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The Secrets and Misdirection Behind Sam Altman’s Firing From OpenAI
Moody's, Calculator, Charlie Munger, and Software vs VC/PE
Salutations, Olio aficionados! 👋
Midweek greetings to all, as we unveil the 155th chapter of Weekly Olio—a delightful concoction of laughter, insight, and a sprinkle of mystery. Within these pages, you'll discover a handpicked selection of fascinating finds from the vast realms of the internet.
Keep your eyes peeled for this week’s Publisher’s Parmesan, arriving this Sunday!
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The Quote 💭
“Founded to endure and investors make secure."
The Tweet 🐦
"A calculator app? Anyone could make that."
Not true.
A calculator should show you the result of the mathematical expression you entered. That's much, much harder than it sounds.
What I'm about to tell you is the greatest calculator app development story ever told.
— Nauseam (@ChadNauseam)
10:22 PM • Feb 15, 2025
Almost everyone uses the calculator app on their phone without giving it much thought. But have you ever wondered how it works? Creating a working calculator involves complex math. Read the full thread to learn about the math behind making a calculator app.
The Infographic 💹

Li Lu explains a concept from Charlie Munger that a few investor truly understand.
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The Short Read 📝
Why VC and software have PE envy - by Matt Brown
Matt invests in and helps early-stage startups at Matrix, where he focusses on fintech, vertical software, and adjacent areas. He previously led product at Afterpay (acquired by Square), as well as founded Bonsai (vertical software & payments) and Seiza (HR tech, acquired).
The biggest companies and best investments often emerge during times of change. This is currently happening in venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE), where traditional methods are becoming less effective. As funds and companies explore new ways to merge technology and finance, both new and established players like General Catalyst, Summa, Metropolis, and SP Plus are involved. The investment model is evolving, presenting new opportunities to create successful companies. Read more…
The Long Read 📜
The inside story of how the CEO of the hottest tech company was ousted and, just as quickly, resurrected is a tale of corporate intrigue, power struggles, and unexpected twists. Read more…
This story comes from talking to many people who experienced a crazy business event—the quick firing of the CEO of the most popular tech company, followed by his return just days later. The main figure was a changeable leader who inspired those around him with his tech ideas but also left them puzzled and uneasy with his secrets and misleading actions.
He’s already IPO’d once – this time’s different
Spencer Rascoff grew Zillow from seed to IPO. But everyday investors couldn’t join until then, missing early gains. So he did things differently with Pacaso. They’ve made $110M+ in gross profits disrupting a $1.3T market. And after reserving the Nasdaq ticker PCSO, you can join for $2.80/share until 5/29.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
That’s all for this week. If you enjoyed this edition, we’d really appreciate if you shared it with a friend, family member or colleague.
We’ll be back in your inbox 2 PM IST next Wednesday. Till then, have a productive week!
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual.
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