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#216June 18, 20211:07:51

#192 - Making Billions with Greeting Cards, How the FBI Took Dow…

About This Episode

Sam and Shaan explore the massive, often hidden profits in industries like e-cards and subscription boxes for new mothers, specifically breaking down the success of Birthday Alarm and Bump Boxes. They also discuss sophisticated wealth management strategies used by billionaires to avoid taxes, the FBI's use of a fake secure messaging app to trap criminals, and the future of open-source social data.

Episode Description

Shaan (@ShaanVP) and Sam (@TheSamParr) break down the greeting card industry. They talk about digital cards and the staying power of card subscriptions, a new way to send gifts over social, and Shaan shares a story about his roots as a business operator. They discuss a subscription business for expecting mothers and Shaan shares an interesting story about the FBI. The end of the episode they talk about a little known Billy of the week. --------- * Want to be featured in a future episode? Drop your question/comment/criticism/love here: https://www.mfmpod.com/p/hotline/ * Support the pod by spreading the word, become a referrer here: https://refer.fm/million * Have you joined our private Facebook group yet? Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourfirstmillion and join thousands of other entrepreneurs and founders scheming up ideas. ---------

Show Notes

  • * (1:23) Recap of episode
  • * (2:54) Making billions with greeting cards
  • * (5:46) Segue: how the podcast changed Shaan's brain
  • * (8:51) Back to greeting cards
  • * (9:56) Making millions for decades at birthdayalarm.com
  • * (15:54) Givingli & Hooked
  • * (18:39) Thoughts on the Pro Republic article
  • * (25:28) The subscription for expecting mothers
  • * (34:20) Outpacing the S&P with the anti-Galloway Index
  • * (37:33) The secret FBI crackdown on criminals
  • * (40:51) The growth of privacy focused apps
  • * (43:20) Recapping the genius of Mike Maples
  • * (48:35) Technology at Chick-fil-a
  • * (54:53) McKinsey for tech consulting
  • * (56:55) Consensys
  • * (59:27) The Gordon Bombay of crypto
  • * (1:04:19) The hypothetical invisible medium that permeates the universe

Key Takeaways

1

Apply the GEM framework (Growth, Engagement, Monetization) to evaluate startups; having two of these 'legs' makes the third much easier to figure out.

2

Utilize the 'Export Framework' by identifying proprietary internal technology from industry leaders, like Chick-fil-A's demand-prediction sensors, and productizing it for the broader market.

3

Build a 'mom acquisition machine' by using a high-engagement subscription box to establish trust, then cross-selling high-margin items like medical equipment and insurance leads.

Business Ideas Mentioned

Retail Throughput Optimization SaaS

AI & Automation

Pure-Play Engineering Strategy Consulting

Agency

Social Persona Investment Baskets

SaaS

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Quick Stats

Duration1:07:51
Guests0
Ideas Discussed3
Topics0