Trends Podcast

Hosted by Trends.vc, Dru Riley

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Feb 2026

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About the show

Join the Trends Podcast where we explore cool new business ideas and the latest in tech like AI and Crypto. We're your smart friends doing the homework for you. Get the info you need without spending hours on research. You’re in great company with 63,000+ founders who are also finding new opportunities. Press play and let's see what's trending!

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21 recent

February 28, 2026Episode 2112 min

#0153: OpenClaw Hosting: Wrapper Bubble, Fork Ecosystem, Compliance Gap

35+ hosting companies launched in weeks around a single open-source project. An 18-year-old hit $17K MRR in 5 days, listed for $2.25M, slashed to $225K the next day. The wrapper bubble is already deflating.This episode covers the OpenClaw hosting landscape: who survives the consolidation, why forks like PicoClaw and ZeroClaw are creating entirely new markets on $10 hardware, and where the durable opportunities are above the hosting layer.We break down 19 players, 7 predictions and 10 opportunities — from agent observability platforms to the compliance gap that turns $50/month customers into $5,000/month enterprise contracts.Full report and links at https://trends.vcGenerated with https://makemulti.com

January 31, 2024Episode 2014 min

#0083: Programmatic SEO: No-Code Tools, Monetizing Traffic, AI Writing

In this episode, we're going to talk about programmatic SEO. This is about how businesses get customers by creating lots of pages aimed at specific topics. They use tools and AI to make content. We'll look into where SEO is heading, like more use of no-code tools, more competition for less common keywords, and how to deal with searches that don't lead to clicks. We'll give you tips and talk about chances to use data from users, create specialized search engines, and get more people to visit your site. Join us to learn about the changing world of SEO tactics and strategies.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

January 24, 2024Episode 1910 min

#0081: Influencer Marketing: Borrowing Trust, Virtual Influencers, Native Advertising

In this episode, we're going to look at how influencer marketing is changing and what it might be like in the future. We'll explore how brands are promoting themselves differently now, find out how to use trust and attention to your advantage, and learn about the good and bad things in this exciting area. We'll talk about the growing trend of virtual influencers and why using data is important. This episode will help you understand the important details and lessons you need to know about working with influencers.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

January 17, 2024Episode 1814 min

#0080: Monetized Open Source: Incumbents, IP Rights, User-Owned Networks

In this podcast episode, we're going to talk about making money from open-source projects. We'll talk about the problems of being stuck with one vendor and how to make money from open-source work. We'll look at what might happen in the future, like big new projects, networks owned by users, and changes in digital items and smart contracts. We'll explore how working on open-source projects can help your career, lead to new ideas, and help businesses succeed. Join us as we go over the challenges, important lessons, different opinions, and arguments about making money from open-source projects. We'll give you a full view of how they work and what they could become.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

January 10, 2024Episode 1712 min

#0078: No-Code: Smaller Firms, Competitive Advantages, Opportunity Costs

In this episode, we're looking at how no-code tools are changing the way software is developed. We'll see how these tools make it easier to work with things like web3, machine learning, and creating games. They're changing how people work and making it cheaper to develop software. We'll talk about how this could lead to more specialized products, one-person businesses making a lot of money, and more products being made with no-code tools. We'll explore how these tools can help automate tasks, start businesses, create new products, and support people who make things for a living. We'll also look at the risks and important things to learn. Join us to find out about the future of coding and development in this interesting episode.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

January 3, 2024Episode 1610 min

#0076: Fractional Ownership: Web3, Tokenization, Valuations

In this episode, we're going to talk about fractional ownership. This means owning a part of something valuable, like big buildings or digital items like NFTs. We'll see how breaking up these big investments into smaller parts makes it possible for more people to invest in things that used to be out of reach. We'll talk about how this could lead to more user-owned networks and good chances for both investors and creators. We'll also discuss how this can turn assets into cash faster and create communities where people share ownership. This episode will cover the good and bad points, and important lessons about fractional ownership. Join us to learn more about how owning parts of assets is changing.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

December 27, 2023Episode 1514 min

#0075: FIRE Movement: Financial Independence, Active Investing, Milestones

In this podcast episode, we're diving into the FIRE movement, which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. We'll look at the different ways you can do it, the risks, and the good things that come with it. We'll talk about how being financially independent isn't just about stopping work early, but also about managing different kinds of wealth well. We'll cover things like the 4% rule and both active and passive ways of investing. This episode will give you various viewpoints, practical steps, and important lessons on how to be financially independent while keeping in mind what's really important in life. Join us as we discuss taking charge of your finances, how much you should save, and why time is the most important thing you have, in this interesting discussion about mastering FIRE.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

December 20, 2023Episode 1416 min

#0074: Print on Demand: Pull Manufacturing, Scale Effects, Monetizing Trust

In this episode, we're going to talk about on-demand manufacturing and how it's changing things. We'll see how building trust and telling stories can make products more valuable. We'll also look at how this way of making things reduces the risks of having too much inventory, wasting money, and market uncertainties. We'll explore how local manufacturing and automation are growing, and how it's easier to get custom-made items. We'll discuss what might happen in the future, the chances, and the risks in this changing field. This episode will help you understand the future of making things, building brands, and connecting with customers.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

December 13, 2023Episode 1320 min

#0073: The Creator Economy: Non-Fungible People, Value Ladders, Monetization Options

In this podcast episode, we're going to explore the Creator Economy. We'll see how technology is making it easier for people to start their own businesses without needing big companies. We'll talk about how creators are now more valuable than before and how things are changing. We'll look at how people share their content, guess what might happen with technology behind the scenes, and discuss user-owned networks. You'll learn about the new ways creators can make money and how the loss of control by gatekeepers is affecting everything. Join us to understand what's happening in the world of content creation and the Creator Economy.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.

December 6, 2023Episode 1216 min

#0070: Product-Led Growth: Time-To-Value, Onboarding, Non-SaaS Businesses

In this episode, we'll talk about how companies are changing from focusing on sales to focusing on their products to grow. We'll look at why it's getting more expensive to get new customers and how things are more than just about product features. We'll see how sales-led growth and product-led growth are different. Companies like Canva, Slack, and Notion are leading the way by making products that sell themselves and help the people who use them in their organizations. We'll explore what might happen in the future, the chances and challenges in growing a business. This episode will give you a good idea of how to spread your product better and how sales-led and product-led growth are changing.For more insights like these and to stay ahead with our latest reports, join our free newsletter at join.trends.vc.Ready to take it to the next level? Become a Trends Pro member for exclusive content and resources at access.trends.vc.