Kawao's flight

As Nutella turns 60 in 2024, it’s worth reflecting on the journey of this beloved hazelnut spread from its humble Italian origins to global prominence. Today, Nutella is a household name, enjoyed in over 170 countries, with a jar sold every two seconds. However, its path to success, particularly in markets like the U.S., is a masterclass in strategic marketing. Let’s explore how Nutella rose to become a global favorite and the key strategies that fueled its meteoric rise. A Delicious Beginning Rooted in Innovation Nutella’s story began in post-World War II Italy, where chocolate was scarce, and confectioner Pietro Ferrero created a hazelnut-based spread to compensate. What started as Pasta Gianduja in 1946 evolved into Nutella in 1964, thanks to Ferrero's son, Michele Ferrero, who perfected the recipe. This combination of creamy hazelnuts and cocoa quickly became a staple across European homes, but Nutella’s breakthrough into other markets wasn’t always straightforward. Cracking t...

Starting a business is an exciting journey, but the first year is often the most challenging. Many entrepreneurs make common mistakes that can derail progress. Here's a deeper look at five of those mistakes and how to avoid them: 1. Trying to Do Everything Alone Entrepreneurs are often driven by passion, and in the early stages, they may need to wear every hat in their business. Whether it’s marketing, product development, customer service, or accounting, new business owners may feel compelled to manage every aspect themselves to cut costs or maintain control. However, this approach often leads to burnout, inefficient workflows, and subpar results. Solution : Recognize that you can’t do everything well on your own. Delegate tasks that are outside your expertise to professionals who can handle them more efficiently. Outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping, web development, or social media management not only frees up your time but also ensures those tasks are done right, allowing you to ...

Shopify, founded in 2006, has grown into one of the most prominent e-commerce platforms globally, enabling businesses of all sizes to build, launch, and grow online stores with ease. Its story is one of rapid innovation, customer-centricity, and strategic evolution, making it a powerful case study in how technology can empower entrepreneurs and transform industries. The Genesis of Shopify Shopify was born out of frustration. Co-founder Tobias Lütke initially tried to sell snowboarding equipment online, but he found existing e-commerce tools complicated and inadequate for small businesses. This experience led him and co-founders Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake to create Shopify; a platform that simplified online store creation, allowing merchants to focus on their products instead of web development. From its humble beginnings as a solution for small businesses, Shopify has evolved into a powerhouse, serving millions of merchants globally, from budding entrepreneurs to major brands like G...

The food delivery industry is going through significant changes, and GrubMarket is becoming one of the main players in this shift. GrubMarket, a $3.6 billion food delivery and supply chain startup supported by major investors like Tiger Global and BlackRock, has acquired FreshGoGo, a New York-based company that focuses on Asian groceries and ready-made meals for consumers. The Deal The details of the deal have not been revealed, but it involves a mix of cash and GrubMarket shares. FreshGoGo, which had received around $15 million from individual investors, serves more than 210,000 customers across 27 states and makes about $30 million in revenue each year. Despite its large customer base, the company was not profitable, which is one of the reasons it was acquired. Jianbing Duan, FreshGoGo’s founder, will stay with the company and continue to lead it under the GrubMarket umbrella. This acquisition closely follows another GrubMarket deal—the purchase of Good Eggs, a well-known Bay Area fo...

In today's fast-paced work environment, meetings can often feel crowded with AI notetaking tools, each requiring attention. Among these, Fathom has emerged as a notable contender since its inception in 2020. With its recent $17 million funding, by Telescope Partners, Fathom is poised to further redefine how we manage and utilize meeting notes. Let's dive into what innovative ideas Fathom brought to the table that led to its success. A Growing Player in the AI Notetaking Space Fathom isn't just another AI tool; it's a platform built with foresight and innovation. After successfully raising a $4.7 million seed round in early 2022, the company has achieved a staggering 90x revenue increase and 20x growth in usage over the past two years. While the numbers may start modest, they signify a robust usage among businesses, with over 8,500 companies integrating Fathom with HubSpot alone. CEO and co-founder Richard White highlighted Fathom's unique positioning: “We always bui...

In 2021, two former Google employees, Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, decided to leave their prestigious positions at the tech giant and venture into the world of entrepreneurship. Dissatisfied with Google’s growing bureaucracy, they sought to build something new: a platform where artificial intelligence (AI) would meet creativity, allowing users to interact with AI in ways that had never been seen before. The result? Character Technologies Inc., better known as Character.ai . Fast forward to today, and their creation has caught the attention of tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and even Google itself. The platform they built is now valued at over $5 billion, positioning Character.ai as a rising force in the AI industry. From Google Bureaucracy to Startup Freedom Character.ai was founded in 2021, based in Menlo Park, California, by Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, who used to work at Google with significant expertise in AI and natural language processing. Both had mad...