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The Best Tech Conferences in Israel To Attend in 2020
Whether you're interested in Cyber, Insurtech, Fintech, Nanotechnology or meeting Israel's tech leaders, we've got it all covered for you with the ultimate guide for the 2020 tech conferences in Israel.
Last update, 19.7.20:
Hey everyone, you’re probably aware of the situation concerning the world, right? Because of COVID-19, many events and conferences that in Israel (and worldwide) that were scheduled for March until May have been canceled, postponed, or have become virtual.We’ve updated the upcoming events with their new dates and developments, added some new events to the list, and we’ll ...
Vacation's over: 30 Israeli startups raised nearly $690 million in August 2020 [Infographic]
The numbers are similar to those of last month, but as long they’re high - we’re happy (and so are the startups).
Summer vacation is over, September has just begun, and the moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived: a new startups infographic. Ok, that and sending your kids back to school or kindergarten (if COVID-19 allows it).This August, 30 Israeli startups raised more than $688 million, but three of them accounted for more than half of the amount: Gong.io, Redis Labs, and Yotpo.We’ve picked some com...
Rockin' it! 35 Israeli startups raised more than $690 million in July 2020!
The second wave of startup investments is here: $691.25 raised!
Summertime is officially here, and so is Coronavirus, which made a huge comeback this July. But no worries, the startups are still rocking it. How much rocking? Well, 35 Israeli startups (that we know of) raised $691.25 million!
On top of this month’s list, we have a well-known company that had already made it to the top in the past. We’re talking about our own taxi-hailing service Gett, wh...
The future of a post-Coronavirus world
The global pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, and even once a vaccine for COVID-19 will be found, the world will never be quite the same in travel, workplaces, healthcare, and everyday life.
The impact of COVID-19 has changed the way we look at things. Today, many of us are reasserting control over our lives in ways big and small. We are now even more concerned with our health, the ability to access food and other necessities, our job security, and our finances. We consider these impacts on ourselves, our family, our friends, and our colleagues. Beyond our comm...
30 Israeli startups raised more than $430 million in May 2020 [Infographic]
We're almost past the COVID-19 crisis in Israel, but somehow the numbers are lower: 30 deals and $435 million raised.
It seems that we’re getting back to normal, and hopefully this situation will last (we can’t stand a second wave!). Last month, during the peak of COVID-19, the startups were excited to show how much money they raised; they reached an incredible amount of $900 million. This May, things were slowing down a bit with just 30 deals and approximately $435 million in capital.
On top of the ...
COVID WHO? 44 Israeli startups raised more than $900 million in April 2020
Even a global pandemic can't stop Israeli startups from raising funds. 44 startups raised more than $900 million this April!
Hey everyone! How are you doing? Feeling bored at home? Climbing up the walls? Well, sit down, because there’s a new startups report!Coronavirus is still here, and while the world is “less panicking” about it after preventing its spread, it still doesn’t seem to go away anytime soon. However, businesses are going on as usual (almost), especially in the tech industry. Seems that after a weak month...
Let's fight it together: A list of Israeli startups to help you through the days of Coronavirus
No country was fully prepared for the outbreak COVID-19, but some Israeli startups, founded long before Coronavirus ever happened, had already developed the perfect products to get you through these times.
COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, is affecting everyone’s lives all over the world these days and nobody knows when it end. While many businesses, especially in Israel, shut down and lead to unemployment of millions, there are some companies that can make the most out of this crisis. So, whether you’re in a medical team, need to boost your business, or you’re simply bored in quarantine, we’ve ...
36 Israeli startups raised over $850 million in February 2020!
29 days, 36 startups, one Unicorn and more than $850 million raised. That was February.
2020 started a bang: Over $880 million raised, and three new Unicorns were born. It's pretty hard to beat such numbers, but it seems that February and its 29 days gave a pretty good fight.
This month only once Unicorn joined the club and 36 startups raised over $857 million. Let's hope 2020 continues that way.
Here's some information about part of the startups, just like we do every...
405 Israeli startups raised over $7.67 billion in 2019! [Mega Infographic]
Now that 2019 is behind us, we can take a look at all the startups that raised funds this year... and there were many of them.
2019 just ended, and lucky for us (and you) we’ve gathered lists of almost every Israeli startup that raised money in each month, so we have decided to create a mega-infographic with all the startups!
We’ve had an incredible year with fantastic numbers, and so many new Unicorns were born, that the name might as well be changed to a rarer creature.
So, according to our resources*, 405 startups hav...
20+ Technologies That Shaped the 2010s: Part II
From tablets and Bitcoin to drones and reusable rockets, here’s the second part of our list of technologies that have shaped the passing decade.
The decade is coming to an end, and we’ve decided to summarize all the greatest technologies that shaped the 2010s. In part I, we’ve covered the new services, the gig economy, and the social networks.
In this second and final part, we’ll go through major technological developments and products that changed our lives during these past ten years, and some that will (probably) make their grand imp...
20+ Technologies That Shaped The 2010s: Part I
What’s the connection between Uber, Airbnb, WhatsApp, and Netflix? It’s that this decade wouldn’t have been the same without them. This is part I of our technological voyage through the technologies that shaped the 2010s.
The 2010s are coming to an end and a new decade is approaching. Sure, the major products that we use today- like scrolling the never-ending Facebook feed on your laptop PC while watching a YouTube video on your iPhone- were invented during the late ’00s, but there are still some BIG technologies that have been invented or commonly used and perfected during this decade.In this grand, two-part art...
We're looking for An NLP Expert!
Are you experienced in Natural Language Processing, AI and Machine Learning? We're looking for you.
We’re looking for an enthusiastic worker who majors in AI, machine learning or NLP to join us and help us craft GKI Group’s future products and advance the conversation capabilities that exist today.
In our team, we push the boundaries on the state-of-the-art in language understanding, intent classification, and learning from human interactions. All this, using machine learning, NLP, and deep...
31 Israeli startups raised over $880 million in November 2019 [Infographic]
Fraud prevention, seeing through walls, VAT refunds and robotics - 31 startups totally nailed it this month.
After the astronomical numbers of last month, we expected a bit of slowing down, but the flow of investments in the Israeli startup ecosystem doesn’t seem to stop. 31 startups, founded or located in Israel, raised $883.1 million this month!
Leading this month’s investment is Riskified, fraud prevention for eCommerce, with an incredible $165 million round that brings its valuation to over $1 b...
41 Israeli startups raised over $871 million this October! [Infographic]
Insurance, lab meat and cooling your house using the sun: These are some of the 41 Israeli startups raised over $871 million this October.
Now that the holiday season is finally over, the Israeli startup ecosystem is back at work- big time. 41 startups (that we know of) raised more than $871 this October, especially thanks to Next Insurance, Fabric, and Rapyd. Just like every other month, we’ve picked a few companies worth mentioning:
Number one on our list, and probably one of the biggest investment rounds this year, is Next Insu...
Baby Tech at Kind + Jugend 2019: Time to Meet CozyFlow
Kind + Jugend is the biggest international event for baby and toddler products. We were there with our new product - CozyFlow.
Kind + Jugend is the international leading trade fair for premium baby and toddler products that took place in Cologne, Germany last week. Over 1,200 exhibitors from 55 countries came to show their line of products for 2020, to find distributors and retailers or show the world the newest developments in the baby tech industry. GKI Group was amongst them.
Some of you are probably wondering right ...
32 Israeli startups raised nearly $390 million in August [Infographic]
This August, one big company went even bigger, and 31 smaller startups raised some great funds as well.
After some GREAT numbers last month, August came in like Larry David to “curb our enthusiasm”. Well, that is unless you’re working at Cybereason- who raised $200 million- and are accountable for more than half of $378.77 million raised by 28 Israeli startups this month.
So, just like every other month, here are our month’s top picks:
As mentioned in the opening paragraph (Hope you’ve read it), ...
36 Israeli startups raised over $765 million this July [Infographic]
Hot summer in the Startup Nation: 37 Israeli startups raised over $765 this July, some success overseas, and three new Unicorn companies were born.
Hot summer! 36 Israeli startups raised over $765 this July, and three new Unicorn companies were born. We have a lot to cover, so let’s cut to the chase and tell you about some of these investments.
On the top of our list is the company that’s nearly impossible to search for in Google, because you immediately get directed to its website: monday.com. The very well known and popular collaborati...
39 Israeli startups raised $690 million this June! [Infographic]
Time for some good news: 39 Israeli tech companies raised (or were granted) nearly $690 million this June.
June is over, springtime in Israel is now officially over, and it was the perfect time for growth: For trees, plants, and Israeli startups. It’s time to see which startups were covered in green ($$$) this month. And what a month it was - 39 Israeli startups raised over $680 million.
Newer tech for the older generation: 13+ Israeli startups for seniors
With an ever-growing population of seniors, grows the need for products to make to their lives healthier, easier and happier. Here are 13 Israeli startups trying to make that happen.
Israel celebrated its 71st birthday recently, so we thought it would be a good time to show our respect to the generation who built this country and focus on the seniors. Seniors are everywhere, and their numbe...
29 Israeli startups raised almost $880 million in April!!! [Infographic]
Seems like everyone found the afikoman this Passover: 29 Israeli startups raised nearly $880 million in April.
WOW! We’re used to great numbers all year long, but we really have no idea why April was so uniquely outstanding, maybe it was all the matzah. 30 Israeli startups raised an astonishing total of $878 million, although most of the credit should go to Israeli-founded companies Lemonade ($300m) and Selina ($100m).Anyway, just like every month, here’s a taste of some of this month’s standout investment...
The 10 plagues of the Israeli tech industry
Passover is here, so we decided to dig further into the ecosystem and tell you about the 10 plagues of Israeli tech industry.
It’s been quite a while since our exodus from Egypt, since our people went from slavery to freedom and since we settled in Israel and established the Startup Nation. These days are long gone, but today, we have some other modern problems to deal with, problems that prevent Israelis from escaping “modern slavery” (working for an emerging startup) to the desired exodus (exit). So, in the spirit of P...
Happy international women's month: 20 Israeli startups founded by women
Only 10% of the Israeli startups were founded by women, but that still means that there are hundreds of female entrepreneurs in Israel. To honor International Women's Month, we are featuring 20 of them.
Israel, the grand Startup Nation with over 6,700 active tech companies, is no stranger to successful female entrepreneurs, and yet, only 10% of these startups were founded by women. So, to honor International Women’s Day (and month) we decided to write about twenty interesting and innovative Israeli startups founded by women. Most of the startups were co-founded by women who took the role of CEO, ...
Short month, big numbers: 34 Israeli startups raised over $570 million this February
In only 28 days, 34 Israeli startups raised a whopping $570m, and few other companies were acquired. Great numbers.
So, how’s 2019 been treating you so far? We know that it’s been going quite well for several Israeli companies, and more specifically these 34 startups on this month’s investments list, that raised a whopping total of $573.15 million. February 2019 also turned out to be the month of acquisitions. Before we begin with the usual “Who Raised What”, we feel like sharing some exciting news about Israel...
Yango vs Gett: Who offers the best ride-hailing service in Tel-Aviv?
New ride-hailing service, Yango, landed in Israel two months ago and I had to check out which taxi-on-demand company does a better job: Gett or Yango?
It’s Elad again. Remember me from the Bird blog post? As a Tel-Avivian, I’m always on top of new mobility services, or anything that could take me from point A to point B without moving my car from its precious parking spot. So, when I heard that Yango decided to launch here in Israel, I thought I must check it out. In this article, I’m going to tell you about Yango vs. Gett, who offers the best ...
36 Israeli startups grabbed nearly $480 million in the first month of 2019
2019 has only just begun, but it begun with $477 million investments and 36 happier startups
Wait! Before we start with the list, we just want to remind you - STARTUPURIM IS BACK!Startupurim is a "Secret Santa" game between startups that we're organizing for the 3rd time this year. So, if you wanna take part in something awesome and become a member of the Israeli Startup Community. Click here to sign up! 2019 started off on the right foot: 36 Israeli startups raised over $477 million thi...
28 startups raised more than $340 million in December 2018 [Infographic]
Cannabis, Robots and Hummus: 28 Israeli startups raised $340 million in the last month of 2018
WOW! This year passed so quickly. It feels that only a year ago we were at the beginning of 2018. So, after 11 infographics, hundreds of deals and billions of dollars raised, we finally made it to the last article (and infographic) of the year. 28 startups raised more than $341 million; Not the best numbers we’ve seen this year, but hey, look at how many companies made an exit in 2018. Happy ...
Israel's 18 biggest exits of 2018
With deals worth billions and hundreds of millions, these 18 companies found a good reason to open a bottle of Champagne way before new year's eve.
2018 is coming to an end. Many things happened. Many startups and companies were founded, shut down, got involved in a scandal, hacked into or fulfilled their destiny - to be sold. To summarize this year, we decided to look back at Israel's 18 biggest exits of 2018. This year, the number of Israeli startups acquired has dropped. According to IVC-Meitar, exits in the first half of 2018 were worth a...
20 Israeli companies with Hebrew names
What does Teva, Namogoo, Atidot and Tipa all have in common? Their name has a meaning in Hebrew, and they're not alone. More than 20 Israeli companies are gaining worldwide popularity using Hebrew names.
One thing every startup needs, other than a strong team, a bit of funding or an idea is a good name, and a good name is hard to find. With relevant English words and buzzwords running out, it's becoming more and more challenging to come up with a perfect name. Lucky for non-English speaking countries, like Israel, we have an extra vocabulary we could use to invent new names - Hebrew. The trick is ...
35 Israeli startups raised $626 million this October [Infographic]
An infographic of 35 Israeli startups with one thing in common - They all raised some $$$ this month.
We thought September was a busy month with record-breaking fundings, but it seems that October just topped it: 35 startups (that we know of) raised more than $626 million. That's impressive. Let’s kick off with the most significant round of this month - JFrog scored $165 million in funding. The startup’s huge D round was led by Insight Venture Partners and others. JFRog is a DevOps platform, found...
Amsterdam Capital Week and Angel Island
Meetups, sessions, meetings, investors and one island full of the above - Here's our summary of Amsterdam Capital Week.
[Source: capitalweek.amsterdam]With each year passing, Amsterdam is pushing itself to the forefront of the European innovation. How? By deepening the connections, cooperating with international companies, and of course - arranging incredible tech events, all year long. The biggest and most popular one is The Next Web, but we’re here to introduce you to a smaller, yet more meaningful event - Amster...
30 Israeli startups raised more than $900 million this September [Infographic]
No such thing as holiday season in Israel. 30 startups raised a total of $913 million. Compass alone raised $400 million.
Holiday season? Not for these startups: 30 Israeli-based startups, or founded by Israelis, raised the astonishing amount of $913.65 million in September, mainly thanks to US-Based Compass that raised nearly half of it.Let's begin with the leading company on this list - Compass. The real estate startup isn't Israeli, but it was founded by Ori Allon, and it achieved greatness. With an extra $400 mil...
My first month with Bird in Tel Aviv
Scooter-sharing company Bird finally landed in Israel about a month ago, and after a month full of rides, I have a few words, good and bad, to say about it. Let's roll!
I just found my new toy. At least that’s what I thought a month ago - and it’s called Bird.Bird is a pay-as-you-go scooter rental startup, a global success, now making its first steps in Israel, or more accurately, at the center of it - Tel Aviv. As a Tel-Avivian myself, I was excited to hear that we’re finally lining up with other cities and that Bird chose us a the testbed (and maybe a future ...
24 Israeli startups raised nearly $360 million this August [Infographic]
September is here, so it's time to look back and see which startups got an investment last month
While July was a super busy month, seems that during August all the investors and startups went on a summer vacation. Well, at least some of them, because 24 startups raised $359.45 million!Rocking the list is the half-Israeli half-American cybersecurity startup Exabeam. While it's not listed as Israeli, it was founded by Nir Polak. The company raised $50 million this month and a total of $115 mil...
36 Israeli startup raised the astonishing amount of $644m this July [Infographic]
July was probably one of the best months the Israeli startup community have ever seen
Wow, July was crazy. Not only we witnessed some exists, like Datorama being sold to Salesforce for $800 million or 10bis sold to Takeaway.com for $157 million, but also 36 startups (That we know of) raised the total amount of $644.3 million. On top of the list is the Israeli-Singaporean startups Trax Image Recognition, with $125 million and a valuation of $850 million. We already wrote about Trax ...
Rise of the Israeli Foodtech Ecosystem
With over 300 startups, hundreds of deals and a new hub under construction, you can pretty much say that the Foodtech ecosystem in Israel is thriving. With the help of Umatch Analytics, it's time to show you what's cooking.
In recent years the Foodtech industry in General and the Israeli Foodtech, in particular, is growing and expanding at a fast rate, just like the need for new technologies. The industry across the globe is starting to realize that due to the massive growth in world population the demand for food consumption is about to increase by 70% worldwide. So it is only natural that there is a need to c...
NL x IL: Connecting the Netherlands and Israel
GKI Group's exclusive annual lunch in Amsterdam took place a day after TNW 2018 with industry leaders from the Netherlands and Israel to strengthen the connection between the countries.
NLxIL Lunch began at W Hotel's rooftop barAfter returning from three busy days in Amsterdam, it’s time to summarize our brief yet fruitful visit. It began with two days at TNW Conference, a cruise with industry influencers, a breakfast with leaders from the Balkan countries and ended with our annual NLxIL Lunch at the W Hotel, with partners from Israel and the Netherlands.Our continuous affair wit...
The Story of the Hub for Israeli Maritime Innovation and Startups
The Startup Nation is well-known for plenty of breakthrough technologies in every technology sector, yet, the maritime technology remained untouched. theDOCK Innovation Hub in Haifa is aiming to change that. We had an interview with CEO and Founder, Hannan Carmeli.
Hannan is busy, together with his partners – Nir Gartzman and Noa Schuman, in fulfilling a vision combining two of the things he loves the most: Technology and the Maritime domain. theDOCK Innovation Hub is located in Haifa and was founded a year ago by Hannan, the CEO, and Nir Gartzman, the COO, with one goal in mind: To make Israel become the Startup Nation for the Port, Maritime and Logistics ...
33 Israeli startups raised over $460 million this April [Infographic]
April ended with not over 33 deals (That we know of), and with great numbers! To be more accurate, 33 Israeli startups raised $468.1 million this month. Awesome!On top of the list - Selina. That's not a startup. Well, not the kind of startup that you'd expect to find in a tech-oriented list. Selina is a hostel chain that was founded by two Israeli in several locations across Latin America. Now, Se...
Celebrating Israel's 70th Independence Day with 70 Israeli Startups you should know
From A to Z - 70 Israeli startups to celebrate 70 years of Israeli innovation.
It’s Israel’s 70th birthday, so we’re celebrating it with 70 Israeli startups you should know, located here in Israel or just founded by Israelis. It was pretty hard to pick only 70 out of nearly 6,000 startups, but we managed to curate a list of well-known and lesser-known promising startups from various categories. So, without further ado, here are our picks for some of the most interesting sta...
33 Israeli Startups raised over $450 million this March [Infographic]
From $0.4m to $100m and all the in-between, here's the list of startups that raised money in March 2018.
This isn't an April Fools prank - 33 Israeli startups raised $457.35 million last month. Great way to celebrate Passover.Leading the financing round is social-trading firm eToro, who raised $100 million in Series E funding to focus on blockchain technologies. eToro, founded in 2007, has raised more than $162 million in total and is now valued at $800 million. Pack up your bags; we're heading to th...
Startup ecosystem in Hungary – and a documentary film about its early years
The flourishing Hungarian startup ecosystem still needs many more angel investors, mentors and more experience in marketing and sales. Back in the early years the stakeholders were searching for their roles – a new documentary film shows exactly that journey: through the story of a beginner business angel and a beginner startupper at the dawn of the Hungarian startup-world.
A few giants from a small country Some great Hungarian startup success stories became well-known internationally and boosted the startup-momentum a few years ago. Ustream, LogMeIn, NNG, Autohop had successful exits, some other companies, like Prezi have not had an exit yet, but they expanded to extreme proportions. Beyond those unicorns, there are a couple hundred startups trying to follow t...
What we remember from Whisky Live Tel Aviv 2018
Last week we went to Whisky Live, where some of the best distilleries in the world gave us something to drink. We survived to tell.
Before I begin, let me answer one of the most burning questions - “Why are you writing about a Whisky Live? What’s that got to do with entrepreneurship, innovation, and startups?” Well, as some of you may already know, GKI Group is not only all about technology. One of our main investments that we actively took part in its foundation is actually in a whisky distillery, or more accurately, Mi...
27 Israeli startups raised over $550 million this February [Infographic]
So, which startups raised $$$ this month?
This February, 27 Israeli startups (that we know of) raised more than $550 million from VCs, investors and debt financing. We got some of them covered for you.On top of the list, we can find the Fintech company Behalf, based in NY. They raised $150 million in debt financing from investors like Soros Fund Management and Viola Capital. Behalf is providing loans and working capital small to medium bu...
Eight Israeli startups to help you travel in 2018
From cheap flights finder to easy trip planning, there are many travel startups in Israel. We picked eight.
We don’t know which vacation destinations are on your bucket list for 2018, but we do know that there are some Israeli travel startups that can help you make the best of your trip wherever you are going. From finding the best deals to finding you the hottest spots, here’s a list of eight startups, founded by Israelis, that you should use on or before your next vacation. Enjoy! Eyf...
Umatch Analytics May Be The Future of B2B Matchmaking
A new Israeli startup wants to change the way we build meaningful B2B connections. We had an interview with its co-founder and CEO, Golan Malca.
One of the more painful experiences for companies, startups founders, entrepreneurs and even investors is going to a large tech conference, spending hours networking, and leaving with nothing but a bag full of giveaways and business cards. Umatch Analytics, a new startup in GKI Group’s investment portfolio, is solving this very problem with sophisticated AI and NLP. We sat down with Umatch’s CEO a...
Israeli startups raised more than $830 million in December [Infographic]
WOW! What a way to end 2017, with $450 million going to Compass.
Every month Startup Israel Community publishes the list of Israeli startups who raised millions of dollars from investors, VCs and crowdsourcing.Last month, the final month of 2017, 31 Israeli startups raised $838.05 million from foreign and local investors.On top of the list, you can find Ori Allon's US-Based startup Compass, after raising $450 million from SoftBank. Just last month the real esta...
Five Tech Stories That Shaped 2017 - Part II
In the second part of our annual summary, we will share some of the year’s best tech stories from Israel, and no, it’s not only Mobileye.
First, if you still haven’t read Part I, click here to read our thoughts on Bitcoin, Uber and #MeToo.Many events, acquisitions, large investments occurred this year in Israel, many new startups were closed, while others were opened, but none these tech stories were notable like the day Intel bought Mobileye. We’ve got that covered, obviously, we did not forget all the rest. The Mobileye Effect ...
Five Tech Stories That Shaped 2017 - Part I
In the first part of our annual summary, we will remember some of the year’s best tech stories: Bitcoin, Uber and #Metoo.
As 2017 comes to a close, we thought it would be a good time to look back and remember some of the year’s best tech stories.Last year we brought you the 10 Tech Stories That Shaped 2016; this year we’ve narrowed it down to just five, but we’ll start with just three stories that had a worldwide impact:1. The rise of Bitcoin. By the time you finish reading this it may be worth $20K, or $10K… who kno...
6 Israeli Startups Founded by Local Celebrities
From a successful interactive video company to a smartwatch for tennis players, here are the stories of six startups founded by Israeli celebrities
We already wrote about “14 tech companies founded by celebrities”, but now it’s time to stop looking overseas and start focusing on the entrepreneurial, creative minds of our own local celebrities; let us introduce you to six Israeli startups founded by Israeli celebrities - singers, comedians, and even a professional tennis player. Interlude/Eko Interlude/Eko was co-founded in 2009 b...
Israeli startups raised nearly $405 million this November [Infographic]
This November, 35 startups raised nearly $405 million from investors, mostly thank to Israeli-founded startup Compass that raised $100 million.
Every month Startup Israel Community publishes the list of Israeli startups who raised millions of dollars from investors, VCs and crowdsourcing.This November, 35 startups raised nearly $405 million. That's incredible!On top of the list, we can find the Israeli-founded real estate startup, Compass, that raised $100 million from Fidelity Investments, IVP and Wellington Management. Compass, founded ...
StartJLM contest - From The Hague to Jerusalem
The Embassy of Israel in the Netherlands held a contest for Dutch startups. We were there.
Earlier this month we took part in the Start-up Symposium and StartJLM event held at Urban Farmers in The Hague, Netherlands. The organizers of the event and the contest are The Embassy of Israel in The Netherlands, with help from more partners. The issues discussed were innovative solutions to global challenges and the success of Israel, the Startup Nation. Later, the winners of StartJLM contest...
How these 15 tech companies got their names?
Why is Linux called Linux, what Instagram means and what the hell is Nvidia? We gathered the stories of 15 tech companies.
Every company has a story behind its branding. Whether it's a tech company, a startup, or a fashion brand, there's always a something behind the name and the logo. But, did you ever ask yourself "How these tech companies got their names?" Questions like "Why is Google called Google?" or "What the heck Facebook means?". While the stories of Google and Facebook's names are pretty well-known, we l...
On the rise: Exploring Berlin’s Startup Ecosystem
A quick overview of Berlin's startup ecosystem: The co-working spaces, community and startups.
I travelled to Germany to explore one of the most successful startup ecosystems in the world - Berlin. Focused on learning about what makes their startup community so successful, I explored how they built their local ecosystem, attended events, visited co-working spaces, navigated entrepreneurial hubs and learned about various accelerator programs.Connecting to the local communityAs the manager of...
The Story of Three Entrepreneurs Who Quit Too Early
From the forgotten co-founder of Apple to the inventor of the fidget spinner, here's the story of three entrepreneurs who should have stayed a bit longer
One of entrepreneur's’ biggest fears, other than the fear of their startup failing, is making a bad decision that causes them to lose an opportunity and, a lot of money. We’re talking about millions lost due to an irrational thought, disbelief in your company or just needing money quickly. We’ll start with one of the most famous stories, the third forgotten co-founder of Apple. Ronald Wayne - His ...
The Israeli Startup Lobby: Talking about Jerusalem's Ecosystem
The Israeli Startup Lobby met to discuss one burning topic - Jerusalem. How can the government help the Israel's capital become the best ecosystem in Israel?
The House Committee at the Knesset Part of our group's main activities was founding the Israeli Startup Lobby almost two years ago, along with MK Yoel Hasson and MK Yoav Kisch, to facilitate communication and collaboration between the local government and the entrepreneurial community. We met yesterday at the Knesset House Committee to discuss one main subject - Jerusalem's ecosystem. I...
Our connection to the Netherlands
One of GKI Group's main goals is connecting for Israeli entrepreneurs with the top startup countries. Join us on our first stop - Netherlands.
Over the past few months, we’ve worked hard on building strong relations with key people of the tech industry in the Netherlands, focusing on Amsterdam. We came with a mission - become the connection to the Netherlands for Israeli startups, entrepreneurs, and investors. We came to strengthen the connection, deepen the relations between these two countries and work for better future together.Our re...
Exploring the co-working spaces of Amsterdam
Two days in Amsterdam, four co-working spaces: B. Amsterdam, TQ, WeWork and Merkspace.
Amsterdam is a great startup city, with an amazing ecosystem and full support from the government to make it the next Silicon Valley. No startup city is complete without its hubs, accelerator programs, incubators, schools, programs and of course - co-working spaces. While visiting the Netherlands we had the opportunity to explore a few of the co-working spaces in Amsterdam including B. Amsterdam, ...
How StartupAmsterdam is helping the growth of the city's ecosystem
Other cities around the world are quickly pushing in front of Tel Aviv as the top startup ecosystems in the world. One of the cities giving Tel Aviv a run for its money is Amsterdam.
There are 2,900 startups in Amsterdam and its surroundings; about 1,000 of them are located in the city center. Amsterdam claimed the title of "Innovation Capital of Europe" in 2016, and it's always in the top five...
The Next Web Conference 2017
2 days, dozens of events. We went to TNW Conference 2017 in Amsterdam and returned with information about some interesting startups.
We had an amazing, enriching, fruitful and full of strong networking here in Amsterdam, but the highlight was definitely The Next Web conference held on the 18-19th of May.It’s the 11th time that TNW Conference is happening, but this year it was bigger, better, and totally justified the slogan - “More than a conference”.15,000 attendees showed up this year, from all over the world, to exhibi...
7 Israeli inventions from 7 decades of innovation
Israel's 69th Independence Day is here, and it's time look back at some great Israeli inventions, a one from every decade, from solar water heating to a super-fast charger.
With Israel celebrating its 69th Independence Day, it's time for a short recap of some great Israeli inventions and gadgets, one from every decade that we exist.The world already knows that we're the innovation nation, everyone heard about the DiskOnKey, The Cherry Tomatoes, Iron Dome, Waze, and Mobileye, but it's time to talk about some other important inventions.For that matter, we decided to te...
How to pick the best lawyer for your startup?
A good lawyer is crucial to the success of your startup, but how do you pick the right one? Here are a couple of things you should check.
During my career I have been an employee, a manager, an entrepreneur and an investor; no matter my role, lawyers were always around.I have worked with many different kinds of lawyers, and have come to the conclusion that one needs to work with an excellent lawyer, and that when it comes to lawyers, you get what you pay for. My most painful memories are from mediocre lawyers I hired in the pa...
Investment Meetings: The Obstacles You Should Prepare for
Investment meetings often feel like an enigma: no matter how many you may attend, you can never quite know what to expect and how it will turn out. You go to a meeting with a potential investor confident that your idea is THE next thing that will change the world ‒ but somehow the person on the other side of the table doesn’t think so, and decides to pass. Why does that happen? There are mos...
How to tell your family story
A simple guide to motivate for discovering your family's history
Imagine going up the attic at your grandparents’ house to take a look around. You make your way between the old furniture, the dusty boxes and the plastic bags that hide some old clothes that probably no one will ever wear again. After some time, when you’re about to leave the place disappointed (and dirty), you suddenly notice an old crate standing in the corner of the attic. It is full of ...
14 tech companies founded by celebrities
Not only Dr. Dre - These celebrities founded or co-founded some interesting startups.
Sometimes being famous for one thing is not enough. Sometimes you want people to see how brilliant you and your ideas are, so what do you do? You start a company.This is a story of these celebrities - Actors, musicians, comedians, hosts, basketball players or just... I don't know, famous for something.They had an idea, they had the ambition, and sure do they had the money and they decided to open ...
Meet the army unit that makes soldiers' ideas actually happen
Did you know that the Israeli Air Force has an innovation unit that makes the soldiers' ideas come true? Ilan Regenbaum from this unit was here to talk about it
For years, the IDF was perceived as an archaic body compared to the world of innovation and the flourishing Israeli ecosystem outside the army borders. Well, no more.It's time to meet the IAF Innovation Department - The unit that listens to soldiers's ideas, and puts them into action, to make the IDF units smarter and more efficient, for everyone's benefit.We had an interview with Ilan Regenbaum, ...
Top 10 tech stories that shaped 2016
Our team picked the ten tech stories from Israel and the rest of the world that shaped 2016: from the rise of autonomous cars, to Pokemon Go, to the death of Yahoo, it’s all in here, in just one year.
That’s it, 2016 is over. You may have liked it, you may have hated it, but you’ve got to admit that it sure was interesting. A lot has happened, a lot has changed, and a lot of it all is going to affect our future. Here at GKI Group we’ve picked the ten tech stories from Israel and the rest of the world that shaped 2016: from the rise of autonomous cars, to Pokemon Go, to the death of Yahoo, it’s ...
20 things Cuba should know about the internet
Now that the people of Cuba have internet access, we thought of sharing some basic guidelines
In case you haven't heard - Google is trying to connect Cuba to the internet, starting with 2,000 households to see how it goes. That's a huge step was for this beautiful and disconnected Island to finally become a part of the 21st century.Now, Cubans, before you grab your iPhone and start posting photos of vintage cars to your Instagram account, here's 20 things should know about this thing calle...
85% of your followers read only the title of the article
Short summary of "Content Israel 2016"
That’s the main (and sad) conclusion from “Content Israel 2016” conference held yesterday in Nalagaat Center in Tel Aviv. The conference hosted great speakers from the industry, Israelis and non-Israelis, to talk about the latest trends in content editing, and how can you convince people to get interested in your content, and eventually in your product. Among the speakers you could find Rebecca Co...
Connecting The Holy Land to The Netherlands
Tom Vos spends his days helping Israeli startups flourish in the Netherlands, now it's time to hear him out.
Many companies, and some startups who can afford it, are beginning to open more international offices around the globe. As an Israeli company, you can’t only stay in Israel and expect to flourish anymore. If you’ve ever thought of opening another office in the Netherlands, we met just the guy who’ll help you achieve it – Mr. Tom Vos.Tom, now 44, moved to Israel 25 years ago, and has since be...
Another successful year in the Israeli tech scene
A lot has happened here in the year of 5776, the Jewish alternative for the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016. The startup scene remains on the rise and a lot of new companies opened, with billions raised to help the startups.Now that the Jewish holidays are over, it's to time return to normal, head back to work and our daily routine, but it doesn't mean we can't still celebrate. So, to celebrate ...
The most southern hub in Israel
Not only vacation: A new hub opened in Eilat, and it's free for all entrepreneurs. Won't you come take a look?
In the middle of May, we had a company trip to Eilat. We had fun, quality company bonding time, as well as enriching educational experiences. Each day we attended lectures and presentations at Eilat Hub, and before heading back up to the center of Israel, we met with the hub’s CEO, Or Haviv. Eilat Hub is pretty new, having been established at the beginning of this year. Upon their arrival in...
6+ Israeli chatbots you should message
Open your Facebook Messenger, It's time to make some new bot friends.
It’s starting to get pretty tiring talking about all the newest “hot trends”, but you should trust us (and everyone else) when we say that AI (artificial intelligence) bots and chatbots are really the next big thing.If any technology is trending, you can be sure that the Israeli startup scene will hop on the opportunity and make the most of it. Meekan, for example, the Israeli bot that helps Slack...
Israel Innovation Authority published their annual report two months ago. The report looked at subjects like the Israeli tech scene, the rise of growth in companies, and one of the most intriguing matters of our time — robotics. Specifically, the robotic industry in Israel.Whether we speak about factories operating autonomously, automatic vending machines, a robot that cleans the floor while we’re...
Teen accelerator programs should become a thing
The Hub, Teen Accelerator camp, visited our office and made us realize this is the kind of solution we need to keep the Startup Nation going.
On July 26th we had some really special guests at our office. We hosted The Hub - Teen Accelerator technology camp, which is an all new summer program for teens from around the world. They came to Israel for a 10-day intensive accelerator specializing in either design, programming, marketing, or entrepreneurship. These kids were from everywhere from California, to Texas, France, England, Spain, an...
Hey there startups, entrepreneurs, and tech-lovers everywhere- we are GKI Group
We are your home for innovation and technology. We are here to solve your problems, and here to come up with top-notch inventions and developments. We are your voice and connection to the Israeli government, and we are here to consult and help aspiring startups & entrepreneurs. We are here for you. So, you want to know what we actually do? Many things:Consult entrepreneurs and startups and hel...
Whisky Live 2016
Our summary of the hottest whisky-related event of the year.
To be honest, I never knew that much about whisky. A fun alcoholic beverage, mainly popular among sophisticated men? That’s the general knowledge passed around. When I started working at GKI Group, I entered a new level of whisky culture through Milk & Honey, the first whisky distillery in Israel. Gal Kalkshtein, Founder of GKI, is Founder and Director of the Milk & Honey Distillery, while...
The Knesset Unites In Fighting “Shaming”
On June 28th we were invited to the Knesset, where they held the first “Unity Event”, to come up with ways to bridge the gaps between the Israeli people despite differences. Gal Kalkshtein, the Founder of GKI Group, and CEO of the Israeli Startup Lobby, was there to attend and head one of the 12 “Round Tables”. The unity event consisted of 12 round tables discussing different subjects, each one wi...
5 Jerusalem Based Startups for Yom Yerushalayim
In honor of "Jerusalem Day", we decided to pick 5 Jerusalem based amazing startups.
Today in Israel we celebrate “Yom Yerushalayim”, or as translated into English, “Jerusalem Day.” This marks the country of Israel regaining control over its capital city, Jerusalem, in June of 1967. In honor of this momentous day in Jerusalem’s history, we would like to highlight five startups you need to know about, founded in the capital of the Startup Nation.
Our Company Getaway
Nine steps to the ultimate learning and bonding and chilling experience.
Part 1: Preparation“Mark the 16th–18th of May,” they said, “We’re going to have a company trip.”“But where to,” we all wondered. Apparently the destination and plan were one of the company’s best kept secrets. Our bosses did tell us one thing — “pick a partner, invent a charger-related product, and create a presentation that you’re going to pitch to investors — us.”A few days before the deadline, ...
Celebrating 68 Years of Israel with 68 Startups Made in Israel, Just For You
We are so excited to celebrate Israel’s birthday this year! We put together a list of the best Israel has to offer— that which gives us our name as the Startup Nation—our startups! Out of all of the wonderful startups to choose from, these have been selected due to their purpose of serving the everyday consumer in innovative, truly beneficial ways. Because we love all startups equally, we’ve organ...
High Tech Mimouna
On the evening of April 30th, 2016, GKI Group held our very first Mimouna party at our new office. Haven’t heard of a “Mimouna” before? It’s a traditional North-African (usually Moroccan) Jewish celebration, taking place just after Passover ends. A main part of the party is eating chametz, meaning all of the foods that were forbidden over the past week or so of the holiday.
Getting off the elevat...
Thoughts on the Milk and Honey Distillery Friends and Family Grand Opening
A few weeks ago was my first time at a whisky distillery. My work friend picked me up with his girlfriend and we drove in the Thursday afternoon traffic, with the sun setting over the road, down towards Yafo. Entering the distillery I didn’t know what to expect but we were greeted by the warmest atmosphere. I’ve been to various wineries before but never this sort of private event with all of the a...
Faces of GKI: Dor Avrahami
Interview with our in-house robotics guy, Dor.
Let’s take a look behind the scenes at the people of GKI Group. Dor Avrahami has been here for over a year. During this time, he’s been developing the in-house robotics laboratory. Upon his arrival at GKI, the mission bestowed upon him was to start this laboratory, starting with buying all of the equipment needed. Over the last year he’s compiled various innovative tools, computers, and programs t...
Aiming to Improve Conditions For Women in Tech in Israel
I recently started working at this really cool place called GKI Group. They just moved into a brand new high rise building with lots of space and huge glass windows looking out over Israel in all directions. Every day I’m still learning about what happens down the sunny halls of our floor- from the on-site robotics lab, to the whiskey distillery, and everything in between in the world of startups....


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GameStop, the world’s biggest video game retailer, missed its earnings target by a penny a share today. But its performance wasn’t as weak as the overall video game business because the chain is growing its market share and is selling more and more used games. The company’s stock price is down 7.85 percent to $19.13 a share, largely because of a disappointing forecast for the second half of the year.
So far this year, Grapevine, Texas-based GameStop has added a net total of 99 new stores, giving it a total of 6,549 stores in 17 countries. The company thus continues to expand its retail presence even as rivals such as OnLive launch digital distribution of games. GameStop is making its move into digital distribution and online games as well, but the vast majority of its revenues still come from brick-and-mortar stores. About 36.9 percent of sales are new games, but used games are now 31.4 percent of sales. Used games also account for the biggest profits.
The question for this company remains whether it will become the next Hollywood Video, the video-rental business that has shut more than 2,000 stores and laid off more than 19,000 employees as rivals such as Netflix and Hulu have cut demand for physical disks. GameStop has dealt with that threat by buying Kongregate, an indie online game portal, and acquiring Jolt Online Gaming, a maker of free-to-play online games, where users play for free but pay money for virtual goods. GameStop has advantages in the online world, it says, because it can use its stores, which attract 500 million visitors a year, to direct gamers to its online sites.
GameStop has also increased its focus on used-game sales. While that’s a strong business, it has angered game publishers, who are motivated to cut GameStop out of the picture by distributing more games online. Publishers such as Electronic Arts have also responded by charging used-game players for online access in some games. But GameStop said only 25 percent of used gamers bother to play online. Rivals such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Amazon.com have been expanding used-game sales, but so far GameStop says it hasn’t seen much impact from them.
GamesBeat at the Game Awards
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For the second fiscal quarter ended July 31, GameStop said sales rose 3.4 percent to $1.8 billion from $1.74 billion a year ago. Earnings were up 4.2 percent to $40.3 million, or 26 cents a share, up from $38.7 million, or 23 cents a share, a year ago. Analysts had expected $1.82 billion in sales and 27 cents a share.
Comparable store sales were up 0.9 percent, partly because of the launch of Microsoft’s slimmer Xbox 360 game console in June. Market share gains led to a 5.3 percent increase in new game sales.
The company lowered its third fiscal quarter guidance, with earnings per share targeted at 35 cents a share to 38 cents, short of analyst estimates of 39 cents a share. The earnings are expected to be lower due to expenses related to the PowerUp Rewards program launch. Same-store sales are expected to be up 3 percent to 6 percent because of strong expected game sales in the second half during the traditional busy season.
Top games during the quarter were Take-Two Interactive’s Red Dead Redemption, Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy 2, THQ’s UFC Undisputed 2010, Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and EA Sports’ NCAA Football 11.
GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines said the company saw growth in revenues and earnings despite a volatile global economy. Operations in the U.S. were strong, even though year-to-date U.S. retail sales are down 8 percent compared to a year ago for the overall industry, according to NPD Group. Dan DeMatteo, executive chairman, said the company had outstanding initial results from PowerUp, a new customer loyalty program, and from sales of downloadable content in stores. The company will thus accelerate the roll-out of both programs nationally in the third quarter.
For the full year, GameStop’s forecast is unchanged, with earnings per share targeted at $2.58 – $2.68, compared to Wall Street’s estimate of $2.63 a share.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has come up with a creative way to educate naive investors against fake initial coin offerings (ICOs).
On May 16, the government agency announced a brand new cryptocurrency, HoweyCoin, which promises to revolutionize the luxury travel industry. But here is the catch: the project was intentionally depicted as a blatant scam.
The SEC has an opportunity you won’t want to miss: ACT NOW! https://t.co/Ggk8gypiHY
— SEC_News (@SEC_News) May 16, 2018
The HoweyCoin website is filled with all the signs of a rushed-up ICO that has been devised specially for an exit scam. This includes a white paper that is high on claims and low on product description, a team that cannot be traced on Google or other social media, and unverified testimonials from celebrity supporters.
The ICO website offers exciting discounts as part of the pre-sale as is usual for ICOs, but the moment you try to buy the tokens, you are redirected to investor.gov, and all the fun ends.
The redirected website (which also belongs to the SEC) educates the users about spotting red flags in fraudulent ICOs like HoweyCoin such as celebrity endorsements, claims of high guaranteed returns and regulatory compliance with the SEC, suggesting pump and dump schemes, and asking for investments with credit cards.
SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said in an official press release that the widespread promotion of ICOs as a lucrative investment opportunity has provided fertile ground for bad actors to take advantage of unsuspecting investors:
We embrace new technologies, but we also want investors to see what fraud looks like, so we built this educational site with many of the classic warning signs of fraud. Distributed ledger technology can add efficiency to the capital raising process, but promoters and issuers need to make sure they follow the securities laws. I encourage investors to do their diligence and ask questions.
The concerns over identifying fake ICOs have been rising; after all, launching an ICO is as easy as setting up a website with some high rising claims.
The SEC says that it took them very little time to launch the website with all the content (including the white paper), even though they prepared the whole undertaking in-house.
Indeed, Hollywood insiders (and some less marketing savvy entrepreneurs) recently resorted to the same tactic for publicity purposes.
Popular HBO series Silicon Valley launched its own fake ICO – and went on to promote it in the real world. Among other things, the marketing initiative included its own website, a listing on Etherscan and Coingecko, as well as an announcement thread on Bitcointalk.org.
Given the ease with which these parody websites can be disguised as legitimate ICOs, it is no wonder that scammers don’t find it much difficult either.
The US government agencies are getting more active in their fight against such cryptocurrency scams. The SEC previously charged the founders of Mayweather and DJ Khaled backed cryptocurrency startup, Centra Tech, with fraud. The three founders were recently indicted in the case by a New York court on May 14.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will also be hosting a workshop to spread awareness against cryptocurrency scams.
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Calorie counts on chain restaurant menus were devised to help the health-conscious consumer — you know, the type who already cares about eating right —make more informed choices when eating out.
The information was not meant, or realistically expected, to rescue America from the jaws of an overgrown obesity epidemic.
So recent studies showing the nutritional labels are having minimal impact on certain populations should be greeted with a gaping yawn. The demographics studied — namely low-income kids and adults — historically indulge in eating habits that have proven particularly resistant to change.
In fact, the only surprising thing about such studies is that anyone would find their results surprising.
Take the study led by Brian Elbel, assistant professor of medicine and health policy at New York University School of Medicine, and published last month in the International Journal of Obesity. Elbel surveyed the purchases of 349 customers — kids aged 17 and younger, mostly accompanied by their parents — frequenting Burger King, Wendy's, McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in low-income neighborhoods in Newark, N.J., and New York City. He gathered his data both before the city required calorie counts on menus and after the law's 2008 mandate.
The results: More than half of the adolescents and adults said they'd noticed the calorie information, but only 9 percent of adolescents and 16 percent of adults making choices for their children said it mattered in their purchases, according to a USA Today story.
Those modest numbers are about all you can expect to see in fast food joints.
If you're going to eat a Big Mac and Super-Size-me fries, or a bucket of Extra-Crispy dark-meat chicken from KFC, either you already know the food — as yummy as it may be — is unhealthy and don't care, or you don't want to know. So laying it all out in black and white is going to have limited impact.
That said, I'm impressed that one out of six adults — and one in 11 adolescents — found the information influential. Because let's face it, people who frequent fast food restaurants aren't generally looking for nutritious food. They're looking for something quick, easy — and cheap.
That is all the more true in neighborhoods with fewer resources to eat healthy on a daily basis. The occasional trip to Wendy's isn't likely to be the one healthy meal in the schedule, no matter how informative those calorie counts are.
Elbel himself noted in the USA Today article that it is "harder to see an impact on these groups because they're also choosing based on availability and price of food." He said he specifically targeted low-income neighborhoods because this demographic is at greater risk of obesity, and fast-food chains tend to be their restaurant of choice.
But expecting something as simple as menu calorie counts to have any meaningful impact on such entrenched eating habits smacks more of wishful thinking than any realistic prospect.
That doesn't mean nutritional labels are not important. Plenty of people, me included, struggle to stay on a healthy eating plan, and dining out can become the greatest foil to a well-choreographed strategy.
Even choosing a "healthy" entrée like Applebee's oriental chicken salad can mean ingesting more than half of an average person's recommended daily calorie intake. In such instances, nutrition counts can help a predisposed diner choose not just for taste, but for health. That makes for a more informed, better educated consumer.
And, I suspect, empowering an educated consumer is what the architects of health reform had in mind when they mandated that all chain restaurants with 20 or more locations post calorie counts on menus beginning the first of this year.
As for making a dent in the obesity rate, that is a more complicated challenge that will take a more comprehensive approach. Elbel says such a strategy should include asking restaurant owners to reformulate their menus, and there are many who would agree with him.
Personally, I feel such a recommendation goes too far down the road to a nanny state. Give consumers more choices. Tell them what their choices mean to their health. And most of all, make healthy choices more available and affordable. Then, get out of the way.
At the end of the day, good nutrition is a personal decision. And Americans should be free to make their choices however they see fit. If it's a juicy, fattening, artery-clogging Whopper with cheese, so be it — whether the diner is obese, or splurging on a rare treat. That's what freedom is all about.
firstname.lastname@example.org, Twitter: @nicolembrochu


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Cardinals Rally Cat Red Jersey Bobblehead Now Available on Anniversary
Limited Edition bobblehead featuring the St. Louis Cardinals Rally Cat in a red jersey is now available exclusively from the National Bobblehead HOF and Museum.
MILWAUKEE, Wi., August 9, 2018 – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum announced that the officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead featuring the St. Louis Cardinals Rally Cat in a red Cardinals’ uniform is now available on the one-year anniversary. On August 9th, 2017, the Rally Cat ran onto the outfield at Busch Stadium. Moments after Cardinals’ grounds crew member Lucas Hackmann captured the cat, Yadier Molina hit a grand slam to take the lead and eventually win the game. The cat, who bit Hackmann while being escorted off the field, became known as the Rally Cat for its role in igniting the Cardinals’ rally.
The limited edition bobbleheads, which are individually numbered to only 1,000, just arrived and ship now. The bobbleheads are $40 each with a flat rate shipping charge of $8 per order. The bobbleheads were produced exclusively for the National Bobblehead HOF and Museum by FOCO and are officially licensed.
The white jersey version was released for pre-sale in February and sold out the day they were released. The Rally Cat isn’t the first Busch Stadium intruder to be immortalized in bobblehead form. Following the Cardinals 2011 World Series title, officially licensed bobbleheads featuring the Rally Squirrel were produced. Those bobbleheads are now very difficult to find, commanding a minimum of $100 each when they pop up on eBay.
“We knew Cardinals’ fans are among the most passionate when it comes to their team and bobbleheads, but we were blown away by how quickly the first edition sold out,” said Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. “We were getting inundated with requests after the original version sold out, and we wanted to make sure more Cardinals fans could have their very own Rally Cat bobblehead, so the red jersey version was put into production and arrived just in time for the one-year anniversary.”
Although the Cardinals didn’t end up keeping the Rally Cat, its instant celebrity status shined the light on animal welfare issues. In addition, the Cardinals hosted a Rally Cat Appreciate Day on August 9th, 2017, and a portion of each ticket was donated by the Cardinals to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation and St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum donated Rally Cat bobbleheads to the St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach and to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation to help support the important missions of both organizations.
About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum was announced in November 2014. The HOF and Museum hosted a Preview Exhibit in 2016, and is currently finishing set-up of its permanent location, which is expected to open in Fall 2018. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us at www.BobbleheadHall.com, www.facebook.com/BobbleheadHall or www.twitter.com/BobbleheadHall.
Previously known as Team Beans, LLC and Forever Collectibles, FOCO is a leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment merchandise celebrating more than 17 years in the industry. The company’s ever-growing product lines include apparel, accessories, toys, collectibles, novelties, footwear, holiday and more. FOCO is licensed with all major sports leagues including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS and over 100 colleges and universities as well as entertainment properties such as Disney, Warner Bros/DC Comics, Nickelodeon and Sanrio. Please reach out to Matthew Katz, Licensing Manager, email@example.com for more information.


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Abu Dhabi: One of Abu Dhabi’s most prestigious hotels will be rebranded on October 1, 2020 following the signing of a management agreement between Hilton and Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
The property will be known as Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and be the first of Hilton’s luxury portfolio to operate in the UAE capital.
The global hospitality firm will replace Jumeirah to become the operators of the iconic hotel, which will be the first of Hilton’s luxury portfolio to operate in the UAE capital.
“Abu Dhabi is a world leading destination and remains a historic city for Hilton as a location where we began welcoming guests in the UAE almost 50 years ago,” said Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, Hilton’s President for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, in a statement.
H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nayhan, said: “Abu Dhabi’s global reputation will be further enhanced with the presence of the luxury Conrad brand – a suitable addition to the world-class retail and dining options available at this landmark development.”
“Etihad Towers is the embodiment of modern and sophisticated luxury and I am delighted to be partnering with Hilton to open Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers,” he added.
The hotel features venues for social activities, including 12 dining concepts, luxurious spa, private beach, three swimming pools, and conference and event facilities.
“The debut of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in the capital of the UAE marks a significant milestone for the brand as we grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of discerning travellers everywhere,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, Global Head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts.
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Razorfish promoted four agency executives plus adopted a name change.The digital marketing agency, known as Avenue A/Razorfish since a 2004 merger, has shortened its name to Razorfish (See full coverage). Among those promoted: Craig Batty, vice president, previously client partner; Marisa Gallagher, vice president of user experience, formerly director of user experience; Peter Guagenti, vice president, formerly client partner; and Alyson Hyder, vice president of digital marketing, previously director of digital marketing.
Interactive marketing agency BGT Partners made several key hires. Nouman Manan, senior technical lead, will be in charge of managing development efforts across projects. Prior to BGT partners, Nouman worked for Microsoft and Cessna Aircraft. Daniel Wooldridge, business analyst, previously worked at NogginLabs. At BGT Wooldridge will focus on developing applied research to support client strategies. Amy Olchowski, visual designer, worked at Ricky Gold & Associates Marketing Communications.
The Rubicon Project recruited former eHarmony and Experian executives to its team. Mark Douglas was named vice president of engineering and Seizo Welch was appointed VP of finance. Douglas most recently served as VP of technology at eHarmony.com. Welch was formerly vice president of finance at Experian Interactive Media, managing a team that focused on lead-generation companies including LowerMyBills.
Bazaarvoice is supporting Cars.com with Reviews & Ratings. Cars.com found that for visits that included interaction with customer reviews, 45 percent more visitors sought information on financing options and other site services.
Meet Your Favorite ClickZ Contributors
Many of ClickZ's leading expert contributors will be at ClickZ Live, the new online and digital marketing event kicking off in New York (March 31-April 3). Hear from the likes of: Jeremy Hull, Lisa Raehsler, Andrew Goodman, Bryan Eisenberg, Mathew Sweezey, Aaron Kahlow, Stephanie Miller, Simms Jenkins, Jeanne S. Jennings, Dave Hendricks and more!
March 19, 2014


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Communist government in China has always tried to come up with and try to use custom made devices so that tabs on media and people can be kept. Everybody knows that there no such thing called “freedom of speech and expression” in China.
Now here is a device that communists have been waiting for. Here comes RedPad Number One, a 9.7-inch tall Android 3.2 tablet which is being marked as China’s alternative to the Apple iPad.
The device has been launched recently in China. The RedPad was built especially for Communist Party members and enthusiasts. It will compete against foreign brands and at the same time, cater to the tech needs of the country’s bureaucrats and government workers. The retail price of RedPad is 9,999 yuan (about $1,600) and this price makes it twice as expensive as the Apple iPad in Asia’s markets.
The tablet has 16GB of storage and it comes with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and a Tegra 2 processor. RedPad’s prominent features include access to government-owned newspapers and blogs.
An online survey conducted by China’s 91 Wen Yen found that people believe the tablet would be a “symbol of privilege,” as translated on CNET.
Do you think this “Red Version” of iPad will help communist leaders keep tabs on the media and blogs? Post your opinion.


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What is it?
Ken Livingstone might be out of kilter with the rest of us - he’s just pulled a shocking handbrake turn on plans to let low-polluters like this Leon Ecomotive into London for free - but European manufacturers are still striving to get frugal, low carbon models onto the market. Ultra frugal models are good for our wallets and their brand image
This Leon is Seat’s second environmental model since the 99g/km CO2 Ibiza Ecomotive launched last year, and it follows a familiar emissions-slashing formula.
Starting with the basic 1.9-litre diesel Leon (with its 135g/km CO2 emissions and 55mpg average) Seat’s engineers optimised the ECU and adjusted the gear ratios to make third, fourth and fifth gear longer. That saved 7g/km CO2. Next they reduced weight by fitting lighter steel wheels rather than alloys. Another 5g/km saved. Lastly low rolling resistance tyres were added, cutting a further 4g/km CO2.
That leaves 119g/km CO2, squeezing the Leon Ecomotive into cheap company car and road tax brackets and offering a 62.8mpg combined fuel economy.
What’s it like?
Initially we scoffed at that fuel consumption figure, but then managed an impressive real-world 60mpg on our test drive. And the Ecomotive's hardly a stripped out model, it's still got air-conditioning, electric windows and a six-speaker stereo.
It’s also faster than the standard 104bhp Leon - managing 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds rather than 11 - because it’s lighter.
The downside is the way it drives. Longer gears mean the Ecomotive delivers power smoothly but unenthusiastically and its now unhappy to settle into fifth at speeds below 60mph. Pitch up to a corner quickly and the low-resistance tyres struggle for grip, too.
Then there’s the price - around £14,500 – a £1000 premium over the similarly equipped, 1.9-litre diesel Leon Reference.
Should I buy one?
You'd have to do a lot of miles to make up that difference in fuel cost, especially now these sub-120 grammers won't be congestion charge free. So £1000 to save 16g/km CO2 might be a premium worth paying for the seriously eco-concious, but only for a piece of the moral highground.


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In celebration of Mario Day 2021, Nintendo is holding a sale on several first-party games. Fans celebrate Mario Day every year on March 10 due to the abbreviation of “MAR 10” looking similar to the plumber’s name. The titles are on sale in the Nintendo Switch eShop now through March 13, 2021, ending at 11:59 pm PT. Some retailers in America are also price-matching these sales.
According to Nintendo’s official site, only four major games reduced by 35% comprise the Mario Day sale. However, as typical with tent-pole sales, titles published by other studios are jumping in the mix, too. Sega also discounted its game, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Check out the list of Switch games below; all prices reflect their sales before tax.
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 – $38.99
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – $38.99
- Mario Tennis Aces – $38.99
- Super Mario Maker 2 – $38.99
- Super Mario Party – $38.99
Additionally, several retailers in America have these games price-matched. At the time of this article, Amazon and Best Buy also have many other first-party titles reduced by $10 or more. Some of these games feature Mario, like Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. However, other Nintendo-published titles where Mario is missing appear to be joining the bandwagon, like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Pokémon Sword and Shield.
The Mario Day Sale will run on the Nintendo eShop through March 13, 2021. Nintendo continues to celebrate the Super Mario series’ 35th anniversary with events in games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Tetris 99.


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According to a new research report by the market research and strategy consulting firm, Global Market Insights, the mobile POS terminals market to reach $55 billion by 2024.
The ubiquitous acceptance of EMV card standards across developed regions including UK and the US are the major mobile POS terminal market growth drivers. Initially viewed as a generic payment processing option, these are now devices that can offer sophisticated analytics with superior processing capability, wireless communication support, and store management functionalities such as inventory or customer behaviour tracking.
The proliferation of smartphones and tablets and the rising trend of mobile wallet technology have led to the conversion of consumer electronics into checkout terminals; this trend is expected to favourably drive mPOS terminals market growth.
The growing sales transaction through the card-based mode of payment is expected to fuel the mPOS terminal market growth. Industry players are investing in the development of advanced software solutions for data analytics, multiple platform support, and tracking of customer data. In addition, companies have been focusing on creating revenue channels by providing accessories such as card readers and dongles for card swipe, mobile printers, and peripheral devices.
Ubiquitous internet connectivity and penetration of contactless NFC-based payment methods have further accelerated the upgrade of traditional registers resulting in the growth of the mPOS terminal market.
Mobile apps offer additional revenue growth opportunities for market players targeting SMBs, micro-merchants, and small retailers. The benefits of mPOS terminals including reduced wait times for customers, enhanced security features, paper-free receipting services, and free floor space, which have enabled the adoption and growth of the market.
Furthermore, the integration of new technology solutions, such as biometric identification, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and VoIP (Voice Internet Protocol), alleviates the security and performance of mPOS devices thereby stimulating the growth of the global mPOS terminal market.
The surge in volume of card transactions is expected to favorably impact mPOS terminal market growth. The decline in the average selling price of tablet devices over the past few years has resulted in a sharp growth across regions including China, India, Brazil, and Mexico.
Tablets/smartphones can also be converted into payment terminals through mobile apps and the use of sleeves or dongles for card swipe. The need for efficient line-busting schemes has escalated the demand for faster, more effective, and scalable checkout solutions leading to increased adoption of the devices across industry verticals.
Government efforts to accelerate and promote cashless transactions through digital payments serve as a key driving factor for mPOS terminal market growth.
For instance, in 2016, the demonetization in India resulted in the conversion of payment modes from cash-based payments into card transactions. In addition, the universal acceptance and transition toward EMV (MasterCard, Visa, EuroPay) chip card aids in improving the reliability and security of a cashless transaction.
A Federal Reserve study across the US estimated that over $178 trillion non-cash payments were made in the country in 2015. The rise in the number of cashless transactions is expected to serve as a key driving force for the global mPOS terminals market.
The rising transition toward the use of tablets and other consumer-grade devices for managing payment processing needs will drive the mPOS software market.
The increased penetration of Near-Field Communication (NFC) and contactless payment and the standardization of the EMV technology are expected to facilitate the mPOS terminal market growth. Various mobile wallet channels and online portals have created additional revenue growth opportunities for market players as they offer ease-of-use and convenience for customers.
Data security concerns regarding wireless technology devices and a rise in cybercrimes are among a few growth restraints.
The post Mobile POS terminals market to grow at 18% CAGR from 2018 to 2024 appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.


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A convergence of factors have made it extremely tempting for businesses to reduce the quality of their manufacturing from inflation and supply chain issues to supermarket chains making it difficult for them to increase their prices.
In 2023 conditions continue to be rocky for retailers across the board; as they set about slashing budgets, they are expecting manufacturers to bear the cost of their price reductions.
Consumer spending is slowing, and the number of brands that are trimming their manufacturing budgets are increasing. According to S&P Global data, global manufacturing output is dwindliing as cost-cutting begins in earnest.
But quality comes at a cost and brands must be prepared to pay for it unless they want to lose customers in droves.
Of all the possible areas to cut costs, the last place businesses should look to trim their budgets is manufacturing.
Most businesses can and should stand to whittle down their discretionary, comfort, and non essential expenses. From administrative fees to marketing, nixing expenditure on low value activities with little to no return is the first step towards getting the organisation into shape to withstand the economic downturn.
Manufacturing is not one of those areas.
As the very core of a business, it should never be skimped on if organisations want to live to fight another day. The simple reason is when consumers are spending less, they expect good value for what they pay. Higher expectations naturally arise from limited resources – those who have less to spend will spend more time shopping around for bargains.
A recent global PWC survey shows 96% of consumers intend to adopt cost-saving behaviours over the next six months. However it’s important to keep in mind that low prices don’t necessarily equal great value.
Brands that have worked hard to build trust with their consumers must be aware that if they opt for underpriced manufacturing, they’re essentially shortchanging their customers who won’t be happy that they’re spending their hard-earned money on less product, and inferior quality for the same price.
And when they lose trust, costly and time-consuming action is required for brand repair to rebuild their customer base. Some consumers simply look elsewhere and never come back.
Quality is king
Researchers have found there are eight quality dimensions which are broken down to performance, features, reliability, durability, ease of use, aesthetics, serviceability, and the quality of materials used in the product’s manufacture.
Aside from the basic expectation that manufactured products are fit for purpose, these tactile aspects are what sets them apart in the consumer’s mind.
Customers’ experience of product quality – how they judge the overall excellence of a particular product relative to others – influence their future purchasing behaviour. Increasing their willingness to pay as well as their willingness to recommend a product to another consumer is crucial to a brand’s longevity.
Products that are high quality and pleasurable to use are simply more desirable and thus marketable to discerning consumers.
Partnership with manufacturers key to longevity
Retail across all categories is down and the consumers who are still spending are receiving much less than before thanks to inflation. Rather than exacerbate the issue through underhanded tactics just to save a buck, businesses must strive to fulfill their promise of quality if they want to come out ahead in the long run.
The reality is everyone from suppliers and manufacturers to retailers and consumers will have to pay the price for underpriced manufacturing sooner or later. To skimp on quality now is to pay more later on to replace it when it inevitably gets broken.
Sadly this impending crisis for product developers and manufacturers demonstrates how undervalued and misunderstood they are. Far too many businesses look at manufacturers as just a supplier, rather than a valuable asset or potential brand partner.
With their keen insights and unrivalled intel on industry trends, innovations, and supply chain efficiency manufacturers are an overlooked resource. In the past, they have been businesses’ secret weapon in weathering slow periods and gaining competitive advantages over their rivals.
Ultimately clear-eyed businesses should be wary of trading short term benefits for what will be a long term loss. A focus on shoring up goodwill and building customer and stakeholder relationships especially with manufacturers may just be what gets them over the line when the going gets tough.
Rohan Widdison is CEO of New Laboratories.


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The profits of China's largest metals trader China Minmetals Corp fell to 8 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) in 2012, 4.8 billion yuan less than the previous year, affected by the declining global commodities' prices and the economic slowdown, a senior official of the company said on Thursday at an annual work conference.
The company had total revenue of 325 billion yuan, with a record-high sales volume of many products including iron ore, steel, copper and aluminum.
Zhou Zhongshu, president of China Minmetals, said the company's resources reserves were boosted last year. Its iron ore reserves reached about 2.2 billion metric tons and the rare earth reserves reached 161,900 metric tons.
He predicted that the period of soaring demand for metals in the Chinese market has gone and that an industrial reshuffle will happen soon.
"The capital-driven growth of the industry cannot continue in the future," he said. "However, the company will seize opportunities during the urbanization of the western area in China, which will bring demand for metals."
Online turnover surpasses 1 trillion yuan in 2012
Jack Ma to step down as Alibaba CEO
FDI sees 1st decrease in 9 years amid slowdown
China helps drive Rolls to record year
Top Ten Economic Events in 2012
CIC seeks balanced portfolio


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Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
Delta Shippers Association (DELSA), the umbrella body of ship owners, shipping companies and terminal operators in Delta ports, operating in Warri, Koko, Sapele and Burutu, on Monday wrote a petition to the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority , NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, over what it termed the outrageous pilotage bills for industrial boats and barges operating within the country’s coastal waters.
The body, in a statement made available in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, complained that boat owners were being compelled by an NPA agent to pay in naira at the prevailing black market rate, as against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s rate.
Signed by the association’s Secretary, Mr Julius Ojeleme, DELSA argued that if not checked, the bills could snowball into billions of dollars which could negatively impact on the Nigerian economy.
“As a body we are not opposed to the payment of NPA statutory Pilotage Bills. We are not uncomfortable with the designation of the pilotage bills in USD. We also support the payment of statutory pilotage bills in Nigerian Naira using the CBN official exchange rate to get the naira equivalent.
“What we contest is the payment in Naira, using black market rate as the basis of conversion of the dollar equivalent as instructed by NPA through their Agent.
“We also posit that payments of pilotage by international vessels berthing in Nigeria should be designated in USD, as this is the international standard.
“In the circumstance of a dwindling Nigerian economy, what would be paramount will be a policy that will help to strengthen the Nigerian Naira. On the contrary, this NPA policy of paying Pilotage Bill in Naira but using black market rate is not only counterproductive but will obviously result in a more devastating economic situation”, it maintained.


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Nissan hikes car prices
Nissan India has announced an up to 2.9 per cent price hike on select models including the Micra to counter the effects of rupee depreciation and surging input costs.
Nissan is the latest among about a dozen automakers who have raised prices across range in India in the last couple of months.
The price hike - in the range of 1.4 per cent to 2.9 per cent - is applicable to most variants of the Sunny, Micra and the Micra Active, and it will be in effect from October 1.
Nissan's compact sedan Sunny variants cost in the range of Rs 6.29 lakh to Rs 9.86 lakh, the hatch Micra costs from Rs 4.90 lakh to Rs 7.21 lakh and the Micra Active costs between Rs 3.50 lakh and Rs 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
2013 Nissan MIcra CVT
"The prices are revised to minimise the impact of rupee depreciation and offest rising input costs and raw materials costs due to inflation. The price increase is marginal and we are confident that our valued customers will appreciate our efforts to offer them globally renowned
products at affordable prices," said Nitish Tipnis, director of sales and marketing, Hover Automotive India (Nissan's National Sales Company in India).
Nissan recently launched the diesel model for its Micra's base variant, the Micra XE.
Nissan joins a slew of companies that have already announced a price hike. These include Hyundai, Maruti, Mahindra, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, GM and BMW.
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- 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG review, road test - the best CNG car you can buy?
- Here's how the air conditioning system in an electric car works


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It also says that every other holiday rental service that is a member of the French holidays homes body, the UNPLV (Union Nationale pour la Promotion de la Location de Vacances), is imposing this automated limit.
Speaking to French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, said unauthorised rentals “spoil some Parisian neighbourhoods”.
Critics of platforms such as Airbnb say they can drive up private rental prices in an area and result in an increase in anti-social behaviour by guests.
Speaking to BBC News in 2018, Airbnb said it was important that residents and communities could “benefit from often record numbers of visitors to their cities”.
Short-term rental restrictions around the world
Amsterdam: Entire home rentals limited to 60 days a year, set to be halved
Barcelona: Short-term rentals must be licensed but no new licences are being issued
Berlin: Landlords need a permit to rent 50% or more of their main residence for a short period
London: Short-term rentals for whole homes limited to 90 days a year
Palma: Mayor has announced a ban on short-term flat rentals
New York City: Usually illegal for flats to be rented for 30 consecutive days or fewer, unless the host is present
Paris: Short-term rentals limited to 120 days a year
San Francisco: Hosts must obtain business registration and short-term rental certificates. Entire property rentals limited to 90 days a year
Singapore: Minimum rental period of six consecutive months for public housing
Tokyo: Home sharing legalised in only 2017. Capped at 180 days per year
Sources: Airbnb, Amsterdam City Council, Government of the Balearic Islands, Reuters, the New York Times


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U.S. agriculture is in transition from a 10-year wealth period, particularly in the grain sector, and will be influenced by a number of factors, including global economies and recession and unrest in Europe.
Idaho's gross state product grew at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year and a strong pe
Washington blueberry growers expect a record-setting crop for an eighth straight year. Prices have f
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will use a $18,000 federal grant to conduct four events ar
Idaho farmers weren't surprised to hear that the average cost to rent irrigated cropland increased $20 an acre this year. The average rent expense for all cropland in Idaho is estimated at $151 an acre, an increase of $12 over 2013.
Cider makers grow their own heirloom apples to keep up with the growth of their company.
Restlesss Washington Supreme Court suggests lawmakers should look at eliminating tax exemptions to fund education. Farm advocates are concerned tax breaks that saved growers and food processors $588.2 million in recent two-year period will be closed.
The USDA Risk Management Agency has announced projected wheat and barley prices for the 2015 crop year. Farmers have until Sept. 30 to purchase crop insurance.
Rancher Joe Pozzi raises sheep and markets the wool through added value products.
Idaho Agriculture Department hosted Russianbeef cattle producers in hopes of building relationships that will lead to cattle and semen sales in the future.
A Firth, Idaho, farmer has become one of the nation's top designers of corn mazes.
In foodie Portland, another business will help rural producers market to urban consumers.
U.S. dairy exports are slowing due to high U.S. prices that are discouraging buyers on the open market. Exports in July were down 9 percent from June on a volume basis and down 10 percent on a value basis.


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Netflix For Movie Theaters? Boston Chain To Offer 'Unlimited' Moviegoing Pass
BOSTON (CBS) -- A Netflix-like deal is coming to some movie theaters in Boston: Pay a single monthly fee and go to the movies every day without having to buy a ticket.
It's called MoviePass, and it will launch early next year at AMC theaters in Boston and Denver only. It's the first time a movie theater chain has offered a premium subscription service, AMC and MoviePass say.
For $45 per month, theatergoers can see one movie per day, including 3D and "AMC ETX" movies. A standard subscription limited to 2D movies costs $35 monthly.
AMC and MoviePass said they are adjusting to a new reality where many, especially young people, are used to paying for entertainment via subscriptions like Netflix and Hulu.
"This pilot will provide more convenience for our guests, and responds to the preference of many consumers for monthly entertainment subscriptions such as music and magazines, which we believe will increase the frequency of movie going," said Christina Sternberg, senior vice president of corporate strategy and communications.
About 75 percent of MoviePass subscribers are between the ages of 18 and 34, and those that signed up showed a 64 percent increase in movie attendance, the service said.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
for more features.


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Criminals used cryptocurrency to launder money from telephone and internet fraud.
Chinese police officers have arrested more than 1,100 people suspected of using cryptocurrencies to launder illegal proceeds from telephone and internet fraud.
The arrests took place in connection with the strengthening of measures by the Chinese authorities to combat cryptocurrency trade. Last month, three non-regulatory entities that have significant control over the Chinese financial market (the National Internet Finance Association of China, the China Banking Association, and the China Payments and Clearing Association) banned crypto-related financial and payment services, and the State Cabinet Council Ministers of China has pledged to limit the mining and trading of bitcoins.
The police have neutralized more than 170 cybercriminal groups accused of using cryptocurrencies to launder money, the PRC Ministry of Public Security said. Money launderers charged their criminal clients a commission of 1.5% to 5% for converting illicit proceeds into virtual currency through crypto exchanges.
The number of crimes related to the use of virtual currencies is on the rise, authorities said. As cryptocurrencies are anonymous, user-friendly and global in nature, “they are increasingly becoming an important channel for international money laundering.”
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NetScout expects to start to see the benefits of 5G as well as its restructuring and headcount reduction plans over the coming quarters.
As a hosting provider, Jaguar Network has a higher risk of DDoS attacks because it aggregates its customers' risks in a shared infrastructure.
Vendors that want to sell to Telefónica’s Unica must get their VNFs certified and comply with OSM.
The company also reported more downward guidance for its upcoming fiscal year, but remains optimistic about its product revenue.
The new version will help users identify performance issues more quickly.
Rival Viavi viewed as a possible merger partner.
The revenue decrease was primarily driven by reduced spending from one of its Tier 1 carrier customers.
Netscout has been building its packet broker business through acquisitions.
Werner Herzog and NetScout are capturing it all on film.


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Business Continuity Awareness Week: Supply Chain Resilience
It’s Business Continuity Awareness Week, and today’s focus is on Supply Chain Resilience!
During the pandemic and beyond, supply chain issues have been a near-constant challenge for resilience professionals. Knowing how to navigate them and prepare for the worst has become an everyday part of the current business continuity landscape.
DRI Webinar: Resilience in Supply Chains
NBC LX Segment – DRI President and CEO Chloe Demrovsky on Extreme Weather Impacts on the Supply Chain


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U.S. President Donald Trump took aim again at Canada on Friday, slamming America’s neighbour as being “highly restrictive on trade,” just a day after the president slapped hefty tariffs against Canadian-made steel and aluminum.
Trump blasted Canada on Twitter saying the country has treated American farmers very poorly for a very long time, while hinting at possible action against the Canadian lumber industry.
“Canada has treated our Agricultural business and Farmers very poorly for a very long period of time,” the president tweeted. “Highly restrictive on Trade! They must open their markets and take down their trade barriers! They report a really high surplus on trade with us. Do Timber & Lumber in U.S.?”
Trump’s comments comes after the Canadian government retaliated with dollar-for-dollar tariff “countermeasures” in the wake of the U.S. tariff announcement.
“This is $16.6 billion of retaliation,” Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday. “This is the strongest trade action Canada has taken in the post-war era. This is a very strong response, it is a proportionate response, it is perfectly reciprocal. This is a very strong Canadian action in response to a very bad U.S. decision.”
According to the most recent statistics from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s website, the U.S. goods and services trade with Canada totalled an estimated US$673.9 billion in 2017. The U.S. exported $341.2 billion to Canada, while importing US$332.8 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade surplus with Canada was US$8.4 billion in 2017, according to the website.
David MacNaughton, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., pointed out that America runs a trade surplus with Canada’s agriculture industry.
“American farmers are some of the biggest beneficiaries of NAFTA and Canada-U.S. trade,” MacNaughton tweeted. “The U.S. has a $1.9 billion trade surplus with Canada in agriculture and agri-food, which includes a $333 million surplus in dairy #FriendsPartnersAllies.”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the steel and aluminum tariffs were “totally unacceptable.”
“Americans remain our partners, our allies and our friends,” Trudeau said. “This is not about the American people. We have to believe that at some point common sense will prevail, but we see no sign of that with this action today by the U.S. administration.”
WATCH: Canada threatening U.S. with tariffs on nearly $13B worth of goods
Trudeau lashed out at Trump’s protectionism and vowed to protect Canadian jobs.
“The government of Canada is confident that shared values, geography and common interests will ultimately overcome protectionism,” Trudeau said.
“We will always protect Canadian workers and Canadian interests.”
Canada, Mexico and the European Union were exempted from import duties of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum when the tariffs were first imposed in March, but those exemptions were set to expire Friday.
WATCH: EU warns Trump tariffs could trigger ‘severe turbulence’ on global markets
The steel and aluminum tariffs could also complicate the the Trump administration’s efforts to renegotiate NAFTA, a pact that the president had condemned as a job-killing “disaster.”
The White House released a statement from Trump Thursday night saying of NAFTA: “Earlier today, this message was conveyed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada: The United State (sic) will agree to a fair deal, or there will be no deal at all.”
Trump had offered permanent exemption from the steel and aluminum tariffs if they agreed to U.S. demands on NAFTA.
–with a file from The Canadian Press