This week’s podcast is about Horizon Robotics. And about real-world AI. Especially when coming out of China. I am also trying to figure out how ecosystems of developers can become strengths for business. Especially when amplified by open-source. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . ------ I write, speak and consult about h...
Mar 10, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 240
This week’s podcast is about Huawei's next products. And why they are so much more innovative than Apple. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . ------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm ...
Feb 22, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 239
This week’s podcast is about what businesses should know about AI Agents. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . --------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and t...
Feb 06, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 238
This week’s podcast is about the recent wave of Chinese tech companies that is shocking Western businesses and politicians. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . The mega-trends that matter here are: Rising Chinese consumers Manufacturing scale Brainpower behemoth Money Here is DeepSeek. You can try it for free here: chat.d...
Jan 26, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 237
This week’s podcast is about Alibaba. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are the 4 engines: Re-Igniting Growth in Their Now Re-Organized Ecommerce Business Accelerating the Build Out of their Global Smart Logistics Network – Starting with Cross-Border Express Delivery Big Investments in Alibaba Cloud. With Price Cut...
Jan 18, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 236
This week’s podcast is about economies of scale. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are the 5 things everyone gets wrong: 1 - Not breaking economies of scale into its multiple types 2 – Overlooking the Negative Impact of a Non-Circumscribed and / or High Growth Market 3 – Not Understanding Minimum Efficient Scale, I...
Jan 12, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 235
This week’s podcast is about my visit to Trip.com in Shanghai. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . ------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology com...
Dec 26, 2024•34 min
This week’s podcast is about Threads (Meta Facebook) vs. X (Twitter). You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . —— I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology c...
Dec 23, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 233
This week’s podcast is about my interview with Dongliang Guo, Head of International at Alibaba Cloud. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tour s. Here are my 3 take-aways: Take-Away 1: Alibaba Cloud is Focused on the Infrastructure and Model Layers. It Is Differentiating its GenAI with an Open-Source Ecosystem (i.e., ModelScope) ...
Dec 14, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 232
This week’s podcast is my playbook for Extreme Personalization. And how generative AI can supercharge never-ending customer improvements. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tour s. Here is more on 4 stages. Unlock the Secret to Customer Obsession: The Extreme Personalization Playbook (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy) Extreme Personalizat...
Dec 08, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 231
This week’s podcast is what I learned about ecommerce from my visits to China's leading players. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour s. Lesson 1: GenAI Is accelerating and intensifying the fight for attention and ecommerce Lesson 2: Cross-Border ecommerce is a big opportunity that is growing. Chinese companies are leadi...
Dec 02, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 230
This week’s podcast is about how Cainiao is expanding internationally with smart logistics. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . -------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm that helps retailer...
Nov 22, 2024•38 min
This week’s podcast is about why I like beauty ecommerce. And beauty tech. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour s. There are five points. An attractive space. With lots of interesting consumer behavior. Premiumization Fragmentation and changing competition Innovation and Digital Disruption Lots of dimensions for digital to im...
Nov 15, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 228
This week’s podcast is about personalization and never-ending customer improvements. This is a key operating activity. And sometimes it is a digital marathon that can create an operating advantage. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are the 4 steps to start personalizing. Step 1 is DOB3 (Digital Core) and DOB 6 (peop...
Nov 08, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 227
This week’s podcast is about how non-rational behavior plays out products / services, consumer behavior and network effects. Digital tools are making tribal and belief network effects more sophisticated, surgical and powerful. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Point 1: Digital is super-charging consumer products, experie...
Oct 22, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 226
This week’s podcast is about network effects. And my 6 questions to look for. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are the 4 network effects questions: What is the asymptotic scale? What is the minimum viable scale? What is the shape of the curve? What is the scale differential with rivals? Here the 4 network effect ef...
Oct 17, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 225
This week’s podcast is about TikTok vs. Netflix. And how consumer behavior combines with digital tools in the video space. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here is the interview with Jonathan Haidt . And his book the Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion Here are the 5 lessons: Lesson 1: H...
Oct 05, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 224
This week’s podcast is about Coinbase, which has been coming back in terms of share price and revenue. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are the three lessons: Lesson 1: Don’t get seduced by stories and cool business models. Lesson 2: You live and die with the customer. Bitcoin + Coinbase was a 10x solution to a mas...
Sep 26, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 223
This week’s podcast is about CloudKitchens, the new venture of former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. And why I think it is a better business model than Uber. In theory. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here is the interview with Travis on the All in Podcast about this business. ——— I write, speak and consult about how to win...
Sep 17, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 222
This week’s podcast is about Kuaishou. And the key questions that determine its future. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are my three longer-term questions for Kuaishou. What is the future relationship with Tencent? As it relates to users and engagement? Economies of Scope. Does it need to move beyond video to othe...
Sep 12, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 221
This week’s podcast is about Ruhnn Holding, KOLs / Influencers and Michael Porter's Five Forces. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are some factors to consider when assessing the bargaining power of buyers. Concentration of buyers : Purchase size : Differentiation of products or services : Switching costs Price...
Sep 06, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 220
This week’s podcast is about Bilibili and its choice between staying with specialty video or going mass market video service. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . ---------- Related articles: When Microsoft’s Bundles Are Good vs. Bad for Customers and Markets (Tech Strategy) Microsoft’s 3 Big Upgrades to its 2 Platform Busi...
Aug 26, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 219
This week’s podcast is about Lazada and the current state of ecommerce in Southeast Asia. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . -------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers,...
Aug 14, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 218
This week’s podcast is about Pop Mart and its ability to tap into really interesting consumer behaviors. Fan and enthusiast behavior Collecting behavior Gambling and rewards behavior You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our management sessions with the latest consumer-facing innovations by China’s digital leaders (here). Here is the link t...
Aug 07, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 217
Today’s podcast is part of a new series on Growth Tactics , where we talk to digital businesses that are winning. And dig into what worked and what didn’t. This episode (located here ) is an interview with Ashley Dudarenok, the founder of Alarice (China-focused digital marketing agency) and ChoZan (China digital transformation consultancy. Ashley ( www.ashleydudarenok.com ) is a naturalized Chinese serial entrepreneur, award winning digital expert and book author, recognized by Thinkers50 as a “...
Aug 04, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This week’s podcast is about HubSpot and the really cool aspects of its business model. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are the 5 things I like about the business model: Software bundles. Especially integrated. Especially with freemium pricing. Recurring revenue Switching Costs: Financial, Procedural, Relational a...
Jul 31, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 216
This week’s podcast is about Salesforce and how generative AI is going to impact its business. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are my 3 working conclusions. GenAI is going into their existing services, which are used by teams at their clients. Salesforce is well positioned for this. GenAI is going to get incorpora...
Jul 24, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 215
This week’s podcast is about a common playbook for a digital attacker (whether a digital native or incumbent). You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . Here are the 3 steps of the digital attacker strategy. Step 1: A new digital tool enables a superior service to emerge. This is used to break into an existing business. This oft...
Jul 18, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 214
This week’s podcast is about Constellation Software. And their approach to software investing. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to the Tech Tour . On the Constellation webpage, they actually list their criteria for both “exceptional” and “good” companies. Here’s what they say. Exceptional businesses Mid-to-large vertical market software b...
Jul 11, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Today's podcast is part of a new series on Growth Tactics , where we talk to digital businesses that are winning. And dig into what worked and what didn't. Our first episode is an interview with Alex Lee, the CEO and co-founder of beauty brand and DTC ecommerce site Depology . After years of struggle as a small ecommerce site, Alex pivoted to beauty and skin care products in 2019. And then grew rapidly to $10M in revenue in ten months. And within 3 years, Depology had grown to $20M in ...
Jul 03, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 1
