In this episode of Montaka’s Spotlight Series, Andy sits down with Amit Nath to explore the seismic shift AI agents are bringing to the global workforce. From redefining productivity to unlocking $3.7 trillion in annual labor savings, they break down how businesses like Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Google are leading the charge—and why this is just the beginning.
Key Timestamps & Topics Covered:

• 00:01:14 – What’s an AI agent? How it differs from ChatGPT.

• 00:05:13 – Real-world use cases: Salesforce, OpenTable, and Google’s AI-generated code.

• 00:11:59 – The $3.7 trillion global labor opportunity (and who captures it).

• 00:15:24 – Why data-rich platforms (like ServiceNow) have a moat.

• 00:22:21 – The shift from "seat-based" to value-based pricing in AI.

• 00:25:02 – Will AI create societal disruption? The upside for businesses.

#AIAgents #FutureOfWork #Productivity #Investing #AIRevolution #TechTrends #MontakaInsights #Technology #Insights #AndrewMacken #AmitNath #MontakaGlobal

In this episode of the Spotlight Series, Andy and Lachy unpack Amazon’s hidden flywheel: its robotics revolution. From 5-story fulfillment centers the size of 55 football fields to AI-powered sorting and packing, they explore:

• How thousands of robots are replacing human roles—safely, efficiently, and at scale.

• Why lower "cost to serve" (25% savings!) translates to faster, cheaper deliveries for customers.

• The self-reinforcing loop of AI, data, and automation—creating a flywheel within a flywheel.

• Long-term implications: autonomous trucks, drones, and last-mile robots that could redefine retail.

A must-listen for investors, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of e-commerce.

#Amazon #Robotics #AI #SupplyChain #Innovation #Logistics #Flywheel #Investing #TechTrends #FutureOfWork

In this episode of the Montaka Spotlight Podcast, Chris and Andy dive into the complexities of market valuations, focusing on why some of the world’s most advantaged companies may appear overvalued at first glance but are actually reasonably priced when you dig deeper. They discuss three key distortions—R&D spending, capital intensity, and cyclicality—that impact valuation multiples and explain why businesses like Meta, Amazon, and Blackstone are still compelling investments despite their seemingly high P/E ratios.

#InvestingInsights #MarketValuations #R&DSpending #CapitalIntensity #Cyclicality #StockMarket #Montaka #DeepSeek #Meta #Amazon #Blackstone

Unravel the impact of DeepSeek, a relatively unknown Chinese AI lab, which recently released a high-performance AI model at a fraction of the cost of leading models like OpenAI's. Deepseek's AI model, which is open-source and available for commercial use, has caused a stir in the tech world, leading to a $1 trillion wipeout in US tech stocks. Join Andy Macken and Amit Nath as they explore the implications of this breakthrough, including its potential to disrupt the AI value chain, accelerate cloud adoption, and benefit application-layer companies like Salesforce and Microsoft.

#DeepSeek #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechDisruption #OpenSource #CloudComputing #Salesforce #Microsoft #Montaka #Podcast #AIRevolution #TechMarkets #Innovation

Spotify has proven that even in a competitive landscape dominated by giants like Apple, it can thrive and grow exponentially. In this final Spotlight Series podcast of 2024, Senior Research Analyst Lachlan Mackay joins host Andy, to break down the core reasons behind Spotify's impressive stock performance and rapid profitability.

From the power of the ad-supported funnel and minimal churn to aggressive cost controls and groundbreaking partnerships with music labels, Spotify is reaping the rewards of strategic investments and operational efficiency. But the company isn't done yet—Lachlan shares what’s next for Spotify, including further pricing power, new features, and expanded content offerings. This episode offers listeners an in-depth understanding of why Spotify continues to smash expectations and what’s on the horizon for the streaming giant.

Key timestamps:

00:00:03 - 00:00:17

Introduction to the episode

00:01:00 - 00:02:03

Overview of Spotify's Growth

00:02:26 - 00:03:06

Ad-Supported Funnel: Lachlan discusses how Spotify's ad-supported tier serves as a gateway to premium growth, driving user engagement and improving retention.

00:04:15 - 00:04:53

Comparison with Apple Music

00:05:24 - 00:06:28

Price Hikes and Minimal Churn

00:06:53 - 00:07:33

Bundling and Gross Margin Improvements

00:08:59 - 00:09:42

Leverage Over Music Labels: The shift in bargaining power between Spotify and the music industry, as Spotify now has more influence due to its large user base and data insights.

00:11:06 - 00:11:40

Aggressive Cost Controls

00:12:55 - 00:14:42

Free Cash Flow and Profitability

00:15:13 - 00:16:48

Future Growth Prospects: Lachlan discusses Spotify's potential for continued growth, focusing on expanding its user base, adding new content (audiobooks, video), and improving personalization.

#Podcast #StockTip #Equities #BuyHoldSell #Global #Listed #SpotifyGrowth #BusinessSuccess #Streaming #StockMarket #SpotifySuccess #MusicIndustry #TechPodcast #GrowthStrategy #FinancialPerformance

Elite triathlete Sam Musgrove shares his remarkable journey from rugby to completing the Ironman World Championships. Learn about mental toughness, strategic goal-setting, and how the disciplines of endurance sports parallel success in business and life.

💪 How do you tackle a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a full marathon? "It's like any project - break it into manageable chunks"

Discover how Sam Musgrove transformed from a 105kg rugby player to placing 5th globally in his age group at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Key Episode Timestamps

• 00:03 - Introduction and background
• 01:16 - Sam's transition from rugby to triathlon
• 09:46 - Race nutrition and fourth discipline
• 14:20 - Detailed breakdown of Kona race experience
• 24:58 - Mental strategies during tough moments
• 31:02 - Insights on personal achievement

• 
  

  #IronmanTriathlon #MentalToughness #HighPerformance #Leadership

We added one new 'compounder' investment to Montaka's portfolio during the quarter: Floor & Decor (FND), a US-based big box specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring. In this month's podcast, Andy and Chris explain why we believe FND is primed for long-term earnings growth and, yet remains underappreciated by the market today.

#global #equities #Stockpicking #MontakaGlobal #FloornDecor #FND

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses must constantly innovate and adapt to stay ahead. One company that has mastered this art is Amazon. By leveraging a series of interconnected "flywheels," Amazon has created a self-reinforcing cycle of growth and competitive advantage. In this article, we’ll explore five key flywheels that have propelled Amazon to the forefront of global commerce and technology.

1. E-commerce Flywheel

Amazon's journey began with e-commerce, and this remains one of its most powerful engines. The e-commerce flywheel is driven by a relentless focus on customer experience, characterized by wide selection, low prices, and unmatched convenience. This focus draws in more customers, which in turn attracts more sellers, leading to increased selection and lower costs. These benefits cycle back, enhancing the customer experience further and perpetuating the flywheel.

2. Cloud Computing Flywheel: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Born out of Amazon’s own needs, AWS has transformed the way businesses access computing power. The cloud computing flywheel operates by spreading fixed costs across a vast customer base, allowing Amazon to continually lower prices and improve services. As AWS grows, it attracts more customers, who benefit from reduced costs and enhanced services, reinforcing AWS's dominance in the cloud computing market.

3. Fulfillment and Distribution Flywheel

Amazon’s fulfillment and distribution flywheel is tightly linked to its e-commerce operations. By continuously optimizing its logistics network, Amazon can offer faster delivery at lower costs. This efficiency not only improves customer satisfaction but also attracts more third-party sellers to the platform, further boosting the flywheel’s momentum.

4. Amazon Prime Flywheel

Amazon Prime is more than just a subscription service; it’s a flywheel that fuels multiple aspects of Amazon's business. For a modest annual fee, Prime members receive free shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more. These benefits drive higher spending from members, who shop more frequently and engage more deeply with Amazon’s ecosystem. The revenue generated from Prime memberships allows Amazon to continuously add more services, further enhancing the value of Prime.

5. Digital Advertising Flywheel

Amazon’s digital advertising business leverages its vast customer data to offer targeted ads across its platform. The digital advertising flywheel works by using Amazon’s first-party data to help advertisers reach customers more effectively, driving higher sales and increasing ad spend. As more advertisers join the platform, Amazon’s data insights become even richer, further enhancing the effectiveness of its advertising solutions.

**In Conclusion**

Amazon’s success is no accident. It’s the result of carefully engineered flywheels that reinforce each other, creating a cycle of growth that’s hard for competitors to break. As these flywheels continue to spin, Amazon’s competitive advantages will only strengthen, ensuring its position as a leader in global commerce and technology for years to come.

🌍💡 #Amazon #Flywheels #Innovation #Ecommerce #AWS