Podcasts about moats

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on Mike McCarthy being named as Head Coach of the Steelers! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to discuss the Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy as Head Coach, recap the NFL Championship playoff round plus more!

This week's podcast has my take-aways from my Nov 2026 visit to Alibaba.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.The take-aways are:“AI Plus Ecommerce” Is the Big Focus DomesticallyThe China Instant Commerce War Was EntertainingThe Instant Commerce War Strategically Important for AlibabaAlibaba's Liya and Digital KOLs Are AmazingAlibaba's “AI Plus Ecommerce” Is Going International. Definitely Try These.AccioAidgeThe Alibaba AI Apps I Am WatchingDingTalkQuarkAmapQwenWanTongyi Deep Research6 Six Alibaba values------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

In this powerful episode, two of the most respected voices in literacy education—Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Tim Odegard—come together to discuss the urgent need for systemic change in how reading is taught, understood, and supported across the U.S. Drawing from decades of research, policy work, and classroom experience, they explore the persistent gaps between what science tells us about reading and what many educators are still expected to implement. Their conversation is candid, evidence-based, and deeply rooted in a shared commitment to literacy as a civil right.Dr. Moats reflects on the evolution of her work, including the impact of her seminal paper “Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science,” and the barriers that continue to prevent widespread adoption of structured literacy. Dr. Odegard brings a complementary perspective from his leadership at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, highlighting the importance of teacher preparation, data transparency, and the moral imperative to serve all learners—including those with dyslexia. Together, they challenge assumptions, clarify misconceptions, and call for courageous leadership at every level of education.Listeners will walk away with a renewed understanding of what it means to teach reading well, and a renewed understanding of what is necessary to capitalize on the lessons of reading science.. This episode is essential for educators, administrators, policymakers, and advocates who want to move beyond buzzwords and toward meaningful, measurable change.What Dr. Moats and Dr. Odegard will discuss: ●      Why “Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science” remains relevant today●      Priorities for improving implementation of evidence-aligned instruction●      Why higher education holds the key to sustaining literacy reform and preparing future teacher educators●      What the national landscape of dyslexia laws reveals about progress—and what's still missing in impact research ●      Why current policies overemphasize foundational print skills while neglecting morphological and etymological depth in spelling and word study ●      How oral language and comprehension continue to be overlooked in screening, curriculum adoption, and teacher preparation ●      What Kansas and Ohio's systemic literacy blueprints teach us about building coherent, statewide literacy systems   

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on Mike Tomlin stepping away as Head Coach of the Steelers! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to discuss the Steelers Head Coaching search, the headlines from the NFL's Divisional playoff round plus more!

In this special episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, the Partners come together to discuss how AI, new business models, and shifting global dynamics are reshaping startups and what founders should be preparing for as we head deeper into 2026 and beyond. From pragmatic AI adoption to new opportunities in services, SaaS, climate, and governance, this is a grounded conversation on what's actually changing and what still matters.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:30 – What Prime Is Willing to Bet On03:20 – AI Models vs Real Value Creation07:35 – Automation, Services and Opportunity11:30 – Moats and Distribution in an AI-First World20:00 – Why Fundamentals Still Matter24:05 – SaaS, Services and India's Global Opportunity28:25 – How AI Will Change Venture Capital37:40 – Predicting the Defining Startups of 203042:05 – Climate, Energy and Big Problems Becoming Solvable45:40 – Boards, Governance and AI Ethics52:10 – Closing Thoughts for Founders Building in 2026

Loïc Houssier (CTO, Superhuman) joins VC.fm to unpack the Grammarly acquisition of Superhuman and what it signals about the future of AI-native productivity tools.We talk AI in the workflow vs standalone AI tools (ChatGPT/Gemini), voice-first computing, vibe coding vs production engineering, AI's impact on hiring, and why UX taste and product design may be the real moat in an era where everyone has access to the same LLMs.Keywords: Grammarly acquires Superhuman, Superhuman email, Loïc Houssier, AI productivity, AI-native software, email AI, workflow AI, OpenAI, Anthropic, LLMs, vibe coding, Cursor, UX design moat, product-led growth, startup defensibility, AI hiring.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentInstagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterharris2812#Superhuman #Grammarly #AI #Productivity #Startups #VentureCapital #Email #LLM #OpenAI #Anthropic #VibeCoding #UXDesign #ProductManagement #Engineering

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on Mike Tomlin stepping away as Head Coach of the Steelers! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to discuss Mike Tomlin stepping away, recap the Steelers vs Texans matchup, the headlines from the NFL's Wildcard playoff round plus more!

Allen Farrington is an investor at Axiom BTC Capital and a writer known for sharp, contrarian takes on bitcoin and adjacent topics like bitcoin venture capital, fiat “plumbing,” and stablecoins. With Axiom, Allen uniquely focuses on clients' returns not coming from financial engineering, but from productive deployment of capital to solve real world problems.In this episode, Allen joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share how bitcoin exposes the fiat distortions inside venture capital, why clear lines between saving and investing change founder and limited partner (LP) behavior, and what a bitcoin-first stack means for payments and stablecoins. We dig into local capital allocation on a sound-money standard, free/open-source dynamics and moats, and why lightning + ecash may be the endgame for stablecoins.SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut...TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Intro & disclaimer; setting up VC in a world of finite money2:12 – Bitcoin as “fixing the plumbing”: unwinding fiat distortions vs fantasizing about the end state4:45 – How artificially low rates monetize other assets and push allocators out the risk curve7:28 – Pension funds, liabilities, and why flows into venture decouple from fundamentals9:46 – “Thousand-x or bust”: why LP incentives shape VC behavior (and fund crypto)12:02 – Saving vs investing: why buying bitcoin ≠ venture investing (and Axiom's thesis)16:05 – Local investing on a sound-money standard and higher opportunity costs for founders20:52 – Measuring in bitcoin terms: hurdle rates, returns, and what “outperforming bitcoin” really means27:15 – Trusted third parties are security holes… so where do businesses add value? (non-custodial services)32:06 – Moats in a FOSS world: compete by delivering value, not lock-in36:50 – “Zero to One,” monopolies, and why ruthless excellence beats user exploitation41:10 – Open vs closed source: the healthy tension in bitcoin-native companies44:22 – Allen's “half-baked” stablecoin thesis: why new “stablecoin blockchains” are a dead end47:06 – The Genius Act: fully reserved dollars, surveillance tradeoffs, and limited real-world impact so far48:55 – Lightning as settlement layer for fiat tokens; taproot assets / RGB today, ecash tomorrow55:00 – Could fully reserved rails hollow out small banks? Centralization pressures and unintended consequences56:44 – Closing: where to find Allen and Axiom BTCWHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom   → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Allen Farrington's Twitter: https://x.com/allenf32    → Timot Lamarre's Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production): https://x.com/DeFBeD

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode brings infrastructure investing to life — literally.We sat down in and walked through one of Stonepeak's data center assets with Managing Director and CEO of SP+ INFRA, Cyrus Gentry.Cyrus has played an integral role in Stonepeak's rapid ascent as a firm and the growth of its wealth solutions business, Stonepeak+, joining early in the firm's history and helping the firm grow to approximately $80B in AUM.Cyrus brings a private equity perspective to infrastructure investing. Prior to Stonepeak, he held investing roles at BC Partners and Advent International. He also serves as one of the Church Commissioners for the Church of England, who hold responsibility for managing the Church's £11.1B permanent endowment fund.Cyrus and I had a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion about infrastructure investing and why and how it can fit within a wealth client's portfolio. We covered:How Cyrus' background in private equity investing has transferred over to investing in infrastructure.The opportunity and risks of data center investing.The risk of overbuilding in data centers.Why location matters for data centers.What makes interconnection data centers attractive data center assets.How Cyrus and Stonepeak have built their wealth solutions business and how they've endeavored to be different in how they've built out the business.How Stonepeak's wealth business is a reflection of the firm's DNA.Thanks Cyrus for coming on the show to share your expertise, wisdom, and passion for infrastructure investing and working with the wealth channel.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast02:04 Introducing Cyrus Gentry and Stonepeak00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message03:25 Cyrus's Journey from Private Equity to Infrastructure04:56 Understanding Infrastructure Investing06:10 The Importance of Moats in Infrastructure06:57 Differences Between Private Equity and Infrastructure07:38 Stonepeak's Growth and Strategy09:06 Specialization in Infrastructure Investment09:54 Balancing Long-Term Horizons with Industry Changes11:15 The Role of Data Centers in Modern Life14:43 Investment Perspectives on Connectivity15:55 Challenges in Infrastructure Investing17:10 Executing Value Creation Plans19:06 Structured Capital in Infrastructure Deals21:17 Trends and Scale in Infrastructure Investment22:43 Patience and Discipline in Investment23:34 Global Expansion and Strategy Diversification24:09 Collaborative Approach with Corporates24:42 Capital and Problem Solving25:02 Building Stonepeak Wealth Solutions25:30 Infrastructure Asset Class Benefits25:47 Strategic Planning and Vision26:05 Creation of Stonepeak-Plus26:15 Early Discussions on Wealth Business27:32 Team Dynamics and Entrepreneurial DNA27:59 Understanding the Wealth Market28:56 Educating Investors on Infrastructure29:50 Allocating Infrastructure in Portfolios30:07 Global Perspectives on Infrastructure32:18 Learning from Institutional Investors33:19 Common Questions from Wealth Channel34:02 Mega Trends and Investment Strategies34:46 Core, Core Plus, and Value Add Assets36:12 AI and Data Centers40:20 Power and Energy in Data Centers42:34 Local and Global Investment Strategies44:12 Geopolitical Risks and Infrastructure46:36 Lessons Learned and Future OutlookEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Perfrement, investor, tennis enthusiast, and co-founder of 5AM Capital. The conversation dives into Tom's personal journey—growing up in Canberra, his passion for tennis, and his deep commitment to long-term investing. Together, they explore the contrasting worlds of short-term and long-term strategies in finance, highlighting the philosophical differences and pressures that shape decisions in investment banking and asset management. Tom shares insights into 5AM Capital's unique philosophy, inspired by early-morning discipline and the company's roots in Bondi, Sydney. They reflect on recent events impacting the Bondi community, the importance of purpose in business, and the values behind building a boutique investment firm. Throughout the episode, Tom draws parallels between tennis and investing, explaining how having diverse skills and sticking to a personal style can lead to success both on the court and in the market. Listeners will gain thought-provoking perspectives on risk, the power of monopolies and moats in business, and the psychological challenges of navigating volatile markets. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode offers actionable insights on building enduring value, staying purposeful, and playing the long game. N.B. The information provided in this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to be financial advice.

This week's podcast is a summary of my GenAI playbook. It is the summary of 12 articles.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.The mentioned graphics are here.That's it for the GenAI playbook.Cheers, Jeff -------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

What actually makes a startup defensible anymore, especially when anyone can build a product overnight with AI?In this episode of Supra Insider, Marc Baselga and Ben Erez sit down with Itamar Novick, founder of Recursive Ventures and longtime operator-turned-investor, to unpack how moats are changing in the AI era and what founders (and senior product leaders) need to internalize if they want to build enduring companies.Itamar draws from over 25 years across product leadership, company-building, and early-stage investing to explain why defensibility matters earlier than most founders think, how traditional moats (marketplaces, SaaS velocity, network effects) still apply, and why AI radically compresses time-to-competition. He breaks down how Recursive Ventures evaluates teams, TAM, and moats at the pre-seed stage, why velocity has become a core signal, and how the venture model itself is being reshaped by smaller teams, faster execution, and lower capital requirements.The conversation also goes deep on founder decision-making: how to choose early investors, why community itself can be a moat, what good vs bad VCs look like when companies fail, and why product leaders should seriously consider jumping into AI-native environments, even if it means a short-term step down.If you're a product leader thinking about founding a company, advising startups, or staying relevant in the next decade, this episode offers a clear, opinionated framework for navigating what's changed and what still matters.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox

This week's podcast has my predictions for 2026.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.My predictions are:1) It Will be Another Big Year For Google Gemini2) GenAI Data Architecture in Enterprises Will Be the Critical Capability3) AI Service Business Models vs. Platform Business Models Is the Big Question.4) AI Agents and Agent Operating Basics Are the Other Critical Capability for Businesses5) Agentic Ecommerce Will Be a Major Disruption6) AI Cloud Businesses Will Continue to Lead7) China Will Shock the World with Robotics and Physical AI ----------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to supercharge digital growth and build digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, & TaNeisha from @ReallyFlawed do a joint live stream to give their thoughts on the Steelers vs Browns week 17 matchup! Afterwards, Moats and TaNeisha finish the show answering questions from Steelers Nation and previewing the Steelers upcoming Ravens matchup!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show looking at the stats from the Steelers vs Browns game and opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on the game! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Browns matchup, discuss the headlines from the NFL's week 17 action plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show looking at the stats from the Steelers vs Lions game and opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on the game! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Lions matchup, discuss the headlines from the NFL's week 16 action, the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua boxing match plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, & TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  do a joint live stream to give their thoughts on the Steelers vs Lions week 16 matchup! Afterwards, Moats and TaNeisha finish the show answering questions from Steelers Nation and previewing the Steelers upcoming Browns matchup!

A Note from James:One of my favorite conversations on this show was with Peter Thiel. Yes—PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and a dozen other hits. I first ran this episode years ago, and the advice still holds up. The same stories, the same frameworks—and the same challenge to think from first principles. Here's Peter Thiel, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. Episode Description:In this redux, James pressure-tests the core ideas from Peter Thiel's Zero to One—why competition is for losers, how real monopolies are built, and why starting “narrow” is often the only path to something huge. They cover Facebook's early moat (real identity), PayPal's network-effect wedge on eBay, and the “10x or nothing” bar for proprietary technology. Peter shares a contrarian read on bubbles, why biotech's slump may be opportunity, and how to hire, divide roles, and keep teams from fighting. The through-line: seek secrets, combine disciplines, and make something so different that it becomes its own category. What You'll Learn:How to pick markets the Zero to One way: start with a “small, winnable monopoly,” then expand in concentric circles. The four classic moats—and which to favor first: proprietary tech, network effects, economies of scale, and brand (with a bias toward real tech). A practical rule for virality vs. network effects: growth is a tactic; enduring value comes from the network that forms once users arrive. Team design that prevents internal warfare: make roles uniquely owned; if two people own the same thing, you're paying for a fight. How to hunt “secrets”: believe they exist, look where consensus is stale, and borrow from adjacent fields to see what specialists miss. Timestamped Chapters:[02:00] A Note from James — Why this conversation still ranks among the best. [03:00] Zero to One, in one line — “Do something new, different, fresh, strange.” [05:17] Competition vs. Capitalism — Why perfect competition kills profits; aim for uniqueness. [07:28] Facebook's original edge — Real identity as the breakthrough vs. MySpace's alt-persona culture. [09:14] Bits vs. Atoms — Stagnation outside software and how biology could become an information science. [12:05] Personality and perseverance — Why mild contrarian wiring helps founders ignore status games. [15:21] “10x or nothing” — The technology and/or experience must be an order of magnitude better. [17:00] Monopoly thinking, ethically done — Create abundance by creating something truly new. [23:30] The PayPal pre-history — Why long-running trust among teammates births more companies. [30:10] Early Facebook investment logic — College-only looked “small,” which was exactly the point. [32:03] Turning down $1B — The boardroom debate, optionality, and founder conviction. [36:23] Moats in practice — Picking the right advantage (and why brand alone is shaky). [37:06] Network effects ≠ virality — How value compounds after growth. [39:54] PayPal's wedge — eBay power-sellers and the $10 incentive as a growth accelerant. [41:22] Beware the “Chinese refrigerator” TAM slide — Start small, win big. [42:01] Uber vs. Airbnb — Investor bias and why some models get over- or undervalued. [44:18] Bubbles and the public — What changes across tech, housing, and today's “government bubble.” [48:00] War on cash & credit — Why Peter favors unlevered, opaque innovation over fixed income. [51:10] Biotech headwinds (and upside) — Regulation, Eroom's Law, and why sentiment can misprice breakthroughs. [53:50] Secrets — If you assume they exist, you'll be the one to find them. [57:56] Interdisciplinary bets — CS × biology; CS × transportation; why university silos miss the action. [59:51] Silicon Valley on HBO — The “Peter Gregory” caricature and what the show gets right. Additional Resources:Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (book) — Amazon hardcover. AmazonFounders Fund — Peter Thiel profile (bio & portfolio highlights). Founders Fund“PayPal Mafia” overview (alumni companies: YouTube, Yelp, LinkedIn, Tesla, SpaceX, Palantir, Yammer). WikipediaYahoo's 2006 $1B offer for Facebook (background reporting). Business InsiderEroom's Law (pharma R&D productivity; Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). NatureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show looking at the stats from the Steelers vs Dolphins game! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Dolphins matchup!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 16 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from  ⁨@ReallyFlawed⁩  for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Lions week 16 matchup!

This week's podcast is about the likely impact of agents on ecommerce. And specifically on tourism.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.Here is the mentioned McKinsey report.----------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training As a user, do you still use search engines or have completely defaulted to AI? How will this shift reshape the agency world? How will ads work when people are only getting the one answer they need? Most agency owners are still treating SEO like it's 2012 — optimizing keywords, buying backlinks, and praying to the Google gods. But search has already changed. People are asking AI for answers, not Googling for links. And if you want your agency or your personal brand to stay visible in this new era, the rules are completely different. Today's featured guest will unpack the shift from SEO to AEO and why most businesses are invisible to AI without even realizing it. Kasim Aslam is one of the world's leading voices on Answer Engine Optimization. He runs one of the largest AEO communities and leads a six person research team that has analyzed millions of AI citations to understand how large language models choose their sources. He is also the author of The AEO Blueprint and the founder of multiple companies, including a staffing agency, a mastermind, and AEO.co. Kasim has spent the past year deep in the trenches studying how AI crawlers gather, filter, and prioritize information. When it comes to AEO, nobody has more real data. In this episode, we'll discuss: SEO is over. Understanding AEO. Why brands may get lost in LLMs. The quiet Google change that just changed everything in AI citations. The future of ads. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Why SEO Is No Longer Enough: The Rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) To understand Answer Engine Optimization, we must first understand that, despite what some agencies may be saying, it is not the same as SEO. Traditional search engines prioritize links. That is why entire industries exist around buying them. In the world of LLMs, backlinks barely matter. The number one ranking factor for AI citations is schema markup. And only 12.4% of websites have clean, validated schema. In other words, nearly 90% of brands are invisible to AI crawlers, regardless of how strong their SEO is. Schema isn't just another optimization tactic. It is the visibility layer. It is the metadata that helps LLMs understand and categorize your content. If your schema is broken or missing, AI cannot reference you even if your content is excellent. This is the equivalent of having a beautiful storefront on a street no one can find. The second key is social mentions. In the same way SEO relied on links, AEO relies on people talking about you. For instance, a TikTok comment from someone in the agency industry saying Jason Swenk is their go-to agency guy counts as an authority signal. LLMs weigh these human mentions heavily. Finally, a lot of the nuances on AEO are changing every day, but Kasim has learned that the real key is building authority, long-form content. That along with clear schema and personal brand is the future of staying in the conversation. Why Personal Authority Beats Brand Authority in AI Search One of the biggest shifts Kasim highlights is that answer engines prefer individuals. A person can write a book, earn a PhD, share opinions, create content, develop mastery, and build authority in a way brands cannot. That means generalists are in trouble. If your expertise is scattered, AI won't know how to classify you and won't choose you as an authoritative answer. Meanwhile, someone who goes deep in a single topic becomes the preferred answer. It is a shift away from corporate brand authority and toward personal authority. Authority is not spread across a company anymore. It sits with people. Agencies that hide behind a brand name will lose visibility. Personal brands that plant a flag will win. For agency owners, this is huge. You do not need a bigger brand. You need clear expertise tied to a real person. This is exactly why Jason positions all the Agency Mastery content around him. Personalities thrive. Brands get lost. Where LLMs Get Their Data (and Why That Just Changed Overnight) Kasim's research revealed that 21 percent of all AI citations once came from Reddit. YouTube followed at 18.8 percent. These platforms had deep context and raw human conversation, which LLMs love. Then Google quietly changed everything. Twenty two days before the interview, Google cut off 90% of the internet from AI crawlers by reducing search results from hundreds to ten. Because LLMs rely on deep search results (not the top ten), reducing the searchable depth limits the information AI can access - removing platforms like Reddit from the AI training pipeline. AI tools rely heavily on these deeper results for nuance. By limiting access, Google essentially removed Reddit and other community based sites from the AI food chain. This change sent shockwaves through stock prices and visibility, and most people never noticed. Google is protecting the content needed to train AI because only two organizations truly own the global knowledge graph: Google and Amazon. OpenAI and the rest are crawling, not casing, the internet, which means they operate at a major disadvantage. Google is playing statecraft. And according to Kasim, Google will win the AI race. The Rise of Screenless Search and Voice-Driven Results According to Kasim, we are quickly moving toward a screenless world. Eric Schmidt has said the screenless future is years away, not decades. And the younger generation is already there. Over 55 percent of people under 25 use voice instead of text. Voice queries require different markup, structure, and formatting, and only 0.3 percent of websites use voice schema. Meanwhile, 65 percent of all searches end in zero clicks. People are asking, getting an answer, and moving on. That number does not even include the people who have stopped using search altogether and have already shifted to answer engines. This means your future website is not for your audience. It is for AI. Kasim is rebuilding his personal site in Notion because he believes CSS-light, simple, stripped down sites will perform better for AI ingestion. We are entering a world where content is created for machines first and humans last. How Google Gemini Is Rewriting the Future of Advertising Here is a wild data point. When Kasim set up new Chromebooks for his kids, he discovered the default search engine was not Google. It was Gemini. Google owns Chrome. Google owns Chromebooks. Yet they replaced its primary revenue driver on its own device with a product that currently has no ads. This tells you where the company is headed. They are rebuilding a new knowledge graph optimized for answer engines, while competitors still reply on the old search-oriented graph. And the future ad model will be nothing like what agencies grew up on. If one answer becomes the default experience, where do ads go? How are they shown? What are users willing to tolerate? And will businesses have to give away deep content to earn visibility the same way early YouTubers and bloggers did? These questions will reshape the entire lead generation ecosystem. Data, Moats, and the K-Shaped Economy The people who win in this new world are those who own data. Not tool access or workflows. Data. Custom GPTs, custom models, and proprietary knowledge bases become your moat. We are entering a K-shaped economy. Twenty percent of people and businesses will become unstoppable because their productivity will outpace demand. Eighty percent will fall to zero. The middle disappears. That means agency owners must adapt, evolve, and lean into deep expertise. Vibe coding (the rapid, exploratory use of AI tools) and no code platforms are accelerating this divide. Kasim's team recreated a software that normally costs ten thousand a year in a weekend. Entire SaaS categories are about to be wiped out. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

In this episode I chat with Todd Wenning, a seasoned investment professional with experience at Ensemble Capital, Morningstar, and the Motley Fool about some of the most critical aspects of successful investing: moats, management, and buying companies at the right price. We based this conversation on this Venn diagram that Todd published on X (Twitter) in 2017. For those eager to dive deeper into Todd's investment philosophy and to discover hidden gems in the market, visit Flyover Stocks.Here's a link to the blog post: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/todd-wenning-flyover-stocks

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ Gustafson sits down with Brian Brown, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at Rocket Companies, to unpack how Rocket has built a differentiated, full-stack fintech business far beyond its mortgage roots. The conversation explores Rocket's approach to long-tail monetization, the strategic importance of mortgage servicing, and how recapture rates become a durable competitive advantage in volatile rate environments. Brian shares lessons from leading complex M&A transactions, managing a business that reacts in real time to macro signals, and building a finance organization that prioritizes storytelling, strategy, and cross-functional thinking over pure accounting prowess. The result is a wide-ranging discussion on what traditional financial services companies can teach modern SaaS and fintech leaders about metrics, brand, and disciplined execution.—SPONSORS:Sage Intacct is a cloud financial management platform that replaces spreadsheets, automates workflows, and keeps your books audit-ready as you scale. It unifies accounting, ERP, and real-time reporting for finance, retail, logistics, tech, and professional services. With payback in under six months and up to 250% ROI, and eight years as the customer-satisfaction leader, Sage Intacct helps you take control of your growth: https://bit.ly/3Kn4YHtMercury is business banking built for builders, giving founders and finance pros a financial stack that actually works together. From sending wires to tracking balances and approving payments, Mercury makes it simple to scale without friction. Join the 200,000+ entrepreneurs who trust Mercury and apply online in minutes at https://www.mercury.comRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Tipalti automates the entire payables process—from onboarding suppliers to executing global payouts—helping finance teams save time, eliminate costly errors, and scale confidently across 200+ countries and 120 currencies. More than 5,000 businesses already trust Tipalti to manage payments with built-in security and tax compliance. Visit https://www.tipalti.com/runthenumbers to learn more.Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runFidelity Private Shares is the all-in-one equity management platform that keeps your cap table clean, your data room organized, and your equity story clear—so you never risk losing a fundraising round over messy records. Schedule a demo at https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com and mention Mostly Metrics to get 20% off.—LINKS:Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-brown-3aa37a8a/Rocket Companies: https://rocket.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:From $500M Losses to $500M Profits: The CFO Who Helped Major League Baseball Win off the Fieldhttps://youtu.be/7xw9qY2w5C4—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:02:30 Sponsors — Sage Intacct | Mercury | RightRev00:05:55 CJ's Rocket Mortgage Fanboy Moment00:07:13 How Rocket Mortgage Actually Makes Money00:12:06 Investing in Brand Trust for Infrequent but High-Stakes Decisions00:15:17 Mortgage Servicing as a Long-Term Relationship Engine00:17:17 Sponsors — Tipalti | Aleph | Fidelity Private Shares00:20:40 Why the Long Tail of Customer Relationships Is Underrated00:23:01 Recapture Rate and Why Mortgage Loyalty Is Broken00:25:23 Lower CAC Through Lifetime Value and Repeat Borrowers00:30:55 Financial Storytelling as a CFO's Real Job00:33:03 Why CFOs Must Sell the Story, Not Just the Numbers00:40:49 Public vs. Private M&A and Why Public Deals Are Harder00:45:21 Redfin Acquisition Thesis and Top-of-Funnel Strategy00:52:18 Being Swarmed by Merger Arb Funds Like Taylor Swift00:55:18 How Rocket Forecasts in a Volatile Interest Rate Environment00:58:04 Weekly Forecasting, Scenario Planning, and Avoiding Forecast Fatigue01:00:32 Finance Teams as Business Consultants and Strategic Partners01:02:23 Why CFOs Need a Seat at the Strategy Table01:04:19 Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Leadership Mistake and Building Teams01:05:58 Leadership Lessons on Team Size and Accountability01:07:33 Advice to Younger Self and Slowing Down01:08:49 Finance Software Stack and AI Tools01:11:31 Lessons from Working with Dan Gilbert01:16:58 Craziest Expense Story01:17:55 Outro#RunTheNumbersPodcast #CFOLeadership #FinanceStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #FinancialStorytelling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 15 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Dolphins week 15 matchup, 44 year old Phillip Rivers signing with the Colts, Sherrone Moore being fired at Michigan plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show looking at the stats from the Steelers vs Ravens game! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Ravens matchup!

We want to hear from you! Leave your feedback on the show: https://forms.gle/z5JS5t8dWG26jx5k7Why Listen? This episode dives deep into the realities of hardware hacking, open-source innovation, and the global landscape of electronics manufacturing. Whether you're a hardware builder, engineer, or maker, the insights shared here are crucial for understanding the challenges and opportunities in designing, building, and securing physical devices. We explore not just the technical side, but also the ethical, legal, and economic factors that shape the hardware ecosystem today.What's Inside:The importance of transparency and openness in hardware developmentHow reverse engineering drives innovation and problem-solvingNavigating manufacturing challenges and supply chain complexitiesThe right to repair and why it matters for creators and consumers alikeAbout Andrew "Bunnie" Huang:Hardware hacker, author, and entrepreneurKnown for his pioneering work on Xbox hacking and open-source hardware projectsAdvocate for the right to repair and open innovationBooks by our guest:The Hardware Hacker: Adventures in Making and Breaking Hardware — Bunnie's acclaimed book on hardware hacking, manufacturing, and the global electronics ecosystem.Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering — The classic book that started it all, now available for free from No Starch Press.Music by: Tom StokeDISCLAIMER "The Builder Circle” and “Pratik Development LLC” are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other company. All views expressed are solely those of the guests. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or any professional advice. Listeners are responsible for their own decisions and should consult qualified professionals. By listening, you agree we are not liable for any outcomes.

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 14 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Ravens week 14 matchup plus more!

Joe Hegener weighs in on whether there is an AI bubble. On Tesla (TSLA), which is attempting to pivot towards AI, Joe warns not to bet against Elon Musk. He thinks banks and insurance companies are non-tech, non-AI companies that could be AI plays, arguing that these are the industries that will benefit from adoption. Looking to China, he talks about how it has shifted from being a “black box” to sharing open-source models, and how that has influenced the AI arms race and the moat for U.S. companies. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Value: After Hours is a podcast about value investing, Fintwit, and all things finance and investment by investors Tobias Carlisle, and Jake Taylor. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soldier of Fortune: Warren Buffett, Sun Tzu and the Ancient Art of Risk-Taking⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)We are live every Tuesday at 1.30pm E / 10.30am P.See our latest episodes at https://acquirersmultiple.com/podcastAbout Jake Jake's Twitter: https://twitter.com/farnamjake1Jake's book: The Rebel Allocator https://amzn.to/2sgip3lABOUT THE PODCASTHi, I'm Tobias Carlisle. I launched The Acquirers Podcast to discuss the process of finding undervalued stocks, deep value investing, hedge funds, activism, buyouts, and special situations.We uncover the tactics and strategies for finding good investments, managing risk, dealing with bad luck, and maximizing success.SEE LATEST EPISODEShttps://acquirersmultiple.com/podcast/SEE OUR FREE DEEP VALUE STOCK SCREENER https://acquirersmultiple.com/screener/FOLLOW TOBIASWebsite: https://acquirersmultiple.com/Firm: https://acquirersfunds.com/ Twitter: ttps://twitter.com/GreenbackdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobycarlisleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tobiascarlisleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobias_carlisleABOUT TOBIAS CARLISLETobias Carlisle is the founder of The Acquirer's Multiple®, and Acquirers Funds®. He is best known as the author of the #1 new release in Amazon's Business and Finance The Acquirer's Multiple: How the Billionaire Contrarians of Deep Value Beat the Market, the Amazon best-sellers Deep Value: Why Activists Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations (2014) (https://amzn.to/2VwvAGF), Quantitative Value: A Practitioner's Guide to Automating Intelligent Investment and Eliminating Behavioral Errors (2012) (https://amzn.to/2SDDxrN), and Concentrated Investing: Strategies of the World's Greatest Concentrated Value Investors (2016) (https://amzn.to/2SEEjVn). He has extensive experience in investment management, business valuation, public company corporate governance, and corporate law.Prior to founding the forerunner to Acquirers Funds in 2010, Tobias was an analyst at an activist hedge fund, general counsel of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, and a corporate advisory lawyer. As a lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions he has advised on transactions across a variety of industries in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Singapore, Bermuda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Guam. He is a graduate of the University of Queensland in Australia with degrees in Law (2001) and Business (Management) (1999).

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Tamara Laine, investigative journalist turned two-time tech founder and the CEO and co-founder of MPWR. Tamara brings a rare blend of storytelling, emotional intelligence, and problem-spotting instincts into the world of AI and financial innovation — and in this conversation, she unpacks how those experiences shape the products she builds today.Tamara shares how her investigative background sharpened her ability to dig into root problems, challenge assumptions, and uncover overlooked patterns — skills she now uses to design user-centric, AI-powered solutions for financial inclusion. She opens up about the realities of being a gig worker, the challenges Gen Z faces in accessing credit, and how the traditional banking world is struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing workforce.The episode dives deep into EQ-driven leadership, ethical AI, community as a modern moat, and the rise of low-code tools that are simultaneously empowering founders while making markets noisier than ever. Tamara's insights on responsible innovation, founder resilience, and building tech that actually solves human problems make this a powerful, thought-provoking conversation for today's leaders.TakeawaysInvestigative journalism taught Tamara to identify real problems, ask better questions, and challenge assumptions — essential skills for founders.Curiosity is becoming a competitive advantage in tech, not just a personality trait.Emotional intelligence is now a top leadership skill, especially as AI automates more of our operational workload.Storytelling begins with user journeys — not marketing — and should guide product design from day one.Founders must actively seek blunt feedback and treat it as a gift, not a threat.Market gaps aren't always opportunities — sometimes human behavior simply won't change.AI can create incredible value, but without ethical leadership and diverse teams, it can also reinforce harmful biases.Financial systems haven't evolved fast enough for gig workers and Gen Z borrowers — creating a massive unmet need.Empower was built as an end-to-end solution bridging lenders and borrowers through AI-driven financial fluency and credit modeling.The funding landscape now demands MVPs and traction early, making deep-tech innovation harder but still deeply needed.Chapters00:00 Welcome & Introduction01:20 From Investigative Journalism to Tech03:00 Curiosity as a Founder Superpower05:30 Market Fit, Behavior Change & Category Creation07:40 Storytelling as the Foundation of Product Design10:15 User Journeys, “Falling in Love with the Problem”12:20 The Power of Blunt Feedback in Early-Stage Building15:00 Parenting, Curiosity & Emotional Intelligence17:45 Why EQ Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI20:20 Ethical AI, Bias, and Leadership Responsibility24:00 Financial Access, Gig Workers & the Modern Workforce27:10 How Gen Z Borrows Differently30:00 The Lender Perspective & Market Validation31:55 Fundraising Realities: Money vs. Strategic Money34:20 Noise in the AI Era & The Challenge of Differentiation36:00 Moats, LLMs & Building What Can't Be Easily Copied37:10 Community as a Strategic Advantage38:40 Founder Fears: Funding Markets & Deep Tech41:30 Biggest Founder Aha Moments42:20 Book Recommendation: Outcomes Over Output43:00 Connect with Tamara & Closing ThoughtsTamara Laine's Social Media Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/Resources and Links:https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright

a16z General Partners David Haber, Alex Rampell, and Erik Torenberg discuss why 19 out of 20 AI startups building the same thing will die - and why the survivor might charge $20,000 for what used to cost $20.They expose the "janitorial services paradox" (why the most boring software is most defensible), explain why OpenAI won't compete with your orthodontic clinic software despite having 800 million weekly users, and reveal how non-lawyers are building the most successful legal AI companies. Plus: the brutal truth about why momentum isn't a moat, but without it, you're already dead. Resources:Follow David on X: https://x.com/dhaberFollow Alex on X: https://x.com/arampellFollow Erik on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, & TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  do a joint live stream to give their thoughts on the Steelers vs Bills week 13 matchup! Afterwards, Moats and TaNeisha finish the show answering questions from Steelers Nation!

This week's podcast is a summary of our visit to the Huawei AI Cloud exhibition in Shenzhen.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.Here are the mentioned articles about AI Infrastructure.Understanding AI Infrastructure Part 1: AI Data Centers (Tech Strategy)Understanding AI Infrastructure Part 2: AI Compute is Different (Tech Strategy)Understanding AI Infrastructure Part 3: GenAI Operating Costs (Tech Strategy)Understanding AI Infrastructure Part 4: The Cost of Correctness (Tech Strategy)------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

​Mike Matthews investigates the fascinating news from the week so far and Mike answers what is happening in the odd world of AI bubbles with special guest Lovely Lady Friend. Join Mike as he podcasts live from Café Anyway in podCastro Valley with Madame Rootabega, Valentino, and Bison Bentley. Next show Mike Talks to Chely Shoehart, Floyd the Floorman, and John Deer the Engineer.

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show looking at the stats from the Steelers vs Bills game and then opening the phone lines to Steelers Nation to hear their thoughts on the game! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Bills matchup!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 13 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Bills week 13 matchup plus more!

My guest on the show today is Kenny Chan, Founder and Portfolio Manager of Korwell Capital. Kenny is only 23, but he's built an investment philosophy rooted in the classics — Peter Lynch, Joel Greenblatt, Warren Buffett — and adapted with a modern, high-conviction approach. His north star: “Buy Phil Fisher–like businesses at Graham-like prices.” Kenny walks us through the four categories that define his framework: misunderstood Buffett-like compounders, deep Graham-style value plays, capital-cycle opportunities, and turnarounds. We discuss how he launched Korwell Capital straight out of college, and how investing his own convictions — not academic theory — drives his process. We dig into two examples that bring this to life. First, Advance Auto Parts, where Kenny saw a rare combination of capital-cycle tailwinds, industry consolidation, and a fixable integration problem — creating a classic turnaround at a very cheap price. Second, Trubar, which received a takeover bid on the day of our interview. Kenny breaks down why he viewed the company as a niche brand with a durable moat, why the sale undervalues its long-term potential, and the critical lesson he's taking away: understand management incentives before you invest. We wrap with Kenny's advice for aspiring managers — especially the importance of writing publicly, testing your theses, and building a network through the quality of your ideas. We talked about a number of companies in today's episode, Kenny is a shareholder of Advance Auto Parts and Trubar, and I am not a shareholder in any of the names mentioned. For more information about Kenny Chan and Korwell Capital, please visit: https://korwellcapital.com/ Planet MicroCap Podcast is on YouTube! All archived episodes and each new episode will be posted on the Planet MicroCap YouTube channel. I've provided the link in the description if you'd like to subscribe. You'll also get the chance to watch all our Video Interviews with management teams, educational panels from the conference, as well as expert commentary from some familiar guests on the podcast. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1Q5Yfym Click here to rate and review the Planet MicroCap Podcast The Planet MicroCap Podcast is brought to you by SNN Incorporated, The Official MicroCap News Source, and the Planet MicroCap Review Magazine, the leading magazine in the MicroCap market. You can Follow the Planet MicroCap Podcast on Twitter @BobbyKKraft

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show recapping the action from around the NFL's week 12 slate of games! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Bears matchup!

This week's podcast is about estimating the costs of providing GenAI products and services. And this is changing.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.My approach to assessing GenAI operating costs is the below checklist.What is the cost of compute, including energy and cooling? Initial cost vs. ongoing?The core compute is going to drive a lot of the costs. Especially if you are using an AI cloud service provider. If you have a downloaded open-source model, then it's mostly the initial cost.These compute costs dependent on the requirements of the AI workloads:The compute requirementsThe timing requirementsThe memory requirementsWhat is the cost of creating and maintaining the desired correctness over time?How accurate and correct you need the foundation model to be is a big deal. And this factor determines how much of the operations are done by software versus humans. It can make the costs of GenAI products look a lot more like services than traditional software.My main questions are:How much does correctness matter? What level of correctness does the product need to compete? What is the cost of inaccuracy?How does correctness change over time? Is it stable and flat lining, advancing, naturally changing or deteriorating?How much of a long tail is there in the domain? Is the long tail a liability or a benefit?How much of the process is iterative? How much are humans in the loop?What is the initial cost of training and getting to the desired level of correctness?What is the ongoing cost of inference at the desired level of correctness? How much are humans in the loop?What is the cost and frequency of fine tuning and/or retraining?What are the cost implications of increasing scale?What are the scale advantages vs. disadvantages?Does the Jevon paradox apply? --------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

Brian Balfour, Founder & CEO of Reforge and former VP of Growth at HubSpot, joins Mostly Growth to explore why product-market fit is a moving target. He introduces the concept of the Product-Market Fit Treadmill, a state where rising customer expectations and competitive pressure make it harder than ever to stay ahead. Brian breaks down how AI has accelerated PMF collapse, explains the hidden costs of product adoption, and shares how Reforge shipped five AI-native products with a team of just 20 people. Packed with frameworks, strategic insight, and startup realism, this episode is essential listening for product leaders, operators, and founders navigating the next wave of GTM.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Brian Balfour: brianbalfour.comBrian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbalfour/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/https://brianbalfour.com/four-fits-growth-frameworkhttps://x.com/amasad/status/1981201454032703662?s=46https://getlatka.com/companies/firefliesaihttps://x.com/rowancheung/status/1988218743952916537?https://gamma.app/insights/how-we-built-a-usd100m-business-differently—RELATED EPISODES:When the marketing math doesn't math | with Emily Kramerhttps://youtu.be/sSuoV_YSrlwWhy Founders Are Posting Sad Dinnershttps://youtu.be/Zl6NSIHF2Gk—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:51 Sponsors – Pulley, Metronome00:04:11 Introducing Brian Balfour & Reforge background00:07:22 Evergreen frameworks & Four Fits resurgence00:11:01 PMF treadmill and rising expectations00:14:26 AI shocks and PMF collapse (Chegg)00:16:43 CRM expectations & AI-native workflows00:20:44 R&D as ongoing cost to serve00:22:26 Customers buying based on future product velocity00:24:32 Communicating rapid releases & driving adoption00:25:17 Reforge's expanding AI product suite00:27:52 Product delivery vs. product adoption bottlenecks00:29:32 Platform distribution shifts introduction00:30:51 Evaluating emerging platforms00:32:04 The open → close platform cycle00:33:31 Moats, escape velocity & platform dominance00:36:32 Choosing major vs. emerging platforms00:40:22 ChatGPT dominance in AI discovery00:42:16 Hiring, resumes & filtering AI-generated applications00:43:30 AI note-taking market & “Flintstoning”00:47:03 Trying Gamma & AI-generated presentation tools00:50:08 AI onboarding innovations (WhatsApp agent)#MostlyGrowthPodcast #ProductMarketFit #BrianBalfour #StartupStrategy #Reforge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 12 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from @ReallyFlawed for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Bears week 12 matchup plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show recapping the action from around the NFL's week 11 slate of games! Moats is then joined by Steelers alumni, Terence Garvin, to recap the Steelers vs Bengals matchup!

One characteristic of our industry is disappearing moats. After a brief overview of the fourteen moats we've lost from 1965 to today, we'll look at what turf we really have left to defend and what the future will look like if we get this right. It'll be very different, and you'd better get ahead of it.

This week's podcast is about my trip to Xiaomi, Unitree and iQIYI.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.---------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 11 slate of games & discussing the Steelers signing Asante Samuel Jr.! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from @ReallyFlawed for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Bengals week 11 matchup plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, starts the show making his picks for the NFL's week 10 slate of games! Moats is then joined by, TaNeisha from  @ReallyFlawed  for "Victory Formation" to preview the Steelers vs Chargers week 10 matchup plus more!

Retired Steelers Linebacker, Arthur Moats, & TaNeisha from @ReallyFlawed  do a joint live stream to give their thoughts on the Steelers vs Colts week 9 matchup! Afterwards, Moats and TaNeisha finish the show answering questions from Steelers Nation!