 202254:23
Winner Take All #195 | Spotify Needs Podcasting, Peloton Getting Acquired?, Facebook Plummets $200 B
Feb 24, 202221:41
Why Independent Platforms Are The Future | RightForge Founding Partner Christopher Bedford Interview

Why Independent Platforms Are The Future | RightForge Founding Partner Christopher Bedford Interview

I 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 Amazon (operator of AWS). With many questions being raised around  what constitutes free speech online and when platforms should or  shouldn't be allowed to take action against users, RightForge seems  positioned well for users who lean towards wanting a more open internet  and are concerned about being deplatformed at the infrastructure level.  

I chatted with Chris about his experiences building a new internet  infrastructure provider in an already mature and established industry,  what inspired him and his partners to found the company, and the  American ideals he sees as a guide to how RightForge should operate and  find its niche. I think an overall theme here is looking at why  independent platforms may be the future and why RightForge is needed the  facilitate new tech entrants build around free speech and American  ideals.  

See more 👀 of our interviews with founders, economists, scholars, and  business mavens on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_K104J9GHJaQENCpllXso5Rf-t-Uc_x5  

00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big Tech
00:23 - What is RightForge and why was the company founded?
03:41 - What clients are using RightForge today?
05:55 - Why are alternatives to big tech needed?
11:16 - Who would've thought you could start a infrastructure company in 2022!
16:15 - Has big tech lost control?
20:08 - What challenges come with building a company that doesn't falter on American ideals?
24:57 - The market for RightForge
28:32 - Will this come back to bite big tech?
30:26 - Closing thoughts  

Originally Aired: 02/21/22
#independentplatforms #platformbuilding #freespeechplatforms

Feb 23, 202231:38
Winner Take All #194 | Bolt vs. Y Combinator, DoorDash Delivery Engineers, Sonos Beats Google
Feb 11, 202222:42
The Platform Delusion - Columbia Business School's Jonathan A. Knee Interview

The Platform Delusion - Columbia Business School's Jonathan A. Knee Interview

Nick 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 exposure of our delusions that teaches, once again, that the fundamentals of business may not have changed quite as much as you think they have." When we really dig down into Knee's "Core Tenets of the Platform Delusion" and discuss why platforms like Amazon and Google have become so dominant, we find a lot more alignment between Modern Monopolies and The Platform Delusion than one would initially think.  

One area we differ on is whether or not big tech companies are monopolies. We've often criticized U.S. antitrust regulator's focus on consumers while big tech runs rampant taking advantage of producers on platforms e.g. Amazon third-party sellers. For more on this topic, see our recent video on the FTC reshaping its anti competition arguments to take monopsony power into account.  

See more 👀 of our interviews with founders, economists, scholars, and business mavens on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... 

00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big Tech
00:55 - Modern Monopolies vs The Platform Delusion
02:05 - The misuse of the word platform
05:48 - Do all platforms have network effects?
11:36 - What variables drive a successful platform?
20:17 - Netflix has no network effects
21:26 - Why does everyone claim to be a platform?
25:24 - Amazon not a monopoly?
29:21 - Does Amazon have a monopoly over third party sellers AKA producers?
33:31 - Should antitrust law consider sellers as a customer to Amazon?
42:36 - Are antitrust regulators approaching this correctly?
45:01 - Big tech taking advantage of suppliers
49:04 - Big tech platforms as utilities
56:02 - Tech censorship
57:57 - Thanks for watching. 

Make sure to subscribe!  #Interview #MBA #BusinessNews

p—

Feb 07, 202258:13
Prime Minister Hudayar: Tech Censorship, Boycott of Beijing Olympics, East Turkistan Gov in Exile

Prime Minister Hudayar: Tech Censorship, Boycott of Beijing Olympics, East Turkistan Gov in Exile

I 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 talked with Salih about his journey establishing the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Xinjiang region. We spoke about how platforms and big tech have impacted communications and organization of the Uyghur people in both positive and negative ways. Hudayar gives us some examples of the double standards he's seen when using monopolized tech offers such as Facebook ads and we comment on a short list of tech companies that have been deemed unsafe for use by political figures like Salih, some examples being Zoom and TikTok.  

Despite the extremely serious nature of what is taking place in East Turkistan/Xinjiang, we do find some reasons to be optimistic and hopeful about progress. Salih notes that Google translate has added the Uyghur language and we speak about the growing population of Americans, and citizens globally, who have become familiar and supportive of Prime Minister Hudayar's mission for East Turkistan.


00:00 - Subscribe and Fight Big Tech
00:31 - What and where is East Turkistan?
03:50 - How does a Government-in-Exile start?
06:13 - How has media/tech coverage been on what's happening in Xinjiang?
07:52 - Is your voice being muted by big tech?
09:03 - Facebook's double standard
09:32 - Why do you avoid using Zoom?
10:04 - Censorship on TikTok
11:21 - Experience with 50 cent army bots
12:57 - The information war
15:51 - Positive moves from big tech
18:33 - Boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics
22:25 - Support from the people
28:08 Enes Kanter Speaking out
29:35 - How can viewers/listeners help?
31:32 - Does this come directly from the top?
35:25 - Thank you for joining us!  

See more 👀 of our interviews with founders, economists, scholars, and business mavens on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... 

Originally Aired: 02/04/22 #Interview #LeastWatchedOlympics #Uyghurs

Feb 04, 202235:49
Update! - Monopsony Big Tech Platforms Targeted by FTC Antitrust Regulators! ⚖️ [Breaking News FEB 2022]

Update! - Monopsony Big Tech Platforms Targeted by FTC Antitrust Regulators! ⚖️ [Breaking News FEB 2022]

The 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/articles/how-the-ftc-is-reshaping-the-antitrust-argument-against-tech-giants-11643432448  

Originally Aired: 01/31/22 

#Monopsony #BigTech #Antitrust 

—  

📚 Grab a copy of the Amazon Best Seller Modern Monopolies: https://amzn.com/B017RC8CBC  
❓ Are you part of a large enterprise interested in spinning out a platform business? Connect with us here: https://resources.applicoinc.com/wta-contact/  

At Applico, we identify untapped, intrinsic assets that give existing  enterprises an enormous advantage to spin-out new tech companies.  WisdomTree licensed Applico's Platform Insights Data Product to aid in  the creation of the PLAT ETF.

Feb 01, 202209:19
Winner Take All #192 | Food Delivery Fintech, Mods Want Pay, Platforms vs Inflation, Rogan Off Gettr
Feb 01, 202231:53
Winner Take All #191 | Y Combinator Deal Changes, Microsoft's Gaming Buy, Inflation Protected Bonds
Jan 25, 202225:33
Winner Take All #190 | Metaverse Acquisitions, Taxi Medallions, China VC Declines
Jan 18, 202250:24
The 2022 Platform IPOs to Watch 📉📈

The 2022 Platform IPOs to Watch 📉📈

Applico 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
01:07 - FlipKart IPO
01:49 - Gopuff IPO
05:49 - Stripe IPO
08:18 - Plaid IPO
09:50 - Klarna IPO
11:56 - Reddit IPO
12:40 - Discord IPO
13:44 - OnlyFans IPO
14:49 -  Patreon IPO
15:18 - Turo IPO
16:40 - Farmer's Business Network IPO
18:47 - Houzz IPO
20:51 - Quora IPO  

Originally Aired: 01/07/22
#2022IPO #IPO #StockMarket

📚 Grab a copy of the Amazon Best Seller Modern Monopolies: https://amzn.com/B017RC8CBC 

❓ Are you part of a large enterprise interested in spinning out a platform business? Connect with us here: https://resources.applicoinc.com/wta-... 

At Applico, we identify untapped, intrinsic assets that give existing enterprises an enormous advantage to spin-out new tech companies. WisdomTree licensed Applico's Platform Insights Data Product to aid in the creation of the PLAT ETF.

Jan 10, 202221:57
Winner Take All #189 | Reddit IPO, Amazon's CCP Books, Marketplaces 2021 Review
Dec 24, 202140:28
Winner Take All #188 | DWAC + Rumble Team Up, Apple's $275B China Deal, Alt Tech Not For Sale

Winner Take All #188 | DWAC + Rumble Team Up, Apple's $275B China Deal, Alt Tech Not For Sale

The 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 Acquisition Corp) will partner with Rumble, and a letter from Gab founder Andrew Torba calling out it's alt-tech contemporaries and stating Gab is not for sale.

Originally Aired: 12/07/21
#Podcast #BigTech #Palantir

Dec 20, 202128:35
Winner Take All #187 | Huawei Banned, Amazon's Hidden Profits, Dorsey Leaves Twitter 🐦
Dec 13, 202142:12