Napkin Math

Business breakdowns, by the numbers.

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Napkin Math

In Defense of the Unoptimized Life

Give yourself the space to be inspired

348 Jan 12, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Why MasterClass Isn’t Really About Mastery

And other lessons from a 9-figure edtech startup

258 Jul 1, 2020 by Adam Keesling

Napkin Math

We Don’t Know Enough About the Pornhub Acquisition

One of the world’s most important websites was sold and nobody cares

227 Apr 6, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

You Probably Shouldn’t Work at a Startup

It’s overrated—both financially and emotionally

219 May 20, 2021 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

The Cost of Greatness

What will be the blood sacrifice on your altar of ambition?

211 Jun 1, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Product-Led Growth’s Failure

How a Scrappy Utah Software Company Ignored Every Silicon Valley Heuristic and Won Anyway

209 Jun 3, 2021 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Substack Rhymes With Medium

Substack can't decide if it's a CMS or a media brand. Neither could Medium. Their indecision will likely lead to similar outcomes.

206 Sep 26, 2020 by Adam Keesling

Napkin Math

How Costco Convinces Brands to Cannibalize Themselves

An unlikely marriage where both sides win

195 Jul 15, 2020 by Adam Keesling

Napkin Math

Revenue: It’s Simple, Until It Isn’t

Finally, a clear explanation of bookings, billings and revenue

157 Feb 5, 2021 by Evan Armstrong

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Snapchat’s Probably Screwed

Apple's ATT Fallout Continues

143 Jul 28, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

AI Looks Like a Bubble

Investors need to take a cold shower

141 Feb 2, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

The Addiction Economy

Addicted, Overwhelmed, Oversubscribed: How Technology Hooked the World

137 May 26, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Crypto’s Failed Promise

The problem with crypto-as-a-nation-state

134 May 12, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Tinder Is Way More Important Than You Think

Forget AI, the people want to bone

133 Mar 30, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Dying Whales and Dying Billionaires

A note about power

127 May 25, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

You Probably Shouldn’t Work at a Startup

It’s overrated—both financially and emotionally

119 Apr 20, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Steve Jobs’ Legacy for Builders

A book that lit a fire in my soul

118 Apr 13, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

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Meditations on AI Mecca

A dispatch from a hacker conference in San Francisco

106 Dec 21, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Venture Capital Is Ripe for Disruption

A world where a billion is a drop in the bucket

103 Oct 27, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

The primary trends I’m investing in next year

Inflation, web3, embedded fintech, investing in people, and the newsletter winter that is coming

101 Dec 16, 2021 by Evan Armstrong

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When Creation Goes To Zero

Skynet Who?

100 Sep 15, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

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How Elon Wins

Twitter needs to pursue the algorithmic feed

100 Nov 3, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Meet Your New Finance Intern: GPT-4

How AI will reshape what finance professionals do

99 May 18, 2023 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

Should You Fire This Newsletter?

In which I analyze whether I’m good at my job

99 Dec 15, 2022 by Evan Armstrong

Napkin Math

6 New Theories About AI

Software with superpowers

96 Nov 22, 2022 by Evan Armstrong