"If you are Apple" is the key part of it. A software company can be successful with a bunch of programmers and their laptops, and can go head-to-head with Google, Facebook or anyone else. That describes all the startups on the list. To emulate AirPods' success you need:
- a chip design/fabrication team
- a battery design team
- procurement specialists and high-volume vendor contracts in Asia, with assembly lines ready to go at moment's notice
- a logistics, operations and distribution pipeline in every market in the world
- the most successful product in the world (iPhone) which you can attach your sales to
- billions in marketing and advertising budgets
- premium retail locations across the world
AirPods are NOT a startup, and should not be compared to other startups. "Make software" is definitely still good advice for the vast majority of entrepreneurs out there.
- a chip design/fabrication team
- a battery design team
- procurement specialists and high-volume vendor contracts in Asia, with assembly lines ready to go at moment's notice
- a logistics, operations and distribution pipeline in every market in the world
- the most successful product in the world (iPhone) which you can attach your sales to
- billions in marketing and advertising budgets
- premium retail locations across the world
AirPods are NOT a startup, and should not be compared to other startups. "Make software" is definitely still good advice for the vast majority of entrepreneurs out there.