case study

LinkedIn's Original Pitch to Greylock

The actual 2004 pitch deck Reid Hoffman used to raise LinkedIn's Series B, with his annotations explaining each slide.

From the site: At Greylock, my partners and I are driven by one guiding mission: always help entrepreneurs. It doesn’t matter whether an entrepreneur is in our portfolio, whether we’re considering an investment, or whether we’re casually meeting for the first time.

Why I recommend it: One of the few real pitch decks published with the reasoning attached. Read the annotations more than the slides — they show what a room of investors was actually asking.

10 Ways The Rundown Uses AI

A free look inside how an AI media company uses AI across research, writing, design and operations, with the specific tools and workflows.

Why I recommend it: Concrete workflows you can copy rather than vague advice to "use AI".

Squishmallows on TikTok

TikTok discover page showcasing the viral community and collector content around Squishmallows plush toys.

Gymshark Millennials

Article examining how Gymshark's marketing strategy successfully captured millennial and Gen Z fitness audiences.

Change Makers Program

TikTok's initiative spotlighting and supporting creators who run charitable and social-impact campaigns.

Gymshark Net Worth

Article breaking down Gymshark's valuation and financial growth as a case study in brand scaling.

Labubu Effect Article

LinkedIn article analyzing how niche character storytelling turned Labubu into a global viral phenomenon.

Stanley Car Fire TikTok Video

The viral TikTok video of a Stanley cup surviving a car fire that sparked the brand's massive social moment.

Stanley $750M Revenue (Forbes)

Forbes' account of how a viral TikTok moment helped drive Stanley's cup sales and brand revenue growth.

Why I recommend it: A great real-world example of how one viral moment can transform a brand overnight.

Gymshark Story

Gymshark's own account of its founding story, from a teenage side hustle to a global apparel brand.

Why I recommend it: One of the best founder stories out there for anyone starting a business from nothing.

Stanley CEO Sends New Car (USA Today)

USA Today's coverage of Stanley's CEO replacing the car destroyed in the viral fire video as a goodwill gesture.

Stanley 1913

Official site of Stanley 1913, the drinkware brand behind the viral Stanley Quencher tumbler.

Build A Bear UGC Campaign

Press release on a Build-A-Bear marketing campaign built around user-generated content and customer stories.

Labubu Lifestyle Community

Fan-community guide to the Labubu collector lifestyle and the culture built around the toy line.

Gymshark

Official site of Gymshark, the fitness apparel brand built largely through social media and influencer marketing.

Labubu / Pop Mart

Official Pop Mart product page for Labubu, the collectible character line behind the 2025 viral toy craze.

Labubu Viral Marketing (Forbes)

Forbes article on the marketing lessons businesses can learn from Labubu's viral growth.

The Buy Guide

Site telling the origin story of the Stanley Quencher cup and the women-owned business that popularized it.

Interapt's Apprenticeship Model Fills a Gap in Tech Skills

Harvard Business School profile of Interapt, which trains and places people from economically overlooked regions into paid tech roles, with detail on how the earn-while-you-learn model is financed.

In plain terms: This interview explains how Interapt trains and places job seekers into paid technology roles without requiring a tech background. You can read it to understand how their apprenticeship model works and what they look for in applicants.

Why I recommend it: Proof that regional and rural talent gets hired when someone builds the bridge. Worth knowing if you are outside a tech hub.