AA219 - How Private Equity Killed Instant Pot (And Why Your Product Could Be Next)

Episode notes

Instant Pot had $300M+ revenue, passionate users, and $100M cash on hand. So why did they file for bankruptcy? The answer lies in the pattern of how private equity systematically destroys beloved products through financial engineering! In this podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel examine the acquisition of Instant Brands and discuss how leveraged buyouts, special dividends, and debt loading likely turned a kitchen innovation success story into a cautionary tale for every product team. Watch or listen to learn: • Real reasons successful products fail under PE ownership • Why "professional management" really means cutting the people who built the product • How debt servicing kills innovation budgets • The one question every product manager should ask their CFO • Why product-led growth can't survive private equity's playbook This isn't just about Instant Pot - it's about protecting the products and teams you care about from becoming the next casualty of financial engineering.

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