# Interview. Billionaire Square (Block) Cofounder Jim McKelvey on Competing Against Amazon

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-synopsis-6505916/interview-billionaire-square-block-cofounder-jim-mckelvey-on-competing-against-amazon.md
Podcast: [The Synopsis](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-synopsis-6505916)
Published: 2026-03-12T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://5f85ab06-2c89-4625-a5f9-f4b3a3300053.libsyn.com/interview-billionaire-square-block-cofounder-jim-mckelvey-on-competing-against-amazon
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/5f85ab06-2c89-4625-a5f9-f4b3a3300053/Interview._Billionaire_Square_Cofounder_Jim_22_McKevlvey.mp3?dest-id=4092573
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Duration seconds: 2619

## Resource

In this exceptional interview, we talk to Cofounder of Square (Block) Jim McKelvey on competing against Amazon. From his time at Square, he saw how they were able to outcompete Amazon and he wasn't sure how that was possible given their superior resources, merchant network, and large base of talented employees. After better understanding how that was possible, he wrote a book on his insights called "The Innovation Stack". In this interview we touch on some of his key learnings, as well as talk about why it is so hard to copy some businesses. **Purchase Jim's Book, The Innovation Stack, Here AlphaSense has a repository of over 200k expert call transcripts that are similar to this conversation. Sign-up for access here . *~*~*~*~* Get access to all of Speedwell Research's in-depth Research Reports here. If you need help getting Speedwell added as an approved research vendor for your investment firm, please reach out to info@speedwellresearch.com -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) — Amazon vs Square (13:22) — Why Amazon Quit Against Square (24:58) — Southwest (37:33) — Copying a Companies Innovation Stack (40:53) — Advice to Build a Business -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Become a Speedwell Member here to gain access to *all* of our in-depth research reports and more! Sign up for Speedwell's free newsletter and weekly memos here *~*~*~*~* Follow Us: Twitter: @Speedwell_LLC Threads: @speedwell_research Email us at info@speedwellresearch.com for any questions, comments, or feedback. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Disclaimer Nothing in this podcast is investment advice nor should be construed as such. Contributors to the podcast may own securities discussed. Furthermore, accounts contributors advise on may also have positions in securities discuessed. Please see our full disclaimers here:…

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