Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital

Sarah Chen-Spellings

Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, a global investor and entrepreneur, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built. Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype. New episodes weekly. Built for those who take the long view. Billion Dollar Moves is proud to be part of the Hubspot Podcast Network with 10 million downloads a month as a group.

  1. APR 23

    $22M Exit, Broken Deal & Buyback | Jaclyn Johnson, Founder, Create & Cultivate & Co-Founder, Cherub

    Jaclyn Johnson built Create & Cultivate into one of the most recognized platforms for women in business—scaling it to eight-figure revenue before exiting in a multi-million dollar deal. But what happens after the exit is where the real story begins. From navigating private equity, burnout, and the loss of control over the company she built… to making one of the rarest moves in business—buying it back. In this episode, we unpack: * Why selling isn’t always the win * What private equity gets wrong in community-driven businesses * The trade-offs between bootstrapping and raising capital * How to think about ownership, control, and long-term value This is a conversation about capital, consequence—and coming back with clarity. About Jaclyn Johnson With $25 million in successful exits to her name, Jaclyn has mastered the art of bootstrapping businesses, building thriving communities, and driving meaningful results. Recognized as one of Adweek's Disruptors, Forbes 30 under 30 and a WSJ Woman of note, she stands out as one of the industry's leading marketing minds. Her unwavering focus on value creation and community-first marketing has been imitated countless times, yet never truly matched. -- Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global Venture & Business Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built. Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype. New episodes weekly. Built for those who take the long view. PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal

    1h 7m
  2. APR 16

    From Losing $1M a Month to a $1B Exit — Jim Sorenson on Building Impact That Pays

    In this rare conversation, Jim Sorenson breaks down what happens after liquidity—when building a company turns into building systems of capital. We start with the moment everything nearly fell apart: losing $1M a month during the dot-com crash, and the unexpected pivot that transformed Sorenson Communications into a near $1B exit—by aligning technology with regulation and real, underserved demand. From there, Jim unpacks how that experience reshaped his approach to investing. From deploying early, risk-tolerant capital through Program-Related Investments (PRIs)… to ultimately rethinking an entire foundation—aligning 100% of its assets toward both financial returns and long-term impact. This isn’t a conversation about philanthropy. It’s about how sophisticated capital actually works—where risk is priced, how systems scale, and why impact and alpha aren’t opposites. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – Sorenson Communications 05:30 – Pivoting Under Pressure 09:20 – An Overlooked Community 14:50 – Scale & Capital Design 21:30 – The Mechanics of PRI 27:05 – The 95% Transition 38:40 – ESG & Fiduciary Duty 45:30 – Stewardship After Liquidity About Jim SorensonJames Lee Sorenson (Jim) serves as chairman of the Sorenson Impact Foundation, which funds sustainable, scalable endeavors that maximize positive impact on the lives and societies they touch. Sorenson endowed the Sorenson Impact Center at the University of Utah. Sorenson is also Chairman of the Board of Village Capital and a member of the National Advisory Board of Impact Investing. Sorenson was instrumental in developing several new industry categories, including digital compression software that helped usher in the online video revolution at Sorenson Media, where he serves as Chairman of the Board and video relay services which transformed opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals through Sorenson Communications. Jim has served on many community boards, including Utah's David Eccles School of Business, University Venture Fund, Art Works for Kids, Gallaudet University, and the Utah Sports Commission.--Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global Venture & Business Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders.Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built.Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype.New episodes weekly.Built for those who take the long view. PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH:https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalhttps://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal

    58 min
  3. APR 9

    After The Exit | Ariana Pareja on Building, Selling and Starting Again

    In this episode of Billion Dollar Moves, Sarah sits down with Ariana Pareja for a conversation about exit timing, liquidity, and the difference between valuation and real wealth. Ariana speaks candidly about building and exiting Remine, why she believes “an exit isn’t real until it’s liquid,” and the lesson she learned the hard way: selling before Series B might have created more wealth with less dilution and less exhaustion. We unpack what founders often miss such as the hidden cost of growth capital taken at the wrong moment, how some investors price rounds you’re not meant to hit and why the movie doesn’t end until it ends She also shifts forward into how markets are actually evolving. TikTok as infrastructure, not just culture. Community as the new distribution moat. Bootstrapping as strategic leverage rather than constraint. For those seeking liquidity without delusion, operators transitioning into allocators, and family offices listening for judgment rather than inspiration, this isn’t an episode you’ll want to miss. Watch the full conversation and subscribe for even more discussions at the intersection of capital, governance, and long-term wealth. 00:00 - Intro 02:44 - Maintaining relationships while building a business 03:20 - Advice to my younger self: Buy and hold real estate 03:52 - The golden rule of investing: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is 08:29 - Learning the power of a "pitch deck" as a teenager 11:32 - Getting started in real estate at 18 years old 13:50 - The origin of Remind: Solving the public record data problem 17:33 - Raising $48 million in venture capital through word of mouth 19:01 - Pivoting the revenue model and identifying the right customer avatar 22:54 - Biggest regrets and lessons learned from the series of exits 25:28 - The "200 Million" goal: Why I'm still working About Ariana Pareja Ariana Pareja is an investor and serial entrepreneur dedicated to helping others build wealth and embrace reinvention. As the exited co-founder of Remine, a real estate technology company that sold for $55 million, she has firsthand experience scaling ventures from startup to acquisition. Ariana today is the co-founder of Mighty Minis, a spin-off of the No Sugar Company. Ariana has mentored more than 100 small businesses through programs including Microsoft AI Latam Accelerator and Target Forward Founders. -- Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global Venture & Business Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built. Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype. New episodes weekly. Built for those who take the long view. PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal https://x.com/sarahchenglobal

    40 min
  4. APR 2

    Women of the New Frontier: Capital, Ownership & The Founder’s Journey w/Allison Ellsworth, Rachel Roy & Theresa Fette

    We’re back—kicking off our 2026 season live from SXSW Austin with the Ayana Foundation. Featuring: Allison Ellsworth on scaling Poppi from kitchen experiment to a $1.95B sale to Pepsi; Rachel Roy on creative control, brand ownership, and navigating legal battles; Theresa Fette on the identity shift after exit—and choosing yourself over the title. From Shark Tank moments to hard decisions behind the scenes, this is a candid look at what happens after the spotlight. If you're building, scaling, or thinking about your next move—this one’s for you. Timestamps/Key Takeaways 00:00 Panel Introduction: Women of the New Frontier 01:40 Meet the Panelists: Origins in Soda, Fashion, and FinTech 04:14 The Poppy Story: From Oil & Gas to Probiotic Soda 06:16 Launching in a Pandemic: The Rebrand and the Power of TikTok 09:19 Why Embarrassment is a Secret Weapon for Success 10:20 Rachel Roy on 25 Years of Creative-First Design 12:22 Lessons from a Namesake Brand: Why Names Matter in Business 15:25 Theresa Fette on Luck, Law, and the 50% Opportunity 18:28 Understanding Self-Directed IRAs and the Bitcoin IRA Pivot 21:05 Fighting for Your Name: Rachel Roy’s New York Supreme Court Battle 25:26 The Shark Tank Turning Point: Getting the Deal with Rohan Oza 27:14 Founder Advice: Knowing Your Value and Staying the Face of the Brand 31:36 Negotiating the Exit: Turning a $27M Offer into $100M 34:48 Choosing Partners: Aligning Core Values and Saving Your Soul 37:19 The Power of the Board Seat: Retaining Control vs. Valuation 40:45 Can You Scale and Stay Authentic? The Future of Poppy and Pepsi 43:08 The Identity Crisis After an Exit: Life as an Intuitive Leader 48:42 Audience Q&A: What Investors Really Look for in a Founder 51:21 Testing for Resilience: The Number One Marker for Success 53:14 Advice to a Younger Self: Navigating Stress, Lawsuits, and Motherhood 56:04 Final Takeaways: Why Failure is Inevitable and Fun is Fuel -- About the speakers Allison Ellsworth is the founder of Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand she scaled from her home kitchen to a massive $1.95 billion exit to Pepsi. Rachel Roy is a world-renowned designer and the founder of her namesake brand, Rachel Roy Design, who has spent over 25 years navigating the complexities of creative control and brand ownership. Theresa Fette a serial entrepreneur and tax attorney who pioneered the self-directed IRA space in FinTech, successfully exiting three companies and currently leading Bitcoin IRA and Digital Trust. -- Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global Venture & Business Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built. Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype. New episodes weekly. Built for those who take the long view. PODCAST INFO: ⁠Podcast Website⁠ |⁠ Watch on Youtube⁠ |⁠ Join the Community⁠ FOLLOW SARAH: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠

    50 min
  5. 12/18/2025

    Legacy, Innovation, and the Future of ASEAN Agri-Food w/ Ho Ren Hua, CEO of Thai Wah PCL

    The future of food and climate resilience in Southeast Asia is being shaped as much in cassava fields and starch factories as it is in boardrooms. In this episode of Billion Dollar Moves, Ho Ren Hua, CEO of Thai Wah Public Company Limited, joins Sarah to unpack how he is reinventing a 77-year-old family starch business into a regional agri-food and bio-materials platform built on “innovation and sustainability from farm to shelf.” We go inside his operator playbook: leading 3,500 people through crisis with the principle “I can lose money, but I cannot lose a life,” transforming legacy vermicelli and tapioca products into higher-value ingredients and using distribution as a moat across Asia and beyond. For investors, founders, and family-business leaders thinking in decades, this is a rare look at what long-term, values-led execution really takes. Timestamps/Key Takeaways02:10 – Legacy, trees & being “rooted”06:10 – Stepping into a 77-year-old family business12:32 – F4 framework: Farm, Factory, Family, Food15:15 – Making circularity real: factories, water, solar & biogas19:48 – Managing talent across China & Southeast Asia + AI workforce23:24 – From noodles & starch to circular-economy platform26:51 – Innovation & ROSECO: building new revenue engines28:26 – Rockefeller Foundation, deployment & blended finance32:19 – Time horizons, synthesis & “go slow to go fast” --About Ho Ren HuaHo Ren Hua is CEO of Thai Wah Public Company Ltd, a leading Southeast Asian starch and consumer foods group founded in 1947, now expanding across multiple markets in Asia. Previously, he was Executive Director and Country Head, China for Banyan Tree Holdings, helping cement its position as a leading luxury hospitality brand in China, and began his career at Bain & Company in New York, Hong Kong, and China in private equity and strategy. He has served on boards including UN Women Singapore and Wharton China Alumni Club, and currently sits on the boards or advisory councils of Banyan Tree Holdings, the Asia Pacific Agri-Innovation Summit, and Singapore Management University. He holds a BS in Economics (Hons) from The Wharton School and is a graduate of the CEIBS Advanced Management Programme. --Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies. From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond. Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is your billion-dollar playbook. PODCAST INFO: Podcast Website | Watch on Youtube | Join the Community FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter

    45 min
  6. 12/11/2025

    Inside the Trillion-Dollar Climate Industrial Revolution w/ Shawn Xu, Lowercarbon Capital

    The biggest industrial transformation of our lifetime is happening now and it’s not AI. It’s climate industrialism. Shawn Xu, Partner at Lowercarbon Capital (founded by Chris Sacca), discuss how Lowercarbon backs outlier founders, why “cheaper, better, faster” wins over green premiums, and where the biggest opportunities are emerging: energy, carbon removal, fusion, materials, resilience, and the AI-power bottleneck. If you’re an investor, founder, or operator ; or just tracking where smart money is moving- this episode is a must-watch. ---- Join Venture Nordics, the top investor program in Europe, designed for international GPs, LPs and Family Offices eager to explore opportunities in the New Nordics (Scandinavia & Baltics). Taking place in Helsinki, Finland, alongside Slush, the world's largest venture capital gathering. The 7-day program offers: Exclusive networking with Finnish and Nordic investors Deep insights into the Finnish startup and venture ecosystem Complimentary Slush ticket with access to curated side events A cottage getaway with the fellow participants to further bond and create long-lasting connections The program is free of charge, powered by Helsinki Partners (backed by the City of Helsinki). Participants only cover their travel and accommodation. Only 10 investors will be selected. Register your interest now at www.venturenordics.vc to be the first to know when applications open. ---- Timestamps / Key Takeaways 03:36 – The climate industrial revolution & “u****k the planet” 12:30 – AI, energy demand & the $500 billion program 17:00 – From Silicon Valley kid to VC 23:23 - Becoming a climate investor in a trillion dollar market  37:32 - “Greedy capitalist” & a Series A $900M fusion round 44:54 - 40-Page memo, the biggest lessons on conviction 57:41 - Q&A: The one “billion dollar move” takeaway ---- About Shawn Xu Shawn is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, focused on backing audacious founders building bold solutions to the climate crisis. An accomplished early-stage investor, he was previously a Partner at On Deck’s venture fund and accelerator, backing companies across 20+ countries and earning a founder NPS of 100. He also invested at Floodgate and First Round Capital’s Dorm Room Fund, was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Venture Capital), and has partnered with ~50 companies, helping founders go from zero to one—from ideation to product-market fit. Follow Shawn: https://lowercarbon.com/team/shawn-xu/ Resources: Chris Sacca — How to Succeed by Living on Your Own Terms | Tim Ferriss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIBo69EsAzw Chris Sacca Interview (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqaXz2BPsfY Chris Sacca: Drifting Back to Real | Dialectic with Jackson Dahl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acwhhgGGdX8 ---- Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies. From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond. Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is your billion-dollar playbook. PODCAST INFO: Podcast Website | Watch on Youtube | Join the Community FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter

    1h 3m
  7. 12/04/2025 ·  BONUS

    [BITE] Inside the LP Mindset: What’s Really Moving Private Markets w/ Joel Sandhu, Investors Capital

    In this Billion Dollar Bite, Joel Sandhu (Co-Founder of Top-Tier Access; Partner at Investors Capital) breaks down the forces reshaping private markets.  From the great normalization post-2021, to how LPs actually underwrite managers, to why family offices are rewriting their approach to access and alignment. We unpack the real liquidity picture, the rise of GP-led secondaries, and why the “elastic mid-market” may be the most compelling place to generate outsized returns in the decade ahead.  If you’re a GP, LP, or allocator navigating this cycle, this is a must-listen. Watch the full episode here: https://billiondollarmoves.com/podcast-episode/from-family-offices-to-private-equity-power-plays-w-joel-sandhu-top-tier-access/ Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 01:40 - Key Takeaway #1: The market reset & picking managers 11:09 - SCS’s takeaway: Underwriting & selection is KEY 12:48 - Key Takeaway #2: The Family Office advantage & why they need a new model 18:18 - Key Takeaway #3: The future of venture, secondaries & the “elastic” mid-market 28:48 - Closing remarks About Joel Sandhu Joel is co-founder and Partner at Investors Capital, a Riyadh-based fund of funds. With an investment strategy primarily focused on buyout, the platform offers investors across the globe access to top decile funds that is well-diversified. Prior to this, Joel co-founded TTA, a Brussels based fund of funds in Private Equity. TTA brings institutional grade PE to the family office and HNWI segment.    FOLLOW JOEL:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelsandhu/  - Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies. From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond. Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is your billion-dollar playbook. PODCAST INFO: Podcast Website | Watch on Youtube | Join the Community FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter

    32 min
  8. 11/27/2025

    Future-Proofing Portfolios w/ Chris Rynning (AMYP Ventures) & Anulika Malomo (HarbourVest Global Private Equity)

    In this episode, we sit down with Chris Rynning (AMYP Ventures; Piëch/Porsche family office) and Anulika Malomo (HarbourVest & impact advisor) to unpack what it really takes to future-proof portfolios in 2025 and beyond. From AI’s existential risks to global liquidity crunches, China’s DeepSeek shock, secondaries, midstream renewable opportunities, and the rise of long-term family office strategies — this conversation cuts through hype and surfaces where capital and opportunity are truly misaligned. If you’re an LP, GP, family office, or allocator thinking long-term, this is a must-listen. Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro: A modern Piëch/Porsche family office and PE global investment lens 04:26 - Why future-proofing portfolios matters in 2025 and beyond  09:14 - How LPs and family offices are navigating liquidity crunch: Secondaries, IPO freeze & new exit pathways and timeframe 16:49 - Capital vs. Opportunity: Where the biggest disconnects lie 21:07 - Impact vs. Harm (e.g., the crypto-climate paradox) 24:14 - Practical guide on how to allocate capital while “future-proofing”  26:37 - Are we optimistic? The Next-Gen & AI dilemma 28:19 - Q&A: What they’re NOT investing in? Panelists: Chris Rynning, Managing Partner, AMYP Ventures Anulika Malomo, Non-Executive Director, HarbourVest Global Private Equity Hosted by: Sarah Chen-Spellings, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Beyond The Billion - Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies. From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond. Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is your billion-dollar playbook. PODCAST INFO: Podcast Website | Watch on Youtube | Join the Community FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter

    36 min
5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Conversations with billionaires, unicorn founders, and the world’s leading funders. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, a global investor and entrepreneur, Billion Dollar Moves examines how enduring companies — and the capital behind them — are built. Through long-form conversations, the show explores decision-making under uncertainty, capital allocation, and the inflection points that shape category-defining businesses. From early platform backstories to allocator frameworks used across private markets, the focus is on judgment, incentives, and long-term value creation — beyond headlines and hype. New episodes weekly. Built for those who take the long view. Billion Dollar Moves is proud to be part of the Hubspot Podcast Network with 10 million downloads a month as a group.

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