Business Breakdowns

Feb 26 2025 215 ep. 55 mins 2.5k
Business Breakdowns Podcast artwork

Learn how companies work from the people who know them best. Each episode dissects a single business - from its origins and model to its financials and competitive edge. We uncover the lessons behind every success story. Learn more at www.joincolossus.com.

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Cognex: Vision Quest - [Business Breakdowns, EP.206]

Feb 26 2025 43 mins  
Today we are breaking down machine vision leader, Cognex. Cognex Corporation is an American manufacturer of machine vision systems, software and sensors used in automated manufacturing to inspect and identify parts, detect defects, verify product assembly, and guide assembly robots. It is not your typical reoccurring revenue story. They are a self proclaimed cyclical that has tende

Rolls-Royce: Turbines and Tribulations - [Business Breakdowns, REPLAY]

Feb 19 2025 54 mins  
Today, we are breaking down Rolls-Royce. A fair warning to those expecting to hear about luxury automobiles, that division was split from this business in the 1970s. But as we discuss the history of Rolls-Royce on this episode, you will hear how the DNA of this company still ties together from its early 1900s origins. Our guest is Graeme Forster from Orbis Investments. Graeme walks

AMETEK: Industrial Excellence - [Business Breakdowns, REPLAY]

Feb 12 2025 54 mins  
Today, we are replaying one of our favorites, breaking down the industrial conglomerate AMETEK. AMETEK is a great pairing with last week's episode on Jack Henry. These are two businesses with very long track records executing a playbook. AMETEK is one of eight companies that Mark Leonard and his team at Constellation Software studied as they built their own empire. And it's one wel

Jack Henry: VMS King - [Business Breakdowns, EP.205]

Feb 05 2025 61 mins  
Today, we are breaking down Jack Henry. If you're not familiar with it, Mark Leonard of Constellation Software once referred to this business as their ‘gold standard.’ Jack Henry is a true best in class operator within the vertical market software space. To break down the business, I'm joined by Bob Desmond, Portfolio Manager and Head of Claremont Global. Jack Henry sells ful

APi Group: Safety Services at Scale - [Business Breakdowns, EP.204]

Jan 29 2025 50 mins  
This is Zack Fuss. Today, we are breaking down APi Group, a leading provider of life safety and specialty services to buildings and construction projects. While not necessarily a household name, APi's services play a vital role in the buildings where we live and work. With over 100 acquisitions under their belt, they've strategically built a business that exceeds a billion dollars

Kaspi.kz: The Kazakh Super-App - [Business Breakdowns, EP.203]

Jan 22 2025 55 mins  
This is Zack Fuss. Today, we are breaking down Kaspi, a leading financial technology company based in Kazakhstan best known for its super app. Kaspi plays a central role in the lives of millions of Kazakh citizens by offering a seamless ecosystem that combines payments and digital wallets, e-commerce, and financial services. Its success is often attributed to its ability to solve

Gaming Consoles Part 3: Nintendo - [Business Breakdowns, EP.203]

Jan 17 2025 75 mins  
Today's episode is the third in our three-part miniseries on video game consoles. Here, we are breaking down Nintendo. Our guest is Ryan O'Connor, the founder of Crossroads Capital. He has a wealth of knowledge about Nintendo, and you will hear it throughout this episode. We discuss the history of the brand and business, including how it revitalized the industry in the 1980s, some

Gaming Consoles Part 2: Sony - [Business Breakdowns, EP.202]

Jan 15 2025 47 mins  
This is the second episode of our multi-part series on the video game console market. If you've yet to listen to Episode One, Sia Kamalie is the founder and fund manager at Skycatcher. Join me in breaking down the video game console market and his thesis for why it's an inflecting opportunity. In this episode, we go micro and Sia is back to break down Sony. Sia and I spend a lot o

Gaming Consoles Part 1: The Thesis - [Business Breakdowns, EP.201]

Jan 15 2025 54 mins  
Today's episode is the first in a multi-part series on the video game console market. Our guest is Sia Kamalie, the founder and fund manager at Skycatcher. Skycatcher describes itself as focused on capturing asymmetry at the internet frontier, and Sia has very strong conviction that the video game console market is entering a major paradigm shift with an app store model set to hit

Arm: The Silicon Blueprint - [Business Breakdowns, EP.200]

Jan 08 2025 43 mins  
This is Zack Fuss. Today, we're breaking down Arm Holdings. Arm designs the architecture powering billions of devices, from smartphones and data centers to IoT devices and automotive systems. In this episode, we'll explore Arm's unique value proposition and how it thrives as a licensing giant in a market dominated by leading-edge manufacturers. To break down Arm, I am joined by Jay