One Smart Business Story: Can Sweetgreen Win You Back With $10 Wraps?

How Skype Lost the Video Call Wars

Before Zoom meetings, FaceTime calls, and Microsoft Teams, there was Skype.  In the early 2000s, Skype revolutionized the way people communicated, making it possible to call anyone in the world over the internet for little to no cost. The company grew at a staggering pace, attracted hundreds of millions of users, became a household name, and helped turn video calling from a novelty into a necessity. So how did the company that pioneered internet communication lose its place in the future it helped create? Welcome to Fail Factory—where we look at the companies that stumbled, faded, or failed, and fix them up with the benefit of hindsight. In this episode, Inc. staff reporters Ali Donaldson and Ben Sherry explore Skype's rise from startup disrupter to global tech powerhouse, the billion-dollar acquisitions that reshaped its trajectory, and the strategic decisions that left it vulnerable as competitors like Zoom, WhatsApp, Slack, and Microsoft Teams transformed the communications landscape. Along the way, we'll examine the founders' lessons hidden inside Skype's story: why being first isn't always enough, how success can make companies complacent, and what happens when market leaders stop evolving while customer expectations continue to change.

We Drove Rivian’s R2

Rivian Automotive has been losing a lot of money—around $3.6 billion in 2025 alone. That may soon change. Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe hopes that with the release of the R2, Rivian’s highly anticipated electric SUV, the company can drive toward profitability.     On this episode of One Smart Business Story, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger talks about his visit to Rivian’s factory, his test drive of the R2, and his candid conversation with Scaringe.

One Smart Business Story: How Whatnot’s Winning With Live Shopping

Unlike their Asian counterparts, American retailers have tried their hands at live shopping to no avail. That is until Whatnot took a swing at it. Spoiler alert: Live shopping is working for the $11.5 billion startup.    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger sits down with Inc. senior writer Jennifer Conrad to unpack Whatnot’s magic, why live shopping is resonating with its fandom, and its plans for a sustainable future.

Founder Group Chat: Get Ahead of Your Competitors

Standing out in an oversaturated market is a tough challenge to overcome for entrepreneurs. Luckily, these founders have some tips on just how to do that. On this Founder Group Chat, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey sat down with three experts:  * Ron Holloway, co-founder and co-CEO of Woofbowl [https://www.mywoofbowl.com/]  * LeAnn Darland, co-founder and co-CEO of TALEA Beer Co. [https://www.taleabeer.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooGrwW69Fd5B_qY1cymWcOnud4dnv-QG2EKWPcgUvUHDdA4lwQC]   * Gabi Lewis, co-founder and co-CEO of Magic Spoon. [https://magicspoon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAx6uW3QFZgFr4S0uZEgC6JcbjgX2gFdCQw2WVCKtKDrD_xEj9]  They share their insights on how they pivot their businesses to overcome any challenge that comes their way and stay ahead of their competitors.

One Smart Business Story: Can Sweetgreen Win You Back With $10 Wraps?

In the 2010s, Sweetgreen was all the rage with Millennials who loved its fast casual but health-conscious approach to their office lunch. But since then, the world has changed. More young people are working from home and not taking those coveted breaks away from the office to reset and recharge with a $20 salad bowl.     In a recent piece for Inc. magazine, journalist and screenwriter Mickey Rapkin writes that the company previously admitted to struggling to connect with people aged 25 to 35, its exact target audience.    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. staff reporter Chloe Aiello sat down with Rapkin for a conversation about Sweetgreen’s losing favor with its customer base, its new leadership team, and what wraps have to do with its comeback.