Chapter 1: Discord's New App Gas

Good day, everyone! Welcome to Bite Sized Beta, where we have a lot of juicy news to share this week.

In this edition: ⛽️ Discord's venture into the gas market 💸 A fresh crypto exchange emerges 🍪 Quick headlines from the tech world 🍫 Our top four picks of the week 😂 Memes to lighten your Thursday.

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FRESHLY BAKED: DISCORD'S NEW APP GAS

Mark Twain once noted that "history never repeats itself, but it often rhymes." What do you call it when someone sells their startup to Meta for $40 million, only for Meta to shut it down, then that person creates a similar app and sells it to Discord? Welcome to the life of Nikita Bier — a true case of history rhyming.

Here's a quick recap:

Five years ago, Nikita launched TBH, an app allowing teens to compliment one another through polls. It gained traction, especially among younger users, leading to a $40 million acquisition by Facebook, which ultimately ended up shutting the app down due to mismanagement.

Fast forward to late last year. Bier, free from his non-compete agreement with Facebook, announced a new venture: "How can I make $10 million in three months?" The answer? They developed Gas — essentially TBH 2.0, but more like TBH 1.0 in practice.

This time, instead of seeking venture capital, they charged users to view what others think about them. It’s a brilliant concept, especially for high school students, and it quickly gained popularity in several schools. Nikita shared updates like he was showcasing gym progress, leading up to this week's grand reveal.

Stay tuned for what’s next!

THE BIG PIZOOKIE: A NEW CRYPTO EXCHANGE ON THE BLOCK

Move over FTX — there's a new contender in the crypto exchange arena, named… drumroll please GTX.

This platform allows users from bankrupt crypto exchanges like Voyager, FTX, and Celsius to trade their claims from these bankruptcies. If you’re owed money from FTX, you can sell your bankruptcy claim on GTX to those who think it might be worth more after everything settles.

What's amusing is that GTX was created by the same individuals who oversaw the demise of these exchanges in the first place. They’re now aiming to raise $25 million to fund a platform that enables former customers to trade claims from their failed businesses. You truly can't make this stuff up.

COOKIE CRUMBS: SNIPPETS FROM THE TECH WORLD

Here’s what happened in the tech scene this week:

• Twitter is so far behind on rent that Elon is auctioning off coffee machines and office equipment. I hope they have plenty of items to sell, as tax season is looming.
• Prime members, brace yourselves for more free shipping! Amazon is expanding "Buy with Prime" to other merchants, allowing retailers to utilize Amazon's checkout, payment, and shipping services by January 31. More reasons to spend, right?
• Good news for the metaverse: Roblox reported impressive earnings, with daily active users up by 18% year-over-year and engagement hours rising by 21%.
• SBF is now a creator on Substack, launching a newsletter where he claims he didn't misappropriate funds and could repay customers if he revitalizes the company.
• Match Group is set to profit as Hinge tests a $60/month subscription for "highly motivated daters," while Tinder explores a $500/month subscription model to identify the truly desperate.

If you’ve been considering a Tesla, now's your chance — prices have dropped by up to 30% with the new EV tax credits.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: OUR TOP PICKS THIS WEEK

• Unique tips for enhancing memory and focus.
• An insightful podcast with Jules, a YouTube product manager, on finding effective mentors.
• An overview of how Kidz Bop censors music today compared to the past.
• 52 intriguing facts that someone learned last year, including how Mr. Beast employs six people for thumbnails and the competitive edge of wives over husbands.

SNICKERDOODLES: THURSDAY MEMES

😂 That wraps up our updates for this week! See you next Thursday!

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Check out this video that dives into the latest updates on Discord's innovative app, Gas, and the hilarious turn of events in the crypto space.

Watch the first episode of Gas Station Simulator, where we explore the quirky world of running a gas station and the fun dynamics involved.