Zboard electric skateboard
The electric skateboard Zboard skated into our hearts at the DEMO conference this spring, but now it has also conquered CES.
Continue reading… “Electric skateboard Zboard deemed most investor-worthy startup at CES”
The hidden costs of the ‘free’ app ecosystem
“Paid apps work because they provide the great experience people deserve as customers.”
Time is money, and apps don’t last forever. All the weeks you spent on your apps and you’re never going get back all those hours you spent on them. And all of the free apps are dangerous, yet free is the dominant business model most mobile apps are taking these days. The idea is to grow as quickly as possible then insert ads of some kind or get acquired. For consumers it offers a crummy set of choices: either losing the countless hours you put into the app or have your private data sold to marketers — since as well all know, when the product is free, you are the product.
Continue reading… “The hidden costs of the ‘free’ app ecosystem”
Most smartphone and tablet users don’t care if they run iOS, Android, or Windows
The survey found there is no widespread loyalty among consumers about operating systems.
Google and Apple better watch out. According to a new study by Accenture, two-thirds of smartphone and tablet owners don’t have strong brand loyalty to any one particular operating system.
Continue reading… “Most smartphone and tablet users don’t care if they run iOS, Android, or Windows”
Crowdfunding changes the game – investment bankers will no longer be the gatekeepers
Investment banks will no longer be the gatekeepers to access to capital markets.
The gatekeepers of access to the capital markets have traditionally been investment bankers. Now it is time for crowdfunding to play a greater role.
The ‘sharing economy’ is the next big thing
The Avis acquisition of Zipcar suggests that the sharing economy has come of age.
Revolution made their first bet on the concept of sharing nearly 10 years ago with their investments in Exclusive Resorts (2003) and Flexcar (2005). The “sharing economy” now extends across multiple verticals – we’re sharing cars, movies, extra rooms in our homes, online lectures, and even our time. Yesterday Avis Budget Group announced that they will acquire Zipcar which marks a significant milestone for the concept of collaborative consumption.
Continue reading… “The ‘sharing economy’ is the next big thing”
Wired magazine brings in 50% of its ad revenue from the web
The 50 percent digital revenue share also didn’t come as a result of a decline in print advertising sales.
One of the first big magazines devoted to technology and the internet is Wired. Half of Wired magazine’s ad revenue was generated from the internet in Q4 2012. This is a first for the magazine.
Continue reading… “Wired magazine brings in 50% of its ad revenue from the web”
When Prisons Become Illegal
Futurist Thomas Frey: The first time I watched Star Trek and heard Captain Kirk utter the phrase – “Set your phasers to stun!” – it occurred to me that these future weapons featured a number of different settings.
By 2020 a billion entrepreneurs will be women
“The third billion”
Globally, there are 380 million entrepreneurs today. For every 19 people you meet – one will be an entrepreneur. What are the other 18 doing? What are they doing that makes money without them creating/inventing opportunities? One might think they all have jobs, but they don’t – only 61% of world’s population have any sort of a job.
Continue reading… “By 2020 a billion entrepreneurs will be women”
Google’s Larry Page shares his vision of the future
Google CEO Larry Page
This past fall, when Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP Group, the giant advertising agency, visited Google, CEO Larry Page sent a car to pick him up at the Rosewood Hotel about 20 miles away. The car Page sent was no ordinary car. Thanks to a slew of high-tech tools, including radars, sensors, and a laser scanner that takes more than 1.5 million measurements every second, the Lexus SUV drove itself. For about 20 minutes, while navigating I-280 and the area’s busy State Route 85, the car cruised on autopilot, making quick course corrections, slowing down here when traffic loomed ahead, speeding up there to get out of the blind spot of a neighboring vehicle. “It was pretty incredible,” says Sorrell.
Continue reading… “Google’s Larry Page shares his vision of the future”
Top 10 most stressful jobs of 2013
73% of workers are stressed out at work.
“I am soooo stressed out right now!” When is the last time you heard someone say that? Probably just three minutes ago, right?
According to a recent work-stress survey by Harris Interactive for Everest College, nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of workers are stressed out by at least one thing at work.
Continue reading… “Top 10 most stressful jobs of 2013”
Could this be the next Panama Canal or just a crazy idea?
Serbia has a spatial plan to build the Danube-Morava-Vardar shipping canal.
The Serbian ministry of natural resources, mining and spacial planing has started preparing paperwork for producing the spatial plan for ship canal Danube-Morava-Vardar.
Continue reading… “Could this be the next Panama Canal or just a crazy idea?”
17 new ideas on Kickstarter that are worth millions
Pebble is the most funded Kickstarter project of all time.
Entrepreneurs and artists can post ideas and raise money from other users on Kickstarter. No project had ever raised $1 million on the platform before 2012. But, in the last 12 months, 17 projects exceeded 9-figure fundraises on Kickstarter.
Continue reading… “17 new ideas on Kickstarter that are worth millions”
