Every company has a story. Learn the playbooks that built the world’s greatest companies — and how you can apply them.
In this episode of Acquired, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal delve into the historical narrative of Intel's strategic adaptation in 1985, when the company transitioned from being a memory business to focusing on microprocessors. The discussion begins with the origins of Silicon Valley, highlighting key figures like Wil...
Sequoia Capital’s "Black Swan Memo" serves as a strategic blueprint for companies navigating the economic and health crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Roelof Botha, a longtime Sequoia partner and former PayPal CFO, emphasizes that survival during downturns requires fast, decisive adjustments to expenses and a ...
This episode of the Acquired podcast features an interview with Mark Canlis, owner of Seattle's renowned Canlis restaurant, discussing his restaurant's rapid adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis. The interview covers Canlis's history, the decision to shift from fine dining to a multi-faceted operation including a drive-t...
This captivating podcast episode chronicles the fascinating history of Sequoia Capital, a renowned venture capital firm, and its exceptional investment strategies that have propelled numerous groundbreaking companies to success. The discussion delves into the pivotal transition of leadership from Don Valentine to Micha...
This podcast episode of "Acquired" analyzes Facebook's 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 billion (later $22 billion). The hosts discuss WhatsApp's journey from a simple status-update app to a globally dominant messaging platform, highlighting key moments like the introduction of push notifications and the strategic...
This podcast episode explores the origins of TikTok and the success story of its parent company, ByteDance. It discusses the unique background of Alex Zhu, the CEO of Musical.ly, and the acquisition by ByteDance that played a key role in TikTok's universal sensation. The episode also covers the emergence of MOOCs and t...
This podcast episode explores the transformative journey of Disney under the leadership of CEO Bob Iger. From navigating the challenges of the media industry to acquiring strategic assets like Pixar, Marvel, and Fox, Disney has been on a mission to capture a direct connection with fans and disrupt the traditional enter...
This podcast episode dives deep into the entrepreneurial journeys of legends like Fred Luddy and Nolan Bushnell, emphasizing how their innovative approaches to automation and gaming revolutionized entire industries. From the humble beginnings of ServiceNow's workflow automation inspired by a simple task to Bushnell's g...
In this episode of Acquired, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal delve into the history of Sequoia Capital, focusing on its early years and the pivotal role of Don Valentine. They trace the origins of Silicon Valley, the challenges of early venture capital, and Don Valentine's unique approach to company building. The discu...
This Acquired podcast episode analyzes Google Maps' development and Google's acquisition strategy. The hosts discuss Google's acquisition of Where 2 Technologies, Keyhole, and ZipDash, highlighting the technological innovations and key personnel involved. They detail how these acquisitions, particularly Where 2's inn...
In this episode of Acquired, Ben and David delve into the history and IPO of Shopify, starting with the early days of its founder Tobias Lutke, his passion for programming and snowboarding, and the initial concept of selling snowboarding gear online. They discuss the pivotal moments, including the shift to Ruby on Rail...
In this episode of Acquired, Ben and David delve into the history, facts, and current geopolitical situation surrounding Huawei, China's largest private company and a global leader in smartphone manufacturing and telecom equipment. They trace Huawei's origins from the early 1980s, highlighting founder Ren Zhengfei's ba...
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