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Category: Startup

InvoiceFast: Create Invoices Quickly, No Monthly Fees

2025-01-06
InvoiceFast: Create Invoices Quickly, No Monthly Fees

InvoiceFast is a tool that lets you create invoices quickly and easily, without any monthly fees. It streamlines the invoicing process, allowing users to generate professional invoices rapidly, saving both time and money. Ideal for freelancers, small businesses, or anyone who needs to issue invoices regularly, InvoiceFast offers a simple and cost-effective solution to managing your finances.

(www.invoicefast.io)
Startup invoicing finance management free tool

The Secret of Elite Sales: It's Not Skill, It's Emotional Manipulation

2025-01-05
The Secret of Elite Sales: It's Not Skill, It's Emotional Manipulation

The author recounts three encounters with elite salespeople: a con artist in an Iowa jail, a top performer in a telemarketing call center, and a master street beggar. The author discovers that top sales aren't about skill, but about manipulating customer emotions. They create demand with their words, skillfully navigating rejection to achieve sales targets. The author's personal experience reveals the brutal reality of the sales industry and its impact on individuals and society. The article explores the evolution of sales from a respected profession to a pervasive force shaping modern life, where everyone is constantly selling themselves.

(slate.com)
Startup sales techniques emotional manipulation psychology

Fellowry: A Crowdsourced GTM Knowledge Base Solving Sales Challenges

2025-01-04

Fellowry is a crowdsourced Go-to-Market (GTM) knowledge base featuring over 200 sales strategies. It's a treasure trove of insights from sales professionals covering cold emailing, cold calling, LinkedIn marketing, and more. Users share tips on crafting effective cold emails, boosting cold call success rates, and leveraging LinkedIn for targeted outreach. Whether you're a sales newbie or a seasoned pro, Fellowry offers valuable perspectives to overcome sales hurdles and improve performance.

(fellowry.com)
Startup sales strategies cold email

From $60M to Physics in Hawaii: A Former CEO's Journey of Self-Discovery

2025-01-02

After selling his company, a former CEO found himself adrift despite immense wealth and freedom. His journey involved forays into robotics, scaling a Himalayan peak, and working for DOGE, ultimately leading him to study physics in Hawaii. This dramatic tale reflects his inner turmoil and search for meaning. He ultimately realized that embracing uncertainty and foregoing grand ambitions is true freedom.

(vinay.sh)
Startup Self-discovery Wealth and freedom

Distro (YC) Hiring a Business Development Representative

2025-01-02
Distro (YC) Hiring a Business Development Representative

Distro, a Y Combinator-backed AI platform assisting sales reps at industrial wholesale distributors, is hiring a Business Development Representative. The role requires 2-3 years of BDR/sales associate experience in vertical SaaS, CRM and marketing tools proficiency, and event management experience. Responsibilities include lead generation, qualification, pipeline advancement, demo management, and CRM maintenance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance.

(www.ycombinator.com)
Startup

The Reality of Working for Elon Musk: Genius, Chaos, and Burnout

2025-01-02
The Reality of Working for Elon Musk: Genius, Chaos, and Burnout

This article exposes the realities of working for Elon Musk's companies: intense work, high demands, immense pressure, and the resulting burnout. From Tesla to SpaceX to Twitter, Musk's leadership style is unique and extreme. His pursuit of perfection leads to late-night emails, early morning meetings, and demanding expectations. While this high-pressure environment can inspire employees and lead to rapid learning and achievements, it also causes many to suffer from exhaustion and a severe work-life imbalance. Although Musk's companies have ambitious goals and appeal, the intense work culture isn't for everyone.

(techiegamers.com)
Startup work culture burnout

Employer.com Acquires Bench Accounting: A New Chapter in Small Business Financial Management

2025-01-01

Employer.com, a leader in workforce management and business support solutions, announced the acquisition of Bench Accounting, a provider of bookkeeping services for small businesses. This acquisition ensures Bench customers will continue receiving the same high-quality service while gaining access to future enhancements and capabilities powered by Employer.com's resources. Employer.com is committed to empowering small businesses with the tools and support they need to thrive, and Bench's financial management expertise aligns perfectly with this mission. The acquisition is a win-win for both companies; Employer.com integrates Bench's technology and expertise into its platform, offering a tailored suite of services for growing businesses, while Bench customers continue working with their trusted in-house bookkeepers and retain full access to the Bench platform.

(www.bench.co)
Startup acquisition financial management

GitLab Director Matthew Jacobson Reports Stock Changes

2025-01-01
GitLab Director Matthew Jacobson Reports Stock Changes

On December 30th, GitLab (GTLB) disclosed a change in beneficial ownership by director Matthew Jacobson. A Form 4 filing revealed significant transactions involving millions of Class A common shares, indirectly held and sold through entities like ICONIQ Capital. The transactions, at prices ranging from $59.18 to $59.99 per share, reflect a strategic adjustment of Jacobson and related entities' holdings in GitLab.

(capedge.com)
Startup Insider Trading

From Entrepreneur to Employee: A Journey of Transition and Growth

2024-12-31
From Entrepreneur to Employee: A Journey of Transition and Growth

Akshay Katyal, a seven-year entrepreneur, shares his experience transitioning from the rollercoaster of startups to a corporate role as a technical lead. Driven by a desire for financial stability and a thirst to learn how larger organizations operate, he found the shift to be a significant change in mindset, skills, and priorities. He highlights the differences in impact and autonomy between the two roles, noting that while his entrepreneurial experience didn't always directly translate, his ability to identify and address customer value misalignment proved invaluable. The transition, though challenging, ultimately led to personal and professional growth, showcasing the adaptability and value of entrepreneurial skills in a corporate setting.

(akshay.co)
Startup career transition corporate culture

Troubled Accounting Startup Bench Acquired After Sudden Shutdown

2024-12-30
Troubled Accounting Startup Bench Acquired After Sudden Shutdown

Bench, the VC-backed accounting startup that abruptly shut down last week, locking thousands of customers out of their accounts, has been acquired by Employer.com for an undisclosed price. Employer.com, a San Francisco-based HR tech company focusing on payroll and onboarding, will revive Bench's platform. Customers will be able to transfer their data or continue service under the new ownership. The previous recommendation for customers to file for a six-month extension with the IRS is no longer necessary if they choose to stay with the service.

(techcrunch.com)
Startup startup acquisition accounting HR tech

Rite Aid's 'Zombie' Stores: A Ghost of Retail Past?

2024-12-30
Rite Aid's 'Zombie' Stores: A Ghost of Retail Past?

Once a dominant player in the US drugstore market, Rite Aid is now a shadow of its former self, facing bankruptcy and fierce competition. Hundreds of stores have closed, leaving empty shelves and earning them the moniker "zombie" stores. Consumers are forced to seek alternatives at competitors like Walmart and Amazon. Rite Aid's struggles reflect broader challenges in the pharmacy sector, including intense competition, rising costs, and staffing shortages. While some vacant locations are being repurposed by other retailers, Rite Aid's future remains uncertain, with its "zombie" stores potentially marking the end of an era.

(qz.com)
Startup pharmacy industry market competition pharmacy sector retail decline Retail Bankruptcy Competition

How McKinsey Destroyed the American Middle Class

2024-12-29
How McKinsey Destroyed the American Middle Class

This article examines the impact of management consulting firms like McKinsey on the decline of the American middle class. The author argues that McKinsey, by promoting shareholder primacy and implementing strategies aimed at streamlining corporate structures and eliminating middle management (such as 'reengineering' and 'overhead value analysis'), led to massive layoffs, a decline in middle management and blue-collar jobs, weakened unions, and ultimately exacerbated economic inequality and the destruction of the American middle class. The author concludes that this 'technocratic management' approach fails to address structural inequalities and instead widens the gap between elites and the general population.

(www.theatlantic.com)
Startup Middle Class Economic Inequality

Joco's Comeback: From Near-Death to Profitable E-bike Delivery Service

2024-12-28
Joco's Comeback: From Near-Death to Profitable E-bike Delivery Service

Joco, an e-bike sharing startup, launched in NYC in 2021 and nearly failed. Initially aiming to compete with Citi Bike, a lawsuit from the NYC Department of Transportation forced a pivot to last-mile delivery services. This proved pivotal. Joco now provides rentals, maintenance, battery-swap cabinets, and community hubs offering riders rest and charging. They've achieved profitability, partnering with major logistics firms like Grubhub across New York, Chicago, and Miami. Their success stems from customer-centric service, exceeding expectations, and financial prudence—avoiding early marketing spend.

(techcrunch.com)
Startup e-bike sharing delivery services

Flipper Cloud Ditches Per-Seat Pricing for a Fairer Model

2024-12-28
Flipper Cloud Ditches Per-Seat Pricing for a Fairer Model

Flipper Cloud is abandoning its per-seat pricing model in favor of a simpler, three-tiered fixed-price plan (Bronze, Silver, Gold) designed to cater to different team sizes and feature needs. The author argues that per-seat pricing is cumbersome, budget-unfriendly, and discourages full product usage. The new strategy aims to simplify pricing, improve user experience, and incentivize long-term subscriptions by offering annual plans with extended data retention. Existing customers can retain their per-seat plan or switch to the new fixed pricing.

(blog.flippercloud.io)
Startup SaaS pricing software billing

Costco Rejects Shareholder Demand to Scrap DEI Initiatives

2024-12-28
Costco Rejects Shareholder Demand to Scrap DEI Initiatives

Costco's board rejected a shareholder proposal urging a reevaluation of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program, arguing it poses legal and financial risks. The board countered that its commitment to DEI is crucial for fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace, boosting employee morale, and driving innovation. They maintained the program's legality and emphasized ongoing evaluations of its effectiveness. The decision highlights the ongoing debate surrounding DEI initiatives in American corporations.

(www.newsweek.com)
Startup Shareholder Proposal

Visualizing the YC Company Landscape

2024-12-26

Mike Alche has created a visualization tool showcasing the Y Combinator (YC) company landscape. This interactive tool provides a clear overview of the industries represented, investment relationships, and growth trajectories of YC-backed companies. Its intuitive design and clear charts offer a unique perspective on the YC ecosystem, revealing connections and trends among startups. This is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the tech industry.

(yc-map.vercel.app)
Startup Startups

MicroStrategy: The Rise and Fall of a Bitcoin Treasure?

2024-12-25
MicroStrategy: The Rise and Fall of a Bitcoin Treasure?

This article delves into the rise and potential fall of MicroStrategy's Bitcoin accumulation strategy. The company, through compelling narratives, inflated its share price far above its net asset value, profiting through share offerings and convertible bonds. However, this model relies on a constant influx of new investors. When this dries up, the Bitcoin yield will plummet, leading to substantial investor losses. The author argues that MicroStrategy's business model exhibits characteristics of a Ponzi scheme, ultimately destined for disaster.

(medium.com)
Startup Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme

The Walmart Effect: A Hidden Cost of Low Prices

2024-12-24
The Walmart Effect: A Hidden Cost of Low Prices

Walmart, known for its low prices, has long been considered a boon for lower- and middle-income families. However, two new research papers challenge this view. The studies find that while Walmart lowers consumer prices, it also leads to decreased income and increased unemployment in communities, with the negative effects outweighing consumer savings. This is attributed to Walmart undercutting local competitors, reducing jobs, and leveraging its monopsony power to suppress wages for both suppliers and employees. This raises questions about the "consumer welfare standard," which prioritizes low prices as a measure of economic health. The research suggests that a singular focus on low prices can lead to long-term economic harm, prompting a reevaluation of policy priorities.

(www.theatlantic.com)
Startup economic impact consumer welfare

From Failed Game to Workplace Collaboration Giant: The Rise of Slack

2024-12-23
From Failed Game to Workplace Collaboration Giant: The Rise of Slack

Tiny Speck's years-long effort to build the online game Glitch ended in failure, leaving the company facing financial ruin and potential team dissolution. However, CEO Stewart Butterfield saw a lifeline in the company's internal IRC server and its associated tools, which had streamlined team communication. These tools combined instant messaging, file sharing, searchable logs, and more, creating an efficient collaboration system. Building upon this, Tiny Speck pivoted to develop Slack, a workplace communication platform centered around team collaboration. Slack's success not only saved the company but also revolutionized how people work, becoming a benchmark for modern team collaboration.

(buildingslack.com)
Startup startup pivot

Finley Technologies Hiring Growth Associate to Fuel Fintech Expansion

2024-12-22
Finley Technologies Hiring Growth Associate to Fuel Fintech Expansion

Finley Technologies, a Y Combinator and Bain Capital Ventures-backed fintech startup, is seeking a Growth Associate. This role focuses on the credit fund segment and requires 2-3 years of finance experience, strategic thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and strong communication skills. The successful candidate will help shape go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and more, collaborating with a team to drive company growth.

(jobs.lever.co)
Startup Growth Associate

California's Minimum Wage Hike: A Surprise Success

2024-12-22
California's Minimum Wage Hike: A Surprise Success

California's September 2023 law raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour faced immediate backlash, with predictions of widespread job losses and business closures. However, these predictions proved false. Since the law's April implementation, California's fast-food sector has seen job growth exceeding the national average. Economists' analyses revealed that increased wages didn't decrease employment; instead, reduced employee turnover and increased productivity lowered labor costs for employers. While prices rose, the increase was far less than anticipated, significantly outweighed by the wage increase for workers. This challenges assumptions about minimum wage impacts, highlighting biases in economic understanding and the role of media in disseminating misinformation.

(www.theatlantic.com)
Startup minimum wage employment

SignWith: Pay-per-use E-signature Solution for Small Businesses

2024-12-21
SignWith: Pay-per-use E-signature Solution for Small Businesses

SignWith is a pay-per-use e-signature service designed for small businesses and freelancers, offering a compelling alternative to expensive monthly subscription models like DocuSign. It eliminates hidden fees and complex processes, allowing users to pay only for documents that are actually signed. With mobile-friendly functionality and reliable customer support, SignWith simplifies document signing for businesses of all sizes, from occasional use to frequent workflows.

(signwith.co)
Startup e-signature pay-per-use small business

OwlEars Launches OwlBrain AI for Unfiltered Customer Feedback

2024-12-19
OwlEars Launches OwlBrain AI for Unfiltered Customer Feedback

OwlEars, the creator of the world-famous feedback platform Sarahah, has launched OwlBrain AI. This new platform allows businesses to collect pure, raw feedback directly from their customers' minds. Unlike lengthy surveys, customers can easily share their thoughts via link, QR code, or website widget. OwlBrain AI provides AI-powered insights to help businesses improve their products and services. A 15-day free trial is available, no credit card required.

(www.owlears.com)
Startup customer feedback

Beyond Code Yellow: A Startup's Guide to Tackling Tough Problems

2024-12-19

This article, penned by a seasoned tech executive turned investor turned founder, shares insights from his experiences at Instacart and Beacon. He critiques the overuse of 'Code Yellow' – a crisis-mode problem-solving approach – noting its effectiveness but also its negative impact on team morale. He proposes a more sustainable alternative: 'Sweating the Problem.' This involves removing hidden constraints (e.g., the 'keep the lights on' fallacy), running multiple solutions in parallel, avoiding premature scaling concerns, and breaking down departmental silos. The core is building team resilience and problem-solving muscle, fostering a culture where proactively tackling tough challenges is the default.

(nilam.ca)
Startup problem-solving team management

Amazon Updates FBA Inventory Reimbursement Policy: Manufacturing Cost Takes Center Stage

2024-12-19

Amazon announced an update to its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) inventory reimbursement policy, effective March 10, 2025. The new policy will reimburse sellers based on the manufacturing cost of lost or damaged inventory, with sellers able to provide their own cost or use Amazon's estimate. While aiming for greater transparency and predictability, the change has sparked seller concerns about potentially lower reimbursements, especially for handmade sellers. Amazon also introduced automatic reimbursements for items lost in their fulfillment centers.

(sellercentral.amazon.com)
Startup Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement manufacturing cost

Bank of North Dakota: A Century of Success, Boosting State's Economy

2024-12-18
Bank of North Dakota: A Century of Success, Boosting State's Economy

The Bank of North Dakota (BND) is the only state-owned and -operated general-service bank in the United States, established in 1919 to foster agriculture, commerce, and industry. It leverages state funds to provide loans and financial services for infrastructure projects, agriculture, and small businesses, and acts as a wholesale bank for local institutions. BND played a crucial role during the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its profitability and positive impact on the state's economy. Its unique model has made it a standout success story in the American financial system.

(en.wikipedia.org)
Startup state-owned bank economic development financial services

Railway: Automating Revenue, Not Sales

2024-12-18
Railway: Automating Revenue, Not Sales

Railway shares its journey of shifting from traditional sales to automated revenue growth. Initial attempts at traditional sales proved ineffective. They pivoted to a product-led growth (PLG) model and developed a regression model to predict customer upgrades or churn. This model uses factors like successful/failed builds, configured regions, support requests, and feature adoption to score customers, identifying those needing assistance. Proactive support and this targeted approach boosted revenue and customer satisfaction, leading to sustainable business growth.

(blog.railway.com)
Startup automated revenue product-led growth regression model
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