Jul 17, 2025
shell-qui-hire (noun). A pseudo acquisition in which a company is “acquired” by partially poaching the team.
Recent examples: Scale (Meta poached its founder). Windsurf (Google poached its brain trust and licensed its IP, with Cognition acquiring the rest). Character AI (Google licensed its IP and hired its cofounders).
this week, two leading betting platforms upped the ante in their blood feud by surprising broke new yorkers with free groceries. how did we get here?
I spoke with 21 billionaires about california’s unprecedented asset seizure ballot proposition. here: their plans to leave, their efforts to fight back, and the future of tech in california
tipping culture has gone insane, and the ipads now ask for more money almost everywhere. how the hell did we get here and when will it stop?