What is your favorite example of an incumbent's disruption discussed in this book and why?

[Olga Markova]

My favorite is disruption of incumbent A&P by supermarkets. I was fascinated by how the business strategy of incumbent businesses can cause them to lose the competitive edge very quickly, like supermarkets, which gained their market share in the localities that A&P did not see as profitable.

[Muhammad Haikal Birton]

I agree, The story of the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) grocery chain is pretty interesting. A&P was a big cheese in the grocery biz in the early 20th century and put thousands of small grocers out of business nationwide. The small grocers and their suppliers cried out to the government for help, but only got some small restrictions on A&P's behavior. However, A&P was eventually taken down by the next wave of grocery innovation: the supermarket. The innovators caught the customers' attention and put A&P out of business. This example shows how entrepreneurship can unseat even the biggest players and disrupt the market, even if the government doesn't help much.

[Stark Chris]

One of my favorite examples of an incumbent's disruption discussed in "Launchpad Republic: America's Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters" is the case of Blockbuster and Netflix. Blockbuster, as the dominant player in the video rental industry, failed to recognize the potential of streaming technology and the changing preferences of consumers. Meanwhile, Netflix, a startup at the time, capitalized on these trends by offering a subscription-based streaming service that allowed customers to watch movies and TV shows online. Despite Blockbuster's initial dismissal of Netflix's model, the convenience and affordability of streaming ultimately led to Blockbuster's downfall. This example illustrates the importance of incumbents staying agile and adaptable in the face of disruptive technologies and changing consumer behaviors. It highlights the risk of complacency and the need for established companies to continuously innovate and evolve to remain competitive in dynamic markets.