Big 5 AI, Fintech Forecasts, Wallstrip Revisited, and Strategic Thinking

Social Leverage Letter | Issue #72

Pete Weishaupt
January 15, 2023

Get smarter faster with our list of thought-provoking content for founders and investors:

3 articles, 2 podcasts, and 1 video.

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UPFRONT

"We had more great portfolio news last week (ChartIQ was acquired as well). Our portfolio company Apptentive (Fund I) was acquired. Apptentive was founded by Robi Ganguly in Seattle, back in 2013. His enthusiasm and determination to build a great company and business has been infectious from day 1." ~ Howard Lindzon

Congratulations to Portfolio Company Apptentive on Being Acquired | Howie's List

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www.howardlindzon.com

READING

AI has become a major technological breakthrough in 2022, and looking back at Clayton Christensen's The Innovator's Dilemma, it is clear that disruptive technologies have been the key to success in previous tech epochs. To understand the impact of AI, it is important to consider the implications for the big five tech companies: Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.

AI and the Big Five

Given the success of existing companies with new epochs, the most obvious place to start when thinking about the impact of AI is with the big five: Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Goog...

stratechery.com

In 2023, venture capital investment in fintech is expected to remain strong, with payments, accounting management, and B2B fintech leading the way. Emerging markets, CFO stack technologies, and balance sheet ownership are also expected to be areas of focus for venture investors.

Forecast: Which Fintech Sectors Will VCs Favor In 2023?

Financial services remained the leading sector for venture investment in 2022 despite an overall pullback in VC funding and shockwaves in the crypto industry. And fintech i...

news.crunchbase.com

Blockchain games have gained massive popularity in developing countries, allowing gamers to convert points into real money and rewarding them for the time spent playing. This model performs well, with the mass adoption rate of blockchain gaming seen through Unique Active Wallets (UAWs). Despite the crypto crash in 2022, the space saw some positives.

Blockchain Games Have Twice the Number of Unique Active Wallets as DeFi – Report

Blockchain games continue to make headlines while DeFi struggled in 2022. But the question arises: can the hype continue in 2023?

beincrypto.com

LISTENING

Panic With Friends with ME (Howard)....A Look Back at My Wallstrip Journey | Howie's List

Join my personal email list and get my daily take on life, markets and investing for profit and joy. And I might talk about my prostate, so what do you have to lose?

www.howardlindzon.com

#648: James Clear, Atomic Habits — Simple Strategies for Building (and Breaking) Habits, Question...

Listen to this episode from The Tim Ferriss Show on Spotify. Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one supplement, Peloton Row premium rower for an effici...

open.spotify.com

WATCHING

JOB BOARD

Explore openings at our portfolio companies:

Social Leverage Job Board

Search job openings across the Social Leverage network.

jobs.socialleverage.com

Featured Job:

Solutions Engineer

Seattle, Washington, United States (Remote)

boards.greenhouse.io

Affiliate Disclosure: Social Leverage Group, LLC ("SLG"), Social Leverage Capital Fund I, LP ("SLC"), Social Leverage Capital Fund II, LP ("SLCII"), Social Leverage Capital Fund III, LP ("SLCIII") and Social Leverage Capital Fund IV, LP ("SLCIV") are all distinct entities from Social Leverage, LLC ("SL"). Social Leverage is not a registered investment advisor. SLC, SLCII, SLCIII, SLCIV, SLG and SL have used the logo and branding of Social Leverage with the permission of Social Leverage Group, LLC.