Acquired

Inside the M&A Press with Bloomberg's Alex Sherman

Android

This podcast episode discusses the early days of Android development, focusing on the challenges faced by the team and the impact of the iPhone on the industry. It explores the competition between Apple and Android in the mobile market and analyzes the acquisition of Motorola by Google. Additionally, the episode discus...

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...

Special: An Acquirer’s View into M&A with Taylor Barada, head of Corp Dev at Adobe

Waze

Midroll + Stitcher (acquired by Scripps)

The podcasting industry faces a significant structural challenge due to the fragmentation of its ecosystem, where content hosting, distribution, and advertising remain largely decoupled. Scripps’ recent acquisitions of Midroll and Stitcher represent a strategic attempt to vertically integrate these pillars, aiming to b...

ExactTarget (acquired by Salesforce) with Scott Dorsey

LinkedIn

This podcast episode explores Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn, discussing topics ranging from the historical challenges faced by LinkedIn to the competitive dynamics of the professional networking space. It examines the growth trajectories of both companies and the synergies that may emerge from this deal. Addition...

Push Pop Press (Facebook Instant Articles) with Todd Bishop

Snapchat

This episode of the "Acquired" podcast analyzes Facebook's failed $3 billion acquisition bid for Snapchat in 2013. The hosts detail Snapchat's unconventional origin story, highlighting its initial struggles and unexpected growth fueled by word-of-mouth among high school students. They then discuss the failed acquisiti...

PayPal

eBay’s 2002 acquisition of PayPal transformed from a tactical move to secure electronic payments on the marketplace into a catalyst for the modern Silicon Valley ecosystem. While eBay initially viewed PayPal as a feature to improve transaction security, the resulting culture clash triggered a mass exodus of the PayPal ...

Virgin America

Writely (Google Docs)

Acompli, Sunrise, and Wunderlist (with Kurt DelBene)

YouTube

This podcast episode explores the history and impact of YouTube, the online video platform. It discusses its founding and rise in popularity, as well as its acquisition by Google and the subsequent lawsuit filed against it. The episode also reveals interesting details about YouTube's funding and risks. It highlights Yo...

Lucasfilm

Siri

This podcast episode delves into the rise of Siri as a voice-based personal assistant and its acquisition by Apple. It emphasizes Siri's widespread usage and its integration into different Apple devices and services, enabling users to carry out tasks and manage their devices using voice commands. The episode explores t...

Bungie (with Xbox Co-Founder Ed Fries)

This episode of the Acquired podcast features an interview with Ed Fries, a key figure in Microsoft's acquisition of Bungie and the launch of Halo. The discussion covers the acquisition process, the challenges and successes of integrating Bungie into Microsoft, the development of Halo, and the eventual spin-off of Bun...

Twitch

This podcast episode explores the growth and success of Twitch, a popular live streaming platform primarily for gamers. It discusses the challenges faced by early streaming platforms, Twitch's unique monetization strategy, and its acquisition by Amazon. The episode highlights the impact of the acquisition, potential in...

Instagram

This podcast episode explores the acquisition of Instagram by Facebook, discussing its significance, the reasons behind the acquisition, its impact on Facebook and the social media landscape, and the potential implications for innovative business models. The hosts analyze the financial success of Instagram and WhatsApp...