Cofounders Nik
@cofoundersnik.bsky.social
Multiple 7-figure exits | Host of Nikonomics:http://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT | 100% bootstrapped, 10% self-made | Buying Cash Flowing Assets | Fight On✌️& Go Bruins🐻
So the real question:
Is Jony Ive the next Bob Iger?
Or the next Marissa Mayer?
He’s got the track record, the taste, and the resources.
But he’s stepping into a very different world with faster cycles, less patience, & no Steve Jobs at his side.
Is Jony Ive the next Bob Iger?
Or the next Marissa Mayer?
He’s got the track record, the taste, and the resources.
But he’s stepping into a very different world with faster cycles, less patience, & no Steve Jobs at his side.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
So the real question:
Is Jony Ive the next Bob Iger?
Or the next Marissa Mayer?
He’s got the track record, the taste, and the resources.
But he’s stepping into a very different world with faster cycles, less patience, & no Steve Jobs at his side.
Is Jony Ive the next Bob Iger?
Or the next Marissa Mayer?
He’s got the track record, the taste, and the resources.
But he’s stepping into a very different world with faster cycles, less patience, & no Steve Jobs at his side.
Marissa Mayer = the bad hire:
- Background: Google prodigy
- Mistakes: $1.1B Tumblr deal, strategic chaos
- Outcome: Yahoo sold for scraps to Verizon
She is brilliant but wrong fit, wrong bets, wrong time.
- Background: Google prodigy
- Mistakes: $1.1B Tumblr deal, strategic chaos
- Outcome: Yahoo sold for scraps to Verizon
She is brilliant but wrong fit, wrong bets, wrong time.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Marissa Mayer = the bad hire:
- Background: Google prodigy
- Mistakes: $1.1B Tumblr deal, strategic chaos
- Outcome: Yahoo sold for scraps to Verizon
She is brilliant but wrong fit, wrong bets, wrong time.
- Background: Google prodigy
- Mistakes: $1.1B Tumblr deal, strategic chaos
- Outcome: Yahoo sold for scraps to Verizon
She is brilliant but wrong fit, wrong bets, wrong time.
Bob Iger = the good hire:
- Background: COO of ABC
- Wins: Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox
- Disney market cap 4x’d under his watch
He didn’t just buy assets. He knew what to do with them.
- Background: COO of ABC
- Wins: Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox
- Disney market cap 4x’d under his watch
He didn’t just buy assets. He knew what to do with them.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Bob Iger = the good hire:
- Background: COO of ABC
- Wins: Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox
- Disney market cap 4x’d under his watch
He didn’t just buy assets. He knew what to do with them.
- Background: COO of ABC
- Wins: Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox
- Disney market cap 4x’d under his watch
He didn’t just buy assets. He knew what to do with them.
But here’s the catch:
Big splashy hires like this?
They’re a coin flip.
• Bob Iger turned Disney into a global IP machine
• Marissa Mayer burned billions at Yahoo
Visionary talent doesn’t always translate to execution.
Big splashy hires like this?
They’re a coin flip.
• Bob Iger turned Disney into a global IP machine
• Marissa Mayer burned billions at Yahoo
Visionary talent doesn’t always translate to execution.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
But here’s the catch:
Big splashy hires like this?
They’re a coin flip.
• Bob Iger turned Disney into a global IP machine
• Marissa Mayer burned billions at Yahoo
Visionary talent doesn’t always translate to execution.
Big splashy hires like this?
They’re a coin flip.
• Bob Iger turned Disney into a global IP machine
• Marissa Mayer burned billions at Yahoo
Visionary talent doesn’t always translate to execution.
Why now?
Because the AI wearables market is exploding:
- Market: $48.8B in 2025
- Projected: $260.3B by 2032
But wearables are a different kind of tech. OpenAI needs trust, design, taste & someone who can make AI desirable.
Enter Ive.
Because the AI wearables market is exploding:
- Market: $48.8B in 2025
- Projected: $260.3B by 2032
But wearables are a different kind of tech. OpenAI needs trust, design, taste & someone who can make AI desirable.
Enter Ive.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Why now?
Because the AI wearables market is exploding:
- Market: $48.8B in 2025
- Projected: $260.3B by 2032
But wearables are a different kind of tech. OpenAI needs trust, design, taste & someone who can make AI desirable.
Enter Ive.
Because the AI wearables market is exploding:
- Market: $48.8B in 2025
- Projected: $260.3B by 2032
But wearables are a different kind of tech. OpenAI needs trust, design, taste & someone who can make AI desirable.
Enter Ive.
So how valuable was Jony to Apple?
Let's look at Apple's market cap when he became head of design vs when he left:
1997: $2.3 billion
2019: ~$1 trillion
That’s a 43,000% increase.
He designed the most profitable era in Apple’s history.
Let's look at Apple's market cap when he became head of design vs when he left:
1997: $2.3 billion
2019: ~$1 trillion
That’s a 43,000% increase.
He designed the most profitable era in Apple’s history.
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
So how valuable was Jony to Apple?
Let's look at Apple's market cap when he became head of design vs when he left:
1997: $2.3 billion
2019: ~$1 trillion
That’s a 43,000% increase.
He designed the most profitable era in Apple’s history.
Let's look at Apple's market cap when he became head of design vs when he left:
1997: $2.3 billion
2019: ~$1 trillion
That’s a 43,000% increase.
He designed the most profitable era in Apple’s history.
You may not know Jony Ive by name but you definitely know his work.
Here are just a few of his hits:
🖥️ iMac G3 – saved Apple
💻 MacBook Air – pulled from a manila envelope
📱 iPhone – redefined phones
⌚ Apple Watch – jewelry 🤝 tech
And Apple's $5B spaceship-shaped campus
Here are just a few of his hits:
🖥️ iMac G3 – saved Apple
💻 MacBook Air – pulled from a manila envelope
📱 iPhone – redefined phones
⌚ Apple Watch – jewelry 🤝 tech
And Apple's $5B spaceship-shaped campus
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
You may not know Jony Ive by name but you definitely know his work.
Here are just a few of his hits:
🖥️ iMac G3 – saved Apple
💻 MacBook Air – pulled from a manila envelope
📱 iPhone – redefined phones
⌚ Apple Watch – jewelry 🤝 tech
And Apple's $5B spaceship-shaped campus
Here are just a few of his hits:
🖥️ iMac G3 – saved Apple
💻 MacBook Air – pulled from a manila envelope
📱 iPhone – redefined phones
⌚ Apple Watch – jewelry 🤝 tech
And Apple's $5B spaceship-shaped campus
Johnny Ive helped turn a bankrupt tech company into the first $1 trillion business.
OpenAI is betting $6.5B he can do it again, with AI wearables.
Could be Silicon Valley's smartest hire ever...
Or a $6.5B Marissa Mayer moment.
Is one man really that valuable? 👇
OpenAI is betting $6.5B he can do it again, with AI wearables.
Could be Silicon Valley's smartest hire ever...
Or a $6.5B Marissa Mayer moment.
Is one man really that valuable? 👇
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Johnny Ive helped turn a bankrupt tech company into the first $1 trillion business.
OpenAI is betting $6.5B he can do it again, with AI wearables.
Could be Silicon Valley's smartest hire ever...
Or a $6.5B Marissa Mayer moment.
Is one man really that valuable? 👇
OpenAI is betting $6.5B he can do it again, with AI wearables.
Could be Silicon Valley's smartest hire ever...
Or a $6.5B Marissa Mayer moment.
Is one man really that valuable? 👇
AI 1.0 was:
→ Prompt toys
→ Cool demos
→ Vibes
AI 2.0 is:
→ Agents running ops
→ Real workflows
→ Real revenue
It’s no longer a playground
It’s infrastructure & it’s still EARLY
→ Prompt toys
→ Cool demos
→ Vibes
AI 2.0 is:
→ Agents running ops
→ Real workflows
→ Real revenue
It’s no longer a playground
It’s infrastructure & it’s still EARLY
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
AI 1.0 was:
→ Prompt toys
→ Cool demos
→ Vibes
AI 2.0 is:
→ Agents running ops
→ Real workflows
→ Real revenue
It’s no longer a playground
It’s infrastructure & it’s still EARLY
→ Prompt toys
→ Cool demos
→ Vibes
AI 2.0 is:
→ Agents running ops
→ Real workflows
→ Real revenue
It’s no longer a playground
It’s infrastructure & it’s still EARLY
Now it’s 2025.
VC is down. Layoffs are back.
AI feels “overhyped.”
Perfect.
This is the part of the movie where everyone will get distracted
But a few people quietly build the next $100M companies
VC is down. Layoffs are back.
AI feels “overhyped.”
Perfect.
This is the part of the movie where everyone will get distracted
But a few people quietly build the next $100M companies
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Now it’s 2025.
VC is down. Layoffs are back.
AI feels “overhyped.”
Perfect.
This is the part of the movie where everyone will get distracted
But a few people quietly build the next $100M companies
VC is down. Layoffs are back.
AI feels “overhyped.”
Perfect.
This is the part of the movie where everyone will get distracted
But a few people quietly build the next $100M companies
2020: Pandemic chaos.
Everyone paused... Except the builders.
→ Zoom became mission-critical
→ Remote work went default
→ GPT-3 launched quietly
Cloud + AI 1.0 = new stack
A few saw it but most missed it
Sound familiar?
Everyone paused... Except the builders.
→ Zoom became mission-critical
→ Remote work went default
→ GPT-3 launched quietly
Cloud + AI 1.0 = new stack
A few saw it but most missed it
Sound familiar?
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
2020: Pandemic chaos.
Everyone paused... Except the builders.
→ Zoom became mission-critical
→ Remote work went default
→ GPT-3 launched quietly
Cloud + AI 1.0 = new stack
A few saw it but most missed it
Sound familiar?
Everyone paused... Except the builders.
→ Zoom became mission-critical
→ Remote work went default
→ GPT-3 launched quietly
Cloud + AI 1.0 = new stack
A few saw it but most missed it
Sound familiar?
2008: Total financial collapse.
Most froze but mobile exploded.
→ Uber (2009)
→ WhatsApp (2009)
→ Instagram (2010)
iPhone was barely a year old but the future was already getting built in your pocket
Recessions prune... But they also plant
Most froze but mobile exploded.
→ Uber (2009)
→ WhatsApp (2009)
→ Instagram (2010)
iPhone was barely a year old but the future was already getting built in your pocket
Recessions prune... But they also plant
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
2008: Total financial collapse.
Most froze but mobile exploded.
→ Uber (2009)
→ WhatsApp (2009)
→ Instagram (2010)
iPhone was barely a year old but the future was already getting built in your pocket
Recessions prune... But they also plant
Most froze but mobile exploded.
→ Uber (2009)
→ WhatsApp (2009)
→ Instagram (2010)
iPhone was barely a year old but the future was already getting built in your pocket
Recessions prune... But they also plant
2001: Dot-com crash.
The hype died. The tourists left.
But SaaS was just getting started:
→ Salesforce launched CRM
→ Intuit doubled down on QuickBooks Online
→ Basecamp tested monthly billing
While the market flinched a new model was forming:
SaaS = recurring > one-time
The hype died. The tourists left.
But SaaS was just getting started:
→ Salesforce launched CRM
→ Intuit doubled down on QuickBooks Online
→ Basecamp tested monthly billing
While the market flinched a new model was forming:
SaaS = recurring > one-time
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
2001: Dot-com crash.
The hype died. The tourists left.
But SaaS was just getting started:
→ Salesforce launched CRM
→ Intuit doubled down on QuickBooks Online
→ Basecamp tested monthly billing
While the market flinched a new model was forming:
SaaS = recurring > one-time
The hype died. The tourists left.
But SaaS was just getting started:
→ Salesforce launched CRM
→ Intuit doubled down on QuickBooks Online
→ Basecamp tested monthly billing
While the market flinched a new model was forming:
SaaS = recurring > one-time
1991: Recession. Layoffs.
Most gave up on tech.
But PCs quietly crossed 100M units.
Then came:
→ Yahoo (1994)
→ Amazon (1995)
→ Google (1998)
The internet stopped being a toy & started becoming oxygen
Builders didn’t wait for recovery
Most gave up on tech.
But PCs quietly crossed 100M units.
Then came:
→ Yahoo (1994)
→ Amazon (1995)
→ Google (1998)
The internet stopped being a toy & started becoming oxygen
Builders didn’t wait for recovery
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
1991: Recession. Layoffs.
Most gave up on tech.
But PCs quietly crossed 100M units.
Then came:
→ Yahoo (1994)
→ Amazon (1995)
→ Google (1998)
The internet stopped being a toy & started becoming oxygen
Builders didn’t wait for recovery
Most gave up on tech.
But PCs quietly crossed 100M units.
Then came:
→ Yahoo (1994)
→ Amazon (1995)
→ Google (1998)
The internet stopped being a toy & started becoming oxygen
Builders didn’t wait for recovery
You don’t see it yet, but the next downturn has already started
While most freeze or panic, the ones who thrive will start building
Every major tech wave starts this way
This time it’s AI
Move now (while it’s quiet) & you won’t just survive. You’ll lead.
Let me show you👇
While most freeze or panic, the ones who thrive will start building
Every major tech wave starts this way
This time it’s AI
Move now (while it’s quiet) & you won’t just survive. You’ll lead.
Let me show you👇
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
You don’t see it yet, but the next downturn has already started
While most freeze or panic, the ones who thrive will start building
Every major tech wave starts this way
This time it’s AI
Move now (while it’s quiet) & you won’t just survive. You’ll lead.
Let me show you👇
While most freeze or panic, the ones who thrive will start building
Every major tech wave starts this way
This time it’s AI
Move now (while it’s quiet) & you won’t just survive. You’ll lead.
Let me show you👇
I lost $50K betting on a searcher.
He lost EVERYTHING to the SBA. Brutal.
After 200 interviews, one thing is clear:
Buying a business isn't what makes you fail.
Buying the WRONG one does.
Here’s the simple framework I used to buy my first biz & create $11.6M in value👇
He lost EVERYTHING to the SBA. Brutal.
After 200 interviews, one thing is clear:
Buying a business isn't what makes you fail.
Buying the WRONG one does.
Here’s the simple framework I used to buy my first biz & create $11.6M in value👇
May 1, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I lost $50K betting on a searcher.
He lost EVERYTHING to the SBA. Brutal.
After 200 interviews, one thing is clear:
Buying a business isn't what makes you fail.
Buying the WRONG one does.
Here’s the simple framework I used to buy my first biz & create $11.6M in value👇
He lost EVERYTHING to the SBA. Brutal.
After 200 interviews, one thing is clear:
Buying a business isn't what makes you fail.
Buying the WRONG one does.
Here’s the simple framework I used to buy my first biz & create $11.6M in value👇
Me: “Wait. He’s a self-made BILLIONAIRE?”
Brad: “Yes.”
Me: “And I’ve never heard of him?”
Brad: “Positive.”
Me: “And he didn’t start a tech company?”
Brad: “Correct.”
Me: incredulous “Tell me the whole story again...”👇
Brad: “Yes.”
Me: “And I’ve never heard of him?”
Brad: “Positive.”
Me: “And he didn’t start a tech company?”
Brad: “Correct.”
Me: incredulous “Tell me the whole story again...”👇
March 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Me: “Wait. He’s a self-made BILLIONAIRE?”
Brad: “Yes.”
Me: “And I’ve never heard of him?”
Brad: “Positive.”
Me: “And he didn’t start a tech company?”
Brad: “Correct.”
Me: incredulous “Tell me the whole story again...”👇
Brad: “Yes.”
Me: “And I’ve never heard of him?”
Brad: “Positive.”
Me: “And he didn’t start a tech company?”
Brad: “Correct.”
Me: incredulous “Tell me the whole story again...”👇
Craig Fuller flipped my brain.
He’s built a $100M+ empire (FreightWaves, Sonar, Firecrown) by mastering one thing:
Owning Distribution
“Build it & they’ll come”? BS! He BUYS audiences. Here’s how 👇
He’s built a $100M+ empire (FreightWaves, Sonar, Firecrown) by mastering one thing:
Owning Distribution
“Build it & they’ll come”? BS! He BUYS audiences. Here’s how 👇
March 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Craig Fuller flipped my brain.
He’s built a $100M+ empire (FreightWaves, Sonar, Firecrown) by mastering one thing:
Owning Distribution
“Build it & they’ll come”? BS! He BUYS audiences. Here’s how 👇
He’s built a $100M+ empire (FreightWaves, Sonar, Firecrown) by mastering one thing:
Owning Distribution
“Build it & they’ll come”? BS! He BUYS audiences. Here’s how 👇
This might be the most underrated business ever…
- Solves a BIG problem
- 90% margins
- Parents will pay ANYTHING for results
A stay-at-home mom built a $1M/year business with NO employees, NO investors & NO ads by solving this ONE exhausting problem.
Here’s how she did it👇
- Solves a BIG problem
- 90% margins
- Parents will pay ANYTHING for results
A stay-at-home mom built a $1M/year business with NO employees, NO investors & NO ads by solving this ONE exhausting problem.
Here’s how she did it👇
March 10, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This might be the most underrated business ever…
- Solves a BIG problem
- 90% margins
- Parents will pay ANYTHING for results
A stay-at-home mom built a $1M/year business with NO employees, NO investors & NO ads by solving this ONE exhausting problem.
Here’s how she did it👇
- Solves a BIG problem
- 90% margins
- Parents will pay ANYTHING for results
A stay-at-home mom built a $1M/year business with NO employees, NO investors & NO ads by solving this ONE exhausting problem.
Here’s how she did it👇
This isn't like me but screw it. Calling my shot:
I'm building a monetized Newsletter with 12k subs by April 30th (currently at 1,400😳).
Fully transparent. Daily updates. Weekly recaps.
Let's test if "anyone" really can build one of these. Here's the plan. Let's go!👇
I'm building a monetized Newsletter with 12k subs by April 30th (currently at 1,400😳).
Fully transparent. Daily updates. Weekly recaps.
Let's test if "anyone" really can build one of these. Here's the plan. Let's go!👇
March 7, 2025 at 12:16 AM
This isn't like me but screw it. Calling my shot:
I'm building a monetized Newsletter with 12k subs by April 30th (currently at 1,400😳).
Fully transparent. Daily updates. Weekly recaps.
Let's test if "anyone" really can build one of these. Here's the plan. Let's go!👇
I'm building a monetized Newsletter with 12k subs by April 30th (currently at 1,400😳).
Fully transparent. Daily updates. Weekly recaps.
Let's test if "anyone" really can build one of these. Here's the plan. Let's go!👇
6. Resilience Through Challenges
Divvy: “Things aren't as good—or as bad—as they seem. Give it time.”
The "Greats":
SpaceX nearly folded after three rocket failures, but Musk held steady. The 4th rocket succeeded.
Continue building cool stuff & stay resilient
Divvy: “Things aren't as good—or as bad—as they seem. Give it time.”
The "Greats":
SpaceX nearly folded after three rocket failures, but Musk held steady. The 4th rocket succeeded.
Continue building cool stuff & stay resilient
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
6. Resilience Through Challenges
Divvy: “Things aren't as good—or as bad—as they seem. Give it time.”
The "Greats":
SpaceX nearly folded after three rocket failures, but Musk held steady. The 4th rocket succeeded.
Continue building cool stuff & stay resilient
Divvy: “Things aren't as good—or as bad—as they seem. Give it time.”
The "Greats":
SpaceX nearly folded after three rocket failures, but Musk held steady. The 4th rocket succeeded.
Continue building cool stuff & stay resilient
5. Strategic Hiring
Divvy: Identify where you want to go & hire people who have been there before. They focused on hiring people from companies who already had $100M+ exits.
The "Greats":
Zuckerberg hired Sandberg from Google, importing proven experience.
Hire from winners
Divvy: Identify where you want to go & hire people who have been there before. They focused on hiring people from companies who already had $100M+ exits.
The "Greats":
Zuckerberg hired Sandberg from Google, importing proven experience.
Hire from winners
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
5. Strategic Hiring
Divvy: Identify where you want to go & hire people who have been there before. They focused on hiring people from companies who already had $100M+ exits.
The "Greats":
Zuckerberg hired Sandberg from Google, importing proven experience.
Hire from winners
Divvy: Identify where you want to go & hire people who have been there before. They focused on hiring people from companies who already had $100M+ exits.
The "Greats":
Zuckerberg hired Sandberg from Google, importing proven experience.
Hire from winners
4. Unexpected Revenue Models
Divvy: "We had no idea what interchange was. We were like 'Wait, they are going to pay US?!'”
The "Greats":
Google once tried to sell for $1M... with no takers. Then they discovered keyword ads & became billionaires.
Stay opportunistic
Divvy: "We had no idea what interchange was. We were like 'Wait, they are going to pay US?!'”
The "Greats":
Google once tried to sell for $1M... with no takers. Then they discovered keyword ads & became billionaires.
Stay opportunistic
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
4. Unexpected Revenue Models
Divvy: "We had no idea what interchange was. We were like 'Wait, they are going to pay US?!'”
The "Greats":
Google once tried to sell for $1M... with no takers. Then they discovered keyword ads & became billionaires.
Stay opportunistic
Divvy: "We had no idea what interchange was. We were like 'Wait, they are going to pay US?!'”
The "Greats":
Google once tried to sell for $1M... with no takers. Then they discovered keyword ads & became billionaires.
Stay opportunistic
3. Identifying Killer Features
Divvy: “Every pitch stopped at the budgeting slide with 'you can turn off credit cards over budget? That's a thing?'”
The "Greats":
Slack was a failed game until they saw chat usage. That pivot led to a $27B exit.
Listen for user "aha" moments
Divvy: “Every pitch stopped at the budgeting slide with 'you can turn off credit cards over budget? That's a thing?'”
The "Greats":
Slack was a failed game until they saw chat usage. That pivot led to a $27B exit.
Listen for user "aha" moments
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
3. Identifying Killer Features
Divvy: “Every pitch stopped at the budgeting slide with 'you can turn off credit cards over budget? That's a thing?'”
The "Greats":
Slack was a failed game until they saw chat usage. That pivot led to a $27B exit.
Listen for user "aha" moments
Divvy: “Every pitch stopped at the budgeting slide with 'you can turn off credit cards over budget? That's a thing?'”
The "Greats":
Slack was a failed game until they saw chat usage. That pivot led to a $27B exit.
Listen for user "aha" moments
2. Clear Partnerships Roles
Divvy: "Someone builds, someone sells. If both think they're quarterback, you're in trouble."
The "Greats":
Steve Jobs marketed, Wozniak built—Apple soared.
Define roles clearly
Divvy: "Someone builds, someone sells. If both think they're quarterback, you're in trouble."
The "Greats":
Steve Jobs marketed, Wozniak built—Apple soared.
Define roles clearly
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
2. Clear Partnerships Roles
Divvy: "Someone builds, someone sells. If both think they're quarterback, you're in trouble."
The "Greats":
Steve Jobs marketed, Wozniak built—Apple soared.
Define roles clearly
Divvy: "Someone builds, someone sells. If both think they're quarterback, you're in trouble."
The "Greats":
Steve Jobs marketed, Wozniak built—Apple soared.
Define roles clearly