Thomas Smale
@thomassmale.bsky.social
Helping tech founders get acquired. Sharing tips on buying and selling online businesses.
no-calls every poicy at work or for clients.
this story gets at the heart of why I love working with founders
running your business, it's yours - you can do it your way - you can break the rules - you can make new rule
this story gets at the heart of why I love working with founders
running your business, it's yours - you can do it your way - you can break the rules - you can make new rule
January 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
no-calls every poicy at work or for clients.
this story gets at the heart of why I love working with founders
running your business, it's yours - you can do it your way - you can break the rules - you can make new rule
this story gets at the heart of why I love working with founders
running your business, it's yours - you can do it your way - you can break the rules - you can make new rule
i found this thread disturbing:
an 11-year-old is using gpt to do ALL her homework.
a teacher told me she had to change her entire lesson plan because of gpt & other tools.
how do we get the next generation to learn instead of just using ai?
i don't know but kids should at least how to add 24+7.
an 11-year-old is using gpt to do ALL her homework.
a teacher told me she had to change her entire lesson plan because of gpt & other tools.
how do we get the next generation to learn instead of just using ai?
i don't know but kids should at least how to add 24+7.
January 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
i found this thread disturbing:
an 11-year-old is using gpt to do ALL her homework.
a teacher told me she had to change her entire lesson plan because of gpt & other tools.
how do we get the next generation to learn instead of just using ai?
i don't know but kids should at least how to add 24+7.
an 11-year-old is using gpt to do ALL her homework.
a teacher told me she had to change her entire lesson plan because of gpt & other tools.
how do we get the next generation to learn instead of just using ai?
i don't know but kids should at least how to add 24+7.
The biggest merger in history became a $100 billion disaster.
December 29, 2024 at 3:42 PM
The biggest merger in history became a $100 billion disaster.
When selling your business, please don’t do this...
December 26, 2024 at 6:17 PM
When selling your business, please don’t do this...
Don’t work over the holidays (it will make your business better)
Investors want businesses that work without their founders
A vacation is a great chance to see what works (and what breaks)
Investors want businesses that work without their founders
A vacation is a great chance to see what works (and what breaks)
December 23, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Don’t work over the holidays (it will make your business better)
Investors want businesses that work without their founders
A vacation is a great chance to see what works (and what breaks)
Investors want businesses that work without their founders
A vacation is a great chance to see what works (and what breaks)
What didn’t work:
- Hands (they can't pick up a remote)
- Text (cue: “quiibi” moments).
- Celebrities/brands (not legal)
- VO is boring (free trial of 11Labs)
- That graph is hilariously terrible
- Hands (they can't pick up a remote)
- Text (cue: “quiibi” moments).
- Celebrities/brands (not legal)
- VO is boring (free trial of 11Labs)
- That graph is hilariously terrible
December 18, 2024 at 5:38 PM
What didn’t work:
- Hands (they can't pick up a remote)
- Text (cue: “quiibi” moments).
- Celebrities/brands (not legal)
- VO is boring (free trial of 11Labs)
- That graph is hilariously terrible
- Hands (they can't pick up a remote)
- Text (cue: “quiibi” moments).
- Celebrities/brands (not legal)
- VO is boring (free trial of 11Labs)
- That graph is hilariously terrible
What worked:
- Simple stock clips (office shot, couch shot, etc.)
- Overarching story (dry but there)
- Glitch transitions (I thought were pretty cool)
- Simple stock clips (office shot, couch shot, etc.)
- Overarching story (dry but there)
- Glitch transitions (I thought were pretty cool)
December 18, 2024 at 5:38 PM
What worked:
- Simple stock clips (office shot, couch shot, etc.)
- Overarching story (dry but there)
- Glitch transitions (I thought were pretty cool)
- Simple stock clips (office shot, couch shot, etc.)
- Overarching story (dry but there)
- Glitch transitions (I thought were pretty cool)
December 17, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Angel investing is a sport in the Bay.
Startup ecosystems grow "middle-out"—starting with seed investors before pre-seed and angel communities develop.
People in the Bay Area love investing in tech—part of why I love San Francisco.
But how do you foster that?
#investing #startups
Startup ecosystems grow "middle-out"—starting with seed investors before pre-seed and angel communities develop.
People in the Bay Area love investing in tech—part of why I love San Francisco.
But how do you foster that?
#investing #startups
December 17, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Angel investing is a sport in the Bay.
Startup ecosystems grow "middle-out"—starting with seed investors before pre-seed and angel communities develop.
People in the Bay Area love investing in tech—part of why I love San Francisco.
But how do you foster that?
#investing #startups
Startup ecosystems grow "middle-out"—starting with seed investors before pre-seed and angel communities develop.
People in the Bay Area love investing in tech—part of why I love San Francisco.
But how do you foster that?
#investing #startups
The best bagel shop in NYC just closed and no one knows why
30+ years of business, and the announcement is just a "we are closed" sign
Might be the most New Yorker way to shut down a business
30+ years of business, and the announcement is just a "we are closed" sign
Might be the most New Yorker way to shut down a business
December 13, 2024 at 5:38 PM
The best bagel shop in NYC just closed and no one knows why
30+ years of business, and the announcement is just a "we are closed" sign
Might be the most New Yorker way to shut down a business
30+ years of business, and the announcement is just a "we are closed" sign
Might be the most New Yorker way to shut down a business
A $40 cereal box saved AirBnB. This is the story.
December 11, 2024 at 7:19 PM
A $40 cereal box saved AirBnB. This is the story.
December 3, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Startups were once built of specialized founding teams.
Now, it's a solo founder wearing multiple hats.
No-code tools and AI are just further expediting this transition.
We’re witnessing this shift firsthand at FE: solo founders are building larger companies, faster.
Now, it's a solo founder wearing multiple hats.
No-code tools and AI are just further expediting this transition.
We’re witnessing this shift firsthand at FE: solo founders are building larger companies, faster.
December 2, 2024 at 2:35 PM
Startups were once built of specialized founding teams.
Now, it's a solo founder wearing multiple hats.
No-code tools and AI are just further expediting this transition.
We’re witnessing this shift firsthand at FE: solo founders are building larger companies, faster.
Now, it's a solo founder wearing multiple hats.
No-code tools and AI are just further expediting this transition.
We’re witnessing this shift firsthand at FE: solo founders are building larger companies, faster.
November 22, 2024 at 4:38 PM
🏠 Sears (2018)
Sears added a rocketship-inspired icon to its logo, aiming for “modern.”
It backfired, with critics calling it “generic” and too similar to Airbnb’s logo.
Even worse? Their tagline “Making moments matter” - makes no sense.
Sears isn't a tech company & a logo won't change that...
Sears added a rocketship-inspired icon to its logo, aiming for “modern.”
It backfired, with critics calling it “generic” and too similar to Airbnb’s logo.
Even worse? Their tagline “Making moments matter” - makes no sense.
Sears isn't a tech company & a logo won't change that...
November 21, 2024 at 5:57 PM
🏠 Sears (2018)
Sears added a rocketship-inspired icon to its logo, aiming for “modern.”
It backfired, with critics calling it “generic” and too similar to Airbnb’s logo.
Even worse? Their tagline “Making moments matter” - makes no sense.
Sears isn't a tech company & a logo won't change that...
Sears added a rocketship-inspired icon to its logo, aiming for “modern.”
It backfired, with critics calling it “generic” and too similar to Airbnb’s logo.
Even worse? Their tagline “Making moments matter” - makes no sense.
Sears isn't a tech company & a logo won't change that...
👖 GAP (2010)
They spent $100 million on a modernized the brand. The backlash? Immediate.
A parody website called “Make Your Own GAP Logo” went viral, with over 14,000 submissions.
In 6 days, they scrapped the redesign and reverted to the classic logo.
They spent $100 million on a modernized the brand. The backlash? Immediate.
A parody website called “Make Your Own GAP Logo” went viral, with over 14,000 submissions.
In 6 days, they scrapped the redesign and reverted to the classic logo.
November 21, 2024 at 5:57 PM
👖 GAP (2010)
They spent $100 million on a modernized the brand. The backlash? Immediate.
A parody website called “Make Your Own GAP Logo” went viral, with over 14,000 submissions.
In 6 days, they scrapped the redesign and reverted to the classic logo.
They spent $100 million on a modernized the brand. The backlash? Immediate.
A parody website called “Make Your Own GAP Logo” went viral, with over 14,000 submissions.
In 6 days, they scrapped the redesign and reverted to the classic logo.
🍊 Tropicana (2009)
They removed the iconic straw sticking out of the orange.
The result? Customers couldn’t recognize the product on the shelves.
This $35 million redesign led to a $20 million sales loss in weeks.
People sure like their straws
They removed the iconic straw sticking out of the orange.
The result? Customers couldn’t recognize the product on the shelves.
This $35 million redesign led to a $20 million sales loss in weeks.
People sure like their straws
November 21, 2024 at 5:57 PM
🍊 Tropicana (2009)
They removed the iconic straw sticking out of the orange.
The result? Customers couldn’t recognize the product on the shelves.
This $35 million redesign led to a $20 million sales loss in weeks.
People sure like their straws
They removed the iconic straw sticking out of the orange.
The result? Customers couldn’t recognize the product on the shelves.
This $35 million redesign led to a $20 million sales loss in weeks.
People sure like their straws
while the horrible rebrand of Jaguar is top of mind...
here are 3 more iconically terrible rebrands🧵
here are 3 more iconically terrible rebrands🧵
November 21, 2024 at 5:57 PM
while the horrible rebrand of Jaguar is top of mind...
here are 3 more iconically terrible rebrands🧵
here are 3 more iconically terrible rebrands🧵
🚨 Google is selling Chrome 🚨
(At least that's what the DOJ wants) 🧵
(At least that's what the DOJ wants) 🧵
November 19, 2024 at 4:16 PM
🚨 Google is selling Chrome 🚨
(At least that's what the DOJ wants) 🧵
(At least that's what the DOJ wants) 🧵