The Information

Why This Week Changed Social Media Forever

By Jessica E. Lessin · Oct 13, 2023 9:26am PDT · 2 comments

Where will news go when social media bans it? What can tech leaders and politicians say in a globalized world? Do founders have the right to ask VCs who their LPs are? The world will be changed in many ways by Hamas's horrific attacks against Israel. This week, on More or Less, we discuss and debate some of these questions... Where will news go when social media bans it? What can tech leaders and politicians say in a...

How to Save Your Startup, Twitter/X, Threads (and Swift’s Stunt Romance)

By Jessica E. Lessin · Oct 6, 2023 11:57am PDT

On More or Less, we often like to discuss how startups are changing and how investors will adapt (and vice versa). And so, I took the opportunity this week to deliver a little rant about the term "lifestyle business," which has often irked me. Lots of other discussion on what's next for Twitter, Threads, social and—because we... On More or Less, we often like to discuss how startups are changing and how investors will adapt...

Instacart’s Fake IPO and Why Hiring in Tech Is So Broken

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 22, 2023 10:21am PDT

Like all industries, Silicon Valley gets set in its ways. So I particularly enjoyed a comment from Sam pointing out the absurdity of tech hiring practices on this week's episode of More or Less. It is definitely food for thought, along with our debate about when tech companies should go public. Hope you enjoy! Spotify Apple YouTube... Like all industries, Silicon Valley gets set in its ways. So I particularly enjoyed a comment...

The Apple Episode (Carbon Neutralish)

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 15, 2023 12:06pm PDT · 3 comments

The Apple Episode (Carbon Neutralish)

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 15, 2023 12:06pm PDT · 3 comments

This week, we took advantage of Brit and Dave's deep expertise in all things Apple for a fun episode about the company's new products, the state of hardware and how Apple will fare in the AI era. I loved hearing Brit share an anecdote about Steve Jobs. You'll know why when you hear it. And, of course, we got a few good... This week, we took advantage of Brit and Dave's deep expertise in all things Apple...

Why There Will Never Be Another 200 Million Subscriber App

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 8, 2023 10:31am PDT

There aren’t many business books that tell you to fire your customers. But there should be. Enterprise value > revenue was a big theme on this week's pod along with more conversation about the huge shifts happening in how consumer startups make money and get financed. I even got a John Malone fax story in. Hope you enjoy, and please... There aren’t many business books that tell you to fire your customers. But there should be....

Inside the VC Brain

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 1, 2023 11:00am PDT · 1 comment

Sometimes VCs need a therapy session. Reporters and editors, too. And so, with this week’s episode, you get a little bit of both—and some news nuggets on what I learned about China and AI on my quick trip to Beijing and Shanghai this week. Hope you enjoy and have a great Labor Day weekend! Spotify Apple Sometimes VCs need a therapy session. Reporters and editors, too. And so, with this week’s...

Why Hybrid Work Doesn’t Work, Long Live the Phone Call

By Jessica E. Lessin · Aug 25, 2023 3:01pm PDT

We’re back in the Bay Area this week and thinking a lot about the future of this place. And so, inevitably, the squad (quad?) got to talking about the future of startup work culture. I had no idea my friends (and husband) thought it was so broken. That, plus Nvidia's blowout earnings. Hope you enjoy. Spotify Apple We’re back in the Bay Area this week and thinking a lot about the future of this place. And...

You Should Kill Your Startup, R.I.P Globalization

By Jessica E. Lessin · Aug 18, 2023 11:26am PDT · 1 comment

You Should Kill Your Startup, R.I.P Globalization

By Jessica E. Lessin · Aug 18, 2023 11:26am PDT · 1 comment

This was a fun “More or Less” episode. I enjoyed listening to Sam and Dave reminisce about some of their, shall we say, less successful investments. I then asked Sam for his strategy in venture capital. I was bemused by the answer. Later in the show, we moved to another tricky topic: the future of the not-so-global... This was a fun “More or Less” episode. I enjoyed listening to Sam and Dave...

How to Save ESPN. Barstool’s Bad (Good?) Example

By Jessica E. Lessin · Aug 11, 2023 10:29am PDT

It is not, shall we say, boom times in the media business. Even ESPN—the crown jewel, cash cow, you name it—of the business is on shaky ground. And it is freaking people—at least media people—out. So I had to ask the squad what they think? What saves live sports coverage? That, a snazzy new video introduction from Wizard... It is not, shall we say, boom times in the media business. Even ESPN—the crown jewel, cash...

Where’s the Barbie Business Pop? Taylor Swift and Why Brands Beat Marketplaces

By Jessica E. Lessin · Aug 4, 2023 11:56am PDT

I was recently talking to a potential leadership coach and asked a few—I guess pointed—questions. “That’s why you are a journalist,” she remarked. “You are so skeptical.” I suppose I am. But this week, after taping More or Less, I momentarily wanted to join the optimistic camp. Sometimes... I was recently talking to a potential leadership coach and asked a few—I guess...

More or Less: Elon’s X Game and RIP Seed Investing

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jul 28, 2023 2:52pm PDT

Does Elon know what he’s doing? Is he just doing “sh— to stay in the news cycle?” This week, in More or Less, we debated Musk’s motivations for Twitter’s strange rebrand. And then things got a little heated as Sam posited that seed investing as we know it is over. That would certainly be a change for... Does Elon know what he’s doing? Is he just doing “sh— to stay in the news...

More or Less: Hollywood and AI. What IS Threads?

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jul 21, 2023 11:57am PDT · 3 comments

More or Less: Hollywood and AI. What IS Threads?

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jul 21, 2023 11:57am PDT · 3 comments

There was a moment in this week's episode that made me realize (yet again) that we are in interesting and important times. It was when Sam said, "It's not typical that you see VCs write down an investment in the same quarter they made it." He was talking about struggling AI startups, a big topic this week, along with the... There was a moment in this week's episode that made me realize (yet again) that we are...

‘More or Less’: Twitter Won’t Die! Long Live Threads!

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jul 7, 2023 11:52am PDT · 1 comment

I knew that this week's conversation on Threads was going to be fun! For better or worse, the Morins and the Lessins have a lot of social media DNA. Dave built a social network Path and helped create the Facebook platform. Sam spent years working on Facebook's social network, wrestling with the balance of public and private content.... I knew that this week's conversation on Threads was going to be fun! For better or...

Introducing ‘More or Less’: MMA, M&A and ‘Misfits’

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 30, 2023 3:40pm PDT · 1 comment

When I moved to Silicon Valley in 2008, Brit and Dave Morin were two of the first people I met. They were working at Google and Facebook respectively, and I had a lot to learn from them as I set out to understand the world of tech. Soon after, my now husband Sam joined me in the Bay Area, and the four of us became close friends and sounding... When I moved to Silicon Valley in 2008, Brit and Dave Morin were two of the first people I met....

Chock-a-blockchain - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Dec 17, 2021 11:54am PST

Sand Hill Road has gone crypto-crazy (exhibit A and exhibit B), making it the best time ever to be a cryptocurrency or blockchain-based startup. Six such companies drew our attention enough to make it into this year’s The Information 50 list of promising startups. They range from an environmentally friendly... Sand Hill Road has gone crypto-crazy (exhibit A and exhibit B), making it the best time...

Dollar Bill Y’all - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Dec 10, 2021 12:55pm PST

Dollar Bill Y’all - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Dec 10, 2021 12:55pm PST

Cryptocurrency is soaking up attention, but financial services technologies involving fiat currency have also never been hotter. This week we continue our special five-episode series on The Information 50, our annual list of the most promising startups valued at less than $1 billion, by taking a look at five fintech startups that made the cut. ... Cryptocurrency is soaking up attention, but financial services technologies involving fiat...

The Talent Cloud - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Dec 3, 2021 2:44pm PST

This week we continue our special five-episode series on The Information 50, our annual list of the most promising startups valued at less than $1 billion, by taking a look at the B2B category. More than half the startups in this group reflect two big pandemic related trends: companies trying to control spending on subscription... This week we continue our special five-episode series on The Information 50, our annual list of...

Apple Upsets the Shopping Cart - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Nov 19, 2021 1:54pm PST

This week we continue our special five episode series on The Information 50, our annual list of the most promising startups valued at less than $1 billion. In episode two, executive editor Amir Efrati first talks to reporter Malique Morris about commerce startups worth watching, including a budding rival to Shopify, a fashion marketplace and a... This week we continue our special five episode series on The Information 50, our annual list of...

AI Candy - The 411 Podcast

By The Information Staff · Nov 12, 2021 1:57pm PST · 1 comment

This week, The Information released TI50, our annual list of the most promising startups valued at less than $1 billion. Over the next five episodes of The Information 411 podcast, you’ll hear from The Information reporters who put the list together and from the founders whose companies made the list. In episode one, executive editor Amir... This week, The Information released TI50, our annual list of the most promising startups valued...

Gorillas in the Wild — The 411 Podcast

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 16, 2021 2:53pm PDT

Gorillas in the Wild — The 411 Podcast

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 16, 2021 2:53pm PDT

Why are so many instant delivery startups popping up? Cory talks to The Information's Mark Di Stefano about the buzzy sector and one controversial company in particular, Gorillas. Then, Steve LeVine, author of the new The Information newsletter The Electric, explains the geopolitical dynamics in the battery industry. Why are so many instant delivery startups popping up? Cory talks to The Information's Mark Di...