Category: Tools and Information

Here’s why it is a good time to buy a monitor | Digital Trends

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Planning to get your hands on one of the best monitors for your workstation or gaming PC? There’s good news. Due to the declining demand for computer monitors, we could soon witness a welcome price reduction for consumers.

As per a report by DigiTimes, industry analysts suggest that the market for monitors — particularly standard LCDs — has been impacted by the rise of more affordable OLED alternatives and a slowdown in overall consumer demand. This shift in demand has left manufacturers with surplus inventory, which they are expected to discount more aggressively through the end of 2024 to drive sales. A similar pattern is being observed with laptop displays as the demand for entry-level notebook panels is also declining.

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Expanding Your Startup into Canada and Mexico | The Startup Magazine

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Expanding a startup beyond domestic borders is a significant milestone in any business journey. For entrepreneurs looking to scale in North America, Canada and Mexico present exceptional opportunities. Both countries offer diverse markets, favorable trade agreements, and unique consumer bases that can help startups broaden their reach and enhance profitability. However, to succeed in these territories, businesses must navigate regulatory frameworks, understand cultural nuances, and adopt strategic market entry approaches. This article explores the key factors to consider when expanding your startup into Canada and Mexico, including market dynamics, legal considerations, and startup growth strategies to ensure long-term success.

Understanding the Canadian Market

Canada is often seen as an appealing option for startups due to its proximity to the U.S., its stable economy, and a highly educated workforce. The country’s business-friendly environment is bolstered by its strong intellectual property laws, well-established financial systems, and government support programs for innovation and entrepreneurship. Startups in technology, healthcare, clean energy, and fintech find particular promise in Canada’s growing industries.

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Why Energy Efficiency Is an Important Consideration for Any Business | The Startup Magazine

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In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses must prioritize energy efficiency as a key strategy for success. Energy-efficient practices not only reduce operational costs but also contribute to a healthier work environment, align with sustainability goals, and enhance brand reputation. With growing awareness about environmental impact and resource management, energy efficiency has become more than just a cost-saving measure—it’s a critical component of responsible business operations.

Reducing Operational Cost

One of the most compelling reasons businesses should prioritize energy efficiency is its potential to significantly lower operating costs. Heating and cooling expenses are major contributors to a business’s energy consumption, and minimizing waste in this area can have a notable impact on the bottom line. Windows, for instance, play a large role in energy efficiency. Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of heating and cooling energy use in buildings. This means that energy-efficient windows, window treatments, or improved insulation can drastically cut energy waste, leading to lower utility bills. Energy efficiency improvements, such as upgrading HVAC systems, installing energy-efficient lighting, and utilizing smart thermostats, also help regulate energy use more effectively. For instance, according to Onedesk, 12% of household energy costs are associated with air conditioning. Businesses, especially those with large office spaces, can reduce this energy expenditure by investing in regular HVAC maintenance and ensuring that cooling systems run efficiently. Small adjustments in everyday operations can lead to substantial cost savings over time.

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Arcade, a new AI product creation platform, designed this necklace | TechCrunch

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Mariam Naficy, the founder of cosmetics retailer Eve and design marketplace Minted, has a long history of supporting independent artists and helping them sell their products. Her latest venture, Arcade AI, is a new type of marketplace that puts creative control directly into the hands of users.

The generative AI platform, which launched its beta in September, allows customers — referred to as “Dreamers” — to input their ideas into a generator that then produces a variety of jewelry design options. They can also upload images.

Once a “Dream” is selected, it’s assigned to one of Arcade’s artisans, who brings the digital concepts to life as tangible pieces of jewelry, including bracelets, charms, earrings, necklaces, rings, and more. There are a number of materials to choose from, including gold, brass, silver, and a variety of gemstones, including diamonds, garnet, ruby, and more.

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Jon McNeill’s insights on Tesla’s robotaxi and why EV startups fail | TechCrunch

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Jon McNeill — a former Tesla and Lyft executive and current CEO at DVx Ventures — spread the word last week at the World Business Forum on what he calls the “Tesla innovation method” of radical simplification.

After his presentation, we sat down to chat about Tesla’s automation goals, its new robotaxi, and why building electric vehicles is a tough business.

On the Tesla robotaxi

Tesla rolled out Autopilot, its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that can perform limited automated driving tasks, back in 2015. McNeill said automation has been a major initiative for Tesla for almost a decade.

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Entrepreneurs Need to Develop These 5 Qualities to Be Successful | Entrepreneur

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I am often asked, “What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?”

It’s a difficult question to answer because there are so many personality qualities an entrepreneur must have to be successful. With some of these qualities, you either have them, or you don’t. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t develop them over time.

Here are some of the more essential qualities you need for entrepreneurial success.

1. Be a risk-taker

If you already know me, then my approach to taking risks will not surprise you. After all, I have always subscribed to the mantra: Ready, Fire, Aim. I have no aversion to risk, which has been critical to my path as a successful serial entrepreneur. Small business owners must be willing to take risks if they want to achieve their goals.

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These Are the Top Side Hustles to Work Less, Make More Money | Entrepreneur

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In the best-case scenario, a side hustle could turn into a multimillion-dollar business that generates a passive income stream — but at the very least, starting a side gig could help pay some bills.

A new survey from personal finance software company Quicken shows that almost half (43%) of Americans with a side hustle, or an extra source of income added to a primary income, make more money and clock in fewer hours overall than those without a side hustle.

The three most popular side hustles pursued by those who work less and make more money were personal assistance (20%), cooking and baking (16%), and caregiving (16%). One in five people with side hustles said they were business owners, too, selling products online or offering services like photography.

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Why does dairy make antibiotics less effective? | Live Science

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You may have heard that some foods and drinks, such as grapefruit and alcohol, shouldn’t be consumed with certain medications. But did you know that dairy products can make some drugs less effective?

This effect is particularly problematic for certain classes of antibiotics, which are drugs used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics taken by mouth — in a pill or liquid form, for example — need to be absorbed into the bloodstream to work effectively. But when taken with dairy products, such as milk, cheese or yogurt, some antibiotics are not absorbed as they should be.

For instance, one study found that the absorption of an antibiotic called demeclocycline (brand name Declomycin) into the bloodstream dropped by a staggering 83% when taken with milk, compared with water and a dairy-free meal. Demeclocycline is used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, like pneumonia. Another study showed that when ciprofloxacin is taken with milk, levels of the drug in the bloodstream are about 30% to 36% lower than when it is taken with water. This antibiotic is used to treat a range of illnesses, from pneumonia to gonorrhea.

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Best and Worst Time of Year to Look for a Job | Business News Daily

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Job hunting sometimes seems like a never-ending process. While you may not have control over the time of year you need to find a job, certain seasons are better than others when it comes to getting hired. Whether you’re fresh out of college and searching for your first gig or trying to transition into a more senior role, here are the best and worst times to look for a job.

Best times to look for a job

Every industry and position is different, so there isn’t a universal hiring season. However, many experts agree that the beginning of the year is a great time to look for a new position for a range of reasons.

“During the transition into the new year and into early February, this is when teams are getting new momentum [and] adding on new members to accomplish their goals when a business is growing,” said Valerie Streif, marketing manager at GetMyBoat and former content manager at mock interview platform Pramp.

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Creating a Go-To-Market Plan for a New Product: A Hands-On Guide | All Business

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Achieving product-market fit (PMF) is the holy grail for any business. As founders, we often start our journey with a brilliant idea and the illusion that we already know our target audience. Once we get our first customer, we are naturally inclined to believe that we have found our PMF. Yet, this might be a dangerous mistake.

In a world where more than half of startups close before five years, poor product-market fit is a top reason why a company goes out of business. And even if you don’t fail right away, you might still be one of the 72% of startups facing product-market-related issues, which includes no market need or mistiming that cripple your growth. The median time from idea to PMF is about two years, however. So it’s never too late to change your go-to-market plan and find your market fit.

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