What to Consider Before Your Brand Takes a Stand Politically
What to Consider Before Your Brand Takes a Stand Politically.
In particular, Trump’s order to ban travel from seven Muslim countries spewed uproar across the world last week.
While several brands garnered positive attention for showing solidarity with those affected, Uber suffered as #DeleteUber trended on social media channels and consumers began to question the brand’s position.
Personal politics aside, this is a good opportunity to reflect on recent consumer research and summarize key takeaways for your brand.
Recent studies show that 84 percent of Americans believe that businesses have a responsibility to bring about social change on important issues, just after the president (89 percent) and congress (92 percent).
In fact, 78 percent of millennials and 74 percent of the general population think more companies should take a stand on important social issues.
These results reflect much of what marketers are seeing in recent studies – more than one in three (35 percent) Americans say they would stop buying an unethical product even if there were no available substitute.
While most of the attention centered on Uber and Lyft last week, other brands found their entryway into the conversation.
Furthermore, although many brands have recently aligned with political causes, the cause you choose doesn’t have to be political (although it should be relevant).
Because politics are a particularly passionate topic this year, expect to see numerous other brands jump on the political bandwagon to express their stance.
Silicon Valley Gets Mocked With Parody of Cards Against Humanity
Silicon Valley Gets Mocked With Parody of Cards Against Humanity.
If you’ve every played Cards Against Humanity, you can tell pretty quickly that its makers have a wry and dark sense of humor all their own.
If you’re not familiar with it, the game is pretty simple: There are black and white cards.
The black cards have questions or prompts and the white cards have potential answers.
One person selects a black prompt card, the other players put down an answer card and the dealer chooses the best response.
The winner of a round gets to judge the next, and the final winner is the person who possesses the biggest pile of black cards.
Related: You Can Now Play Bill Gates’s 1981 Game on Your iPhone CB Insights, a firm that specializes in predicting tech and venture capital trends, drew inspiration from the game to make its own version inspired by the startup scene: Cards Against Silicon Valley.
The tag line — a play on Cards Against Humanity’s — is “a party game for horrible tech people.” Related: Google Taps Pixar, Onion Staff to Give AI Assistant a Sense of Humor The game is Silicon Valley-fied right down the rules — for example, the first person to select a black question card is whoever most recently saw a Tesla in person — they are the “Marc Andreessen.” The Cards Against Humanity cards range from snarky to outrageous, and CB Insights has taken this to heart in writing its version of the game.
Check out a selection of cards below.
Target recruiting startups for new wellness accelerator
Dive Brief: Target Corp. is accepting applications and nominations for a new startup accelerator dedicated to wellness-focused retail businesses.
Founders of the 10 startups selected for the Takeoff program will spend a week in May in Target’s native Minneapolis to network, meet with mentors and “talk all things retail,” culminating in a July 25 “demo day” for participants to pitch their products and solutions to leaders in retail.
Target is accepting Takeoff applications until the end of this month.
Target previously partnered with incubator Techstars for its Techstars Retail program, which had its first retail technology accelerator at Target’s Minneapolis campus last year and last month opened the application process for a second round.
Dive Insight: Target recently shuttered its mysterious “Goldfish” tech project and has otherwise shaken up its tech operations, but it’s sticking with incubator TechStars for a series of startup accelerators dedicated to retail.
Last summer, 10 Target + Techstars startups — which spanned a range of technologies including machine learning, crimefighting wearables, supply-chain solutions and employee scheduling services — worked with Target executives as well as visiting business and tech gurus to drill down into what they need to keep or throw out as they develop and scale their ideas.
“There was a lot I could teach these entrepreneurs, but one of the biggest lessons they taught me was speed,” Cornell said in a recent blog post.
“The juxtaposition of our operation and theirs was stark.
Startups are measuring time in terms of months-worth-of-funding.
I saw, first hand, that we moved too slowly, too often.” Now Target appears to be sharpening that focus even further, a likely reflection of how it values its wellness-based merchandising.
How This Entrepreneur Kept His Day Job While Starting a Business
How This Entrepreneur Kept His Day Job While Starting a Business.
Since then, Quey has been working as a freelance marketer, continuing to test different side projects.
While building a side business, your day job is your number one priority.
Whenever he could not pay directly on a credit card, he used payment sites like Paypal.
This is a great way for aspiring entrepreneurs to start their business.
Quey started his first business on eBay for less than $100.
But how do you run a business on the side while working a full time job?
Focus on building systems.
Start by finding time to set aside for your business.
After you set some time aside, instead of focusing on goals, start to build systems that will grow your business while you work.
How 2 Young Restaurateurs Broke Through a Crowded Industry
But, Alan Jackson, executive chef and founder of Lemonade, and Sonu Chandi, CEO of Chandi Restaurant Group, are still finding ways to innovate.
I was fortunate to chat with Jackson and Chandi to learn about their beginnings in the restaurant industry, their growth strategies, their motivational techniques and more.
How did you first market Lemonade to people who didn’t quite get the cafeteria-style experience?
Cafeteria-style was the only way I could envision a visceral connection between the customer and the type of food we planned to serve.
So, all marketing efforts have gone into training team members on hospitality, perfecting recipes and improving atmosphere.
Most companies of our small size don’t start with the manufacturing capabilities that we did.
We nourish our team, our customers and our stakeholders!
We are also concentrating on improving the customer experience, taking friction out of the ordering process and perfecting systems to guarantee operational excellence.
Now, the Chandi brothers have seven Mountain Mike’s Pizza restaurants throughout the North Bay and another three restaurants in Santa Rosa, Calif. Did you know when you moved to the U.S. that you would enter the restaurant industry?
Conclusion Alan Jackson and Sonu Chandi (along with his family) both found gaps in a seemingly complete industry, then filled those gaps in ways that have excited California foodies for years.
Mark Zuckerberg Tries Out Virtual Reality Gloves
Mark Zuckerberg Tries Out Virtual Reality Gloves.
Right now, there’s the Oculus Rift headset and Oculus Touch controllers, which allow six degrees of motion tracking for your hands.
What the Oculus Research lab in Redmond, Wash., is working on is a pair of gloves that bring the full movement range of your hands and fingers into a virtual world.
As TechCrunch points out, the VR gloves probably aren’t brand new tech Oculus developed internally.
Oculus acquired Pebbles Interfaces last year, which already had a virtual reality hand tracking system in development.
Zuckerberg also points out that the research lab is working on reducing the size of the headsets to glasses we can carry anywhere.
He also mentions “advanced optics, eye tracking, mixed reality and new ways to map the human body” in his Facebook post about the lab visit.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for this next-generation of Oculus-branded VR technology to appear.
The gloves may work, but they currently use a dedicated sensor array not shipped with the Oculus headset.
More from PCMag
Gerard Adams and Satya Twena Explain How Tragedy Can Push You to Succeed
7 Ways to Gain Self Discipline and Strive Towards Greatness
Commit to daily excellence.
Read more: 3 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Make It Big by Getting Enough Sleep 3.
Forget about being perfect, do the hardest things first and focus on one thing at a time — these quick hacks will help you prioritize your days and your life better, this create more discipline and self-control.
Read more: First Things First: The 5 Secrets to Prioritization 4.
Use your negative experiences to learn and better yourself.
Forgive yourself and any others who may have wronged you, move on and keep towards your goal.
Read more:: 8 Steps to Move Away From the Past You Need to Leave Behind 6.
When you’re striving towards new goals, it’s not going to be easy, and it’s not always going to feel comfortable.
In fact, it will likely feel uncomfortable — but it’s important you tolerate and even embrace these feelings of discomfort in order to grow.
When you visualize success and the future you desire, your body and mind will be motivated to reach this place once it understand what it wants.
From Overtime to Real Time: SB51 Social Strategies Brands Can Use Every Day
From Overtime to Real Time: SB51 Social Strategies Brands Can Use Every Day.
This year, however, we saw several brands extend the life of their ads and build social conversation by releasing traditional game night material several days to even a week leading up to the game.
Tide took the surprise and delight route this year: going above and beyond to entertain people and give them several pieces of content with which they could interact on social.
Complement those initial tactics with your main event for longer lasting and more dimensions of impact.
Share a message that’s bigger than the game — and your brand.
Airbnb was perhaps the most successful at incorporating its message into a social media campaign, using the game to launch its #weaccept initiative.
The “brand-on-brand” social interaction during the big game was pretty interesting to witness this year.
On Twitter in particular, people get pumped to see brands interacting with each other, and the tactic affords brands a chance to add personality to social conversations.
That night through the next morning brought in 135,829 tweets total.
This type of engagement doesn’t need to center around a big event, but make sure you find the right balance between engagement and annoyance.
5 Sleep and Relaxation Tips to Help Entrepreneurs Maximize Their Output
5 Sleep and Relaxation Tips to Help Entrepreneurs Maximize Their Output.
If you’re an entrepreneur like me, you may have the ability to control your own schedule to some degree.
The goal is wake up each day without an alarm clock and feel ready to rock and roll in business and life all the time.
By temporarily taking the mind’s focus away from the day-to-day of business, you give it a chance to refocus and become even sharper the next day.
Related: This Tiny $100 Bed Charges Your Phone — and Helped Me Get My Best Night’s Sleep in Weeks 3.
The cell phone is perhaps our greatest asset and enemy of peak performance in the modern era.
Your phone will still be there when you’ve had a moment to yourself.
Fiction engages the imagination and demands present state attention.
Non-fiction tends to encourage projection into the future, which will lead to an increase in stress hormones with the ability to deter sleep and affecting your ability to be successful the next day.
That’s what happens to me most nights.
10 Weird, Funny, Sweet and Out-There Valentine’s Day Promotions For Singles and Couples
10 Weird, Funny, Sweet and Out-There Valentine’s Day Promotions For Singles and Couples.
If you haven’t figured out yet what you’ll be doing on Valentine’s Day, we’ve got a few ideas.
Whether you’re single or in a relationship, there’s something for just about anyone.
If you’re expecting to spend the holiday alone, you don’t have to anymore — you can spend it with love master Michael Bolton in his new Netflix comedy Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special.
If you’ve been through a bad break up, head over to Hooters, shred a picture of your ex and get a free plate of chicken wings.
Related: Shocking Valentine’s Day Stats That Will Make You Rethink Your Marketing Or hey, maybe you’re happily in a relationship.
But rather than getting your partner some boring chocolates — you could, oh, name a cockroach after them at the Bronx Zoo.
From Krispy Kreme to Bojangles to Starbucks — there are plenty of Valentine’s Day-themed sweets available.
However you’re feeling — it’s time to start planning.
Check out these 10 wild Valentine’s Day promotions.
Logistics startup Qourier receives $626K to upgrade its platform and focus on expansion
Logistics startup Qourier receives $626K to upgrade its platform and focus on expansion.
One such startup specializing in this space has announced raising of $626K in a seed round of funding.
The firm has raised the capital from Startia Inc., and other private investors including Alex Tan (Regional CIO, DB Schenker Asia Pacific) and Eric Dadoun (Impiro).
Qourier focuses on same-day delivery and instead of employing its own set of vehicles and drivers, it works with freelancers and other courier firms.
The firm is exploring other markets, the team has connections in Taipei while investors can enable the expansion in Southeast Asia region.
There is no cap on the mode of transport, it can be a bike, car, van, or even a public transport.
People, post registration in its app, go through a verification process, after that, they can begin working.
It also provides the service of making international deliveries, which it conducts via DHL.
Yongie is quoted saying many SMEs do not have the volume to negotiate such discount.
For example, shipping something which costs $100, will be priced at around $30 and will reach the location within three working days.
Axilor Ventures plans to accelerate investments in early stage startups; to double intake for its accelerator program
Axilor Ventures plans to accelerate investments in early stage startups; to double intake for its accelerator program.
New Delhi [India], Feb 10 (ANI-BusinessWireIndia): Axilor Ventures today announced that it plans to accelerate its investments in early stage startups.
It is looking to double the intake of startups for its 100-day accelerator program, the applications for which are currently open.
In the last two years since inception Axilor has supported 30 startups through its accelerator program and invested in over 20 startups through its investment programs.
A fast growing base of online consumers, an enabling public digital infrastructure, growing pool of founders with prior startup experience and increase in early stage seed capital are creating the conditions for this second wave.” Commenting on how the accelerator program improves the odds of success of startups, GanapathyVenugopal, Cofounder and CEO of Axilor said, “In an uncertain funding environment, Axilor’s accelerator program is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to scale their startups and become investible quickly.
The program enables them to accelerate progress, sign up customers and get funded, quickly.” On the upcoming Summer batch, he said, “We have one of the most founder-friendly programs and are seeing great response to our call for applications.” Axilor is looking to double the intake of startups to its upcoming Summer ’17 accelerator batch.
The program is open to early stage startups focused on Artificial Intelligence, Enterprise, Fintech, Consumer Internet and Healthtech.
The program’s uniqueness lies in a cohort-based structure with focused sector mentoring and market access.
With specific partnerships for each of these sectors, startups get a ready launch pad for their products, acquire early customers and can grow business quickly.
(ANI-BusinessWireIndia) This is published unedited from the ANI feed.
Sachem Capital Corp. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering
Sachem Capital Corp.
BRANFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sachem Capital Corp. (NYSE MKT:SACH) (“the Company”), a real estate finance company specializing in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing a portfolio of short-term, “hard money” real estate loans, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 2,600,000 common shares at a price to the public of $5.00 per share.
The gross proceeds to the Company from the public offering are expected to be $13,000,000 before underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses of the offering.
The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 390,000 common shares from the Company to cover over-allotments, if any.
“We are delighted to welcome Sachem Capital Corp, a leading real estate finance company, to the NYSE MKT,” said John Tuttle, NYSE Global Head of Listings.
This offering is being made pursuant to a S-11 registration statement (File No.
A final prospectus with respect to this offering will be filed with the SEC.
Forward-looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, are forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs.
You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made by us in the context of these risks and uncertainties.
New India Assurance initial public offering in next six to eight months
New India Assurance initial public offering in next six to eight months.
New India Assurance, one of the country’s biggest general insurers, is likely to file for its initial public offering (IPO) in the next six to eight months.
In mid-January, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) had approved listing of the five state-owned general insurance companies and reducing the government’s stake in them from 100% to 75%.
G Srinivasan, chairman and MD of New India Assurance, said: “I can’t share more details at this point of time.
However, formal approval from the government has come for listing, and it will take six-eight months to hit the markets.” He also added that the insurer will finalise bankers for the issue soon and no decision has been taken on quantum of stake sale.
Also Watch: New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance, United India Insurance and General Insurance Corp (GIC Re) are the five companies that will list of stock exchanges.
Senior officials in the insurance industry said that, GIC Re and New India Assurance would be the first set of players to be listed on the stock exchanges.
Srinivasan was talking at the launch of “New India Premier Mediclaim Policy” for sum insured of R15 lakh to R1 crore.
The policy can be taken by an individual as well as family floater cover.
In addition to the cashless hospitalisation facility, it comes with a few special features being introduced for the first time under any such policy like, air ambulance expense up to R1 lakh, infertility treatment coverage up to R1 lakh and OPD expenses for dental treatment, health check-up, medicines etc., among other features.
Top 16 Expert Tips For Launching A Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
By crowdfunding, you’re essentially building a future audience of customers, since people tend to fund business ideas, causes, or concepts they are interested in buying, being involved with, or taking advantage of in the future.
Set Goals for Crowdfunding Campaign Like any successful project or initiative, start by determining what your goals are before launching a crowdfunding campaign.
This involves not only determining your goals (although that should definitely be your first step), but more prosaic but equally important steps like: Establish a budget for advertising and promoting your crowdfunding campaign Understand the rules and regulations from each platform Create and/or source the resources and assets that you’ll need Determine how to get the word out Crunch the numbers as you go in order to refine your campaign and position your brand Reward your investors once you get your business, product line,or other initiative rolling” What’s more, you’ll need to determine where you’ll be promoting your campaign, including what platforms to use, which social media sites you’ll be targeting, and where you will engage your audience with content and advertisements.
Really, promoting your crowdfunding campaign is essentially just content marketing.
Remember that the press won’t promote you unless you let them know about your company first, and make things easy for them.
Get Your Message Out There Early And Often Once you’ve created your marketing plan and all the content associated with your crowdfunding efforts, you need to tell the crowd!
After all, you’re hardly going to get any investors if they don’t know about your brand.
Reward Your Investors Most crowdfunding programs involve some kind of reward or extra bonus for investors.
Give them access and a personal stake in your brand and they’ll support and promote your causes.
In the end, promoting your company as a crowdfunding investment to the “crowd” is not too different from pitching more traditional types of investors.
Techstars Q&A: How startups can accelerate retail innovation
“[I]t’s important that retailers continue to budget and put priority on the innovation stuff,” Broshar told Retail Dive.
We had a lot of funding for our companies in our program and we’re really interested in trying to get the alignment between the startup and the retail community, so that startups want to build companies that service the retail industry because right now they’re not looking at that first.
Are retailers going to startups or are startups going to retailers?
So what you’re seeing right now is the startups being like, “We’ve talked to a lot of people, we know you have this problem, let us help you with that problem.”
I think the innovation teams can align themselves around identifying internally where the problems are, making it easy for startups to work with them so there is a clear process of getting to a pilot — and be more or less the facilitators between the unit and the startups.
I think it’s important that retailers continue to budget and put priority on the innovation stuff.
Tell me how the Techstars partnership is going with Target, a legacy retailer, now that you’re nearly two years into it.
They’ve been a really good partner for us and had that mindset really from the beginning of, “Look, this shouldn’t be a transactional relationship.
Target was super-involved with the companies from a mentor perspective.
BROSHAR: I think they will become further and further aligned as far as startups interested in working with retailers and retailers being more interested in working with startups.
Don’t Let Others’ Opinions Hold You Back
Everyone’s a critic.
Advice from current entrepreneurs can be wide-ranging; some say you should ignore all critics and steam ahead, while others say that criticism is critical to your businesses success.
In fact, that’s one of the greatest parts of entrepreneurship.
The separation between criticism and opinion is critical if you want to succeed and enjoy your entrepreneurial journey.
You should be passionate about what you do, and the more passion you put into your business, the better it’s going to be.
If someone says something about your business, you’ll have an emotional response.
While emotion is important, you need to learn when to keep emotion out of play.
People who applaud your business will provide a positive emotional experience, and that’s something to enjoy.
Also, other entrepreneurs have experience.
You need to understand that, while others have their opinions and criticisms of your business, it’s still going to be your business at the end of the day.