This will be the last newsletter this year – hope you’ll manage to recharge over the holidays and set some action items for a strong Q1 ahead!
The core topics for today are:
- December 2023 > December 2022
- Markets perform so much better
- We acquired YVisuals.app
Grateful for December 2023
The 2020s have been crazy – between pandemics, lockdowns, recessions, great resignation… you name it.
But one thing I can appreciate is the determination and active product planning going on across 30+ conversations with partners, clients, prospects I had this month alone.
Last December was a bloodbath. Tons of layoffs all over the place, contracts put on hold, the stock market seeing actual brutalities. Compared to last year, almost all conversations I had were targeting Q1 and Q2 as productive months in continuation to a strong quarter behind us.
That includes opening up new projects and even hiring. Not as excessively as 2020 and 2021, but FAR better than what we saw early this year (everything going down.)
Bottom line – we’re expecting more surprises to come, but notable uptick in upcoming revenue and mid-sized brands stepping on the next level of their journeys.
Market efficiencies see gains
Market dynamics can be used as a macro indicator of the global financial ecosystem.
Amazon’s Q3 revenue was the second highest (next to Q4 last year, presumingly about to get beaten by Q4 this year.) This comes after slashing over 27,000 jobs earlier this year + a few smaller cuts later on (Alexa and other divisions.)
Google CEO comments on the layoff rounds the search giant took on, the first major cut in 25 years of existence. The public comment states “challenging but necessary move, preventing potential challenges for the company in the future”. One that could have been handled better, but still claimed to be the right choice for the company.
Meta also reported its best financial performance in years – following the cut of over 20,000 employees. Shares went up 176% on top of that.
Bitcoin also saw its highest peak since April – possibly increasing positions in the coming weeks. Cryptocurrencies tend to go up when the commercial market sees some stability and support by the government or investors find themselves in a good enough shape to diversify or relocate some funds to alternatives. S&P Global Ratings just introduced a new assessment system rating stablecoins – which is a positive signal for the crypto fans out there.
All in all – while other markets such as real estate slow down and US bonds reach a peak, traditional investments see positive signals this December.
Adding YVisuals to the portfolio
The Growth Shuttle team acquired a SaaS for quick generation of business charts called YVisuals.app. We took on the project as users first, launching several campaigns with AI-generated creatives demonstrating simple business context in a visual form.
It’s publicly accessible and the team will calibrate the AI models in the coming few weeks, following the introduction of 30+ new creatives to the library. That’s another instrument to the portfolio of small SaaS apps the crew has been managing here.
Once again, thanks for following the journey and see you in the new year!
Yours,
Mario
My Take
How Brands Can Differentiate Themselves in a Crowded Ecosystem – Automation is the key to cultivating high-stakes outcomes in E-commerce. From inventory to fulfilment and customer support, it is crucial to have systems that can automate, streamline, and optimize every element of the customer’s experience. Check out this week’s slides on how to differentiate yourself from other brands in a crowded ecosystem. Based on an article I published in Forbes!
E-Commerce Essential Tools and Strategies – When a business establishes an e-commerce site, whether standalone or to supplement brick-and-mortar sales, its customer base can potentially go from narrow and local to fully global. But a website is far from the only tech tool needed to compete in a worldwide, 24/7 marketplace. Have a look at what I and 15 other experts propose as tools and strategies an e-commerce company needs to leverage to drive sales and remain a top shopping choice for consumers.
Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative – Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey requires courage and persistence, with growth in both personal and business aspects being key to success. This journey, though challenging and filled with risks, can be navigated more effectively with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Download the brochure for advice from over 150 global experts (including me).
Newsletter Recommendations
Stacked Marketer – One of my go-to newsletters and a business that we’ve worked with a while ago on the DevriX front. It is loved by marketers who get hands-on with campaigns, who need to stay up-to-date with frequently changing platforms., who need to get an edge, and who need to achieve outsized results with limited resources, aka performance-focused marketers.
The Average Joe – Market trends & insights that are simple, concise, and impactful. This newsletter stands out to me due to the 200,000+ audience that go through market trends and ideas together.
Boldpush – А special newsletter for those interested in marketing intelligence and strategy to the most ambitious brands. Props to Julius Solaris for creating one of my top newsletter reads for GTM strategies and actionable content.
Morning Brew – Аn absolute classic, the Morning Brew delivers top news from a business-minded angle, and deliver it in a short, easy-to-read, actionable, and entertaining way.
Business Strategy
Wall Street’s 2024 Predictions – After a robust performance in 2023, investors and top Wall Street analysts are contemplating if the stock market rally will persist into 2024, with varying forecasts ranging from bullish to bearish. Business Insider’s comprehensive list of 2024 stock market outlooks reveals a diverse range of predictions for the S&P 500, considering factors like economic recessions, interest rates, and geopolitical risks.
BitsForDigits Acquisition by Flippa – Flippa yet again reinforces its commitment to revolutionizing global business exits and ownership, particularly in the rapidly growing EU digital business economy. This strategic acquisition, marking a significant year with 238 startup exits and a 50% YoY growth, positions Flippa as a leading marketplace for online business transactions and broadens opportunities for entrepreneurs in business ownership and exits.
Apple stops Apple Watch – Apple will cease sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US after on December 21, 2023, due to a patent dispute over the blood oxygen sensor, with a final chance to purchase in-store until December 24. This halt in sales, a result of an International Trade Commission ruling against Apple in a case with Masimo, is under review, with Apple planning to appeal and explore options to make these models available again in the U.S. as soon as possible.
SERP Volatility remains high – Despite the holiday season, Google’s search ranking volatility remains high, with over 1,200 comments on a recent post and ongoing discussions in the WebmasterWorld forum. This increased volatility, which began after the November 2023 reviews update, is evident across various Google tracking tools and is causing significant fluctuations in rankings and traffic, affecting many websites.
Adobe and Figma abandon merge – Adobe and Figma have mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced merger agreement, due to the lack of a clear path to receive necessary regulatory approvals from the European Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Despite their shared vision and belief in the merits of the deal, both companies will move forward independently, with Adobe paying Figma the agreed upon termination fee and both companies expressing disappointment but readiness to explore future collaborations.
Global News
U.S. stock futures were steady, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped 4 basis points to 3.91%. The dollar rose against the Japanese yen as the Bank of Japan opted to stay with negative interest rates.
- S&P: 4,761 (+0.43%)
After bottoming at the beginning of 2023, home prices have steadily risen this year, appreciating for eight consecutive months, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index for September 2023.
- 30-year mortgage rate: 7.18%(-0.14)
- 15-year mortgage rate: 6.54%(-0.20)
Despite earlier predictions of a U.S. recession before the next presidential election, the American economy has shown resilience and growth, avoiding a downturn largely due to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes and other monetary policies, coupled with a strong job market and consumer spending. This unexpected economic stability comes amid challenges like inflation and regional banking crises, showcasing a blend of luck and effective policy management by the Fed.
This week’s news are worrying, I must issue a trigger warning for domestic violence and harassment. If such things trigger you easily, please skip this section.
- Actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty of assault and harassment in an altercation.
- Rudy Giuliani must pay two Georgia poll workers $148 million for defaming them after the 2020 election, a federal jury says.
- New York Republicans select Mazi Melesa Pilip as their nominee in the special election to replace ousted Rep. George Santos.
Investing Updates
- Sessions – backed by Earlybird, the VC who supported UiPath from its early days, aims to challenge the global video conferencing market.
- Bright Spaces – backed by Axeleo Capital, PiLabs, Sparking Capital, Fortech Investments, Hellen’s Rock and Clearance Capital.
- Blindspot– links over a million global digital billboards, simplifying advertising for diverse clients like TikTok, Netflix, and Rihanna.
Note: Got a round going that you want to feature – your own business or a portfolio company? Get in touch.
Now let’s have a look at the latest top Flippa offers:
Portfolio of Content Sites – Three content sites in the education and software review niche, with very strong authority scores and diversified revenue streams.
- Monthly Profit: $33.6K
- Profit Margin: 91%
- Age: 7 years
Headshot Photography SaaS – A unique SaaS platform connecting skilled photographers with elite corporate clients. Boasting a prestigious clientele and a high profit margin.
- Monthly Profit: $8.9K
- Monthly Page Views: 9.4K
- Age: 14 years
AI Photo Enhancer App – A portfolio iOS and Android photo and video improvement apps, with a 4.7-star rating from 1.7K reviews.
- Monthly Profit: $54K
- Monthly Downloads: 400K
- Monthly Active Users: 365K
Need my Help?
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Want to scale and optimize your business? Growth Shuttle offers personalized advisory plans starting at $600/hr. Tap into my personal pool of business know-how and my data warehouse of industry data.
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Looking to start a US company? Check out doola and their “Business in a Box” model. Suitable for both foreigners and US citizens and both for residents and non-residents.
Have you tried buying and selling digital property? Have a look at Flippa’s marketplace. They offer a vast variety of online businesses for any buyer’s interests. Or if you’re ready for an exit, Flippa provides you with the necessary tools to list your business and close the deal.
Looking for investment opportunities? Check out SeedBlink and use Nimity to manage it.
Eager to incorporate my recommended solutions? Track my angel investments. Sharing, applying for open roles, or writing reviews helps a ton. And anything else I try to publish on my blog and my courses here!