Iterate Weekly - Issue 160
This week we look at MKBHD's power to make or break tech companies, couples therapy for CEOs, Kia charging for digital content in their cars, is Airchat the next big thing?, and Loot!
Welcome to issue 160 of Iterate Weekly.
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Thank you as always for reading!
🤖 Tech
Did MKBHD kill Fisker and Humane?
Marques Brownlee aka MKBHD may currently be the most influential voice in consumer tech.
That isn’t too bold of a statement if you look at his YouTube view numbers and podcast downloads. When he praises a new gadget or EV, it tends to be a major boost to their bottom line. Of course, the opposite is true when he speaks ill of a company after trying their product.
Recently, Brownlee gave two of his most negative product reviews to the Fisker Ocean electric SUV and the Humane AI pin respectively. Will these two companies be able to recover from the MKBHD death knell? Or were they already doomed from the start?
This makes me think back to the days of the almighty movie reviewers Siskel & Ebert. If Gene Siskel and Rodger Ebert both liked a film, their stamp of endorsement could lead to box office millions. While a double thumbs down for a movie could kill it before moviegoers even had a chance to see the trailer.
Some have been critical of Brownlee saying that he should be more careful with the power he has to make or break a company. Soon after posting his crushing review of the Fisker Ocean, the company laid off 15% of its staff. Was that a coincidence? Would it have happened if he didn’t post a review or if he even created a less critical one?
It’s hard to say. I typically lean toward constructive criticism and honest opinion. I’ve heard similar uproar when people leave really negative reviews for a restaurant. On one hand, it’s good for the public to know when a company doesn’t live up to expectations. But these seemingly innocent reviews can have a real impact on a company and their employees livelihood.
I won’t feel too bad for Humane or Fisker. They’re not exactly mom & pop restauranteurs, they’re well-funded companies who will find their way no matter what MKBHD thinks about them. And sadly, they’re both companies that I was pretty bullish about and was certainly open to purchasing their products. Will I let one negative tech review get in the way of that? Hmm, yeah I guess so.
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Can couples therapy help co-founders improve culture?
Who would have thought that couples therapy could be just what the doctor ordered for tech co-founders who may have lost their way?
It makes sense I suppose. Couples therapy just acts as a way to mediate between two parties. Whether those two are married or just married to a vision of running a company shouldn’t matter much.
While a healthy relationship between co-founders doesn’t guarantee any business success, it’s still not a bad idea. Tumultuous relationships between founders have been known to sink even the most promising venture. It turns out that problems that arise in a typical marriage are very similar to the quarrels that come up in a new business startup. Discussions about money, appreciation, sharing of responsibilities, etc. are all part of any relationship really.
What’s even more interesting is the idea that co-founders in couples therapy may be creating better company culture as their businesses grow. If the foundation of the company is laid with these principals in mind, it’s far easier for new employees to build on them rather than needing to reinvent the wheel or make big changes to policy.
Asking about founder therapy sessions may be another thing to ask when interviewing for a new job.
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Kia charges you to show your team pride on the dashboard
Here’s a fun little EV story.
Kia has received a lot of positive press about its new 3-row electric SUV the Kia EV9. But as more people are using the vehicle, we’re learning about new little customizations that are available. And sadly, we’re also learning about their additional costs.
Specifically, Kia recently announced a fun feature for NBA fans. Kia is the official automotive partner of the NBA (or at least so I’ve heard thousands of time while watching basketball games over the years!).
It’s no fun to just have a plain looking car in your display while driving. Wouldn’t it be much better if you could decorate that car with the colors and logo of your favorite NBA team? Well, in order to see that little New York Knicks car seen in the above image, you’ll need to buy that display theme from the Kia Connect Store. And does it cost just a few bucks? Nope, it actually will set you back a full price of $39.99 just to turn the virtual car in your display into a mobile billboard for an NBA team.
I suppose this is one of the new ways for car companies to nickel and dime you for small things. Except that used to involve physical products. Now we’re talking about paying for some digital content that is actually like a commercial for the NBA. You’re paying Kia to watch a commercial on your dashboard whenever you drive. Hmm, I guess this is the future?
Don’t get me wrong, I love nerdy customizations being available for vehicles. This is a fun little easter egg for serious NBA fans. And this customization will very likely be available for other sporting leagues soon. But this feels like a really slippery slope. Paying for digital content for your car may be inevitable at this point. And think of the potential data points to be learned here. Will a red Miami Heat logo on the virtual car prove to be more distracting than say a more mellow Los Angeles Lakers logo. As if we all needed another way to be distracted while driving…
🛍 Grab Bag
Is Airchat the next big thing?
Nothing excites me more than when a new social media app starts getting some buzz!
These days we’re talking about Airchat. It’s like if Twitter (X) and the app formerly known as Clubhouse came together in one joyous social network. What does that look like? Basically just a lot of useless audio clips scrolling down your screen with no clear rhyme or reason.
Hmm, ok then. So why is this a big deal? I do think it’s interesting that it’s a social network that doesn’t allow typing. Could that be a first? All content is recorded via audio within the app and then transcribed. It’s meant to be more off-the-cuff than a polished typed-out post. And it does have some big names in tech getting behind it including cofounder Naval Ravikant who you may recognize as a founder of Angelist. At least that’s how I had remembered his name, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Angelist.
I have downloaded the app and played around a bit myself. Personally, I’m having trouble seeing the utility just yet. Social audio still seems like an area that has some potential. Clubhouse really exploded onto the scene at the right time and then sadly fell out of favor. Airchat could be the natural successor if it can build a large enough user base. It could also become a total mess if it can’t get a handle on moderation.
If anyone else is brave enough to jump into a new social experiment. Go ahead and download Airchat.
💬 Quote of the Week
"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
📺Content Recommendation
Loot
If you’re in need of some new comedic viewing, I think you’ll love Loot.
Maya Rudolph brings her impeccable comedic chops to AppleTV+ to play a divorced billionaire who is trying to understand her new life.
Eccentric rich people are always funny right?
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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