#Startup Networking Night

[imarketer4udma-blog]

GOUSA 2023 STARTUP NETWORKING NIGHT IN VIENNA – HOW DID IT GO FOR IM4U AGENCY?

The GoUSA 2023 Startup Networking Night in Vienna was an exciting event that aimed to bring together innovative startupers, investors, and industry experts from both Austria and the United States. The event provided a platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in the startup ecosystem. Among the participating companies, IM4U Digital Marketing Agency actively took part in this event, showcasing our expertise in digital marketing and networking with potential partners and clients. Let’s dive into how the evening went for the IM4U agency at the event.

ABOUT GOUSA 2023 STARTUP NETWORKING NIGHT IN VIENNA

This event was made possible with the support of Open Austria, a prominent organization that fosters collaboration and innovation between Austria and the United States. Open Austria promotes entrepreneurial partnerships, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange to drive economic growth and strengthen the startup ecosystem.

IM4U Digital Marketing Agency had the privilege of collaborating with Open Austria for the event. This collaboration allowed IM4U to actively participate in the event and showcase our digital marketing expertise to a diverse audience. Open Austria’s involvement in the event not only provided valuable support but also helped create an environment conducive to networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within the startup ecosystem.

IM4U DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY AT GOUSA 2023 EVENT

IM4U Digital Marketing Agency actively engaged with stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, demonstrating a proactive approach at the event. Through conversations and idea exchanges with startup founders, investors, and industry leaders, the agency positioned itself as a valuable resource. Networking sessions allowed IM4U representatives to seek potential partnerships, while sharing their expertise in digital marketing to foster discussions on strategies and insights. This showcased their commitment to enhancing startups’ digital presence and supporting their growth.

By engaging with startup founders, IM4U gained an understanding of their specific marketing challenges and provided tailored advice and solutions. This demonstrated the agency’s dedication to nurturing the success of emerging companies. Additionally, IM4U capitalized on the opportunity to connect with investors, showcasing their track record of successful campaigns and highlighting the potential for mutually beneficial collaborations. This established a strong presence among potential investment partners. Lastly, the agency actively sought out industry leaders, participating in panel discussions, workshops, and keynote sessions to exchange ideas and stay updated on the latest trends, further highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and innovation in digital marketing.

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE WE GOT AT STARTUP NETWORKING NIGHT

IM4U Digital Marketing Agency had a valuable experience at the Startup Networking Night. The event facilitated the expansion of our professional network by engaging with startup founders, investors, and industry leaders, potentially leading to future collaborations and business opportunities. Additionally, the agency gained insights into the latest trends and innovations in the startup landscape, staying at the forefront of digital marketing and offering innovative solutions to clients. IM4U also showcased expertise and thought leadership, establishing credibility and trust among potential clients and partners.

Furthermore, the event provided an opportunity for IM4U to learn from the experiences of others, gaining valuable perspectives and lessons learned from successful entrepreneurs and investors. This exposure to diverse experiences contributes to the agency’s strategic decision-making and overall growth.

UPCOMING JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES

IM4U Digital Marketing Agency is thrilled to announce our upcoming journey to the United States, aiming to strengthen existing client partnerships and explore new business opportunities. We prioritize face-to-face interactions with clients to understand their needs and align strategies for success. By solidifying these partnerships, we can provide more tailored and impactful digital marketing solutions.

Moreover, we are excited to tap into the dynamic and innovative American market, connecting with potential clients, investors, and industry leaders. Our goal is to establish strong relationships that foster growth for both our agency and the businesses we serve. The IM4U team is committed to immersing ourselves in the American business landscape, learning from industry pioneers, and leveraging our expertise to deliver exceptional results. Building strong partnerships is our foundation for success, and we look forward to creating lasting value for our American partners.

Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this exciting journey to the United States and continue to deliver innovative digital marketing solutions to our clients across the globe.

CONCLUSION

IM4U Digital Marketing Agency is committed to staying at the forefront of the industry, enhancing expertise, exploring emerging trends, and delivering innovative solutions to clients. Our upcoming journey to the United States is an incredible opportunity to expand horizons, forge new connections, and explore growth potential. We eagerly anticipate immersing ourselves in the vibrant business landscape, learning from industry leaders, and bringing back valuable insights to elevate our services.

We firmly believe that strong partnerships are the cornerstone of success. Strengthening existing relationships and cultivating new ones with American clients is a priority. These partnerships will fuel our growth and contribute to the success of the businesses we serve. As we embark on this journey, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional results, fostering innovation, and exceeding client expectations. The future holds promise, and we look forward to the growth, collaboration, and success that await us.

Thank you for your support, and we cannot wait to share the exciting developments and achievements that arise from our journey to America.

[no-144444]

misguided mishap- l.norris

Day 5 of fic-tober! fic-tober masterlist

summary: One bed… what could go wrong? (SMUT 18+)

pairing: lando norris x fewtrell! fem! reader

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Long days and long flights. That was your life now. Yes, you were excited when Max had asked you to join Quadrant straight out of college as one of their PR/ marketing managers, but that was when you still thought it would be an office job. You liked to travel, in the sense that you liked seeing new cultures, countries and relaxing every now and then. What you didn’t like was the 4 days when you’d somehow been in 3 different time zones, trying to wrangle an overactive puppy in the form of a 21 year old skateboarder. Thus the joys of the job. 

Yet now, you were busy at a party making connections and ‘networking’ (Max’s favourite buzzword), too tired to even notice  Max and Lando’s eyes on you. You smiled and politely laughed at exactly the right moments in your conversation with Mark from some startup you’d never heard of or cared about. They both watched with soft smiles on their faces as you navigated the conversations simply, making everyone feel heard. Max was proud to say the least. 

Ever since you’d left for college, Lando hadn’t seen you. He’d always enjoyed your company as a kid, and he’d even thought he’d had a crush at one point, though Max did shut that down pretty quickly. But seeing you now? You were gorgeous. He couldn’t describe it. It could’ve been your personality, your smile, your eyes, or something fucking cosmic, but Lando was in love, and there was no stopping it. 

“Busy?” Lando smirked, handing you a G&T. You’d just finished up what you’d hoped to be your last business-related conversation of the night. 

You turned to him, startled, then smiled. “Hi Lan,” you gratefully took the drink with a nod. “Thank you.”

“It’s good to see you,” he leaned in closer, trying to not draw attention to the two of you. 

“It’s good to see you too,” you smiled back. “Congrats on your win last weekend!”

He smiled bashfully, proud of what his season had become. “Thanks,” he nodded, slyly wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you closer. “What have you been up to?”

“Working for Max,” you chuckled. “In Quadrant, of course, but still, I’m basically just Keegan’s PR manager,” you pointed out Keegan, who was busy trying to explain the theory of a kickflip to Max, who had been struggling with his skateboarding skills for some time. 

“You work in Quadrant?” he gawked. “I had no idea.”

You smiled. “That’s the sign of a good company, the boss has no clue what’s going on.”

He chuckled. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too,” you nodded, noticing that little sparkle in his eyes as he watched you. 

“Why hasn’t Max been bringing you to races?” He questioned, taking a sip from his drink. 

“I’m busy now,” you shrugged. “Keegan is a handful.”

“Why didn’t you come to Ibiza?” 

You chuckled. “You must’ve really missed me if you’re asking this many questions,” someone knocked into you, pushing you even closer to him. He blushed and whether it was because of your words or the closeness of the two of you, he didn’t know. “Ibiza is a party place, I don’t like parties.”

“Why didn’t I see you at home then? I went back a few weeks ago.”

“I was home a few weeks ago. Maybe we just missed each other,” you suggested. 

“Not off galavanting with a boyfriend?” he teased. 

You leaned in ever closer, directly at his ear. “Why? Jealous?”

He smirked, shaking his head. “You are something else.”

“And to answer your question, no, no boyfriend. Too busy trying to wrangle Keegs,” you smiled as you watched Keegan burst out laughing with Max. “How is F1 going?”

“You haven't been watching?” he asked, chuckling. 

“I get too stressed knowing you’re in the car,” you explained. “I almost lost it when you crashed in Austria.” 

“Good to know you still care about little old me,” he grinned. “I promise you I’m safe.”

And something about the way he said it made you believe him. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the air, maybe it was the intoxicating closeness of him, maybe it was just always supposed to be like this, but you didn’t know. All you knew was that Lando was in front of you, with all of his attention on you, and you felt like falling straight into his trap. 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” you reminded him. “We both know you’re not safe in that car.”

He shrugged. “I can handle it.”

“I’m sure you can,” you looked up at him through batted eyelashes and smiled. “I think someone’s a fan,” you chuckled, drawing both your attention to the group of girls around his age who were losing their shit over the fact that he was here. 

“Please don’t make me talk to them,” he pleaded and you laughed. One of them slowly started approaching. 

“I don’t think you have a choice,” you smirked and stepped back, waving him a goodbye as his next conversation started. You didn’t notice that he followed you out of the party.

“Trying Irish goodbye?” he smirked, joining you in the elevator. 

“Fuck! You scared me!” you startled. “Do you have to be such a dick?!” 

He laughed, wrapping his arms around you as he apologised. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he mocked, using that stupid baby voice. 

You shoved him off with a playful smirk. “And yes, I’m tired. I just want to get to bed and lie down.”

“Don’t know how well Max will take you not saying goodnight,” he teased. “Might even come check on you.”

“Max can fuck off,” you sighed. “I’m a grown woman, and anyways, he wouldn’t come to the room he probably thinks I’m fucking someone.”

He almost did a double take when you said that, you caught it in the corner of your eye. 

“It’s a long story, but basically Max walked in on me having sex with this guy like 3 whole fucking years ago, and he always brings it up,” you explained. “He likes to hold it over my head.”

“How would he hold that over your head?”

You shrugged. “He thinks I make bad choices, that was one of them in his mind.”

“Was it a bad choice?” he asked, his eyes bearing into the side of your face. Anyone could feel the charged air in that tiny inclosed space. It made the fucking hair on your arms stand up, and gave you goosebumps on your legs. 

You felt your face heat, but answered simply. “No.”

“So then it wasn’t a bad choice,” he told you. “Max shouldn’t have any say in what you do. He’s your brother, not your keeper.”

“I know,” you answered simply, finally looking at him. “Thanks Lan.”

He offered a small smile and let you out of the elevator first. “What room are you?”

“213, you?” “213,” he read out the card the hotel had given him. “Well, that can’t be right.”

“I think it is, I was talking with the hotel staff and they said they’re fully booked up that people from the same companies have been forced to share. Did you come here under Quadrant or Mclaren?”

“Quadrant,” he sighed. You nodded. 

“It’s fine, we’ll survive for one night,” you dismissed the issue with a shrug. 

“One night? I’m here for a week,” he explained. 

“And I’m only here for tonight,” you yawned. “Off to Melbourne in the morning.”

“Break?” 

“Nah, visiting Keegan’s family and doing press stuff,” you explained. You opened the room and let out a sigh of pure rage. “One bed.” 

“I’ll take the floor,” he nodded but you stopped him. 

“We’re adults, we can share a fucking bed Lando,” you chuckled. 

And something about the way that you looked at him made him want to kiss you. The alcohol he’d consumed had definitely loosened his inhibitions and now he was solely focused on you. The way your hair fell, the way you talked to him, the smile on your lips, the way you weren’t shy with him. All of it made him fall deeper and deeper. He didn’t realise he was kissing you until you pulled on his hair, kissing him back. 

“Lan-” you pulled back slightly, but he just started kissing down your neck. “Close the door.”

He kicked it closed and kissed you again, hungry for more. “Jump,” he told you, you obliged and he caught you, carrying you over to the bed. 

“You sure you want this?” you asked as he started pulling off his clothes. 

“I’ve wanted this for a long time,” he smirked, pulling at your clothes. “You sure you want this?”

You just kissed him in response. He kissed down your neck, down your torso, and in between your legs. He took his time pulling off your trousers and underwear. Then he settled himself in front of you and smirked. 

“Such a pretty pussy baby,” he said before placing his mouth on your clit, sucking hard. You let out a yelp as he smirked against you, lapping at your folds, insatiable. It  made you delirious, how good it was, how good he felt. The way his tongue smoothed through your folds, sucking on your clit while he let’s out soft groans as if he’s the one getting sucked off right now. He had you squirming under him, holding your thighs in an iron-clad grip as he sped up. He got sloppier, more lewd sounds coming from the both of you as you got closer and closer to your peak. 

“Fuck, you’re dripping baby,” he groaned aginast your pussy, sending vibrations up your entire body. Your stomach clenched and contracted, and you came all over his face with a loud moan. You’d feel bad for the neighbours if you weren’t so horny. 

“Lan!” you groaned out, pulling his head away and back up to your face. He pressed kisses all over your neck, undoing his trouser to finally let his cock out. He was rock hard, he’d never been this turned on. “Fuck me, please fuck me,” you begged, and everything else fell away. He bottomed out with a moan as you bit into his shoulder to stop yourself from screaming, and when you nodded he started moving. 

You felt like heaven, gripping him like that. It made him feel like he couldn’t stop. Totally pussydrunk. “F-fuck baby,” he whimpered as he picked up the pace. 

“I’m-i’m gonna cum-fuck!” you moaned as he started hitting that gummy spot inside you, making you see fucking stars. “Yes-yes! There Lan, don’t fucking s-stop!”

He wasn’t planning on stopping. He picked up the pace even more, until the room was full of those lewd sounds from your wet pussy and his dirty mouth. 

“Y’like getting fucked like this? In hotel rooms just to l-leave the next morning?” he smirked as you squirmed under him. “Oh baby n-no, you’re not runnin’ away,” he grabbed one of your arms, pinning you down to the bed with a smirk. “Y’think they can hear us?”

That made you clamp down on him even harder, moaning even louder.

“You like that naughty girl?” he smirked, punctuating every word with a particularly hard thrust.  

“Y-yes!” you cried out, barely able to listen to what he was saying. It was all too much, too good, too little. 

“Fuck you’re perfect,” He groaned, biting into your neck as he willed himself not to cum. “Such a naughty girl.”

“Yours Lan, a-all yours,” you whined as you felt yourself getting closer. “I-I’m gonna cum!”

“You cum baby,” he huffed. “Give it to me.”

And he pushed you over the edge again. He kept fucking you through your orgasm, making you cum again as the world went blurry and your ears started ringing. Finally, he came inside you, triggering yet another orgasm as you screamed into a pillow. 

You fell asleep instantly, and he took it upon himself to get you cleaned up. He cleaned you up with a wet towel, put one of his hoodies on you, and kissed you goodnight before joining the bed and wrapping his arms around you. 

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You woke up like that, sore but satisfied with Lando beside you.  Then you realised. What had you done?

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navigation for my blog :) (masterlist)

fic-tober masterlist

taglist: @anotherapollokid @theseerbetweenus @simbaaas-stuff @5sospenguinqueen

[thelonelybrilliance]

10 Book Recs...

Last night I hit 100 books for my #2024Reads (goal is 120), so in honor of that, here are ten recs:

John Carreyrou, Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (nonfiction but reads like a thriller)

Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These (tender and haunting and has found a forever place in my heart)

Martha Wells, Network Effect (maybe the pièce de résistance of the Murderbot Series?)

Michael Lewis, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon (sobering. And weird)

Louise Glück, The Seven Ages (one of my favorites)

George Eliot, Daniel Deronda (uneven, but with flashes of greatness)

J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan (better read as a grown-up)

Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond (a classic)

C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (timeless)

Pierce Brown, Light Bringer (but only if you've read the whole series, of course)

[jowhale]

The Journey in Entrepreneurial Mind : Political Science Edition

Hello, everyone! and every two! and every three!

The Final Pitching: Our OMNIHUB Innovation Takes Pride

After months of hard work, countless brainstorming, conducting several surveys, and more than a few late nights, the day finally arrived for us to pitch our innovative new service application “OMNIHUB '' to the panels. The atmosphere was electric as we took in commencing to pitch, presented a demo of the seamless user experience, and articulated our vision for creating a revolutionary platform to make people’s lives more convenient and open up new opportunities especially to the students. 

Moreover, there were certainly some nerves, months of preparation carried us through. We highlighted OMNIHUB’s unique ability to seamlessly connect users to local services, from transportation to grocery to dog walking and more remotely. I guess, the panel’s eyes lit up as they saw and witnessed just how great and intuitive the app made accessing these modern conveniences. When we revealed our expansive partner network of service, and assuming the presence of developers and partner providers, I believe they will be on board, and expecting that we could feel the rising excitement. 

As the pitch encapsulates, we feel the exploding applause coming from our adviser and the panel. Months of doubt, fatigue and challenges melted away in that moment of validation and promise for our startup’s future. Thus, there is still a long road ahead, pitching OMNIHUB was an incredible milestone and motivating start to our entrepreneurial journey. 

The Entrepreneurial Mind Lecture Series 2024

Credits: Mr. Reymark Menguito Facebook Post after the lecture series photo opt.

With the high pitch still fresh, we were fortunate to attend the Entrepreneurial Mind Lecture Series and gain invaluable insights about critical legal and business considerations for startup founders. The discussions around data privacy regulations, intellectual property protection and nurturing a healthy startup ecosystem were not only fascinating but immensely practical. 

One speaker’s cautionary tales about the risks of neglecting data privacy best practices clearly outlined the need to bake those considerations into our respective innovation’s infrastructure from day one. However, sometimes seen as a hindrance, we recognized robust data privacy as an opportunity to build user trust and position our brand as an advocate on valuing digital rights and freedoms. 

The intellectual property talks were another highlight, detailing strategies for safeguarding our core innovations while still encouraging productive partnerships and integrations within the broader ecosystem we aim to facilitate. It was a masterclass in walking the tightrope of protecting our interest while still boldly collaborating. 

Moreover, as we put the context to our innovation, while the OMNIHUB pitch was the dramatic crescendo, lectures like these represent the foundational learnings that will allow us to transform our plucky startup into an enduring, ethical and impactful enterprise. The insights gained will undoubtedly help steer us clear of many potential pitfalls. 

The Entrepreneurial Mind Experience: A Rewarding Whirlwind

The AB Political Science 3 in one frame with Sir Reymark Menguito.

Reflecting on the entire semester with “Entrepreneurial Mind” experience, it was truly a roller coaster in the best way possible. POwered by passion yet anchored in practicality and preparation, we weathered the inevitable storms of self-doubt, fatigue, and creative differences to bring “OMNIHUB” to this exciting inflection point. 

There were countless lows along the way - those nights where it felt like we never made a dent, or disagreements that threatened to derail everything. But each time we hit a roadblock, our resilience, openness to constructive feedback, and sheer belief in our vision pulled us through. We’ll carry the lessons of perseverance, resourcefulness, and teamwork with us forever. 

Of course, the highs were just as intense as the lows - those electrifying moments where everything clicked into place, or a conversation with a subject matter expert unlocked a powerful new idea we’d been stubbornly missing. Celebrating small wins with the team, whether a UI breakthrough or a new partnership commitment, recharged our momentum. 

Nevertheless, the future is unwritten, one thing is certain: we will always be visionary entrepreneurs at heart, capable of pouring out all into pursuing an ambitious idea and weathering any storm required to try and make an impact. OMNIHUB was the catalyst, but the Entrepreneurial MInd experience awakened something deeper- a mindset geared for constant evolution, lifelong learning and solving problems in unconventional ways. 

Moreover, this could not be possible without the ever-dynamic instructor of ours, Sir Reymark Menguito who made our journey in this course become extraordinary, through his expertise, motivation and passion to fuel our vehicles in entrepreneurship. I, myself, am beyond grateful for having Sir Reymark Menguito with us throughout the semester.

The abovementioned, the pitch, lecture series, and complete experience represented not just an academic exercise, but moreover the start of our entrepreneurial voyage. We have been equipped with tools, passion, memories and the hunger to continually innovate for a better world. After this rewarding whirlwind, we are eager to see what ambitious idea captures our “Entrepreneurial Mind” next. 

"Could have been me" a song of Halsey that pertains to someone or something that's holding oneself to be fearless, to do things scared and feel every emotions without restrictions in everything. To have some fun and enjoy things which talks to self indirectly that it could be me if I do it without anything is hampering me. And this is me.

[laresearchette]

Friday, November 10, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: FOR ALL MANKIND (Apple TV+) THE CURSE (Paramount +) EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS (W Network) 9:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT? AFTER THE BLAST: THE WILL TO SURVIVE (ABC Feed) BELLE COLLECTIVE (TBD - OWN Canada) THE CURSE (TBD)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA 007: ROAD TO A MILLION DINA HASHEM: DARK WHISPERS KANDAHAR TREVOR WALLACE: PTERODACTYL

CBC GEM CRIME (Season 2) LE COYOTE TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (starts today, goes until November 12th)

CRAVE TV A CHANCE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE FOUR CHRISTMASES GODFATHER OF HARLEM (Season 3, Episode 1) INTO THE DEEP THE JOURNEY HOME LAMBORGHINI: THE MAN, THE LEGEND MIRACLE IN MOTOR CITY ONE WEEK PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH SISU STILL MINE VIOLENT NIGHT

DISNEY + STAR BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT

NETFLIX CANADA AT THE MOMENT (TW) THE KILLER TEAM NINJA WARRIOR (Season 2)

2023 FIFA MEN'S U17 WORLD CUP (TSN/TSN4) 6:48am: Spain vs. Canada

GRAND SLAM OF CURLING (SN) 11:00am: National - Draw 14 (SN) 3:00pm: National - Draw 15 (SN) 7:00pm: National - Draw 16

NHL HOCKEY (SNWest/TSN4) 7:00pm: Flames vs. Leafs (SN1) 7:00pm: Wild vs. Sabres (SN) 10:00pm: Sharks vs. Knights

NBA BASKETBALL (TSN/TSN3/TSN5) 7:30pm: Nets vs. Celtics (SN Now) 8:30pm: Clippers vs. Stars (TSN/TSN3/TSN5) 10:00pm: Lakers vs. Suns

AMPLIFY (APTN) 7:30pm: Anishinaabe electro-pop artist Wolf Saga draws inspiration for his music from a painting his grandmother bought, which connects him to his culture. This episode features Richard Gracious, Janis Monture, Elder Mary Lou Smoke and Betty Albert.

THE FATHER (CTV2) 8:00pm: A man refuses assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and the fabric of his reality.

7TH GEN (APTN) 8:00pm: Matthew Monias - Mattmac: Many people know Matthew Monias by his stage name, Mattmac. Discover how this Oji-Cree blind recording artist from Garden Hill First Nation is taking the world by storm with his music and blazing a trail with his advocacy work.

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF JERSEY (Slice) 8:00pm: La Finn

PLANET WONDER (CBC) 8:30pm: How the language used about climate change affects the motivation to do something about it.

A DASH OF CHRISTMAS (CTV Life) 8:00pm: To apply for her dream job at a foodie startup, an executive must learn to bake. When she recruits a handsome baker to help her, she inadvertently ends up in a Christmas Bakeoff.

FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER (APTN) 8:30pm: The inaugural NASCAR Pinty's race finally arrives at Ohsweken Speedway and Aaron Turkey proves to be a hometown hero in the historic event. Meanwhile, Joshua Hill hustles to get his car back on the track after getting into a wreck the night before.

THE FIFTH ESTATE (CBC) 9:00pm: The Girls Around Robert G. Miller: In partnership with Radio-Canada's investigative program, "Enquête," "The Fifth Estate" examines troubling claims that a Canadian billionaire had a long history of paying teenagers for sex.

TRANSPLANT (CTV) 9:00pm: Bash reconnects with the man who got him to Canada.

BEAT BOBBY FLAY: HOLIDAY THROWDOWN (Food Network Canada) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Katie Lee Biegel cracks the wishbone with Turkey Day classics and makes this holiday reunion a surprise family affair. Chefs Darnell Ferguson, Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio attempt to squash Bobby Flay with a new turkey tradition.

CATWOMAN: HUNTED (Cartoon Network Canada) 9:00pm: Catwoman attempts to steal a priceless jewel.

VIOLENT NIGHT (Crave) 9:00pm: An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

W5 (CTV) 10:00pm: The Mystery Bomber: "W5" investigates the identity of a would-be bank robber who exploded in a dramatic heist.

CRIME BEAT (Global) 10:00pm: Nothing is What it Seems: Part 1: A man walking his dog comes upon a neighbor's garage engulfed in flames; when the smoke clears, a woman is found dead with drug paraphernalia nearby; nothing is what it seems, and police are left combing through a web of lies to find the killer.

[mariacallous]

One hour and three minutes before Silicon Valley Bank blocked all withdrawals, Pat Phelan got the last of his company's money out. Phelan's cosmetic medicine startup, Sisu Clinic, kept the majority of its reserves with the California-based bank. When he saw whispers of its problems spreading across the internet, he joined the digital bank run that ultimately pushed Silicon Valley Bank to collapse.

“I just messaged our chief financial officer and said, ‘Get the money out,’” Phelan says, adding he had to wait all night for the funds to arrive in his Bank of Ireland account. “It was an incredibly worrying 26 hours.”

After a tense weekend, regulators in the UK and US have stepped in to protect depositors, averting the most dramatic potential consequences of the largest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

But many in Europe’s tech industry warn of a slower-burn crisis to come. The reason that Silicon Valley Bank was so popular was because it filled a role that no one else would. It was part bank, part networking community, part venture capital firm. In some countries it was a major investor. In Ireland, the bank had planned to invest more than $500 million in technology and life science startups by 2024. In the Netherlands, the bank was in discussions about how to finance more local companies. Europe’s tech sector was already struggling with funding shortfalls, mounting losses, and widespread job cuts. The loss of Silicon Valley Bank only deepens the gloom. 

“What happened during the last few days is once again there was a recognition that, especially when it comes to bigger [investment] rounds … there are not that many real big funds that can play a major role,” says Rinke Zonneveld, the CEO of Invest NL, a government-backed investment firm in the Netherlands. “We are dependent on US money.”

Silicon Valley Bank was embedded in Europe’s tech sector via a series of affiliated businesses and offices. Its Danish office, which didn’t have a banking license, focused on networking. The German branch did not offer a deposit business. But at the heart of that system was the bank’s London-based subsidiary, established in 2012, which helped startups across the EU with funding, loans, and accounts. On Friday, the Bank of England declared that Silicon Valley Bank was set to enter insolvency, before that arm of the business was acquired in a last-minute £1 rescue deal by HSBC bank.

But many of Silicon Valley Bank’s customers turned to the bank exactly because they felt that traditional lenders were not set up to cater to the technology industry’s specific demands. 

The bank didn’t just enable tech companies with unusual financial structures to open accounts, says Check Warner, partner at London-based inclusive venture firm Ada Ventures. It also sponsored events and organizations trying to make the UK tech sector more diverse. “SVB was much more than just a bank,” she says. “I'd love it if a homegrown UK business was doing this role, but in the absence of that, Silicon Valley did it and did it really well.”�� 

Silicon Valley Bank's struggles started with a bad bet on long-dated US bonds. Rising interest rates meant that the value of those bonds fell. As depositors started to worry about the bank's balance sheet, they pulled their money out. High interest rates have become a challenge across the industry, ending the cheap loans  that tech companies got used to over the past decade and reducing available funding.

More than $400 billion in value was wiped from Europe’s tech industry in 2022, while some companies, like the buy-now, pay-later provider Klarna, watched their valuation plunge more than 85 percent. This year there’s been little reprieve, as layoffs continue within local startups as well as at Europe’s big tech outposts. At the end of February, Google confirmed it would cut 200 jobs from its business in Ireland. 

“The whole tech industry is suffering,” Warner says. “Generally, in 2023 rounds are taking much longer; there's much less capital available.” 

Against this backdrop it’s unclear whether any major European bank is able or willing to fill the niche that Silicon Valley Bank is leaving. 

“Silicon Valley Bank is unique. There are not that many banks which provide startups loans,” says Reinhilde Veugelers, a senior fellow at economic think tank Bruegel and a professor at Belgian university KU Leuven. “Typically, European banks are not good alternatives, because they're way too risk-averse.” 

And even if a bank wanted to take the risk, they'd likely struggle to replicate Silicon Valley Bank's deep knowledge of the startup ecosystem, Veugelers adds. “You need way more than deep pockets. You also need to be sufficiently close to the whole venture capital market and have the ability to do due diligence” she says. “If the bank had that capacity, it would have already been doing this.” HSBC did not immediately reply to WIRED’s request for comment. 

Silicon Valley Bank was prepared to take risks that other banks wouldn't, says Frederik Schouboe, co-CEO and cofounder of the Danish cloud company KeepIt. 

KeepIt secured a $22.5 million debt financing package—a way of raising money through borrowing—last year from Silicon Valley Bank’s UK business. Although the bank opened an office in Copenhagen in 2019, the branch did not have a banking license. Mainstream banks “are ultimately impossible to bank with if you are making a deficit in a subscription business,” Schouboe says. “The regulatory environment is too strict for them to actually help us.”

The way Silicon Valley Bank operated in Europe has earned its admirers. But now those people are worried the company’s collapse will warn other banks away from funding tech in the same way. It was SBV’s banking practices that failed, not the business model of funding the startup sector, says Berthold Baurek-Karlic, founder and managing partner of Vienna-based investment company Venionaire Capital. “What they did was they made big mistakes in risk management,” he adds. “If interest rates rise, this shouldn't make your bank go bust.”

Baurek-Karlic believes European startups were benefiting from the riskier bets that Silicon Valley Bank was taking, such as offering venture debt deals. The US and UK said Silicon Valley Bank is not system critical, arguing there was limited risk of contagion to other banks. That might be true in banking, he says. “But for the tech ecosystem, it was system critical.”

[drsonnet]

I can't sleep. I'm lying in bed every night, and images of Gaza are running through my head. Fathers holding their babies, dead, caked in dust. Bombs dropped on homes [1], on hospitals [2], on schools [3]. Tens of thousands of dead [4] in indiscriminate bombings [5]. Children crying, pulling through rubble to find their families [6]. The inhumanity of the soldiers is unbearable. They shoot civilians in the street [7], imprison and torture children [8], and strip and humiliate innocent men [9]. But the soldiers are having fun [10]. They're posting to TikTok [11], doing some war crimes [12], then celebrating on the beach [13]. I hate them. I hate them. I can't work. I code for 5 minutes before their bodies come back. I must work, but who can do a startup through a genocide, when 20,000 are dead [14], when the Israeli-imposed starvation is setting in [15]. I try though; the distraction is good for me. I look at my colleagues – the founders, the investors, my network, my friends, my advisors. I'm afraid to open their twitters. Each time I do, it's a roulette: is it business as usual – a new fundraise, the latest in AI, a new model released. The blasé posts are a relief. I can tell myself that they're censored, afraid to speak up about the genocide. Unable or not knowing how to do it. That's understandable. The propaganda kills me. People I thought were friends, were allies. So much humanity for those killed on October 7th, none for the people killed on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, or in November or December [16]. 20,000 people, killed by deliberate, indiscriminate bombing [17]. None either for the people killed on Oct 6th, 5th, 4th [18]. For the people massacred in 1948 [19] and since. No protest of the illegal occupation [20], the illegal settlements [21]. The razing of the villages [22] and the olive groves [23]. They don't exist to them; they didn't happen.

Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

I can't sleep.

I can't sleep (paulbiggar.com)

[workingspace01]

Affordable Coworking Space Tilak Road: The Perfect Workspace for Professionals

In today’s fast-paced business world, professionals and entrepreneurs seek flexible, budget-friendly workspaces that foster productivity and collaboration. If you're looking for an affordable coworking space on Tilak Road, you're in the right place. This prime location in Pune offers a perfect blend of convenience, modern amenities, and a vibrant community to help businesses thrive.

Why Choose a Coworking Space on Tilak Road?

Tilak Road is one of Pune's most well-connected and bustling areas, making it an ideal spot for freelancers, startups, and small businesses. Here are some compelling reasons why professionals prefer an affordable coworking space on Tilak Road:

1. Prime Location with Excellent Connectivity

Tilak Road is well-connected to major parts of Pune, including Deccan Gymkhana, Swargate, and Shivajinagar. With easy access to public transportation, professionals can commute effortlessly. The area also has a thriving commercial ecosystem, making networking and client meetings convenient.

2. Cost-Effective Workspaces

Renting a traditional office in Pune can be expensive, but an affordable coworking space on Tilak Road provides all the essential facilities at a fraction of the cost. With flexible membership plans, businesses can scale as per their needs without long-term commitments.

3. Modern Infrastructure and Amenities

Coworking spaces on Tilak Road offer state-of-the-art facilities, including high-speed internet, ergonomic seating, well-equipped meeting rooms, and dedicated workstations. These features help boost productivity and ensure a comfortable working environment.

4. Networking and Collaboration Opportunities

Working in a coworking space fosters collaboration and networking. You get to interact with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and even find potential clients or business partners. Many coworking spaces also host events, workshops, and networking sessions to encourage community building.

5. Flexible Work Hours

Unlike traditional offices, coworking spaces offer 24/7 access, allowing professionals to work at their convenience. Whether you are an early riser or a night owl, you can manage your work hours efficiently.

Features of an Affordable Coworking Space on Tilak Road

When choosing a coworking space on Tilak Road, consider the following features to get the best value for your money:

Flexible membership plans: Daily, weekly, and monthly options available.

High-speed Wi-Fi: Reliable internet for uninterrupted work.

Meeting and conference rooms: Fully equipped for client meetings and presentations.

Ergonomic workstations: Comfortable seating to enhance productivity.

Cafeteria and refreshments: Access to tea, coffee, and snacks.

Printing and scanning facilities: Essential office services included.

Security and maintenance: 24/7 security and well-maintained premises.

Who Can Benefit from a Coworking Space?

Coworking spaces are designed for various professionals, including:

Freelancers looking for a distraction-free workspace.

Startups needing cost-effective office solutions.

Remote workers requiring a professional setting.

Small businesses seeking networking opportunities.

Entrepreneurs wanting to collaborate with like-minded individuals.

How to Choose the Best Affordable Coworking Space on Tilak Road

Here are a few tips to help you select the right workspace:

Visit multiple spaces to compare amenities and ambiance.

Check for hidden costs to ensure transparency in pricing.

Consider the commute to ensure convenience.

Read reviews and testimonials from current members.

Look for additional perks like community events and mentorship programs.

Conclusion

Finding an affordable coworking space on Tilak Road can significantly enhance your productivity and business growth. With its strategic location, modern amenities, and cost-effective pricing, a coworking space in this area is an excellent choice for freelancers, startups, and entrepreneurs. If you're searching for the perfect workspace, explore your options on WorkinSpace and take your business to the next level.

Invest in a coworking space today and experience the benefits of a professional, collaborative, and affordable work environment on Tilak Road!

[laurafaritos]

HDMS008. From Clicks to Comedy Clubs: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Selling an Experience

So, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m taking a Harvard Business School Digital Marketing Strategy course, and I’m documenting everything I learn—from a comedian’s perspective.

So far, I’ve written about: 📌 Why I signed up for Harvard as a comedian 📌 What Harvard taught me about the rise of DTC brands 📌 Are DTC brands a fad or the future of marketing? 📌 How DTC brands master customer insights 📌 What research & development looks like in the digital era 📌 Outsourcing vs. DIY: What Harvard taught me about scaling creativity 📌 Comedy, Clicks & Customer Acquisition: Breaking down DTC marketing

But now, let’s talk about distribution.

Most DTC brands start online—but if digital marketing is so powerful, why do so many of them eventually open retail stores or partner with Walmart, Target, and Nordstrom?

The answer? Even the best online brands need a physical presence to scale.

And the same applies to creatives. Just like brands use retail expansion to grow, comedians, podcasters, and artists need live events, real-world partnerships, and in-person experiences to take their careers to the next level.

📲 Keep reading to learn what Harvard taught me about DTC distribution—and why live shows are the comedy world’s version of retail expansion. And don't forget to follow me for more!!!

I. Traditional vs. DTC Distribution Models

For decades, the playbook for launching a successful brand looked something like this:

Develop a product.

Pitch it to major retailers.

Fight for shelf space in stores like Walmart, Target, and department chains.

Spend millions on advertising to convince consumers your product is the best.

This retail-first model made it nearly impossible for new brands to compete. Legacy giants like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Gillette dominated every industry because they had exclusive deals with retailers and enough money to outspend anyone on advertising.

If you weren’t on store shelves, you practically didn’t exist.

But then, DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) brands changed everything.

Instead of playing by the old rules, they took a shortcut.

💡 Rather than begging for shelf space in stores, they sold directly to customers online.

This shift allowed brands like Dollar Shave Club, Warby Parker, and Casper to bypass traditional retail and own the entire customer relationship—from marketing to distribution to after-sales support.

Suddenly, a startup didn’t need millions to get a product in front of people. A single viral video, a well-placed Instagram ad, or a killer TikTok campaign could launch a brand overnight.

🔥 Traditional Model (Legacy Brands):

Sell through big retailers (Walmart, Target, grocery stores, etc.).

Invest heavily in TV, print, and billboard ads to build mass awareness.

Rely on third-party retailers to reach customers.

Face high barriers to entry (expensive, slow, competitive).

🚀 DTC Model (Modern Brands):

Sell directly to consumers online (Shopify, Amazon, Instagram, etc.).

Use digital ads and influencer marketing instead of mass media.

Own customer data and brand experience.

Lower startup costs, faster to launch, easier to scale.

🎭 And guess what? Comedians and creatives follow the same pattern.

For decades, the “traditional model” for success in comedy looked like this:

Get booked at major clubs.

Perform at festivals.

Wait for a TV appearance or late-night show to “make it.”

Hope someone gives you a special, sitcom, or major deal.

But in today’s digital era?

Comedians can build their own careers without waiting for industry gatekeepers.

🎤 Traditional Path for Comedians (Legacy Model):

Rely on comedy clubs, bookers, and TV to get exposure.

Network endlessly to get industry validation.

Compete for limited stage time in crowded markets.

Gatekeepers decide who gets opportunities.

📲 DTC Model for Comedians (Modern Approach):

Use TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach an audience directly.

Sell tickets to independent shows instead of waiting for club bookings.

Monetize through Patreon, podcasts, and digital content.

Build a career on your own terms.

💡 The takeaway? Whether you’re selling razors or selling jokes, the biggest brands (and comedians) are the ones who realize:

🚀 You don’t need permission to reach an audience anymore. You just need to find the right distribution strategy.

II. Traditional vs. DTC Distribution: How the Game Has Changed

For decades, getting a product to consumers meant one thing: retail shelves.

If a brand wanted to sell toothpaste, razors, or sneakers, they needed a spot at Walmart, Target, or a department store. But shelf space was limited, competitive, and controlled by gatekeepers.

That’s why traditional brands like Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and Nike spent millions on advertising—the only way to secure their spot in stores was to prove they could sell.

But then, everything changed.

💡 DTC brands came in and rewrote the rules.

Instead of begging for retail space, they built their own online stores.

Instead of needing a massive ad budget, they ran Instagram, Facebook, and Google ads for a fraction of the cost.

Instead of competing for shelf space, they met customers directly in their social feeds, emails, and search results.

This is why we now see brands like Warby Parker, Glossier, and Dollar Shave Club thriving. They bypassed traditional distribution systems and reached customers on their own terms.

And now? Even traditional brands are adapting.

Nike pulled out of some retail stores to focus on direct-to-consumer sales.

Harry’s started as a DTC razor brand but now sells in Target.

Bonobos opened "Guide Shops," blending online and offline experiences.

It’s no longer about online vs. offline. The new standard is omni-channel: balancing DTC sales with strategic retail partnerships for long-term growth.

And that got me thinking—how does this apply to comedy???

III. Why DTC Brands Expand Into Physical Retail (And What That Means for Comedy)

At first, DTC brands built their entire identity around being online-only. No retail partnerships, no physical stores—just direct access to customers through digital platforms.

But over time, something became clear: e-commerce alone wasn’t enough.

Even the most successful DTC brands started opening retail stores, partnering with big-box retailers, and experimenting with offline experiences.

Why Would a DTC Brand Expand Into Physical Retail?

1️⃣ Building Trust – No matter how strong your online presence is, a physical store makes a brand feel real. Customers like seeing, touching, and trying products before they commit.

2️⃣ Reaching New Audiences – Not everyone shops online. Expanding into stores means tapping into customers who might never have discovered the brand otherwise.

3️⃣ Reducing Ad Costs – Digital marketing is getting more expensive. A store acts as its own form of advertising—every person who walks in is a potential sale without the high cost-per-click of Facebook or Google ads.

4️⃣ Improving Customer Experience – In-store interactions provide real-time feedback and strengthen the emotional connection between brand and consumer.

5️⃣ Leveraging the Power of Retail Giants – Getting a product on Target or Walmart shelves means instant credibility. These retailers handle logistics, distribution, and foot traffic—making it easier for a DTC brand to scale.

Now, let’s bring this back to comedy and entertainment.

Just like DTC brands started online before expanding to physical spaces, many comedians start by building an audience on social media.

TikTok clips.

Instagram reels.

Twitter jokes.

But at a certain point, you have to take it offline.

Live shows build credibility.

Venue partnerships increase reach.

In-person experiences create stronger fan loyalty.

No comedian makes a career purely from social media. The biggest names—whether it’s John Mulaney, Ali Wong, or Hasan Minhaj—built their digital audiences and then used that to fill theaters, sell out tours, and get Netflix specials.

DTC brands are doing the same thing.

They start online, but they expand strategically into physical spaces.

So if you’re a comedian only focusing on digital content, ask yourself:

👉 Where’s your “retail store” moment? 👉 How are you turning online fans into paying ticket buyers? 👉 What’s your version of “retail distribution” for long-term success?

Because if brands like Warby Parker and Glossier need an offline presence to scale… comedians do too.

IV. How I’m Applying This to Comedy (And How You Can Too)

DTC brands and comedians have more in common than you’d think.

At the core of both industries is the need to build an audience.

DTC brands do it through:

Social media marketing

Paid ads

Community-driven content

Comedians do it through:

Clips on TikTok & Instagram

Podcast guest appearances

Live show promotions

But just like DTC brands realized they needed physical stores to scale, comedians need in-person experiences to turn passive fans into engaged ticket buyers.

Here’s how I’ve started thinking about my own comedy business through this lens:

1️⃣ Digital First, But Not Digital Only

I’ve built an audience online through:

Threads posts that spark conversations

Clips from past shows that showcase my humor

Blogging about my creative journey (like this series!)

But if all my content lived online, I’d never sell out a show.

That’s why I treat my monthly live shows as my version of DTC brands expanding into physical retail.

They’re where I:

Strengthen relationships with my audience.

Convert passive followers into paying supporters.

Prove that my comedy is worth experiencing in real life.

2️⃣ Venues & Partnerships Are Comedy’s Version of Retail Expansion

DTC brands partner with retailers like Nordstrom and Walmart to reach more people.

Comedians can do the same with:

Comedy clubs – Building relationships with venue owners who book recurring shows.

Cultural spaces – Hosting comedy nights in bookstores, art galleries, and unconventional venues.

Brand partnerships – Getting sponsorships or collaborations that help promote shows to wider audiences.

Right now, my Haunted Comedians, Failed by Sex Ed, and Foreigner Diaries series are part of my retail expansion strategy.

Instead of waiting for social media algorithms to boost my content, I’m actively putting my name out in Toronto’s comedy scene through real-world experiences.

3️⃣ Stand-Up Is Just One Product in a Comedian’s “Inventory”

When Warby Parker started, they didn’t only sell glasses. They created:

Try-at-home kits.

Retail showrooms.

Virtual fitting tools.

They expanded beyond their core product.

As a comedian, my “core product” is stand-up, but that’s not the only thing I’m offering.

My podcast expands my reach.

My blog builds long-term audience relationships.

My email list lets me market directly to supporters.

The key to success isn’t just performing—it’s owning the entire audience experience.

👉 If a DTC brand relies only on e-commerce, they hit a ceiling. 👉 If a comedian relies only on live stand-up, they hit a ceiling.

The best strategy is multi-channel.

I don’t just want people to see one show—I want them to keep coming back.

And if DTC brands can teach us anything, it’s that long-term success isn’t just about the first purchase—it’s about retention.

V. How I’m Making This Work with AuDHD

Navigating this course, running my comedy business, and keeping my brain from combusting all at once? A challenge.

But if there’s anything my AuDHD brain has taught me, it’s that structure and adaptability can coexist.

DTC brands succeed because they stay flexible while still following a strategic framework. That’s the exact approach I need to take to stay on top of everything without spiraling into chaos.

Here’s how I’m making this work for me:

1️⃣ Breaking It Down Into “Micro-Tasks”

A six-week Harvard course is a LOT—especially when one module alone takes me 35 hours instead of the estimated 10.

But instead of getting overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all, I treat every lesson like a standalone goal.

I don’t think, “I need to finish this entire module today.”

I think, “I just need to take notes on this one section.”

Then, “I just need to write the first paragraph of my blog post.”

Every post in this series? It’s just a micro-task that eventually builds up into a full body of work.

If I tried to tackle the whole thing at once, I’d short-circuit. Instead, I’m treating this like comedy writing. One joke at a time. One lesson at a time.

2️⃣ Externalizing Everything (Because Short-Term Memory? Nonexistent.)

DTC brands don’t rely on gut instinct alone—they track real-time data.

I do the same, except my “data tracking” is… writing down every thought I have before I forget it forever.

Google Docs for course notes (so I don’t waste time rereading the same thing 12 times).

Trello for content tracking (so I don’t accidentally repeat myself).

Todoist for daily tasks (because “I’ll remember to do that” is the biggest lie I tell myself).

If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist.

3️⃣ Using My Hyperfocus (But Not Burning Out)

The blessing and curse of AuDHD: When something clicks, I can deep-dive into it for 12 straight hours without blinking.

But I also know that when I crash, I CRASH.

So I’m harnessing my hyperfocus strategically:

Structured work sprints: 90-minute work blocks, then a forced break (even if my brain says, “KEEP GOING OR DIE”).

Different work modes: Some days, I’m in a “writing” mood. Other days, I can’t write a sentence but I can edit video for hours. Instead of forcing myself into a rigid structure, I rotate tasks based on what my brain is cooperating with that day.

Self-imposed deadlines: Even if no one is grading me, I set hard deadlines for finishing each module so I don’t endlessly tinker with every sentence.

4️⃣ Giving Myself Permission to Work Differently

DTC brands challenge traditional marketing norms—so why shouldn’t I challenge traditional productivity norms?

If I need to pace around my apartment while brainstorming, that’s valid.

If I process information better through talking than reading, I’ll record voice notes.

If my best ideas come at 2 AM, I’ll write them down and nap later.

Instead of forcing myself into neurotypical study methods, I’m leaning into what actually works for my brain.

And that? That’s how I’m making this Harvard course work for me, not against me.

If you told me a year ago that I’d be sitting here, deep-diving into a Harvard Business School course, I’d have laughed.

If you told me I’d be breaking down digital marketing strategies while juggling comedy shows, content creation, and an AuDHD brain, I’d have assumed you were talking about someone else.

But here we are.

This course has already reshaped how I think about marketing, branding, and distribution—but more than that, it’s reshaping how I think about myself.

I’ve always been creative. Now I’m learning to be strategic.

I’ve always had ideas. Now I’m learning how to scale them.

I’ve always worked hard. Now I’m learning how to work smart.

And the biggest shift? Realizing I don’t have to do everything alone.

Just like DTC brands partner with suppliers, logistics services, and retail stores to grow their business, I’ve realized that outsourcing, collaborating, and streamlining are the only way to build something sustainable.

I’m still figuring out what this means for me as a comedian, producer, and creator. But what I do know is:

✅ I’m capable of adapting. ✅ I’m capable of learning. ✅ I’m capable of taking up space in rooms I never thought I’d be in.

And if you’ve ever felt like business and marketing weren’t “for people like us”—I hope you’re starting to realize that’s a lie.

We deserve to understand this stuff. We deserve to thrive in our creative careers. We deserve to build something bigger than ourselves.

And that? That’s what I’m doing.

📝 So Far in This Blog Series…

🔗 HDMS #001 - I Can’t Believe I’m Taking a Harvard Course—But Here’s Why I’m Doing It as a Comedian 🔗 HDMS #002 - Everything Harvard Taught Me About DTC Brands & What I Wish I Knew Earlier 🔗 HDMS #003 - DTC Brands: A Fad or the Future? Harvard’s Take & What It Means for Creators 🔗 HDMS #004 - Customer Insight: How Harvard Taught Me to Actually Understand My Audience 🔗 HDMS #005 - R&D & Product Design: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Creating Things People Actually Want 🔗 HDMS #006 - Outsourcing vs. DIY: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Scaling Creativity 🔗 HDMS #007 - Comedy, Clicks & Customer Acquisition: Harvard’s Digital Marketing Breakdown 🔗 HDMS #008 - DTC Distribution & Why Getting Off the Internet Might Be the Smartest Thing a Creator Can Do

🎟️ Want to Support a Creative in the Wild?

I’m not just studying marketing—I’m applying it in real time with my comedy shows.

🎭 Come to one of my live shows!

Haunted Comedians - Tickets

Failed by Sex Ed - Tickets

Foreigner Diaries - Tickets

💌 Not in Toronto? Follow along for more insights on building a creative career.

📌 Instagram & Threads - @laurafaritos 📌 YouTube - Laura Faritos

Tchau, tchau!!!

[ideaunlimited]

From Zero to Hero: Success Stories of India’s Top SEO Experts

In the digital age, where every click counts, the role of an SEO expert has become paramount. But what does it take to rise from obscurity to becoming the BEST SEO expert in India? Let’s dive into the inspiring journeys of some of India’s top SEO professionals who transformed their lives and careers through sheer determination, skill, and a bit of creativity.

The Humble Beginnings

Every success story has a starting point, and for many of these SEO experts, it was a humble one. Take, for instance, Amit Sharma, who began his career as a content writer. With a passion for digital marketing, he stumbled upon SEO while researching ways to improve his articles' visibility. Amit spent countless nights learning about keywords, backlinks, and algorithms. His dedication paid off when he landed his first SEO job at a small startup.

Amit’s story is a testament to the fact that you don’t need a fancy degree to become the BEST SEO expert in India. All you need is a willingness to learn and adapt.

The Turning Point

For Priya Gupta, the turning point came when she decided to take a leap of faith. Working as a marketing executive, she realized that understanding SEO could significantly enhance her career prospects. Priya enrolled in an online SEO course, dedicating her weekends to mastering the craft.

Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed. After completing her course, she applied for an internship at a leading digital marketing agency. Within months, she was promoted to an SEO strategist role, where she implemented innovative strategies that boosted her clients’ rankings. Today, Priya is recognized as one of the best SEO experts in India, helping businesses grow their online presence.

Overcoming Challenges

The journey to becoming an SEO expert isn’t always smooth sailing. Ravi Mehta faced numerous challenges when he started his own SEO consultancy. With limited resources and fierce competition, he struggled to attract clients. However, instead of giving up, Ravi focused on building his brand through networking and offering free workshops.

His persistence paid off when a local business, impressed by his knowledge, hired him to revamp their website. The results were phenomenal, leading to a surge in traffic and sales. Word spread, and soon, Ravi’s consultancy became a go-to for businesses seeking SEO expertise. Today, he’s celebrated as one of the best SEO experts in India, known for his innovative strategies and client-centric approach.

The Power of Community

One common thread among these successful SEO experts is the importance of community. Sneha Joshi credits her success to the support she received from online forums and local meetups. Starting as a freelancer, she often felt isolated in her journey. However, joining a community of like-minded individuals provided her with valuable insights and motivation.

Sneha began sharing her knowledge through blogs and webinars, quickly establishing herself as a thought leader in the SEO space. Her willingness to help others not only enhanced her skills but also expanded her network. Today, she’s recognized as one of the best SEO experts in India, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

The Future of SEO in India

As we look to the future, the demand for skilled SEO professionals continues to grow. With the rise of AI, voice search, and evolving algorithms, the landscape is constantly changing. The stories of Amit, Priya, Ravi, and Sneha remind us that success in SEO is not just about technical skills; it’s about adaptability, creativity, and a passion for learning.

If you’re aspiring to become the next BEST SEO expert in India, take inspiration from these journeys. Embrace challenges, seek knowledge, and never underestimate the power of community. Your journey from zero to hero could be just around the corner!

The success stories of India’s top SEO experts are not just tales of triumph; they are blueprints for anyone looking to carve out a niche in the digital world. With determination, continuous learning, and a supportive community, you too can rise to the top. So, are you ready to start your journey? The world of SEO awaits!

[scr3212]

Top Battery Operated Electric Scooter Manufacturers Company in India

Electric scooters or ‘two-wheelers’ are very easy to spot nowadays. Whether it’s your last-mile ride on Uber bike or Rapido bike from the metro station, or your last-minute cravings at night – all of these are being delivered on electric scooters and electric rickshaws.

Slowly becoming the symbol of urban mobility, electric two-wheelers offer significant answers to the problems posed by petrol-powered vehicles. Air pollution in cities has been increasing drastically raising multiple problems for the inhabitants and it is a matter of concern for the coming generation. Electric scooter, thus, offers a sustainable and clean alternative while contributing to a greener environment.

Apart from addressing the growing impact on the environment of petrol-based vehicles, electric two-wheelers are also cost-effective. Fuel prices have also been on the rise in the past year restricting people from driving their vehicles. In this scenario, electric scooters and cars have become an attractive choice for many.

Heart of an electric scooter

A battery provides all the power an electric needs to run. This is mostly a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular, pack more power in a small space, weigh less thus enhancing its portability, and have faster charging time.

The battery in an electric two-wheeler mostly features voltage specifications of 24V, 36V, or 48V.

Top electric two wheelers manufacturers in India

In electric vehicle manufacturing segments in India, well-established brands are working hand in hand with startups to capitalise on the growing demand for this cost-effective and green transport alternative.

Ceeon India With modern designs and advanced features like a battery range of lead-acid and lithium batteries with (100 km), capacity motor (32AH(60V/70V)), led light and speedometer led. Offering a wide range of electric scooter and scooty, Ceeon India become a favorite of daily commuters. Our scooter is highly popular due to its longer run within a single charge. India’s No.1 brand of electric scooter manufacturer. Hero Electric A household name in the two-wheeler vehicle segment, Hero has been an old and well-established bike and scooter manufacturer in India. Hero Electric, of the Hero foundation, has a market of over 3 lakh two-wheeler electric scooter users. Offering a wide range of affordable electric two-wheelers, this brand has become a favorite of daily commuters. It also boasts one of the biggest pan-India distribution and service networks along

Ola Electric Providing ‘a balance of purity, simplicity and functionality, Ola Electric belongs to the popular India car rental company serving in metro cities and major towns across the nation. It has taken the electric scooter manufacturer market by storm with its gorgeous S1 and S1 Pro electric two-wheelers.

Ather Energy With modern and innovative features like, a touchscreen dashboard, onboard navigation, and fast charging, Ather Energy is a premium electric two wheelers manufacturer in India. Apart from being a class apart in EV two-wheeler manufacturing, it also has an expansive network of charging spots called ‘Ather charger’ across cafes, offices and even universities.

This is what makes Ather energy electric scooter manufacturers a favorite choice of the aspirational and the young.

TVS Motor Company With three variants of electric scooters out in the market; namely, TVS iQube, iQube S and iQube ST, TVS Motor Company has redefined everyday commute for a huge number of people in India. It could easily be one of the most ‘Silent’ electric two-wheeler manufacturers in India allowing acceleration of 40 Km/h in just 4.2 seconds.

Bajaj Auto Striding along the lines of ‘Virasat Bhi Vikas Bhi’, Bajaj Auto’s retro-styled Chetak electric scooter sports a modern feel and technology while retaining the class of its old conventional Chetak scooter. With a build that is meant to last long, this electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India offers two models including Chetak Urbane and Chetak Premium.

The future of urban mobility

The electric two-wheeler market in India is surely going to expand rapidly with government-driven incentives, environmental awareness among the younger generation, and the inevitable rise in fuel prices. The above electric scooter manufacturers in India are already aligning themselves to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable, practical and urban smart rides.

[irisvisioncapital]

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THE COURAGE OF HOMO

When it comes to deals, you have to assume that anything you've made is far short of what it could be. She arrived looking astonished. Bootstrapping sounds great in principle, but this would be one of them the top one shockingly inefficient, and the key to optimization is profiling. The world changes fast, and the most common form of failure is running out of money, the underlying concepts don't. -Oriented programming, by the way they treat the music they sell through iTunes. How much of the country yet. I only got it because I was writing about spam filtering.

5% of the company to a new investor, your 4. Angels are the limiting reagent in startup formation. Their instincts got them this far. The Defense Department is encouraging developers to use Java.1 They have little discipline. In the mid twentieth century there was a great deal of profanity. There are usually a lot of progress in that department so far. When you change the angle of a branch five degrees, no one will know. Think about your own experience: most links you follow lead to something lame.

5% with less than. 6546 In the Plan for Spam, and what to do using programs we would recognize as such. Some now think YC's alumni network is its most valuable feature. I think it is good to have such a target and to keep it consciously in mind. So why do it? Just write whatever you want and don't cite any previous work, and programmers hate that as much as Apple would.2 There could be a legitimate reason for doing this. Now I understand what she meant. People have been talking about parallel computation as something imminent for at least 20 years, and then explain why it's mistaken. I'd see something as I was walking down the street on trash night beware of anything you find yourself describing as perfectly good, or I'd find something in almost new condition for a tenth its retail price and what I paid for it.3 One is that these users are the people they never got.

Popularity is always self-perpetuating, but it's hard to get an accurate picture of most jobs. You seem to be able to transcend your environment. I know what branch of the tree to bet on people. The computer world has a name for this: premature optimization.4 Economically, a startup is like science in that you have to follow the truth wherever it leads. Strangely enough, if you did a really good job, you could degrade fairly gracefully into consulting by building sites for clients with it. If an investor gives you specific reasons for not investing, look at your startup and ask if they're right. When he rides the Segwell, they shout abuse from their cars: Too lazy to walk, ya fuckin homo? And it's not fun for a smart person to work in secret. I didn't know much about mail headers then, and they think anyone could have done it by fixing something that they thought ugly. It turns out to be mistaken; making predictions about technology is a dangerous business.5 One reason it's so brutal is simply the brutality of markets.

Like the amount you need to fix anything?6 One of the exhilarating things about coming back to Cambridge every spring is walking through the streets at dusk, when you can see people doing.7 And you want to know what sort of people you're among. But the second biggest cause of death is probably the difficulty of raising money. If you listen for it you can also apply some force by focusing the discussion: by asking what specific questions they need answered to make up their minds. Most people don't really enjoy being mean; they do it because they can't help streamlining the plot till it seems like the subject's life was a matter of personal preference, they take you up, no competitor can keep you down. Of course, if you love life, don't waste time, because time is what life is made of.8 It wouldn't be a compliment in most organizations to call someone scrappy. But there can't be that many of this type of distraction, so try to minimize that too.

Notes

When the Air Hits Your Brain, neurosurgeon Frank Vertosick recounts a conversation reaches a certain size it gets you there sooner. There may be because the broader your holdings, the way investors say No.

Steve Wozniak in Jessica Livingston's Founders at Work. Ten years later. Those investors probably thought they'd been living in cities. It would be easier to get all the best intentions.

Except text editors and compilers. The liking you have a definite plan to, the work that seems formidable from the example of a running back doesn't translate to soccer. It is just about the size of the world. The real problem is that most three letter word.

It's hard to say about these: I remember about the team or their determination and disarmingly asking the right way. But knowledge overlaps with wisdom and intelligence, it's easy to get significant numbers of users, however, is caring what random people thought of them. An investor who's seriously interested will already be working on what you learn about books or clothes or dating: what they're selling and how unbelievably annoying it is.

It's not a big VC firm wants to invest but tried to raise more money was to become addictive. Emmett Shear writes: I'd argue the long term than one level of protection against abuse and accidents. Google's revenues are about two billion a year, he wrote a hilarious but also like an in-house VC fund.

I'm pathologically optimistic about people's ability to solve a lot of people thought it was too late to launch. Heirs will be. That's very cheap, 1/50th of a refrigerator, but economically that's how they choose between the two elsewhere, but when people in the 70s, moving to Monaco would only give you money for.

If you want to sell them technology. You know in their early twenties compressed into the subject of wealth, and one or two make the right not to do and everything would have become direct marketers. The attitude of the more accurate or at least try.

Cost, again. I switch person. There are many senses of the world of the current options suck enough. Alfred Lin points out, they are so much a great thing in itself, not more startups in this evolution.

[jcmarchi]

Startup’s autonomous drones precisely track warehouse inventories

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/startups-autonomous-drones-precisely-track-warehouse-inventories/

Startup’s autonomous drones precisely track warehouse inventories

Whether you’re a fulfillment center, a manufacturer, or a distributor, speed is king. But getting products out the door quickly requires workers to know where those products are located in their warehouses at all times. That may sound obvious, but lost or misplaced inventory is a major problem in warehouses around the world.

Corvus Robotics is addressing that problem with an inventory management platform that uses autonomous drones to scan the towering rows of pallets that fill most warehouses. The company’s drones can work 24/7, whether warehouse lights are on or off, scanning barcodes alongside human workers to give them an unprecedented view of their products.

“Typically, warehouses will do inventory twice a year — we change that to once a week or faster,” says Corvus co-founder and CTO Mohammed Kabir ’21. “There’s a huge operational efficiency you gain from that.”

Corvus is already helping distributors, logistics providers, manufacturers, and grocers track their inventory. Through that work, the company has helped customers realize huge gains in the efficiency and speed of their warehouses.

The key to Corvus’s success has been building a drone platform that can operate autonomously in tough environments like warehouses, where GPS doesn’t work and Wi-Fi may be weak, by only using cameras and neural networks to navigate. With that capability, the company believes its drones are poised to enable a new level of precision for the way products are produced and stored in warehouses around the world.

A new kind of inventory management solution

Kabir has been working on drones since he was 14.

“I was interested in drones before the drone industry even existed,” Kabir says. “I’d work with people I found on the internet. At the time, it was just a bunch of hobbyists cobbling things together to see if they could work.”

In 2017, the same year Kabir came to MIT, he received a message from his eventual Corvus co-founder Jackie Wu, who was a student at Northwestern University at the time. Wu had seen some of Kabir’s work on drone navigation in GPS-denied environments as part of an open-source drone project. The students decided to see if they could use the work as the foundation for a company.

Kabir started working on spare nights and weekends as he juggled building Corvus’ technology with his coursework in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The founders initially tried using off-the-shelf drones and equipping them with sensors and computing power. Eventually they realized they had to design their drones from scratch, because off-the-shelf drones did not provide the kind of low-level control and access they needed to build full-lifecycle autonomy.

Kabir built the first drone prototype in his dorm room in Simmons Hall and took to flying each new iteration in the field out front.

“We’d build these drone prototypes and bring them out to see if they’d even fly, and then we’d go back inside and start building our autonomy systems on top of them,” Kabir recalls.

While working on Corvus, Kabir was also one of the founders of the MIT Driverless program that built North America’s first competition-winning driverless race cars.

“It’s all part of the same autonomy story,” Kabir says. “I’ve always been very interested in building robots that operate without a human touch.”

From the beginning, the founders believed inventory management was a promising application for their drone technology. Eventually they rented a facility in Boston and simulated a warehouse with huge racks and boxes to refine their technology.

By the time Kabir graduated in 2021, Corvus had completed several pilots with customers. One customer was MSI, a building materials company that distributes flooring, countertops, tile, and more. Soon MSI was using Corvus every day across multiple facilities in its nationwide network.

The Corvus One drone, which the company calls the world’s first fully autonomous warehouse inventory management drone, is equipped with 14 cameras and an AI system that allows it to safely navigate to scan barcodes and record the location of each product. In most instances, the collected data are shared with the customer’s warehouse management system (typically the warehouse’s system of record), and any discrepancies identified are automatically categorized with a suggested resolution. Additionally, the Corvus interface allows customers to select no-fly zones, choose flight behaviors, and set automated flight schedules.

“When we started, we didn’t know if lifelong vision-based autonomy in warehouses was even possible,” Kabir says. “It turns out that it’s really hard to make infrastructure-free autonomy work with traditional computer vision techniques. We were the first in the world to ship a learning-based autonomy stack for an indoor aerial robot using machine learning and neural network based approaches. We were using AI before it was cool.”

To set up, Corvus’ team simply installs one or more docks, which act as a charging and data transfer station, on the ends of product racks and completes a rough mapping step using tape measurers. The drones then fill in the fine details on their own. Kabir says it takes about a week to be fully operational in a 1-million-square-foot facility.

“We don’t have to set up any stickers, reflectors, or beacons,” Kabir says. “Our setup is really fast compared to other options in the industry. We call it infrastructure-free autonomy, and it’s a big differentiator for us.”

From forklifts to drones

A lot of inventory management today is done by a person using a forklift or a scissor lift to scan barcodes and make notes on a clipboard. The result is infrequent and inaccurate inventory checks that sometimes require warehouses to shut down operations.

“They’re going up and down on these lifts, and there are all of these manual steps involved,” Kabir says. “You have to manually collect data, then there’s a data entry step, because none of these systems are connected. What we’ve found is many warehouses are driven by bad data, and there’s no way to fix that unless you fix the data you’re collecting in the first place.”

Corvus can bring inventory management systems and processes together. Its drones also operate safely around people and forklifts every day.

“That was a core goal for us,” Kabir says. “When we go into a warehouse, it’s a privilege the customer has given us. We don’t want to disrupt their operations, and we build a system around that idea. You can fly it whenever you need to, and the system will work around your schedule.”

Kabir already believes Corvus offers the most comprehensive inventory management solution available. Moving forward, the company will offer more end-to-end solutions to manage inventory the moment it arrives at warehouses.

“Drones actually only solve a part of the inventory problem,” Kabir says. “Drones fly around to track rack pallet inventory, but a lot of stuff gets lost even before it makes it to the racks. Products arrive, they get taken off a truck, and then they are stacked on the floor, and before they are moved to the racks, items have been lost. They’re mislabelled, they’re misplaced, and they’re just gone. Our vision is to solve that.”