Field Notes: There’s Just Something About Januarys ✏️

The LA fires have been devastating. My prayers go out to anyone who has been impacted by the fires. Judging from the conversations I’ve had with friends and this community, most people who live in LA know at least several families who have lost their homes or have had family members who have lost theirs. There are no words to justify this level of devastation. If you’d like to help or donate, please see the link here that has resources and donation centers that are currently accepting donations.

I was thinking about how the month of January can be a a “come-down” month since the jolliness of the holidays are over, and the gears shift pretty substantially without the promise of warm weather or some other type of distraction. I was thinking about the past few Januarys and why they’ve had a certain heaviness to them. Just a quick recap of what I’m remembering:

Jan 2020- Kobe Bryant died in the helicopter accident and this was the early, early days of the pandemic / Jan 2021- the insurrection at the Capitol building / Jan 2022- Omnicron variant surges to all time highs, US numbers of COVID reach all-time highs / Jan 2025- the LA fires

And of course, you could easily make similar historical reference across different months and years, but January sticks out to me in this way because of the juxtaposition of the holidays to boom-hit-you-in-the-face reality. My ask is that you hug your loved ones extra tight over the next few weeks because if this situation has reminded us of anything, it’s that your world can change in an instant.

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

Completely Dry: How Los Angeles Firefighters Ran Out of Water 🔥🚰 There has been so much agony and frustration over these fires, but with most incredibly charged emotional situations, there has been a lot of misinformation. This article details what exactly happened behind the water shortage in the Los Angeles inferno. (nyt)

The Insurance Crisis That Will Follow the LA Fires ✍️🏚️ In 2019, the number of homeowners’ policies in California that were not renewed jumped by more than thirty per cent. In 2023, two giant insurers, State Farm and Allstate, announced that they would stop writing new policies for various forms of property insurance in California. State Farm said the move came in response to inflation and “rapidly growing catastrophe exposure.” Last summer, it cancelled coverage for more than fifteen hundred homes in Pacific Palisades, the wealthy enclave where the first LA fire began. Now, the damages from the LA fire are estimated to go up to $150 billion. (the new yorker)

Why Tom Holland’s Bero Could Be The Next Big Thing Tom Holland’s new company, Bero, launches in US stores this week. In an industry now seemingly dominated by celebrity-backed drinks, Holland obviously isn’t the first to go this non-alcoholic route, but he is one of the first to dedicate his efforts to a zero-proof beer brand, a decision that could reshape perceptions of sobriety and wellness in mainstream culture. (forbes)

J.C. Penny, Brooks Brothers Operator Join Forces as ‘Catalyst Brands’ J.C. Penny has merged. Sparc Group, an operating entity that is a joint venture of brand firm Authentic Brands Group, fast-fashion e-retailer Shein and Simon Property Group, has formed a joint venture, Catalyst Brands, with J.C. Penney. (retail dive)

TikTok Stars and Brace for App’s Disappearance This Month 📱❌ Everyone is wondering the same thing… will TikTok actually get banned on the 19th? It looks like it. If so, there are billions of advertising dollars that will need to shift elsewhere (most will go to Instagram). (nyt)

What Happens When TikTok’s Trend Machine Shuts Down? TikTok’s constant stream of viral trends has fueled its rise as a dominant social platform 🎥📉. However, as its fate in the US looks unclear, creators and brands face challenges in maintaining engagement and relevance. The article delves into the potential consequences of trend fatigue, exploring how platforms might innovate to retain their user base and support long-term content creation. (bloomberg)

Can Estrogen Cream Reverse Skin Aging? Estrogen creams are gaining attention as a potential solution for skin aging 🌟🧴. Studies suggest they can improve skin elasticity and hydration, by compensating for hormonal changes that accelerate ageing, particularly in postmenopausal women. However, experts recommend caution and consulting with a dermatologist before use. (nyt)

How Uber and Lyft Are Gearing Up for the Robotaxi Revolution Uber and Lyft are racing to embrace autonomous vehicle technology after scrapping their own plans. Uber has partnered with Waymo to offer driverless taxi rides in Austin and Atlanta exclusively via the Uber app, protecting its market share in those cities. 🚖🤖 Robotaxis are expected to redefine urban mobility by reducing costs and improving efficiency. (wsj)

Getty Images, Shutterstock Gear Up for AI Challenge With $3.7 Billion Merger Getty Images and Shutterstock are going to enter a $3.7 billion merger to tackle challenges posed by generative AI in stock imagery 🎨🤖. The deal aims to pool resources to develop AI-driven tools and expand their market share amidst growing competition from tech-focused image platforms. (cnbc)

Behind Disney’s Deal to Merge Hulu + Live TV and Fubo The Walt Disney Company is buying 70 percent of Fubo, the video service that had sued to block the media giant’s plan to create another service called Venu, a sports streaming joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros Discovery. 🎬📺 Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, along with Disney, will pay a combined $220 million to settle litigation with Fubo. (Disney will also extend Fubo a $145 million loan.) (nyt)

Luxury Brands Need to Get Over Their Youth Fixation to Offset Drag From Trump’s Tariffs Luxury brands, heavily targeting younger audiences 👗💼, are facing new financial pressures from tariffs imposed under Trump-era policies. To offset rising costs, the industry must broaden its appeal to older demographics with significant purchasing power and brand loyalty. (bloomberg)

Poshmark is Teaming Up with Loop to Resell Non-Returnable Items Poshmark is partnering with Loop ♻️👗 to address the growing issue of non-returnable merchandise in e-commerce. The initiative allows shoppers to resell items that cannot be returned, ensuring these products find new homes rather than ending up in landfills. (modern retail)

Prada Launches 2025 Re-Nylon Films With Benedict Cumberbatch, Sadie Sink Prada’s Re-Nylon campaign 🎥🌿 showcases the brand’s commitment to sustainability through a series of National Geographic CreativeWorks films starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Sadie Sink. Highlighting recycled materials in high-fashion designs, the campaign emphasizes environmental responsibility while maintaining Prada’s signature elegance. The initiative also reflects growing consumer demand for eco-conscious luxury.(wwd)

Are the New Balance Snoafers Hideous or Genius? The New Balance Snoafers ❄️👟 are stirring controversy in the fashion world. This hybrid footwear combines the functionality of sneakers with the sleekness of loafers, appealing to those who value practicality and style. While some critics call them impractical, others view them as a bold statement, reflecting the brand’s willingness to experiment with unconventional designs. (nyt)

Concept of the Week: Premortem 🧠🛋️  

A premortem is a proactive strategy used in project management where team members imagine that a project has failed and work backwards to identify potential risks, pitfalls, and challenges that could lead to its failure. This exercise helps to uncover vulnerabilities and implement preventive measures to improve the likelihood of project success.

Venture Capital/Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

AI Startup Anthropic Raising Funds Valuing It at $60 Billion Anthropic, a rising star in the AI space 🤖💼, is in the process of raising funds that could push its valuation to $60 billion. Anthropic has attracted significant interest from investors betting on the expanding AI market. (wsj)

TikTok Shop Rival Whatnot Raises Funds at $5 Billion Valuation Whatnot, a live-shopping platform and TikTok Shop competitor 🛍️📱, has raised new funding, achieving a $5 billion valuation. Whatnot is the leader in US live shopping commerce. The funding will be used to expand its platform, improve user experience, and attract more sellers, solidifying its position as a major player in the global e-commerce market. (bof)

Nvidia CEO Pitches Robotics, Cars as Growth Areas to Consumer-Electronics Audience At a recent industry event, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted robotics and automotive AI as key growth areas for the company 🚗🤖. Nvidia is investing heavily in technologies like autonomous driving and industrial automation, leveraging its powerful GPUs to drive innovation. These sectors represent significant revenue potential as industries increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions. (wsj)

CES 2025: The weirdest tech products and claims from this year’s event CES 2025 showcased a mix of groundbreaking innovations and outlandish ideas 🤯🔌. From robotic cats that can cool down your coffee to a toaster-shaped device that can charge your phone in seconds, the event was a testament to the tech world’s creativity and ambition. The annual event continues to highlight both the promise and peculiarities of cutting-edge technology (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

The Power of Asking Extreme Questions For Better Problem Solving I loved thinking through these questions for myself.

Addressing Startup Founder Questions Like Salary and Exits This article gives specific salary numbers for founders based on their stage (I had never seen this explicitly written like this, so I found this very interesting). Obviously, take this with a grain of salt.

Gen Z’s Impact on Traditional Marketing Models They’ve upended the traditional consumer funnel, and the impact is everlasting (even if TikTok does in fact get banned).

Exhibit A Podcast With HOUSE OF CB Founder Conna Walker Conna Walker, founder of House of CB 👗✨, shares actionable insights on building a successful brand. From understanding your audience to staying authentic, her advice emphasizes consistency, innovation, and adaptability for long-term success. (Exhibit A podcast, YouTube)

Why Retailers Are Turning to Third-Party Marketplaces Retailers are increasingly leveraging third-party marketplaces 🛍️🤝 to expand their reach, reduce costs, and offer diverse product selections. This strategy helps them stay competitive in an ever-evolving e-commerce landscape. (hbr)

Superhuman The premium email platform 📧⚡, continues to gain traction with its lightning-fast interface and productivity features, redefining how professionals manage their inboxes.

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