Executive Summary: Plaid is a financial technology company that offers an API, allowing other companies to connect to their customer’s bank account (as well as other financial institutions). Plaid makes money by charging a variety of fees for connecting and using its service. The company operates on a freemium business model. Founded in 2012, Plaid … Read more

Executive Summary: Shpock is an online marketplace that enables people to buy and sell almost any item. The platform can be accessed via Shpock’s website or mobile apps. Shpock makes money from subscription fees, selling advertising space on its platform, as well as referral fees. Launched in 2012, Shpock has become one of the leading … Read more

Executive Summary: Depop is an online marketplace as well as a social media platform that allows users to buy and sell clothes. Depop makes money via a platform fee (10 percent) as well as a transaction fee (2.9 percent + $0.30). The fees are paid by the seller whenever he or she successfully sells a … Read more

Executive Summary: Quibi TV was an on-demand streaming application that focused on short-form content. Episodes were around 10 minutes in length. Quibi, despite raising billions, had to shut down within six months of launching. Its content library was eventually sold to Roku for around $100 million. The reasons why Quibi failed were vast. They included … Read more

Executive Summary: Ripple is a developer of software for settling payments online as well as the creator of the cryptocurrency XRP. Ripple makes money by selling XRP, payment fees, profits from investments, as well as interest fees on loans. Ripple, founded in 2012, has risen to become one of the most prominent blockchain and cryptocurrency … Read more

Executive Summary: Binance is an exchange that allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. It offers a variety of other products and services, such as an online education platform, cloud solutions, or collective crypto mining amongst others. Binance makes money from trading fees, interest on loans, spreads, fees from its broker … Read more

Executive Summary: BlockFi is a financial services company that offers a variety of products and services, such as loans or commission-free trading, to retail and institutional investors. BlockFi makes money via interest fees, withdrawal fees, spreads, sponsorship fees, crypto mining, as well as premiums collected from investments into other trusts. Founded in 2017, BlockFi has … Read more

Executive Summary: Quora is an online platform that enables users to ask as well as answer questions about thousands of topics. Quora makes money via text and image advertising. Advertisers can bid based on a cost per click, cost per thousand impressions, as well as conversion basis. Founded in 2009, Quora has grown to become … Read more

Executive Summary: Gorillas is an online delivery service that allows customers to order groceries via its Android and iOS apps. Gorillas makes money by selling its products at a profit as well as delivery fees. Founded in May 2020, Gorillas has quickly risen to become one of Europe’s leading delivery services. The company has raised … Read more

Executive Summary: Humble Bundle is an online platform that sells digital products, predominately games, in bundles as well as through its store.   Humble Bundle makes money via donations, subscription fees, commissions from its Humble Store, as well as fees from its publishing business. Founded in 2010, Humble Bundle has become a major success in … Read more