Times of Entrepreneurship Stories
Trailblazer: How Cotopaxi’s Founder Built A Cult Following And A $160M Salt Lake City Company
Davis Smith heads for a sabbatical while the famous impact-oriented company gets a new CEO. Lori Ioannou reports.
Venture Capital Spotlight: Zane in Atlanta Focuses on Diverse Founders in Southeast U.S.
The fund has backed OME Kitchen, a Durham, North Carolina startup that upgrades kitchens through iOT by turning any gas or electric stove into a smart appliance and Freeing Returns, an Atlanta-based company that uses artificial intelligence to prevent retail losses and find profits via data.
What You May Have Missed
How Do You Help People Displaced By Conflict Earn A Living? A Tech Startup Has One Answer.
Small companies focusing on Ukraine and other crises are showing that, freed from the obligation to raise money, startups can help sustain refugee populations.
Don’t Go Into Personal Debt And Other Tips For Small Business Owners
The United States is in the midst of a boom in business formation. If you’re one of those people considering or in the midst of launching a business, here are a handful of tips for today’s New Builders to lay a solid foundation for growth.
A New Economic Era Dawns
Economic competition with China, climate change innovation and the question of how to restore the middle class are the major themes emerging as the pandemic recedes. All will have an effect in the U.S. heartland, especially as more protectionist policies spur a potential renewal of some kinds of manufacturing.
News With A Future Spin 📖
What We’re Reading
It’s summer, so we were drawn to this article about mosquito repellents that don’t work. Two things we learned: light-zappers kill good bugs rather than mosquitos (who aren’t attracted by light). And one of the methods that works best: a fan perched at knee level. Here’s the NYTimes story.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Remote work may limit opportunities for women and people of color. HR professionals are grappling with the trend.
AI’s Political Peril for 2024
Remember when the U.S. Congress hauled Sheryl Sandberg in front of them to testify about the role Facebook played enabling Russian interference in the 2016 elections? It’s not clear if Russian propaganda swayed the US election toward Donald Trump, but it is clear Russian propaganda damaged American civil society by focusing on divisive issues and blasting misinformation to vulnerable populations.
This generation of tech tools is about to put Facebook’s power on hyperdrive. As the Associated Press reports, sophisticate AI can now create cloned human voices and realistic images in seconds, at minimal cost. “When strapped to powerful social media algorithsm, this fake and digitally created content can spread far and fast and target highly specific audience, potentially taking campaign dirty tricks to a new low.” Here’s the story from the AP on what might happen in 2024.
Living the dream💭
Buzzworthy: Outlive: The Science of Art and Longevity
Many entrepreneurs – who tend to be a fairly disciplined, long-term focused bunch – are drawn to information about how to live longer. Here’s Stanford professor Peter Attia’s new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health. If you’re so moved, this site lists independent bookstores where you can buy the book.
H/T Amal Ghandour
Best Practices: Focus on Human Agency, Not Culture
Insights from Carol Sanford, author of The Responsible Business. I hear people talking about culture all the time. How do you create the right culture? This is certainly important, but the more important question they need to be asking is, “How do we keep alive human agency in this company?” This will to act—it’s so fundamental to entrepreneurs, but few of them ask, “How do we develop work systems to reinforce our innovative spirit?” Story from Inc. here.
Rathskellar💭
Time-saving hack: If you’re traveling and happen to be landing in a hotel without a gym or pool, pack a jump rope to motivate you for a hard-but-easily-started workout. If you prefer a high-tech version of a jump rope, here’s one.
One Thing To Buy: The Good Charcoal, which says it is sustainably harvested, has fewer chemicals and burns longer, is available at Sam’s Club and Target. Here’s more info about The Good Charcoal.
One Place to Go (or 50): The 50 most beautiful places in the world, as chosen by Harper’s Bazaar. More info here.
Upcoming Opportunities ⭐
To list an opportunity in our newsletter that reaches 13,000 influencers and entrepreneurs, email [email protected]. We charge $200 per listing.
1. Robotics Factory Launches
Pittsburgh-based Innovation Works is launching the Robotics Factory to create, accelerate and scale startups and manufacturers. The Robotics Factory’s program lasts seven-months and is designed for pre- and early- stage startups. Companies will locate in the Pittsburgh facility and will receive an investment of $100,000, mentorship and resources.
Location: Pittsburgh
Deadline to apply: May 20, 2023
Link to apply: https://www.roboticsfactory.org/
2. Y Combinator Extends Deadline
The famous Silicon Valley accelerator is still accepting applications until the program for its batch begins in June. Since it takes many startups more than one application to get in (most are never accepted) you might as well give it a shot.
Location: Silicon Valley
Deadline: June 1
Link to apply: https://www.ycombinator.com/apply/
3. Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition 2023
The competition extended its application for mostly online program. Successful applicants will get training and mentoring; The top 10 finalists receive US $1.5 million in grant funding. Open to African citizens, or children or grandchildren of citizens.
New Deadline: May 17
Link to apply: https://www.africabusinessheroes.org/en/
4. FAB23 in Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan is hosting a digital fabrication event taking place from fourteen days in Thimphu, Bhutan. “”It provides a global forum for the ecosystem of makers, inventors, artists, academics, researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and creative people to connect, collaborate, and co-create pathways to our shared future—using technology as a platform to support that vision.” The MIT Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT and the Fab Foundation are affiliates of the event.
Date: July 16-28
Location: Bhutan
Cost: $530, which includes visa processing, accommodation and the event
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This story and others on Times of E are made possible by a sponsorship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Kansas City, Mo.-based foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect with www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.
