Why Is Fake Meat More Expensive Than Real Meat?
In today's newsletter:
- Why is fake meat more expensive than real meat?
- Can you always feel when window light hijacks you?
- How bad breath turned into business.
What do you get when a clean energy guy decides to create meat without animals? You get Beyond Meat, a company that makes plant-based versions of burgers, beef, sausages, and chicken.
It blew up fast because it promised to disrupt the $1 trillion meat industry. They scored big-name deals with McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Revenue jumped from $16.2M in 2016 to $87.9M in 2018. They IPO’d in 2019, raising about $240M, because their share price jumped 163%.
Then reality hit: People asked, "Why is fake meat more expensive than real meat?" And the health halo faded once consumers saw it was processed with additives.
They also got smacked with a $38.9M trademark verdict, and the stock crashed from $239.71 to under $1. Lesson: Disrupting is hype, replacing is war.
Can You Always Feel When Window Light Hijacks You?
We treat window blinds like decoration, but the brain treats light like a control switch. Too much light at night can mess with melatonin, so you feel tired, but the body still thinks it’s daytime.
Then daytime hits and the sun blasts your screen, you’re squinting, getting a headache, and blaming it on needing coffee. Nah, your environment is just bullying you.
The U.S. Department of Energy says the right window coverings can cut unwanted heat by up to 60%. That’s why automated blinds are lowkey powerful. They adjust before light gets too bright, hot, or overwhelming.
So people aren’t just automating blinds, they’re automating focus on autopilot and real darkness at night. If you aren't already automating your blinds, check out the RYSE SmartShade.
How Bad Breath Turned Into Business
Listerine didn’t start as a fresh breath thing. It started in the 1800s as a surgical antiseptic, a substance used to reduce skin germs before surgery to prevent infection. The kind of stuff meant for hospitals, not dates.
Then Lambert Pharmacal took normal bad breath and gave it a scary medical name, halitosis. And just like that, people didn’t have stinky breath anymore; they had a condition.
Their early 1900s ads were savage, basically saying: “You can be successful, but if your breath stinks, your life is over.” People panicked, sales exploded, and mouthwash became a must-have.
Critics called it fear marketing, but the money didn’t care. Listerine turned insecurity into a category. Same cheat code still works today: name the embarrassment, then sell the cure.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. Details may change or come from third-party sources; always do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making decisions.
