The Tech Strategy Podcast

Hosted by Jeffrey Towson

Technology Management NewsInterviews guestsExplicit

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Episodes

286

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

We help digital AI businesses build competitive moats. And launch agentic initiatives fast. Hosted by a professor and founder of Agentic Org Now , the Tech Strategy Podcast delivers deep dives into digital strategy, platform economics, and emerging agentic business models. Episodes combine lessons from tech giants (mostly Asian) and practical frameworks for management teams. No guest interviews. No PR fluff. Just strategic analysis and lessons. You can subscribe to The Agentic Frontier Email and get your free book at AgenticOrgNow.com . Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. Not investment advice.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 16, 2026Episode 30036 min

When Everyone Can Be Steven Spielberg, Be YouTube: iQIYI’s Big Pivot (300)

This week’s podcast is about iQIYI's 3 big moves in tech. Specifically offering video production capabilities as a service. And shifting towards a platform business model. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to Agentic Org Now . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . ------- I am a founder, consultant and keynote speaker specialized in digital and AI agentic strategy. I am the founder of Agentic Org Now , a firm that helps leadership teams launch AI and agentic initiatives fast. I write (a lot) about digital and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). You can get a free book at the email sign-up below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital and AI businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

October 7, 2026Episode 29942 min

My Firsthand Look at Embodied AI at JD: JoyAI and JoyInside (299)

This week’s podcast is about JD’s big moves in robotics and embodied AI. Specifically JoyAI and JoyInside. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to Agentic Org Now . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are some photos from JD's exhibit at the World Robotics Conference. JD’s JoyAI and JoyInside Are a Smarter Bet Than Building Humanoid Robots (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy) ------- I am a founder, consultant and keynote speaker specialized in digital and AI agentic strategy. I am the founder of Agentic Org Now , a firm that helps leadership teams launch AI and agentic initiatives fast. I write (a lot) about digital and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). You can get a free book at the email sign-up below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital and AI businesses. Note: This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

September 30, 2026Episode 29849 min

JD Launches 101HOME, an Upgrade to Experiential Retail in Furniture (298)

This week’s podcast is about JD's new home furniture retail store 101HOME. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to Agentic Org Now . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are some photos from 101HOME. Here are the mentioned articles: Why JD.com Built 101HOME: The Case for Experiential Furniture Retail (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy) Lessons in Competitive Advantage from My Visit to Warren Buffett’s Nebraska Furniture Mart (Tech Strategy) What Is Great Digital Strategy for Furniture Retail? My Visit to the JD-Qumei in China (1 of 2) ------- I am a founder, consultant and keynote speaker specialized in digital and AI agentic strategy. I am the founder of Agentic Org Now , a firm that helps leadership teams launch AI and agentic initiatives fast. I write (a lot) about digital and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). You can get a free book at the email sign-up below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital and AI businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

September 20, 2026Episode 29749 min

Lessons From Our First Alibaba E-Commerce Training Program (297)

This week’s podcast is about the recent Alibaba Ecommerce Training Program - and our trip to Alibaba HQ in Hangzhou. I outlined two companies visits: Geely / Zeekr DEEP Robotics Plus a little about Fly Zoo Hotel. I outlined two useful tools: QwenWork Accio and Aidge. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are the articles with all the photos and videos: Day 1 of Our Alibaba Ecommerce Training Program: Visiting Geely / Zeekr (1 of 5) (Tech Strategy) Day 1 of Our Alibaba Ecommerce Program: Touring DEEP Robotics (2 of 5) (Tech Strategy) Day 4 of Our Alibaba Ecommerce Program: Accio, QwenWork and Fly Zoo Hotel (5 of 5) (Tech Strategy) Disclosure. I have had a education partnership with Alibaba within the past twelve months. -------- I am a founder, consultant and keynote speaker specialized in digital and AI agentic strategy. I am the founder of Agentic Org Now , a firm that helps leadership teams launch AI and agentic initiatives fast. I write (a lot) about digital and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). You can get a free book at the email sign-up below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital and AI businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

September 9, 2026Episode 29647 min

Digital Avatars Are Ending Human Livestreamers. And What to Do About It. (296)

This week’s podcast is about my recent tour to Hangzhou and Alibaba headquarters. And my 3 take-aways from the epicenter of ecommerce meets AI and agents. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . My big take-aways are: Agentic Commerce Is Now an Arms Race Everyone needs to upgrade their capabilities with AI and agents to stay competitive. And then repeat. And repeat again. Human KOLs and Content Creators Have Already Peaked. Livestreaming is already shifting to digital avatars. Other content creator types will follow. The future of content creation and KOLs is mostly not-human. Digital Livestreamers Have Arrived in Ecommerce. Entertainment and Thought Leaders Are Next. My playbook for human content creators / KOLs is: Focus on topics where being human matters: Taste and curation . What wine is better vs. what laptop is better. Irreversible and/or critical decisions . Situations where you can't do it over and judgement matters. There is an advancing frontier of knowledge . There is no existing online database of expertise. Think new AI tools, not history. Use a multi-format approach: Focus on building personal relationships . Such as in communities and events. Both online and offline. Make your content super authentic. Ideally videos instead of text or voice. Make it clear this is a human. Deploy an avatar army . Your solo content is not enough. You need an army creating content 24/7. This can be clones of yourself or similar personas. The mentioned photos are here . Disclosure. I have had a education partnership with Alibaba within the past twelve months. ------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

September 6, 2026Episode 29542 min

WorkBuddy Goes Global. Other Tencent Buddies Will Follow. (295)

This week’s podcast is about WorkBuddy, Tencent's flagship Agent product. It is currently going international. And will likely be followed by Tencent's other "buddy" products: CodeBuddy Toast Marvis Ardot Miora ima Copilot You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Disclosure. I have had a paid consulting relationship with Tencent in the past twelve months. ------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

August 25, 2026Episode 29444 min

Huawei and China Unicom Pioneered "Robot-Native Networks" at the World Humanoid Robot Competition (294)

This week’s podcast is about the robot-native network Huawei and China Unicom built for the World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) in Beijing. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Disclosure. I have had a paid consulting relationship with Huawei in the past twelve months. ----------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

August 17, 2026Episode 29345 min

5 Take-Aways from the Unitree Filing (293)

This week’s podcast is about Unitree, which is about to go public. Plus, there is a quick intro to Tencent's Robot Brain (Tairos). You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are my 5 take-aways: A good growth story in robodogs and humanoids. Rapid growth. Highly diversified. In both product categories. Unitree has frontier-level expertise in robot bodies and agility. Unitree was late to embodied AI capabilities. The hands don’t appear advanced. Only 10 DoF? Operationally, Unitree is still a relatively small company 516 FTEs, versus 1,500 at Agibot Disclosure. I have had a paid consulting relationship with Tencent in the past twelve months. ----------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

August 9, 2026Episode 29253 min

Shein vs. the Ecommerce Giants: Why Cross-Border Fashion Is Not Enough (292)

This week’s podcast is about Shein, which is about to go public. It has had a lot of success as a specialist in cross-border fashion ecommerce. But it needs to move beyond this going forward. You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . Here are my 5 questions (thus far) for assessing the viability of a specialty ecommerce company. Is the company sufficiently differentiated in the user experience? Can the company compete and/or differentiate in logistics or infrastructure without ongoing spending? Does the company have a strong competitive advantage in a circumscribed market? No Is there a clear path to significant operational cash flow? Has the company avoided markets and situations that are attractive or strategic for the major ecommerce companies? I spoke about this in a past podcast. Early Etsy Was a Great Example of Specialty Ecommerce. But Things Are Changing. (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy) The future of Shein depends on what business you think Shein is in: Connecting China manufacturers with foreign consumers. China manufacturing gets you low cost and big variety. Ultra fast fashion. This is about speed and flexible production. Test, learn, restock. Digital-first fashion . This is a compelling future position. --------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

August 2, 2026Episode 29149 min

DEEP Robotics, Galbot, and Booster Robotics Have Compelling Use Cases (291)

This week’s podcast is about rising robot companies that I have found compelling. That have clear use cases that scale. And that have indications of competitive advantages. They are: AgiBot (discussed in last podcast) Galbot Booster Robotics DEEP Robotics You can listen to this podcast here , which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts . Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting . Here is the link to our Tech Tours . ---------- I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting , a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here . I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below. My Moats and Marathons book series is a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show