Founder Weekly (Issue 675 March 5 2025)

Welcome to issue 675 of Founder Weekly. Let's get straight to the links this week.

Apple Is Coming for the Smart Home — And Fast

Apple’s rumored Face-ID door lock and smart display hub are more than just new products. It’s a clear signal: they’re going all-in on smart home automation.

The tech giant is doubling down on the smart home, the $158B industry that’s growing 23% annually.

And with Apple’s entry, investors are looking for the next breakout company - and potential acquisition target.

They’re chasing Google (acquired Nest, $3.2B) and Amazon (acquired Ring, $1.2B).

History shows: when Apple plays catch-up, they go big.

And there’s one startup perfectly positioned to benefit.

With 10+ patents, distribution in over 100 Best Buy stores, and a Home Depot launch in 2025, RYSE is built for a breakout.

Early investors in Ring and Nest saw life-changing returns.

Now, RYSE is open at just $1.90/share.

Invest today and unlock up to 25% in bonus shares

_{Past performance is not indicative of future results. Email may contain forward-looking statements. See US Offering for details. Informational purposes only.}

General

The ChatGPT Prompts That Can Be $1B+ Companies

The Unbundling of ChatGPT?

The Next 10 Years Will Be About the AI Agent Economy

AI agent marketplaces, especially for SMBs, are poised for explosive growth due to the democratization of sophisticated business services at low prices and the agents' ability to learn and improve over time. This trend mirrors past software market dynamics, with a winner-take-all outcome likely.

The silent startup killer

Bad board members, often investors, can be a "silent killer" for startups by meddling in execution and prioritizing their own interests over the company's. Founders should carefully choose board members who add real value and set clear expectations from the start to maintain control and ensure effective governance.

America’s Industrial Reboot: A Massive Tech Opportunity

The U.S. industrial base, particularly in defense, faces stagnation and inefficiency, creating a massive opportunity for tech innovation driven by government initiatives and new technologies. Startups and venture-backed companies can modernize the sector with unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing, and space technologies, leading America's industrial reboot.

Culture Handbooks

Lessons from Netflix, Valve, Facebook, Duolingo, and Peter Kaufman.

AI is Solving SaaS Product Adoption

How Vertical AI is breaking down traditional industry barriers.

Marketing, Sales and PR

The Complete Guide to SaaS Pricing Strategy

SaaS startups should strategically use pricing as a tool to reinforce their product's value, choosing between maximization, penetration, or skimming strategies based on their goals for revenue growth, market share, or profit maximization. Key factors to consider when pricing include value-based, cost-based, or competition-based models, alongside positioning, customer base size, sales team structure, contract length, unit economics, and customer margin structure.

A very tactical guide to ABM in 90 days

Building an ABM engine to generate $12 in pipeline per $1 spent.

Goodbye Clicks, Hello AI: Zero-Click Search Redefines Marketing

As consumers rely more on AI-based search and summaries, how will brands adapt their strategies?

Money and Finance 

VC Math 101: Why Founders & Early Stage Investors Should Think About QSBS Early and Often

Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) offers founders and investors significant tax savings by excluding up to 100% of capital gains (capped at $10M or 10x investment) if held for at least five years, making early-stage C-corps more attractive. Proper structuring and compliance are crucial to unlock these benefits, which can significantly boost returns at exit for both founders and VCs.