This Week in Startups

E1101: News! Apple vs. Epic Games, TikTok CEO resigns, SPACs, Unicorn IPOs & more with Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal

Aug 28, 2020
Ben Gilbert, co-founder of Pioneer Square Labs, and David Rosenthal, angel investor and co-host of Acquired FM, dive into the legal clash between Apple and Epic Games. They explore themes like app store freedom, Epic's potential hardware venture, and TikTok's impact on corporate ethics with the resignation of its CEO. The conversation also covers insights into venture capital dynamics during the pandemic, innovative startup strategies, and the evolving landscape of SPACs, all sprinkled with lighthearted banter about media and personal anecdotes.
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ADVICE

Fortnite Phone/Tablet

  • Consider partnering with an Android phone maker to create a Fortnite-branded device.
  • Offer exclusive V-Bucks or hardware advantages to incentivize switching from Apple.
INSIGHT

Apple Ecosystem Lock-in

  • Apple's strong ecosystem lock-in makes it difficult for competitors to attract users, even with incentives.
  • This lock-in effect is evident in various sectors like podcasting and gaming.
INSIGHT

Tencent's Power

  • Epic Games and Tencent are major allies, and Tencent's importance in the Chinese market is crucial.
  • If WeChat were pulled from the Apple store, Apple's market share in China would plummet, highlighting Tencent's influence.
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