Business Breakdowns

By Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Business Investing

What's Business Breakdowns about?

Discover how companies work from the people who know them best. We do deep research and interview industry veterans, investment professionals, and corporate executives to explain the inner workings of public stocks and private businesses. For each company, we break down their history, business model, financial statements, secret sauce, and bull/bear case. We believe every business has lessons to teach us and Breakdowns is here to highlight them. Learn more and stay up to date at www.joincolossus.com.

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Qualcomm: Making Smartphone...

02.01.2023

This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital, and today we're breaking down Qualcomm. When you think of semiconductors, Qualcomm isn’t necessarily the first name that comes to mind but its size and utility in our lives is truly ...

Business Breakdowns episodes:

02.01.2023 Qualcomm: Making Smartphones Smart - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 95] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital, and today we're breaking down Qualcomm. When you think of semiconductors, Qualcomm isn’t necessarily the first name that comes to mind but its size and utility in our lives is truly ...
01.27.2023 Orangetheory Fitness: A Franchise HIIT - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 94] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the fitness franchise, Orangetheory. I have wanted to do a deep-dive on franchising for a while now and I always knew who the guest would be. I’m joined by a ...
01.18.2023 WeChat: China’s Operating System - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 93] Today, we’re breaking down one of the most important apps in the world, WeChat. WeChat is the default operating system for life and business in China. Founded inside of Tencent in 2011, it is the original super app and its ...
01.11.2023 Hermès: The Luxury Icon - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 92] Today’s breakdown has been at the top of our to-do list since the show started. There are few brands as strong as this one and the way the Dumas family has nurtured it over six generations is remarkable. We are, ...
01.04.2023 L’Oreal: Because You’re Worth It - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 91] This is Matt Reustle, and today we are breaking down the personal care giant, L'Oreal. Founded in the early 1900s by a French chemist, L'Oreal and its long list of iconic brands have been driving cosmetics innovation for over a ...
12.28.2022 Carbon Reduction: Changing Business Practices - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 90] This week is the second half of our mini-series on the two major levers to reduce the impact of climate change. Last week, we covered Carbon Removal with Nan Ransohoff. Today we're focused on Carbon Reduction. To break down the ...
12.21.2022 Carbon Removal: A Primer - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 89] This week and next week we will break down the two biggest levers we have in the fight against climate change. Carbon reduction and carbon removal. Today, we will focus on carbon removal. To break down where we stand and ...
12.18.2022 Shiprocket - Enabling Ecommerce in India - [Return on India, EP.03] Today, we are running a bonus Business Breakdown borrowed from the newest Colossus series, Return on India. Saahil Goel, founder of Shiprocket, joins Romeen Sheth to break down the business. If you enjoy this episode and would like to learn ...
12.14.2022 DoorDash: Looking for Profitable Routes - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 88] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital. Today, I’m joined by Matt Newberg of HNGRY to help us break down DoorDash, the popular food delivery service. DoorDash was founded in 2013 by 4 Stanford students who saw an ...
12.07.2022 Floor & Decor: Raising the Floor - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 87] This is Matt Reustle, and today we are breaking down the specialty retailer, Floor & Decor. Now prior to this Breakdown, I cannot say that I thought much about Floor & Decor. It felt like the stereotypical specialty store that ...
11.30.2022 Netflix: The Original - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 86] This is Jesse Pujji and today we're breaking down Netflix, the pioneer in entertainment streaming. Founded in 1997, Netflix has evolved over the years to become the leader in streaming entertainment with over 200m subscribers globally. To break down Netflix, ...
11.25.2022 Brookfield Asset Management: Alternative Cash Flows - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 85] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the giant alternative asset manager, Brookfield. Today Brookfield boasts $750bn in assets under management, and it’s a global footprint that includes many noteworthy office buildings and key infrastructure assets. To ...
11.16.2022 Harvard Business Publishing: A Case Study - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 84] This is Dom Cooke and today we’re breaking down Harvard Business Publishing. The media arm of Harvard’s world-famous business school was founded in the early 90s, but the seeds were sown a century ago, in 1922, when the first edition ...
11.09.2022 Vanguard: The Alpha Disrupter - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 83] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital, and today we’re breaking down Vanguard. Vanguard and its founder, Jack Bogle, have ushered in an era of low-cost investment, which has left its mark on the entire industry. Today, the ...
11.02.2022 The Home Depot: The Pro Builder’s Choice - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 81] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the home improvement giant, The Home Depot. In the US, The Home Depot is a key ingredient to a nice little Saturday but beyond the power tools and building supplies ...
10.26.2022 Cameo: Monetizing Fame - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 80] This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down Cameo, a video-sharing marketplace where you can buy personalized videos from your favorite celebrities. Cameo was founded in 2016 and reached unicorn status last year after producing millions of messages since ...
10.19.2022 Archaea Energy: Turning Pollution into Profit - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 79] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital, and today we’re breaking down Archaea Energy. Archaea is one of the largest and fastest growing providers of renewable natural gas in the US. The company uses methane produced by landfills ...
10.12.2022 Spotter: Funding YouTube Creators - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 78] Today’s Breakdown is a little different. For one, I’m Ali Hamed, an investor at Crossbeam and CoVenture, and I’ll be your host. Secondly, in this conversation, we are studying a private company that you’re unlikely to have heard of. That ...
10.05.2022 Intuit: An Operating System for Small Businesses - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 77] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital, and today we are breaking down Intuit. Started by a former Procter & Gamble employee in 1983, Intuit has grown into the premier platform for consumers and small businesses to manage ...
09.28.2022 Trader Joe’s: Grocer to the Overeducated and Underpaid - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 76] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital and today we are breaking down Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s is not a typical grocery chain. Their stores offer less choice, very few brands, constantly changing product lines, and no online ...
09.21.2022 Polaroid: The Genius of Edwin Land - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 75] Today we are breaking down Polaroid. For 30 years, Polaroid monopolized the instant photography industry, producing one Nobel-caliber breakthrough after another. As their products dazzled, sales grew from just under $1.5 million in 1948 to $1.4 billion in 1978. Today, ...
09.15.2022 General Electric: Lessons from the Rise and Fall - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 74] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the historic General Electric. Honestly, approaching this episode was a unique challenge. Today’s GE barely resembles what was once the largest company in the world. So rather than purely focus ...
09.07.2022 AMD: How Chips Are Changing - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 73] Today, we’re breaking down a global semiconductor company known as AMD. AMD isn’t the biggest and hasn’t always been the best chip maker in the world. But as cyclical and structural changes take place in the semiconductor industry, AMD serves ...
09.01.2022 CrowdStrike: Cyber SaaS - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 72] This is Jesse Pujji and today we are breaking down CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity provider. Founded in 2011 by George Kurtz, the former CTO of McAfee, CrowdStrike differentiated from firewalls and anti-malware by building a platform that actively predicts threats rather ...
08.24.2022 Atlas Copco: Sweden’s Best Kept Secret - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 71] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the Swedish industrial giant, Atlas Copco. With a market cap hovering around $50 billion US dollars, Atlas Copco is a dominant player in the air compressor and vacuum pump markets. ...
08.19.2022 ChargePoint: Leading the EV Charge - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 70] This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down ChargePoint. ChargePoint is the clear market leader in the United States for electric vehicle chargers. Founded in 2007 by five technical founders, the business has ridden the wave of EV growth ...
08.10.2022 Union Pacific: Long Train Runnin’ - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 69] This is Dom Cooke and today we are breaking down the freight railroad business, Union Pacific. Union Pacific is interesting for a number of reasons. Its first tracks were laid in a time of horsepower, over 150 years ago. It ...
08.03.2022 LVMH: The Wolf in Cashmere’s Conglomerate - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 68] This is Zack Fuss, an investor at Irenic Capital Management. Today we’re breaking down the world’s largest luxury business, LVMH. The LVMH story is deeply reflective of the vision of its 73 year-old founder and architect, Bernard Arnault. Today, the ...
07.27.2022 DuPont: Two Centuries of Chemistry - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 67] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down DuPont. We admire leaders that are in the trenches with their team members; never above any task and willing to share in risks. But, wow, did the Dupont family set ...
07.20.2022 Charles Schwab: The 8 Trillion Dollar Gorilla - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 66] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the financial institution known as Charles Schwab. Schwab is a financial behemoth. They report over $8 trillion in assets under custody and a market cap scratching $120 billion but I ...
07.15.2022 Rolex: Timeless Excellence - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 65] Today, we’re breaking down one of the strongest brands in the world - Rolex. Founded in the UK in 1905 under the name Wilsdorf & Davis, Rolex has become the leading name in luxury watches. But, while the company’s products ...
07.06.2022 Dino Polska: Serving Small-Town Poland - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 64] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down Polish grocer, Dino Polska. This wasn't a name on our radar at Colossus but the more we dug into the story, the more intrigued we became. It starts at the ...
06.29.2022 Berkshire Hathaway: The Incomparable Compounder - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 63] Today’s business needs little introduction. Berkshire Hathaway is one of the largest businesses in the world and run by arguably the most famous investors of our time, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. To break down the business, I’m joined by ...
06.27.2022 Shopify: Tokengated Commerce - [Web3 Breakdowns, EP.28] Today we are running a special episode in our Business Breakdowns feed. My guest is Alex Danco from Shopify - who you may remember from our Business Breakdown on Shopify in 2021. Our conversation focuses on a new concept, tokengated ...
06.22.2022 Gogo: Internet for Private Jets - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 62] I am @Compound248 and this is the next installment in our Business Breakdowns mini-series focused on Digital Infrastructure, where we are breaking down a handful of companies that are key players in the digital infrastructure asset class. In this episode, ...
06.15.2022 Diploma: Specialized Distribution - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 61] This is Matt Reustle and today we’re breaking down Diploma. Diploma is a specialist distributor of medical equipment and industrial components listed in the UK. It’s a business you’re unlikely to be familiar with and, at first glance, may appear ...
06.08.2022 PGA Tour: Playing Under Pressure - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 60] This is Dom Cooke and today we are breaking down the PGA Tour. Alongside the four standalone majors, the PGA Tour is the pinnacle of professional golf. It’s where the best players in the world earn their living and tee ...
05.25.2022 Anduril: Building the Future of Defense - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 59] Today, we are breaking down Anduril. Anduril builds high tech defense systems for the US Department of Defense and its allies. Crucially, it does so with speed that emanates from Silicon Valley. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, who previously ...
05.19.2022 Goldman Sachs: Fortune Favors the Old - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 58] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down the 150 year-old investment bank – Goldman Sachs. From the outside, investment banks like Goldman are black boxes of profits and the embodiment of “Wall Street”. But as with most ...
05.04.2022 Baytex Energy: The Business of Oil & Gas - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 57] This is Matt Reustle and today we’re breaking down Baytex Energy. With oil prices hovering over $100 a barrel, we thought it was a particularly good time to revisit this sector. Why Baytex Energy? The 80,000 barrel a day producer ...
04.29.2022 DigitalBridge: Pioneering Digital Infrastructure - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 56] I am Compound248 and today we are pleased to announce and kick-off a Business Breakdowns mini-series focused on Digital Infrastructure. Over the coming months, we will breakdown a handful of companies that are key players in the digital infrastructure asset ...
04.20.2022 AppLovin: Monetizing & Marketing Mobile Apps - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 55] Today we’re breaking down AppLovin. It’s a business you may not recognize but have likely interacted with. Founded in 2012, AppLovin provides a platform for developers to market and monetize their mobile apps. The business also owns some of the ...
04.13.2022 Afterpay: Buy Now, Pay Later - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 54] This is Jesse Pujji and today’s episode is a follow up of last weeks’ Block episode, covering Afterpay the buy-now-pay-later giant. Founded in Sydney Australia in 2015, Afterpay was a rapid success in the buy-now-pay-later market before being acquired by ...
04.06.2022 Block: Square, Cash App, and Economic Access - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 53] This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down Block – formerly known as Square. This software and financial services business was founded by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey in 2009. It has since expanded from its first product – ...
03.30.2022 McKinsey & Company: The First Management Consultants - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 52] This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down McKinsey & Company, the world’s pre-eminent management consulting firm. Founded in the thick of the Industrial Revolution, McKinsey set about professionalizing the way businesses were managed. An accountant by trade, James ...
03.23.2022 Fanatics: Growing the Sports Economy - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 51] This is Jesse Pujji, and today we are breaking down Fanatics. If you’ve recently bought sports apparel online, you interacted with Fanatics. They power the entire digital commerce experience for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and hundreds of other sports ...
03.16.2022 Anchorage Digital: Serving Institutional Crypto Needs - [Web3 Breakdowns, EP. 12] Today's episode was originally featured in our Web3 Breakdowns feed. For listeners unfamiliar with Web3 Breakdowns, the concept was inspired by Business Breakdowns but intended to be a place fully dedicated to the emerging ecosystem around blockchains, crypto assets, and ...
03.09.2022 Adyen: A First Principles Payment Platform - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 50] This is Zack Fuss and today we’re breaking down European-based payment business, Adyen. Adyen was founded in Amsterdam in 2006 by a group of payments entrepreneurs who had already built and sold a business in this space. Adyen was their ...
03.02.2022 Cadence: Software Behind Semiconductor Design - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 49] This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down Cadence Design Systems. Cadence operates in the semiconductor ecosystem where they offer electronic design automation software - also known as EDA software - which is used for chip design. Putting ...
02.23.2022 The New York Times: The Empire Strikes Back - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 48] This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down The New York Times. Since its founding in 1851, The New York Times has become known as the national “newspaper of record” through its focus on truth seeking and quality journalism. ...

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