Search the archive

Read the Delve case study.

ON LEGACY

It's natural for founders to think about legacy - after all, we're building something meant to last. Don't focus on legacy. Do your best work right now, not for later.

WANDER: DEEPER DIVE

Wander's founder and its investors both thought owning vacation homes was necessary to beat Airbnb's inconsistent quality. When interest rates spiked, they had to test managing properties they don't own instead. The results proved them wrong - growth exploded from 13 to 1,000+ locations while quality scores stayed at 85. Test your core assumptions early, because the "obvious" path often isn't the right one.

KNOWLEDGE WORK IS DYING

AI will soon outperform experts in physics, law, and engineering simultaneously, making knowledge workers replaceable. This author coaches OpenAI executives who are building technology that will eliminate their own jobs, and they're preparing by developing three skills AI can't replicate. Emotional clarity means feeling your emotions without letting them control decisions. Discernment requires seeing yourself clearly before you can see situations clearly. Connection involves genuine human presence that creates psychological safety in teams.

MY GREATEST GTM STRUGGLE

A marketing founder generated $500k+ from LinkedIn content but struggled with consistency because he relied on inspiration instead of systems. He'd only create when he felt motivated, leading to sporadic output despite strong results. His solution: monthly content planning, weekly outlining, batch creation days, and three content pillars. Even your best channels need systematic approaches to scale beyond "pretty good" results.

TO GROW FASTER, THINK SMALLER

Focus is crucial for effective growth strategies. Instead of making large-scale changes, companies should study small customer segments to discover insights that fuel new growth strategies. Understanding current customer behavior provides a stronger foundation for sustainable expansion.

SUPABASE UI LIBRARY

Supabase UI Library offers drop-in, customizable UI components for React projects, integrating Supabase Auth, Storage, Realtime chat, and more.

COMP AI

Comp AI is an open-source compliance automation platform that helps you get audit-ready fast, supporting SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR in weeks, not months.

MIDJOURNEY V7

Midjourney V7 delivers faster, smarter, and more beautiful image generation with default personalization and a new Draft Mode for rapid, voice-enabled iteration.

THE X-RAY EFFECT

You're now data-driven and tracking metrics that matter. However, you're about to notice all the broken stuff - $500K deals sitting untouched for eight months, reps with crazy-high win rates because they only log deals after closing, and conversion rates bouncing between 8% and 47% with no explanation. This is the X-ray effect - consistent measurement reveals broken processes you didn't know existed.

5 WAYS TO COME UP WITH TINY EXPERIMENTS

Big changes feel overwhelming, so try tiny experiments instead: low-risk actions following "I will [action] for [duration]." Five ways: notice what energizes/drains you and test alternatives, challenge fixed mindsets with small actions, borrow interesting habits from others, turn constraints into creative fuel, and ask "What if?" questions. These build adaptability one small experiment at a time, letting you learn and grow without needing perfection.

IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY

Traditional retirement funding is broken because capital consistently outpaces economic growth (r > g). Someone saving 10% of $100K income takes 20 years to accumulate $500K, while someone starting with $500K replaces a year of income every two years. The solution isn't redistribution, but "pre-distribution" of capital through innovative financial products.

FLORA RAISES $6.5M TO BUILD THE FUTURE OF CREATIVE COLLABORATION

FLORA has raised $6.5 million in a seed round led by Hanabi Capital to develop an advanced creative tool offering real-time collaboration and AI-driven functionalities.

HALLUCINATIONS AND HUMAN WORK

People either say AI is brilliant and can do everything, or that it hallucinates and can't be trusted.

30 COMPANIES THAT JUST RAISED A SERIES A

List of the top 30 companies that raised a Series A in the United States in the last 2 weeks.

DATA BREACH AFFECTS 38K UCHICAGO MEDICINE PATIENTS

UChicago Medicine released a statement that the data of 38K patients may have been exposed in a July 2024 breach. The data breach was caused by a third-party debt collector's system breach. The exposed data may include SSNs, addresses, dates of birth, medical information, and financial account information.

THREAT ACTORS ABUSE GOOGLE APPS SCRIPT IN EVASIVE PHISHING ATTACKS

Threat actors are exploiting Google Apps Script to create phishing pages that mimic legitimate sites, enhancing their credibility. This tactic reduces the likelihood of detection by security tools. As a result, users may be more easily deceived into providing sensitive information.

FAKE CHATGPT AND INVIDEO AI DOWNLOADS DELIVER RANSOMWARE

Cisco Talos has discovered three malware families—CyberLock ransomware, Lucky_Gh0$t ransomware, and Numero malware—that disguise themselves as legitimate AI tool installers for ChatGPT, InVideo AI, and NovaLeadsAI. These threats spread through SEO poisoning, social media, and messaging platforms, specifically targeting sales, technology, and marketing businesses. CyberLock demands $50,000 in Monero cryptocurrency, Lucky_Gh0$t encrypts files under 1.2GB while destroying larger ones, and Numero renders Windows systems unusable by interfering with the graphical interface.

DETECTION-IN-DEPTH

Detection-in-depth is a detection engineering concept modeled after the principle of defense-in-depth, in which security teams create detections to catch an attacker at every step of the attack chain. Detections (including out-of-the-box detections that come with a platform) must be fine-tuned to the specific environment to reduce false positives. They should be tested using threat emulation tools such as Atomic Red Team and penetration testing activities.

HTML TO PDF RENDERER: A TALE OF LOCAL FILE ACCESS AND SHELLCODE EXECUTION

In a recent engagement, a penetration tester from Neodyme tested a tool that converted HTML to PDF. The tester's first instinct was to attempt Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), which they succeeded in doing in a test environment. They then discovered that they could enumerate information about the engine and local files. The tester then found an exploit against the outdated Chromium browser used by the converter to render the HTML and adapted it to obtain shellcode execution on the server.

DECODING TCP SYN FOR STRONGER NETWORK SECURITY

NETSCOUT analyzed TCP SYN segments from honeypots to identify network security patterns, examining source addresses, IPv4 TTL values, and TCP header lengths. The study found no source address spoofing despite expectations, discovered that TTL values varied widely from the same sources due to path diversity, and identified that many anomalies correlated with crafted packets from suspicious networks. The research demonstrates that analyzing TCP header patterns can effectively distinguish legitimate traffic from potential threats, with 20-byte headers and zero sequence numbers as strong indicators of malicious activity.

SOC ASSESSMENT TOOL (WEB APP)

The SOC Assessment Tool provides a comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate the maturity of a Security Operations Center (SOC). It provides actionable insights upon completion of the assessment.

10 BURP EXTENSIONS I ACTUALLY USE

A LinkedIn post by Ti3rius about 10 “hidden gem” burp extensions he commonly uses, which are not in the top 30 most popular in the BApp Store.

MONKEY365

Monkey365 is an open-source security tool designed for conducting security configuration reviews of Microsoft 365, Azure subscriptions, and Microsoft Entra ID. It simplifies the process by eliminating the need to learn complex APIs or admin panels. The tool identifies security gaps and offers recommendations for optimal configuration to enhance the security and effectiveness of your Microsoft 365 tenant or Azure subscription.

FROM REVERSE ENGINEERING TO CHEAT DEVELOPMENT: INTERNAL GAME HACKS WITH ASSAULTCUBE

This guide shows how to build an internal cheat for the AssaultCube game by injecting a custom DLL into the game's memory. It explains how to hook into game functions like damage and add advanced features such as aimbot and wallhacks. The project is intended to be a technical learning tool for understanding game memory and function hooking.

US SANCTIONS FIRM LINKED TO CYBER SCAMS BEHIND $200 MILLION IN LOSSES

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Funnull Technology, a Philippines-based company facilitating numerous malicious websites. These sites are connected to cyber scams that have resulted in over $200 million in losses for Americans. The sanctions aim to disrupt the operations of this company and its role in cybercrime.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: APT41 INNOVATIVE TACTICS

Google's Threat Intelligence Group discovered APT41 using the "TOUGHPROGRESS" malware, which exploits Google Calendar for command and control communications. The malware is delivered through spear-phishing emails containing ZIP archives hosted on compromised government websites. To evade detection, the malware uses a three-stage infection chain (PLUSDROP, PLUSINJECT, and TOUGHPROGRESS) with advanced obfuscation techniques, including 64-bit register overflow and control flow obfuscation. Google disrupted the campaign by developing custom detection signatures, terminating attacker-controlled Calendar accounts and Workspace projects, and adding malicious domains to Safe Browsing blocklists.

MICROSOFT AUTHENTICATOR NOW WARNS TO EXPORT PASSWORDS BEFORE JULY CUTOFF

Microsoft Authenticator will discontinue its password autofill feature in July, prompting users to either export their passwords or switch to Microsoft Edge.

APPLE SAFARI EXPOSES USERS TO FULLSCREEN BROWSER-IN-THE-MIDDLE ATTACKS

A vulnerability in Apple's Safari browser allows attackers to exploit a fullscreen trick to illicitly acquire user account credentials, prompting users to be cautious with sensitive data entry.

PARTIES BEHIND 2024 BIDEN AI ROBOCALL REACH DEAL IN LAWSUIT

Two parties involved in an AI-generated robocall that mimicked then-President Joe Biden and discouraged voting in the New Hampshire Democratic primary have agreed to settle a civil lawsuit filed by voting groups.

TYPEFORM SURVEY: THE DATA ON INFLUENCER MARKETING HAS SPOKEN

71% of consumers regret purchases made through influencer recommendations, with only 33% believing influencers actually use the products they promote. The trust gap stems from inauthentic engagement, lack of transparency, and overly polished content. 40% of consumers say relatability is the top reason they trust an influencer. While 81% of influencers use AI in content creation, 35% of consumers distrust AI-generated posts, and 61% want AI use disclosed. 56% of influencers admitted to promoting products they don't like, and 33% have bought followers or engagement. Consumers now favor creators who feel genuine and share real, personal stories.

RETHINK YOUR PRICING STRATEGIES AMID ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY

More than half of customers who consider a low-price option ultimately trade up when offered clear, tiered choices that differentiate value. This underscores the effectiveness of good, better, best pricing strategies, which highlight product value and allow businesses to serve price-sensitive customers without undermining premium offerings. During periods of economic uncertainty, marketers can use this structure not just to defend margins but also to influence buyer psychology, emphasizing long-term value and giving customers a sense of control without defaulting to broad price cuts.

TIPS FOR REDUCING SHOPPING CART ABANDONMENT

To minimize cart abandonment, offer transparent pricing, guest checkout, and a streamlined, mobile-friendly checkout experience. Use progress indicators, trusted security badges, and multiple payment and shipping options. Prevent errors with regular site testing and speed optimization. Encourage purchases with working promo codes, wishlist features, and automated cart recovery emails. Send emails within 1-3 hours, follow up within 24-48 hours, and always personalize content. Cart recovery automation can improve conversion rates by over 2,300% compared to manual campaigns.

MARKETING MASTERS: ARCHITECTS OF REAL-TIME PERSONALISATION

Tractive uses rapid experimentation to scale 1:1 personalization. It starts with small tests like swapping hero images with breed-specific visuals, then expands to fully personalized email templates. This approach boosted click rates by up to 82%. The company also tailors winback emails based on cancellation reasons, offering targeted incentives that led to a 30% reactivation increase. Testing showed customer testimonials drove 100% higher engagement than celebrity content. Secret Escapes collaborates with data scientists to build behavior-triggered, AI-powered journeys. During Black Friday, it used dynamic content blocks to show users previously browsed hotels at discounted rates, increasing click-throughs by 23%.

CLEAR BEATS CLEVER: WRITING FOR FAST FEEDS

The average user spends less than one second deciding whether to engage with content, making clarity more critical than creativity in social feed environments. Clever writing often delays understanding, while direct, benefit-led messaging improves retention, engagement, and action. Marketers should treat clarity not as a compromise but as a competitive advantage and focus later on making it more interesting.

DO INBOUND PHONE CALLS FEEL LIKE A MARKETING BLACK HOLE? CallRail

brings clarity by tracking calls and forms to the campaigns that drove them. Go deeper with AI: Get call summaries, lead quality insights, and buyer intent to help convert more leads.

HOW TO GROW A BRAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Click-through rate and average view duration are the two most important indicators of video performance on YouTube. Leading brands optimize these by investing time to create strong titles and thumbnails, studying what holds attention, and aligning video concepts with proven emotional drivers. High-performing content is often rooted in formats that are already familiar to viewers, adapted to the brand's voice and audience insights uncovered through extensive customer research.

WONDERCRAFT

Wondercraft produces podcasts, audio ads, and audiobooks without the need for traditional recording equipment or voice talent. Users can generate scripts from text inputs, select from over 1,000 lifelike AI voices (including voice cloning options), and customize delivery with features like tone modulation and pacing adjustments. The platform also offers a timeline editor, royalty-free music, and sound effects, and supports more than 50 languages.

SHOULD BRANDS BLOCK THEIR COMPETITORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Brands should consider blocking competitors on social media when those competitors use comment sections to attack or undermine them. For example, Lingoda, a smaller language-learning app, publicly criticized Duolingo after Duolingo announced an AI-first approach, sparking a viral comment with over 17,000 likes. Although this likely didn't harm Duolingo's subscribers, it increased awareness of Lingoda among Duolingo's followers. Deleting hostile comments and blocking competitors helps protect the community and brand presence. While some fear blocking looks insecure, this concern is not strong. Brands should stay ready to act when competitors cross the line but don't need to block proactively.

THE UPSIDE OF DOWN: WHY NEGATIVE ADS CAN BE POSITIVELY BRILLIANT

Brands should not avoid negativity in advertising, as embracing honest flaws can make campaigns more memorable. Classic ads like Buckley's “It Tastes Awful. And It Works” show how acknowledging imperfections builds stronger connections with audiences. Today's safer, bland ads often fail to capture attention, wasting marketing budgets. Research shows ads evoking negative emotions are almost twice as memorable as dull ones, seen in campaigns like Sky Stream's “End the ehhh” and Burger King's Mouldy Whopper, which increased positive brand perception despite unappetizing imagery.

WHY ONE COMPANY WENT ALL IN ON MARATHONS

Rather than spreading sponsorship across multiple sports, TCS chose to focus exclusively on marathons to build deeper, more personal relationships with customers and employees. With a third of its 600,000 employees identifying as runners, the company activates hospitality, tech tools, and branding across 14 global races to turn each event into a brand experience. The approach drives both emotional relevance and business value, with up to $20 million in media exposure per race and a significantly higher brand lift among marathon participants.

YOUTUBE PROVES THAT IT'S A FIXTURE OF LIVING ROOMS

YouTube has proved its dominance in living rooms and its value to advertisers by remaining at the top of Nielsen's rank of media companies based on TV viewing by media companies.

INDUSTRY BENCHMARKS ARE GREAT: FIRST-HAND INTERVIEWS ARE BETTER

Missive, a team inbox and collaboration tool, boosted subscriptions by 27% after updating its homepage based on language from customer interviews.

Read the guide here

YOU SHOULD PLAY WITH VIBECODING FOR GTM

AI coding tools are transforming go-to-market teams by enabling non-technical professionals to quickly build tools like landing pages, ROI calculators, and lead forms. This speeds up execution, reduces dependence on engineering, and unlocks cost-effective, creative solutions to GTM challenges.

THE THING YOU ARE EXPERT AT WILL BE YOUR CAREER DOWNFALL

Experts resist AI due to comfort, identity, and craft love, but history shows tech shifts create new expertise. Adaptation involves intentional AI experimentation, broadening identity to outcomes, and embracing AI as a new creative domain. Recognizing AI's strengths while valuing human elements is crucial for evolving expertise.