This week on The Synopsis, we talk about a recent memo, "Google Shut the Door on Competition, AI Swung it Back Open". We cover some old threats to Google's Search dominance and how AI catalyzes them. This show is in our Dialogue format, which you can expect more of in the coming future. We hope you enjoy! You can read the Full Memo Here . -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) Intro (0:51) Memo background (3:10) Product Encroachment (9:12) Two Way Google Historically Competed (11:05) Form Funct...
Jan 15, 2024•36 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of The Synopsis we read our weekly Speedwell Research memo. If you prefer to read instead of listen to the memo, you can find access to the article below. This weeks article is Google Shut the Door on Competition, AI Swung it Back Open Article Link: https://speedwellsnippets.substack.com/p/google-shut-the-door-on-competition -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (0:44) - Housekeeping/ Upcoming (1:51) –Memo Reading Starts (28:16) – Closing Comments -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- ...
Jan 12, 2024•29 min•Ep. 14
In this episode of The Synopsis we read a Speedwell Research memo from our backlog. If you prefer to read instead of listen to the memo, you can find access to the article below. This weeks article is Priced to Outperform Perfection: The Home Depot Circa 1999 Article Link: https://speedwellsnippets.substack.com/p/priced-to-outperform-perfection-the -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (0:45) – Housekeeping (1:33) – Memo Reading Starts (14:40) – Closing Comments -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- G...
Jan 09, 2024•13 min•Ep. 13
In this episode of The Synopsis we read our weekly Speedwell Research memo. If you prefer to read instead of listen to the memo, you can find access to the article below. This weeks article is The Risk Circle: Deciding What Risks Matter and When Article Link: https://speedwellsnippets.substack.com/p/the-risk-circle-deciding-what-risks -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (0:47) –Memo Reading Starts (14:55) – Closing Comments -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Speedwell's free newsletter: https://s...
Jan 05, 2024•15 min•Ep. 12
In this episode of The Synopsis we read our weekly Speedwell Research memo. If you prefer to read instead of listen to the memo, you can find access to the article below. This weeks article is How Pies, Proofs, and Punch Cards Hold Key Insights into the Cost of Equity Article Link: https://speedwellsnippets.substack.com/p/how-pies-proofs-and-punch-cards-hold -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (0:46) –Memo Reading Starts (19:56) – Closing Comments -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Speedwell's fr...
Dec 29, 2023•21 min•Ep. 11
In this episode of The Synopsis we read our weekly Speedwell Research memo. If you prefer to read instead of listen to the memo, you can find access to the article below. This weeks article is Understanding Modularity: How Apple, Bloomberg, and Amazon Kept Strategic Coherency Article Link: https://speedwellsnippets.substack.com/p/understanding-modularity-how-apple -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (0:49) –Memo Reading Starts (16:56) – Closing Comments -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Speedwel...
Dec 22, 2023•18 min•Ep. 10
In this podcast on Floor & Decor, Speedwell Research covers everything from its founding as a single store in Atlanta, Georgia to becoming the leading hard surface flooring specialty chain retailer. We draw on Speedwell Research's 57 page research report to teach not just about the flooring industry and Floor & Decor's interlocking business model, but also about competitive dynamics and how to think about store level unit economics. We hope you enjoy! (Please note that for the first few ...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 9
In this episode of The Synopsis we read an excerpt from our 63 page Walker & Dunlop Report. If you prefer to read instead of listening to this article, you can find access to it below. This weeks article is from the business history section of our Walker & Dunlop report. Article Link: https://open.substack.com/pub/speedwellsnippets/p/walker-and-dunlop-business-history?r=3jwcb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) – Intro (2:...
Dec 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 8
In this episode of The Synopsis we introduce a new episode format called, "Articles". As the name suggests, this episode will be a reading of a memo written by Speedwell Research. If you prefer to read instead of listening to the memos, you can find access to the article below. On this first Articles episode, we are reading our business philosophy piece introducing the concept of the Piton and the Piton Network. This weeks article is The Piton Network: Decisions that Simultaneously Support and L...
Dec 08, 2023•20 min•Ep. 7
In this episode of The Synopsis we cover capital-light homebuilder, Dream Finders Homes. We dovetail into the homebuilding industry, the macro supply/ demand environment, as well as detail Dream Finders Homes business model and how it differs from peer NVR. This podcast is informed by Speedwell Research's new short format reports, called "Exploratory Reports". We released the first Exploratory Report on Dream Finders Homes for free (link below). Dream Finders Homes Report Link: https://speedwell...
Nov 27, 2023•45 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of The Synopsis, we cover everything from Etsy's founding history and early strategic errors to how Josh Silverman quickly reaccelerated growth and improved profitability after several years of sagging performance. We dovetail into what makes the platform unique and how Etsy has been able to succeed where both eBay and Amazon failed. We draw on Speedwell's 79 page report to teach not just about Etsy, but also help investors learn about how great CEOs run a business. -*-*-*-*-*-*-...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 5
This week on The Synopsis, we introduce our Consumer's Hierarchy of Preferences framework in a new episode format. The Consumer's Hierarchy of Preferences is a helpful idea for investors and entrepreneurs to better understand the market, their products, and competitors' offerings. You can check out our original writing introducing the idea here . This show is the first of our "Dialogue" format, which will be episodes focused on business frameworks or other investing ideas. We will return with a ...
Oct 02, 2023•40 min•Ep. 4
In this podcast on Copart, Speedwell Research covers everything from Founder Willis Johnson's early business career to the industry dynamics, and how Copart became the global, salvage marketplace auction leader. Investors can learn a lot from Willis Johnson's early business intuition and movement from the lowest wrung of the salvage vehicle value chain as a liquidator to ultimately a critical service provider for insurance companies. We draw on Speedwell's 85 page report, released in May 2023, t...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 3
In this podcast on RH, Speedwell Research covers everything from Restoration Hardware's beginnings as just a catalog in a personal living room to massive multi-story Galleries with restaurants that generate >$10mn. Investors can learn much from the early business failings, as well as the incredible turnaround and business transformation Gary Friedman led. We draw on Speedwell's 86 page research report, released in March 2023, to teach you not just about RH, but also about novel customer acqui...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 2
In this inaugural podcast, Speedwell Research goes into details on their ~170 page, January 2023 report on Meta Platforms ($META). We cover a list of questions including 1) how resilient are social networks and why did Friendster and MySpace disapear? 2) how does ad tech work and did Apple's policies permanently impair Meta? 3) what "job" does Facebook and Instagram do? 4) is the metaverse a dealbreaker for investors? 5) and much more. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) Intro (3:09) History...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 1
