Spotify Layoffs, Keynote on Disruptive Trends, Bitcoin Halving, and more.
Spotify Layoffs, Keynote on Disruptive Trends, Bitcoin Halving, and more.
In this week's article, I write about Spotify's recent layoffs, share thoughts from a keynote I am giving on disruptive trends, and I explore the implications of the Bitcoin halving.
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This MadeMeThink last week…
Spotify Layoffs…
Spotify lays off 17% of its workforce. Spotify founder Daniel Ek has written a letter to his employees in this regard, which is public and worth reading.
“In 2020 and 2021, we took advantage of the opportunity presented by lower-cost capital and invested significantly in team expansion (…) we now find ourselves in a very different environment (…) I have made the difficult decision to reduce our total headcount by approximately 17% across the company. (…) This is not a step back; it’s a strategic reorientation. We’re still committed to investing and making bold bets, but now, with a more focused approach, ensuring Spotify’s continued profitability and ability to innovate (…) If you are an impacted employee, you will receive a calendar invite within the next two hours from HR for a one-on-one conversation.” - Source
Startups and scaleups will have to pay much closer attention to profitability in the coming years. The cheap money from 2020-2021 / the expensive money today will likely affect other tech players and unfortunately we expect to see further layoffs.
Keynote "Creating the future: Challenges & Opportunities of Disruptive Trends"
Tomorrow I will be giving a keynote speech at Digethic on the topic of "Creating the future: Challenges & Opportunities of Disruptive Trends". Digethic focuses on the connection between digital/tech, ethics and sustainability. I find this combination interesting and important. As an introduction to the talk, I created a slide with my perspective on sustainability (see below) .
Bitcoin Halving…
I did a little research on the upcoming Bitcoin halving in April 2024 and found the following illustration, which I found interesting. I am curious to see how Bitcoin will develop the next 12 months. The circumstances (high interest rates, regulatory pressure, etc.) are quite special this year.
Bitcoin halving is an event that happens roughly every four years, cutting in half the number of new bitcoins created, making them more scarce (learn more)…
Quote of the Week…
I'm currently reading "Excellent Advice for Living" by Kevin Kelly. It's basically a collection of Kelly’s own quotes (so I would only buy the Kindle version for 2.49 euros, if at all; most quotes can also be found online, like here). I will include some quotes in the next issues, maybe even do a best-of. There are a few good ones, like this:
Shorten your to-do list by asking yourself
“What is the worst that will happen if this does not get done?”
Eliminate all but the disasters.
- Kevin Kelly
I am trying to apply the Eisenhower method in my life, but sometimes struggling with leaving away the urgent (but maybe not important) tasks… I will bear Kelly's quote in mind for this in future.
Disclaimer: The thoughts published in this publication are my personal opinion and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation for any type of action. I am not a financial expert. The startups or corporates highlighted in this publication have caught my interest. This mention is not an endorsement or recommendation to engage with them. Readers should always do their own research.