Brands like Sweetgreen and Allbirds, once buoyed by VC funds, are struggling. They had to raise prices to achieve profitability just as their core millennial customers faced inflation and job insecurity, leading to a collapse in demand and stock value.
Callaway is selling Topgolf for $1B after paying $2.5B four years ago. This loss highlights that businesses booming due to unique pandemic conditions may not sustain that growth, creating significant risk for acquirers who buy at the peak.
The $7B microdrama industry validated Quibi's short-form content idea but corrected its flawed business model. Instead of monthly subscriptions, successful apps use a freemium model with addictive cliffhangers that compel users to make small, frequent micropayments to continue watching.
In an industry where youth is prized and founders like Peter Thiel have expressed a bias against hiring older employees, male tech workers are increasingly turning to cosmetic surgery. Facelifts and eyelid surgeries are up significantly as professionals try to look younger to maintain their careers.
CEO Doug McMillan's decision to raise worker pay by 90% was key to Walmart's resurgence. This investment in people lowered turnover, improved service, and attracted new customers, ultimately quadrupling the stock price and proving a vital strategy against competitors like Amazon.
Historically tech-averse investor Warren Buffett has made a rare, large bet on a tech company other than Apple. Berkshire Hathaway's $4.3 billion investment in Alphabet (Google) indicates a strategic evolution for the firm and a powerful endorsement of Google's durable market position.