In today's podcast, Dan examines how the effects of the walkouts at Google on forced arbitration regarding sexual harassment with Axios Chief Technology Correspondent Ina Fried.
The two also address the fallout at Facebook following the New York Time's bombshell report on leadership. Plus, in the "Final Two": Uber's big speed bump on the way to an IPO and President Trump's very challenging electoral map for 2020.
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Levi Strauss & Co. is prepping an IPO that could raise between $600 million and $800 million at a valuation of around $5 billion (or perhaps $5.01 billion?), according to CNBC.
Why it matters: There aren't too many 100 year-old companies around, let alone 145-year old companies that remain iconic and successful. Plus Levi's isn't only a fashion trailblazer, it has also completed one of the largest-ever IPOs at the time of issuance ($50m in 1971) and a then-massive take-private leveraged buyout ($1.7 billion in 1984).
The bottom line: "After profit declines in recent years, Levi's is seeing its top and bottom lines rise once again," CNBC's Leslie Picker writes.
By the numbers: "On Oct. 9, Levi's reported revenue of $1.4 billion for the quarter ended Aug. 26, a 10% increase from the same quarter a year ago. Net income was $130 million, representing a jump of 45%.
Greetings from New York City, where the local tabloids are aghast at the more than $1.8 billion in incentives used to lure Amazon to Queens.
Why it matters: Not only do some critics feel the money could best be spent elsewhere — a questionable argument, since the $1.8 billion is intended to come from the new, Amazon-related revenue — but they're also concerned with the per-employee incentives, which are more than twice what Arlington, Virginia, is paying.
But even those upset with the money seem to accept the premise that Amazon will not only bring new tech talent to the city, but will also ultimately improve the overall tech ecosystem as employees spin out to found their own tech startups.
One of the most remarkable parts of Amazon's success is how few other successes it has spawned, particularly in its home market of Seattle.
Here are some explanations as to why Amazon hasn't become a spin-out machine, based on conversations with some Seattle tech folks:
It is certainly possible that New York City and, to a lesser extent Virginia, will be different. There's much more available seed capital, and they feel less like "company towns" than does Seattle. Plus, all you really need is one massive success to create a conga line of copycats.
Go deeper: I'll dive further into the arrangement later today on the Pro Rata podcast, with guest Alicia Glen, NYC's deputy mayor for housing and economic development, who was an architect of the deal.
More on Amazon's HQ2 decision:
