Tag: startups

Posted on by

Open banking fintech Yapily raises $13M Series A

Yapily, one of a number of fintech startups that offer an opening banking API to let enterprises, such as financial service providers and merchants, connect to banks, has raised $13 million in Series A funding. Leading the round is Lakestar, which is also a backer of fintech unicorn Revolut.
Existing investors HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, and LocalGlobe also participated. Yapily last disclosed $5.4 million in seed funding in May 2019, and counts the likes of Taavet Hinrikus (TransferWise chairman and co-founder), Ott Kaukver (Twilio’s CTO), Roberto Nicastro (UniCredit’s former deputy CEO) and Frank Strauss (Former CEO of Deutsche Postbank) as angel backers.
…

Read More

Posted on by

Quibi launches its mobile streaming service in the middle of the quarantine era

Quibi, the much-hyped mobile app promising to deliver “quick bites” of video entertainment, is finally here.
The company has been in the headlines for more than two years, thanks to the involvement of founder Jeffrey Katzenberg (who previously co-founded DreamWorks Animation) and CEO Meg Whitman (previously the CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise).
Plus, it’s raised a whopping $1.75 billion to fund a star-studded content slate from filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, Lena Waithe and Catherine Hardwick.
Quibi is launching with nearly 50 shows today. The initial lineup includes “Chrissy’s Court” (in which Chrissy Teigen presides over …

Read More

Posted on by

Solid chip sales unlikely to cushion Samsung’s virus-hit first quarter profit

SEOUL (Reuters) – The coronavirus-driven global shift to working from home is set to have boosted demand for Samsung Electronics’ memory chips from laptop makers and data centres, but first-quarter profits are likely to remain flat as the outbreak weakened consumer electronics sales. FILE PHOTO: ‘Closed’ notices are displayed at …

Read More

Posted on by

What Happens to Amazon Prime Day Now? Reports Say This Is the Plan, According to Leaked Internal Documents

A new memo that just leaked from Amazon reportedly explains the current plan to delay it. That could have some significant ripple effects on small businesses.Last year, Amazon Prime Day accounted for 175 million items sold on Amazon in 18 countries, and sales exceeded “Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined,” according to Amazon. It’s a key opportunity for independent businesses that sell on Amazon, too. Amazon said last year that globally its platform facilitated $2 billion in small and medium-sized business sales during Prime Day. One of the best examples I’ve been able to document in some detail is how the company behind the Instant Pot used Prime Day to sell $14.8 million worth of product in a single day. Moreover, according to reports last year, Amazon Prime Day has grown to the point that it has a “halo effect” on other big retailers: perhaps billions more in sales for other vendors outside Amazon that benefit from the annual online shopping habit. But now it seems this year will be different. According to Amazon notes reviewed by Reuters and other media, the plan for 2020, as a result of the pandemic, is to delay Prime Day from its normal July date “until at least …

Read More

Posted on by

Increase Sales With ‘The Dessert Pitch’

A while back, the “Tall One,” aka my husband, some good friends and I went out for an “it’s-been-way-too-long” double date.As always, the best part was our conversation — which was proven hysterical because I collected at least 20 southern stares while my loud and proud NJ-self bellowed with laughter.A good night indeed.But the grand finale was the sales pitch the waiter gave for the dessert. As he shared the sugary treats, he seemed uninterested and sleepy. I thought he might lay down in the booth next to us and call it a night. But then, all of a sudden, he came to life. (It’s a miracle!) As he shared the final option, he sounded like a kid on Christmas morning with the first peek of wrapped presents under the tree. His excitement was contagious and persuasive.Related: How To Create ‘Momentum Moments’ And Increase Sales 10-foldBefore you could say “sucker,” the choice was, of course, the final combo dessert option, a Bananas Foster rum bread pudding combo. And as he walked away, this table full of salespeople realized we’d been had. His energy close worked. He walked us right to the sale.The good news …

Read More

Posted on by

Stay home and karaoke: Tencent’s JOOX sees usage spike in Southeast Asia

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Lockdowns and travel retrictions prompted by the new coronavirus have been a boon to JOOX, Chinese tech giant Tencent’s international music streaming platform, driving traffic to its karaoke services up by as much as 50%, an executive said. FILE PHOTO: A Tencent sign is seen at …

Read More

Posted on by

Luftfahrtkonzern: Airbus kürzt seine Produktionsrate deutlich

Airbus

Mit der drastischen Maßnahme will Airbus vermeiden, dass man Flugzeuge auf Halde fertigt.

(Foto: Bloomberg)

Frankfurt Es hatte sich abgezeichnet: Der europäische Luftfahrtkonzern Airbus reduziert seine Produktionsrate offensichtlich deutlich. Das berichten mehrere Nachrichtenagenturen und Zeitungen. Unternehmenskenner bestätigten entsprechende Überlegungen. Airbus selbst dementiert die Informationen nicht, …

Read More

Posted on by

Revealing the Secrets to Peak Professional and Personal Performance

Peak performance — it’s something just about everyone strives for. There are countless diets, books, blogs, TV shows and more dedicated to becoming your best self and operating at your highest capacity, both in business and in life. The question is, can it actually be done?While most focus on just one facet of self-care  (weight, productivity, nutrition, motivation, etc.), social entrepreneur and biohacker Lian Pham’s approach is all-inclusive and comprehensive. With her Peak Performance Pyramid, Pham — who, full disclosure, is a client of mine, but whose perspective I felt was valuable to share during these challenging times — has worked out a system of steps that include biohacking the mind, body and spirit to reach peak performance across the boards. Here’s how she did it, as well her tips on how you can, too.What led to your becoming so interested in peak performance?After the birth of my second child, I suddenly became very, very ill. I went to every hospital, every specialist, but found no explanation for my severe headaches, numbness and hypokalemia. I knew that something was wrong and that answers must be out there. I just had to find them. I never gave up, and …

Read More

Posted on by

Coronavirus: Video games add ‘stay at home’ Covid-19 adverts

Three of the UK’s leading video games developers are to display coronavirus safety advice within their titles.Candy Crush Saga, Dirt Rally 2.0 and Sniper Elite 4 are among the games that will feature the messaging.The initial ads will focus on the theme: “Stay home. Save lives.”Rebellion – one of …

Read More

Posted on by

Why Learning a New Language Now Could Make You a More Successful Entrepreneur

The world is flattening (figuratively) as international trade is easier than ever and more people speak English than ever. But just because doing business in English is widely possible, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn a new language. There are a number of reasons why entrepreneurs owe it to themselves to learn a new language.Plus, with your social calendar nonexistent for the time being and great deals on language learning software and apps popping up (like this lifetime subscription to Babbel for 60 percent off), there’s never been a better time to try it out.It rewires your brain.When you learn a new language, your brain actually rewires itself. The human brain is incredibly plastic, changing and creating new connections whenever newer, less-used portions of the brain are used. That can actually make you feel smarter in the long run.See a different perspective.Language and culture aren’t just opposite sides of the same coin — they blend together in the edge. When you learn a new language, you get a unique look into the culture that speaks and thrives on that language. With that perspective, you may find yourself thinking of things in new, innovative ways.Improves listening skills.Listening …

Read More