Worth, the Startup From the Founders of Stax, Just Raised $30 Million to Deliver ‘Simplicity for Small Businesses’
Worth, the fintech startup founded by Stax alumni Sal Rehmetullah and Suneera Madhani, announced a $30 million Series A round. The funding, led by Amex Ventures, Fulcrum Equity Partners and TTV Capital, reflects the founders' proven track record and strategic investor relationships. Worth’s platform uses AI to unify credit assessment, fraud detection, and KYC/KYB processes for small‑business onboarding and underwriting. The capital will accelerate product development and market expansion targeting underserved SMBs.
Everyone Needs a Mentor
In the post‑pandemic era, companies are rethinking mentorship, moving from rigid, formal programs to whole‑person, organic relationships. Executives cite that 98% of Fortune 500 firms already run mentorship initiatives because they improve retention, satisfaction, and leadership pipelines. Real‑world anecdotes show that...
Why Organizational Charts Don’t Create Accountability
Most leadership teams favor clean organizational charts, and the EOS Accountability Chart offers structural clarity by swapping titles for roles. However, the chart stops short of defining measurable outcomes, turning accountability into an illusion. Without outcome‑specific metrics, leaders manage activity...
Non-Tech-Savvy Startup Founders Can Turn Vibe-Coding Into a Superpower. Here’s How
The author, a former mobile‑ad startup founder, admits that lacking coding skills cost his company a market edge to technically savvy rival AppLovin, which later became a $150 billion S&P 500 giant. After selling his business for $780 million, he discovered a new...
The ‘Nail Test’: Why This $54 Billion Innovation Is Terrifying Western Auto Executives
BYD demonstrated its second‑generation Blade battery surviving a six‑inch nail puncture without entering thermal runaway, contrasting sharply with a conventional NCM cell that erupted into a 500 °C fire. The dramatic nail test, staged for European industrial executives, highlighted the Blade’s...
Low-ABV Spirits Have a Taste Problem. This Startup Says They Have the Science to Solve It
ALTR, a startup founded by former drinker Richard Schatzberger, says it has developed a technology that removes ethanol from spirits without heating, preserving flavor. The company targets the fast‑growing low‑ABV and non‑alcoholic spirits market, which NielsenIQ values at a billion...
Bringing ‘Big Food’ Energy to a Travis Kelce-Backed Cult Brand
Valerie Oswalt took the helm of Kodiak, the protein‑packed pancake and snack brand, in November 2022 after its 2021 acquisition by L Catterton. Drawing on senior roles at Campbell’s and Mondelēz, she introduced corporate‑grade performance reviews, equity incentives and disciplined...
Science Says Being Indecisive Can Help You Make Better Decisions
A recent study in *Personality and Individual Differences* finds that individuals who score high on trait ambivalence—those who regularly experience mixed feelings and see both sides of an issue—tend to make better decisions than their more decisive counterparts. Researchers measured...
Science Explains Why You Wake Up at 3 Am, and How to Go Back to Sleep
Middle‑of‑night insomnia wakes roughly one in five people, often between 1 am and 3 am. Experts explain the surge is tied to a natural rise in body temperature that lightens sleep stages. The episode is especially disruptive for entrepreneurs who may ruminate...
Growth Isn’t About Getting Noticed Anymore. Nissan Says It’s About Removing Friction
Nissan is shifting its growth strategy from loud marketing to frictionless customer experiences. Vice President and CMO Allyson Witherspoon says the automaker now focuses on removing obstacles across digital, sales and service touchpoints. The company believes seamless interactions will convert...
Micron’s CEO Warns: AI Laptop Prices Are About to Soar—And It Won’t End Soon
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra warned that AI‑powered laptops will see sharp price increases as memory requirements jump to 64‑128 GB, far above the 16‑32 GB baseline for traditional laptops. A surge in AI workloads has driven NAND and DRAM demand beyond current...
Would You Get a Drink in the Kendra Scott Cocktail Bar?
Kendra Scott has launched Beau’s Bar, a Western‑themed cocktail lounge in Nashville’s 12 South, anchored to her Yellow Rose lifestyle line. The venue blends bar service with on‑site jewelry and hat personalization, targeting experience‑seeking shoppers. Company officials say 70% of customers want...
Founder’s ‘Hail Mary’ Attempt to Reclaim $1B Whiskey Empire Blocked by a Judge
A federal judge ruled that founder Fawn Weaver's Chapter 11 filing for the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand was unauthorized, violating a prior court order that placed the company under receivership. The receiver, appointed after a $100 million fraud lawsuit by lender Farm Credit...
This Music Festival Company’s $30 Million Fundraise Proves AI Isn’t the Only Hot Sector for Investment
Breakaway, a live‑events company, closed a $30 million Series B round, valuing it in the nine‑figure range. The funding, led by RSE Ventures, Gross Labs and Human Ventures, follows a $6 million Series A raised in 2022. Revenue surged from $15 million to nearly $70 million,...
Kalshi Offers $1 Billion for a Perfect March Madness Bracket—Just as Warren Buffett Did 12 Years Ago
Prediction‑market platform Kalshi is reviving Warren Buffett’s 2014 March Madness stunt by pledging a $1 billion prize for anyone who submits a perfect bracket to the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament. The odds of a flawless bracket remain astronomically low—roughly one in...
Why Toxic Leadership Backfires: Study Reveals Long‑Term Damage to Productivity and Morale
A new study by Portland State University professor Liu‑Qin Yang examined workplaces in the United States and China and found that abusive managers trigger “organizational dehumanization,” making employees feel like interchangeable cogs. This loss of humanity fuels emotional exhaustion, burnout,...
Want a Job at OpenAI? Take This Online Challenge Today
OpenAI announced the Model Craft Challenge, a global online competition designed to recruit its next generation of AI researchers. The multi‑round contest will test participants on real‑world problems such as Parameter Golf, where candidates build efficient small models under strict...
How to Calculate the Cost of Launching a Startup
The article breaks down the hidden and visible costs of launching a startup, emphasizing that entrepreneurs often underestimate both financial outlays and the emotional toll. It highlights specific line items such as professional support subscriptions, incorporation fees, and office space...
5 Leadership Lessons From Tesla’s Turbulent Growth Strategy
Tesla’s growth strategy has swung between bold vision and operational turbulence, marked by aggressive price cuts, AI investments, and frequent restructurings. Early success stemmed from a mission‑driven brand that attracted talent and capital, but market maturity now demands disciplined execution....
My Employee Has a Bad Attitude … For a Good Reason
An Inc.com column highlights a manager dealing with an employee whose chronic negativity stems from personal health and family tragedies. While the manager feels deep sympathy for the employee’s car accident, chronic disease, and loss, the employee’s attitude is lowering...
Fill the Middle: 5 Ways to Adapt to Changing Hiring Dynamics in 2026
Hiring in 2026 is increasingly difficult because baby boomers are staying longer while entry‑level roles shrink due to automation, leaving a thin pool of experienced mid‑level professionals. The article argues that the traditional definition of "mid‑level"—based on years of service—is...
Want to Stop Putting Important Things Off? Use the 5-Minute Rule to Stop Procrastinating
Procrastination stems from the brain’s limbic system favoring immediate comfort over long‑term goals. The article promotes the 5‑minute rule—committing to work on a task for just five minutes—to bypass resistance and activate the neocortex. By starting rather than finishing, individuals...
Global Experience Gave CEOs Like Expedia’s Ariane Gorin Essential Leadership Traits
A recent Modern CEO newsletter argues that boards should prioritize agility over résumé credentials, citing international experience as a reliable proxy. Heidrick & Struggles research shows one in five Fortune 500 firms will appoint CEOs with cross‑border experience by 2025, and...
Many Founders Waste Time and Money Solving the Wrong Problems. Here Are 3 Big Ones
Founders often chase obvious fixes—more marketing, hiring, or capital—while the real issue lies elsewhere. Two case studies illustrate this: a SaaS startup wasted resources on acquisition despite an unbuildable product, and another over‑engineered features that customers found unnecessary. In both...
This iPhone App for Video Editing Is One of Apple’s Top Picks of the Year. Here’s Why It Stands Out
Detail AI Video Editor, developed by Paul Veugen, earned Apple’s iPad App of the Year honor after his earlier Human Activity & Calorie Tracker won the same accolade in 2014. While the iPad version leverages a larger screen, roughly 80 percent...
3 High-Profit Revenue Streams Nomadic Founders Can Add to Their Businesses
The article outlines three high‑margin revenue streams that nomadic founders can add, starting with corporate consulting, which taps a market projected to reach $490 billion by 2031. It highlights corporations’ heavy spending on AI, tech, and digital transformation expertise. Nomadic founders...
Robinhood Joins the High-Fee Premium Credit Card Race With an Invite-Only Platinum Offering
Robinhood has launched an invite‑only Platinum Credit Card priced at $695 per year, positioning it below the Amex Platinum ($895) and Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) fees. The new card, issued by Coastal Community Bank, follows the 2024 Gold Card and...
How to Handle a Q&A Session Like a Pro
Effective Q&A handling isn’t about rapid answers but about staying grounded. Leaders who view questions as collaborative rather than confrontational reduce stress and improve listening. Preparing a concise list of 15‑20 probable questions a week in advance and scripting full‑sentence...
How to Rebuild Your Identity After Being Let Go
Jerry Colonna, co‑founder of Reboot, advises professionals how to rebuild identity after a layoff. He argues that self‑worth is not tied to titles or achievements and that clinging to a former role creates suffering. By accepting impermanence and detaching from...
The $136 Billion Sleep Industry Is Shifting. Here Are 5 Trends Leaders Should Watch For
The global sleep market, projected to reach $136 billion by 2030, is rapidly evolving. Dr. Michael Breus identifies five key trends reshaping the industry, starting with gender‑specific sleep‑apnea diagnostics. He explains that traditional male‑centric criteria overlook many women, prompting new testing...
How 1 Sentence Helps You Change Almost Any Habit, Starting Today
The article explains that roughly 40% of daily actions are driven by habits rather than conscious decisions. It introduces a one‑sentence formula from Charles Duhigg’s *The Power of Habit*: “When (cue), I will (routine) because it provides me with (reward).”...
Satya Nadella Says Business Growth Comes Down to Mindset More Than Metrics
Satya Nadella reshaped Microsoft’s culture by replacing a metrics‑obsessed approach with a growth‑mindset focus. Since becoming CEO in 2014, he urged employees to view success as personal responsibility and continuous learning rather than quarterly revenue targets. This cultural pivot sparked...
Inside the Cold War Program Where the U.S. Tested Psychics Abilities
During the Cold War, U.S. intelligence agencies launched a two‑decade program to test psychic phenomena, chiefly remote viewing, under various code names that later merged into Project Stargate. The CIA initially funded the research, which the Defense Intelligence Agency took...
Steve Jobs’ 10-80-10 Rule Is Even More Useful in the AI Era
The article revisits Steve Jobs’ evolution from a detail‑obsessed micromanager to a proponent of the 10‑80‑10 rule, a talent‑allocation framework that designates 10% of a team as top performers, 80% as solid contributors, and the remaining 10% as under‑performers. It...
8 AI Tools Creators Swear By to Create More Content, Faster
The first quarter of 2026 is being labeled the year of AI efficiency, highlighted by the SaaSpocalypse that erased roughly $300 billion in SaaS valuations. High‑profile moves like Jack Dorsey's 40 percent cut at Square signal executives see AI as a structural...
This TikTok Tax Tip Could Get You Audited
FinTok influencers are urging TikTok users to file IRS Form 2439 for refundable credits, despite the IRS flagging a surge in fabricated claims. The agency estimates $162 million in penalties last year from false social‑media tax advice and warns that misusing the...
These Interview Questions Can Tell You Whether Someone Is the Right Fit
Hiring leaders are turning to vulnerability‑focused interview questions to assess intangible traits like teamwork, accountability, and cultural fit. By asking candidates to share moments when they needed help or recount a mistake and its lessons, recruiters gain concrete evidence of...
The 23 Female Founders Leading the Next Big AI Breakthroughs
Female entrepreneurs are increasingly driving AI innovation despite receiving a fraction of venture capital compared to male peers. The Inc. Female Founders 500 list spotlights 23 women leading breakthroughs across sectors such as enterprise software, health care, digital fashion, and scientific...
New Study Finds 1 Feedback Mistake Prompts 14 Percent of Staff to Quit—And Boomer Managers Are the Most Likely to...
Adobe’s latest employee‑experience study of 1,000 full‑time workers reveals that feedback anxiety is pervasive, with 38% of respondents delaying necessary feedback out of fear of the recipient’s reaction. Contradictory input slows work for nearly three‑in‑five employees, while low‑quality feedback contributes...
This Premium Chocolate Brand Reveals How It’s Surviving the GLP-1 Craze
Lindt & Sprüngli reports that U.S. consumers using GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are buying premium chocolate at a markedly higher rate. Fifteen percent of households on GLP‑1s generate 17.5 percent of chocolate sales, with premium sales up 17 percent versus 6.5 percent for non‑users....
An Emerging Longevity Supplement May Accelerate Cancer Growth, Scientists Say
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science discovered that polyamines, especially spermidine—a compound touted for longevity—can accelerate the growth of cancer cells. Laboratory experiments on cervical and breast cancer lines showed polyamines promote aerobic glycolysis and increase the oncogenic protein eIF5A2....
Psychologists Have a New Way to Measure ‘Corporate Bullshit’—And It Reveals a Surprising Secret About Performance
Cornell psychologist Shane Littrell introduced the Corporate Bull‑shit Receptivity Scale (CBRS) to measure how much employees enjoy corporate jargon. The study found that high appreciation for buzzword‑laden language correlates with lower analytic thinking and poorer decision‑making. Littrell identified common contexts...
OpenAI Responds to Its Robotics Lead Resigning Over ‘Lethal Autonomy’ Concerns in New Pentagon Deal
OpenAI senior robotics engineer Caitlin Kalinowski resigned after the company announced a deal to embed its AI models within U.S. Department of Defense networks. Kalinowski said she left on principle, citing concerns over potential lethal autonomous applications. The move underscores...
The Old Rules of B2B PR Are Dead—Here’s What Works Now
The 2026 analysis of over 200 B2B journalist queries shows a fundamental shift in public relations strategy. CEOs remain valuable for brand narratives, but functional experts—product managers, growth marketers, and client specialists—are now preferred for niche coverage. Reporters also seek...
Tim Cook Says Apple Meetings Are Full of Arguments. That’s the Point
Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company’s meetings are deliberately filled with arguments and debate, rather than seeking quick consensus. He explained that this culture forces every detail to be scrutinized, turning disagreement into a source of stronger ideas....
My Employee Is Sobbing at Her Desk Every Week
A manager is struggling with an employee, Brenda, who cries frequently at her desk, often without clear triggers. Brenda’s emotional volatility is disrupting team productivity as the company approaches a high‑demand period. While she is receiving therapy, the manager wants...
How 1 Leadership Advisory Firm Measures a Potential CEO’s Agility
In a climate where 70 percent of CEOs cite high disruption, boards are shifting focus from résumé credentials to executive agility. Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) uses its 26‑year‑old Leadership Portrait to quantify traits such as curiosity, resilience, and social intelligence, adding...
Ethics: My Board Chair’s Behavior Is Stressing Everyone. What Should I Say to Her?
An executive director at a young nonprofit reports that the newly appointed board chair repeatedly has emotional breakdowns, creating tension among board members. The chair’s recent outburst during a meeting highlighted a perceived power struggle and prompted a request for...
Bad News for Your Burner Account: AI Is Surprisingly Effective at Identifying the People Behind Them
A new ETH Zurich and MATS study shows large language models can de‑anonymize burner accounts with striking accuracy. The AI system identified 68% of users in the test set and achieved a 90% precision rate. Researchers warn that the assumed...
This Overlooked Instagram Feature Might Be the Most Powerful Tool in Your Marketing Stack
Instagram’s Close Friends, originally a privacy tool, is being reframed as a high‑intent marketing channel. By curating a small, exclusive list of creators, editors, and brand advocates, marketers can turn the green‑ring stories into a micro‑CRM. The invitation itself signals...
