Listen "Follow the Money"
Episode Synopsis
Why do brilliant products vanish after acquisition? Why do startups with passionate users suddenly pivot or shut down? The answer is simpler than you think: follow the money.In this episode, I share my personal experiences with Arc Browser, Butter.us, and other startups that promised innovation but delivered exits instead. From The Browser Company's pivot before their Atlassian acquisition to Butter's transformation after Miro bought them, these stories reveal a pattern most people miss.I'll show you how to use Stakeholder Analysis and Mapping to see through corporate narratives and understand the real incentives driving decisions. Whether you're considering investing in a startup, adopting a new tool, or just trying to understand why companies behave the way they do—this framework will change how you see business.Key topics:The exit economy and serial entrepreneurshipWhy VC-backed startups often abandon their original visionHow banks use incubators to control innovationReal examples: Arc, Dia, Butter, GoNetto, and Digital AmbitionStakeholder Analysis as a tool for revealing hidden incentivesNot all exits are bad. Not all acquisitions kill products. But if you can't see the difference, you'll keep being surprised when great ideas disappear.This episode will teach you to see clearly, decide wisely, and support companies whose incentives align with lasting value.Follow the money. Question everything.
More episodes of the podcast Iconoclast Insights
When Did We Stop Thinking?
07/01/2026
New Year's Resolution Delusion
31/12/2025
A Contrarian Take on Santa Claus
24/12/2025
The Consent Trap
10/12/2025
The Era of Everything (And Nothing)
03/12/2025
Title Trap
26/11/2025
Where Are All the Replaced Workers?
19/11/2025
Reject This
12/11/2025
Solving Wrong Problems
05/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.