The Beanstalk Effect

The Beanstalk Effect: when a tiny, overlooked, or mocked idea on the internet unexpectedly grows into something huge due to persistence, timing, and network amplification. It goes mainstream, massive, viral, and gains huge value.

Examples:
Bitcoin – People laughed when someone spent $0.01 on a Bitcoin. Now, early adopters are billionaires. Classic Beanstalk Effect.

Hawk Tuah Girl – A drunken street interview clip where she said “you gotta give ’em that hawk tuah” went viral, turning a casual joke into instant fame and online fortune almost overnight. Classic Beanstalk Effect.

(Think Jack and the Beanstalk.)

Lee: Bruv… I wish I’d invested in Bitcoins when they were, like… one cent. But some muppet said, “Nah… won’t be worth nothing.” I’d have been a billionaire now.

Frank: Yeah… me too, bruv, innit. Deffo the beanstalk effect, bruv, LOL.

Lee: LOL, innit, bruv.

by Jamie Cheese January 28, 2026