This Week in Startups Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on private markets, ZIRP impact, future of Amazon | E1706
Mar 24, 2023
Ben Gilbert, co-host of Acquired FM and tech business aficionado, joins David Rosenthal, venture capital expert from Stanford GSB, for an engaging conversation. They analyze the impact of zero interest rate policies on various industries and the repercussions of Y Combinator closing its Continuity Fund. The duo share their views on which social apps they believe would be the best investments. They wrap up discussing Amazon's future amid competition and innovative satellite technology from Starfish Space, revealing insights into tomorrow's tech landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ZIRP Distortion
- Zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) distorted markets, particularly ride-sharing and food delivery.
- It inflated valuations and created unrealistic expectations of profitability.
ZIRP Benefits
- ZIRP was beneficial for capital-intensive sectors like AI and electric vehicles.
- The influx of capital was crucial for their development, despite market distortions.
Uber Driver Earnings
- The press misrepresented Uber driver earnings by including wait times and vehicle costs in their calculations.
- Drivers actually earn around $36/hour after accounting for these factors.
