Acquired LIVE from Chase Center (with Daniel Ek, Emily Chang, Jensen Huang and Mark Zuckerberg)

Daniel Ek, Spotify's CEO, celebrates the remarkable growth of the Acquired podcast, helmed by hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, over the past five years.

Acquired has experienced significant growth and success over the years

Over the span of five years, Acquired has seen its impact broaden and its audience multiply significantly, marking it as a standout podcast in its genre.

The podcast has accumulated over 400 years of listening time and tripled its subscriber count on Spotify in the past year

Gilbert and Rosenthal have seen their work translate into over 5 million hours of listening time on Spotify, with a substantial tripling of their subscriber count in the last twelve months alone. They have calculated that listeners have spent the equivalent of over 400 years engaging with Acquired content in the past year.

The podcast has expanded its global reach, with listenership growing strongly in countries like Mexico, Hong Kong, Israel, and Singapore

Daniel Ek underlines that Acquired's success is not just localized in English-speaking regions; the podcast has seen significant growth internationally, with notable listenership spikes in Mexico, Hong Kong, Israel, and Singapore. Rosenthal and Gilbert express enthusiasm about this global reach and even contemplate the idea of taking their show on a world tour.

The hosts, Ben and David, have been able to grow the podcast without any paid marketing

Gilbert and Rosenthal have fostered Acquired's growth with a focus on organic growth and word-of-mouth recommendations — a testament to the podcast's content quality and their audience's loyalty.

The podcast relies on organic word-of-mouth growth, with each listener telling one other person about it each year on average

Gilbert explains that each Acquired listener, on average, shares the podcast with one other person annually, and this has been a driving force behind the organic growth in their subscriber base. Rosenthal shares a story of a particular event that contributed to a surge in their audience, emphasizing the effect of organic, word-of-mouth promotion.

The hosts have intentionally kept the podcast production process lean and efficient, often recording for long hou ...

Mark Zuckerberg’s insights reveal a company intensely focused on technology, quick to learn, and committed to maintaining strategic control over its destiny.

Meta has a strong technology-first mindset that has enabled its success

Meta, founded by systems engineer Mark Zuckerberg, has rooted its approach in building a robust technical infrastructure and a culture where engineers and technologists are in leadership roles. This approach is evident as Zuckerberg underscores the company's focus on competency and superiority in technology. He has been careful to ensure that many on Meta's management team are technical, reflecting his belief in a technology-first mindset.

Meta's willingness to iterate and learn quickly has been a key competitive advantage

Zuckerberg emphasizes learning and iterating as quickly as possible, noting that Meta values shipping products early to learn from market feedback, rather than waiting for a perfect product. This philosophy has led to innovative features like the creation of News Feed in 2006, which has since become a staple of social media platforms.

Even during operational shifts necessitated by COVID-19, Zuckerberg seized the opportunity to refocus on building out AI infrastructure and scaling up Reality Labs. He acknowledges the company's capacity to pivot when necessary, exemplified by the switch from HTML5 to native mobile apps, marking a fundamental improvement in user experience. Zuckerberg is open about past challenges, illustrating that enduring difficult periods is crucial for growth and innovation.

Meta's strategic long-term thinking and control of its own destiny have been crucial

Zuckerberg discusses Meta's governance, including the dual-class share structure, whic ...

Mark Zuckerberg of Meta paints a futuristic vision where technology radically enhances the way humans connect, emphasizing that Meta is evolving from a company known for social media to one that crafts meaningful, immersive connections.

Meta's mission has evolved from being a "social network" to a "human connection" company

Zuckerberg redefines Meta's mission, stating that the company now views itself not just as a provider of social media apps but as a facilitator of human connection. He emphasizes that Meta's focus has shifted towards creating technology that allows people to feel present with one another, regardless of their physical location.

Meta is investing heavily in technologies like AR/VR and AI to create the "next generation of open platforms"

The company is channeling resources into AR/VR and AI with the aim to build experiences that give people a greater sense of presence and foster shared experiences, even when apart. This approach marks a departure from simply producing "good" products to crafting "awesome" and uplifting experiences. Incorporating these new technological advancements, Zuckerberg mentions designing eyewear that will project holograms, allowing for immersive interactions. He draws attention to Meta's commitment to develop technologies that not only provide a sense of human presence but also enable mixed reality experiences.

A pivotal aspect of Meta's product strategy is to prioritize AI which, as indicated by Zuckerberg, encompasses advanced features like cameras, microphones, and speakers. Discussing the Reality Lab works and AI initiatives, Zuckerberg stresses that Meta is determined to produce not just good experiences but awe-inspiring ones.

Meta's long-term vision is to make these transformative technologies widely accessible, rather than controlled by closed platforms

In contrast to the closed, integrated ecosystems of rivals like Apple, Zuckerberg envisions Meta playing a key role in cultivating a more ...