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Why Boeing Can't Switch Away From This 1855 Brass Foundry
Crane Company makes the components that can't fail: F-16 brakes, nuclear valves, rocket parts. Their secret? Regulatory moats that make switching suppliers take 5+ years. I break down how this 1855 brass foundry built an $11B business on vital parts and switching costs.
TruGolf Lost 95% of Its Value Trying to Be Three Companies at Once
Hardware manufacturer? Software licensor? Franchise operator? TruGolf is trying all three. Now facing NASDAQ delisting with just $5M market cap (down 95% since its SPAC), this golf simulator company offers a pivot that's worth following.
The Logistics Software Company That Bought Its Way to $668M Revenue
Network effects > features (sometimes). How Descartes Systems went from near-bankruptcy to $9B by becoming the platform where 24,000 logistics companies connect. New case study explores their 95% retention rate and self-funded acquisition strategy.
The $45B Distributor That Amazon Couldn't Kill (Yet?)
In 2017, leadership made a bet: transform the company before Amazon forced them to. It worked. Industrial distributor W.W. Grainger, selling everything from safety gloves to conveyor belts, has grown revenue 34% to $17.5B while defending against Amazon Business's $25B assault.
Mosaic's Ride on the Commodity Roller Coaster
The company has built a huge business by owning assets that are nearly impossible to replicate. But the company is a glaring example of cyclicality. Their revenue went from $12B to $19B to $13B in three years. Here's how they attempt to build competitive advantages while riding the commodity price rollercoaster. And I touch on their controversial push to impose duties on others.
