This week, writer Byrne Hobart and investor Erik Torenberg discuss the failed acquisition of Figma by Adobe, a deep dive on antitrust, Byrne's take on higher education and viable alternatives, unions, and more. The Riff is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.

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The Riff is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: https://turpentine.co

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Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors sharing their requests for startups they want to exist in the world, and also their stories of navigating the idea maze in different sectors so founders don’t have to reinvent the wheel anymore. The first episode is out now - we cover better dating apps, references as a service, and WeWork for productivity

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We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

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Thanks to our sponsor: SHOPIFY

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen

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LINKS:

Byrne's writing: https://thediff.co

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X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@byrnehobart (Byrne)

@turpentinemedia (Turpentine)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Figma and Adobe

(03:28) Antitrust Perspective on Figma and Adobe

(03:41) Understanding Antitrust in Tech

(07:49) Role of Big Tech Companies in Antitrust

(19:00) Sponsor: Shopify

(20:38) Higher Education: A Cartel?

(24:15) YC and Disruption in Higher Education

(31:07) Funding Higher Education

(32:50) Rethinking the Role of Traditional Institutions in Education

(33:26) The Potential of Separating Vocational Training and Liberal Arts

(33:47) Imagining a Different Approach to Post-High School Education

(34:32) The Unpredictability of Career Paths and Interests

(35:36) The Case for Subsidizing Knowledge Acquisition

(36:35) The Importance of Failing and Learning in Education

(37:51) Personal Experience and Reflections on College Education

(38:43) The Future of Higher Education for the Next Generation

(46:27) The Challenges of Traditional K-12 Education

(53:24) The Ideological Monopoly in Universities

(53:54) The Impact of Political Ideologies on Education