This Week in Startups Andrew Wilkinson on bringing the Buffett approach to startups, WeCommerce, Slack & more | E1174
Feb 17, 2021
Andrew Wilkinson, founder of MetaLab and Tiny, shares his unique insights drawn from his experience with startups like Slack and Uber Eats. He discusses how Warren Buffett's investment methodologies can be applied to modern startups. The conversation covers the transition from freelance design to startup consulting, the advantages of strategic acquisitions, and the dynamics of financing within the Shopify ecosystem. Wilkinson also addresses the challenges of revamping struggling businesses while maintaining company culture and explores the future of media acquisitions and digital content.
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Slack Design
- Andrew Wilkinson's Metalab designed Slack's initial version, including the logo, color palette, and UX.
- Wilkinson declined equity, believing Slack faced an uphill battle against established competitors.
Acquiring Businesses
- Buy businesses efficiently and founder-friendly: offer a fixed price, quick closing, and minimal disruption.
- Ensure employees' situations remain unchanged post-acquisition, allowing founders to exit gracefully.
WeCommerce Story
- Wilkinson's Pixel Union partnered with Shopify to improve their site design, creating themes for easy customization.
- After selling and later repurchasing Pixel Union, it became WeCommerce, a publicly traded company focused on Shopify ecosystem acquisitions.