Episode 19: Jet

This episode of the Acquired podcast analyzes Walmart's $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.com. The hosts discuss Jet.com's history, its initial Costco-like membership model (later abandoned), and its rapid growth despite operating at a loss. They explore why Walmart made the acquisition, focusing on acquiring Jet.com's technology, talent (especially CEO Marc Lore), and millennial/urban customer base. The hosts conclude that while the acquisition is a long shot against Amazon's dominance, it's a strategic move for Walmart to improve its e-commerce capabilities and potentially gain a foothold in a growing market. They grade the acquisition a C-.