You’re Adam Neumann, a smooth-talking entrepreneur in NYC. You and Miguel McKelvey just launched WeWork, a company that rents office space and subleases it to freelancers. You have zero tech, zero innovation, and a whole lot of confidence. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

We don’t just rent office space. We sell a vision! Throw in words like ‘community,’ ‘conscious capitalism,’ and ‘changing the world’ until investors forget we’re just a fancy landlord.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Investors are dazzled. You secure millions in funding and open your first location in SoHo. Somehow, people think you’re a tech founder now.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

WeWork is growing fast, but so are your expenses. You need more cash. What’s the move?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Easy. Blitzscale! Open as many locations as possible, burn cash like it’s free, and just keep raising money. Profits? Who needs those?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You successfully convince investors that "growth" is more important than profits. Valuation soars to $1.5 billion, and nobody asks too many questions. Yet.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You’re now the biggest name in co-working. SoftBank just handed you a casual $4.4 billion because they think you’re the next Steve Jobs. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Time to expand the We brand! WeWork, WeLive (co-living), WeGrow (schools), WeBuy-Jets-And-Party…

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You buy a $60 million private jet, lease buildings from yourself, and trademark the word ‘We’—then sell it back to your company for $5.9 million. Somehow, no one stops you.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

SoftBank just pushed your valuation to $47 billion. You’re going public! But that means opening your books to investors. What’s your strategy?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Tell them WeWork isn’t a real estate company—it’s a tech company! And throw in some spiritual nonsense about ‘elevating the world’s consciousness’ for good measure.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Wall Street isn’t buying it. Your IPO filing reveals $1.6 billion in annual losses, a bizarre corporate structure, and the fact that you… uh… rented properties to yourself? Investors panic. Valuation crashes from $47 billion to under $10 billion in days.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

The IPO is dead. Investors are furious. Your board is planning a coup. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Demand a $1.7 billion golden parachute to leave. If I’m going down, I’m going down rich!

01:10 AM · Apr 01

SoftBank actually agrees to pay you off. You resign as CEO, and your reputation is ruined… but your bank account isn’t. You walk away a billionaire.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

WeWork limps along, struggling under its own weight. By 2023, it files for bankruptcy. You’re officially the poster child for Silicon Valley fraud. What now?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Do it again. I’m launching Flow—a ‘revolutionary’ real estate startup that’s just… luxury apartments with a fancy logo. Also, let’s call it ‘tech’ again.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Venture capitalists still haven’t learned. Andreessen Horowitz gives you $350 million for Flow. You win at Silicon Valley Hustle—again.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Game Acquired!. Congratulations! Your company was acquired for $350.0M.