$100M Founder Reveals The Secret To Making Data Profitable

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Jun 11, 2024

Anand Sanwal, founder of CB Insights and advocate for entrepreneurial education, shares insights from his journey in the data business. He reveals his data arbitrage playbook and emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking over rushing ahead without direction. Anand discusses innovative business concepts like a high-end Glassdoor and C-suite headhunting service. He passionately describes his vision for an entrepreneurial school that fosters critical thinking, preparing young minds for the future.

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ANECDOTE

PDFs to Millions

Anand Sanwal's data company started by selling PDFs of credit card industry sentiment surveys to hedge funds.
Initially priced at $2,500, a prime broker helped them increase pricing to $12,000, $50,000, and $100,000.

ANECDOTE

Chubby Brain to CB Insights

CB Insights, originally named Chubby Brain, rebranded after Goldman Sachs refused their service due to the unprofessional name.
The name change was a pivotal moment in the company's journey to becoming a respected data provider.

ADVICE

Data Business Playbook

Focus on the value data provides, not just having data.
Determine the edge your data offers, its collection feasibility, and the market opportunity.

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