Nurse Log Subsidy
WhatsApp's nurse log was declining SMS revenue - they grew by eating SMS usage, subsidized by carrier infrastructure.
Dead trees subsidize the next generation. The cost is time - this infrastructure is an investment the current generation makes for 2-3 generations in the future.
In old-growth Pacific Northwest forests, approximately 70% of western hemlock and 40% of Sitka spruce seedlings establish on nurse logs - dead fallen trees. Establishing on forest floor in deep shade is nearly impossible. But on a nurse log: elevated position (better light), decomposing wood provides nutrients, fewer competing roots, looser substrate, moister microenvironment. Seedlings on nurse logs have 2-5× higher survival rates in first 5 years. The temporary subsidy enables permanent establishment.
Business Application of Nurse Log Subsidy
Find platforms that subsidize early growth: accelerators (YC) for credibility and capital, cloud credits (AWS, GCP) for infrastructure, platform partnerships for distribution, government grants (DARPA, BARDA) for R&D. WhatsApp's nurse log was declining SMS revenue - they grew by eating SMS usage, subsidized by carrier infrastructure.