Podcasts about D2C

Pharma ads, biotech IPOs, $1M longevity programs, oh my!This month's Digital Health Download skews towards biotech, which is having a moment. Tune in to hear Halle and Michael cover the latest headlines.We cover:Why pharma ads are surging and the growing push for restrictions on D2C drug advertisingHims & Hers' $1.15B acquisition of Eucalyptus, its global expansion strategy, and the FDA crackdown on compounded GLP‑1 drugsThe return of biotech IPOs, with Eikon Therapeutics and Generate Biomedicines signaling investor interest in platform‑based drug discoveryVaccine makers scaling back research amid policy uncertainty, declining uptake, and tighter fundingTrumpRx's “most favored nation” drug pricing approach, and what one STAT analysis foundBryan Johnson's $1M per year “Immortals” longevity program—Show notes:Should drug companies be advertising to consumers? (The New York Times) Hims & Hers Enters $1.15 Billion Agreement to Acquire Eucalyptus (PharmExec.com)A sign biotech is back? Four drugmakers go public, raising nearly $1 billion in all (STAT)Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs (The New York Times) TrumpRx claims to offer the lowest prices. But many drugs have cheaper generics (STAT)Bryan Johnson's Immortals: $1M to try longevity regimen (Axios) —"Halle Tecco wanted to see tech used for better medical services and getting people engaged in their own health. Now, she's written a book on how she went about it." - The WSJMassively Better Healthcare is out now!—Rock Health's annual CEO Summit is returning to the New York Stock Exchange on March 27th! Learn more and nominate a CEO to join this invite-only event here. —

Scott Dancy is the founder and CEO of Azuna, a fast-growing brand in the natural air freshener space. With a background in staffing, technology, and several entrepreneurial ventures, Scott started Azuna in Buffalo in 2019, scaling the business from hand-packaging orders to becoming the world's largest purchaser of tea tree oil and achieving significant success in both DTC and Amazon channels. In this episode of DTC Pod, Scott shares his journey of launching Azuna, from navigating supply chain challenges and product R&D to unlocking consistent growth and managing cash flow as order volumes soared. He covers the pivotal product decisions, strategies for boosting AOV, lessons from high-profile partnerships, and Azuna's approach to retail expansion. Scott also offers practical advice for founders on knowing their numbers, avoiding expensive mistakes, and building a team that's invested in the brand's success. Episode brought to you by Stord - 3PL for Commerce Episode brought to you by EMF Radar - Health Starts with EMF Safety in mind Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack. On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover: 1. Scott Dancy's entrepreneurial background and Azuna's origin story 2. Early-stage bootstrapping: packaging, fulfillment, and ad writing 3. Scaling operations: manufacturing, 3PLs, and hiring expert talent 4. Product and packaging strategy: sustainable materials, bundling, and raising AOV 5. Building a brand moat with proprietary tea tree oil sourcing 6. Subscription economics and customer retention strategies 7. Navigating cash flow, funding growth, and working with MCAs 8. Knowing key metrics: revenue, gross profit, AOV, and cash allocation 9. D2C vs Amazon vs retail channel strategy 10. In-house vs agency operations and pitfalls 11. Brand marketing and influencer partnerships 12. Lessons learned from sports and celebrity partnerships 13. Timing retail entry and optimizing product mix for channels 14. Importance of customer service and product quality 15. Entrepreneurial learnings: failures, details, and staying data-driven Timestamps 00:00 Scott Dancy's background and founding Azuna 03:05 The “aha moment”—tea tree oil product discovery 04:10 Early days of hand-packaging, first sales, COVID impact 05:36 Scaling up: building the team, manufacturing, growth in Buffalo 07:14 Transition to 3PL and challenges of scaling past $10M 08:10 Product development, bundling, and packaging strategy 10:05 Target audience and tea tree oil sourcing 13:41 Growth channels: Meta, Google, and influencer seeding 15:53 Subscription model economics and retention 19:03 Funding growth: inventory buys, cash flow, using Clearco 22:24 Data-driven decisions and knowing your numbers 26:25 Channel mix: Amazon, DTC, retail launch, pricing strategy 32:00 Learning from agency mistakes and shiny object syndrome 35:06 Retail timing, product mix, and learnings from entering stores 42:02 Brand partnerships: AKC, NFL, influencer marketing 46:44 Final lessons and what Scott would have done differently 47:50 Where to find Azuna and connect with Scott Show notes powered by Castmagic Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.   Additional episodes you might like: • #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth • #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content • #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views • #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands • #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook • ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands ----- Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further? Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you. Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox? Check out our newsletter here. Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for Content Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Scott Dancy - CEO & Founder of AzunaBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Beautiful things shouldn't cost the world.India exports - $13B in home decor annually, expected to cross - $21B by 2030.Factories everywhere. But almost no global consumer brands built from here.In this episode of Z47 Moments, Sudipto Sannigrahi sits down with Abhik Ghosh, Co-founder & CEO of Trampoline (ex-Amazon, Wayfair), to unpack how they're building an India-to-world home decor brand, starting factory-first.Abhik breaks down:Why they chose B2B before B2C and how it creates predictabilityHow trust with factories and sofa changed payment terms from advances to creditHow they reduced working capital in a 90–120 day category to under 30 daysWhy “value” in Western markets means quality first, not just priceHow AI powers creative, catalog, and performance marketingAnd what it takes to build a brand across borders, from India to the UK and beyond.This is a conversation about systems, sequencing, and discipline. If you're building in D2C, exports, supply chain, or global consumer categories, this episode offers a practical playbook.Chapters⁠00:00⁠ Why build a global brand from India⁠01:05⁠ Founders' background Amazon, Wayfair, Europe⁠02:10⁠ India home decor opportunity $13B → $21B⁠03:30⁠ Broken supply chain 8k–10k factories⁠05:00⁠ Factory-first model explained⁠07:10⁠ Starting with 4–5 factories → 30 today⁠09:20⁠ Why cross-border must start B2B⁠11:40⁠ Wayfair & Williams-Sonoma playbook⁠13:40⁠ Selling to UK from India⁠15:10⁠ Customer value 30–80% savings promise⁠17:10⁠ Western home refresh behavior 4-year cycle⁠18:40⁠ GTM B2B acquisition strategy⁠20:00⁠ D2C strategy Why avoid marketplaces⁠21:40⁠ Unit economics & working capital under 30 days⁠24:10⁠ Pre-orders & dropshipping from India⁠26:00⁠ ROAS, LTV/CAC & marketing efficiency⁠27:30⁠ Selection & design prediction⁠29:00⁠ Unexpected demand signals⁠30:20⁠ AI-generated creatives & catalog100% AI product imagery⁠35:10⁠ 2030 Long-term global brand ambitionFollow Z47Website - ⁠https://www.z47.com/⁠Instagram - ⁠  / z47.vc  ⁠LinkedIn - ⁠  / z47-vc  ⁠⁠#ikea⁠ ⁠#howtostartastartup⁠

AI game creatives just made another massive leap. In this episode, we break down 127 new creatives across Dark War, Top Heroes, Township and more and the quality jump in just one month is honestly insane.We're talking:• Full anime-quality world model sequences• AI influencers everywhere (grandmas, gamers, street interviews)• 50+ completely different “games” promoted under one title• Movie-level 4X fantasy ads• Hyper-niche creative strategy instead of broad targetingThis is not an incremental improvement. This is a structural shift in how UA works. If you run paid UA, creative production, or mobile marketing… this episode is mandatory.

Occasionally on the podcast host Eric Bandholz departs from interviewing guests to share his own experiences running Beardbrand, the D2C company he founded in 2012.In this episode, he addresses his favorite ecommerce tools in 2026, 18 platforms and apps essential to his business — from foundational site infrastructure to solutions for marketing, operations, creative, and more.  For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/beardbrands-top-ecommerce-toolsFor all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcasts******The mission of Practical Ecommerce is to help online merchants improve their businesses. We do this with expert articles, podcasts, and webinars. We are an independent publishing company founded in 2005 and unaffiliated with any ecommerce platform or provider. https://www.practicalecommerce.com 

This episode is sponsored by Phaedon.Download their 2026 research paper on Humanizing Loyalty here now.This episode is also available in video format on www.Loyalty.TV.Louisa Evans is Head of Loyalty and Retention for Hornby Hobbies which saw the launch of its Rewards programme, Hobby Rewards, three years ago. In this interview, Louisa talks us through how the product-centric organisation with magnificently created and engineered collectibles turns into a customer-led business.They had to pivot from a pure B2B company to create a D2C channel during covid, resulting in Hobby Rewards. This is a magnificent inside view into a concept referred to as generational loyalty and data-led decision making, combing transactional and emotional loyalty.Hosted by Amanda CromhoutShow Notes:1) Louisa Evans2)Hornby Hobbies3) Scoring Points - Book Recommendation4) Applying Behavioral Science to Private Sector - Book Recommendation

This episode goes inside the realities of scaling a D2C brand.Yash Kalra, Founder of Goat Life, started his journey in Kota. Before crores in monthly revenue and national visibility, there were 80 plus offline events and constant product iteration.He joins Shantanu Deshpande and Aditya Sehgal, Founder, Asgard.world and Ex-President & COO, Reckitt, for a direct conversation on what it really takes to scale. They challenge assumptions, question positioning, and examine the shift from founder hustle to structured growth.Problems that we solve in this episode: - How should founders prioritise operations and capacity when demand spikes overnight?- As a content led brand scales, what must stay founder led to keep the voice authentic?- When does a niche brand know it has gone deep enough to expand wider into new categories?- If you are building a consumer brand and navigating growth decisions, this episode will sharpen your thinking.Navigate through the chapters and watch till the end00:00 Coming Up01:43 Introduction04:07 From GO OAT to Goat Life06:40 Products, Flavours & Packaging08:31 Sales Split Across Channels & AOV10:50 The “Ompi” Story × Shantanu12:14 Is GOAT LIFE Truly Just a Breakfast Company?13:42 SKU Mix: Assorted Packs vs. Singles14:57 Limited Drops Strategy19:16 How to Expand Your Product Range?22:01 Breakfast or Oats?23:39 The Growth Formula27:37 Go Wide or Go Deep?39:47 Why the Current Team Setup Is Breaking40:07 How to Build a Good Team and Culture?50:33 The 3-Bucket Org Structure (Brand, Sales, Product)01:01:19 Working Capital and Demand Shocks

In this episode, we break down what's really happening in mobile game creatives right now. Creative trends for January 2026 are here.. From Kingshot clones everywhere to Pixel Flow conveyor belts invading other genres… from 2022 impulse puzzles coming back to life… to the brutal truth about creative fatigue lasting DAYS instead of weeks.We look at Golden Goblins, Royal Kingdom, Match Factory, Tasty Travels, Tile Survive and more, and what their ads tell us about 2026.If you work in UA, creative production, or game marketing… this one matters.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters0:00 – Why Creative Trends Matter More Than Ever2:45 – Golden Goblins & The Decline Curve6:20 – Creative Fatigue Is Now Measured in Days10:05 – Borrowing Hypercasual Mechanics Into 4X12:10 – Noob vs Pro Is Back16:00 – KingShot's Influence Across Genres20:00 – Royal Kingdom, Block Blast & Fake Mini-Games23:10 – Tower War, Mob Control & Genre Crossovers28:40 – 2022 Concepts Are Working Again30:55 – Elevate vs Impulse & The “IQ App” Strategy33:00 – Tile Survive & Massive Playable Scaling36:45 – Tasty Travels & 10-Click Playables38:25 – The Real Lesson for 2026---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Connected Commerce - just another buzzword? In this episode, it quickly becomes clear that it is about much more than a trend. Ingrid speaks with Janine Hummel and Daniel Zemitzsch from Front Row about why many brands still think in channels while customers have long moved on to journeys. Budgets and KPIs are typically channel-driven, whereas the customer journey jumps between TikTok, Amazon, D2C shops and AI agents. As long as the last touchpoint receives all the credit, teams will inevitably optimise against each other - not out of bad intent, but because the system is designed that way. The central question of the episode is therefore: Who actually takes responsibility for the overall interplay, rather than just a single channel? And how do you make budget and prioritisation decisions when data is never complete? An episode about Connected Commerce not as a tool debate, but as an organisational and leadership challenge.If you want to know more, download the Front Row white paper "Connected Commerce" here: connected-commerce.comNote from the sponsor bol:If you're planning to expand into the Netherlands, here's the reality: Next Day Delivery isn't a competitive edge - it's the entry ticket. In a market dominated by bol, “order today, deliver tomorrow” is the baseline expectation. But speed alone won't secure long-term success. What truly matters is reliability. Delivery performance is measured precisely, and platforms translate those metrics directly into visibility and ranking requirements. What this means in practice for international sellers, why Next Day Delivery alone isn't enough, and which common mistakes still cost brands performance in the Dutch market is outlined in our latest blog post Logistics as Market Access: What Sellers Really Need to Deliver in the Dutch Market.

In this conversation, Ricky Ho (CEO of SourceReady) shares his journey as a tech entrepreneur and the insights he has gained in the realm of product sourcing for small businesses. Ricky has spent seven years building in supply chain tech. He previously founded Treelab and now leads SourceReady, backed by $4.5M from investors including the former CTO of Alibaba, the former COO of Flexport, and Peter Diamandis. Brands like Ralph Lauren, Kohl's, and Lidl, along with emerging D2C brands, already use SourceReady to scale their product sourcing with confidence and speed.Ho discusses the challenges faced by small business owners, the role of AI in simplifying sourcing processes, and the emerging product categories that present opportunities for entrepreneurs. Ricky also delves into the intricacies of fundraising and the importance of leveraging attention in the creative economy.KeywordsAI, product sourcing, small business, entrepreneurship, supply chain, creative economy, fundraising, e-commerce, trends, market insights

Your Shopify store is a vanity metric. Your Amazon listing is a bank account. Nik Hall, founder of Vitafive and now a partner at 1984 Ventures, learned this the hard way. When he launched his gummy vitamin brand, he followed the standard playbook: expensive Facebook ads driving traffic to a custom D2C site. The result?…

In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Gregor Lazarides – einem Marketingmanager, der die Outdoor- und Bike-Branche aus sehr unterschiedlichen Perspektiven kennt.Gregor war unter anderem bei Deuter, Bergamont und HEPHA tätig und verantwortet heute bei Boards & More die Marketingarbeit für die Marken ION und SQlab.Wir sprechen darüber, wie sich Markenführung im Bike-Markt verändert hat, warum Performance-Marketing allein nicht reicht, welche Rolle Athleten heute wirklich spielen – und wie man etablierte Marken weiterentwickelt, ohne ihre Identität zu verlieren.Ein Gespräch über Marke, Digitalisierung und die Frage, wie Marketing in einer Branche funktioniert, die zwischen Fachhandel, D2C und kulturellem Wandel steht.

Send a textWhy are once-booming D2C brands like The Honest Company and Traeger pulling out of direct-to-consumer—and what does it mean for your business? In this episode, Mark Goldhart and Trevor Crump break down real-time e-commerce challenges, from Meta ad bugs to the shifting economics of retail vs. online sales. They discuss how consumer behavior and marketing efficiency are evolving, and why clinging to old tactics could stall your growth. Plus, they share insights on authentic user-generated content, the rise of live selling, and what every brand needs to know to stay profitable in today's changing landscape.Connect with The Unstoppable Marketer® on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and YouTube @unstoppablemarketerpodcast, and let us know how you're telling your brand story this year!00:13 – Online advertising has been harder since 2012  01:55 – Meta bugs impacting performance  02:54 – Waiting before making ad changes  06:42 – UGC and AI ad trends  08:23 – FTC risks with AI testimonials  12:17 – Honest Company shuts D2C  16:31– Honest Company's billion-dollar valuation  35:16 – Adjust strategy for new growth

Input geben - Networking starten!Suchmaschinen fühlen sich heute wie Gespräche an – und genau dort müssen wir als Marke stattfinden. Gemeinsam mit Tonio Meier von Guuru gehen wir der Frage nach, warum echte Nutzerstimmen in ChatGPT, Gemini und Perplexity so stark wirken und wie wir diese Kraft gezielt für mehr Sichtbarkeit, Vertrauen und Umsatz nutzen. Statt KI-Textfabriken setzen wir auf Community: authentische Bewertungen, präzise Antworten und konkrete Erfahrungen, die Sprachmodelle als zuverlässige Signale erkennen und zitieren.Wir zeigen, wie sich aus Chats und Diskussionen hochwertige Snippets extrahieren lassen, die sich auf Produktseiten einbetten und sauber strukturieren: mit Datum, Produktbezug, Kurzfazit und klarer Autorenschaft. LLMs bevorzugen aktuelle, menschliche und spezialisierte Inhalte – das macht Freshness, Expertise und transparente Profile zu Pflicht. Der Effekt ist messbar: weniger Streuverlust, qualitativere Klicks, mehr Conversion. Gleichzeitig sinken Supportkosten, wenn How-to-Antworten der Community über KI-Tools als Self-Service gefunden werden. Wir beleuchten die Tücken der Attribution und erklären, welche Indikatoren wirklich zählen, wenn Referrals aus KI-Gesprächen unsichtbar bleiben.Spannend wird es beim Branchenblick: Während große Banken bei generischen Fragen dominieren, gewinnen Nischenanbieter mit klarer Positionierung die spitzen Suchabsichten – etwa bei Mobilität oder Nachhaltigkeit. Das Muster bleibt gleich: echte Stimmen, saubere Struktur, kontinuierliche Aktualisierung. Ob Retail, D2C oder Finance – wer Community ernsthaft fördert, liefert die Art Inhalte, die LLMs schätzen und Kundinnen und Kunden vertrauen. Hör rein, hol dir die Taktiken für KI-Sichtbarkeit mit Substanz und sag uns: Wo aktivierst du deine stärksten Stimmen?Abonniere den Podcast, teile die Folge mit deinem Team und hinterlasse eine Bewertung, wenn dir die Einsichten geholfen haben. So bleibt unsere Community sichtbar – auch in den KI-Gesprächen von morgen. Support the showVielen Dank an unsere Starken Podcast-Partner: Solunex: Der Schwerpunkt von Solunex liegt in der Unterstützung unserer Kunden im effizienten und automatisierten Verarbeiten und erzeugen von Kundenkommunikation. Dabei decken wir sowohl die Eingangsseite ab (Input Management), wobei Automatisierung und Unterstützung der Kundenteams durch den gezielten Einsatz von AI im Vordergrund stehen. Auf der Ausgangsseite (Output Management), steht ebenfalls die Automatisierung im Fokus, sowie die Nutzung sämtlicher Kontaktkanäle zwischen Kunden und Endkunden (Omnichannel Management). Vor über 35 Jahren gegründet, verfügt das Team von Solunex über langjährige Erfahrungen aus erfolgreichen Kundenprojekten, basierend auf hervorragender technischer Umsetzungskompetenz. Solunex unterstützt die Kunden über den gesamten Lebenszyklus einer Lösung aktiv und zuverlässig. https://www.solunex.ch/ AlpineAI: AlpineAI ist ein innovatives Schweizer KI-Unternehmen, das sich auf sichere und datenschutzkonforme KI-Lösungen für Unternehmen spezialisiert hat. Ihr Hauptprodukt, SwissGPT, ist eine Schweizer Version von ChatGPT, die höchste Standards beim Daten- und Geheimnisschutz gewährleistet, indem alle Informationen in Schweizer Rechenzentren verarbeitet werden. AlpineAI versteht sich als Innovationskatalysator für die KI-Transformation und arbeitet daran, Unternehmen durch massg...

At PocketGamer Connects London, host Peggy Anne Salz sits down with Cameron Simon, CFO at Offroad Games, whose journey from mining in South Africa to “mining” player data in mobile gaming offers a fresh take on sustainable growth.The interview grew out of a chance meeting at a dinner hosted by the Mobile Finance Collective, a new community bringing together finance leaders and founders in mobile apps and gaming, and surfaces some genuine gems along the way.Drawing on a background in heavy industry, Cameron explains how exploration, capital discipline and long-term yield thinking translate directly into player acquisition, LiveOps strategy and monetisation in mobile games.Key takeaways:⛏️ The parallels between mining ore bodies and building player value, from discovery and development to maximising lifetime return

We sat down with Stan (CEO of Oh BiBi, creator of Asphalt) and Luis (VP Global Marketing at Rovio) to break down Angry Birds Rush. We discuss how the game was born, why they built 6 prototypes, how they benchmarked against slot machines, how they secretly tested fans on Discord, and why they're aiming for a billion-dollar game. A bold attempt to merge:• Luck Battle meta (Monopoly Go / Coin Master)• Runner-style core gameplay• Slingshot physics nostalgia• The biggest family IP in mobileAnd what you're seeing publicly right now? It's only a prototype.This is one of the most transparent product breakdowns we've ever recorded.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Special guests: Luis de la Cámara, Stanislas Dewavrinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/luiscamaraking/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislas-dewavrin-2a57294/https://www.rovio.com/careers/https://jobs.ohbibi.com/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 – Why This Could Be a Billion Dollar Game03:40 – The Origin of Angry Birds Rush07:50 – Why Luck Battle Is Still Early12:10 – The First Prototypes (And Why They Failed)17:30 – Building on Top of Another Game22:40 – Benchmarking CPI vs Slot Games27:10 – Runner vs Slingshot: The Core Breakthrough32:00 – Retry Rate vs Retention: What They Actually Track36:20 – Designing for Scale, Not Just Soft Launch41:10 – Working With Angry Birds Superfans45:00 – Social Layer: The Real Long-Term Bet50:30 – Competing With Monopoly Go (What They'll Do Differently)55:10 – Risks, Market Timing & Billion Dollar Ambition58:30 – Final Thoughts & What Happens Next---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Chris Hall is an ecommerce entrepreneur turned media operator. His new "Ecomm Cowboy" show broadcasts live Monday through Friday on X and YouTube. The mission, he says, is twofold: deliver daily news to sellers and offer companionship to those working alone.Chris first appeared on the podcast in 2023 as the marketing head of a D2C brand. In this our latest conversation, he addresses his goals for Ecomm Cowboy, production challenges, and, yes, the power of AI tools for one-person brands.For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/ecomm-cowboy-talks-ai-and-underdogsFor all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcasts******The mission of Practical Ecommerce is to help online merchants improve their businesses. We do this with expert articles, podcasts, and webinars. We are an independent publishing company founded in 2005 and unaffiliated with any ecommerce platform or provider. https://www.practicalecommerce.com 

Supercell's annual letter was supposed to be routine. Instead, it triggered backlash around Clash Royale's “resurgence” narrative. Influencers were credited for growth, including major names amplifying the story, which upset parts of the community. The reaction escalated to organized boycotts, forcing Ilkka Paananen to issue an apology and update the letter publicly. Meanwhile, revenue tells a simpler story: Clash Royale spiked aggressively, then dropped aggressively, returning close to its previous baseline.Layoffs continue across the industry. Riot cut around 80 people from its 2XKO fighting game. Ubisoft faces union-led strikes following structural division moves that look increasingly like pre-sale positioning. Highguard is downsizing shortly after launch. Unity stock dropped roughly 30%, founders exited, and Bernard Kim steps in. Contrast that with AppLovin reporting $5.4–5.5B revenue in 2025, up ~70% YoY. One side restructures. The other compounds.On the upside, indie and system-driven plays are thriving. The Steam indie hit sold 500k copies in its first week. ARK Raiders drove revenue growth to $3.1B (+6.5%). Overwatch doubled its concurrent record to 165k after a story-driven update. Arknights: Endfield crossed $30M within weeks of launch. The lesson is clear: execution and product-market clarity still win, even when public markets wobble.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 —

Dragon Traveler is not subtle. It's a waifu-driven idle RPG, built for scale, speed, and monetization efficiency, and it's working. Especially in the US. Despite being a fresh launch (mid-January), the game is already doing $300k–500k per day, with a heavy US + Asian revenue split, thousands of creatives in rotation, and extremely aggressive UA. This isn't a passion project. It's a manufactured hit designed to win distribution, not awards.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why we're covering Dragon Traveler01:30 — Numbers first: revenue & downloads03:30 — Idle RPGs and fake onboarding trends05:00 — Why Dragon Traveler is winning now06:40 — 3D map & autoplay combat08:00 — Playing multiple modes at once10:00 — Gacha, shards, and generosity tuning12:30 — Idle rewards & reclaim-the-difference mechanic14:20 — Guild Expedition (Heroes-style map)16:00 — PvE incentives: soft vs hard requirements18:30 — Why session time stays high20:30 — UA footprint & network mix22:30 — Creatives: censorship, waifus, AI25:30 — 6,000+ creatives and why it matters28:00 — US + Asia revenue split explained30:30 — Why this is more casual than it looks33:00 — Final verdict & Radar decision---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Arknights: Endfield is not a normal anime gacha.Yes, it looks like Genshin.Yes, it uses Honkai-style progression and banners.But the real core is something much riskier: factory automation inspired by Factorio and Satisfactory, deeply embedded into progression, crafting, power, and economy.This is a high-budget, niche bet. And it's already showing both explosive upside and structural risk.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why Arknights: Endfield matters01:20 — What kind of game this actually is03:10 — Open world structure & exploration05:00 — Factory building as the real core07:00 — Power grids, pylons & automation09:30 — Factorio / Satisfactory influence11:40 — Outposts, trading & economy loops13:30 — Characters, teams & combat flow15:10 — Progression systems & crafting17:00 — Gacha structure & monetization logic18:40 — Audience fit: who this is (and isn't) for20:20 — Final verdict & scale risk---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

This is not a meditation app. This is one of the smartest subscription businesses on mobile.In this episode, we break down Finch, a self-care app with ~10M DAU, extreme retention, and a web-first monetization system that turns subscriptions into a social, altruistic act.We cover product design, streak mechanics, collectibles, subscription psychology, web revenue via Stripe, community monetization, and why Finch doesn't even need ads to print money.What we cover• Gamified self-care loops• Subscription psychology done right• Web monetization beyond the App Store• Spend depth without whales• UA and creative strategy at scaleKey takeawayThe best monetization doesn't feel like monetization.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why this app broke our brains01:10 — Finch: game or mental health app?02:10 — Core loop: Tamagotchi meets daily quests03:30 — Goals, habits, and farming rewards05:20 — Streaks, streak repair, and monetization pressure07:00 — Collectibles, cosmetics, and lightweight live-ops08:20 — DAU shock: 9 million daily users09:10 — Retention benchmarks that look fake10:30 — No ads… and why that matters12:00 — Subscription as the core business14:20 — Web presence and community scale15:40 — The Guardian system explained17:10 — “Pay your own price” subscriptions19:00 — Spend depth without whales20:40 — Why Stripe changes everything22:00 — Web revenue vs App Store illusion23:40 — UA channels and creative strategy25:10 — Wall-of-text, POV, and AI creatives27:00 — Why this scales infinitely29:00 — What games can steal from this31:00 — Is this the future of mobile monetization?34:00 — Final verdictMatej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiarPlease share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.meIf you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

This Softlaunch Sonar episode is a reality check.Studios are shipping faster than ever, cloning proven mechanics within weeks, and still failing to create real differentiation. PixelFlow, Arrow Flow, Sand Loop and their endless variations show how quickly the market reacts, and how rarely it innovates.The discussion cuts through cozy games, monster IP arms races, match-3 fatigue, and why “being early” now matters more than production quality. Softlaunch isn't about polish anymore. It's about speed, angle, and knowing when the train has already left the station.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — What Softlaunch Sonar actually is01:15 — High-budget monster games vs reality (FunPlus, Pokémon-likes)03:55 — Why cozy games are exploding (Hoyoverse, female skew)06:45 — Defining success for high-budget live-ops games08:30 — Social casino logic leaking into new genres10:05 — Puzzle as the new hypercasual12:00 — Dice, merge, and “half a UA solution” games14:05 — PixelFlow clones start flooding the market16:20 — Why Moon Active copying PixelFlow makes no sense18:40 — Being late is worse than being wrong21:05 — Match-3 is no longer the safe bet23:20 — Physics puzzles and Sand Loop iterations25:40 — When art style alone kills CPI27:55 — Dragon shooter puzzle: real innovation or fake ad?30:15 — Arrow Flow and the speed of cloning32:10 — Why most softlaunch games will never scale34:20 — Final verdict: speed beats originality (for now)---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode of Talk Commerce, Brent Peterson interviews Hristo Arakliev from Hyperzon, discussing the significance of Amazon in the e-commerce landscape, the integration of AI in marketing strategies, and common pitfalls that merchants encounter when navigating multiple sales channels. Hristo emphasizes the importance of visibility and marketing over product quality alone, the need for strategic traffic management, and the necessity of optimizing for both Amazon and emerging AI-driven search engines. As the holiday season approaches, he provides insights on preparing for increased sales and advertising strategies.TakeawaysAmazon is the largest marketplace in e-commerce.Visibility is crucial for brand trust and sales.Great marketing can make mediocre products succeed.AI can streamline tasks and enhance strategy.Merchants should focus on one channel at a time.Driving traffic to D2C can benefit Amazon sales.Amazon PPC is not the only solution; organic strategies matter.Optimizing for AI search engines is becoming essential.Preparing for holiday sales requires early product shipping.Brand popularity influences advertising strategies.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Hyperzone and Extreme Sports01:37 The Importance of Amazon for DTC Brands04:15 Leveraging AI in E-commerce06:53 Common Mistakes by Merchants on Amazon08:35 Advertising Strategies for Amazon10:30 Optimizing for Search Engines and LLMs12:48 Preparing for Holiday Sales on Amazon

Meta is not back on iOS. We just got fooled. In this emergency episode, we break down what actually happened during the two-day Meta revenue spike that made everyone think Facebook had solved iOS tracking.Spoiler: they didn't.We explain ATT, IDFA, why Meta collapsed in 2021, how AppLovin took over iOS, and how aggressive end cards temporarily boosted Meta revenue before retention crashed and performance returned to baseline.What we cover• ATT and Meta's iOS collapse• Why Meta revenue spiked for 48 hours• Aggressive end cards explained• Why retention dropped immediately• Who lost revenue during the spike• Is Meta really coming back?Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why this is an emergency episode01:20 — The ATT reset (April 2021 recap)03:30 — How Meta collapsed on iOS05:10 — Apple Search Ads quietly wins07:00 — AppLovin fills the iOS vacuum09:00 — The sudden Meta revenue spike11:00 — Why everyone thought Meta was “back”13:00 — What actually changed (end cards)15:10 — Interactive end cards and double ads17:30 — Retention drops as revenue spikes19:40 — Why this only lasted two days21:30 — Who lost revenue (Unity, AppLovin)23:10 — Why Meta is still late25:00 — What this means for UA managers27:10 — Is Meta actually coming back?29:00 — Final verdict---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Hunting Sniper should not be winning. But it is. The game looks like it was built in 2016–2018, runs a Golf Clash–style betting economy, and has almost zero innovation in core mechanics. And yet, it's doing ~$200k per day, outperforming genre veterans like Hunting Clash by nearly 10×.This episode matters because it exposes an uncomfortable truth:You don't need a great game. You need relentless UA, extreme creative volume, and zero shame about fake gameplay.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why this game shouldn't work01:30 — First impressions and dated visuals03:10 — Golf Clash–style betting economy05:00 — Weapons, shards, and gacha loops07:20 — Easy to play, hard to master shooting09:30 — Why score bonuses really matter11:10 — Monetization basics and missing placements13:10 — Revenue comparison vs Hunting Clash15:00 — Creative volume shock (5,000 ads)17:20 — Fake gameplay and PC footage usage19:40 — Why competitors can't keep up21:40 — Is this all just UA?23:30 — China factor and lean teams25:00 — Final takeaway---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode of Mastering eCommerce Marketing, host Eitan Koter sits down with Talor Ofer, founder of Retail Empire, to talk about what it really takes for brands to get into brick and mortar retail in the US.Talor has spent more than 25 years working directly with retail buyers and helping brands move from online-only sales into physical stores. At Retail Empire, his team connects vendors with buyers across hundreds of retail chains, from specialty stores to major big-box retailers.In this conversation, Eitan and Talor talk through why retail still plays such a big role in 2026, even as more brands start online. Talor explains why many founders are closer to retail-ready than they think, and what usually holds them back.They cover how buyers make decisions today, why samples matter more than most brands realize, and what retailers look for beyond just a good product. Talor also breaks down pricing expectations, common mistakes that slow deals down, and how brands should think about wholesale, packaging, and supply chain before approaching buyers.If you're running a DTC brand, selling on Amazon, or thinking about wholesale for the first time, this episode gives a clear look at how retail actually works, straight from someone who's in those conversations every day.Website: https://www.vimmi.net Email us: info@vimmi.net Podcast website: https://vimmi.net/mastering-ecommerce-marketing/ Talk to us on Social:Eitan Koter's LinkedIn | Vimmi LinkedIn | YouTube Guest: Talor Ofer, Founder at Retail EmpireTalor Ofer's LinkedIn | Retail EmpireWatch the full Youtube video here:https://youtu.be/f6-nuwE5-NATakeaways:Retail is a crucial channel for brands, despite the rise of D2C.Brands must ensure they have a solid supply chain before entering retail.Packaging is key; it should communicate the product's value quickly.Retail buyers are looking for brands with a compelling story.Fast decision-making is becoming more common among retail buyers.Pricing strategies are evolving due to market competition and tariffs.Samples are essential for securing orders from retailers.Understanding the setup process with retailers is critical for success.Brands should be aware of market trends to stay relevant.Loyalty and honesty are foundational for long-term business relationships.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to...

In this episode, Verena Gründel talks to Andrea Lederer, Chief Digital Officer at Weleda, the iconic natural cosmetics brand loved by Bella Hadid. Andrea shares her journey of digitally transforming a 105-year-old heritage company, building e-commerce structures from the ground up, and aligning digital goals with brand values like premiumization and sustainability. They discuss how Andrea restructured teams, harmonized global data, launched new digital campaigns, and what it takes to move fast without losing sight of brand identity. 5 Data-Driven Takeaways from the Podcast: When Andrea joined, the digital team was "somewhere in marketing" — not linked to sales or customers. Reporting systems were disconnected. “As global CDO, I couldn't even tell you how much we were selling digitally,” she says. That changed fast. She aligned her strategy with Weleda's four corporate goals: internationalization, digitization, premiumization, and product innovation. “We asked: what role does digital play in each? Then we translated it into team and individual goals,” Andrea explains. She also brought in structure. “We clarified roles, cleaned up CRM, launched paid media, and set pricing rules.” Quick wins like Prime Day campaigns and social media boosts delivered instant ROI without compromising brand positioning. Weleda's first D2C-webshop launched in 2024.Today, 40% of webshop traffic comes from paid media. Global sales achieved double-digit growth in 2025. Digital were outpacing traditional channels. Andrea restructured and re-hired nearly the entire digital team. In autumn 2025 Weleda launched it's first social-first campaign ever: for the new product Booster Drops- When Andrea joined, the digital team was "somewhere in marketing" — not linked to sales or customers. Reporting systems were disconnected. “As global CDO, I couldn't even tell you how much we were selling digitally,” she says. That changed fast. She aligned her strategy with Weleda's four corporate goals: internationalization, digitization, premiumization, and product innovation. “We asked: what role does digital play in each? Then we translated it into team and individual goals,” Andrea explains. She also brought in structure. “We clarified roles, cleaned up CRM, launched paid media, and set pricing rules.” Quick wins like Prime Day campaigns and social media boosts delivered instant ROI without compromising brand positioning. “We didn't go below the market. We just adjusted our pricing to become competitive,” she clarifies. +++ Stay up to date until then with Verena's newsletter, DMEXCO Digital Digest – the most important news from the world of digital marketing in Germany and internationally, delivered straight to your inbox.https://go.dmexco.com/digital-digest-current-edition

Why do so many e-commerce businesses struggle to grow? Is your online store growing—or just surviving?In this episode of The Business Ownership Podcast I interviewed Aj Saunders. Over the last decade, AJ has launched an eBook publishing company, built and scaled a global e-commerce shop (initially on WooCommerce and later on Magento), and expanded into marketing strategy under the Audacious Commerce brand.He has built countless websites for a wide range of clients and advised business owners on how to develop and implement effective digital strategies tailored to their goals.Today, AJ is known as The E-Commerce Growth Architect, helping D2C and CPG brands doing $2M–$10M in revenue scale sustainably and profitably.Grow your e-commerce business with confidence. Check this out!Show Links:Audacious Commerce Website: https://www.audaciouscommerce.com/Aj Saunders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-j-saunders/Book a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/

Creative trends are getting darker, faster, and more automated.In this Creative Trends episode, we break down how AI creatives now dominate volume, why Golden Goblins mechanics are everywhere, how celebrities are quietly replacing UGC, and why IP infringement is no longer being enforced.We analyze Dark War's AI-first strategy, Supercent's creative flood, merge drama escalation, and the uncomfortable reality of what actually scales in 2026.What we cover• AI-generated creatives at scale• Golden Goblins copy machine• Celebrity ads vs AI characters• Merge drama and moral collapse• IP infringement in UA• Creative cost collapseKey takeawayIf it converts, it ships.Everything else is optional.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Intro & Creative Trends setup01:55 — The recurring themes of this cycle03:30 — Golden Goblins and idle dominance05:10 — Category consolidation: idle, lumber, miner06:45 — Early AI hooks and fake characters08:15 — One-to-one creative copying explained10:00 — Supercent's volume strategy11:45 — AI influencers and talking characters13:30 — Celebrities quietly returning to ads15:30 — Royal Kingdom creative pressure17:20 — Side-view mechanics becoming standard19:00 — AI bears, yetis, and mascots21:00 — Dark War's AI-first creative factory24:40 — 80–90% AI adoption reality26:30 — Creative cost collapse28:00 — FastSpring D2C segment29:30 — Merge drama escalation31:00 — IP infringement everywhere33:30 — Networks not enforcing anything35:30 — Travel Town and drama maximalism38:30 — Morals vs performance40:00 — Outro & final thoughts---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.meIf you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode, we meet Chad Wilson, Head of Marketing at Olipop.‍Olipop is a better-for-you soda brand on a mission to make the world healthier and happier. ‍In this episode, we discussed growth into retail, structuring marketing teams, understanding the customer journey, and staying close to consumers.‍Topics coveredBrand awareness and brand storytellingEquity metrics to measure campaigns performanceUnderstanding and connecting with consumers emotionally.Structuring and organizing marketing teamsShift from D2C to retail post-CovidOmnichannel and consistencyTesting TV and out of home channels The rise of Tiktok as a marketing platform‍TakeawaysOlipop's mission is centered around an emotional connection with consumers.Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in retail sales, now constituting approximately 85% of total sales.Chad mentions that TikTok can be a viable channel for reaching a wide audience, especially Gen Z.The company is actively looking at calculating the lifetime value of its customers and has upcoming initiatives to increase customer numbers and long-term value. Staying close to consumers is crucial, Chad emphasizes the need to prioritize them in decision-making.Olipop introduced TV and out-of-home advertising channels in 2023 to focus on more upper-funnel messaging and reach a larger audience.Olipop's Chicago campaign surpassed industry benchmarks with 80% brand affinity, exceeding the 50% benchmark.Olipop faced a challenge bridging the consumer experience and customer across different channels, including digital and in-person touchpoints.Please let us know your thoughts about the episode!‍Where to find Chad Wilson:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chdwlsn/ ​Website: https://drinkolipop.com/ ‍Where to find Kait Stephens:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kait-margraf-stephens/Website: www.brij.it ‍SUBSCRIBE TO THE OMNICHANNEL MARKETERwww.theomnichannelmarketer.com‍

In this episode, we break down Sandloop by Voodoo and explain how a lightweight, physics-driven sorting game can already generate ~$100k+ per day with a heavily ad-driven model.We cover gameplay design, monetization, difficulty tuning, creative strategy, and where Sandloop realistically sits compared to Pixel Flow and other sorting hits.What we cover• Sandloop core mechanics• Physics-based puzzle design• Ad-first monetization strategy• Early revenue and spend estimates• Sorting category trends• Voodoo's portfolio strategyGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Intro and first revenue estimates02:05 — Why Sandloop exists in Voodoo's portfolio03:00 — No menu early and why it matters04:45 — Sandloop vs Pixel Flow pacing05:50 — Physics-based sorting explained07:40 — Hidden layers and bucket logic09:20 — Fail states and difficulty design11:00 — Why thinking beats speed here12:50 — Ads, segmentation, and break timing14:40 — Monetization mix and ad share16:25 — Early revenue and download estimates18:10 — Where Sandloop ranks among Voodoo IPs20:00 — Sorting category explosion22:10 — Pixel Flow, Arrows, and category leaders24:30 — Copycats, second-mover advantage26:15 — Creative strategy and velocity29:00 — Spend, payback, and early scaling math32:00 — Sandloop's realistic ceiling33:40 — Final take and outro---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this solo episode, Jakub breaks down how Heartopia scaled to hundreds of thousands of daily downloads and over $200k per day using slow-life gameplay, cosmetic-only gacha, and zero fake ads.We look at the cozy / avatar-life genre, monetization mechanics, gacha cycles, UA creatives, and why this game works despite having almost no traditional gameplay pressure.What we cover• Heartopia launch performance• Cozy and avatar-life genre explained• Cosmetic-only gacha monetization• Why collections work without stats• UA strategy and creative volume• Sustainability and revenue outlookGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode of Mastering eCommerce Marketing, host Eitan Koter sits down with Jason Greenwood, founder of Greenwood Consulting and host of the eCommerce Edge podcast.Jason has spent over 25 years working across eCommerce, with a sharp focus on B2B. The conversation centers on why B2B commerce has followed a very different path than DTC, and why many manufacturers and distributors are only now taking digital seriously.They talk about how COVID accelerated change, why marketplaces are one of the fastest-growing B2B channels, and what modern B2B buyers actually expect from suppliers today. Jason also explains why traditional KPIs like AOV and conversion rate don't tell the full story in B2B, and what metrics matter more.The episode also covers change management, sales team resistance, and how technology should support people instead of replacing them. Toward the end, Jason shares his take on when DTC brands should start thinking about wholesale and distribution, and what happens when they wait too long.Website: https://www.vimmi.netEmail us: info@vimmi.netPodcast website: https://vimmi.net/mastering-ecommerce-marketing/Talk to us on Social:Eitan Koter's LinkedIn | Vimmi LinkedIn | YouTubeGuest: Jason Greenwood, Founder & Lead Consultant at Greenwood ConsultingJason Greenwood's LinkedIn | Greenwood ConsultingWatch the full Youtube video here:https://youtu.be/luahzCh6-fATakeaways:• B2B e-commerce is significantly behind B2C but is catching up rapidly.• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for digital transformation in B2B.• Sales teams often resist digital changes due to traditional practices.• Change management is crucial for successful digital adoption in B2B.• B2B relationships are long-term and require a human touch.• Digital channels are essential for B2B growth and efficiency.• AI can enhance B2B operations but should not replace human interaction.• D2C brands should consider B2B as a growth channel once stable.• Understanding KPIs in B2B is different from B2C due to higher AOVs.• Technology plays a vital role in the future of B2B e-commerce.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Background01:00 Understanding B2B E-commerce08:58 Digital Channels in B2B13:48 Change Management in B2B Transformation17:49 Key Performance Indicators in B2B22:13 Technology Building Blocks for B2B25:21 D2C Brands and B2B Opportunities31:18 Personal Values and Closing Thoughts

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThomas Robinson has helped build full‑funnel growth engines for brands like Tiege Henley and now Breath Death — where he's turning chaotic traction into scalable funnels and converting creator buzz into sustainable growth.For growth leaders scaling DTC with low‑AOV products.In this episode, Thomas breaks down:How YouTube influencer authenticity became a systematic funnel driver (not a one‑hit wonder).Why TikTok Shop is the top strategic revenue channel — and how it boosts Amazon performance.The three‑part funnel framework: Hook → Integration → CTA + cohesive landing page.Why psychographics beat demographics in creative.Omni‑channel retention: SMS, email, DM automations, WhatsApp.Who this is for: D2C marketers scaling early‑growth brands, content and performance teams, founders wrestling with low‑AOV CAC.What to steal:Turn creator moments into evergreen assets for Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.Build landing pages that mirror ad intent (don't lose momentum).Segment email/SMS flows by customer psychographic intent.Timestamps00:00 — Turning creator buzz into scalable growth02:00 — Why Breath Death chose TikTok Shop as a core channel04:00 — Gen Z targeting, nostalgia, and early audience signals06:00 — Learning from Liquid Death's polarizing brand strategy08:00 — Turning influencer moments into evergreen funnels10:00 — Structuring ads with hooks, integrations, and CTAs12:00 — TikTok Shop, Amazon halo effects, and channel synergy14:00 — Affiliate strategy from nano creators to macro partners16:00 — Why YouTube influencers compound better than paid ads18:00 — SEO, Reddit, and authority in AI-driven search20:00 — Scaling low-AOV products on Meta ads22:00 — Psychographics, motivations, and creative archetypes26:00 — Q4 growth, LTV focus, and retention strategy28:00 — Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and DM automation31:00 — Long-term brand storytelling vs direct response34:00 — Personalized landing pages and post-click experienceHashtags#dtcpodcast #dtcbrands #ecommercegrowth #tiktokshop #influencermarketing #creatorcommerce #brandstrategy #performanceads #youtubeinfluencers #affiliatemarketing #consumerbrands #foundermarketing #growthmarketing #directtoconsumer Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

In this episode, we break down how AI ads evolved from fake gameplay into full world simulations. Dark War and Top Heroes are now running up to 90% AI-driven creatives, generating environments, hooks, and pseudo-games that look better than many shipped titles.We cover sand loops, world models, long-form creatives, IP gray zones, and why teams that fully commit to AI are pulling away fast.What we cover• AI world simulation creatives• Sand loops and seamless rooms• Dark War & Top Heroes strategies• Long creatives that actually work• Fake games that outperform real ones• The real AI tipping pointGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro & why this episode matters01:40 — AI creatives are no longer a novelty03:30 — Guess the game & spotting non-AI creatives04:30 — Golden Goblins, King Shot & early AI signals06:40 — Hooks that still work in an AI world08:10 — Drama, grandmas & narrative escalation10:00 — Fake people, ASMR & viral slop economics12:20 — IP style borrowing and legal gray zones14:30 — Dark War enters the big league16:10 — Seamless rooms and sand-loop environments18:30 — Why these creatives hold attention21:50 — World simulation vs classic generation24:20 — Genie-style models and consistency problems26:30 — 80–90% AI adoption explained29:10 — Fake games that look real32:00 — Why long creatives are winning again34:10 — Revenue reality: Dark War & Top Heroes36:30 — The real AI tipping point38:40 — Final predictions & what teams should do next---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Quand Jérémy Strohner prend la parole, on comprend vite pourquoi Yooji n'est pas une baby-food comme les autres. Ancien de Danone et Heineken, il a quitté les grands groupes pour reprendre une marque en difficulté. Son objectif ? Que les petits pots ressemblent enfin à du fait maison, mais sans que les parents y passent des heures. Dans l'épisode, Laurent Kretz et Jérémy passent au crible tout ce qui fait le succès de Yooji : petites portions modulables, innovations comme le “manger-main”, mais aussi le pivot digital. En 5 ans, la marque est passée de presque rien à x8, avec 85 % de son CA en D2C et drives.Comment convaincre les distributeurs, créer un corner baby-food dans le rayon surgelé, jongler avec les normes strictes de sécurité alimentaire… au programme de cet épisode. 00:00:00 - Ouverture / introduction du podcast 00:04:02 - Parcours de Jérémy : Danone, Heineken et rachat d'une conserverie artisanale​00:07:19 - Marché baby food : déconsommation et manque d'innovation depuis 40 ans​00:16:16 - État 2020 : GMS only, pivot vers "copieur officiel du fait maison pour bébé"​00:19:46 - Distribution : 85% digital, 700 points de vente physiques​00:28:31 - Accélération D2C : plateforme 40% CA00:43:15 - Croissance x8 : 7,5M€ à 12M€00:59:44 - Vision future : extension kids food, objectif 100M€ Et quelques dernières infos à vous partager :Suivez Le Panier sur Instagram @lepanier.podcast !Inscrivez- vous à la newsletter sur lepanier.io pour cartonner en e-comm !Écoutez les épisodes sur Apple Podcasts, Spotify ou encore Podcast AddictHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Manish Chowdhary started with a ₹6.5 crore debt. It was a moment that could have ended everything. Instead, he repaid the debt and built WOW Skin Science into a household name.In this chat, Manish doesn't hold back. He talks about the viral hits and the science that made their brand stand out. He also gets honest about the massive losses that followed their success.We discussed:Spotting trends before they blow up.The "Reboot Strategy" to fix a business.Mistakes every D2C founder should avoid.What it actually takes to build a brand that lasts.If you want to know how a brand scales, fails, and evolves, dont miss this episode!

In dieser Kassenzone-Folge spricht Mario Konrad, Co-Founder von Ryzon, über den Aufbau und die Entwicklung der D2C-Sportbrand: von den Anfängen in der Triathlon-Nische über den starken Fokus auf Radsport bis hin zu internationalem Wachstum in den USA. Dabei geht es um Premium-Positionierung, europäische Produktion und die bewusste Entscheidung gegen Plattformen und Wholesale. Mario erklärt, warum Community-Nähe, Performance-Produkte und ein klarer Marken­kern entscheidend für hohe Kundenbindung sind und weshalb App, Bundles und Sets eine zentrale Rolle für Retention und Warenkorbgröße spielen. Wie behauptet sich Ryzon gegen Discountdruck, chinesische Wettbewerber und Marktplätze wie Temu? Das Gespräch im Überblick: (4:46) Der Wandel im Radmarkt (12:08) Wachstum und Herausforderungen bei Ryzon (15:53) Kundenbindung und Retention (27:02) Wachstumsstrategien und Expansionspläne (37:35) Konkurrenz durch chinesische Marken (45:02) Blick in die Zukunft Podcast-Host – Karo Junker de Neui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karojunker https://etribes.de/ Newsletter: https://www.kassenzone.de/newsletter/ Community: https://kassenzone.de/discord Disclaimer: https://www.kassenzone.de/disclaimer/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KassenzoneDe/ Blog: https://www.kassenzone.de/ Kassenzone” wird vermarktet von Podstars by OMR. Du möchtest in “Kassenzone” werben? Dann https://podstars.de/kontakt/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes_kassenzone

Pixel Flow! works because it combines familiarity with novelty. The core loop feels intuitive if you've played sorting or bench-based puzzle games, but the slinging and conveyor mechanics add speed, mastery, and tension. Difficulty is created through execution pressure, not confusion. Players feel smart when they win and responsible when they lose, which massively boosts engagement.Monetization is deceptively simple and very effective. Interstitials trigger on failed and completed levels, rewarded videos are optional and placed where they don't break flow, and there are no unnecessary ad placements on app open. Ads already contribute roughly 15–20% of revenue and perhaps even more, with room to grow, but the team clearly prioritizes uninterrupted gameplay to protect conversion and retention.The biggest growth driver is UA. Pixel Flow! skipped a traditional soft launch, went hard on AppLovin and Mintegral, then expanded rapidly to TikTok, Unity, Google, and Meta. Creative velocity is extreme, with thousands of new creatives pushed in weeks, including playables, AI visuals, and gray-zone recognizable characters. Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro and why Pixel Flow matters02:10 — First impressions and core loop04:10 — Sorting shooter mechanics explained06:40 — Bench, tray, and slinging mastery09:30 — Difficulty design and fail states12:10 — Comparison vs Voodoo-style sorting games14:00 — Growth timeline and revenue explosion16:00 — DAU, geo mix, and scale reality18:30 — Copycats and category pressure21:00 — Deterministic vs casino-style puzzles23:20 — Ceiling discussion: 15–30M per month?25:00 — Ad monetization breakdown27:30 — Why not to overpush rewarded ads29:30 — CPI, retention, and UA efficiency32:00 — Creative velocity as the real moat35:00 — IP lookalikes and gray-zone creatives38:30 — What Pixel Flow must do next41:30 — Final take and closing thoughts---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me

The direct-to-consumer (D2C) model is expanding beyond traditional webshops and into the world of user-generated content (UGC), especially on PC and console. In this episode, host Devin Becker is joined by Liam Wiltshire, General Manager at Tebex, to explore how the evolution of private servers, mods, and community-run experiences is shaping new monetization strategies. Liam shares the origin story of Tebex and its integration within the broader Overwolf ecosystem, highlighting how D2C strategies for games like Minecraft, Rust, and Ark differ fundamentally from those in mobile gaming.The conversation covers the nuances of player relationships in D2C models, including the absence of platform payment rails and notification systems, and how that impacts engagement and monetization design. Devin and Liam also dig into emerging e-commerce strategies such as loyalty systems and upsells, and how Tebex is bringing these tools to individual creators and modders. The episode concludes with a look at industry shifts from regulatory changes to evolving platform policies, and how studios can future-proof their monetization strategies as D2C continues to grow across platforms.We'd like to thank Heroic Labs for making this episode possible! Thousands of studios have trusted Heroic Labs to help them focus on their games and not worry about gametech or scaling for success. To learn more and reach out, visit https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Why do so many of us founders try to do the equivalent of building a flatpack house without the instructions? And then beat ourselves up internally when it turns out to be harder than expected? Or when you make mistakes that anyone would in the same situation? Would you spend years trying to make it work with no instructions — just half-torn pages you've collected along the way, doing your best to stitch them together?Not just the furniture mind you - The foundations. The skeleton. The plumbing. The electrics. The legal and safety stuff too....... and while you're trying to build it, you're also trying to market it, sell AirB&B rooms and put the entire place up for sale?Would you spend 50-500k of your own money doing this, not to mention your unpaid time?That's effectively what we do as consumer packaged goods founders.After a tough few years, after countless marathons, we often end up with good products, and a brand we feel passionate about.Perhaps we get some early D2C wins, and some early retailer traction too.But then the stakes get higher. We need to making pricing, channel, hiring and funding decisions without ever being able to see how the whole system fits together.So decisions get made in isolation - without us realising they are joined up. (think pricing decisions and customer or channel read-across - and if you don't know what that means, ask below and I will tell you from my own experience, mistakes and learnings!)Problems get fixed as they appear.But the cost shows up later - in margin, stress, or decisions that need undoing.This is happening to thousands of us, everyday. How ridiculous is that? We're all making the same mistakes, incurring the same costs, getting more and more stressed - without ever asking: Why am I not looking for a set of instructions for this? Why am I beating myself up for not getting it right without them?After 25+ years working inside and alongside consumer brands - from global blue-chip FMCG to fast-scaling challengers, I kept seeing this pattern repeat.So I built the decision-making framework I needed and I wrapped it up inside the BGH Mini MBA. With a peer and expert network, so you don't have to carry this level of complexity on their own.Stop thinking you *should* be able to do this on your own.Fi Fitz ⚡

In this episode, we break down Lessmore's second major hit after Arrows and explain why Forgemaster is a pure IAP-driven idle RPG with no visible ads. From Legend of Mushroom mechanics and gacha systems to LTV, UA limits, and creative strategy, this is a deep dive into why Lessmore knows exactly when ads help and when they don't.What we cover• Why Forgemaster feels instantly familiar• Legend of Mushroom DNA explained• Why are ads missing on purpose• LTV vs scale tradeoffs• UA and creative bottlenecks• How this game could scale furtherGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro & context after Arrows01:40 — Why Forgemaster matters03:10 — Visual DNA and reused assets04:30 — Legend of Mushroom comparison06:20 — Gacha, skills, pets & progression09:00 — Idle loops and infinite treadmill11:30 — PvP, clans and social layers13:30 — The missing ads question16:00 — Why Lessmore likely turned ads off18:10 — Revenue, ARPU and LTV signals20:30 — UA performance and CPI reality23:00 — Creative strategy limits25:10 — How to scale Forgemaster further27:30 — Category outlook for idle RPGs29:30 — Final takeaways---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

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Why is Lessmore's Arrow Puzzle Escape scaling to millions of DAU and making $250k/day in Ad Revenue? In this episode, we break down how Lessmore built Arrow Puzzle Escape into one of the fastest-scaling ad-monetized puzzle games on the market. From brutal simplicity and ultra-low CPI to aggressive ad design and relentless testing, this is a masterclass in distribution-first mobile game design.Topics covered• Why Lessmore is a testing company• How Arrow Puzzle Escape reached ~4M DAU• Why simplicity crushes CPI• Ad monetization design choices• Session length vs difficulty• Why remove-ads is hidden• Why copycats don't matterGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro & Lessmore background02:30 — Miniclip acquisition context04:30 — Portfolio overview & performance06:00 — Arrows DAU explosion explained08:10 — Category comparison vs traffic puzzles10:30 — Why arrows beat cars for CPI12:30 — Gameplay walkthrough & simplicity15:00 — Difficulty design and session length17:30 — Ad monetization breakdown20:00 — Interstitials, rewarded videos & banners22:30 — Retention vs monetization tradeoffs25:00 — Why remove-ads is hidden27:00 — Creatives & UA scaling logic29:30 — Testing culture & prototype accounts32:00 — Why copycats won't catch up34:00 — Final takeaways & Part 2 teaser---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In episode 101 of Venture Everywhere, Jenny Fielding, co-founder and managing partner at Everywhere Ventures, talks with Ryan Lupberger, founder and CEO of Cleancult, a sustainable cleaning products company revolutionizing the household cleaning category with innovative paper-based packaging that eliminates plastic waste. Ryan shares his unconventional journey from working on organic farms to discovering the largely unregulated world of cleaning product ingredients. He discusses the realities of building a sustainable CPG brand that can compete with industry giants without compromising on price or performance.In this episode, you will hear:Building custom manufacturing infrastructure for liquid soap in paper cartons from scratch.Scaling from D2C to nationwide distribution across major retailers.Achieving price parity with legacy brands through volume, partnerships, and operational discipline.Expanding the product portfolio with innovative plastic-free formats across cleaning categories.Learn more about Ryan Lupberger | CleancultLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlupbergerWebsite: https://www.cleancult.comLearn more about Scott Hartley | Everywhere VenturesLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfieldingWebsite: https://everywhere.vc

Was 2025 the year the games industry finally stopped talking about direct-to-consumer and started treating it as the default way to do business? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla, for a wide-ranging conversation about how regulation, platform pressure, and shifting player expectations have pushed D2C from the margins into the mainstream. As court rulings, the Digital Markets Act, and high-profile battles like Epic versus Apple continue to reshape the industry, developers are gaining more leverage, but also more responsibility, over how they distribute, monetize, and support their games. Chris breaks down why D2C is no longer just about avoiding app store fees. It is about owning player relationships, controlling data, and building sustainable businesses in a more consolidated market. We explore how tools like Xsolla's Unity SDK are lowering the barrier for studios to sell directly across mobile, PC, and the web, while handling the operational complexity that often scares teams away from global payments, compliance, and fraud management. We also dig into what is changing inside live service games. From offer walls that help monetize the vast majority of players who never spend, to LiveOps tools that simplify campaigns and retention strategies, Chris shares real examples of how studios are seeing meaningful lifts in revenue and engagement. The conversation moves beyond technology into mindset, especially for indie and mid-sized teams learning that treating a game as a long-term business needs to start far earlier than launch day. Here in 2026, we talk about account-centric economies, hybrid monetization models running in parallel, and the growing role of community-driven commerce inspired by platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. There is optimism in these shifts, but also understandable anxiety as studios adjust to managing more of the stack themselves. Chris offers a grounded perspective on how that balance is likely to play out. So if games are becoming hobbies, platforms are opening up, and developers finally have the tools to meet players wherever they are, what does the next phase of direct-to-consumer really look like, and are studios ready to fully own that relationship? Useful Links Connect with Chris Hewish on LinkedIn Learn more about Xsolla Follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Thanks to our sponsors, Alcor, for supporting the show.

From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. After Derek's dad's sudden passing, he walked away from a multi-six figure career with the software giant ClickFunnels to take over his family's 130 year old ranch. That's where he started the Primal King Podcast, Cross O Meats (a D2C beef company) and now lives on 2700 acres in central Idaho with his wife and 4 kids. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. There are more things than just money. 2. Fulfillment is living your life in a way that will inspire other people. 3. Make the hard decisions and be brave through them. Tune in to Derek's Podcast: Liberation, Lifestyle, Legacy - Primal King Podcast Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. NetSuite - NetSuite is the number one AI Cloud ERP, trusted by over 43,000 businesses. Get NetSuite's free business guide, Demystifying AI, at Netsuite.com/fire.

Nate Torvik, Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager at Win Reality, joins Pathmonk Presents to break down how lifecycle marketing works when your product is genuinely new to the market. Win Reality delivers virtual reality baseball and softball training tools used by athletes, parents, and coaches, creating a rare mix of D2C and B2B challenges. Nate explains why education is the real conversion lever, how persona-specific messaging drives confidence, and why lifecycle flows matter more when users don't fully understand what they're buying yet. The episode dives into paid social, Reddit as a discovery channel, and how confidence-building experiences can outperform feature-heavy sales tactics in emerging technology categories

Today, I'm sharing a case study and an analysis that I originally shared with our LABS members.  The reason I'm doing this is, one of the most valuable things that we can do as a product-based business owner is look outside of our industry for inspiration, ideas, and new ways of thinking about our own business.  When we study how other industries structure their revenue models, how they build community or how they create demand for their products, we really start to see new and fresh opportunities that we can adapt in our own way for our own business.  In this episode, we're looking at Athletic Brewing Company and how they doubled their D2C subscription sales in 2025 by positioning their membership as a VIP lifestyle experience rather than a discount program. It's a simple shift, but a strategic one.  It really sparked two ideas that I think you can use: One will be for your D2C sales ecosystem, and one is for your wholesale channel. We will walk through what Athletic Brewing Company got right, why their approach works, and how you can apply versions of this inside of your own business in a way that again fits your particular audience, your product line, margins, and, of course, your capacity.  If you want to see more case studies like this, real examples from outside of the consumer gift world, and you want to see how we break them down into actionable insights and ideas for your product brand, this is exactly the type of work we do inside of Proof to Product LABS every single week.  This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. We have member-only events inside of LABS, so request your invitation to join below!  REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/422  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Live from the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference, our analysts discuss how AI is reshaping the future of shopping in the U.S.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Michelle Weaver: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. We're coming to you live from Morgan Stanley's Global Consumer and Retail Conference in New York City, where we have more than 120 leading companies in attendance. Today's episode is the second part of our live discussion of the U.S. consumer and how AI is changing consumer companies. With me on stage, we have Arunima Sinha from the Global and U.S. Economics team, Simeon Guttman, our U.S. Hardlines, Broad Lines, and Food Retail Analyst, and Megan Clap, U.S. Food Producers and Leisure Analyst. It's Friday, December 5th at 10am in New York. So, Simeon, I want to start with you. You recently put out a piece assessing the AI race. Can you take us through how you're assessing current AI implementation? And can you give us some real-world examples of what it looks like when a company significantly integrates AI into their business? Simeon Gutman: Sure. So, the Consumer Discretionary and Staples teams went to each of their covered companies, and we started searching for what those companies have disclosed and communicated regarding their AI. In some cases, we used AI to do this search. But we created a search and created this universe of factors and different ways AI is being implemented. We didn't have a framework until we had the entire universe of all of these AI use cases. Once we did, then we were able to compartmentalize them. And the different groups; we came up with six groups that we were able to cluster. First, personalization and refined search; second, customer acquisition; third product innovation; fourth, labor productivity; fifth, supply chain and logistics. And lastly, inventory management. And using that framework, we were able to rank companies on a 1 to 10 scale. Across – that was the implementation part – across three different dimensions: breadth, how widely the AI is deployed across those categories; the depth, the quality, which we did our best to be able to interpret. And then the last one was proprietary initiatives. So, that's partnerships, could be with leading AI firms. So that helped us differentiate the leaders with others, not necessarily laggards, but those who were ahead of in the race. In some cases, companies that have communicated more would naturally scream more, so there is some potential bias in that. But otherwise, the fact pattern was objective. Walmart has full scale AI deployment. They're integrated across their business. They've introduced GenAI tools. That's like their Sparky shopping assistant. As well as integrated to in-store features. They talked about it. It's been driving a 25 percent increase in average shopper spend. They've recently partnered with OpenAI to enable ChatGPT powered Search and Checkout, positioning where the company, where the customer is shopping. They're also layering on augmented reality for holiday shopping, computer vision for shelf monitoring. LLMs for inventory replenishment. Autonomous lifts, the list goes on and on. But it covers all the functional categories in our framework. Michelle Weaver: And how about a couple examples of the ways companies are using these? Any interesting real world use cases you've seen so far? Simeon Gutman: So, one of them was in marketing personalization, as well as in product cataloging. That was one of the more sided themes at this conference. So, it was good timing. So, the idea is when product is staged on a company's website; I don't think we all appreciate how much time and many hours and people and resources it takes to get the correct information, to get the right pictures and to show all the assortment – those type of functions AI is helping enable. And it sounds like we're on the cusp of a step change in personalization. It sounds like AI, machine learning or algorithm driven suggestions to consumers. We didn't get practical use cases, but a lot of companies talked about the deployment of this into 2026, which sounds like it's something to look forward to. Michelle Weaver: And Megan, how would you describe AI adoption in your space in terms of innings and what kind of criteria are you using to assess the future for AI opportunity and potential? Megan Clapp: Yeah, I would say; I'd characterize adoption in the Food and broader Staples space today is still relatively early innings. I think most companies are still standing up the data infrastructure, experimenting with various tools. We're seeing companies pilot early use cases and start to talk about them, and that was evident in the work we did with the note that Simeon just talked about. And so, the opportunity, I think, going ahead, lies in kind of what we see in terms of scaling those pilots to become more impactful. And for Staples broadly, and Food, you know, ties into this. I think, these companies start with an advantage and that they sit on a tremendous amount of high frequency consumption data. So, the data availability is quite large. The question now is, you know, can these large organizations move with speed and translate that data into action? And that's something that we're focused on when we think about feasibility. I think we think about the opportunity for Food and Staples broadly as we'd put it into kind of two areas. One is what can they do on the top line? Marketing, innovation, R&D, kind of the lifeblood of CPG companies, and that's where we're seeing a lot of the early use cases. I think ultimately that will be the most important driver – driving top line, you know, tends to be the most important thing in most consumer companies. But then on the other side, there are a lot of cost efforts, supply chain savings, labor productivity. Those are honestly a bit easier to quantify. And we're seeing real tangible things come out of that. But overall I think the way we think about it is the large companies with scale and the ability to go after the opportunity because they have the scale and the balance sheet to do so – will be winners here, as well as the smaller, more nimble companies that, you know, can move a little bit faster. And so that's how we're thinking about the opportunity. Michelle Weaver: Can you give us also just a couple examples of AI adoption that's been successful that you've seen so far? Megan Clapp: Yeah, so on the top line side, like I said, kind of marketing innovation, R&D. One quick example on the Food side. Hershey, for example, they're using algorithms to reallocate advertising spend by zip code, based on the real time sell through. So, they can just be much more targeted and more efficient, honestly, with that advertising spend. I think from an innovation perspective too, these companies are able to identify on trend things faster and incorporate that and take the idea to shelf time down significantly. And then on the cost side, you know, General Mills is a company is actually relatively, far ahead, I'd say, in the AI adoption curve in Staples broadly. And what they've done is deployed what they call digital twins across their network, and it has improved forecast accuracy. They've taken their historical productivity savings from 4 percent annually to 5 percent. That's something that's structural. So, seeing real tangible benefits that are showing up in the PNL. And so, I think broadly the theme is these companies are using AI to make faster, and more precise decisions. And then I thought, I'd just mention on the leisure side, something that I felt was interesting that we learned from Shark Ninja yesterday at the conference is – when asked about the role of Agentic AI in future commerce, thinks it'll be huge was how he described; the CEO described it. And what they're doing actively right now is optimizing their D2C website for LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini. And his point was that what drives conversion on D2C today may not ultimately be what ranks on AI driven search. But he said the expectation is that by Christmas of next year, commerce via these AI platforms will be meaningful; mentioned that OpenAI is already experimenting with curated product transactions. So, they're really focused on optimizing their portfolio. He thinks brands will win; but you have got to get ahead of it as well. Michelle Weaver: And that's great that you just brought up Agentic commerce. We've heard about it quite a bit over the past couple of days, Simeon. And I know you recently put out a big piece on this theme. Agentic commerce introduces a lot of possibility for incremental sales, but it also introduces the possibility for cannibalization. Where do you see this shaking out in your space? Are you really concerned about that cannibalization possibility? Simeon Gutman: Yeah, so the larger debate is a little bit of sales cannibalization and a potential bit of retail media cannibalization. So, your first point is Agentic theoretically opens up a bigger e-commerce penetration and just more commerce. And once you go to more e-commerce, that could be beneficial for some of these companies. We can also put the counter argument of when e-commerce came, direct-to-consumer type of selling could disintermediate the captive retailer sales again. Maybe, maybe not. Part of this answer is we created a framework to think about what retailers can protect themselves most from this. Two of them; two of the five I's are infrastructure and inventory. So, the more that your inventory is forward position, the more infrastructure you have; the AI and the agent will still prioritize that retailer within that network. That business will likely not go elsewhere. And that's our premise. Now, retail media is a different can of worms. We don't know what models are going to look like. How this interaction will take place? We don't know who controls the data. The transactions part of this conference is we were hearing, ‘Well, the retailers are going to control some of the data and the transaction.' Will consumers feel comfortable giving personal information, credit card to agents? I'm sure at some point we'll feel comfortable, but there are these inertia points and these are models that are getting worked out today. There's incentives for the hyperscalers to be part of this. There's incentive for the retailers to be part of it. But we ultimately don't know. What we do know is though forward position inventory is still going to win that agent's business if you need to get merchandise quickly, efficiently. And if it's a lot of merchandise at once. Think about the largest platforms that have been investing in long tail of product and speed to getting it to that consumer. Michelle Weaver: And Arunima, I want to bring this back to the macro as well. As AI adoption starts to ramp the labor market then starts to get called into question. Is this going to be automation or is it going to be augmentation as you see a ramp in AI adoption? So how are your expectations for AI being factored into your forecast and what are you expecting there? Arunima Sinha: There are two ways that we think about just sort of AI spending mattering for our growth forecasts. One part is literally the spend, the investment in the data centers and the chips and so on. And then the other is just the rise in productivity. So, does the labor or does the human capital become more productive? And if we sum both of those things together, we think that over 2026 – [20]27, they add anywhere between 40-45 basis points to growth. And just to put things in perspective, our GDP growth estimate for the end of this year in 2026 is 1.8 percent. For 2027, it's 2.0 percent. So, it's an important part of that process. In terms of the labor market itself, the work that you have led, as well as the work that we've been doing – which is this question about adoption at the macro level, that's still fairly low. We look at the census data that tracks larger companies or mid-size companies on a monthly basis to say, ‘How much did you use AI tools in the last couple of weeks.' And that's been slowly increasing, but it's still sort of in the mid-teens in terms of how many companies have been using as a percentage. And so, we think that adoption should continue to increase. And as that does, for now, we think it is going to be a compliment to labor. Although there are some cohorts within sort of demographic cohorts in terms of ages that are probably going to be disproportionately impacted, but we don't think that that's a sort of near term 2026 story. Michelle Weaver:  Well, thank you all for joining us and please follow Thoughts on the Market wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our panel participants for this engaging discussion and to our live and podcast audiences. Thanks for listening. 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