Instagram founders launched a new startup

Legacy is Overrated

Shreyas Doshi recently shared a list of notes he wrote as reminders for himself. All of them are worth reading several times. A few that stick out to me: Legacy is overrated, don't burn bridges over the small stuff, and don't let charisma fool you. Check out his complete list here.

What Kind of Organizational Culture Are You Working In?

Startup culture forms immediately when the team is just two or three people. But as it grows, each new person brings slightly new behaviors to the group dynamic. No matter what you do, you will have an organizational identity—so it's best to create one intentionally from the beginning. These are the five main types of organizational cultures. Which one describes your company best?

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger on Artifact

Instagram Co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger just launched the beta version of their personalized news reader, Artifact. This interview with them covers how Artifact fits into the evolution of social media, what the app might look like in the future, and what they learned from the Instagram acquisition. It's worth reading this entire transcript. 

How Data Sharpened the Focus of Product Teams

Here's a crazy stat: As of early 2023, 80% of Duolingo's users were acquired organically. The business has grown mainly due to word of mouth. While that sounds great, maintaining a healthy ecosystem of daily active users is still challenging. This article describes how the company orients around metrics that matter and what they do when things stagnate.  

The Story Behind the Famous $1 Billion Snack

Since the early 1990s, PepsiCo has sold over $1 billion of Doritos annually. What makes the chip so addictive? This Twitter thread explains why people can't get enough of this snack—from its contrasting texture to its unique seasoning. Next time you pick up a bag of these chips, it's worth thinking about how much research went into making them taste precisely how they are. 

2023 Report: Content Marketing Trends and Insights

With the rapid adoption of AI and machine learning, many speculate that content marketing is a dying industry. But we're probably far off from that being the case. This report summarizes what almost 300 content marketers have in store for 2023. It covers everything from link building and interactive content to artificial intelligence and content design. Read the full report here.

Putting Famous Logos Through ControlNet

Someone put a bunch of famous consumer product logos through ControlNet, and the results are staggering. Check them out. Which one is your favorite? Mine is a tie between Red Bull and KFC. 

The Key To Dominating in a Crowded SaaS Market

If you're entering the SaaS space, chances are high that you'll enter a crowded market. If you're passionate about your startup idea, you shouldn't let that deter you completely. This is a must-read for anyone new to SaaS. It covers effectively choosing the right market, targeting your ideal customer segment, and using a self-serve sales model. 

Getting Free Users To Convert

Whether you're offering a freemium tier or using free trials, you eventually need to figure out how to get users to convert. First, you have to determine what a "good" conversion rate is for your product. Once you know your goal, try applying some of these conversion rate tips.