The Tech Strategy Podcast

In this class, I talk about why Zoom has been so successful in video communications.Choose two options for why Zoom has been so successful.Good Product. Reliable, easy-to-use, high quality video communications.Viral serviceCollaboration / Coordination PlatformNetwork EffectSwitching Costs Correction/Clarification: Zoom has been blocked in China for the last couple of months. I know lots of people who are using it because of coronavirus but that is via VPN. So not the same thing. I'm not sure if I mentioned that or said it wrong in the podcast. Learning Goal for this class:#14 Virality vs. Word of Mouth#15 Collaboration, Coordination, and Standardization PlatformsConcepts for this class:Digital Platforms: Collaboration / Coordination / StandardizationWord of Mouth vs.ViralityNetwork EffectsSwitching CostsCompanies for this class:Zoom———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I talk about why TikTok / Douyin took off so rapidly and powerfully.Choose two options for why TikTok / Douyin has grown so fast?Addictive Product. Short personalized videos focused on memes, comedy, and lip syncs are a psychological hack.Easy to Use and Highly Shareable Content Types. Tap into CDCN.Audience-Builder Digital PlatformNetwork Effect, including data network effect (also called learning effect)First mover in new spaceAI and Digitized Operating Model.Learning Goal for this class:#12 the Basics of TikTok and Audience-Builder PlatformsConcepts for this class:Digital Platforms: Audience BuilderB2B Customer View: Shareability, Word of Mouth and ViralityChina Digital Consumer NetworkNetwork EffectsFirst MoverAI and Digital OperationsCompanies for this class:ByteDance / TikTok / Douyin———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I talk about how live-streaming and KOLs (especially Taobao Live) are activating the China Digital Consumer Network (CDCN). And how the coronavirus quarantine economy is supercharging this.Correction. I mistakenly said Scott Gottlieb was former CDC head. I meant FDA.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.Learning Goal for this class:#11 the Basics of CDCN, Social Media and KOLsConcepts for this class:China Digital Consumer NetworkNetworks and EcosystemsDigital Platforms: MarketplacesSocial Media, Influencers and KOLsCompanies for this class:JD / JD LiveAlibaba / Taobao Live———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I talk about how online retailers like JD and marketplace platforms like Alibaba compete on different dimensions.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.Alibaba and marketplace platforms compete on:Cost and / or difficulty of entry - including the chicken-and-egg problem and the cost of the logistics network.Competitive advantages - including network effects (main one) and economies of scale in logistics, marketing and IT.JD and online retailers compete on:Cost and / or difficulty of entry - including the cost of the logistics network.Competitive advantages - including supply cost advantages and economies of scale in logistics (mostly), marketing and ITKey Learning Goal is #5: the basics of JDConcepts for this class:Digital-Physical HybridsCompetitive Advantage: Economies of ScaleCompetitive Advantage: Network EffectsDigital Platforms: MarketplacesCost and Difficulty of EntryLinked BusinessesCompanies for this class:JDAlibaba———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we continue the discussion about what Huawei should have done after the US tech ban. In Part 1, we discussed the telco business. Here we talk about the consumer and smartphone business.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.I presented four options for what to do:Fix the supply chain and stay the course.Become a digital platform. This means building a smartphone operating system.Ignore Europe and focus mostly on China.Try to build an anti-US alliance for smartphone operating systems. Europe would be key.Concepts for this class:Digital Platforms vs. ProductsInnovation PlatformsOperational MarathonInnovation Marathon (also under Rate of Learning)Companies for this class:HuaweiAppleXiaomiHTC———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we review the basics of digital platforms, which is one of the key learning goals for Level 2.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya. Concepts for this class:Pipelines vs. Platforms———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we review the basics of digital economics, which is one of the key learning goals for Level 2.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.Concepts for this class:Digital and Information Economics———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we discuss Huawei's tech ban and what the company should have done.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.Concepts for this class:B2B Customer View: Necessary vs. Critical vs. StrategicCompetitive Advantage: Switching CostsCompetitive Advantage; Economics of ScaleOperational MarathonCompanies for this class:Huawei———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss my visit to the WeChat Open Class. And why Allen Zhang and the WeChat team are doing so much better than Facebook and Apple.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.Allen Zhang's video from the event is here.———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss some of the theory behind ecosystems, firms and coordination costs. And why digital platforms are having such a big impact on business, culture / media, politics / government and society.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.———-I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show