Beyond: April 2

Here is what you'll gonna learn in the next 10 minutes or less!

1. Get the List of 504+ Tech Related Podcast to Get Featured On
2. Deck That Got 7 Bridges,a $3.4 Million Seed Round
3. How did Kodak lose $15 Billion of Revenue?
4. Poster Child to Problem Child: What happened to Clubhouse?
5. 4 Strategies Kurly Used to Change the Way Koreans buy Groceries?

Here are this Week's Giveaways!

List of 504+ Tech Related Podcast to Get Featured On.

Deck That Got 7 Bridges, a $3.4 Million Seed Round

7 Bridges was launched as an end-to-end logistics optimization platform, 7bridges will automate key processes for businesses that will allow them to streamline business processes.

Industry: Logistics, Ai, Retail

Customer: B2B

Business Model: Subscription

Round: $3.4M

Investor: VC

Year: 2020

How did Kodak lose $15 Billion of Revenue?

Did you know that Kodak once Introduced a camera at a price of just $1 in 1900!!, It was famously called Kodak Brownie.

Kodak was founded in 1888 by George Eastman, with a vision to make photography accessible to the masses.

Eastman sought to simplify the complex process of photography and make it more convenient for amateur photographers.

What was so Unique about Kodak?

• Accessible Photography: Kodak introduced the first handheld camera, the Kodak No. 1, along with the slogan “You press the button, we do the rest,” making photography accessible to everyday consumers.
• Film Development Services: Kodak offered film development services, allowing users to send their exposed film rolls to Kodak for processing and printing, further simplifying the photography process.

What Made it an Instant Success?:

• Mass Production: Kodak pioneered mass production techniques, enabling it to produce affordable cameras and film in large quantities.
• Global Expansion: The company expanded its reach globally, establishing manufacturing facilities and distribution networks to serve customers worldwide.
• Brand Recognition: Kodak’s iconic brand and innovative products solidified its position as a leader in the photography industry, capturing the hearts and minds of consumers around the world.

Famous Highlights of this Iconic Bra

Did You know that Kodak Introduced the First Digital Camera Prototype in 1975?

1. Yellow Kodak Box: The introduction of the yellow Kodak film box became synonymous with photography, representing convenience and quality for consumers.
2. Kodachrome Film: Kodachrome film, introduced in 1935, revolutionised color photography with its vibrant colors and exceptional image quality, becoming the preferred choice for professional photographers.
3. Digital Photography Innovation: Kodak was an early pioneer in digital photography technology, launching consumer digital cameras in the 1990s.
4. Peak Revenue: Kodak reached its peak revenue of over $15 billion in 1996, fuelled by strong sales of film products and imaging services.

Kodak faced a ton of Challenges at the start of 2000s:

• Digital Disruption: Kodak struggled to adapt to the shift from traditional film photography to digital photography, missing opportunities to capitalize on emerging technologies.
• Financial Strain: The company faced financial challenges due to declining sales of traditional film products and increasing competition from digital photography rivals.
• Lack of Innovation: Kodak’s foundation on traditional film products limited its ability to innovate and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving photography market.

Decline of a Pioneer:

• The company faced declining revenue and profitability in the early 2000s, driven by the rise of digital photography and declining demand for traditional film products.
• Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012, citing liabilities of over $6 billion, as it struggled to adapt to the digital age and compete with digital photography rivals.

Kodak’s business saw its last revenue peak in 1996 at a height of $16 Billion while it closed last year at merely $1.11 Billion, almost a 93% slump from its glory days.

4 Things Startups can learn from Kodak’s $15 Billion loss:

1. Brand Evolution: Kodak’s journey highlights the importance of brand evolution and adaptation to changing market dynamics. Startups should continuously assess their brand positioning and messaging to ensure relevance. Perfect Example: Apple’s transformation from a computer manufacturer to a lifestyle brand with products like the iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
2. Digital Transformation: Kodak’s failure to effectively embrace digital photography highlights the critical need for startups to embrace innovation. Perfect Example: Netflix’s successful transition from a DVD rental service to a global streaming platform exemplifies effective digital transformation.
3. Customer-Centric Innovation: Kodak ignored customer needs and preferences, and lost out on opportunity to disrupt the Industry with consumer driven products. Perfect Example: Amazon’s relentless focus on customer experience and innovation, evident in initiatives like Prime membership, one-click ordering, and Alexa voice technology.
4. Strategic Partnerships: Kodak's struggled later on to forge the right complimentary partnerships in driving growth and innovation. Perfect Example: Tesla's strategic partnership with Panasonic for battery technology and manufacturing has played a crucial role in the company's success in the electric vehicle market.

Poster Child to Problem Child: What happened to Clubhouse?

Did you know that research by the Stanford Internet Observatory discovered that Clubhouse's data was processed by a Chinese company called Agora, contrary to the common belief that it was managed within the United States?

Clubhouse was invented by Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, in 2020 with a mission to foster genuine and spontaneous dialogue.

The platform was designed to create significant discourse in a virtual setting through Audio, addressing a gap they saw in the social media space. What Made Clubhouse Unique?

• Clubhouse stood out by prioritising voice interaction, offering a camera-free space for users to engage in live dialogue, thus reducing the stress of visual presentation.
• An invite-only approach was utilized, cultivating an air of exclusivity and drawing early interest from users.

Instant Fame:

• The app quickly made a following, particularly among tech enthusiasts, start up founders, and celebrities who appreciated its innovative nature and networking possibilities.
• Substantial venture capital was poured into the venture, including a Series B round headed by Andreessen Horowitz, taking its valuation above of $1 billion.

3 Reasons it Saw High User Adoption:

• Networking: Clubhouse emerged as a platform for professional growth, where users could chat with thought leaders, find mentors, and connect with like-minded professionals.
• Creative Community: The platform enabled content creators and influencers to thrive, creating engaging rooms, leading talks, and amplifying their brands.
• Partnerships Magnet: Clubhouse engaged in partnerships with brands and organizations, hosting sponsored events and discussions.

Wherever the Brand Went, Controversy Followed!:

• Clubhouse came under scrutiny for not encrypting its room conversations.
• The app’s contact upload requirement raised privacy concerns, potentially revealing unwanted connections such as those with an ex-partner or a harasser.

3 Major Flaws in Clubhouse's Strategy:

1. Obsession with Exclusivity: The platform’s initial heavy reliance on its invite-only model may have hindered its expansion by restricting broader user adoption.
2. Unclear Revenue Model: Clubhouse’s struggle to establish a stable revenue stream beyond investor funding, made it challenging for the company to scale beyond external funding.
3. Moderation Oversight: The platform encountered significant obstacles in moderating content, with instances of misinformation, harassment, and privacy breaches leading to user attrition.

Monthly Decline of downloads from 2020-2023

5 Mistakes to Avoid, If You Want to Build a Billion-Dollar Brand:

1. Entry Barrier: While the frenzy of exclusivity can spark interest, it can also impede growth. Start-ups should aim for a balance, offering distinctive benefits while maintaining accessibility.
2. Revenue Deficit: It’s critical to build a revenue model from the start, rather than solely depending on investment capital, you can always focus on models like advertising and subscriptions to start with.
3. Neglecting Moderation: Do not cut corners in content moderation, do invest heavily in robust content moderation systems to foster a safe and welcoming platform for all users, especially in community building.
4. Neglecting User Retention: Think of creative ways you can engage with your user, by providing additional features, participation incentives, and fostering impactful connections.
5. Ignoring Feedback: Clubhouse’s significant oversight was the neglect of customer feedback on safety which led to significant user attrition. Start-ups need to remain agile while constantly evaluating user data, seeking feedback, and refining their product.

4 Strategies Market Kurly Used to Change the Way Koreans buy Groceries?

Do you know that Kurly Gig-worker program is so famous in Seoul that it has created shortage of taxi drivers there since most drivers are switching to delivery jobs now?

Kurly was founded in 2014 as the brainchild of Sophie Kim, who once worked at McKinsey, and Eric Kim who previously had experience starting another startup.

Sophie and Eric big idea? Change the way how Koreans buy their groceries.

They found an opportunity for delivering fresh food right to people’s doors, a service that was sorely missing.

The goal was simple: make shopping easy and reliable for city-dwellers caught up in the daily grind.

Breaking the Mould

• Kurly stood out because it’s all about fresh, quality goods, sourced straight from the farmers who grow and make them.
• They curated standout products, like organic veggies, craft foods, and hard-to-find treasures.
• City folks always craved for a no-fuss way to shop for groceries.
• Kurly built a top-notch delivery system, complete with right storage spots and an efficient delivery network.
• Kurly embraced tech right from the start, with easy-to-use apps, tailored suggestions, and super handy subscription options for its customers.

No Wonder it became a Success!:

• Since the beginning, Kurly’s taken off like a rocketship, quickly growing its user base and its range of products.
• They’ve built a reputation for being open and honest about where their food comes from, and that instilled faith in its user base, making them feel connected and they kept coming back.
• The brand always stood out with clever marketing, teaming up with influencers, getting social media coverage, and curating unique experiential campaigns.

Do you know that Market Kurly delivers almost 2 Tonnes of Kale every day?

They faced 3 Major Challenges:

• Logistics: To deliver fresh eats on the fly, they’ve had to leverage tech and build a system that’s both user-friendly and dependable.
• Competition: Competing in the crowded e-commerce market required the brand to differentiate itself through superior quality, service, and customer experience
• Scaling Operations: There was no short cut to scale operations while maintaining quality and reliability. Kurly had to grind through processes, by optimizing supply chain logistics, and invest in talent and technology.

4 Secrets to Kurly's Journey of becoming a Unicorn:

1. Quality: Quality wins, hands down. Kurly’s got 3 million registered users who swear by it, thanks to the stellar quality they deliver. They work hand-in-hand with farmers and makers to make sure customers get the freshest picks.
2. Innovation: Kurly is always big on AI, helping them keep just the right amount of stock and cut down on waste. They leverage data to optimise delivery mechanism, like mapping and tagging that maps out the quickest routes.
3. Partnerships: Kurly’s got exclusive items and runs a tight ship when it comes to quality because they partner directly with the farmers and producers. This local sourcing clicks with folks who think green, and it’s a big reason why more and more customers are using Kurly.
4. Operational Excellence: Kurly’s all about fine-tuning their operations to save costs and boost margins, and they use all data tools at their disposal to validate this. Automating processes helps them making operations and deliveries predictable, which can be attributed as the largest factor in their operational profitability.