#50 - Resilience Starts Before the Rain

Author

Graham Schroeder
March 21, 2025

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This week big acquisitions started to resurface, how ordering fast food will probably change forever, and why you should roof your house when the sun is shining.

This tech company grew 32,481%...

No, it's not Nvidia... It's Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.

Just as Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode is turning smartphones into an easy passive income source, already helping 45M+ users earn $325M+ through simple, everyday use.

They’ve just been granted their stock ticker by the Nasdaq, and you can still invest in their pre-IPO offering at just $0.26/share.

*Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.
*Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.

Market Recap

  • Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Partners with Nvidia to Integrate AI Ordering

    • Yum Brands $YUM ( ▲ 2.04% ) the parent company of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is collaborating with Nvidia $NVDA ( ▼ 7.81% ) to implement AI-powered voice-ordering systems. Specifically in drive-throughs and phone orders. This tech will potentially be deployed in 500 locations this year.

    • The initiative seeks to transition all orders to digital channels, leveraging AI to boost sales through personalized upselling and improved order accuracy.

    • Yum Brands plans to build these AI applications internally. The main goal is to retain intellectual property and reduce costs while enhancing internal operations with AI-driven analytics.

  • PepsiCo Acquires Prebiotic Soda Brand Poppi

    • PepsiCo's $PEP ( ▲ 1.51% ) acquisition of Poppi, known for its prebiotic sodas combining fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and prebiotics, aims to enhance its "better-for-you" product offerings and meet growing consumer demand for health-focused beverages. ​

    • ​Founded in 2015 and rebranded after a successful appearance on "Shark Tank" in 2018, Poppi has experienced significant growth, offering 14 flavors and generating over $100 million in annual sales by 2023. ​

    • This acquisition reflects PepsiCo's strategy to diversify its portfolio with healthier options, aligning with consumer preferences for wellness-oriented products and addressing declining sales in traditional beverage segments.

  • Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    • Google $GOOGL ( ▼ 4.02% ) has agreed to purchase Wiz, a leading cloud security platform, for $32 billion in cash, making its largest acquisition to date.​

    • ​This acquisition aims to bolster Google's cloud computing division by integrating Wiz's innovative security solutions, addressing the growing importance of cybersecurity in the AI era. ​

    • Wiz's services will remain accessible across all major cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, ensuring flexibility for existing and future customers.

Freedom Fund Portfolio

This week the market trended better and the Freedom Fund ticked up about 5.26% in total value from last Friday. The Federal Reserve decided to maintain current interest rates on Wednesday. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's seemed optimistic on the U.S. economy's health boosting investor confidence. He acknowledged recent consumer spending weaknesses due to trade policies but emphasized the overall resilience of the economy. Investors were optimistic about potential rate cuts later this year. There is a running indication of two possible rate cuts in 2025 that fueled this market sentiment.

Freedom Fund Background: I created the Freedom Fund as a public brokerage account back in October of 2022 to share that anyone with a social security # and a bank account can begin their investing journey by investing a couple hundred dollars a week. Every week and month I post on X (@GrahamInvesting) public updates about the purchases, exits, dividends, and growth of the fund if you want to follow in real time. The biggest obstacle people have to investing is just getting started so I decided to start a new account at $0 to start from nothing with you.

Quote of the Week

President John F. Kennedy dropped this quote during his State of the Union Address on January 11, 1962. When he said this metaphor it was to encourage Congress to address economic and social issues while the country was stable and prosperous, rather than waiting for a crisis to act. This metaphor is a powerful reminder in business, leadership, and life for a few reasons to me:

  • Fix small problems before they become big ones. You will tend to always focus on the bigger problems in your life, work, and relationships. And while it is important to prioritize where to spend your time and attention you have to remember that the smaller problems in your life can compound into bigger ones. If you notice smaller problematic trends in your life or work start to find ways to eliminate them. Many of the smaller problems will eventually lead to a large challenge over time. And they will tend to take up a lot of time in the short term (by occurring frequently) and could become detrimental in the long run.

  • Build resilience during good times. When times are good It utilize these periods of stability to focus on growth and prosperity to prepare for future challenges. Avoid the coasting or becoming complacent. When things are going well, it's tempting to relax and enjoy the ride. Use these times to strengthen your foundation (or roof), eliminate weaknesses, invest in systems/people/tools, and build a resilient front for when the storm hits again.

  • Don't wait for things to break to make improvements. Save money and pay down debt when times are good. Focus on healthy habits and routines when you aren’t overwhelmed. Strengthen relationships and friendships when life feels balanced so that they are battle ready for when times get tough.

Don’t wait until the storm hits because by then, it’s too late. Prepare now so that when things go wrong (and they always do at some point), you don’t just survive you thrive within it.

The purpose of this newsletter is to encourage you and our other 85 Gazette subscribers to start and stay consistent with your personal, professional, and financial journey.

Thanks for investing your time reading this.

Disclaimer: Graham’s Gazette provides information and resources related to investing, financial topics, and personal growth for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content presented is not intended to be construed as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. Graham’s Gazette and its creators do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided nor do they guarantee any specific results from such use of information.