Business Breakdowns

Today we are breaking down SpaceX. Luke Ward from Baillie Gifford was the perfect match for this episode, as he and his team first invested in SpaceX in 2018. We cover the story of SpaceX and its scientific magic, but we really key in on the business model. We focus on the cost curve of launches, separating manufacturing from reusability. Luke gets into how Starlink represents a key component in making the Starship program and the broader economic model click. We then use our intellectually honest galaxy brains to imagine what the space economy could look like in the future and Luke is very open and honest about the risks and rewards with such a capital-intensive mission.  Please enjoy this Breakdown on SpaceX. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Public: Invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more in one place. A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The [6.7%] yield is the average annualized yield to maturity (YTM) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of [9/05/2024]. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore a bond’s YTM is “locked in” when the bond is purchased. Your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTM is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTM of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity, or if the issuer calls or defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. You should evaluate each bond before investing in a Bond Account. The bonds in your Bond Account will not be rebalanced and allocations will not be updated, except for Corporate Actions. – This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:05:53) SpaceX: A Blend of Business and Technology Innovation (00:06:30) Baillie Gifford's Investment Journey with SpaceX (00:09:53) Challenges and Innovations in Space Launch Costs (00:11:24) The Rise of Private Space Companies (00:15:23) SpaceX's Reusability and Cost Efficiency (00:18:25) Starship: The Future of Space Travel (00:26:05) Starlink: Revolutionizing Satellite Internet (00:32:01) The Potential of Space-Based Manufacturing (00:36:31) Competitive Advantage of Starship (00:37:19) Management and Culture at SpaceX (00:39:55) Government and Commercial Markets (00:40:45) Starlink's Future and Connectivity (00:44:11) SpaceX's Long-Term Vision (00:51:11) Regulatory and Launch Challenges (00:54:49) Valuation and Investment Insights (01:02:23) Lessons from SpaceX

Today, we are covering the increasingly thematic market of venture secondaries. My guest is Ravi Viswanathan, founder and managing partner of NewView Capital.  We cover some of the basics around these transactions because so much of private markets are bespoke. And while Ravi confirmed that the bespoke nature makes each individual secondary deal unique, there are consistencies in terms of how they approach the opportunity.  We discuss the various players in the market and their motivations for buying and selling, whether they are VC sellers, founders, employee sellers, or VC buyers. Ravi lays out the structural dynamics that are likely to make this a larger market well into the future. Please enjoy this Breakdown of venture secondaries.  For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  — This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Introduction to Secondary Transactions in Private Markets (00:08:43) Understanding the Basics of Secondary Transactions (00:10:28) Evolution and Growth of Venture Secondaries (00:13:12) Impact of Market Dynamics on Secondary Transactions (00:15:20) Pricing and Valuation in Secondary Markets (00:18:47) Challenges and Strategies in Secondary Transactions (00:28:25) Market Trends and Future Outlook (00:33:30) Venture Sponsor to Sponsor Transactions (00:34:05) Buyer Mentality and Exit Strategies (00:35:39) IPO Market and Valuation Trends (00:38:09) Focus on Growth and Profitability (00:40:04) Strategic Exits and Market Dynamics (00:49:48) Risk Dynamics and Market Competition (00:55:44) Key Lessons and Future of Venture Capital

Today we are breaking down Informa. At its core Informa is a live events business headquartered in the UK. While media conversations often revolve around consumer giants like Disney, Informa operates in a different realm entirely - dominating the world of business-to-business connections through the largest portfolio of trade shows and events globally. I am joined by Nick Shenton from Artemis Investment Management. With nearly 1,000 live events across industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to maritime, Informa creates the meeting places where entire supply chains come together to exchange knowledge, build networks, and do business. These industry events come with a compelling financial model, which Nick details. He also describes Informa’s academic publishing business, B2B digital services, and all of the risks involved with this unique company. Please enjoy this breakdown of Informa.  For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  — This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:07:37) Informa's Business Model and Key Assets (00:09:46) Revenue Breakdown and Financial Performance (00:12:51) Historical Background and Growth (00:16:54) Impact of COVID-19 and Technological Advancements (00:20:24) Economics of Live Events (00:25:28) Challenges and Cyclicality in the Events Business (00:32:03) Informa's Publishing Arm: Taylor and Francis (00:34:39) Criticisms and Value of Publishing Models (00:36:31) Digital Transition in Publishing (00:37:45) Introduction to TechTarget (00:38:36) TechTarget's Unique Market Position (00:43:22) Financial Overview and Valuation (00:46:17) Risks and Industry Dynamics (00:50:39) M&A Strategy and Capital Allocation (00:57:22) Lessons from Informa's Success

This is Zack Fuss. Today we're breaking down Fastenal. Starting as a small fastener retailer in Minnesota, the company has evolved into a mission-critical supply chain partner for its industrial customers. Today, the business sports a nearly $50 billion market cap and produces nearly $8 billion in sales.  The impact of Fastenal's founder, Bob Kierlin, on Fastenal's commercial success can't be overstated. The industrial vending machine was his original idea, a vision he made a reality years later through its network of local branches, onsite locations, embedded with customers and innovative inventory management technologies. I'm joined by Delian Entchev, a portfolio manager at Aoris Investment Management. Today, we'll unpack the strategic choices, cultural DNA, and relentless customer focus that have fueled Fastenal's remarkable success. Please enjoy this Breakdown of Fastenal. Check out our new print publication Colossus Review. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season, go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  — This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:07:44) Understanding Fastenal's Business Model (00:08:24) The Amazon Connection (00:10:09) Fastenal's Founding Story (00:12:06) Pivot to Business Customers (00:13:18) Empowering Employees for Growth (00:14:44) Frugality and Culture at Fastenal (00:17:33) Expansion and Evolution (00:19:07) Onsite Services and Technological Innovations (00:22:17) International Growth and Future Opportunities (00:23:16) Financial Profile and Customer Relationships (00:28:36) Customer Integration: Fastenal's On-Site Business Model (00:29:21) Three Pillars of Fastenal's Service: Experts, Inventory, and Technology (00:30:39) Customization and Proximity: Tailoring On-Site Solutions (00:31:56) Economic Relationships and Customer Spend (00:33:56) Fastenal's Competitive Edge: Value Proposition and Culture (00:37:54) Growth and Market Share: Fastenal's Expansion Strategies (00:44:52) Financial Discipline and Capital Allocation (00:50:14) Lessons from Fastenal: Transparency and In-Person Visits