Venture Step

STRETCH: TRANSFORMING GROCERY SHOPPING WITH ANDY ELLWOOD

Keywordsentrepreneurship, pricing transparency, Instacart scandal, grocery shopping, Stretch app, good quests, AI pricing, startup advice, founder journey, consumer behaviorSummaryIn this episode, Dalton Anderson interviews Andy Elwood, founder of Stretch, discussing the importance of pricing transparency in grocery shopping and the implications of the recent Instacart scandal. They explore the concept of 'good quests' in entrepreneurship, the innovative solutions offered by Stretch, and provide valuable advice for aspiring founders. The conversation emphasizes the need for transparency in pricing and the role of technology in enhancing consumer choice.TakeawaysAndy Elwood emphasizes the privilege of being a founder again.The concept of 'good quests' is crucial for impactful entrepreneurship.Instacart's pricing manipulation raises ethical concerns in grocery shopping.Stretch aims to provide transparency in grocery pricing for consumers.The app allows users to compare prices across different stores easily.Future updates will enhance personalization and user experience in Stretch.Entrepreneurs should focus on solving real pain points, not just nice-to-haves.Identifying a long-term problem is essential for sustainable startups.Writing down frustrations can help identify potential business ideas.Building a startup requires passion and commitment to the problem being solved.Sound bites"We're doing the right work here""Focus on good hard quests""Feeding our families is not a choice"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Stretch and Pricing Transparency03:22 The Concept of Good Quests in Entrepreneurship09:16 Instacart Scandal and Pricing Manipulation15:10 Stretch's Solution for Grocery Shopping24:10 Future Vision and Personalization of Stretch30:49 Advice for Aspiring FoundersLearn Morehttps://stretchformore.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyellwood/Venture Stephttps://www.daltonanderson.net/venture-step/

THE VIBE CODER REVIEW: BASE44 VS. EMERGENT, LOVABLE & RIPLET

Keywordsentrepreneurship, AI tools, Base 44, Emergent, Lovable, Riplet, Firebase GenKit, MVP, development tools, technology trendsSummaryIn this episode, Dalton Anderson discusses various tools for entrepreneurs, focusing on AI development tools like Base 44, Emergent, Lovable, and Riplet. He provides insights into their functionalities, strengths, and weaknesses, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right tool for quick MVP development. The conversation also touches on Firebase GenKit and its unique approach to app development. Dalton concludes with a comparison of the tools and shares his final thoughts on their effectiveness in the entrepreneurial landscape.TakeawaysIt's 2016, a great time to start your entrepreneurial journey.AI tools are evolving rapidly, offering new capabilities.Base 44 stands out for its comprehensive output and user interface.Emergent lacks the functionality expected from a leading tool.Lovable has made significant progress in its offerings.Riplet has potential but faced issues during testing.Firebase GenKit is more of an orchestrator than a full stack generator.Choosing the right tool can significantly impact your development process.Documentation and architecture are crucial in app development.The entrepreneurial landscape is filled with tools that can help streamline processes.Sound bites"Base 44 crushes their competitor.""Base 44 is the gold standard.""GenKit has potential, needs work."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Industry Trends00:00 Challenges in Modern Entrepreneurship00:13 The Best Time to Start Entrepreneurship00:14 Navigating Industry Trends00:31 Kickstarting the New Year: Tools for Entrepreneurs01:00 Exploring AI in Entrepreneurship01:05 Kickstarting Your Entrepreneurial Journey03:48 Exploring Full Stack Generators07:59 Base 44 vs. Emergent: A Comparative Analysis21:22 Lovable and Riplet: Quick MVP Solutions32:57 Firebase GenKit: A New Approach to Development

EXPLORING GOOGLE WORKSPACE STUDIO: A DEMO OF AI-DRIVEN WORKFLOWS

KeywordsGoogle Workspace Studio, automation, email management, productivity, AI tools, Microsoft Power Automate, entrepreneurship, technology trends, Google Gemini, project managementSummaryIn this episode of the Venture Step Podcast, Dalton Anderson discusses the newly released Google Workspace Studio, exploring its features, automation capabilities, and how it compares to Microsoft Power Automate. He shares insights on email management, workflow automation, and the potential future developments of the platform. The conversation also touches on the importance of distinguishing between a product and a feature in the tech industry, concluding with reflections on personal value in relationships.TakeawaysGoogle Workspace Studio is a new automation tool from Google.It offers low-code solutions for email and task management.The transition from Maker Suite to Workspace Studio reflects Google's rebranding efforts.Workspace Studio is compared to Microsoft Power Automate, with pros and cons for each.Automation can significantly improve meeting efficiency and email management.The integration of AI tools like Gemini 3.0 enhances Workspace Studio's capabilities.Users can create custom workflows to manage emails and tasks effectively.The importance of organizing digital files for better accessibility is emphasized.Understanding the difference between a product and a feature is crucial for tech companies.Personal value in relationships should be considered, just like in business.Sound bites"Google, you gotta stop doing that.""It just makes more efficient meetings.""Thank you for listening to the show."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Google Workspace Studio02:47 Exploring Features and Automations06:08 Comparing Google Workspace Studio and Microsoft Products08:53 Practical Applications and Workflows12:00 Live Demo of Google Workspace Studio12:09 Introduction to Google Workspace Studio16:59 Transition from Maker Suite to Workspace Studio22:24 Exploring Google Workspace Features26:35 Demonstrating Email Automation Flows33:18 Managing Email Attachments and Organization39:51 Automating Promotional Emails and Updates44:38 Future of Google Workspace and Agentic Workflows47:03 Product vs. Feature: A Critical Perspective

SURVEILLANCE PRICING: THE NEW CONSUMER CHALLENGE

Keywordspricing, surveillance pricing, legislation, consumer rights, algorithmic pricing, Instacart, market manipulation, historical pricing, value of service pricing, consumer surplusSummaryIn this episode of the Venture Step podcast, Dalton Anderson explores the evolution of pricing from historical negotiation practices to modern surveillance pricing driven by AI algorithms. He discusses the implications of these changes on consumer rights, the recent Instacart scandal, and the legislative responses aimed at regulating algorithmic pricing. The conversation highlights the moral and ethical considerations surrounding pricing strategies and the potential future of pricing legislation.TakeawaysThe AI algorithm is now determining consumer pricing based on data.Surveillance pricing can lead to manipulation of consumers.Historical pricing was based on negotiation and transparency.Legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act was created to protect consumers.Instacart's pricing practices led to a significant FTC fine.Value of service pricing was a historical method of pricing based on consumer need.New bills are being introduced to combat algorithmic pricing.The impact of pricing algorithms can lead to significant consumer costs.Legislative responses are evolving in reaction to pricing scandals.The future of pricing legislation is uncertain but necessary.TitlesThe Future of Pricing: Algorithms vs. EthicsSurveillance Pricing: The New Consumer ChallengeSound bites"That's manipulation, those are quite different.""We don't care if it's a good or a service.""This is unchristian. We're not doing this."Chapters00:00 The Evolution of Pricing: From Negotiation to Algorithms06:09 Surveillance Pricing: The New Age of Consumer Manipulation12:55 Value of Service Pricing: A Historical Perspective19:51 Legislative Responses to Algorithmic Pricing28:16 The Future of Pricing: Trends and ImplicationsSupporthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/232https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4640https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/instacart-pay-60-million-consumer-refunds-settle-ftc-lawsuit-over-allegations-it-engaged-deceptivehttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-requires-realpage-end-sharing-competitively-sensitive-information-andhttps://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/instacart-ai-pricing-experiment-inflating-grocery-bills-a1142182490/

THE LOYALTY PENALTY: WHY YOUR FAITHFUL SHOPPING HABITS ARE COSTING YOU MORE

KeywordsInstacart, Consumer Reports, dynamic pricing, AI, surveillance pricing, Eversight, customer surplus, price discrimination, grocery staples, algorithm ethicsSummaryIn this episode of the Venture Step Podcast, Dalton Anderson dives into a recent Consumer Reports investigation regarding Instacart’s use of AI-enabled dynamic pricing. Dalton explores how the technology, powered by a company called Eversight, aims to reduce "customer surplus" by charging users different prices for the exact same goods based on their willingness to pay. The discussion highlights the ethical concerns of applying airline-style pricing logic to essential items like milk and eggs, the manipulation of discount perception, and the potential for discriminatory profiling against vulnerable populations.TakeawaysWhile society generally accepts variable pricing for airline seats due to supply and demand, applying this logic to essential goods like bread and eggs raises significant ethical questions. A Consumer Reports investigation involving 437 volunteers found that 74% of items selected had different prices for different people in the same geographic areas. The study revealed massive markups, such as a 23% increase for Wheat Thins in Seattle and a 20% price swing for eggs in DC. This pricing strategy is driven by "Eversight," which uses AI to determine the maximum price a consumer will pay, effectively eliminating the savings a customer might otherwise enjoy . Additionally, the illusion of deals is created when algorithms artificially inflate the list price for certain users to make a standard discount appear larger. Brand loyalty can also act as a disadvantage; if an algorithm knows you will always buy a specific brand, it may charge you more for it. Ultimately, there are fears this technology could evolve into discriminatory profiling, similar to failed predictive policing models, targeting users based on personal data and location.Sound Bites"But what if that same logic applied to staple goods like milk, bread, eggs?" "Your loyalty has a penalty now." "It's predatory price manipulation of goods, of staple goods that people need on a day-to-day basis." "Gross, the whole thing is gross." Chapters00:00 Introduction: Dynamic Pricing in Groceries01:49 From Physical Stickers to Digital Black Boxes03:52 Understanding Eversight and Customer Surplus06:44 The Consumer Reports Investigation Results09:50 The Ethical Cost of AI Pricing11:03 Psychological Manipulation and the Illusion of Deals14:44 The Dangers of Surveillance Pricing and Discrimination18:39 Conclusion: The Need for Pricing TransparencySupporthttps://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/instacart-ai-pricing-experiment-inflating-grocery-bills-a1142182490/