Acquired

Explore the incredible rise of Shopify, from its start as a snowboard gear retailer to competing with e-commerce giants like Amazon. Discover the unconventional insights of CEO Tobi Lütke and how his passion for gaming shaped his entrepreneurial journey. Dive into the innovative strategies that fueled Shopify's growth and its unique business model that empowers smaller merchants. The podcast also touches on the company’s financial performance, especially post-IPO, and the implications of evolving market dynamics in e-commerce.

Dive into the compelling journey of Huawei, from a modest switch importer to a telecom titan dominating 5G. Explore the life of its founder, Ren Zhengfei, and the unique socio-economic factors in Shenzhen that fueled this rise. Uncover the complexities of Huawei's technology struggles amid U.S. restrictions and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Delve into its distinct ownership model and impressive revenue figures, showcasing the interplay between innovation and state support. The discussion reveals the profound implications for global tech and U.S.-China relations.

Rahul Vohra, Founder and CEO of Superhuman, previously co-founded Reportive, acquired by LinkedIn. He shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges faced while building a revolutionary email tool. The conversation dives deep into leveraging AI for productivity, Superhuman's development process, and strategies for achieving product-market fit. Vohra touches on overcoming burnout and the importance of understanding customer needs in the competitive productivity tool market.

Discover Slack's epic transformation from a failed game to a leading communication platform. Explore the quirky history of its founder's unconventional upbringing and the resilience of its team amid challenges. Learn about the evolution of direct public offerings and Slack's rise against competitors like Microsoft Teams. There's a deep dive into innovative user engagement tactics, blending gaming elements to boost retention. Plus, reflect on the changing dynamics in tech and gaming markets, making it a captivating listen!

Santi Subotovsky, a general partner at Emergence Capital and a board member at Zoom, shares the remarkable underdog story of Zoom's IPO. He recounts how founder Eric Yuan transitioned from a non-English speaking immigrant to a celebrated CEO. The discussion highlights Zoom's evolution from a startup into a major player in video conferencing, its unique market advantages, and the role of customer feedback in its success. Santi also reflects on the challenges faced by underrepresented individuals in tech, emphasizing resilience and innovation.

Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts and a key innovator in gaming, shares his fascinating journey from collegiate athlete to tech pioneer. He discusses how EA made video games mainstream and the creative vision behind iconic titles like John Madden Football. Trip reflects on his early experiences at Apple, the evolution of game publishing, and the groundbreaking decision to go public in 1989, highlighting both challenges and triumphs in establishing successful business models within the gaming industry.

Dive into the riveting journey of Uber, from its humble beginnings to its IPO day. Discover the historical roots of transportation regulations and labor struggles that shaped the taxi industry. Hear firsthand insights from early employees, along with a transformative brainstorming session in Paris that sparked the ride-hailing revolution. Unravel the fierce competition Uber faced against rivals and the tumultuous periods of leadership upheaval and controversy. Finally, explore the complexities and challenges surrounding its highly anticipated IPO.

Dive into the intriguing journey of Pinterest, where unconventional origins meet the challenges of tech entrepreneurship. Discover the unique blend of social media and utility that distinguishes this platform. Explore early hurdles in mobile app development and the pivotal moments that fueled user engagement. Learn how strategic monetization efforts led to an impressive IPO valuation. Compare Pinterest's innovative appeal to its rivals, while examining the critical lessons in resilience and data-driven growth that shape its ongoing story.

Lyft's IPO sparks a seismic shift in the tech world, marking a new era as it transitions away from the FAANG giants. The discussion dives into Lyft's captivating journey from Zimride to a market powerhouse, with insights on how employee satisfaction directly influences stock performance. Innovative strategies and competitive dynamics against Uber showcase Lyft's resilience in a crowded market. With the ride-sharing revolution in full swing, the implications for future transportation and technology investments are explored, offering a glimpse into a transformative economic landscape.

We enter the wayback machine and revisit the subject of Acquired’s second ever episode, Facebook’s bombshell 2012 acquisition of Instagram — this time with the help of then-Facebook executive Emily White, who moved over post-acquisition to become Instagram’s first business head. Together with Kevin and Mike, Emily helped build Instagram's business model, which today accounts for nearly 1/4 of all of Facebook’s revenue. Is this still Acquired’s canonical A+ with an extra 3.5 years of hindsight? Spoiler alert: yes.Sponsors:WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentryServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsnMore Acquired!:Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLCCarve Outs:Ben: Sam Harris on the Joe Rogan Experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ5_hAEsLkUDavid: Boom Town by Sam Anderson:  https://www.amazon.com/Boom-Town-Fantastical-Basketball-World-class-ebook/dp/B077RHYC4G