Microsoft operates as a platform with high affiliation costs for users and enterprise-wide adoption, extending its network scope to meet user demands without incurring additional costs. This extends to productivity software, creating competitive challenges for products like Slack. Understanding the power of your current business creates a preferable risk-return prospect for transformation. If unable to build on current assets, starting a new business requires repurposing existing assets, utilizing same skills or satisfying the same needs to minimize risk.
7 Powers author Hamilton Helmer and his Strategy Capital colleague Chenyi Shi join us again to discuss their latest research on a topic that’s highly relevant to the recent Acquired canon: how to build a second business line. This incredibly important “transforming” question faces every great company who has achieved initial product success (as well as their investors). Do we continue solely along the established path, or do we attempt to grow new branches on the tree? Some companies grow new businesses with tremendous success — Amazon and AWS, Nintendo and video games, Nvidia and CUDA — yet many others fail miserably. For the first time Hamilton and Chenyi share their research-based playbook on how companies should approach this decision and choose wisely. Tune in!
ACQ2 Show:
Sponsors:
Statsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig24
Vanta: https://bit.ly/acquiredvanta
Crusoe: https://bit.ly/acquiredcrusoe
Link to Hamilton's 2-Axis Chart
Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.