This Week in Startups All-In E14: Salesforce acquires Slack, DeepMind’s AlphaFold breakthrough, Trust Fund Socialists & more
Dec 4, 2020
Join a lively chat as the crew dives into Salesforce's massive acquisition of Slack and its implications for the tech world. They weave humor into discussions about fashion mishaps while critiquing the new wave of podcast sponsorships. Investment strategies shine through tales of startup exits, emphasizing the value of patience. Plus, explore the revolutionary advances of DeepMind's AlphaFold in protein design and the ethical dilemmas that AI brings to the forefront of innovation. A mix of tech insights and lighthearted banter makes it a must-listen!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Slack Investment
- Chamath invested in Slack's Series B (TinySpec) and Series A (Slack).
- The investment thesis was based on "intercompany edges," or cross-company communication, not revenue.
Slack's Enterprise Sales Failure
- Slack's main failure was its slow adoption of enterprise sales.
- Enterprises don't self-serve, requiring a dedicated sales team to close deals, a lesson learned from Yammer.
Salesforce-Slack Deal Premium
- Salesforce acquired Slack at a small premium to its recent trading price.
- This suggests a perceived weakness from Slack's board, impacting Salesforce's stock price.