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Shane's Domain Picks for Saturday October 11th

Shane's Domain Picks for Saturday October 11th

Shane Cultra
October 11, 2025

For those who exercise, the market is dominated by Apple Watches and Garmin Watches. Strava is by far the biggest app that takes data from those devices and adds more metrics, insights, and social features. The issue is that Strava relies on data coming from others. Recently, Garmin said that if Strava wanted to use its data, it had to display Garmin’s logo on the activity to show where it came from. Strava refused and responded by suing Garmin for patent infringement over something called “segments.” The lawsuit was clearly retaliatory, and “segments” themselves are nothing new. They’re just portions of a run or ride that have existed forever. Nobody knows how Strava managed to patent the idea.

The bigger takeaway is that biting the hand that feeds you is risky. People may change the app they use, but they aren’t changing their watches. To make it worse, Strava has been selling user data for millions and is trying to go public at a $1.5 billion valuation. Bad timing.

The lesson for any company is simple: if your business is built on someone else’s data or affiliate program, you are at their mercy. Your goal should be to grow beyond that foundation. Have multiple data sources or affiliate partners so your company doesn’t collapse if one pulls the plug. If you’re curating a marketplace or earning well through affiliates, the original company will eventually copy you. It happens all the time. In some cases, they’ll buy you instead, which can work out.

Shopify is a good example. Many of the best Shopify tools started as third-party apps before Shopify bought them. It’s often easier to acquire and integrate a successful add-on than to build one from scratch. Shopify also wants to encourage innovation and avoid the reputation of copying its users. Straight affiliate businesses are different if you’re just creating a better search experience. The goal there is to become the best search option and then show people what else you offer, eventually substituting your own products for others. Start with one product, then two. That’s how many lasting businesses are built, from selling theirs to selling yours.

Quote of the Day: “If you depend on a platform, you work for that platform.” — Ben Thompson, Stratechery

Domain of the Day: Enrichment.com I made the over under $40K at the beginning of the week. Looking like under

Please Note: The list below contains affiliate links and/or names that have been posted for a fee. It is how we pay for our time since it is a free site. More details at bottom of page. Can go to any of the auctions by adding the names at the end like this one