Bread and Circuses: The Billionaire Cage Match Edition

Aloha, Rocket-networkers!

You've likely caught wind of the tech world's most unlikely showdown: Elon "Walrus" Musk vs. Mark "Meta-Jitsu" Zuckerberg. This isn't a boardroom brawl; it's a hypothetical cage match!

Our dear friend Elon "Walrus" Musk has thrown down the gauntlet for a cage match with Mark "Meta-Jitsu" Zuckerberg on Twitter. And what was Zuck's response? "Send me the location."

The oddsmakers are already on it. DraftKings has Zuckerberg in the lead with odds at -160. That's right, you'd need to bet $160 on the Zuck to win $100. Meanwhile, Musk is the underdog at +140. Bet $100 on Elon, and you could win $140.

So, where's your money in this battle of the billionaires? Cast your vote below!

If it actually happens, "This would be the biggest fight ever in the history of the world, bigger than anything that's ever been done," said Dana White, UFC president.

Picture this, every single pay-per-view cent, running into hundreds of millions or even a billion dollars, going to charity. What a spectacle, eh?

This drama reminds me of the "Bread and Circuses" concept from the Roman Empire times. Essentially, the public was pacified with food and entertainment. Cut to today, and not much has changed, has it?

Whether the fight happens or not, what's the takeaway here? Both Musk and Zuck are hogging the limelight. Musk's provocations on Twitter and Zuckerberg's counters on Instagram have led to a flurry of engagements and I bet, a solid boost in followers.

Do you see where I'm going with this? That's the power of audience engagement. These folks have mastered the art of staying in the news, increasing their popularity, and, in turn, expanding their business influence. And it's not always about what they do but about who they are. It's a personal brand play.

Every tweet, every comment that these moguls like or respond to becomes a magnet for followers. It’s a strategic move, a subtle nudge to bring more attention to their personal brand.

Now, if you're an entrepreneur or part of a startup looking to create a similar impact, you need to invest in Personal Branding. The secret sauce here is to build a loyal audience with engaging content. You can build it gradually, borrow from others, or try to buy it from marketers.

While you should explore all three, let's dive deeper into how you can leverage other people's audiences.

Borrowing audiences, as it is called, involves tapping into existing followers of other entities, influencers, businesses, or media platforms. It saves you the time and effort needed for organic growth and allows you to engage an already tuned-in audience.

Here's a cheat sheet for Audience Leverage:

Step 1: Follow the Right Crowd - Tune into the influencers, thought leaders, and hot topics. Pick those that resonate with your brand.

Step 2: Get Chatty - Be part of the conversation. Stay authentic, and add value but avoid dominating the discussion.

Step 3: Be a Comment Ninja - Make insightful responses in the comment section. Stand out. Make them stop and read.

Step 4: Schmooze with the Influencers - Directly engage. Remember, they're people too - no room for robotic pitches.

Step 5: Hijack Other Platforms - Share your thoughts on other platforms. Guest posts and content syndication are your allies.

Step 6: Creator Mode: Always On

I aimed for a swift sprint with this article...yet, here we are in marathon territory. My goal in the future? Compact, bite-sized articles to value your time. I hope we will get there soon…

NOW, LET’S ROCKET NETWORK!

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HERE ARE MY PICKS FOR THIS WEEK

Tuesday, June 27

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours

Nonprofit Startup Organization Meet-up

The Cannon Advisor Network Office Hours - June 2023

🤓💻Power BI User Group

Wednesday, June 28

🚀Wake Up! CPG Houston

🚀Poptarts & Pitches

June Transition On Tap

⚡2023 Carbon Capture Technology North America Expo - Day1

🚀🚀🚀FOUNDERS LIVE PITCH COMPETITION🚀🚀🚀

Thursday, June 29

🚀Cup of Joey - The Woodlands

⚡2023 Carbon Capture Technology North America Expo - Day2

Innovation on Tap: Marcia O’Malley, Rice University

Friday, June 30

🚀🚀🚀 Cup of Joey

🚀Ideas to Impact: Create Your Value Proposition with Grace Rodriguez!

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours

Aramco Ventures Office Hours at the Ion

Ion Office Hours

Community Ask and Founder Spotlight

Houston's tech hub Ion has just given birth to something extraordinary. Meet Eigen Control’s groundbreaking product - a game-changing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver platform. This isn't just some piece of shiny tech. It's a true problem-solver designed to boost solutions across a plethora of industries. We're talking energy transition, automotive, aerospace, and even computer chip fabrication. That's huge! Big shoutout to Erdin, Brandon, and the rest of the squad. They're not just working the 9-5. No, they're burning the midnight oil and crunching the weekends to make this happen. If you're an investor and these guys aren't on your radar, let me tell you, you're missing out. My short description of their startups is this - Eigen Control: Where dedication meets innovation, and problems get solved. More info here - LINK

Meet EMBER SLEEP. They were just featured on Investment-Grade Startups with my ecosystem friend Simmy Hundal. EMBER SLEEP is revolutionizing sleep apnea treatment with comfort, convenience, and effectiveness, all wrapped in patient-centric, cutting-edge tech. They're changing the game and bringing good sleep back to those who need it. Kudos to Aaron Glick, Carlos Bernal, and the rest of the team behind this innovation.

Let's toast J. Omar Ochoa and Giorgio Villani, the tireless pioneers who just pulled off a phenomenal mixed media art exhibition, blending traditional art forms and NFTs. A packed house and a truly immersive experience, this was not your typical showcase. And let's not forget the star of the show, "Ed." Ed is more than just an artistic character. He's the embodiment of the human spirit - resilient, hopeful, and always seeking opportunities. Ed is a testament to the spirit that refuses to be caged, dares to cross boundaries, and finds hope in the unlikeliest of places. If you love the blend of art, innovation, and the human spirit, you don't want to miss out on this. Hats off to artist - Omar, event co-organizer Giorgio, of course, Ed, and everyone else involved.

Introducing Lacey Tezino, the visionary behind Passport Journeys App. She's honing in on the intricacies and challenges that can spring up in mother-daughter relationships. Lacey and her team are not simply working on another app. They're creating a unique space for intentional bonding, healing, and growth specific to mothers and daughters. They're combining teletherapy, live events, and an online shop all aimed at nurturing these critical relationships. Passport Journeys is a platform for healing and growth. If you want to be part of this important journey, don't hesitate to reach out and get involved.

And...you gotta hear about this Houston-based gem, ExoBraced. These guys are dialing in on the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. In 5 days, they're launching preorders for ExoBak. It’s your ticket to easier heavy lifting, and guess what - they're making it affordable for all. Their crowdfunding campaign is your chance to get in early, score a sweet deal, and help change the game for manual workers globally. So, mark June 30th on your calendars. Don’t just buy tech, buy a movement.