Pricing Strategy
This episode is all about pricing strategy. We dive into insights from traditional and web2 businesses and apply them — plus brand new approaches — to startups using crypto and blockchains. Topics of discussion include the importance of understanding consumer psychology, how to navigate pivots and avoid common mistakes, and what can be learned from real-world case studies, including Tesla, Nvidia, and others. Our experts include a16z crypto's Maggie Hsu, head of our go-to-market team; research partner and Harvard Business School professor of economics Scott Kominers; and tech veteran and head of our CSX startup accelerator Jason Rosenthal — the three of whom combine their different expertise around the theme of this episode to help you master pricing strategy.
a16z crypto show · Jason Rosenthal, Scott Duke Kominers, Maggie Hsu, Robert Hackett
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Show Notes
with @jasonrosenthal @skominers @meigga @rhhackett
Welcome to web3 with a16z, I’m Robert Hackett and today, we discuss pricing strategy for startups — from traditional businesses to web2 to web3.
Topics we cover include:
- unit economics
- understanding consumer psychology
- using onchain data to inform pricing decisions
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- How to navigate a pricing pivot
- And lessons from real world pricing case studies, including Tesla, Nvidia, and others
Our experts include a16z crypto's Maggie Hsu, head of our go-to-market team; research partner and Harvard Business School professor of economics Scott Kominers; and head of our CSX startup accelerator Jason Rosenthal, who is a tech veteran having spent the last 25 years at various internet companies — the three combine all their different expertise around the theme of this episode.
Resources for references in this episode:
- When is decentralizing on a blockchain valuable? by Marco Reuter (a16z crypto, January 2023)
- The Value of Decentralization Using the Blockchain: An Economic Analysis by Marco Reuter (a16z crypto, January 2023)
- "The single most important decision in evaluating a business is pricing power..." — Warren Buffett (Bloomberg, February 2011)
- Network Effects, Moats, & the Business of Web3 (Episode 25) (web3 with a16z podcast, May 2023)
- 6 questions every founder should ask about pricing by Jason Rosenthal and Maggie Hsu (a16z crypto, May 2023)
- Zipcar: Refining the business model by Myra M. Hart, Michael J. Roberts and Julia Stevens (Harvard Business School Case Collection, May 2005)
- Ning CEO: Building a Better Website by Adam Lashinsky (Fortune, September 2010)
- On the best business advice Disney CEO Bob Iger ever received by Jeff Haden (Inc., December 2020)
- Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely (HarperCollins, February 2008)
- On the Bored Ape Kennel Club donating secondary sale proceeds to charity (Twitter, June 2021)
- Chief's Silicon Valley Stardom Quickly Clashed at J.C. Penney by Stephanie Clifford (New York Times, April 2013)
- Tesla turns up heat on rivals with global price cuts by (Reuters, January 2023)
As a reminder none of the following should be taken as tax, business, legal, or investment advice. See a16zcrypto.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
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