Equity Monday: SoftBank's vibe shift is using silence loudly
Feb 6, 2023
The silence from SoftBank's CEO marks a significant cultural shift, hinting at a new public relations strategy. Getaround faces a looming delisting crisis, illustrating broader concerns in tech. Meanwhile, Minu gamifies employee wellness benefits, blending health and finance for enhanced engagement. The return of seasoned entrepreneurs to the startup scene is noteworthy, with founders from Instacart and Spotify diving into innovative health tech. These insights offer a glimpse into evolving trends in startup management and employee engagement.
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insights INSIGHT
SoftBank's Silence
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son skipping earnings calls signals a shift in the company's external perception.
The silence speaks volumes about SoftBank's seriousness in changing its image.
question_answer ANECDOTE
GetAround's Delisting Warning
GetAround received a delisting warning from the New York Stock Exchange for trading below $1 for 30 consecutive days.
The company has six months to regain compliance, resorting to layoffs to improve its trajectory.
insights INSIGHT
Gamified Employee Wellness
Minu, a Mexico-based startup, gamifies employee benefits, intertwining financial and employee wellness.
It offers various benefits like health access, discounts, and classes, rewarding employees for engagement.
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Big tech: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will be skipping the Japanese conglomerates' earnings call, reports the Economic Times. We knew the flashy presentations were going away, but the silence may signal just how seriously SoftBank wants to shift its external perception. Speaking of perception, there's nothing quite like a delisting warning to get people talking about you. I talk about Getaround's less than $1 trend, and why it may be off the public markets if it doesn't get its act together in the next six months.
Big idea: It's time to gamify benefits, and then think about wellness in more than just silo'd ways. At least that's how I imagine Minu's founding story to have played out - the startup is an HR tech meets edtech meets fintech meets health tech tool. Interesting stuff.
Big innovation: The serial entrepreneur spree, in which notorious founders return to the early stage stomping grounds with fresher ideas, is a tried and true part of the tech world. Still, it surprises me to see just how many recent examples we have. Natasha talks about Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta's new health tech company, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's new health tech company, as well, and the return of co-founders from Instagram and Zenly making their way back into the social consumer space. We end with a nod at Natasha's latest Startups Weekly column, which looks at the data behind startup offices.
Ok, that's all. Let's have a good time this week. And by that we mean, tell us all your secrets!
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
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