Canva is on a path to be the next Shopify

With 85M users, they're the biggest independent design tool after the $20B acquisition of Figma. Now they're expanding to compete with Microsoft, Google, Notion, and of course Adobe.

3 tactics from the Canva platform playbook... Canva is design on easy mode.

It's the design tool for non-designers. The long tail of professionals who can't use photoshop but need to make something visual. Like me and probably you too.

The US just passed the CHIPS Act, a $52 billion plan to spur silicon chip manufacturing in the US.

Here’s what you should know: In 1985 the US’s share of silicon chip manufacturing was ~35%. Today it's just 12%,

These days most chips are manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC). The world's 9th largest company, they own 53% of the market and have a market cap of $452B

In 1984, Bernard Arnault, now the 4th richest man, was running his grandfather's construction company

With $15M of his family's money and $45M raised from French banks he bought Christian Dior

Over the next 30 years, he built that company into the luxury empire that is LVMH Today LVMH is a giant with 75 fashion houses under its brand and a market cap of $350B

Their brands include Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy, Fendi, Givenchy, and now Tiffany & Co

Is it time to BeReal?

Here’s what you need to know about the internets favorite new social network: BeReal is a new social app growing ridiculously fast with 12M installs in 2022

Last week it hit #1 in the Apple App Store making it the most downloaded product in the world right now

Bridgesplit just raised $4.5M to build the future of NFTs

Founded by DeFi veterans + backed by Solana Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, @APompliano and @packyM

They're the anti-bank NFTs need to go mainstream

NFT x DeFi 101 with @bridgesplit 🧵 NFTs are the most exciting part of crypto for a lot of people

Just look at the excitement - and life changing money - generated by BAYC + CloneX + Azuki #clonefollowclone

Levels' founder @SamCorcos is a world class connector

Pre-launch he racked up 50,000+ subs for the @Levels waitlist and raised $12M from a16z and a killer set of angels

How? An awesome product. But also Network Theory.
What it is and how it works... In networks, people often think about Degree Centrality. How many connections do they have? How popular are they?

According to Sam, you should be focused on eigen vector centrality.

Or How many 2nd degree connections do you have?
How many people do your friends know?

WFH from Tulum. Mexico City. Rio de Janeiro

Casai is the coolest LATAM startup you’ve never heard of.

Backed by $48M from a16z’s @astrange they’re using a mix of arbitrage, hardware, and customer obsession to replace AirBnB in emerging markets.

Here’s how it works 👇 .@hellocasai is like a vertical AirBnB

Launched in Mexico City after founder @nicobarawid stayed in one too many airbnbs without WiFi, Casai designs + manages each short term rental they list

WiFi, security, housekeeping, booking - it’s all in house

casai.com/en?currency=USD

Creators are the future of ecommerce.

But the single hardest part of launching a DTC brand is physically making a product.

That's why Pietra, a startup backed by $15M from @rabois and FF is bringing factories into the cloud.

Creator in the front. Supply chain in the back. 🧵 First Why creators? Pietra is betting that a single creator can launch the next best selling product line.

There's some precedent:
George Clooney's Casa Migos ~$1B
Rihanna's Savage X Fenty ~$1B
Kylie Cosmetics ~$1B
The Kardashian's...

https://twitter.com/blakeir/status/1452696613789503492

Incredible companies sometimes come from truly awful pitch decks

If you're looking for inspiration this weekend check out these original decks from Coinbase, Youtube, AirBed&Breakfast, WeWork, Snap, and MatchBox aka Tinder

You won't be disappointed
airtable.com/shrlU81ETkHGjj… And for real inspiration Sequoia has the best outline of what you need and what you don't
slideshare.net/PitchDeckCoach…