TBD session Bliss + Dustin (Feb 11)

Attendees: Dustin J Ross, Bliss Perry Date: February 11, 2026 Type: Partner Session

Summary

Steve Blank Meeting Preparation

• Meeting scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (next week)
• Need to send pre-read Tuesday night
• Location TBD - will offer his office or reserve room
• Goal: Walk out with clear path forward, not just academic exercise
• Format: One-page executive summary + verbal presentation
  • No slide deck - prefer document-based approach
  • Visual aids only if charts/figures needed

Business Model Vision: Supply Chain Data Platform

• Core insight: Oil industry has financial products (insurance, hedging, indices) that don’t exist for critical 21st century supply chains
• All depend on comprehensive data asset assembly
• Three-part model:
  1. Proprietary data from firms → Platform data asset → Downstream applications
  2. Downstream value: Insurance, financial hedging, index creation, trading/speculation
  3. Self-reinforcing cycle through marketplace transactions

Data Asset Strategy Framework

• Four-quadrant matrix: Public/Proprietary × Structural/Dynamic
• Public structural: Legal entity data, customs manifests, sanctions lists
• Proprietary structural: Supply chain mapping, tier 1-2 supplier relationships
• Public dynamic: Satellite feeds, shipping routes, natural disaster data
• Proprietary dynamic: Inventory levels, lead times, order volumes

Incentive Structure for Data Acquisition

• Primary challenge: Getting companies to share proprietary data
• Defensive wedge: Compliance/audit requirements (slave labor, sanctions, KYC)
  • Legally mandatory workflows create entry point
  • AI-powered automation as value proposition
• Marketplace approach: Transactions generate data organically
• Profit-sharing models for downstream value creation

Semiconductor Industry Analysis Insights

• Structural cyclicality every 3-5 years with double-digit swings
• 18-24 month fab construction timeline creates supply/demand mismatches
• Bullwhip effect: Small demand changes amplify downstream
• Non-fungible nature unlike oil (can’t substitute chip types)
• Availability risk > price risk for buyers
• Predictive indicators exist with ~1 quarter lead time

Presentation Structure (Why-How-What Framework)

• Why: Inspired by lecture on semis as “oil of 21st century”
• How: Studied oil supply chain, mapped to semiconductors, identified gaps
• What: Business model vision for data-driven supply chain intelligence platform
• Focus on business model rather than comprehensive industry analysis

Key Analogies and Positioning

• “Bloomberg for supply chains” - data platform comparison
• Economic rents concept from oil industry applied to semiconductors
• Palantir-style data integration and predictive analytics
• Marketplace model similar to transaction-driven platforms

Weekend Work Plan

• Anonymous: Create business model diagrams and narrative by Friday/Saturday
• Partner: Review and provide feedback, draft supporting sections
• Saturday touch-point call scheduled
• Monday evening challenging due to travel schedules
• Tuesday 12-12:30 lunch meeting planned

Outstanding Questions for Steve Blank

• How to design optimal incentive structure for data sharing
• Which supply chain/material for initial focus
• Specific next steps beyond meeting

Next Steps

• Anonymous: Draft visual business model presentation (P0 priority)
• Partner: Email Steve Blank about meeting location preferences
• Both: Populate data matrix with specific examples
• Finalize one-page executive summary by Tuesday night