Technology Regulation, App Store & Global Decoupling with Benedict Evans

Carol Yin -

In episode 331, Benedict Evans, the independent analyst and venture partner from Mosaic Ventures & Entrepreneur First, joined us in the first of the two episodes to discuss the major topics that are dominating the global technology landscape. We began the conversation with his recent stint with Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) in Silicon Valley and the key takeaways during his stay there. Then we dived deep into  the key topics which dominate the global technology landscape: tech regulation of the major Internet giants, the app store conversation featuring Fornite vs Apple and the decoupling of the global supply chain with China and India.

Here are the interesting show notes and links to the discussion:

  • Benedict Evans (@benedictevans , LinkedIn, Personal Site, Essays, Newsletter), Venture Partner of Mosaic Ventures & Entrepreneur First & Independent Analyst
    • When we had the first conversation with you, you were a partner in the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, the first question for us, what are the key takeaways thinking about technology from the lens of a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley?
    • Since you have moved back to the United Kingdom, what have you been up to?
  • Tech Regulation and App Stores
    • Reference: Regulating Technology , Would breaking up big tech work? What would? and App Stores, Trust & Anti Trust
    • Let’s start with the recent movement in the US by the Congress to call for the break up of the four major tech companies: Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple and potentially restricting their M&A activity. We have the leaders of these four tech companies brought before the Congressional hearings. 
    • From looking at the hearings, what does the regulators get right and wrong about big technology companies and insist that the only way is to ‘break them up’?
    • Can we learn from history on how we should think about breaking up big technology companies? For example drawing on what they did to Standard Oil during the gilded age in the 1900s in the U.S.? 
  • The decoupling of global supply chains
    • Currently, China’s market is 3x times larger than the US. The Indian market is teaming up with US companies to move their supply chain out from China to India, for example, Apple. Will the Chinese and Indian Internet outsize the US market so that it is no longer the axis of innovation and technology growth in the next few decades?
    • Do you think that the future of the Internet is going to be “balkanized”: China, India, Europe, US and the rest of the world? 
    • Will the decoupling of supply chains between China and the US change the way the technology sector will evolve in the next few decades?

Podcast Information:

The show is hosted and produced by Carol Yin (@CarolYujiaYin) and originally created by Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin). Sound credits for the intro music: Taro Iwashiro, “The Beginning” from Red Cliff Soundtrack.

analyseasia · Technology Regulation, App Store & Global Decoupling with Benedict Evans