AI Personas Deliver Instant Strategic Product Feedback
Out of all the things we've shipped recently, this one has been my biggest wow moment. Instant feedback from any type of user... → Create a persona that matches your real users and buyers. → An AI agent takes on that persona. → Point it at any url or prototype. → Get feedback in minutes. More info here: https://lnkd.in/gN75uukk This is what the Reforge team built and launched today with Synthetic Users. It's way more than bug reports, but actual strategic product feedback. → A First Timer notices your onboarding language is confusing → A Skeptical Buyer questions whether your pricing page builds enough trust → A Power User finds friction in your core workflow that your team stopped noticing months ago Every finding links to a session replay so you can see exactly where things broke down. This isn't a replacement for talking to real users. It's an acceleration layer. Run synthetic studies to catch issues fast, then reserve human research for the decisions that matter most. This is critical as AI accelerates the amount of product teams are shipping. If you don't also develop ways to validate faster, you'll just ship tons of product debt. Lots of features that few customers use but create massive costs. Your first test is free. Use code SYNTHETIC for a free month of premium.
Unemployment Rises to 4.5%, Signaling Market Underperformance
"So what does the job market data say to you?" "It says that we're underperforming right now... The thing that matters most to people's lives is the unemployment rate. Can you find work? And that was as low as...
UAE’s GDP per Capita Fell, Saudi Arabia Modestly Rose
The headlines from the UAE always scream “Hot Growth.” But when compared to its arch-rival, Saudi Arabia, the UAE looks dreadful. Since 2008, the UAE’s GDP per capita shrank while the Kingdom’s grew modestly. https://t.co/aXuH6QU5nj
AI Threatens S&P's Analytics, Not Its Core Ratings
About 65% of $SPGI's (down >20% over past month) pre-tax earnings come from ratings & indices. The potential challenge that AI poses to S&P's analytics/consulting/intel business is something I get. But I don't understand AI's bear case for ratings & indices,...
Master One Product, Not Many, to Drive Growth
When @benfrancis was first building @gymshark , he was encouraged to expand its product range to reach a broader audience. More appeal equals more growth, right? They found the opposite. Growth isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes it’s about becoming lethal...
Mexico's Inflation On Target, Money Supply Within Golden Growth
Mexico’s inflation rate is ON TARGET at 3.65%/yr Mexico’s money supply (M4) is growing at 7.91%/yr, WITHIN Hanke's Golden Growth Rate of ~7.3%-9.3%/yr, a rate consistent with Mexico’s 2%-4%/yr inflation target. THE INFLATION STORY = A MONEY SUPPLY STORY. https://t.co/4w05Yr94Mz
Pre‑AI SaaS Loses Appeal as Costs Rise
When was the last time you were excited to buy a pre-AI SaaS tool? When was the last time you felt like you were overpaying on a renewal for a pre-AI SaaS tool, and thought about cancelling? Hence, the markets
CEOs May Flee Taxes, but California Retains Talent
This take might age like milk, but I'm calling it: the tech CEOs might move their domicile to other states for tax reasons, but they will keep their teams in California. The chicken-and-egg of talent density is so difficult to replicate...
Dollar Weakening as Diverging Policies Boost Global Assets
I keep playing through the potential outcomes over the coming months and I have a very difficult time painting a bull case for the dollar. I expect: 1. Monetary policy divergence widens (more dovish US vs RoW/Japan) 2. Capital flight risk as...
Candle Media Sells ATTN Back to Founders, Retains Minority Stake
Exclusive: @candlemedia sells ATTN: back to founders Matthew Segal & Jarrett Moreno —Candle will maintain a minority stake —Segal and Moreno acquiring majority stake alongside a new investor group that includes Shari Redstone, Paul Wachter & more @axios https://t.co/MvQQNtTm26
Winning Products Focus on the Critical Last 20%
We’re about to be flooded with: – average MVPs – look-alike products – tools with no point of view – software that works but doesn’t matter What actually wins now isn’t speed to “something.” Today, anyone can prompt their way...
Paramount Raises WBD Bid, Adds $2.8 B Fee
NEW: #Paramount updates hostile takeover bid for @WBD —Will pay the $2.8 billion termination fee WBD would owe Netflix if deal collapsed —Will pay a $0.25 per share "ticking fee," to WBD shareholders for each Q transaction has not closed after...
Weak Retail, Slowing Wages Hint at Poor NFP
Bad retail sales, falling wage growth and now Hassett and Navarro comments implying bad NFP tomorrow...
Stripe Eyes $140B+ Tender Offer Valuation
Stripe is in talks to launch a tender offer that could value the payments company at more than $140 billion, Axios Pro has learned from multiple sources. https://t.co/ZdKZhv7qn6 https://t.co/uSM0o6lKUo
Earn $1 Now, Not $1M Dreamed Inaction
Making $1 beats planning to make $1M and doing nothing. Seen this too many times with aspiring founders.
Excel Pros Must Learn Python to Trust Copilot
I've been doing analytics for 14+ years. And I'm a Microsoft Excel MVP. It's 2026 and top Excel users know better than making this mistake: Ignoring Python. Because Copilot in Excel uses Python to work it's magic with your data. Even if it doesn't tell...
US Stocks Look Strong, Yet Lag Global Peers
"The US stock market, while it looks strong, is actually much weaker than almost any other industrialized country.... So while we're doing well… everyone else is doing even better." https://t.co/7KavXe5LXh
Airwallex Hits $1B Run Rate, Finally Gets Noticed
Airwallex just crossed a $1B rev run rate and feels like no one talked about them until late last year. Crazy.
Prepare Detailed Financials to Impress Acquisition Buyers
I talk with a lot of founders who want to go to market on @acquiredotcom unprepared to save some time and see if it's worth it. The problem with this is how buyers evaluate startup acquisition opportunities. Most will require and expect,...
SpaceX Workers Lose NLRB Protections Under NMB Jurisdiction
Federal law offers workers covered by the NLRB the right to engage in a wide range of collective action about their working conditions, with or without a union. But NLRB’s enforcement arm now says SpaceX workers are under purview of...
Dollar Stabilizes, Still Strong vs G10; Yen Diverges
Greenback Consolidates after Yesterday's Shellacking: After yesterday’s sharp losses, the US dollar is mostly consolidating with a firmer bias against the G10 currencies. The yen is the exception. The unexpected post-election gains have been extended… https://t.co/s4awtQJ5o7 https://t.co/Xlf89Ydd1E
Locked Forecasts Crumble Under Pressure, Not Spreadsheets
When the ground starts shaking, FP&A doesn’t break at the spreadsheet. It breaks at the table—when the forecast is “locked.” Sahil Kamani and Pablo Gómez Valle unpack judgment under pressure. What disappears first: challenge, range, or time? 🔗 https://t.co/TeOVII8YZf #fpatrends https://t.co/Z7EzyDozdi
AI Cheapens Services, Cutting Vendor Profits, Boosting Productivity
That little market freakout is a real mechanism: if AI makes it cheap to do what a vendor used to sell you, the vendor’s future profits fall—even as the rest of us get more productive. https://t.co/HE7npk5km7
Ship Imperfectly, Let Users See Your Vision
Flo Crivello , founder of Lindy told me he gave early users a product that was oily, half-broken, and rough around the edges. His no-code AI automation platform wasn't ready. Not by traditional standards. The first people through the door...
Gold Surges Past $5,000 Amid Debt Monetization Fears
Gold is back above $5,000. The rise in gold is one manifestation of the debasement trade, which is about markets seeking safe havens from debt monetization. Big thanks to @DavidWestin from @BloombergTV for all the right questions and a great...
Alphabet's Sterling Bond Hits Record £4.5bn Demand
#Alphabet sterling bond raises a record £4.5 bn, with £24 bn in bids. They may start borrowing on behalf of Bessent if it continues like this $GOOG
Dollar Steadies, Yen Rebounds; US 10‑yr Dips Below
The greenback is a little firmer against the G10 currencies but the yen as it consolidates yesterday's sharp losses. JGB yields are softer. Meanwhile this could be only the 2nd session since mid-Jan that the US 10-year yield...
Dollar vs EM Hits New Low, Signaling Further Weakness
The Dollar versus EM today is down to a new low, which is below its level 2 weeks ago at the height of Greenland headlines. It's the Dollar versus EM you want to watch for future direction. The signal it's...
Yield‑Driven Value Replaces Price Focus in Malaysian Plantations
POC2026 Verdict: The industry pivot from price-driven growth to yield-driven value. Fixed Land —► Capacity Ceiling Efficiency Gains —► Margin Defense Based on current analyst consensus and preliminary sentiment from POC2026 (Day 1), the market is pricing in a...
Make Cold Requests Count: Profile or Relevant Message
Most cold connection requests say NOTHING. 2 ways to fix this: 1. Don't send a message (let your profile talk) 2. Send something relevant Both take seconds. Neither is ingenuine.
Macron Urges EU to Adopt Eurobonds Now
Emmanuel Macron: « Now is the time for the EU to launch a joint borrowing capacity, through eurobonds. » https://t.co/NqqbjjecXk
Build What People Want, Not Just a Good Product
Most solopreneurs don’t fail because their product is bad. They fail because they build things nobody wants. If you start with “what should I build?”, you’re already late. Comment “YES” if this hit home.
Khazanah Review Reveals Massive Shift in Malaysia’s Capital Trajectory
Khazanah just dropped their 2026 Annual Review today, February 10, 2026. And the numbers signal a massive shift in Malaysia’s capital trajectory. If you’re tracking the Ekonomi MADANI agenda or the RM100 billion GEAR-uP initiative, this is the breakdown you need. ↓↓↓
Share Your Side Project, Get Featured Monthly
If you have a side project, share below. I'll retweet some interesting ones to give you more attention 😄 I'll do this every month to encourage more people to build side projects and escape 9-5.
Markets Could Slip If Data Undermines Fed Cut Hopes
Stock markets may sour if this week’s US economic data casts doubt on Fed rate cut speculation. #stockmarkets #Fed #Economy #InterestRates #USD #Macro #trading https://t.co/ZEfchApMC0
Capital Returns Outpace Growth, Driving Wealth Inequality
There’s a formula that explains wealth inequality, and it has nothing to do with how hard you work. French economist Thomas Piketty studied 200 years of data across 20 countries and found that returns on capital almost always exceed economic growth. We...
AI Tools Match the Skill of Their Operators
A corollary for AI tooling: its outputs will only ever be as good as the person wrangling them from it. That's really all it is. Yet another powerful tool (like a compiler, or k8s) that can only be run effectively by...
Tech Founders Forced Into Management Find Solace in Warhammer
yeah I guess technical founders never had to deal with being (self-)promoted to management. Those who never wanted to work for a boss again now are becoming the ultimate pencil-pushers. I'm going through the same sobering realization. The antidote? Painting Warhammer.
Opening VC Doors: Democratizing Wealth Through Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is one the greatest means to wealth creation and venture capital is one of the levers that fuels that, yet it’s gate kept by insiders… My goal has always been to change that.
Join AI Startup Founders at Conviction's Mixture-of-Experts Event
hi! if you want to work at some of the most interesting startups in AI, come to our next mixture-of-experts event at @conviction and hear from the founders of Harmonic, Worktrace, Sunday, Treehouse and Trajectory https://t.co/ZL7mdnszUl
Foreign Stocks Surge 9.4% Early 2026, Outpacing US
Foreign stocks are off to a scorching start in 2026, continuing their outperformance from 2025: Foreign developed stocks: +9.4% US stocks: +2.2% Will it continue or is this a blip in the otherwise longer underperformance?
Alphabet Launches 100‑year GBP Bond, Eyes Currency Debasement
#Alphabet to issue 100-year GBPSterling bond after having issued 50-year $17.5 bn USD bond in November. Also plns to issue CHF bond. They're betting further currency debasement #forex
AI's Real Divide: Users vs Non‑users of Machines
AI anxiety often misses the key margin: it’s not “humans vs machines,” it’s “humans who use machines vs humans who don’t.” The tech shifts who’s productive—and who gets paid. Remember, you don't need to outrun the bear. https://t.co/jULdqTdCrU
Stripe's Tender Offer Valuation Jumps to $140B
This was an auspiciously-timed quote. @stripe is in talks for a tender offer valuing the company at $140B. That's up from $107B in the fall. https://t.co/3EHL07KS8p
2026 AI Agent Deals: Contracts Over Collaboration?
So we added one new AI Agent to our arsenal this week, and it's a great one, even though it's pretty new. Much more to come. And another? In the end, we decided not to deploy it. What happened? It's...
Founders Quitting in AI Era Shows Lack of Resilience
Watching three 3 founder CEOs at $200m+ ARR quit their start-ups the past 2 weeks or so. On the one hand, I get it. Growth way down, no M&A options, it was supposed to get easier at that stage. Now...
Dollar Index Plummets; Trade‑Weighted vs Equal‑Weighted Diverge
The $DXY has dropped sharply today. A big picture look at the trade-weighted Dollar index vs an equally-weighted variant: https://t.co/sqTvcv4ihu
Gold Surges Past $5,000 Amid Reckless Fiscal Policy
Gold is back above $5,000. The rally in precious metals is reckless and crazy, but so is global fiscal policy. At some point over the past 20 years, policy makers who believe in keeping public debt stable stopped existing. Makes...
Seven Firms Command 35% of SPX Investment Dollars
Employment in S&P 500 companies is 18% of total US employment, but 35 cents of every dollar that goes into the SPX goes to 7 companies. This is a market structure problem and a major issue with our 401k system.
Avoid Copycats: Dare to Think Differently for Startup Survival
When the typical outcome for a post seed, post series A, and post series B startup is death. Perhaps the best strategy is to be careful how much you copy the startups around you. Are you brave enough...