Episode 34: The Starbucks IPO with Dan Levitan

Ben & David "pour over" the 1992 IPO of the legendary Seattle
coffee company with the help of Dan Levitan, who served as lead
investment banker on the IPO and who would later co-found the
venture capital firm Maveron with Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz.


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Topics covered include:


The original Starbucks’ founding as a coffee bean roaster,
started by three disciples of the legendary coffee roaster Alfred
Peet

Howard Schultz’s introduction to Starbucks, his joining the
team as director of marketing, and inspiration behind his “third
place” coffee shop vision

Howard’s departure from the original Starbucks, founding of
Il Giornale, and subsequent of acquisition the Seattle Starbucks
stores

Starbucks’ incredible growth following the acquisition and
expansion beyond Seattle

The state of raising private capital in the 1980’s/90’s, and
the decision to go public (link to the S-1)

Howard’s ambitious goals for the roadshow and investor
participation, and subsequent stock performance after the IPO

The narrative and evolution of Starbucks as a technology
company, or a consumer company that leverages technology very
effectively 



The Carve Out:


Ben: Dan Primack’s new daily newsletter, Pro Rata

David: The  Wizard and the Bruiser podcast 

Dan: The Man in the Glass