Posts by Mark Darwin
7 differences between taking risk and gambling with your future
Every founder is told to take risks. Quit the job. Ship the MVP. Bet on yourself. Risk is framed as a prerequisite for building anything meaningful, and that is mostly true. But somewhere along the way, many founders blur an important line. Not all risks are created equal, and not all bold moves are brave.…
Read MoreWhat is value-based pricing (and why it works for startups)
You finally have users. A few are paying. Some say the product is “cheap,” others ask for discounts, and a couple would probably pay more but you never tested it. Pricing suddenly feels heavier than features, because one wrong move affects revenue, positioning, and confidence all at once. This is where most founders start hearing…
Read MoreUber forecasts profit below estimates as cheaper rides boost trips but hurt margins
Published Wed, Feb 4, 2026 · 08:11 PM [SAN FRANCISCO] Uber Technologies forecast first-quarter profit below market expectations and missed fourth-quarter estimates on Wednesday (Feb 4), as margins took a toll from the company’s attempt to lift trip volumes through more affordable ride options. Trips rose 22 per cent in the fourth quarter, as more…
Read More7 reasons the best founders plan for profit before they plan for scale
Most founders say they want to build something big. What they usually mean is they want momentum. Users, revenue, headcount, press. Scale feels like progress, especially when you are early and everything still feels fragile. But if you spend enough time around companies that actually survive, a quieter pattern shows up. The founders who last…
Read MoreHow to decide between building in public and stealth (pros and cons)
You’ve got an idea you can’t stop thinking about. Part of you wants to share the journey, post weekly updates, and let the internet hold you accountable. Another part worries about being copied, being judged too early, or realizing publicly that the idea is not as strong as you hoped. Almost every early-stage founder reaches…
Read MoreIndia in talks to allow Alipay+ to link with instant payment system: sources
The move will ease payments for its tourists, enabling them to use its UPI with merchants in countries that have signed up with the platform Published Mon, Feb 2, 2026 · 10:34 PM [NEW DELHI] India is in talks with China-related Ant International to allow the linkage of digital payments platform Alipay+ to its leading…
Read MoreSingaporeans queueing up to buy the dip in gold despite rout
At UOB’s headquarters, Singapore’s only bank selling physical gold, buyers crowd a lounge for bullion trades Published Mon, Feb 2, 2026 · 08:19 PM [SINGAPORE] People were still queueing up to buy gold in Singapore on Monday (Feb 2) even as prices plummeted, showing the extraordinary resilience in retail demand for precious metals. At the…
Read MoreDisney is close to picking parks chief D’Amaro as next CEO
He is now leading a US$60 billion investment in expanding the company’s resorts and nearly doubling its fleet of cruise ships Published Mon, Feb 2, 2026 · 04:39 PM [LOS ANGELES] The board of Walt Disney is aligning on promoting theme-park division chairman Josh D’Amaro to the role of chief executive officer, and it will…
Read MoreIndia to spend 100 billion rupees to make biopharma production hub
The funding will be directed towards the research and production of biologics and biosimilar medicines Published Mon, Feb 2, 2026 · 12:17 PM [MUMBAI] India will invest 100 billion rupees (S$1.4 billion) in biopharmaceutical research over the next five years as part of a broader push to scale up domestic manufacturing, signalling a renewed focus…
Read MoreOracle plans to raise US$45 billion to US$50 billion in 2026
Published Mon, Feb 2, 2026 · 08:39 AM ORACLE expects to raise US$45 billion to US$50 billion in 2026 to build additional capacity for its cloud infrastructure, the software company said on Sunday. The company, chaired by billionaire Larry Ellison, said it plans to achieve its funding objectives using a combination of debt and equity…
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