SmileDirectClub goes to Walmart — Taco Bell’s owner devours hamburger chain — The taser creator could split in 2
SmileDirectClub abandoned its direct-to-consumer ways to launch in Walmart stores, but it’s missing one big thing: Its core product. Taser-inventor Axon acquired a rival last year, but now it’s been a...
7 Tammi 202017min
Snapchat buys the “Cameos” company — One Medical’s IPO moves — Apple’s 2020 HomeKit mantra
Aaaand we’re back. While you were unwrapping gifts, Snapchat treated itself to an augmented reality startup that makes the hilarious filters for Snapchat. OneMedical just filed paperwork to IPO alread...
6 Tammi 202018min
Last pod of 2019: Our 3 bold wishes for 2020
In our last pod of 2019 (we’re taking a 2-week break until Monday, January 6th), we’re going digestibly bold: Our 3 bold predictions for 2020. Will Apple buy Tesla? Can Amazon eliminate boxes? And doe...
20 Joulu 201915min
Ikea’s tech pivot — FedEx’s ‘horrific’ profits — Flavors & Fragrances plant-based merger
Ikea’s always been focused on furniture, now it aims to democratize smart furniture (but it needs help). FedEx plummeted 10% because it’s losing its profit puppy. And International Flavors & Fragrance...
19 Joulu 201916min
Oprah’s 9-city Weight Watchers tour — Boeing’s worst year ever — Alexa’s profit pivot
Weight Watchers tried to turn itself around the last couple years by adding Oprah to the board, but now she’s headlining a 9-city WW wellness tour. Now that Boeing has officially suspended production ...
18 Joulu 201918min
H&M’s “Moneyball” strategy — Intel’s $2B AI acquisition — Sprout Social’s social-ish IPO
H&M has spent 2 years trying to burn fewer clothes (literally), and an 11% sales rebound shows it’s finally working. Intel splurged $2B on a chip company because the last time it tried to build its ow...
17 Joulu 201916min
The Spirit Airline-ification of cars — Pandora’s talking ads — and the Phase I trade deal
V-commerce — aka “voice commerce” has new momentum after online radio Pandora tests ads that let you talk back. Car prices are starting to mimic airplane ones, forcing you to pay extra if you want any...
16 Joulu 201916min
Lyft launches car rental — Disney didn’t tell Hasbro about Baby Yoda — Delta is really a credit card
If you noticed that Avis shares plunged, that’s because Lyft just whipped up a car rental service. The hero of Disney+ has been Baby Yoda, but toy-maker Hasbro didn’t get the memo and missed out on mi...
13 Joulu 201916min
