the sparkher 5/6

series, a lot of investing, tech week, swsh

Author

Prasiddhi Jain
May 06, 2024

Hey Besties, welcome back! As I’m trying to grow this newsletter, it would mean the WORLD to me if you sent it to a few friends and shared it on social media <3.

WHAT’S INSIDE

  • A case study of series

  • ICYMI, brainfeed, and things to send to the group chat

  • Upcoming events & deadlines

  • Her hustle & coffee: Weilyn Chong @ swsh

LEVEL UP

Just last week, the echoes of "May the Fourth be with you" reverberated across my social feeds, a testament to Star Wars Day—a holiday derived from a pun turned global pop culture phenomenon. Admittedly, I've never seen a Star Wars movie (or a Harry Potter film for that matter—yes, you can gasp). Yet, even as a series bystander, I'm intrigued by the colossal hype these franchises continue to generate annually. It’s not just about the light sabers or wizard wands; it’s the serial nature and their unwavering consistency that keeps fans coming back.

This concept of consistency is crucial, especially viewed through a business lens. Consistency doesn’t necessarily mean daily updates; it’s about setting a predictable schedule that your audience can rely on. Think of it like a favorite weekly newsletter that hits your inbox every Monday morning—readers know exactly when to expect it, creating a ritualistic anticipation that keeps them hooked.

Why does this matter for someone like me, trying to crack the code of digital content creation? Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Expectation and Anticipation: Just as moviegoers anticipate the next Star Wars saga, followers await the next post or video, setting a rhythm of interaction.

  • Brand Loyalty: Regular, predictable updates build trust, much like a series sticking to its core elements. This transforms casual viewers into loyal fans.

  • Engagement: A set schedule keeps the audience engaged without overwhelming them. People come back, knowing there’s something new to look forward to at a specific time, ensuring ongoing traffic and interaction.

  • Quality Over Quantity: While consistency is key, the quality of content remains paramount. It’s better to produce fewer high-quality pieces that resonate deeply with your audience than to bombard them with subpar content, preserving the integrity and appeal of your brand.

As I embark on my own journey to master the art of consistency on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, these lessons from the greats remind me that creating a series—whether it's weekly vlogs, continuous thematic content, or serialized storytelling—might just be my lightsaber in the battle for digital space supremacy. It’s about striking the right balance between a regular presence and meaningful content that truly engages and retains my audience. And… if anyone has any feedback (negative or positive), it’s always appreciated.

BRAINFEED & SHAREABLES

  • ICYMI – Beehiiv (the platform I use for this!), a New York-based startup focusing on newsletter creation and distribution, has secured $33 million in Series B funding, led by NEA with participation from Sapphire Sport and Lightspeed Venture Partners. This latest investment, bringing the total raised to $46.5 million, comes as the company experiences rapid growth, now handling 1 billion emails per month across 20,000 active newsletters. Beehiiv has developed a reputation as a launchpad for emerging brands and major organizations alike, offering both content hosting and a newly introduced advertising network to monetize niche audiences effectively. Despite the competitive landscape with players like Substack and MailChimp, Beehiiv aims to distinguish itself by integrating easily with other platforms and tools, positioning itself as a versatile and scalable solution in the burgeoning newsletter market. If you’re interested in investing, check out their crowdfunding link.

  • ICYMI – 23andMe rode the SPAC wave to public shores in June 2021, initially buoyed by the high tide of investor enthusiasm that lifted its valuation to a breezy $3.5 billion. However, choppy waters soon followed as the novelty wore off and privacy concerns, regulatory challenges, and competitive pressures drowned out early optimism. Now, bobbing below its debut highs, whispers on the waves suggest 23andMe may soon retreat from public eyes, possibly heading for the calmer seas of private ownership.

  • ICYMI – Ulta Beauty's stock plummeted by 15% after CEO Dave Kimbell highlighted a notable slowdown in demand for beauty products, affecting the entire beauty segment and causing declines in related stocks such as E.L.F. Beauty, Estee Lauder, and Coty. Speaking at a JPMorgan Chase investor conference, Kimbell remarked on unexpected early and significant slowdowns, particularly in prestige makeup and haircare, despite previous years of robust growth. This trend reflects broader economic pressures that consumers face, such as rising credit card debt and geopolitical uncertainties. Despite this, Ulta still anticipates a growth in sales for the fiscal year, albeit at a moderated pace compared to previous years.

  • 🎧: How big ideas are born

  • 📖: Women Entrepreneurs are changing the world

  • Liquid IV rebranded to look more attractive to GenZ consumers

  • POV: you work in consulting

  • Make-up hack (I tried it for my birthday and she was not lying!)

  • Does anyone think this song is addicting (can’t wait for it to come out)

  • What’s hot 🔥: Skims dresses, sleep insights from Oura, cheerios

    What’s not 🙅‍♀️: Looking for a new apartment, 50-degree and rainy weather in May (where are the flowers??)

  • 🔝High of the week: Tried a new VEGAN Omakase place in NYC

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

  • 🗽: NYC Tech Week (6/3-6/9): There are hundreds of events happening – and most of them are free / open to register. Discover them here.

  • 🗽: Startup founder + product builder meetup (5/13): It’s a great way to meet other founders, builders, and others. Register here.

HER HUSTLE & COFFEE

I love finding new coffee shops and meeting other female founders, so I started a series to share stories of female entrepreneurs at coffee shops around New York City.

Weilyn Chong, is the founder of swsh, a photo sharing app.

Check out the full video interview here, or highlights from our conversation below.

Tell me about how you started this.
I grew up all across the world. A big part of my life was keeping in touch with friends. We’re really in the business of solving the problem of how do you maintain those friendships that matter to you. We really landed on how we can continue to help friends share photos after parties and events.

Tell me about the name swsh.
Swsh actually stands for “see you somewhere somehow.”

📍Coppa Nomad (21 E 27th): 7/10 – soooo cozy, perfect vibes for a rainy day

Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives don’t have a title until much later.

xoxo,
Prasiddhi
thinkers, founder