This Week in Startups E1023: News Roundtable! Machine Zone CEO Kristen Dumont & The Register’s Iain Thomson on Bezos phone hack, Tesla valuation skyrocketing, DJ Elon, Coronavirus, Barstool Sports funding, unions, proposed Uber/DoorDash merger & more!
Feb 1, 2020
Join Kristen Dumont, CEO of Machine Zone, who has navigated the mobile gaming landscape, and Iain Thomson, a savvy tech journalist from The Register, as they dissect intriguing topics. They explore the ramifications of Jeff Bezos' phone hack and discuss Tesla's soaring valuation amidst Elon Musk's influence. The duo dives into the impact of the Coronavirus on business, unions in the tech industry, and the proposed Uber/DoorDash merger. Their witty banter keeps things engaging while highlighting pressing global business trends.
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Barstool Sports and Unions
- Barstool Sports' founder's pro-stock tweet is problematic, especially given his anti-union stance.
- He faces investigation and a fine for union-busting.
Union Relevance
- Unions, while valuable historically, might not be relevant in today's tech world.
- Kristen Dumont argues they hinder individual negotiation and protect underperformers.
Uber-DoorDash Merger
- Uber acquiring DoorDash at its current valuation doesn't make sense.
- Uber should wait for DoorDash to run out of cash or stop aggressive discounting.