Why do brilliant products vanish after acquisition? Why do startups with passionate users suddenly pivot or shut down? The answer is simpler than you think: follow the money.
In this episode, I share my personal experiences with Arc Browser, Butter.us, and other startups that promised innovation but delivered exits instead. From The Browser Company’s pivot before their Atlassian acquisition to Butter’s transformation after Miro bought them, these stories reveal a pattern most people miss.
I’ll show you how to use Stakeholder Analysis and Mapping to see through corporate narratives and understand the real incentives driving decisions. Whether you’re considering investing in a startup, adopting a new tool, or just trying to understand why companies behave the way they do—this framework will change how you see business.
Key topics:
- The exit economy and serial entrepreneurship
- Why VC-backed startups often abandon their original vision
- How banks use incubators to control innovation
- Real examples: Arc, Dia, Butter, GoNetto, and Digital Ambition
- Stakeholder Analysis as a tool for revealing hidden incentives
Not all exits are bad. Not all acquisitions kill products. But if you can’t see the difference, you’ll keep being surprised when great ideas disappear.
This episode will teach you to see clearly, decide wisely, and support companies whose incentives align with lasting value.
Follow the money. Question everything.
