

"Company Breakdowns"
Turpentine
If you want to make bets about the future, you have to understand the why behind a startup’s success. Company Breakdowns from Turpentine is a deep dive with influential tech insiders like Tomasz Tunguz, Alex Clayton, CJ Gustafson, and Tanay Jaipuria, hosted by Erik Torenberg. We’ll be breaking down a particular company's strengths, such as its products or services, growing customer base, business model, and potential for market penetration and domination. Special episodes will dissect S-1 filings. Companies covered this season include: Reddit, Rubrik, Databricks and more. Company Breakdowns is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: turpentine.co
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 8, 2024 • 39min
Klaviyo: From Bootstrapped Startup to Market Leader with Alex Clayton of Meritech
Alex Clayton, Partner at Meritech Capital, discusses Klaviyo's journey to market leader with $700 million ARR. Topics include Klaviyo's business model, strategic position in Shopify ecosystem, investment perspectives, growth potential, software business metrics, market penetration, PLG vs. sales-led growth strategies in tech.

May 1, 2024 • 49min
Reddit with Tanay Jaipuria
Tanay Jaipuria from Wing Venture Capital joins to discuss Reddit's journey to IPO, user engagement, data licensing, and potential monetization. Topics cover Reddit's unique user base, AI, ad-based revenue model, market dynamics, competition, and the impact of WallStreetBets. Reflections on Reddit's R&D, efficiency opportunities, and growth strategies are also explored.

Apr 25, 2024 • 40min
Rubrik: From Startup to IPO with CJ Gustafson
In the debut episode of Company Breakdowns, Erik Torenberg invites CJ Gustafson to dissect Rubrik's strategy in advance of its IPO on the NYSE on April 24, 2024. Rubrik, initially a backup and recovery firm, transitioned to a cloud-based subscription model, expanding its market reach and cybersecurity focus. The discussion covers Rubrik's funding, valuation, sales strategies, competitive landscape, and the challenges of subscription models, concluding with insights on IPO implications and the importance of innovation and market positioning for tech companies.
Subscribe to this season of Company Breakdowns for analysis of Reddit, Databricks, and more! Subscribe to Company Breakdowns' newsletter: https://company-breakdowns.beehiiv.com/
Company Breakdowns is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: TURPENTINE VC
Investor Erik Torenberg interviews partners at the top VCs in the world to learn their approach to the art and science of building a successful venture firm.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1701006772
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Yb8ErLRnyoAqn4Y6NegTx
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LINKS:
Mostly Metrics, Rubrik IPO: S-1 Breakdown https://www.mostlymetrics.com/p/rubrik-ipo-s1-breakdown
Mostly Metrics, Is Net Promoter Score the Ozempic of Metrics? https://www.mostlymetrics.com/p/is-net-promoter-score-the-ozempic
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:41) Rubrik's Evolution
(02:20) The Strategic Shift: Cloud and Cybersecurity Expansion
(05:13) Dissecting Rubrik's Sales Strategy and Market Competition
(11:19) Exploring Rubrik's Revenue Model and Subscription Shift
(15:27) Rubrik's Impressive Growth Metrics and Future Prospects
(17:28) Sponsor: Brave | Turpentine
(19:14) The Role of R&D in Rubrik's Competitive Edge
(20:57) Decoding the Financials: Sales, Marketing, and Sustainability
(22:06) The IPO Strategy: Navigating Public Markets
(24:12) Evaluating the S-1
(27:25) The Bull and Bear Case for Rubrik
(30:31) Valuation Insights and Understanding the Numbers
(33:31) Expanding Horizons: Global Growth and Customer Insights
(34:58) NPS is the Ozempic of Metrics
(37:55) IPO
(39:48) Wrap