Dave Kellogg’s Post

What if growth wasn't the goal but, instead, sustainability? That may be at odds with current shareholder ideologies, but ideologies can evolve. It starts by showing shareholders that they can be welcomed in this process, but aren't needed for success. #videogames #postgrowth

A company I led from day one failed. I've spent five months shutting it down. 50% of new businesses fail after five years. 20% don’t survive the first year. You will find little written about what to do if your business is one of them. I want to close the knowledge gap by sharing some of my key learns from shutting down Wimo Games, Inc. so I wrote an article about it. If you've shut down a company what did you learn that could help other founders, leaders and investors get stronger? Let's stop hiding the hard stuff so we can learn from it! https://lnkd.in/gPaz33ey

PART 5: In the realm of strategic decision-making, options are like the threads of fate, offering the power to shape our future trajectories. Picture this: you're contemplating expanding your production capacity by establishing facilities in a new city. This move isn't just about building factories; it's about crafting your future and options play a crucial role in this narrative. When your expansion plans are insulated from the influence of competitors, you're wielding what's known as a proprietary option, a strategic asset that gives you exclusive control over your destiny. However, more often than not, options are shared, requiring you to navigate the intricate dance of competition and cooperation with rivals. Enter game theory, the playbook for competitive interaction. In this high-stakes game, rivals are the players, each vying for their slice of the pie within the confines of established rules. Your ability to anticipate their moves and design your optimal strategy is the key to success. Now, here's where it gets interesting: the intersection of options and games gives rise to a concept known as option games. At first glance, it might seem contradictory. After all, options offer flexibility while games are built on commitment. But in reality, both hold significant value. Flexibility, derived from options, allows you to defer irreversible investment decisions in the face of uncertainty, shielding you from potential losses. On the flip side, commitment manifested through pre-committing to investments grants you a strategic advantage by influencing the options available to your rivals. By making the first move and committing to an investment, you set off a chain reaction, shaping the decisions of others in the game. This creates a delicate balance between maintaining flexibility by waiting and seizing opportunities through early investment. Enter the expanded strategic present value framework, the ultimate tool for navigating the complexities of option games. By merging traditional Net Present Value (NPV) analysis with the strategic insights of game theory, this framework empowers you to quantify the value of growth options and anticipate the moves of your rivals. Whether you're competing head-to-head for a high-tech venture or forging strategic alliances in a crowded marketplace, the expanded strategic present value framework helps you navigate the murky waters of valuation. As Warren Buffett famously said, "Price is what you pay, value is what you get." With this framework in hand, you'll not only understand the value of options to you but also to your competitors, enabling you to make informed decisions and emerge victorious in the game of business. 💼 #StrategicCommitment #OptionGames #BusinessInsights

Beware of Asset Ownership ~ An update on our Business In my previous 2 posts, I made mention of the progress with an acquisition. Due Diligence stage and its importance turned relevant with our recent experience. Deal was presented as a stand-alone business. We dug deeper and findings showed the business is connected to a larger company that holds similar businesses. Not only that, the holding company is stationed in multiple locations, with industry-wide presence heavier than we assumed. Potential deal costs +++ rapidly. This deal might still work, we’ve narrowed communications to the supposed ultimate decision-maker. We offer real synergies and a growth mindset, I hope that swings our way, now and with subsequent deals. Anyway, our needs: Capital ++ Alternatives ++ Partnerships ++ Capital: Investors that want reasonable exposure in gaming, consider what we offer! An opportunity to get a stake in a market with big margins, large consumer base & a high growth sector. Following our strategy, You get to earn smartly with lesser risk (potential money loss by investing to develop games). Speaking of Alternatives, we seek to do business. To  founders and operators offering gaming support, if your services aid game development via hiring, marketing or R&D…. Talk to Us for funding. Partnerships we encourage wholly, from advisors to fans and the gaming community at large… we’d love to connect Reach Out via DMs or https://lnkd.in/dswQqzaP #gaming #invest #money #deals #marketing Meme: imgflip.com

Unlock 8x in Revenue Increases with Legendary's GRM tool 🚀 Q3 is the most important time to lay the foundation and revaluate. Going into the second half of the year has never been so insightful, are you ready to kick start the second half of the year? Legendary has already helped 150 companies achieve over $500 million in revenue increases, working with top brands like Best Buy, Sony, and even Mark Cuban. Why CEOs and CROs Love Our Growth Readiness Map (GRM): Comprehensive Business Insights: A 40-50 page report that highlights risks, growth opportunities, and revenue potentials. *Strategic M&A Connections: Performance scores that link you with top M&A funds. *Scalable Growth: Attain insights to grow steadily and efficiently. 💼 8x ROI in the first year or your money back. We are offering 50% off your first mapping with us until August 31st. Try the Legendary GRM today and unlock your business’s potential! Drop a comment or message me directly to learn more. #BusinessGrowth #StrategicPlanning #RevenueIncrease #RiskManagement #CEO #CRO #Legendary #endofquarter #startstrong #quarterthree #thirdquarter

There are many myths around who a perfect founder should be. First of all there should be two of them: Hewlett and Packard, Jobs and Wozniak, Page and Brin. Second, they should be young. Paul Graham, the founder of the famous Y Combinator said the age limit is 32 (I have no idea how he has come up to this number). Yet, Reed Hastings founded Netflix at 37, Arianna Huffington founded HuffPost at 55 and Ray Croc founded McDonald's well over fifty. There is some academic research showing that solopreneurs are better than those that start in twos. There is opposite research too. There is contradictory research that friends make better founders and vice versa- strangers are better. My takeaway- everything relies on a particular case. And what is your take ? #founder #founders #vc

“10x is easier than 2x.” Is it really? It’s a provocative idea, and one I was asked to weigh in on during a recent conversation. My take? It’s not as simple as it sounds. There’s a key shift that separates 2x growth from 10x growth, and it’s one many companies don’t see coming until they hit a wall. If you’re curious about what that shift is and how it changes the game, watch the video for my full perspective. P.S. Do you think 10x growth is really easier—or just hype? Let me know after you’ve watched!

Here's an interesting story on "How Iron Man Saved Marvel" In the late 1990s, Marvel Entertainment found itself on the brink of disaster. The once-thriving comic book giant was grappling with a rapidly shrinking market and a burdensome debt load, culminating in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 1996. This scenario seemed like the likely end for the creators of some of the most iconic superheroes. However, a strategic pivot not only saved the company but also set it on a path to becoming an entertainment behemoth. The Turning Point Marvel's journey from the edge of collapse began with a crucial merger with ToyBiz in 1998. This merger was the first step in a meticulously planned strategy focusing on stringent cost management and an aggressive pursuit to capitalize on intellectual property. Marvel shifted from just selling comic books to leveraging its vast character library across various media platforms. The Role of Iron Man In 2008, Marvel took a groundbreaking leap by deciding to produce its own movie, starting with "Iron Man." This decision was fraught with risks—Marvel staked its remaining fortunes on the success of bringing a lesser-known character to the forefront of its recovery effort. The success of Iron Man was not just a box office triumph; it was the linchpin in Marvel's comeback strategy. Marvel’s Strategic Masterstroke "Iron Man" did more than just succeed financially; it established the foundation for what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This universe expanded rapidly, with each new release further entrenching Marvel's market dominance. Marvel’s approach—character-driven stories with interconnected plots across multiple films—was something audiences had never seen before on such a scale. Conclusion The bold decision to focus on Iron Man—a character previously overshadowed by more prominent figures like Spider-Man and the Hulk—illustrates the power of innovation and risk-taking in business. Marvel’s turnaround is not just a testament to the enduring appeal of superheroes but also a master class in strategic planning and brand leverage. As professionals, we can draw from Marvel's playbook the importance of evaluating risks carefully, embracing innovation, and most importantly, believing in the potential of our assets.

If creativity were a stock, would you invest... or are you playing it safe? Imagine if creativity were a stock. Would it be the one everyone’s talking about at the water cooler, or the hidden gem that only a few dare to invest in? Here’s the thing: Creativity isn’t your typical safe bet. There’s no ‘guaranteed returns’ or shiny forecast spreadsheet. But what it does have is potential—the kind that grows quietly, compounding over time, while everyone else is busy analyzing the 'safe' options. Most of us treat creativity like it's optional—something we dabble in when we’ve ticked off every other box on our to-do list. But what if, instead of playing it safe, we went all in? After all, creativity doesn’t just sit around waiting for the right moment. It’s the unpredictable stock that thrives in uncertainty, adapting faster than any market shift. So here’s the million-dollar question: Are you the kind of investor who waits for the perfect market conditions—or the kind who sees creativity for what it truly is? A long-term play, with rewards that go far beyond the immediate ROI. Personally, I’m betting big on creativity. Sure, it might wobble in the short-term (like every good investment), but I’d rather be in the game than on the sidelines, watching others cash in. The question isn’t if you should invest in creativity—it’s whether you’re willing to take the plunge, knowing that the real payoffs come to those who risk the unknown. What's your creativity portfolio looking like—cautious or all in? And how are you making the most of your investment? #Creativity #Innovation #FutureOfWork #InvestInYourself #Leadership

The Confusing BeReal Deal: What Just Happened? 🚨 This week, BeReal, the quirky social media app. was acquired by Voodoo, a mobile gaming company, for €500 million. Here's a breakdown of this surprising acquisition: 📉 Peak Valuation vs. Sale Price: - BeReal's peak valuation in 2022 was $600 million. - The sale at €500 million might not be a dream exit but is still significant. 🎮 Acquisition by Voodoo: - Voodoo, known for hypercasual gaming, is acquiring BeReal. - This deal indicates Voodoo’s pivot towards broader digital engagement. 💬 Industry Insights: - Amy Wu from Menlo Ventures highlights the rarity of such exits for social networks. - Declining user base forced BeReal into this acquisition. ⏰ Challenges Ahead: - Voodoo now needs to figure out how to leverage BeReal’s existing user base. - Both companies are in transitional phases, making this an intriguing deal. 🌐 Wider Implications: - This deal is a marker of a warming M&A market. - Other companies like Wiz, Databricks, and Nvidia are also eyeing similar-sized deals. 🤔 Reflection: - Rick Yang of NEA notes that this might be a sweet spot for acquisitions amidst regulatory scrutiny on bigger deals. - The deal raises questions about the viability of niche social networks and the fast-moving AI sector. In conclusion, while the BeReal deal might not be the blockbuster exit some investors hoped for, it’s a reminder that M&A can provide a good home for struggling companies. The final story of BeReal is yet to be written. What do you think about this acquisition? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #BeReal #TechNews #MergersAndAcquisitions #SocialMedia #Gaming #TheCreatorEconomy #CreatorEconomyUpdate