Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveEpic Games, Google and app store monopoliesIn a surprise win for the makers of Fortnite, a jury ruled that Google engaged in anti-competitive conduct by suppressing other app stores9 min read·Dec 16, 2023--1--1
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveYoutube, ad blockers, and the advertising taxThough it looks like big vs small tech, poking into ad blocker companies’ “whitelisting” programs will likely change your opinion8 min read·Nov 10, 2023--5--5
Viggy BalagopalakrishnanHighlights: First Quarter of UnpackedBold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things continue. Bird’s eye view of 17 deep dives…7 min read·Oct 24, 2023----
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveDirect tax filing: is this the end of Intuit’s lobbying?Thirty-eight years since the launch of e-filing, IRS will pilot its own tax filing system ending two decades of Intuit’s regulatory capture13 min read·Oct 21, 2023--6--6
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninTowards Data ScienceSaaS AI Features Meet Applications Without MoatsSeveral SaaS companies have announced gen AI features, which is a direct threat to AI startups that lack sustainable competitive advantage12 min read·Oct 17, 2023--9--9
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveWhy FTC’s case against Amazon is misunderstoodThe case makes a nuanced argument about how Amazon abused monopoly power through anti-discounting measures and tying in Prime with FBA12 min read·Oct 3, 2023--4--4
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninTowards Data ScienceRegulating AI: The Case for a Mechanisms-Based ApproachTargeting specific mechanisms mitigates AI risks more effectively, is easier to get consensus on, and avoids unintended consequences of…13 min read·Sep 29, 2023--1--1
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveGoogle anti-trust trial: Android deals might be Department of Justice’s smoking gunThe DOJ is going after specific anti-competitive mechanisms, and the specifics of Google’s onerous Android deals might be the smoking gun14 min read·Sep 19, 2023--7--7
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveKlarna, buy now pay later & first mover advantageKlarna got to profitable growth by cementing its first mover advantage and retailer adoption but faces competition from incumbent giants9 min read·Sep 9, 2023--5--5
Viggy BalagopalakrishnaninUX CollectiveInstacart IPO: the race against market saturationCompany’s journey to IPO is impressive but long-term upside hinges on success of its long-term bets like ads and the enterprise platform12 min read·Sep 1, 2023----