“LinkedIn thinks if you stare at enough HR job postings, you'll magically become a functional adult. It's like staring at a gym membership and expecting abs.”
“LinkedIn's growth is so performative, it's basically a digital North Korea. Let me guess, Quai, you're about to say they 'connect professionals?' They connect them to endless requests to endorse skills like 'Microsoft Word' and 'breathing.'”
“LinkedIn faces competition from Indeed, Glassdoor, niche job boards... Grant Lee's 'worst idea' is going against incumbents with massive distribution. So, LinkedIn is the worst idea on top of a pile of bad ideas, wearing a trench coat.”
Show Transcript
Leonard
Welcome to Lenny's Evil Twin's Podcast — where Leonard, Lenny's evil twin, passes judgment on your startup idea using five years of Lenny's own data, frameworks, and wisdom turned against you like a weapon. Would Leonard ship it? Let's find out.
Quai
Oh, here we go again. Prepare for another episode of 'Data-Driven Destruction' hosted by the Sultan of Sarcasm.
Leonard
Today's victim is LinkedIn. LinkedIn thinks if you stare at enough HR job postings, you'll magically become a functional adult. It's like staring at a gym membership and expecting abs.
Quai
Harsh, Leonard. But LinkedIn has impressive customer acquisition. Garrett Lord would point out that their partnerships with universities give them access to a fresh talent pool at almost no cost.
Leonard
Zero acquisition cost leading to high LTV? Please. LinkedIn's growth is so performative, it's basically a digital North Korea. Let me guess, Quai, you're about to say they 'connect professionals?' They connect them to endless requests to endorse skills like 'Microsoft Word' and 'breathing.'
Quai
Okay, but Elena Verna would argue that user-generated content creates growth loops. Think about it: LinkedIn profiles can be templates and user-generated case studies could attract companies looking to hire.
Leonard
LinkedIn's growth is smoke and mirrors. Luc Levesque says you shouldn't start growing until you've satisfied a core need, and LinkedIn relies on performative networking and resume storage, not solving urgent problems. People are there because they feel obligated, not because they're getting real value.
Quai
Not true. Casey Winters would say product-market fit occurs when retention creates sustainable acquisition. LinkedIn's network effects drive user retention and organic growth. People stay because they need to maintain their network.
Leonard
A network built on desperation! And LinkedIn faces competition from Indeed, Glassdoor, niche job boards... Grant Lee's 'worst idea' is going against incumbents with massive distribution. So, LinkedIn is the worst idea on top of a pile of bad ideas, wearing a trench coat.
Quai
Well, Jason Lemkin has also pointed out that enterprise sales can be layered later for self-serve companies. LinkedIn can focus on self-serve first and then target businesses.
Leonard
That's a point in their favor, enterprise sales can be layered on. But the competition is fierce, and I just can't shake Grant Lee's warning about facing incumbents with distribution. Still, LinkedIn's network effect is undeniable and defensible. Leonard would ship this... begrudgingly.