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☆ Ali Partovi learned to code in a war zone. Now, he's trying to build a new kind of venture fund.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But amid the chaos, there was one solid thing in Partovi's life, one thing he knew he could always put in order: computer code. Related storiesNow, Partovi has reached the top echelon of seed investors, ranking 13th on Business Insider's Seed 100 list. 'Neo Scholars'Through his seed-stage fund Neo, Partovi has amassed a formidable portfolio of early-stage investments, including Ramp, Deel, Vanta, MosaicML, and many more. As these "Neo Scholars," as they're known, graduate or drop out to build startups, Neo backs them with money from its investment fund.

Persons: —, Ali Partovi, Saddam Hussein, Partovi's, Hadi, Partovi, Facebook, Uber, There's Erik Goldman, Dropbox, Vanta, There's Ari Steinberg, who's Organizations: Service, Business, Boston University, Sharif University of Technology, Harvard, Microsoft, University, CS, Stanford, Facebook, Airbnb Locations: Tehran, Iran, Iraq, North America, Silicon

☆ The new power figures in hedge funds do not manage money
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . On the agenda:But first: Why Wall Street is so happy to see the job market slowing down. New data from Vanguard shows a two-tier job market: one divided between a blue-collar boom and a white-collar recession. Also read:AdvertisementiStock; Rebecca Zisser/BIThe portfolio-manager whisperersThe new power figures in hedge funds do not manage money.

Persons: —, it's, Brian Rose, It's, Christie Hemm, Jan Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Reid Hoffman, Marc Andreessen, Alyssa Powell, Stefano Spicca, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Rebecca Zisser, whisperers, Gates Organizations: Business, Service, Federal Reserve, Fed, UBS Global Wealth Management, Big, Silicon, California, Vanguard, Microsoft, Big Tech Locations: Austrian, Solano County, Napa, Sacramento, California, Silicon Valley, New York City

CNN —For South Dakota Gov. A bipartisan group of members of Congress set up a Congressional Dog Lovers Caucus in a not so subtle dig to the South Dakota governor. Some Republicans came to her defense, like South Dakota Rep. As many questioned why she volunteered this story in her book, Noem said it demonstrates how she doesn’t run from the truth. As governor of South Dakota during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, she resisted lockdowns.

Persons: Kristi Noem, –, Donald Trump’s, ”, Noem, Dusty Johnson, Dakota Sen, Mike Rounds, “, ” Noem, ” Trump, Stephen Colbert, Kim Jong, Emmanuel Macron, Kim, Nikki Haley, Haley, Ian Fury, ” Fury, ” Jesse Hunt, Trump, She’s, Corey Lewandowski, That’s, ” Nancy Pallozzi, Matt Gorman, Gorman, it’d Organizations: CNN, South Dakota Gov, Cricket, The Guardian, Caucus, South Dakota Rep, Fox News, Dakota Scout, US House Armed Services Committee, North Korean, Scout, Politico, South Carolina Gov, Republicans, Republican, Republican Governors Association, National Rifle Association, Trump, Trump loyalists, Mar, California GOP, Jefferson County Republicans, Jefferson County Republican Party Locations: Dakota, America, Texas, South Dakota, California, Denver, Jefferson

☆ Corporate earnings solid so far, despite threats from a slowing economy and sticky inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Valuations coming down So if earnings are up, why is the S & P off its highs? Today, a month later, 2024 earnings estimates are essentially the same but the multiple has declined to 20.8. The S & P 500 hit a low of 4,117 on Oct. 27 and only recovered when rates came down in early November. There are some big drags on earnings Some companies are seeing large declines in earnings estimates that are weighing on their sectors. When including this one-time item, the S & P 500 earnings growth rate for the first quarter declines to 5.6%, from 8.7%, LSEG has noted.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Christopher Suh, Stephen Squeri, Hess, Nick Raich, LSEG, Hal Lawton, Brian Niccol, CNBC's Kate Rogers, Horton, Paul Romanowski, Kimberly, Clark, Michael Hsu Organizations: Companies, Netflix, JPMorgan, GE Aerospace, Caterpillar, Microsoft, Merck, Ford, Waste Management, Royal, Consumer, American Express, Energy, Marathon Petroleum, Apache, Valero Energy, Oil, Occidental Petroleum, Devon Energy, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Scout, Bristol Myers Squibb, Karuna Therapeutics, Boeing, Nvidia, Meta, AMD Locations: financials, industrials, Royal Caribbean, North America

☆ Healthcare Startup Valuations Are Coming Back to Earth — Except in AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The frenzy has investors across industries rushing to get into AI deals, including in healthcare. AdvertisementStill, healthcare startups using AI have already raised hundreds of millions of dollars this year, especially to automate tedious administrative tasks for providers and health plans. Andrew Arruda, CEO of Flexpa FlexpaThe AI long-haulNot every startup needs to be an AI startup. AdvertisementPlus, healthcare companies that do want to use AI face higher stakes than other industries, contending with numerous privacy, regulatory, and safety issues, Kong noted. For example — if healthcare AI makes a mistake, could patient health be impacted?

Persons: —, Scott Barclay, Nina Achadijan, Shiv Rao Abridge, VCs, nabbed, CodaMetrix, Aike Ho, Christina Farr, Andrew Arruda, that'll, Flexpa, he's, Flexpa's, Kong, Todd Cozzens, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Insight Partners, ACME Capital, nab, Catalyst, HealthQuest, Transformation Locations: Tech, Kong

☆ 43-year-old started a side hustle in college with $150—now it brings in $200 million a year: It took 'everything that I had'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. Lauren Shamo | Tom Huddleston Jr. | Lauren Shamo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

By the time he graduated in 2004, Berkowitz signed a lease to open Insomnia's first brick-and-mortar location, near another college campus in Syracuse, New York. Now, with Krispy Kreme looking to sell Insomnia, Berkowitz says he's "grateful for the journey." Seth Berkowitz estimates he spent roughly $150 on baking ingredients to start Insomnia Cookies. "2009 and 2010 [were] some of the hardest years ever at Insomnia Cookies," says Berkowitz, adding: "There wasn't anyone else to do it. 'Insomnia Cookies is a perseverance story'

Persons: Seth Berkowitz, Krispy, " Berkowitz, Berkowitz, he's, Grubhub, Uber, —, Jared Barnett —, Barnett Organizations: CNBC, University of Pennsylvania, Syracuse , New York ., College Park , Locations: Syracuse , New York, Champaign , Illinois, College Park , Maryland, Syracuse, New York, Philadelphia

☆ One of the largest FTX creditors is trying to recoup millions for victims
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Bruch is one of the largest individual FTX creditors and has been tapped by the US Department of Justice to serve as one of nine on the FTX Creditors’ Committee, where he is working to recoup the funds lost by customers. DOJ-appointed creditor committees ordinarily consist of people and companies who hold the seven largest unsecured claims against the debtor (in this case, FTX), according to the agency. Before the Bell spoke with Bruch about Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, MyPrize and the future of crypto. I feel for all of the creditors and am doing everything I can to help recoup what was taken from us. I’ve worked at some of the largest crypto trading desks in the world and then also started trading my own book of capital and grew to become one of the largest individual crypto traders.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Zach Bruch, Bruch, MyPrize, Bell, Sam Bankman Fried, —, ”, Sam Bankman Fried’s, Bitcoin, I’ve, Elisabeth Buchwald, Jerome Powell wasn’t, ” Powell, Powell, Christopher Waller, Evan Gershkovich, Evan Gershkovich’s, Radina Gigova, Anna Chernova, Antonina Favorskaya, Alexey Navalny, Favorskaya, Gershkovich Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, US Department of Justice, ’, DOJ, Arrington Capital, Department of Justice, Federal, Commerce Department, San Francisco Fed, ” Fed, CNN, Wall Street Locations: New York, Russia, Yekaterinburg

☆ How a book becomes a TV series, according to the execs, showrunner, and author behind Hulu's 'We Were the Lucky Ones'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWhen Georgia Hunter began researching her family history and writing "We Were the Lucky Ones" in 2008, she didn't expect it to become a bestselling novel, and even less a Hulu series that she'd coproduce. For books specifically, it can help when a novel or series has had great success in stores, but it's not the only consideration. He's a decades-long friend of both Hunter and Lipez, the showrunner, who he brought the book to in 2019. The audience success of the novel certainly helped in making the decision to adapt the book, too, Helman said. "The book and the true story of these characters were mothers and fathers who wanted to protect their children.

Persons: —, Georgia Hunter, Hunter, Logan Lerman, Erica Lipez, Carolyn Cassidy, Jordan Helman, Helman, Joey King, Halina, Eddy Kurc, Hunter's grandaunt, Hulu There's, — it's, Cassidy, there's, it's, Percy Jackson, Ellyn Jameson, Thomas Kail, He's, Lipez Organizations: Service, Georgia, Hulu, Business, Disney, Television, Hulu Originals, 20th Television Locations: Poland

With anti-immigrant rhetoric on the rise and a contentious election ahead, some donors see the Girl Scouts as wading too readily into politically controversial waters. “It’s our job.”While Troop 6000 has found plenty of sympathetic supporters, “there are some donors who would prefer their dollars go elsewhere,” says Maskara. So, when the mayor’s office floated the idea of starting a troop at the Midtown shelter, the Girl Scouts were ready. The Girl Scouts have not been immune to the backlash, nor is it the first time they’ve shouldered criticism from conservative donors. While Troop 6000 has not been deterred, Maskara says that many of her peers in the nonprofit world have been fearful to publicly support newcomers.

Persons: —, it’s, ”, Meridith Maskara, “, that’s what’s, Giselle Burgess, Burgess, Maskara, Horace W, Steven, Alexandra Cohen, who’ve, “ We’re, That’s, Beatriz de la Torre, they’ve, Eve Stotland, Marissa Tirona, ” _____ Sara Herschander Organizations: Girl Scouts, of, New, Girl Scout, Girl Scouts —, Central America, Scouts, New York Times, Trinity Church Wall, Goldsmith Foundation, Alexandra, Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Scout, Trinity Church and Brooklyn Org, New York Community Trust, New York City, Immigrants and Refugees, Associated Press, Philanthropy Locations: midtown Manhattan, New York, South, U.S, New York City, Greater New York, Midtown Manhattan, Queens

☆ Bruce Willis’s daughter Tallulah says autism diagnosis has ‘changed my life’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bruce Willis’s youngest daughter Tallulah Willis is sharing for the first time that she was diagnosed with autism. Tallulah Willis, 30, shared her health update over the weekend when she posted a throwback video on her Instagram page of herself with her father. In the video, Bruce Willis is holding a young Tallulah in his arms while appearing at a red carpet event. (From left) Bruce Willis with daughter Tallulah Willis in New York City in 2015. Tallulah Willis is the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and ex-wife Demi Moore.

Persons: CNN — Bruce Willis’s, Tallulah Willis, Bruce Willis, Tallulah, ”, I’ve, Kevin Mazur, it’s, Daniel Geschwind, Gordon, Virginia Macdonald, “, ” Geschwind, Demi Moore, Rumer, Scout Willis, Moore – Organizations: CNN, UCLA, FOX, Vogue Locations: New York City

☆ VW is reviving a storied American brand to sell electric SUVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —When Volkswagen decided to relaunch the Scout SUV brand it took a very unusual step. The revived and revamped Scout Motors will introduce its new brand of all-electric off-road-capable SUVs, kind of like Rivian. Buzz, an electric update of the classic hippie bus, VW is touching on nostalgia to reach a new generation of car buyers. VW came to own the trademark for the defunct brand in 2021 when it purchased Navistar, a successor company to International Harvester. Scout’s parent company, Volkswagen, is building its own EV battery plant in Canada and a battery engineering lab in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Persons: it’s, Oliver Blume, “ What’s, ”, Erin Keating, Scott Keogh, Dave Mondragon, who’s, they’ll, Keogh, ” Keogh, ” Keough, Chris Benjamin, isn’t, roader, Keating Organizations: CNN, Volkswagen, Scout, Volkswagen Group, Audi, Porsche, VW, ” Volkswagen Group, Cox Automotive, Harvester, International, Bentley, Lamborghini, North, Ford, P Global Mobility, Dealers, Scout Motors, US . Scout Motors, Volkswagen North, Volvo, Mercedes, BMW, Tesla Locations: United States, America, Volkswagen North America, Blythewood , South Carolina, South Carolina, Novi , Michigan, Canada, Chattanooga , Tennessee

☆ A Ukrainian soldier said they were 'suffering' from Russia's use of night-vision drones, says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Ukrainian forces are struggling against Russia's night-vision drones, a soldier told the Kyiv Post. AdvertisementSome Ukrainian forces are "suffering" from Russia's use of night-vision drones, a Ukrainian soldier said. AdvertisementThese types of drones pose problems for Ukrainian forces, as they often move personnel and equipment in the dark to avoid attacks. Ukraine also has the technology to produce drones with thermal-imaging cameras, but their high price means they haven't been a priority. "Our night-vision drones prevail over darkness," the department wrote in the post.

Persons: —, Forbes, IFVs Organizations: Kyiv Post, Service, Brigade, Forbes, Ministry of Defense, 59th Motorized Brigade Locations: Kyiv, Vuhledar, Donetsk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Why axolotls are everywhere — but a rarity in the one lake they call home
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“They’re teenagers, at least in appearance, until they die.”Mexico's Lake Xochimilco is the only spot where axolotls are found in the wild. Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu/Getty ImagesWhile the wild axolotls of Lake Xochimilco have dwindled to near-extinction, countless axolotls have been bred for scientific laboratories and the pet trade. However, the axolotls you might find at a pet shop are different from their wild relatives in Lake Xochimilco. That means that the axolotl extinction crisis can’t simply be solved by dumping pet axolotls into Lake Xochimilco. (Plus, the pet axolotls likely wouldn’t fare well with the poor habitat conditions in the lake.)

Persons: Randal Voss, Voss, “, ’ ”, Xolotl, “ ACK, uhl, ” Voss, Hector Vivas, they’re, Luis Zambrano, ” Zambrano, Daniel Cardenas, they’ve, Axolotls, Zambrano, axolotls, ”, ” Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, “, Aztecs, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Axolotl, Amphibians Conservation, Anadolu, Getty Locations: Mexican, Xochimilco, Mexico City, It’s, Lake Xochimilco, Mexico, French, Europe, California , Maine , New Jersey, Washington, Minecraft, Chicago

☆ U.S.-Israeli Citizen Itay Chen Was Killed in Oct. 7 Attack, Parents Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Gaya Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Itay Chen, a 19-year-old U.S. and Israeli citizen thought to have been a taken hostage on Oct. 7 was in fact killed that day, his parents said on Tuesday. The couple, Ruby and Hagit Chen, said that the Israeli military told them that it had intelligence indicating that their son, a service member, was killed while defending civilians on the border of Gaza during the Hamas-led invasion. A middle child, Mr. Chen said, Itay was multitalented and fun-loving, a Boy Scout who, played basketball and, like many young people, loved his PlayStation. Itay grew up in Israel, in the city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, but his father said the family would frequently visit his own hometown, New York. “I want to take him back to Madison Square Garden.”

Persons: Itay Chen, Hagit Chen, “, Itay’s, Ruby Chen, Chen, Itay, ” Organizations: Times, Boy Scout Locations: Gaza, Israel, Netanya, Tel Aviv, New York, Coney Island, Madison

☆ Vanity Fair Oscars Party: Billie Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, mix, dine on In-N-Out and dance the night away.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Oscars celebrations were in full swing on Sunday night and no post-show event was more packed with the glittery crowd than the annual Vanity Fair party. By the dance floor, Cardi B greeted Bailey and asked the new mom how her baby was doing. Nearby, Lizzo and her boyfriend scoped out the dance floor and were later seen twisting their arms to take a shot together. Kardashian wore a beige, waist-cinching gown as she fluttered around the party with Baltimore Ravens wide receiver O’Dell Beckham Jr.Kim Kardashian arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Stefanie Keenan/VF24/WireImage for Vanity Fair/Getty ImagesSam Rockwell, Justin Theroux and Jason Bateman gathered on the dance floor and were greeted by Olympian Shawn White and Nina Dobrev.

Persons: Oscar, Billie Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, America Ferrera, Margot Robbie, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Eilish, Phillip Faraone, Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, Sally Field, Pelosi, Paul Pelosi Stefanie Keenan, Usher, Ciara, Camila Cabello, Chloe, Cardi, Bailey, “ Barbie, Greta Gerwig, grooving, Barbie, Hari Nef, Lizzo, scoped, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, Kardashian, O’Dell Beckham, Amy Sussman, Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kendall, Kylie Jenner, Kris, Demi Moore, Scout Willis, Bruce Willis, Moore, Elizabeth Banks, “, Captain America, Chris Evans, Alba Baptista, Damon, Lucia, Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Britney Spears, Mark Ruffalo, Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Coolidge, Kevin Mazur, ”, Sweeney, Maude Apatow –, Judd Apatow, Coolidge, Catherine O’Hara, Barry Keoghan, Callum Turner, Sabrina Carpenter, Chelsea Handler, Sofia Vergara, Steven Spielberg, Stefanie Keenan, Sam Rockwell, Justin Theroux, Jason Bateman, Olympian Shawn White, Nina Dobrev, Theroux, Rita Moreno, nosh Organizations: CNN, Wallis Annenberg Center, Hollywood, Paris, Baltimore Ravens, Marvel, Air ” Locations: Beverly Hills, America, Halle, Dua Lipa, Tallulah

☆ They Want to Make Palm Oil in a Lab. Without Palm Trees.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Dionne Searcey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A handful of startups are trying to reinvent one of the most ubiquitous, but also environmentally destructive, ingredients in our diets: palm oil. Palm oil is in bread, instant noodles, Girl Scout cookies, lipstick, Nutella and ice cream, to name a few. But to make all of that oil, endless miles of rainforests worldwide — regions along the Equator vital to biodiversity and the fight against climate change — have been flattened and burned and turned into palm oil plantations. The new companies are taking their tech out of the lab and into real products. The material is made by fermentation (think breweries producing oils rather than beer) and isn’t approved for food yet.

Locations: Indonesia

☆ Rivian reveals its new, more affordable off-road EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Prices for the R2 SUV, which will go on sale in early 2026, will start at around $45,000, Rivian said. That’s something that set the larger R1S apart among electric SUVs, few of which can seat more than five. The Rivian R2. The Rivian R2 and R3 are Rivian’s smaller, more affordable off-road EVs Rivian“For $75,000 I can buy a Mercedes or a BMW, a 100-year-old Europe power house,” he said. Without naming Rivian, Scout chief executive Scott Keogh noted the advantage of Scout’s established brand name.

Persons: CNN — Rivian, Rivian, R.J, Scaringe, It’s, “, ” Scaringe, won’t, Sandeep Rao, ”, Scott Keogh, ” Keogh Organizations: CNN, US EV, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Scout, International Harvester Locations: Georgia, Europe, South Carolina

☆ A bigger pool of American workers could continue to slow inflation even further
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, as the Federal Reserve faces the final stretch of its historic inflation battle, a bigger pool of workers could slow inflation even further. That then begs the question: How much more can better labor supply slow inflation? The US Labor Department releases January figures on job openings, quits, hires and layoffs. The US Labor Department reports the number of new applications for jobless benefits in the week ended March 2. China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases February inflation data.

Persons: Mary Daly, “, ” Sarah House, Michael Gapen, That’s, Jack Bantock, ’, ”, Richard Felton, Thomas, ’ ”, Patrick Harker, Ross, Nordstrom, Michael Barr, Campbell Soup, Foot, Jerome Powell, Loretta Mester Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, San Francisco Fed, National Association for Business Economics, Labor, CNN, Bank of America, White House’s Council, Economic Advisers, English Premier League, Chelsea, Burnley, Philadelphia Fed, Target, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, US Commerce Department, Abercrombie, Fitch, Financial Services, The Bank of Canada, US Labor Department, Broadcom, Costco, Eagle Outfitters, Potbelly, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, European Central Bank, Cleveland Fed, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: Washington, San, Wells, United States, London, JD.com, Kroger, Burlington, DocuSign

☆ AiScout: Top soccer clubs are using a mobile app to find future stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —A London-based technology company is looking to “democratize” talent-identification and scouting in soccer using a mobile app. Free to download and available globally, the aiScout app allows aspiring soccer stars to enter virtual trials for professional clubs by uploading self-recorded footage of themselves completing a series of drills. Ben Greenwood had never had a trial with a professional club until he downloaded the app in 2019. Felton-Thomas said the “lion’s share” of its income comes from charging clubs a license fee to run the platform. Should soccer talent scouts be concerned about being edged out by the arrival of AI in their industry?

Persons: ’, ”, Richard Felton, Thomas, Ben Greenwood, Felton, ” Felton, player’s, he’s, We’ve, you’re Organizations: London CNN, English Premier League, Chelsea, Burnley, EPL, Bournemouth, Major League Soccer, US, View Research, CNN Locations: London, Felton

☆ Check out the 12-slide pitch deck adtech company Vibe used to raise $22.5 million to build 'the Google Ads of streaming TV'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Founded in France in 2021, Vibe offers a self-service ad platform that aims to make it super-easy for smaller companies to get their ads next to premium TV content. Vibe was carved out from KMTX, which sold to fellow adtech firm Seedtag in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. "We said, OK, let's just build the Google Ads of TV," Querou told Business Insider. "The ad platform for SMBs on broadcasting and streaming TV is difficult to cover because it requires a lot of manpower to be able to address all these SMBs," Kamber said. Check out a redacted version of the pitch deck that helped Vibe nab $22.5 million in Series A funding from Singular, Elaia Partners, Sequoia's Scout fund, Motier, and other individual investors.

Persons: Vibe's cofounders Franck Tetzlaff, Arthur Querou, Querou, Vibe, It's, Raffi Kamber, Kamber Organizations: Vibe, Business, Google, Vibe's, Vibe nab, Elaia Partners, Sequoia's Locations: France, KMTX, Seedtag, adtech

☆ Remains of Oregon teen who went missing over 50 years ago are identified after someone uploaded their DNA into genealogy site
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Dalia Faheid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The remains of a Portland, Oregon, teenager who vanished in the late 1960s have been identified through advanced DNA testing more than 50 years after she went missing, authorities said. In 1970, a Boy Scout troop leader discovered the girl’s remains buried in a shallow grave on Sauvie Island in Oregon. Investigators at the time were unable to identify them, but noted that that trauma to the body indicated foul play, Oregon State Police announced in a news release on Thursday. Family members told authorities they believed Young went missing from Portland around the time the remains were discovered, according to the news release. “Sandra Young has now regained her identity after 54 years,” said Dr. Nici Vance of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Persons: Sandra Young, Young, “ Sandra Young, ”, Nici Vance, Sandy Young’s, ” Vance Organizations: CNN, Boy Scout, Investigators, Oregon State Police, Grant High School, Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, Oregon, Medical Examiner, Portland Police Locations: Portland , Oregon, Oregon, Portland, Sauvie, ”

☆ Moon landing attempt: Odysseus ran into last-minute navigation issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 lander, also called Odysseus or “Odie,” is on the lunar surface after experiencing unexpected issues hours prior to landing. “Intuitive Machines made the decision to reassign the primary navigation sensors from Odysseus … to use the sensors on NASA’s Navigation Doppler Lidar,” according to the webcast. With its landing legs and sensors pointed toward the lunar terrain, Odysseus relied on the Lidar payload to locate a safe landing spot. The IM-1 mission comes amid a renewed international dash for the lunar surface. Odysseus passes over the near side of the moon following lunar orbit insertion on February 21.

Persons: Odie, ”, Steve Altemus, Odysseus, Gary Jordan, …, landers, Farzin, Jeff Koons, We’re, ” Altemus, Altemus Organizations: CNN, NASA, Soviet, Columbia, Embry, Riddle Aeronautical University, Astrobotic Technology, Peregrine, Payload Services Locations: China, India, Japan, Malapert, Daytona Beach , Florida

☆ Volkswagen Leans on Electric Vehicles and Nostalgia to Grow in U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Probably only Americans of a certain age remember when the Volkswagen Beetle was the best-selling imported car in the United States and the hippest ride to a Grateful Dead concert was a Volkswagen Microbus. Volkswagen is trying to tap some of that nostalgia in its latest push to regain the status and sales it enjoyed in the United States during the Beetle’s and Microbus’s heydays in the 1960s. But this time it hopes its top models will be electric. The German carmaker is second only to Toyota globally but is a niche player in the United States. Part of its plan to revive its fortunes here is to lean on a new electric model that resembles the Microbus, the ID.Buzz, and to revive the Scout brand with a line of electric pickups and sport utility vehicles.

Organizations: Volkswagen, Toyota Locations: United States, Columbia

☆ 5 airlines worth splurging on for the best first-class experience
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jaclyn Sienna India travels often to scout airlines and locations for her luxury travel company. Air France, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that give her the best experience. Courtesy of Jaclyn Sienna IndiaAfter working there for five years, I wanted to bring that level of service to travel. EQRoy/ ShutterstockAir France’s first-class cabin, La Première, only has four seats per flight, and it feels like you're flying private. Like many of my other favorites, Singapore Airlines planes have room for double suites for couples and private suites with sliding doors.

Persons: Jaclyn Sienna India, —, Sienna Charles, I’ve, Le, I’m, we’ve, you’re, Jordan Tan, Shutterstock, There’s, Shutterstock I’ve Organizations: Air, Qatar Airways, Service, Air France Air France, France’s, Air France, . Emirates Emirates, Emirates, Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines, I’m, Etihad Airways Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, Shutterstock Qatar Airways Locations: Air France, Emirates, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Europe, Paris, New York, Milan, Dubai, India, Asia, Etihad’s

☆ How Texas Billionaire Tim Dunn Is Showing How Our System Works - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This week in The Texas Monthly, I read a troubling profile of Tim Dunn, a 68-year-old billionaire Texas oilman and lavish financier for right-wing extremists in the state. I highly recommend reading the entire profile, which is a comprehensive look at a very powerful man. Dunn makes an unfavorable comparison between human societies and bee hives:“When everybody does what they do best for the hive, it prospers,” he said. If you’re a scout, be a scout.” Dunn then contrasted the cooperation of the hive with the inexorable tumult of modern politics. But when read with Dunn in mind — a straightforward Christian nationalist whose allies in Texas politics are leading the charge to ban books, suppress the rights of L.G.B.T.Q.

Persons: Tim Dunn, Texas oilman, ” Russell Gold, “ Dunn, don’t, Dunn, ”, ” Dunn, “ Organizations: Texas, Texans Locations: “, Texas, L.G.B.T.Q

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