Voicebox Dethrones ElevenLabs with Open‑source, Local TTS
With Voicebox, @ElevenLabs just lost its moat. → Powered by Alibaba's Qwen3-TTS for near-perfect cloning → Ships with a DAW-like "Stories Editor" → No cloud, runs locally on your machine 100% Open Source. 100% Local. Link to repo in 🧵↓ https://t.co/Qs5AiHvk2p
SpaceX’s $60B Bid Crushes $2B Funding Round
Cursor was four days from closing $2 billion. Andreessen Horowitz was leading. Nvidia and Thrive were in. Then SpaceX showed up with an offer to buy the whole company for $60 billion. The round was dead by the end of...
Oil‑Gas Disruption Redraws Global Power Landscape
Disruption in the oil and gas industry (and the states that dominate it) is one of the top stories of the century so far. US, Russia, Iran, UAE, Venezuela. Major sources of geopolitical instability.
Strait of Hormuz Drives Oil Surge Over Russia
Brent is now up 65% from pre-war (blue) vs 16% on a similar timescale in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine (black). The Strait of Hormuz is 3x as important as Russia for global oil markets. Markets are pricing that. Even...
LinkedIn Newsletters Now Outpacing External Platforms
I have a sneaking suspicion that LinkedIn is becoming a more valuable place to host a newsletter than an external platform, and they're leaning into that. Still keeping my external list, but the organic growth on the version I put on...
Carlyle's BDC Discount Model Vastly Underestimates Market Reality
Carlyle's modeled average BDC discount of approximately -5% (based on current credit conditions) is far greater than the average actual BDC discounts of more than -20%, leading to a record "historical variance" in which NAV discounts are far wider...
Rounding Up Fake Figures Inflates Impact by $500M
My favorite example was when a reporter rounded up an obviously phony economic impact number from 9.5 to 10 billion. Yeah, just another $500 million. No big deal.
AI Ads Need Governance, Not Blind Automation
Would you use an LLM to file your taxes without reviewing them? Hear the conversation of two people building AdTech discussing exactly that—inside a Zen lounge. Yes, this actually happened. On this episode of Preach on the Beach, @HannahKasoff and @JeremyBloomHere...
Overweight USTs Now; Watch QRA for Future Issuances
USTs have tracked their seasonal bias closely this year. Now is a favorable time to go overweight, window is from late April to early May. QRA next week is my big concern in case Treasury projects larger...
AI Carousels Will Flood Feeds With Identical Content
Honestly... I am not actually all that worried about the quality of these AI-generated carousels, I am worried about the quantity. Some AI carousels are going to be genuinely good. The issue is that hundreds of them are going to...
Reached 1,000 YouTube Subscribers, Expanding Multi‑Channel AI Sales Content
We did it - crossed 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. Began video content on YT for the first time to start 2025. With a goal of extending beyond X and LinkedIn to be more multi-channel. Dropping more gold on how to use...
Marketing Must Mirror Real, Non‑Linear Human Journeys
Founder to founder: Your marketing needs to be built for real human behavior. Specifically, the behavior of the humans you serve. Your audience doesn’t move through your funnel in a straight line. They bounce around. They might find you on Instagram, then read a blog...
From Garage VR to $2B Exit, Staying Humble
Palmer Luckey sold Oculus to Facebook for over $2B. We had him on MFM awhile back. His story: - At 14, scrubbed boats at a boat yard for minimum wage. On the side, bought broken iPhones on eBay, fixed them, and resold...
Untargeted Energy Subsidies Raise Costs, Stifle Alternatives
39 countries cut energy taxes after the Iran war. Politically popular but self-defeating: untargeted subsidies blunt the price signals, lead to higher demand, cost the tax payer significantly more and provide less incentive to invest in alternatives. https://t.co/KoAEnXNhOy
US Blockade Pressures Iran as Its Oil Reserves Dwindle
The purpose of the US blockade is to put pressure on the regime and bring it back to the negotiating table. The narrative on Iran is already shifting. We’re going from “Iran has the upper hand” to “Iran is running...
Double Down on Top Channels, Stop Experiment Overload
2025 was a year of near-endless channel experimentation. The average software company had 5 core GTM channels & another 5.5 GTM channel experiments. It feels like the volume of work keeps piling up just to achieve the same (or worse)...
Disruption Costs $30M in Sales, $22M EBITDA
A recent organizational disruption had a severe financial impact. Estimates suggest a $30 million hit to net sales and $22 million to adjusted EBITDA. #BusinessImpact #FinancialLoss https://t.co/zkah3qwyjK
Ownable Ideas Come From Answering Five Strategic Questions
“How do I find my ownable idea?” The question I’ve been asked 146 times Here’s the answer: The top paid experts don’t just share ideas—they own one. An ownable idea is the strategic territory you claim and become known for. To find yours, answer...
UAE Exits OPEC, Abu Dhabi Takes Lead Amid Dubai Uncertainty
united arab emirates leaves opec. abu dhabi asserting itself now that dubai safe haven status is in doubt.
Federal Judge to Decide Future of NIL Legal Framework
The biggest test for NIL as a legal concept looms on May 27, when a federal judge will review House settlement class counsel's motion challenging the College Sports Commission's approach to review of NIL deals. A lot is at stake. My...
Never Let Tenants Bypass Your Team
Cardinal rule of property management: Never allow tenants to go around your team to get a different answer from you. - Undermines your team’s credibility w tenants - Demoralizes them - Guarantees you get a lot more, similar calls going forward (If you...
Scale by Simplifying, Not Complicating, to Hit $2B
Most companies can reach $500M through hustle and heroics. Getting to $2B is different. After meeting with leaders from the U.S., Europe, and Japan at a global consumer company, one lesson stood out: scale only works when doing more becomes...
Google Warns SEO Prompt Injection as Emerging Manipulation Threat
Google just published a study about indirect prompt injection. Important for SEOs and site owners to understand -> Google Says Prompt Injection Moving From Theory Into Real Abuse From @btabke: "This is the AI-era cousin of hidden text, doorway tactics, comment...
Coultreon Secures $125M to Test Former Galapagos Immune Drug
Coultreon banks $125M to support testing of former Galapagos immune drug https://t.co/PUsEu2i7Vv by @Lilah_Alvarado $GLPG #biotech #startups
Spotify Q1 EPS Soars 222% with Margin Expansion
Spotify Q1’26: EPS crush + margin expansion stand out $SPOT Revenue came in at €4.53B, +8.2% YoY. Operating margin reached 16%, up 360 bps YoY. Net margin hit the same level, expanding over 10 points. Cost discipline is clearly working. SG&A...
Master Positive Leadership Skills with Curated Books & Tools
RT @JoeContrera Positive, influential leadership is an art. To achieve extraordinary results, you'll need to master the skills needed to lead, coach, and influence others. Find books and tools to help: https://t.co/YIPosVV9lq #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills https://t.co/plrzGKXsUL
AI Augmentation Beats Automation for Long-Term Success
Why Companies That Choose #AI #Augmentation Over #Automation May Win in the Long Run @HarvardBiz https://t.co/b9QbJ5afPK #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #FutureofHR
Hit Savings Goal, Pay Lump Sum, Accelerate
One of my clients has been saving toward a full website redesign and last week we officially hit the goal. We set a savings target, tracked it in her cash flow forecast, and when I pulled her numbers the final amount...
Back‑Button Vignette Ads Risk Google Spam Penalty
So, I've had some people ping me about an interesting 'back button hijacking' situation wondering how Google will treat it. Vignette Ads, which most people hate with a passion, include additional triggers that a site owner can activate. One trigger...
Corporate Bonds Surge 30%; Private Credit Squeezes Bank Loans
U.S. corporate bond issuance very strong, 30% growth Bank loan market struggling because private credit eating their lunch https://t.co/SAfuthERyB
OpenAI's IPO Race Hampered by Revenue, User Gaps
Oops > OpenAI Misses Key Revenue, User Targets in High-Stakes Sprint Toward IPO https://t.co/OL69xSO5Ar #ai #cio
Your Business Becomes a Prison without Delegation
Your business is a prison if: You make all the decisions. You can't take breaks. You're always online.
Sharp Positioning Excludes to Create Urgency, Not Broad Appeal
Positioning is not a tagline. It's a decision. Sharp positioning feels risky because it excludes people. That's the point. Broad positioning creates mild interest. Sharp positioning creates urgency. Choose who you're for. Accept that some people aren't.
UAE Signals Major Diplomatic Shift Amid Regional Discontent
Something big seems to be cooking in the Middle East: Multiple Emirate commentators are softening the ground for a major diplomatic announcement. Aside Iran, the UAE has been dissatisfied with several neighbors and its membership in several organisations.
Season Ticket Elites Demand Taxpayer‑funded Luxury Lounge
Surprise, the guys who buy season tickets on the club level want taxpayers to help pay for their luxury leisure outlet.
China Offers Tariff-Free Trade to 20 African Nations, US Opposes
China. No tariffs on 20 African nations. Contrast with US and its tariff view. And trade?
Four Key Lessons From Publishing 500 Weekly Blogs
As of today I've published 500 blog posts online, one per week since January 2017. Here are the 4 biggest lessons I've learned along the way: https://t.co/sKkXPVVlsh
Higher Inflation Dampens S&P 500, IG, HY Returns
"Periods of higher inflation are associated with weaker returns in the S&P 500 and the IG and HY indexes, consistent with a policy backdrop of elevated interest rates that restrain risk-taking" -Apollo Slok
Rate‑Hike Dissent Fails, Dollar Rises, Oil Nears $100
Three Dissents in Favor of a Rate Hike Fail to Support the Yen: The markets seem nervous. The dollar is higher against all the G10 currencies and most emerging market currencies. June WTI, which was at $82.60 on April 17,...
Personal Capital Fuels Growth in Undervalued Companies
I had an hour-long conversation with a former investment banker who now travels around the world to acquire and invest in companies that, let's say, don't fit neatly within traditional multi-company portfolio strategies... These are not necessarily distressed assets, but rather...
Iran Stockpiles Oil as US Blockade Stalls Hormuz Shipments
According to the WSJ, "Iran is scrambling to find new ways to store its oil, hoping to avoid a crippling production shutdown as a U.S. naval blockade bottles up its exports and negotiations to end the war remain deadlocked." This coincides...
Google Warns Sites About New Back‑button Hijacking Penalty
Google sends warning notices on the new back button hijacking search spam penalty to those sites that have them https://t.co/11SLR9bebx via @glenngabe https://t.co/I7A91hKzD3
Balance Body, Mind, Spirit: AI Boost for CEOs
Body. Mind. Spirit. Which of the three do you neglect most as a CEO? And what's one AI-assisted move you could make this week to start running it like you run your business? https://t.co/V6hjnDkJRX
UPS Q1 Profit Surges Despite Lower Volumes
UPS' Q1 earnings is out this morning - https://t.co/JtDI52CRxS YoY, volumes lower, revenue per piece higher. Check out UPS SCS's operating profit which was $205 million compared to Q1 2025's 46 million. Middle East impact? We'll see what they say...
Sportradar Q1 2026 Beats Forecast, Launches $250M Buyback
SRAD 1Q26 this morning... reiterates 2026 outlook... earnings call at 8 am... ☕️ Sportradar Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Announces $250 Million Enhanced Open Market Share Repurchase Program https://t.co/qVVNYHEhBo
Egg Freezing: Investors Profit, Women Pay for Peace
The fact that a venture capitalist is talking about egg freezing being a high-margin investment opportunity tells you everything you need to know about who this industry is really serving. Women are being sold peace of mind. Investors are buying recurring...
Cook's Legacy Unfinished, Ternus's Success Will Define It
There’s a lot of talk regarding Tim Cook’s legacy as Apple CEO. Such talk is premature. Time will be needed for proper context. Also, Ternus’s success as CEO will be part of Cook’s legacy.
Current Admin Greenlights Foreign Sovereign Fund Stakes Un
In any other Administration, approving foreign sovereign wealth funds for up to 20% voting equity interest (along with other foreign ownership) would be unthinkable. https://t.co/C7ITRkiJS9
Too Many Learning Options Cause L&D Overwhelm
This morning we published episode 2 of the Learning Changemakers podcast👍 So if you're not not able to join Michelle and I at @LearnTechUK this week, then listen in on us discussing if abundant choices lead to L&D overwhelm... 🎧https://t.co/sR6CX6Ped6 #learningleaders
Bank of Italy Warns Meloni to Curb Spending
Bank of Italy urges the Meloni government to keep an eye on spending https://t.co/JThkJ4EH2O via @Alemrome https://t.co/lSUT3b5d99