Archive - Acquired Briefing

Microsoft II (1995-2014)

In 1999, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world. And in 2019, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world, again. But… what…

Feb 19 • Kyle Westaway

Microsoft I (1975 - 1995)

The company that put a computer on every desk, invented the software business model, completely dominated every conceivable competitor and is still the…

Feb 12 • Kyle Westaway

The NFL (2026 Update)

The history of the NFL mirrors America’s own development: scrappy small-town teams rode the successive growth waves to become the most successful sports…

Feb 5 • Kyle Westaway

January 2026

Porsche is both quality AND quantity, owning the most prestigious brand in its market, while at the same time churning out almost half a million…

Jan 29 • Kyle Westaway

M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Double Mint, Ben’s Rice, Pedigree, Whiskas, VCA, Banfield… all the brands you know, owned by the company you know nothing…

Jan 22 • Kyle Westaway

This episode is flat-packed with counterintuitive lessons about how this folksy mail order business from the Swedish countryside came into your living…

Jan 15 • Kyle Westaway

Their products are comparable to a Hermès Birkin bag in price, luxury status and waitlist times… yet they produce over 1m units / year (roughly 10x…

Jan 8 • Kyle Westaway

Dr. Morris Chang, founder of TSMC, shares the stories of a few crucial moments from TSMC’s history including how TSMC won Apple’s iPhone and Mac chip.

Jan 1 • Kyle Westaway

December 2025

Their products are used by more humans than any other’s in history — almost half of the entire world’s population daily. But… what is Meta? Why do they…

Dec 24, 2025 • Kyle Westaway

10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)

Why has Acquired — seemingly against all odds — “worked”? In conversation with Michael Lewis Ben and David share ten lessons they've learned from…

Dec 16, 2025 • Kyle Westaway

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark is the iconic founder CEO of our time. At Chase Center, he did an unprecedented thing: a live conversation in front of 6,000 people on Meta’s…

Dec 11, 2025 • Kyle Westaway

In luxury, there’s Hermès… and there’s everyone else.

Dec 4, 2025 • Kyle Westaway

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