This Week in Startups Amazon's transformation, Peloton's mistakes, VC market downturn & more with Ben Gilbert | E1582
Oct 11, 2022
Ben Gilbert, a keen business analyst and contributor to Acquired, dives into various fascinating topics. He discusses Amazon's shift from innovation to profitability, marking a significant transformation for the tech giant. The conversation turns to Peloton's recent struggles, including drastic job cuts and missteps during the pandemic. Gilbert also explores the intriguing world of AI, including ethical questions about digital likenesses, and wraps up with insights on the current downturn in venture capital funding.
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Amazon's Day 2 Shift
- Amazon is shifting from a "Day 1" to a "Day 2" company, focusing on scale and profits.
- This shift impacts their investment strategy, favoring projects with high certainty or AWS-sized potential.
Coco's Delivery Robots
- Coco's delivery robots show promise in the autonomous delivery space.
- Amazon's focus on bulk deliveries makes small, robot-based deliveries less appealing.
Smartphone Tech & Robotics
- Smartphone component maturation makes technologies like delivery robots more viable.
- Improved batteries, image sensors, and cheaper computer vision software benefit robotics.