Podcasts about Zynga

David Ko is the CEO and board member of Calm, the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and mindfulness. A former healthcare executive and tech operator, David previously served as COO of Zynga, held senior roles at Yahoo!, and founded a healthtech company acquired by Calm. He is the bestselling author of Recharge, and has been recognized by TIME, LinkedIn, RockHealth, and NYU Stern for his leadership in digital health.What you'll learn:How David transitioned from gaming to healthcare through mission-driven insightThe real story behind Calm's evolution from sleep and meditation to global mental healthWhy David uses “battery level” as a tool for checking in at workHow leaders can model vulnerability without sacrificing authorityWhy burnout stems from poor workload management, not just long hoursThe power of shared purpose in turbulent timesHow Calm uses rituals like Jay Shetty meditations and Zoom-free days to reinforce its cultureWhy sleep, diet, and presence are core to David's leadership performanceHow transparency builds trust even when the news isn't goodWhy the conversation around mental health needs to start at the topSome takeaways:➡️ Stress is not the problem. Unchecked, unacknowledged stress is. Good stress can fuel resilience and performance.➡️ “How's your battery?” is a more meaningful check-in than “How are you?”➡️ Burnout often comes from lack of clarity and excessive task stacking, not too many hours.➡️ Leaders must explain the why behind priorities and remove as much as they assign. ➡️ Transparency about culture survey results builds psychological safety. ➡️ Rituals like 90-second meditations help reset and re-center teams. ➡️ Leadership can be lonely. Trusted colleagues make a critical difference. ➡️ Presence matters more than hours. Back-to-back meetings are not a badge of honor. ➡️ Sharing your own mental health journey is not weakness. It's how resilient teams are built. ➡️ “We take better care of our phone batteries than our mental health batteries.” Time to change that.Where to find David Ko:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveko/ Calm: https://www.calm.comBook: Recharge: Boosting Your Mental Battery One Conversation at a TimePodcast: Recharge (available on major platforms)Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Siqi Chen (@blader, CEO/CFO @Runwayco), talks about his journey from JPL developer to Founder of a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) startup. We focus on how to build products that customers crave and how a customer-centric view differs from traditional product management.SHOW: 923SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #923 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK:  http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwNEW TO CLOUD? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCAST:  "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SPONSORS:Cut Enterprise IT Support Costs by 30-50% with US CloudSHOW NOTES:Runway websiteBehind What Seems Like an Overnight Success (video)Topic 1 - Welcome to the show, Siqi. First, your combination of technical and business/financial background is fascinating. How did you go from coding at NASA to Head of Product at Zynga to CEO/CFO for a finance platform startup? Give everyone a quick introduction.Topic 2 - One thing I've noticed as a trend in your background is the core concept of building. What has been your philosophy in building products? How do you build products that customers demand?Topic 3 -  Let's talk about AI and AGI for a moment. We hear all the time how disruptive this will be. What are your thoughts here, and how do we develop both adaptability and resiliency to new technologies?Topic 4 - Let's talk FP&A (financial planning & analysis). Our core listeners out there tend to skew more towards the tech and infrastructure side, but a core theme of this show is always to be learning as much of the business as possible to apply those concepts. As someone with a background in both worlds, plus now running an FP&A startup, what do you wish folks on the technical side of the house knew more about to make their jobs easier?Topic 5 - We posted a link in the show notes for a video you did on the “overnight success” of Runway. It was a good representation and origin story of how something can go viral with the right mindset and product-market fit. Tell everyone about that as Runway approaches 5 years now. Topic 6 - What is your biggest challenge in the FP&A space today? Is it AI? We've seen a lot of AI disruption in coding, legal, and other areas requiring deep data pool insights. Is this any different?FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netBluesky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Manuel Bronstein, Chief Product Officer at Roblox. Roblox is not just a video game—it's a platform that enables people to play, create, and build businesses in immersive virtual worlds. With over 85 million daily active users growing at 20% year-over-year, Roblox has paid out more than $923 million to its creator community in 2024 alone.Manuel brings extensive experience from leading roles at major tech platforms including Xbox, Zynga, YouTube, and Google Assistant. As Roblox's CPO, he oversees the platform's product strategy and development, focusing on creating tools and systems that empower creators while maintaining trust and safety at scale.In this episode, we'll explore:- The evolution of Roblox from gaming platform to virtual economy- How Roblox manages its creator marketplace and virtual economy- Manuel's product leadership principles and frameworks- Strategies for maintaining startup culture while scaling- The future of virtual worlds and immersive platformsChapters:(00:00)

In this compelling episode of Growth@Scale, host Matt Widdoes is joined by gaming industry veteran Travis Boatman, the visionary behind Carbonated, Inc. With a resume that includes leading roles at major companies like Zynga and EA, Travis delves into his journey within the dynamic world of mobile gaming. From groundbreaking technological advances to game design innovations, this conversation is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the gaming industry's evolution. As they explore the intricacies of starting his own company, Travis provides invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs encountered during the development of their latest project, a unique mobile game set in a dystopian world. He highlights the importance of innovation, specifically through technology like AI, and how it plays a pivotal role in creating immersive and personalized gaming experiences. The dialogue also touches on working in a rapidly changing tech landscape, where agility and learning are essential to success. Key Takeaways: Industry Evolution: Travis shares his extensive experience, emphasizing how the gaming industry has evolved, particularly in mobile gaming, driven by new technology and innovative design strategies. Entrepreneurial Journey: Insights into the challenges and motivations behind starting Carbonated, Inc., underscoring the importance of pursuing personal passion projects. Game Design Philosophy: A novel approach to game design focusing on appealing themes, mechanics, retention, and monetization, using these pillars to build successful gaming experiences. AI and Gaming: The transformative impact of AI in game development and how it can personalize gaming experiences for a global audience. Survival and Innovation: Strategies for maintaining momentum and staying competitive in the tech-heavy gaming industry, including the importance of resilience and continuous learning. Resources: Carbonated, Inc. O3DE Foundation USC Viterbi School of Engineering Transcript for the episode To dive deeper into Travis's journey and insights in the gaming industry, listen to the full episode. You'll uncover more about the challenges of game design, how to leverage AI in development, and the keys to long-term success in tech. Stay tuned for more episodes of Growth@Scale for more discussions with industry leaders.

In this episode of The Digital Executive, host Brian Thomas welcomes Nir Efrat, CEO and Director of Virtually Human Studio (VHS), the pioneering Web3 gaming company behind Zed Run. With over 25 years in the gaming industry and leadership experience at companies like Zynga, King, and Take-Two Interactive, Nir shares his insights on bridging the gap between traditional gaming and blockchain-based experiences. He discusses the evolution of Zed Run, the challenges of Web3 adoption, and the importance of delivering real utility beyond speculation. Nir also highlights VHS's vision for Zed Champions, an upcoming iteration designed for mass accessibility and engagement, leveraging blockchain's benefits while focusing on gameplay-first experiences. With major brand collaborations and an exciting launch on the horizon, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of Web3 gaming.

In this episode of The Digital Executive, host Brian Thomas welcomes Nir Efrat, CEO and Director of Virtually Human Studio (VHS), the pioneering Web3 gaming company behind Zed Run. With over 25 years in the gaming industry and leadership experience at companies like Zynga, King, and Take-Two Interactive, Nir shares his insights on bridging the gap between traditional gaming and blockchain-based experiences. He discusses the evolution of Zed Run, the challenges of Web3 adoption, and the importance of delivering real utility beyond speculation.Nir also highlights VHS's vision for Zed Champions, an upcoming iteration designed for mass accessibility and engagement, leveraging blockchain's benefits while focusing on gameplay-first experiences. With major brand collaborations and an exciting launch on the horizon, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of Web3 gaming.

Would you like to know more? A new Starship troopers movie is coming, but it wont be a satire. Star Wars Hunters is ending its hunt, but in its place we may get a Star Wars Tactics game. Pokémon is ditching MEGA Blocks and announces a new partnership with LEGO, Happy Gilmore gets some help and we learned more about the unproduced Star Wars Underworld show. Plus a review of Novocaine, a movie set in San Diego but not filmed in San Diego.

This month marks the opening of a new season for the red-hot NWSL–The National Women's Soccer League. Jim's this week is the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer of the NWSL, Julie Haddon. Jim has known Julie for many years, going back to her years at the NFL as VP of Global Brand and consumer marketing, before joining the NWSL as its first-ever CMO. Great CMOs are growth drivers, and Julie has indeed done that with her team. Julie has been CMO for about 2.5 years and the growth rate is staggering; double the number of fans in attendance at matches; two new teams joining the league with more coming; a four-year media deal worth $240 million–the previous media deal was for three years for $4.5 million. And team valuations are increasing massively. Julie was a journalism major years ago at Indiana University in Bloomington, before launching a career in tech & entertainment that is epic: Dreamworks Animation, eBay, PayPal, Twitter, Zynga, Sofi, the NFL, and now the NWSL. Tune in for a conversation with a CMO who had a vision six years ago in France that she could help shape the future of women's soccer.---This week's episode is brought to you by Strawberry Frog, Deloitte and Adobe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we chat with Siqi Chen!Siqi is the founder and CEO of Runway, a next generation FP&A platform that makes finance actually understandable and accessible to the entire team.As an operator and founder, he served as the CEO of Sandbox VR (a16z), VP of Product and Growth at Postmates (later acquired by Uber), CEO of Hey, Inc (Google-funded, acquired by Postmates), Head of Product at Zynga (IPO 2011) and CEO of Serious Business (funded by Lightspeed, acquired by Zynga). In addition to his operational roles, Siqi is an investor in nearly a hundred companies, including notable names like ElevenLabs, Amplitude, Pipe, and Mercury.Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Siqi made significant contributions at NASA JPL, where he achieved the distinction of being the sole recipient of a Congressional Space Act award while still in school. This recognition was a result of his contributions to machine vision technology on the Mars Exploration Rovers.Follow Us!Siqi Chen: @bladerRunway: @runwaycoErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Cerisse Velasco, Director of Midwest and Retail Media Brand Partnerships at Zynga, to explore how mobile gaming is reshaping digital advertising and brand engagement. While gaming has long been associated with teenage boys in basements, the reality is quite different—Zynga's audience is predominantly Millennial and Gen X women, a demographic that's often overlooked in marketing strategies. With mobile games like Words with Friends, Game of Thrones: Legends, and Match Factory, Zynga has built a massive entertainment platform where brands can authentically connect with engaged consumers. We discuss how mobile gaming offers a "leaned-in" advertising experience, with players actively engaging rather than passively scrolling. From rewarded video and interactive formats to in-game integrations, Zynga is pioneering innovative ad strategies that feel natural within the gameplay, rather than interrupting it. A recent partnership with The Real Housewives is a perfect example of how brands are rethinking their approach to mobile gaming, tapping into a highly influential and purchase-driven audience. Beyond traditional advertising, we also explore the future of gamified brand experiences, AI-powered personalization, and retail media integrations within gaming. As mobile gaming continues to dominate screen time, brands that embrace these new engagement models will have a significant edge in the evolving digital marketing landscape. How can brands create authentic connections with audiences in gaming environments? And what does the future hold for advertising in mobile entertainment? Tune in to hear Cerisse Velasco's insights on the changing face of digital engagement.

Episode SummaryWhat makes a great level designer? How do you take the leap from AAA studios to launching your own indie game studio? In this episode, Greg sits down with Willem Kranendonk, founder of Odyssey Cocktail Interactive and former level designer at Velen and Zynga. They discuss Willem's journey from LEGO-loving kid to designing levels for Knockout City and Star Wars: Hunters, the philosophy behind great level design, and why he believes game studios need to take more risks. Willem also shares insights into his new studio, OCI, and their vision for "Cocktail Games"—a bold new approach to game development.Guest: Willem Kranendonk Founder, Odyssey Cocktail Interactive Former Level Designer at Velen Studios (Knockout City) & Zynga (Star Wars: Hunters) Passionate about innovation in game design & the power of hybrid genresKey Topics & Timestamps⏳ 01:25 – From childhood LEGO builds to professional level design

อินเทอร์เน็ตได้เปลี่ยนแปลงโลกของเราอย่างมหาศาล แต่จนกระทั่งช่วงต้นทศวรรษ 2000 มันเป็นเพียงเครื่องมือสำหรับการค้นหาข้อมูล แชร์ไฟล์ และช้อปปิ้งเท่านั้น จนกระทั่ง Mark Pincus ก้าวเข้ามาในวงการและมองเห็นศักยภาพที่ยิ่งใหญ่กว่า Mark Pincus เป็นนักธุรกิจที่มีความมุ่งมั่นและมีวิสัยทัศน์ เขาต้องการสร้างสิ่งที่เรียกว่า “internet treasure” – บริการที่เมื่อผู้คนได้ใช้แล้วจะไม่สามารถจินตนาการถึงชีวิตก่อนมีมันได้ และไม่สามารถนึกภาพชีวิตโดยปราศจากมันได้ แม้จะต้องเผชิญกับความล้มเหลวหลายครั้ง แต่เขาก็ไม่เคยละทิ้งความฝันนี้ เลือกฟังกันได้เลยนะครับ อย่าลืมกด Follow ติดตาม PodCast ช่อง Geek Forever's Podcast ของผมกันด้วยนะครับ #MarkPincus #Zynga #FarmVille #เกมโซเชียล #ธุรกิจเกม #สตาร์ทอัพ #ผู้ประกอบการไทย #ธุรกิจออนไลน์ #เทคโนโลยี #เส้นทางความสำเร็จ #เกม #การลงทุน #แรงบันดาลใจ #บทเรียนธุรกิจ #ล้มแล้วลุก #เกมมือถือ #ธุรกิจดิจิทัล #SiliconValley #เศรษฐีเทคโนโลยี #ความสำเร็จ #วิสัยทัศน์ #บริหารธุรกิจ #StartupThailand #ธุรกิจพันล้าน #เทคสตาร์ทอัพ #geekstory #geekforeverpodcast

 “The way we survive is built on being creative every day” We sit down with Burak Vardal, CEO and co-founder of Rollic, to explore how the company skyrocketed in just a couple of years from a Turkish startup to one of the most successful mobile game publishers in the world.Burak shares insights on: The early days of Rollic and its quick acquisition by Zynga for $168M How they consistently launch hit mobile games The shift from hyper-casual to hybrid-casual and how it changed their business model Why being a gamer-first company is key to their success What makes Turkey a global hub for mobile game development The future of Rollic under Take-Two InteractiveDownload the FREE Hybrid Casual Playbook: metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/

Send us a textThe world has changed a lot in short amount of time, and the way buying happens has changed along with it. Today we live in an attention economy, and getting your message out can be really challenging. Today we are going talk about how one company is capturing that attention share.Hey everybody, this is Chris Brandt here with another FUTR podcast.We have with us Cerisse Velasco from Zynga a global leader in interactive entertainment and a wholly-owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc the gaming giant.We explore the dynamic world of mobile gaming with Cerise Velasco from Zynga, a global leader in interactive entertainment under Take Two Interactive Software. Discover how Zynga has evolved from its Facebook game roots to becoming a mobile juggernaut with popular titles like Words with Friends, Farmville, and the upcoming Barbie game. Learn about Zynga's strategies in capturing market share, monetizing through ads and custom segments, and navigating the diverse gaming demographics. Plus, get insights into the exciting future of gaming and entertainment.https://www.zyngaads.com/https://www.zynga.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zynga/https://www.youtube.com/@ZyngaNetwork/videosClick Here to Subscribe: FUTR.tv focuses on startups, innovation, culture and the business of emerging tech with weekly podcasts talking with Industry leaders and deep thinkers.Occasionally we share links to products we use. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.

Episode 678: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to Siqi Chen ( https://x.com/blader ), the founder of Runway.com. — Show Notes:  (0:00) Early days at Zynga  (14:34) Business ideas (52:18) Touchy-feely class (1:07:24) Siqi's favorite interview question (1:12:48) Insane growth of ElevenLabs — Links: • Limitless - https://www.limitless.ai/  • Rewind - https://www.rewind.ai/  • Runway - https://runway.com/  • Hoffman Institute - https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/  • Pump - https://pump.fun/board  • ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/  — Check Out Shaan's Stuff: Need to hire? You should use the same service Shaan uses to hire developers, designers, & Virtual Assistants → it's called Shepherd (tell ‘em Shaan sent you): https://bit.ly/SupportShepherd — Check Out Sam's Stuff: • Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/ • Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/ • Copy That - https://copythat.com • Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth • Sam's List - http://samslist.co/ My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

ALL upcoming events in our newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeSupercell had a monster year with €2.8B in revenue, proving that bigger live ops teams and aggressive marketing can still drive growth—but let's be real, Squad Busters flopped hard despite the hype. Meanwhile, Unity continues its slow-motion train wreck, losing key talent and scrambling to fix its ad tech, while AppLovin is absolutely crushing it, with stock up 700% thanks to AI-powered ads. Now, in a power move, AppLovin is dumping its entire games portfolio for $900M—so who's buying? Scopely? Zynga? Playtika? Drop your bets in the comments.

Major updates coming to Overwatch 2, including hero bans and a perks system, and explore Zynga's innovative Game of Thrones Dragon Egg Hunt using Google Maps. FOX's Eammonn Dignam has the story in this FOX on Games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready to explore the stories behind some of the most iconic and innovative apps that have shaped the mobile landscape!We're here with App Masters Greatest Hits—a 10-episode series where we'll journey back in time to uncover the successes, challenges, and game-changing moments that made these apps truly distinguished.In this episode, we're joined by Roger Dickey, founder of Zynga and the creator of games like Mafia Wars. With an incredible entrepreneurial journey, Roger will share how to make the right choices and key decisions to build a successful app business.Here's what you'll discover:✔️ The key elements of engaging gameplay✔️ How to build successful apps and games✔️ How to tackle challenges and turn pain points into opportunitiesWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/Get training, coaching, and community:⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/Get your app audited:⁠⁠https://appmasters.com/audit/*********************************************Follow us:YouTube:⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram:⁠@App MastersTwitter:⁠@App MastersTikTok:⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook:⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Send us a textMiguel Armaza interviews Howard Lindzon, a seasoned investor, entrepreneur, and founder of StockTwits, the largest social network for investors and traders. Howard is also the founder of Social Leverage, a venture capital firm that has backed great companies like Robinhood and eToro.Often called "The Larry David of Finance" for his candid, no-nonsense takes on markets and investing, his newsletter and sharp social media commentary have earned him a loyal following among investors and entrepreneurs alike – not for sugar-coating reality, but for calling it exactly as he sees it.In this episode, we discuss:Why public market investing experience makes better early-stage investorsHis philosophy and approach to missing big opportunities, including Twitter, Zynga, and CartaThe evolution of markets from Web2 to the all-consuming "degenerate economy"Markets may be rigged, but once you know the rules of the game, you can still win big... and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Women are half of mobile gamers, but many of them don't identify as gamers. Superbloom CEO Emily Yim and John Koetsier talk about making great mobile games for women, and much more. Emily shares her journey from working at major gaming companies like EA, Zynga, and Glu to founding her own company and launching the hit game Venue. The conversation delves into the gender dynamics in gaming, growth strategies for niche markets, and the technological and social elements essential for game development. Emily shares 9 insights about women and gaming: 1. Women make up at least 50% of mobile gamers 2. Many women gamers don't identify as gamers 3. Women in mobile gaming are highly engaged and spend money 4. Women gamers often prefer different game genres and play styles 5. Women's motivation to play games is different from men's 6. Women value productivity and progression in games 7. Women prefer collaboration over competition in gaming 8. Women gamers appreciate real-life inspiration in games 9. Many women gamers prefer games with a non-traditional “game” aesthetic 00:00 Introduction and Audience Insights 00:27 Meet Emily Yum: Gaming Industry Leader 01:02 Emily's Career Journey 03:24 The Concept and Development of Venue 06:26 Growth Strategy and Audience Engagement 13:19 Women in Gaming: Insights and Motivations 20:21 Future Plans and Global Expansion 27:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mark Pincus is the founder of Zynga, which developed some of the most popular mobile games of all time like Farmville and Words With Friends. He currently runs Reinvent Capital and teaches product management at Stanford University. In this episode of World of DaaS, Mark and Auren discuss:Why games predict the future of techBuilding on platforms like FacebookThe economics of virtual goodsProduct frameworks for the AI eraLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.  You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Mark Pincus on X at @markpinc.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Chandra Janakiraman is the chief product officer, executive vice president, and a board member at VRChat. Previously, he was a product leader at Meta, where he led Facebook's social experience interfaces and Reality Labs' growth; served as CPO at Headspace, where he helped relaunch the platform, driving a 4x subscriber boost; and was a GM at Zynga, delivering massive hit games that reached hundreds of millions. In our conversation, Chandra shares:• His playbook for developing a product strategy• The difference between “small s” and “big S” strategy• How to run strategy sprints• Who should be involved in strategy work• Common pitfalls in strategy development• The role of AI in future strategy development• More—Brought to you by:• Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experiments• Airtable ProductCentral—Launch to new heights with a unified system for product development• OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/an-operators-guide-to-product-strategy-chandra-janakiraman—Where to find Chandra Janakiraman:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandramohanj/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Chandra's background(04:47) The importance of strategy(12:40) Defining product strategy(15:42) Developing a winning strategy: an overview(18:51) The preparation phase(30:46) The strategy sprint process(45:51) The design sprint (51:19) Document writing(57:39) Rolling out your strategy(01:01:28) Resourcing and roadmapping(01:04:42) Strategy lessons from Zynga(01:11:34) Strategy lessons from Meta(01:15:55) Big S strategy(01:26:58) AI in strategy formulation(01:38:12) Final thoughts and lightning round—Referenced:• Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy | Richard Rumelt: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/good-strategy-bad-strategy-richard• 5 essential questions to craft a winning strategy | Roger Martin (author, advisor, speaker): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-strategy-roger-martin• VRChat: https://hello.vrchat.com/• Andrew Chen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmandrewchen/• Template: Working Backwards PR FAQ: https://www.workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq• How LinkedIn became interesting: The inside story | Tomer Cohen (CPO at LinkedIn): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-linkedin-became-interesting-tomer-cohen• Making time for what matters | Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky (authors of Sprint and Make Time, co-founders of Character Capital): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-time-for-what-matters-jake• Identify your bullseye customer in one day | Michael Margolis (UX Research Partner at Google Ventures): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/finding-your-bullseye-customer-michael-margolis• Chandra's flow chart: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SLmQ0oRFadzJnNM3MJetnLUvB18U4W4GXU4KtJ2ujEQ/edit?tab=t.0• Chandra's strategy template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iNeYUaMnpicvkpVZO-gj9cCxLeHfWN0xtGm_QoxgemE/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.5d3jz6v86yrs• Zynga: https://www.zynga.com/• David Foster Wallace's quote about water: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/97082-there-are-these-two-young-fish-swimming-along-and-they• Oculus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus• Elon Musk's quote: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wf8TadbGYok• Concept car: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_car• Acquired podcast: The Mark Zuckerberg interview: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/the-mark-zuckerberg-interview• Armand Ruiz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armand-ruiz/• What is a multi-armed bandit? Full explanation: https://amplitude.com/explore/experiment/multi-armed-bandit• IF on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/IF-John-Krasinski/dp/B0CW19SCVW• Dune: Part 2 on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/dune-part-two/umc.cmc.363aycnv6vy9qgekvew6fveb9• Dune Prophecy on Max: https://www.max.com/shows/dune-prophecy-2024/57660b16-a32a-476f-89da-3302ac379e91• Capybara Go on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/capybara-go/id6596787726• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/• Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Lost-Interview/dp/B01IJD1BES—Recommended books:• The Art of War: https://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/1599869772• Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors: https://www.amazon.com/Competitive-Strategy-Techniques-Industries-Competitors/dp/0684841487/• Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Strategy-Bad-Difference-Matters/dp/0307886239/• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Win-Strategy-Really-Works/dp/142218739X• Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Time-Focus-Matters-Every/dp/0525572422• Sprint: https://www.amazon.com/SPRINT-Jake-Zeratsky-Knapp/dp/0593076117• Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination: https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473• Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649/• The Ten Faces of Innovation: Strategies for Heightening Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385512074—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Drew Houston is the co-founder and CEO of Dropbox. Under his leadership, Dropbox has grown from a simple idea to a service used by over 700 million registered users globally, with a valuation exceeding $9 billion. Drew has led Dropbox through multiple phases, from explosive viral growth, to battling all the tech giants at once, to reinventing the company for the future of work. In our conversation, he opens up about:• The three eras of Dropbox's growth and evolution• The challenges he's faced over the past 18 years• What he learned about himself• How he's been able to manage his psychology as a founder• The importance of maintaining your learning curve• Finding purpose beyond metrics and growth• The micro, macro, and meta aspects of building companies• Much more—Brought to you by:• Paragon—Ship every SaaS integration your customers want• Explo—Embed customer-facing analytics in your product• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-founder-drew-houston-dropbox—Where to find Drew Houston:• X: https://x.com/drewhouston• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewhouston/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Drew and Dropbox(04:44) The three eras of Dropbox(07:53) The first era: Viral growth and early success(14:19) The second era: Challenges and competition(20:49) Strategic shifts and refocusing(29:36) Personal reflections and leadership lessons(40:19) Unlocking mindfulness and building support systems(43:14) The Enneagram test(50:35) The challenges of being a founder CEO(58:11) The third era: Rebooting the team and core business(01:22:41) Lessons and advice for aspiring founders(01:27:46) Balancing personal and professional growth(01:42:38) Final reflections and future outlook—Referenced:• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/• Paul Graham's website: https://www.paulgraham.com/• Hacker News: https://news.ycombinator.com/• Arash Ferdowsi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arashferdowsi/• Sequoia Capital: https://www.sequoiacap.com/• Pejman Nozad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pejman/• Mike Moritz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoritz/• TechCrunch Disrupt: https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2024/• Dropbox viral demo: https://youtu.be/7QmCUDHpNzE• Digg: https://digg.com/• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/• Hadi and Ali Partovi: https://www.partovi.org/• Zynga: https://www.zynga.com/• Steve Jobs announces Apple's iCloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilnfUa_-Rbc• Dropbox Carousel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dropbox_Carousel• Dropbox Is Buying Mega-Hyped Email Startup Mailbox: https://www.businessinsider.com/dropbox-is-buying-mega-hyped-email-startup-mailbox-2013-3• 5 essential questions to craft a winning strategy | Roger Martin (author, advisor, speaker): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-strategy-roger-martin• Intel: https://www.intel.com/• Gordon Moore: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Moore• Netscape: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape• Myspace: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace• Bill Campbell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Campbell_(business_executive)• Enneagram type descriptions: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: https://www.themyersbriggs.com/en-US/Products-and-Services/Myers-Briggs• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Ben Horowitz on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz• Why Read Peter Drucker?: https://hbr.org/2009/11/why-read-peter-drucker• GitLab: https://about.gitlab.com/• Automattic: https://automattic.com/• Dropbox Dash: https://www.dash.dropbox.com/• Welcome Command E to Dropbox: https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/company/welcome-command-e-to-dropbox-• StarCraft: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_(video_game)• Procter & Gamble and the Beauty of Small Wins: https://hbr.org/2009/10/the-beauty-of-small-wins• Teaching Smart People How to Learn: https://hbr.org/1991/05/teaching-smart-people-how-to-learn—Recommended books:• Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business: https://www.amazon.com/Guerilla-Marketing-Inexpensive-Strategies-Business/dp/0618785914• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Win-Strategy-Really-Works/dp/142218739X• High Output Management: https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884/• Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Paranoid-Survive-Exploit-Challenge/dp/0385483821• Zone to Win: Organizing to Compete in an Age of Disruption: https://www.amazon.com/Zone-Win-Organizing-Compete-Disruption/dp/1682302113• Warren Buffett's books: https://www.amazon.com/warren-buffett-Books/s?k=warren+buffett&rh=n%3A283155• Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger: https://www.amazon.com/Poor-Charlies-Almanack-Essential-Charles/dp/1953953239• Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos: https://www.amazon.com/Invent-Wander-Collected-Writings-Introduction/dp/1647820715/• The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable: https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

34,000. That's how many jobs have been lost in our industry since the start of 2022. We recap the year, discuss PAX Unplugged and The Game Awards, and look ahead at what to expect in 2025. We did a deep dive on tabletop card game trends and the looming tariffs for all of our fellow tabletop gaming nerds, too! You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:05:17] - Reflecting on PAX Unplugged 2024 [00:27:44] - Our Time at the TGAs [00:32:54] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for November 2024 [00:39:23] - Gamestop Q3 FY24 Earnings [00:41:30] - Investment Interlude [00:47:21] - Quick Hits [00:55:50] - Labor Report SOURCES GameStop Discloses Third Quarter 2024 Results | GameStop INVESTMENT INTERLUDE KADOKAWA and Sony Agree to Form Strategic Capital and Business Alliance | Sony Cooldown Games Formed by WB, Gearbox, and id Software Veterans | Cooldown Games on LinkedIn Reforged Studios acquires Yellow Lab Games | GamesIndustry LoopMe Acquires Chartboost from Zynga, Accelerating its Mission to Power Brand Advertising Across the Digital Ecosystem | Business Wire Build a Rocket Boy acquires PlayFusion | VGC Dark Passenger Receives $3M Investment from The Games Fund | Ilia Eremeev on LinkedIn LABOR REPORT In what will surely come as no surprise at all, the end of Suicide Squad means layoffs at Warner Bros. | PC Gamer People Can Fly hit with another round of layoffs | GamesIndustry Glow Up Games is shutting down | Mitu Khandaker on LinkedIn Layoffs at Deck Nine Games | Deck Nine Games on Twitter Hothead Games is Shutting Down After 18 Years | Hothead Games on LinkedIn ZeniMax Online Studios workers form their own union | Engadget

In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I'm joined by Siqi Chen, a four-time founder and the CEO and CFO of his latest venture, Runway. Runway offers a modern, user-friendly platform for financial modeling, headcount planning, and departmental budgeting—proudly branding itself as “the finance platform your team doesn't hate.” With its distinctive marketing and brand-building approach, Runway has garnered significant attention. (Full disclosure: I'm an investor in the company.) Siqi and I discuss his journey from building some of the most viral social games in Silicon Valley to founding Runway. We also delve into the challenges faced by technical founders, the art of viewing a business as a product, and how Siqi has sharpened his strategic thinking. Other key topics include: • Lessons from founding Serious Business • Critiques of Zynga's strategy and the story of selling to them • Practical advice for building trust • Insights into Leaders in Tech and Stanford's GSB program • The importance of crafting clear, universally understood company values • An overview of Runway's platform, mission, and values • A fresh take on the fallacy of work-life balance • And so much more! — Brought to you by: Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. ⁠⁠Get $1,000 off⁠⁠. — Where to find Siqi Chen: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siqic/ • X: https://x.com/blader/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blader/ • Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/founder/ Where to find Eric: • Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericries.carrd.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  — In This Episode We Cover: (00:00) Meet Siqi Chen (02:30) How Siqi came up with the idea for Mafia and the early years of gaming on Facebook (05:10) The early investors in Mafia (05:36) Siqi's meeting with Keith Rabois and Max Levchin (08:15) How Siqi was influenced by the Lean Startup approach (11:04) How quickly Siqi's career took off after moving to San Francisco  (11:48) Founding Serious Business and creating Friends for Sale (14:20) How Serious Business raised $5 million (16:20) Why Serious Business sold to Zynga  (17:20) The importance of prioritizing the business as much as the product (19:11) Siqi's learnings and advice for new founders  (23:25) What Siqi learned working at Zynga (27:18) Siqi's time running product  (29:20) Criticisms of Zynga and how they lost Eric's trust (33:42) The importance of trust and maintaining vision and mission (39:15) An overview of Runway  (44:38) What inspired Siqi to create Runway (50:43) What Siqi learned from user interviews (52:07) An example of time wasting inside a company (53:24) The values at Runway and why they changed  (58:35) Why you should write reflective values after having a high-performance team (1:00:40) How Leaders in Tech shaped Siqi's thoughts on values and building trust (1:03:13) How open feedback builds trust (1:08:20) The purpose of Runway (1:11:34) Siqi's struggles with strategy planning  (1:13:31) A top down approach to entrepreneurship and why it's not common (1:16:38) The importance of employees understanding their contributions and impact  (1:18:55) How Runway leverages AI  (1:22:12) Runway's dramatic launch with a timed lock (1:23:04) How Runway communicates value to customers  (1:24:54) Runway's process for brand building and high-quality design  (1:28:40) Lightning round You can find the transcript and references at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Production and marketing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.

Chapters:0:00 Intro1:30 The big political divide in the US7:50 The new media election19:55 Pre-Zynga: Mark's entrepreneurial origins26:10 Being in the room where it happens30:50 How to choose the right idea to work on34:35 Meeting Mark Zuckerberg and investing in Facebook40:20 Founder Mode43:15 Zynga board and saving the company49:30 Zynga 2.0: The Comeback55:00 Zynga company culture1:01:20 Building product at Zynga1:08:30 How Zynga was Facebook's winning strategy1:14:10 Advice to Founders1:25:15 Outro Follow Sriram:https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/https://twitter.com/sriramkFollow Aarthi:https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/https://twitter.com/aarthirFollow the podcast:https://www.instagram.com/aarthiandsriramshow/https://twitter.com/aarthisrirampod

Amitt Mahajan is the Co-Founder of Proof of Play. Proof of Play's mission is to create fun, accessible onchain games and, in the process, develop novel technology that makes onchain game development easier for everyone. Why you should listen Founded by leaders from Epic Games, Zynga, EA, Riot Games, Activision, Google, Facebook, Disney, and Warner Brothers, Proof of Play's mission is to create fun, accessible onchain games and, in the process, develop novel technology that makes onchain game development easier for everyone.  The company's flagship game, Pirate Nation, is a fully onchain RPG where players battle monsters, build their pirate crew, and compete to become number one on the captain leaderboard.  The team has raised $33M in funding and is supported by a16z, Greenoaks, and other investors. Pirate Nation is a fully onchain free-to-play pirate-themed roleplaying game (RPG). Pirate Nation is live on Proof of Play's Apex chain. Pirate Nation is a fully onchain game. This is a new type of game that's only possible using blockchain technology. The game and all of its functionality is running on the blockchain using hundreds of smart contracts. Onchain games have a lot of unique characteristics that distinguish them from traditional, centralized games: All player items, actions, and achievements are publicly viewable and auditable.  Onchain games are "forever games" and will continue to operate as long as the blockchain they are running on exists. It is possible for onchain games to be able to be remixed. Meaning players can add their own features or even create fully derivative works from the game. Onchain games are more secure and transparent. They are enforced with the same security that protects other assets on blockchains. The Proof of Play engine, which powers Pirate Nation, isn't just another gaming chain—it's a cutting-edge onchain game engine designed to enable developers to build games onchain faster than offchain. They are developing a powerful, decentralized foundation for the next generation of onchain games, starting with Pirate Nation. On November 14th, Proof of Play launched Pirate Nation Season 3, adding a refreshed crafting system, two new leaderboards, and an enhanced staking experience, deepening player engagement. Supporting links Stabull Finance Proof of Play Pirate Nation Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Joining us in this episode of the podcast is Johnny Tobias, son of legendary Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias. Born in 1997 during the slow decline of arcades around the globe, Johnny enjoyed gaming from an early age and fondly watched on as his father continued to excel at Studio Gigante, Zynga and now Warner Bros. San Diego. With his own hopes and dreams in tow, Johnny shares never-before-heard tales of growing up with such a famous father, and speaks about his hopes for the future. His father's original concept notepad also makes an appearance, so be sure to also check out this episode on YouTube!

Edward Fuller is a passionate marketer with an entrepreneurial spirit and data-led outlook. He is the founder and CEO of Media Bodies, a global, award-winning influencer marketing agency. For over a decade, they have specialised in developing methodologies and models that use data-led insights to generate scalable ROI on influencer campaigns. Their expertise across YouTube, Podcasts, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, and Community campaigns has been sought after by some of the biggest brands across the world including air up, Emma Sleep, Hello Fresh, Bandai Namco, Zynga, Mytona. In this episode we talk about the power of podcast advertising and influencer marketing for all its performance AND branding benefits. Edward showers us with stats and case studies which will astound you. One of them is 63% of listeners in a recent survey said they trust a podcast host more than another influencer Find out more about Media Bodies here https://mediabodies.com/

Barry Horney, DDS stands accused of letting his son attend a sigma Diddy party at the Fuckin Naround and Findingout in Michael Jackson's house funded by the Yakuza at 5000% APR. Please remember to use your coupon for a free digital converter box before June 12, 2009 or Obama gets to keep the money   Full episode at https://www.patreon.com/ChapoFYM

Ok, we know this episode should be called Something Fun on the Toilet with MK, but we're chose to keep it classy. Our guest this week is Michail Katkoff, a veteran of Zynga, Supercell, and Rovio, partner in Play Ventures, and founder of Deconstructor of Fun. In all of these different roles he's developed a unique understanding of our industry from different perspectives. We discuss product management, insane mobile profits and the ecosystem necessary to support game studios.00:00 – Introduction: Alex and Aaron introduce Mishka, highlighting his diverse roles in the gaming industry.02:00 – First Steps: Mishka talks about his first role in the industry at Digital Chocolate and his encounters with Trip Hawkins.05:45 – Cultural Differences in Gaming: Mishka reflects on the differences between the Finnish and Californian working cultures.08:30 – Early Influences: Growing up in the Soviet Union, Mishka shares how Pong and Sega sparked his passion for gaming.10:50 – From Business to Games: Mishka recounts how he left the corporate world to pursue his dream in the gaming industry.14:00 – Product Management Explained: Mishka breaks down the role of a Product Manager in gaming and how he helped shape game monetization.16:30 – Crazy Discoveries in Player Data: Mishka reveals insights from analyzing player behavior and the surprising findings about in-game sales.22:00 – Ethics in Monetization: A candid conversation about the moral questions surrounding microtransactions and the 'whale' phenomenon.29:00 – Building the Finnish Gaming Scene: Mishka explains how Nokia and the Finnish education system helped create a gaming ecosystem.36:00 – Challenges for Indie Developers: Discussion on the current challenges small studios face in breaking into the mobile gaming market.40:30 – Favorite Games: Mishka shares his love for grand strategy and historical games, and his mobile game preferences.45:00 – Deconstructor of Fun: How Mishka started Deconstructor of Fun and grew it into a leading platform for industry insights.50:00 – Launching a Studio: Mishka talks about starting a game studio and its eventual acquisition by Sony.This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the gaming industry, product management, or how mobile gaming has evolved over the years!Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron MarroquinFind us at www.thefourthcurtain.comCome join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfeVideos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtainFollow us on twitter: @fourthcurtainEdited and mastered at https://noise-floor.comFeaturing the music track Liberation by 505

Maureen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Baobab Studios, a 10-time Emmy winning interactive animation company that blends cutting edge technology (AI, metaverse, mixed reality) with storytelling. Baobab Studios was named Fast Company's 2018 Most innovative company and the industry leader in merging gaming and Hollywood after winning 4 interactive Emmys. With Baobab, Maureen has created projects that have attracted incredible talent - including Oprah. John Legend, Kate Winslet and Ali Wong. Before founding Baobab, Maureen earned her bachelor's degree from Stanford University in a self-designed major that combined arts, computer science, and psychology. After Stanford, she held senior product and UI roles at ebay and also helped birth the social casual games revolution as Zynga's VP of Games, overseeing the original Farmville franchise.She also interned at Pixar while completing her master's degree at Harvard Business School.Maureen's work has earned her recognition as one of Ad Age's Most Creative People of the Year, Gold House's Top 100 Influential Asians, and Variety's Executive to Watch and Top Digital Creative lists.-----Past guests include Margaret Wishingrad, Kara Goldin, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Ann Miura Ko, Linda Avey, Sarah Leary, Becky Sauerbrunn and many more.Follow us on Instagram | LinkedIn | YoutubeCheck out the She Leads website-----In Today's Episode with Maureen Fan We Discuss:1. Maureen's Upbringing and Values Instilled 2. Early Adversity in Assimilation with Asian Identity3. Conflict between Passion and Job Security 4. Attending Stanford University: Creating Her Own Major 5. The Power of Champions and Mentorship6. How To Ask for a Mentor7. The Value of Business School: Is It Worth It?8. Doing the Dirty Work in Hollywood9. Transition into Tech at Ebay and Zynga 10. Founding Baobab Studies 11. Building Self-Esteem + Confidence as a Founder Please share She Leads with a friend and Leave a Review!

The Hallmark Keepsake ornaments are out, and this year's gaming console ornament is the original Xbox, and yes, I do have it. I'm doing my first ever speedrun commentary on Multithon Rivals 2024! I'm commentating a race of Doronko Wanko on Friday, September 27, at 7PM ET/4PM PT. Minecraft is dropping PSVR support on their PS4 version in early 2025. IBM has won a patent lawsuit against Zynga using patents for the old 1989 online service Prodigy - of which my family were founding members of and I have memories. Nintendo is finally suing Pocketpair, the makers of Palworld, in their own patent lawsuit, but Pocketpair does not know which patents they are violating. Then I talk about Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, coming in 2025, and how RGG studio is so proud of their asset reuse and how it can allow them to release a new major game every 2-3 years.

Apple halts iPadOS update after bricking reports, Discord is rolling out end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls, and Zynga says it will fight a $45 million fine for infringing decades-old IBM patents, It's Wednesday, September 18th and this is Engadget News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Alex Seropian (founder of Bungie) and Aaron Marroquin as they dive into the incredible minds behind the video game industry in The Fourth Curtain. In this episode, they chat with Frank Gibeau, the CEO of Zynga, who takes listeners on a journey through one of the most legendary corporate turnarounds in gaming history. From his early days at EA to leading Zynga through a $12.7 billion acquisition by Take-Two, Frank shares valuable insights into leadership, strategy, and the ever-evolving world of mobile gaming.Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Frank humorously reflects on Zynga's rough early days, where the company was generating nearly $700 million, but only $12 million in profit. He explains how the team turned things around, transforming it into a mobile gaming powerhouse.[00:01:00] The hosts discuss Zynga's historic $12.7 billion acquisition by Take-Two Interactive. Frank shares an amusing anecdote about how this deal briefly held the title of the largest video game deal—until Microsoft acquired Activision shortly after.[00:05:00] Frank recounts his journey from EA to Zynga, emphasizing the cultural shift he implemented and the tough leadership decisions needed to improve the company's operations.[00:12:00] A deep dive into the creative struggles behind iconic games like The Sims and how collaboration with game developers drove EA's early success.[00:32:00] Frank and Alex reflect on the challenges of navigating a public company's pressures, making tough calls on game launches, and the importance of putting quality ahead of short-term financial goals.[00:43:00] Frank reveals how he was initially recruited to Zynga and how he used Words With Friends' chat feature to bring in top talent like Bernard Kim.[00:50:00] The episode wraps with Frank discussing Zynga's strategy of acquiring studios to build “forever franchises,” sharing key lessons learned from EA's acquisitions and how Zynga avoided those pitfalls.This episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the business side of gaming, leadership, and the evolution of mobile games.Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron MarroquinFind us at www.thefourthcurtain.comCome join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfeVideos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtainFollow us on twitter: @fourthcurtainEdited and mastered at https://noise-floor.comFeaturing the music track Liberation by 505

Guest: Mark Pincus, founder & chairman of Zynga, and managing member & co-founder of Reinvent CapitalBefore Zynga and Facebook made social gaming mainstream, the video game industry was “extreme on this being about art and crafting,” recalls Zynga founder Mark Pincus. He believes his winning instinct was the realization that games were “at least 50 percent science” — but it's not enough to just have the instinct. Mark says entrepreneurs like him have to quickly take multiple shots on the goal and “look for feedback loops that tell you your instinct is right ... you need to get to a minimum viable idea state and you need to find true signal around that idea state, that it's right or wrong, and move on.”Chapters:(01:40) - Rubbing sticks together (07:01) - Virtual businesses (12:10) - Pre-Zynga companies (13:51) - Setting the real intention (17:44) - Internet treasures (23:21) - Disrupting gaming (30:14) - The chip on Mark's shoulder (33:19) - The end of Tribe (37:24) - Zynga Poker (42:59) - Explosive growth (46:57) - Making the virtual real (52:02) - The downturn (58:12) - Stepping aside (sort of) (01:01:50) - Back into the fire (01:08:45) - In the abyss (01:11:46) - What “grit” means to Mark Mentioned in this episode: Dot Earth, Elon Musk and the Boring Company, Uber Eats and Dara Khosrowshahi, ChatGPT, Roblox, Madhappy, Reid Hoffman, Craigslist, Google, Napster and Sean Parker, the California Culinary Academy, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, Yahoo, John Doerr, Words with Friends, LinkedIn, Tribe.net, Supercell and Ilkka Paananen, FarmVille and Hay Day, Parker Conrad and Rippling, Bing Gordon, Fred Wilson, Brad Feld, the Game Developer's Conference, CNET, Matt Cohler, Don Mattrick, Microsoft and the Xbox, Joe Biden, Jason Citron and Discord, Steve Jobs, Super Labs, Marcus Segal, Frank Gibeau, The Courage to Be Disliked, and Stewart Butterfield.Links:Connect with MarkTwitterLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner PerkinsThis episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

Vlad Loktev spent 10 years at Airbnb, where he started as an IC PM and quickly advanced to lead the core Airbnb marketplace business and then GM the entire homes business, managing over 1,000 people and reporting directly to CEO Brian Chesky. He recently left Airbnb and joined Index Ventures as their newest partner. Vlad was my manager at Airbnb for many years, and is the person I credit most for teaching me how to be a great product manager. Prior to Airbnb, Vlad spent a year at Zynga, where he helped grow Words with Friends to over 14 million daily active users. In our conversation, Vlad shares:• Insight into Brian Chesky's leadership style• Why success as a PM is all about impact, impact, impact• Why chaos can be good• Why as a leader it's OK to let some fires burn• Why you should learn to “poke the bear”• Balancing product release speed with quality• Lessons on prioritization, decision-making, and organizational design• Advice for founders on building company culture• Much more—Brought to you by:• Pendo—The only all-in-one product experience platform for any type of application• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security• Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experiments—Find the transcript and show notes at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/impact-impact-impact-vlad-loktev—Where to find Vlad Loktev:• X: https://x.com/vladimirloktev• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimirloktev/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Vlad's background(02:54) Reflecting on transformative years at Airbnb(04:28) Skills and mindsets for success(11:03) Impact-driven mindset(13:16) Saying no and inquiry before advocacy (17:54) “Poking the bear”(22:46) Psychological tools for leadership(30:08) Building and scaling teams(36:12) Letting fires burn(47:34) Embracing chaos(54:40) The unsell email strategy(01:02:01) Finding your place in an organization(01:05:38) The importance of company culture(01:13:16) Airbnb's unique approach to product management(01:26:41) Failure corner(01:31:32) Lightning round and final thoughts—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Jetzt zu unserem Live-Podcast anmelden. https://forms.gle/1GC6zVn7dnqkF6ZF9 Aktien hören ist gut. Aktien kaufen ist besser. Bei unserem Partner Scalable Capital geht's unbegrenzt per Trading-Flatrate oder regelmäßig per Sparplan. Alle weiteren Infos gibt's hier: scalable.capital/oaws. Aktien + Whatsapp = Hier anmelden. Lieber als Newsletter? Geht auch. Das Buch zum Podcast? Jetzt lesen. Zinsen runter. Aktien hoch. Regionalbank-Aktien besonders stark hoch. Uran-Produktion runter. Uran-ETF hoch. McDonald's und Co. runter. Cava und Sweetgreen hoch. Boeing hoch. SpaceX runter. Das war die Börse der letzten drei Tage. Take-Two Interactive (WKN: 914508) hofft auf GTA 6. Wieso sieht man das nicht an der Aktie? Weil Take-Two auch auf Zynga gehofft hat und die Hoffnung hatte denkbar schlechtes Timing. Novo Nordisk (WKN: A3EU6F), Bavarian Nordic (WKN: 917165), Lundbeck (WKN: A3DMBV), Genmab (WKN: 565131), Gubra (WKN: A3D9NV). Wieso kommen diese ganzen Pharmafirmen aus einem Land mit nur 6 Millionen Einwohnern? Diesen Podcast vom 26.08.2024, 3:00 Uhr stellt dir die Podstars GmbH (Noah Leidinger) zur Verfügung.

Get the latest dose of game industry news shaken, not stirred. In this episode, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Laura Taranto debate the merits of VR, discuss Zynga's match-three strategies, and evaluate market trends in the mobile gaming sector. Plus, the crew takes a look at the dreadful reception of the Borderlands movie and the ongoing challenges in launching successful game franchises. To cap the episode off, we take a deep dive into the reason behind Bungie's recent layoffs. 00:00 Intro 02:34 Economic Insights 03:17 Transmedia Failures 4:48 College Tours and Family Updates 06:41 Gaming Events and AWS Support 16:01 Market Reports and Industry Growth 30:32 Exploring Match-Three Puzzle Games 31:27 Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery 32:42 Playtika's Strategic Shift 35:28 Bungie's Layoffs and Sony's Acquisition Strategy 42:54 Nexon's Earnings and Market Strategy 45:32 Take-Two Interactive's Performance and GTA VI 54:40 Zynga's Portfolio and Market Performance 64:11 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Join us as we talk to Gaurav Agarwal, the Co-founder of 1mg (previously HealthKartPlus) about their story. Gaurav completed his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi in 2001. He began his career as a software engineer at Decru Inc., then served as an engineering manager at Network Appliance, followed by a role as general manager at Zynga. He later took on the position of CTO & Head of Product at HealthKart before co-founding 1MG in 2015.

 Conversé con Manuel Bronstein, Chief Product Officer de Roblox, la plataforma de videojuegos con más de 70 millones de usuarios diarios. Antes de Roblox, Manuel fue vicepresidente de producto en gigantes tecnológicos como Google, donde dirigió su asistente personal, y YouTube, donde ayudó a alcanzar la impresionante cifra de mil millones de usuarios mensuales.-Este episodio es presentado por:Deel, la única plataforma de HR todo en uno diseñada para equipos globales. Deel te permite contratar fácilmente en más de 150 países. Desde México hasta Australia, explora cómo puedes contratar tanto empleados como freelancers de manera segura y legal.Visita su guía gratuita de contratación aquí: https://rebrand.ly/SDLDSPEP1 -Bonnus, transforma tu negocio con el API OpenBonnus. Distribuye más de 150 Gift Cards de las mejores marcas, como Amazon, Cinépolis, Nutrisa y Starbucks. Por ser miembro de la comunidad Startupeable, obtén un 100% de descuento en la integración del API aquí: https://rebrand.ly/SLDBDSP-Por favor ayúdame dejando una reseña en Spotify o Apple Podcasts: https://ratethispodcast.com/startupeable-Manuel también es parte de la junta directiva de The New York Times, dirigió productos en Zynga y Xbox, y es asesor de producto de decenas de startups exitosas.Hoy, Manuel y yo conversamos de:Cómo planificar tu carrera para incrementar tus probabilidades de éxitoQué características necesitas para ser un product manager de clase mundialLos errores más comunes al dirigir productos digitales y cómo evitarlosDel arte de balancear los datos y la intuición en la toma de decisionesCuándo es el momento adecuado para contratar a un líder de productoPocas personas tienen tanta experiencia dirigiendo productos digitales que impactan en la vida de cientos de millones de personas . Así que espero que disfrutes esta rica conversación con Manuel Bronstein.-Notas del episodio: https://startupeable.com/roblox/Para más contenido síguenos en:YouTube  | Sitio Web -Este episodio es presentado por:- Deel, la única plataforma de HR todo en uno diseñada para equipos globales. Deel te permite contratar fácilmente en más de 150 países. Desde México hasta Australia, explora cómo puedes contratar tanto empleados como freelancers de manera segura y legal.Más información aquí: https://rebrand.ly/SDLDSPG- Bonnus, transforma tu negocio con el API OpenBonnus. Distribuye más de 150 Gift Cards de las mejores marcas, como Amazon, Cinépolis, Nutrisa y Starbucks. Por ser miembro de la comunidad Startupeable, obtén un 100% de descuento en la integración del API aquí: https://rebrand.ly/SLDBDSP-Distribuido por Genuina Media

We assembled an Avengers-style team of Consumer Insights leaders from publishers and Vendors Blizzard, Riot, Zynga, and Beta Hat to dig into how Consumer Insights can help Devs and Marketers make and market successful games. The team digs into how each company approaches CI, uncovers trends around older and younger gamers, and gives tips for teams looking for financing or greenlight. The session is filled with tips and stories, helpful to anyone in the games industry. Host & Guests: Jen Donahoe - Strategic Marketing Consultant Matt Penfield - VP of Consumer Insights at Zynga Mike Swiontkowski - Head of Global Research and Consumer Insights at Blizzard Bennett Robbins - Global Head of Publishing and Ecosystem Insights at Riot Stan Kwon - CEO at Beta Hat 02:03 Overview of Consumer Insights 06:16 Role of Consumer Insights in Companies 08:52 Qualitative vs Quantitative Research 21:12 Market Trends and Insights 30:58 Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite 31:25 False Signals and Market Opportunities 32:44 Understanding Player Preferences 35:51 Consumer Insights in Game Development 37:09 The Speed of Consumer Insights in GaaS 38:19 Multi-Platform Gaming 39:41 Multiplatform Player Experience 42:01 Devs and Marketers Collaboration 50:27 Tips for Early-Stage Developers and CI 01:00:46 Wrap-Up --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Amitt Mahajan is the Founder of Proof of Play, the creators of Pirate Nation, the fully onchain free-to-play pirate-themed roleplaying game (RPG). Prior to founding Proof of Play, Amitt was the founder and CTO of MyMiniLife (acquired by Zynga), founder and CEO of Toro (acquired by Google), and the co-founder and CTO of Rare Bits, an NFT marketplace launched in 2018 the same week as OpenSea. While at Zynga, he co-created the game FarmVille (300M players, $1B+ in revenue) and served as the CTO of Zynga Japan. Before his entrepreneurial work, Mahajan was an engineer at Epic Games on the Unreal Engine and Gears of War.In this conversation, we discuss:- Building FarmVille and working at Zynga, a top 3 gaming studio of all time- The importance of distribution in gaming- Distribution in FB vs Telegram vs Discord- Social gaming- Creating games = giving multiple choices and giving high player agency- “Finding the fun”- Building decentralized games and gaming infrastructure- Crypto is ethical neutral technology- Importance of streaming in today's games- Building community- Dev cycle speedPirate NationWebsite: piratenation.gameX: @PirateNationDiscord: discord.gg/piratenationAmitt MahajanX: @amittmLinkedIn: Amitt Mahajan  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is brought to you by PrimeXBT.  PrimeXBT offers a robust trading system for both beginners and professional traders that demand highly reliable market data and performance. Traders of all experience levels can easily design and customize layouts and widgets to best fit their trading style. PrimeXBT is always offering innovative products and professional trading conditions to all customers.   PrimeXBT is running an exclusive promotion for listeners of the podcast. After making your first deposit, 50% of that first deposit will be credited to your account as a bonus that can be used as additional collateral to open positions.  Code: CRYPTONEWS50  This promotion is available for a month after activation. Click the link below:  PrimeXBT x CRYPTONEWS50

It's a Glitterjaw Crossover! We joined our pals Katie and Doug from Novel Gaming to discuss Star Wars Hunters: Battle for the Arena by Mark Oshiro, a middle-grade novel tie-in to the popular new game from Zynga! The book focuses on Rieve's backstory and gives more color to the characters in the game. Plus it...weirdly serves as an instruction manual to online hero shooters and objective based games? Be sure to check out Novel Gaming on every podcast platform - or YouTube at GitterJaw.com! Our socials Twitter ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠ Instagram ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠. Email: DistantEchoesSW@gmail.com. Cass - Twitter: ⁠@Cassiethulu⁠ | Instagram: @Cassiethulu Tommy - Twitter: ⁠@AwkwardComma⁠ | Instagram: @AwkwardComma Theme Music 失望した by EVA - https://joshlis.bandcamp.comPromoted by @RoyaltyFreePlanet - https://royaltyfreeplanet.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense Please consider donating to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, a non-profit with the mission of providing free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children. Head to ⁠www.pcrf.net⁠ to join us in donating and learn more. If you want to find other ways of getting involved, head to ⁠https://ceasefiretoday.com⁠.

In this episode of BCP, Paul and Mesh chat about the latest Game of Thrones mobile game created by Zynga. They then break down the amazing opening weekend for Deadpool Wolverine as well as the latest Marvel announcements at Comic Con, including a few big surprises. Finally, they discuss the Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle and how it might impact the streaming wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Hawley (former executive at 100 Thieves, EA, Zynga, Lionhead, Sony, Telltale, and Mythical Games) and Alexander Seropian (founder of Bungie, Industrial Toys, Wideload, and Look North Games) unpack their experiences with the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) platform, discussing marketing strategies, player engagement, technical limitations, and opportunities.  00:00 Introduction to Heroic Labs 01:01 Meet the Legends: Pete Hawley and Alex Seropian 01:43 Pete's Journey and Insights 03:27 Exploring UEFN: Challenges and Opportunities 08:19 Alex's Perspective on UEFN 11:33 The Future of UEFN  23:11 ROI in UEFN Development 35:42 Challenges in Game Development 44:14 Monetization Strategies 49:53 Marketing and Launching  01:02:52 Lessons Learned  01:12:54 Final Thoughts  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Episode 607: Sam Parr ( https://twitter.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://twitter.com/ShaanVP ) talk to Dan Porter ( https://x.com/tfadp ) about selling his app for $200M after just 6 weeks plus stories about Richard Branson, Ari Emmanuel & building cult brands. — Show Notes:  (0:00) Intro (1:29) Story behind OMGPop gaming company (5:23)Creating viral mobile game Draw My Thing (now Draw Something) (12:02) 25 million users a day, 1 million drawings every 5 seconds (24:10) Zynga bought the game for $200M 6 weeks after launch (32:30) The real power of money (38:32) Working with Richard Branson and Ari Emmanuel (47:44) Building Overtime (creating a brand that is part of culture) (52:28) The Travis Scott effect (1:06:45) Dan's life advice  — Links: • Overtime - https://overtimeelite.com/ — Check Out Shaan's Stuff: Need to hire? You should use the same service Shaan uses to hire developers, designers, & Virtual Assistants → it's called Shepherd (tell ‘em Shaan sent you): https://bit.ly/SupportShepherd — Check Out Sam's Stuff: • Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/ • Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/ • Copy That - https://copythat.com • Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth • Sam's List - http://samslist.co/ My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Yousuf Bhaijee is a Growth Gdvisor and interim Head of Growth to companies like Brightwheel, HP, Evernow and Blackbird. Chris Lloyd is an engineer who most recently worked at AI company, Humane, and also Pinterest, Assembly and Opera. Yousuf is the father of three kids and Chris is the father of two. Chris and his family, Yousuf and his family and five other families live in a town-home complex that they all collectively bought several years ago. There are now a total of fifteen kids at the complex! In today's conversation we discussed:* How this whole modern day commune experiment got started* What it means to live in a modern day commune* The shared rituals, benefits and drawbacks of this lifestyle* The positive impacts on mental health* The benefits of sharing* How gender roles take on new meaning in communal living* The most surprising aspects of a communal lifestyle* Family privacy and parenting styles when you live in close proximity with othersWhere to find Yousuf Bhaijee* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousufbhaijee* X: https://twitter.com/ybhaijeeWhere to find Chris Lloyd* X: https://twitter.com/chrislloydWhere to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:47] Yousuf & Chris Introduction/Welcome[4:46] Family Life and Hottakes [10:42] Commune Living - What it is[12:44] Commune Living - How it came to be[17:50] Logistics & Agreements[19:42] Gender Roles[21:30] External Judgements[23:36] Macro and Micro Rituals[26:15] Social Media[27:15] Functionality of Commune Living[30:00] Family Privacy & Parenting Styles[35:52] Changes in Mental Health[39:22] Modern Day Sharing Economy[42:37] Discoveries of Living in a Commune[45:00] Vulnerability & Parenting Advice[50:48] Technology and the Communal Impact[57:12] Parenting Mistakes as a Dad[1:00:25] Reaching Out[1:00:00] Rapid Fire—Show references:Amazon One Medical: https://health.amazon.com/primeBrightwheel: https://mybrightwheel.com/home-b/HP: https://www.hp.comEvernow: https://www.evernow.com/Blackbird: https://www.blackbird.xyz/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.comAssembly: https://www.joinassembly.com/Opera: https://www.opera.com/Eaze: https://www.eaze.com/Zynga: https://www.zynga.com/Humane: https://humane.com/WWDC: https://developer.apple.com/wwdc24/Disney: https://www.disney.com/Paw Patrol: https://www.pawpatrol.com/Blippi: https://blippi.com/Nickelodeon: https://www.nick.com/Lovevery: https://lovevery.com/SNOO: https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinetNoseFrida: https://frida.com/products/nosefrida—For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Reid Hoffman has been one of the most impactful people in technology over the last two decades. He is the Co-Founder of Linkedin (acq by Microsoft for $26BN) and Co-Founder of Inflection.ai. As an investor, Reid has backed the likes of Facebook, Airbnb, Zynga and more. Reid is also a Board Member @ Microsoft and was on the board of OpenAI. In Today's Show with Reid Hoffman We Discuss: 1. Foundation Models: Commoditisation, Business Models, Incumbents: Does Reid believe we are seeing the commoditization of foundation models? Is it too late for new foundation models to be born today? Are they VC backable? How will foundation models eventually make money? What will be the sustainable business model? Does Reid believe that foundation models will be acquired by large cloud providers? Who goes first? 2. Inflection & Microsoft: What Went Down: How did the Microsoft and Inflection deal go down? Did Satya call up one day and make it happen? With the decay rate of models, Microsoft did not do it for the models, so why did they do it? Was Inflection a sustainable business in it's own right? Does this not prove that to win at this game, you have to be an incumbent with incumbent cash? 3. OpenAI: Board, Lessons and Management: What are 1-2 of Reid's biggest lessons from being on the OpenAI board with Sam? Why did Sam ask Reid in front of the whole company if Reid would fire him if he did not perform? Scarlett Johannsen, super alignment team quitting, NDAs tied to equity, this is a lot in a short amount of time, how does Reid analyse this? 4. Trump is the Biggest Threat to Democracy: What Lies Ahead? Why does Reid believe that Trump is a threat to democracy and evil? What were Reid's biggest takeaways from a two hour lunch with Joe Biden? How does a Trump administration change the world of AI, technology and startups? 5. The Future of TikTok: Is TikTok a threat to US democracy? Should it be banned? What will be the outcome of the current judicial process? Will they sell to a US entity? How could Trump impact the future of TikTok in the US? 6. Reid Hoffman: AMA: What are Peter Thiel's biggest strengths and weaknesses? I believe Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most unappreciated public market CEOs, what are the core components that Reid believes makes Mark so special? How did Reid miss out on investing in SpaceX's first round? What did he not see that he should have seen? What do we think is crazy today but will be a no brainer and very normal in 10 years?  

You might recognize the name Mark Pincus but we almost guarantee you recognize the game Farmville. Mark Pincus is the founder and longtime CEO of Zynga, known for its massive global franchise of games, including those household names like Farmville and Words with Friends. Zynga was also at the forefront of the transition to mobile and the use of large platforms like Facebook for distribution.In this episode Mark joins Josh Lu from the a16z Games team for a fireside chat. They discuss navigating major tech waves and recognizing "true signal" opportunities, and explore a wide range of topics, from the strategic insights that propelled Zynga to success, the future of the Metaverse, and the philosophy behind minimum viable products. This conversation offers invaluable insights for both gaming industry insiders and enthusiasts looking to understand the dynamics of tech innovation and entrepreneurship.Topics Covered:00:00 - How Zynga Spotted the Mobile Wave02:47 - Challenges of Starting Zynga05:24 - Zynga's Early Workforce and Learning HTML07:40 - Preparing for Tech Waves11:29 - The Importance of Being Too Early15:42 - The attribute of great founders18:33 - Hiring Philosophy 22:02 - ‘Everyone is  a CEO'24:20 - Fast Iteration and Learning from Failures31:06 - Personal Gaming Preferences32:52 - Advice on Reevaluating Projects and True Signal35:50 - AI's Role in Consumer Adoption and Gaming40:17 - Community as a Core Element43:31 - UGC Gaming Space and Future Computing ParadigmsResources: Find Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/markpincFind Josh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshluLearn more about SPEEDRUN 3.0: https://a16z.com/speedrun3Learn more about SPEEDRUN: ttps://a16z.com/speedrun-your-gaming-startupStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.