Tag: Hot-takes

Untapped Second Order Network Effects: Facebook Jobs and LinkedIn Dating

When we think of LinkedIn, we picture polished profiles, professional accolades, and career milestones. Conversely, Facebook conjures images of family reunions, vacation snapshots, and local community chatter. Yet, a deeper look at their user bases and behaviors reveals a surprising twist: LinkedIn is the de facto elite dating pool, while Facebook serves as an unstructured…

A Case for Instagram Dating

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a quirky idea that an Indian dating site used to onboard more singles. At a popular concert in Delhi, they distributed free water bottles exclusively to single attendees, encouraging them to sign up on their platform. The distributors wore T-shirts emblazoned with “singles ko pani pilao yojana”,…

SFTechWeek and an Epiphany on How to Win the Cloud Wars

It’s a wrap for SFTechWeek by a16z 2024, and I must say, the experience was exhilarating! I had the privilege of attending some fantastic events and meeting founders from across the globe, all with one goal in mind – pitching their innovative startups. From India to Germany, Latin America to Ukraine, Poland to the UK,…

Devotion and Faith need a Match Group

When my aunts and uncles start talking about a new app, I pay close attention. Recently, the buzz has been around an app called Sri Mandir—a platform that is transforming the way people connect with their faith. Sri Mandir allows users to offer ceremonial prayers, make donations, and sponsor aartis at some of India’s most…

Packaging as a Competitive Advantage: How Graza is Redefining Olive Oil with a Simple Innovation

One of the best examples I’ve recently come across of using packaging as a primary differentiator is an olive oil startup called Graza. Their innovation? A squeezy bottle to dispense olive oil. Think about the last time you tried pouring olive oil from a traditional bottle with a large round opening. Chances are, you either…