Tina Sharkey

Network Effects Are the Blueprint for Defensible Startups

James Currier joined my Modern Brand and Community Playbook class at USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for the 4th year running. 💥 Network effects are a foundational factor in my playbook. You cannot build a defensible business without understanding them. As an operator, investor, advisor, and now educator network effects have been a core lens for how I evaluate and build businesses. James's NFX Bible lives at the center of my playbook. Each student is assigned a specific network effect type from the Bible to investigate, find a real company example for, and defend in front of the class. No examples already covered. Go find your own. This is not an academic exercise. Every student in my class builds a company using my playbook. Understanding network effects is how they make it defensible. James is founder and GP at NFX and a five time entrepreneur. He's leaning back into consumer. Two companies he's excited about: Novig , a commission-free sports prediction exchange growing seven times every quarter, and Rec Technologies , software connecting facilities, coaches and players across local municipalities with a network effect that could eventually reach every town in America. He closed with this: "Don't be a person who wants to be somebody. Be a person who builds something." My students sat with that for ten minutes after he left. 🙏 James, so grateful for your friendship and generosity to the next generation of builders. What network effect do you think is most underestimated and who is nailing it right now?