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Filipino Cruise Ship Crew Who Got Stuck Onboard During the Lockdown are Ready to Sail Again
Jannel Montero was in Sydney, Australia when news about a highly infectious new disease started spreading worldwide. The 27-year-old was working as a staff member of Dream Cruises, a cruise line owned by Genting Hong Kong. Things still seemed to be relatively normal, until the ship arrived in Langkawi, Malaysia. By then, governments around the world had started imposing strict quarantines, and the same was announced for cruise ships. Suddenly, passengers and crew members couldn’t disembark. They were stuck at sea.
The Philippines announced what it called enhanced community quarantine—or what was essentially a lockdown—on March 14, 2020, just days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Because he had limited access to the internet on the ship, Montero only found out about it when he got a message from his father. Rather than worry about his own predicament, he says he was more concerned about where his family was going to get food and daily supplies.
“I knew I was safe inside of the ship, but I didn’t know what was going to happen to my parents,” he says.
For MJ Francia, the fear was more about job security. She had only started working in a cruise ship in November 2019, and like Montero, she was assigned to provide hosting and entertainment to guests. The following February, Singapore had announced mobility restrictions and cruise ship passengers were being asked to go home by the end of the month.
“I felt okay at first, but when I finally realized that it would be our last day with our guests, I felt the sadness since it was my first contract and yet I couldn’t maximize the time and experience there,” she says. “And I was scared that we would go home.”
Jannel Montero onboard the cruise ship where he worked
A badly hit industry
Montero and Francia are just two of the more than 325,000 Filipinos working in the cruise ship industry. Their job descriptions cover just about every aspect of cruising—from housekeeping and engineering, to food and beverage, to management and, of course, entertainment. The pandemic brought many industries to their knees, but perhaps none has been as hard-hit as the cruise ship industry.
Worldwide, the cruise ship industry generates about $150 billion in worldwide economic activity and supports nearly two million jobs, according to data by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade association. “From mid-March, when the suspension of cruise operations began, through the end of September, the worldwide impact will be a loss of $50 billion in economic activity, 334,000 jobs and $15 billion in wages.”
Because the Philippines supplies the industry with so many of its manpower, it is particularly affected by the global shutdown. The Economist estimates that about a third of all cruise ship crews are Filipino, and with so many of them sidelined because of the pandemic, the economic impact may be nothing short of catastrophic.
Mental health check
But it’s not just the loss of jobs that’s alarming. Last month, Bloomberg ran a story about the damaging psychological effects of the prolonged quarantines on cruise ship workers.
“Separated from families, confined mostly to tiny cabins, with no obvious legal recourse and at times no pay, sailors experienced a more extreme version of the household lockdowns that have sent people tumbling into depression,” it said.
The article claims several of these workers have reportedly died by suicide, at least two of whom were Filipinos.
I asked Montero and Francia, who both spent weeks quarantining in their respective ships, about their own experiences during the lockdown period. Apart from bouts of worry and anxiety, both reported feeling generally secure.
“At first it was okay, the feeling (was) usual, but (as) time (went on), we started to feel the anxiety and overthinking,” says Montero, who spent a total of 24 days in quarantine, first in Langkawi, Malaysia, and then in Manila Bay in the Philippines. “Sometimes we (felt) sad, but thankfully, because our company gave us free access to the internet…we felt at peace every time we got updates from our family that they are okay and safe.”
Montero says he and his colleagues spent the days doing work trainings and team building activities. When they had free time, they would go swimming in the ship’s pool and even devised a game to take their mind off the reality of their situation.
“Me and my friends, we did the ‘Quarantine Photoshoot Challenge,’ (where) we did photo shoots inside the cabin and utilize anything that you (had) inside to create a great editorial photo shoot,” he says. “Somehow it (worked) because we forgot what (was) happening outside of the ship because we just enjoyed laughing (at) each others’ photo entry.”
Francia relates a similar experience. Her ship arrived in the Philippines on May 3 and docked at Pier 15, although government regulations at the time meant they were unable to disembark. She ended up being quarantined there for 17 days. She says she and the other crew members all had individual rooms and were not allowed to go out. Food was delivered and left outside their rooms four times a day, and they were all required to undergo temperature checks every day.
“I must say that my mental state that time (was) fine since I (worked out), watched movies, and, most of the time, I was talking to my family and friends,” she says.
“But there (were) moments that I just wanted to go out and go for a walk and just breathe the ‘fresh air’ coming from Manila Bay,” she laughs.
“Also, I felt the frustration that I was back here (in the Philippines) but I couldn’t go home (yet).
“As for my friends, we all (felt) the same, making ourselves busy, and feeling that (as long as we had) internet, we (were) good.”
Genting Dream, which is owned by Dream Cruises
Support from cruise ship companies
It undoubtedly made a difference when the cruise ship management and company were responsive to their workers’ needs.
Genting Cruise Lines (GCL), for example, said it coordinated with various regional authorities, including the Philippines, in the transfer and disembarkation of its crew members, which had to be done in phases due to the various nationalities of its crew members.
“During the hiatus period, there were global air travel restrictions in many countries and limited flight availabilities,” Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises and head of international sales of GCL, told Esquire Philippines. “As such, we undertook the initiative to deploy our ships and sail to the different countries to get majority of our crew home safely. Prior to that, we continued to support our crew members that were unable to return home by providing meals and accommodations on our ships.”
GCL also provided accommodations at accredited hotel quarantine facilities by the local government, as well as the sanitation of transportation for the hotel and airport transfers.
“The crew members’ conditions and well-being during the quarantine period are constantly being monitored by our designated manning partners/shipping agents including proper communication platforms to raise their concerns and queries, as well as access to further medical treatment if required,” Goh added. “All related expenses during their travel and quarantine arrangements are being shouldered by the company.”
Montero, who worked in a Dream Cruises ship, backed up his employers’ statement about taking care of its crew. He says the company and manning agent provided regular updates about the situation and reminded the staff to get in touch with them if they had any inquiries or required any assistance.
GCL currently has two ships under Dream Cruises actively deployed in the region: World Dream in Singapore, where approximately 70 percent of crew members are Filipinos; and Explorer Dream in Taiwan, where close to 30 percent of the crew are Filipinos.
“Starting in July and November 2020 in Taiwan and Singapore, respectively, Genting Cruise Lines had commenced safe pilot cruises for its Dream Cruises ships,” Goh said. “Filipino crew members are one of the nationalities that we prioritize to be deployed and re-employed back to both World Dream and Explorer Dream.
“We are working hard to continue to inform and educate consumers of the enhanced safety and preventive measures that are readily in place across the fleet to rebuild confidence in the cruise industry,” he added.
Setting sail once again
GCL is only one of the host of cruise ship companies that have restarted operations in the midst of the pandemic. Despite some sobering figures—two of the world’s largest cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Group, both experienced a 99 and 94 percent decrease in revenue in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019—there are indications that the worst may be over for the industry.
From early July through mid-December 2020, more than 200 sailings have already taken place, according to CLIA. Those sailings, of course, included a raft of health and safety measures, which will likely become standard for the foreseeable future. In a survey conducted by CLIA, which is included in its 2021 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, two out of three cruisers (or people who frequently go on cruises) said they were willing to cruise within a year, while 58 percent of international vacationers who have never cruised, said they are likely to cruise in the next few years.
“The success of these initial sailings demonstrates new protocols are working as designed—to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 among passengers, crew and the destinations cruise ships visit,” the CLIA report said.
In addition, cruise lines said they anticipate at least 16 new ocean ships to operate in 2021, which would bring the total of CLIA ocean ships to 270.
"As we continue our journey in 2021, we remain highly optimistic of the continued demand for cruises," Goh said. "With the enhanced safety and preventive measures in place, it will set the blue print for us to continue to work with various local authorities to resume safe pilot cruises in different countries in the not too distant future."
And what of the crew members? Would they still be willing to come aboard and do it all over again, despite the health risks and the lingering questions about the future of the industry?
“Yes, I’m still planning to go back to (work) in the cruise ship because this is the kind of job that I really love,” says Montero, who is currently unemployed. “Doing entertainment is my life, and I believe that the cruise industry will survive the pandemic, maybe not that fast but slowly, it will.”
“Yes, I’m just waiting for my new schedule,” Francia says. “I think as long as the guests and the ship are following the new rules and regulations, the cruise industry will survive this hard time.”


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TOKYO (REUTERS) - They say there's no substitute for experience.
The problem for Hitoshi Iwai, though, is that there's no one to pass it on to.
Hence why at 80, he's still working.
"If your heir is unqualified and inexperienced, you cannot ask them to take over your company. If highly skilled peers inherit your business, they would be happy as well and your business won't disappear," said Hitoshi Iwai, CEO of Iwai Seisakusho.
Many businesses like his though are disappearing. One research firm claiming over 26,000 firms have shut up shop in Japan in the last fiscal year alone as big companies turn to cheaper suppliers abroad.
"It is fine for those sub-contractors that sell their unique products to big companies. However, companies that sell products whose prices are competitive cannot survive in this industry. Firms should be running a business where they have one irreplaceable skill" said Toshiaki Funakubo, leader of OTA Industry Association.
But even then, a sure footing is not guaranteed.
This company hand-spins metal, producing things like nose cones for rockets.
But they're also one of the many firms who say the government's promise to help startups and regenerate industry hasn't come to fruition.
"Although we produce specific products, our business is still facing a hard time. The number of our orders has decreased to a third especially since the collapse of Lehman Brothers" said Takahiro Kitajima, CEO of Kitajima Shibori Seisakusho Co.
The future looks equally bleak.
In the last 26 years, the average age of company owners has risen from 54 to over 59.
And two thirds of them lack successors - a ratio that is on the rise.

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By Sarah Haflett & Frank Lemmon
August 27, 2014 at 5:00 am ET
When the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges reopen enrollment this fall, many companies will look to tap the growing prominence of Hispanic consumers. Healthcare companies that use technology wisely and partner with brands already familiar to Hispanics will have the advantage in reaching the nation’s fastest-growing demographic group.
Although the US Hispanic pocketbook packs a punch–$1.2 trillion in purchasing power in 2013, more than any other ethnic group1 –the health industry has yet to win the Hispanic consumer and their dollar. More than 10 million Hispanics could gain health insurance coverage under the ACA through Medicaid expansion and the marketplaces, which are entering year two. Yet, Hispanics only accounted for 7.4%–about 400,000–of more than 5 million enrollees in the federal marketplaces last year.2,3
For businesses aiming to succeed in the new health economy, Hispanics represent unparalleled growth opportunities. Some firms are already developing focused strategies that cater to this important group—who are mobile savvy, cost conscious, and prefer receiving care in alternative settings.
However, the road to enticing the Hispanic health market could be arduous. According to a recent survey by PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI)4, while Hispanics are more likely than other consumers to search online for healthcare information, just 21% had visited health insurance exchange websites. Of those who did, less than half felt they understood their insurance options. HRI also found some Hispanic consumers unfamiliar with the term “health insurance exchange.”
Some companies are overcoming these challenges. For example, Molina Healthcare partnered with CVS Pharmacy to specifically educate Hispanics about gaining coverage in California. The company also has an information center in the San Bernardino mall to connect community members with local food banks, healthcare resources, and other sources of support. To increase access to local hospitals, Goodwill, and grocery stores, Molina shuttles operate in communities with large Hispanic populations.
Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in five states, piloted retail locations with bilingual staff in select Hispanic neighborhoods during open enrollment. With minimal marketing, the company had long lines of people seeking information.
EmblemHealth, a health insurer serving New York City, introduced Neighborhood Care in 2013 by opening three walk-in sites in which individuals and families can speak to EmblemHealth professionals with ties to the community.
Price continues to be a major factor in Hispanics’ decision to obtain coverage. In the HRI survey, nearly half of Hispanics ranked cost as the number one factor when seeking healthcare, over both quality and convenience. This group is looking for ways to cut cost. For instance, Hispanics are more likely to download coupons to their mobile device than other consumers.
Less-expensive and more-convenient retail clinics are attractive to Hispanics, who were twice as likely to seek care in a retail clinic or pharmacy than other consumer groups. Major players in retail health already sense the new opportunity. In July, CVS announced it will buy Miami-based Navarro Discount Pharmacy, the country’s largest Hispanic-owned drugstore chain that offers a line of ethnic products. Appreciating the value of the Navarro brand among Hispanics in South Florida, CVS will keep the Navarro name. Another strategy for retail pharmacies is to target specific conditions that are especially prevalent in the Hispanic community, such as diabetes.
Hispanics’ on-the-go lifestyles and strong connections with friends and family drive a reliance on mobile and social technology. Most (95%) Hispanics use smartphones daily, and one-third say they use social media to make decisions about healthcare and coverage5. Newcomers such as health exchange insurer Oscar Health–which promotes the use of technology and offers plans with free telemedicine visits and generic drugs–could emerge as highly appealing options for Hispanics. Younger Hispanics, who often influence the healthcare purchasing decisions of older family members, especially prefer the ease of new technology.
Hispanics are looking for new ways of getting care, making them critical customers in the value-based health market. As price competition for Hispanics in the exchanges heats up, companies must become more strategic. A deeper understanding of Hispanics’ health-related attitudes, preferences and behaviors will make the long road ahead less bumpy.
By Frank Lemmon, Principal, PwC Health Industries, and Sarah Haflett, Senior Manager, PwC’s Health Research Institute
 The Neilsen Company, “State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Market Imperative,” Quarter 2, 2012; http://es.nielsen.com/site/documents/State_of_Hispanic_Consumer_Report_4-16-FINAL.pdf
 One-third of enrollees did not identify ethnicity.
 “Hispanics: A growing force in the new health economy,” PwC’s Health Research Institute, May, 2014
 “Hispanics: A growing force in the new Health Economy,” PwC’s Health Research Institute, May, 2014.
© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.
PwC refers to the United States member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.
This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.


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Monthly Market Report
Be the first to know! Read our monthly housing market reports to get the most up-to-date statistics and to hear our perspective on what the latest buying and selling trends mean for you.
The number of home sales in Greater Vancouver increased significantly last month compared to August 2008 and moved closer in line with the active summer months experienced between 2003 and 2007.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver increased 119.5 per cent in August 2009 to 3,441 from the 1,568 sales recorded in August 2008 and increased 1.7 per cent compared to August 2007.
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 4.9 per cent to 4,544 in August 2009 compared to August 2008 when 4,331 new units were listed. Total active listings in Greater Vancouver currently sit at 11,937, down 33 per cent from August 2008.
“The return of confidence to our market has brought a high volume of home sales over the last few months and has also made determining home prices a little more challenging,” said Scott Russell, REBGV president. “The number of residential home sales this summer has been comparable to activity seen in the five years preceding 2008. While that’s great news, from the variations in activity we’re seeing across areas I’d say the market is still trying to find its own balance.”
Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 11.4 per cent to $539,600 from $484,211. However, home prices compared to August 2008 levels are down 1.1 per cent.
Sales of detached properties in August 2009 increased 155.5 per cent to 1,367 from the 535 units sold during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties declined 0.7 per cent from August 2008 to $732,656.
Sales of apartment properties increased 97.8 per cent last month to 1,464, compared to the 740 sales in August 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 1.4 per cent from August 2008 to $369,263.
Attached property sales in August 2009 increased 108.2 per cent to 610, compared with the 293 sales during the same month in 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 0.9 per cent between August 2008 and 2009 to $459,159.
Note: The MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI), established in 1995, is modeled on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures the rate of price change for a basket of goods and services including food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Instead of measuring goods and services, the HPI measures the change in the price of housing features. Thus, the HPI measures typical, pure price change (inflation or deflation).
The HPI benchmarks represent the price of a typical property within each market. The HPI takes into consideration what averages and medians do not – items such as lot size, age, number of rooms, etc. These features become the composite of the ‘typical house’ in a given area. Each month’s sales determine the current prices paid for bedrooms, bathrooms, fireplaces, etc. and apply those new values to the ‘typical’ house model.
For more information please contact:
Craig Munn, Assistant Manager of Communications
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Phone: (604) 730-3146


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Small Biz Day at State House set by BIA
Strategies for securing business financing, tips for how to do business with the state and a look at this year’s top policy issues as seen by the state’s top legislators will be on the agenda of the Business and Industry Association’s seventh annual Small Business Day at the State House event.The event, to be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Holiday Inn Concord, will be held in partnership with the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and local and regional chambers of commerce. Small Business Day is sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review.The event will begin with a panel discussion featuring Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen and House Minority Leader Terie Norelli (expected). The panel will focus specifically on the top small business issues of 2012 and how state elected leaders will resolve them.Following that will be a presentation by Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Hodgdon, who will explain how to do business with the state.Later, Department of Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon will discuss the recently enacted NH Working programs and how they can help small businesses find the right job applicants. She also will provide an overview of the Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau and the type of information available through ELMI and how small businesses might use it to their advantage.Also on the agenda, a representative from the Division of Economic Development will moderate a panel discussion, “Strategies for Financing Your Business.”Gov. John Lynch has been invited to make closing remarks.The cost to attend Small Business Day at the State House is $15 per person and includes continental breakfast. To register, visit nhbia.org, Events or call 603-224-5388, ext. 116.


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Mobile phones have been human’s closest friends for many years. But 2020 brought them even closer. Everyone locked inside their home during the pandemic was clicking, tapping, scrolling, and browsing on mobile screens to pass their time, which led to a drastic increase in mobile usage, and mobile apps, in the past year.
The second quarter of 2020 saw a 40% year-over-year growth in mobile app usage. April 2020 alone saw 200 billion hours spent on mobile apps, which is a record high. Even the consumer spending on mobile apps increased and hit $27 billion in those three months.
That time and money wasn’t just spent on existing apps either. Users across the globe during Q2 have downloaded over 35 billion new apps. This usage is expected to continue soaring in 2021. No wonder more businesses will be launching their mobile apps to clutch benefits from this booming industry.
But simply developing and launching a mobile app is not enough. It also needs to be up-to-date with the latest mobile app development trends to gain an edge and stay ahead of the game.
7 Mobile App Development Trends You Can’t Miss Out on in 2021
IoT Integrates With Apps
Smartphones, smartwatches, smart cars, smart homes, and smart cities. You name it and it has become smart thanks to the internet of things. This smart technology connects everything in order to make the exchange of data more collective and efficient. No wonder the IoT market is predicted to cross the $222 billion mark in 2021, out of which $161 billion is expected to raise from software like apps alone.
This year, developers will create new apps to connect and control smart-everything with clicks, taps, and scrolls on smartphone screens. People will become more accustomed to monitoring and controlling things around them remotely on their phones. This will, in turn, soar the demand for IoT-enabled apps in the market. IoT-integrated mobile apps in 2021 will control areas such as healthcare, automobiles, and household devices.
Apps Optimized For Wearable Devices
In the market for almost a decade now, wearable devices still have not reached their full potential. In 2021, one mobile app development trend will surround wearable devices. Be it smartwatches, fitness bands, trackers, VR devices, or any other device, there will be an influx of new apps developed to monitor and manage wearable devices.
Covid-19 was a significant factor in the increased adoption of wearable technology. Many consumers purchased ear-worn devices, fitness trackers, and smartwatches to self-track themselves and stay healthy during the pandemic.
New apps optimized for wearable technology will come forward to take advantage of the burgeoning market.
Increase in Apps Native to Foldable Devices
New foldable devices on the market are attracting more mobile users than ever. These devices are sleek, advanced, and state-of-the-art. 2020 saw some much anticipated foldable phones entering the market, and more will launch this year.
The evolved version of the classic flip phones, these phones fold and compress the screen size to suit the users’ usage preferences.
They might use the folded version while making calls, sending texts, and checking notifications. But while watching videos or playing games, they might want to watch on the unfolded, bigger screen.
Not convinced that this is a mobile app development trend to watch? Well, in 2022 over 50 million foldable devices are expected to be shipped across the world. This means app developers need to build apps for foldable devices that can work seamlessly on screens that change shapes and sizes.
Apps to Offer Real Experience With AR & VR
With everything going on in the digital ecosystem, there is a growing demand for a real-life experience. Whether they are browsing clothes, accessories, or home products, they want to see how the product would look in real life.
Together, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality will pave the way for more realistic experiences while shopping for products and making digital purchases. Apps will be optimized with AR and VR in mind to bring online items to life. This would not just enhance the customer experience but also provide a better resolution to ineffective and not-right purchases.
For example, IKEA recently launched IKEA Place where you can visualize the true-to-size 3D model of any object in your house before making a purchase.
We will see more similar apps created with AR and VR integration this year. Even holographic participation through 3D avatars in virtual meetings will gain popularity. Apps for shopping, traveling, and security will also use AR and VR to show real-life scenarios.
More Apps Move to the Cloud
Cloud has disrupted the IT ecosystem, but it hasn’t been able to penetrate the mobile app industry. Offering cloud storage in mobile apps will allow phones to run smoother because the apps won’t be required to store data or information on the mobile device. These apps would free up space on the phone and even make apps work more seamlessly.
Cloud-native mobile apps will have codes written for a cloud-first approach. The three cloud hosting platforms – Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon AWS – would be taking care of the majority of the app’s hosting and server needs. With edge computing, IoT, and 5G technology, the future of mobile app development seems to be more cloud-based.
Apps Become Decentralized With Blockchain
A sizable populace still associates blockchain with bitcoin only. Today, businesses across the globe utilize blockchain to secure transactions. All types of applications across any industry vertical requiring data immutability can easily integrate this technology.
Blockchain can reduce any type of fraudulent activity during in-app transactions. Even for apps in the government, healthcare, and other sectors, blockchain can eliminate the risk of data theft or hacks. With decentralized data, blockchain-backed apps would be more secure and less prone to any ransomware attack or cyber hacking.
Blockchain-as-a-Service will gain prominence and will lead to a mobile app development trend in 2021. This will make things easier for all businesses because they don’t need in-depth knowledge or expertise of Blockchain. They can simply host their apps on BaaS platforms.
Apps for M-Commerce Growth
A few years back, it was the norm for people to check out products on their mobile phones and make purchases on their desktops. Now, people use their mobile phones for more activities and make purchases on them frequently.
Most consumers would consider making payments on a mobile app rather than a mobile website. Businesses should take note and build their mobile app with payment capabilities, integrating many platform options.
- Mobile security will be a top factor while building any mobile commerce app.
- Purchases through voice commands on smartphones will also be something developers consider while building an app.
- Many mobile commerce apps will integrate Augmented Reality to help consumers visualize the product and, therefore, boost sales.
- Mobile payments, mobile banking, and mobile shopping will dominate mobile commerce in 2021.
- One-click payment will become more common with mobile wallets and UPI payment options.
Bottom Line: Infuse Apps With Latest Tech
Mobile apps will continue to reign as mobile app usage soars in 2021. Users have become more digitally conscious and desire nothing but the best experience from apps.
In order to meet the increasing demands of customers, businesses will need to infuse their apps with the latest tech. But make sure to start small. Build an MVP for your mobile app and test it on early adopters. If it gets a positive response, great! Move ahead with the business model and technologies. If they repost issues or don’t receive the kind of response you expect, pivot!
You need to use the latest information on mobile app development trends to build an app with the capability to go viral. You don’t need to use all the technologies and the trends in a single app. Analyze your business and the target market’s behavior to utilize the trend best fit for them.


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With sweeping legalization, approval of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp at the federal level, and a greater cultural acceptance of cannabis use, the industry has taken off over the last decade. Everyone from beauty brands and 420-friendly Airbnb hosts to beverage producers and medical professionals are closely watching the cannabis craze unfold and everyone wants to get a piece of the pie. Each year there are dozens of cannabis startups launching new products and services to make the lives of modern ganja lovers easier and better than ever. Grab a blunt wrap, roll up a fat one, and get comfortable. These are the top cannabis startups you need to keep an eye on this year.
Cannabis startups to watch in 2022
Based out of Los Angeles, California, Puffco will soon surpass the startup stage and join the big boy club. Founded by CEO Roger Volodarsky in 2013, this cannabis startup focuses on innovation with its luxury vaporizers. The private company has been mentioned in numerous media outlets and won several awards such as first place at the High Times Cannabis Cup for Best Vaporizer and the SoCal Medical Marijuana Cup’s Best Vaporizer. While on the pricier side, smokers love the user-friendly design and the elegant, minimalistic look of Puffco vaporizers.
Hi On Nature
Founded in October 2020 by Robert Como, Hi On Nature has been a force in the hemp industry these past few years. After the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018, Como and his team wanted people across the nation to have a reliable hemp brand that produced the highest quality Delta 8 products, in flavors and strains that everyone could enjoy.
The development of an in-house manufacturing process, followed by rigorous lab testing requirements for each product, would shape the benchmark of quality that Hi On Nature established and adheres to relentlessly to this day. Within months of its creation, Hi On Nature’s popularity exploded with the introduction of their 250mg per edible Delta-8 Space Ring Gummies – which to date is still their top seller, along with their HHC Space Ring Gummies.
They’ve branched out even further by introducing their line of Delta-8 Disposable Vapes, Delta-8 Dried Fruit, and a huge selection of HHC Gummies. These exciting additions to their arsenal gave customers a large variety of highly-potent and reliable choices. Much like past years, the mad scientists at Hi On Nature have exceeded expectations once again in 2022 with their release of their 500mg per edible Knockout Sour Belts, now available in five delicious flavors. These new Sour Belt Gummies come in a bag containing a 5000mg knockout blend of HHC, THC-O, THC-P, and Delta-8.
The release of these new hybrid cannabinoid gummies is nothing like the hemp industry has ever seen, and it’s undoubtedly Hi On Nature’s message that they’re here for the long haul. Don’t believe us? Use promo code TECHSTORY at checkout to Receive 25% OFF your Entire Order and see for yourself.
Some people took up surfing or baking during the pandemic, many 420 enthusiasts started their own home grow and never looked back. GrowBuddy was established in 2009 by Daniel Starbuck and Tim Delight, two cannabis cultivators who wanted an easier way to track their crop and collect data for future grows. The GrowBuddy software and cannabis app was designed to be a grow journal that assists growers in monitoring plants, maximizing yields, and also serving as a place for cannabis growers to connect and share tips and tricks of the trade. The app is continuously being updated with new features and has since expanded to include a marketplace for selling second hand grow equipment and a Q&A forum. As recreational cannabis continues to be legalized in more U.S. states, the number of people home growing will only increase.
Founded by Ankur Rungta, Joel Ruggiero, Vishal Rungta in 2018, C3 Industries has grown exponentially in these four short years thanks to backing by high-net-worth individuals and venture capital. It is a vertically integrated cannabis startup, which owns everything from the cannabis farm and processing facility to online and physical retail locations, even a wholesale operation, allowing the brand to fine-tune the quality of its offerings. With operations in Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri, this business is in a phase of development and expansion into new markets, which could pay off in revenue and push them out of the startup phase very soon.
Despite being operated legally and paying lots of taxes, cannabis dispensaries are still unable to use the normal banking system or secure certain types of financing due to their products being listed as a Schedule I substance by the DEA. This is why most legal dispensaries only accept cash, use sketchy methods to get around the cash-only aspect, and never give receipts. The Denver, Colorado based startup was established in 2016 by Lamine Zarrad, who worked at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at the time and saw the inefficiencies in the system and need firsthand. Tokken is a safe mobile banking platform for both customers and “un-bankable” businesses like those in the cannabis industry that utilizes blockchain. It has huge potential due to the high demand for its services and an increased knowledge and use of blockchain today, but has been hindered every step of the way by federal regulations and constantly changing legal terrain.
This black, woman-owned business founded by Shanel A. Lindsay is bringing cannabis to kitchens across the U.S. The cannabis startup produces home decarboxylation and infusion machines, which are used to create cannabis oils and other extracts that can be added to food or drink, smoked, or infused in body products. Marketed on the Ardent website as “the easy bake oven for adults,” these decarboxylation machines ensure that the most cannabinoids as possible are extracted from the plant material and makes dosing easy. Prior to these one-click machines, decarboxylation was a time consuming process and if done incorrectly, could lead to a loss in potency or burning and losing all the flower. The small, private cannabis startup has lots of potential to expand in both the recreational and medicinal markets.
For the latest luxury cannabis accessories and smoking products, take a look at another cannabis startup, Puff Puff Pass It.


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Y2K25: The "By 2025" Waste Target and the War on Plastic
There are no 'quick fixes' when it comes to issues surrounding climate change and the environmental impact of humanity that has for decades put enormous strain on our planet- It will be a slow healing process. The "By 2025" target that multiple governments around the world have committed to may seem like a step in the right direction, but this sort of short-sighted thinking hasn't had a good track record of truly helping other environmental initiatives and bringing about real positive change. We must make informed choices, and improve multiple facets of our society over time to ensure the best possible outcomes, not just set our sights short and then apologise when we don't meet the expectations.
When it comes to the issue of waste, it’s easy to suggest that we ban all plastic and move back to traditional packaging formats. Many suggest the notion of bulk-food stores that allow consumers to bring their own containers, and eliminate high quantities of waste. These stores are a great resource for those who can reach and afford them, and reducing excessive plastic packaging is definitely a step in the right direction.
Here’s the ‘but’ though- the modern world could not function without plastic; it’s integrated into every part of our lives, from food to transport to technology to medicine. Nor is the ‘zero-waste lifestyle’ achievable for the large majority of the population that are short on time, money and space in which to achieve such a goal. The reality of our situation is far more complicated than “plastic is evil”, and old-fashioned means cannot provide solutions to new-world problems. It’s easy to jump on a social bandwagon like banning straws and plastic bags when you care about the future of the planet, but these do little to tackle the real issues.
In fact, using glass, aluminium and paper instead of plastic would in fact create more waste to landfill, greater water usage, destroy more of the environment, and create astronomical carbon emissions in comparison to plastics- keeping in mind, that due to safety standards, the majority of traditional packaging formats on supermarket shelves are in fact virgin material, not recycled. The good thing about glass is its re-useability, but this still doesn’t outweigh the other environmental costs associated with the entire life cycle of its production and transportation.
Instead of blanket statements about our reliance on plastic, we need to look at how we got here and start the process of education and changing our poor consumer behaviours and ‘throw-away’ culture. This doesn’t just apply to packaging, either; material goods, from ‘fast-fashion’ to cheap homewares and furniture products have entrenched a poor ideology among current consumers, one which ignores the notion of investing for the long-term and instead relies on a constant replacement of goods to keep up with every-changing trends.
Companies all over the world are researching and developing new packaging technologies to find solutions to our waste problems, but it will take time and cannot come at the expense of food safety and shelf life. Consumers also need to educate themselves on the 'buzz words' surrounding sustainability issues and be reasonable in their expectations when it comes to packaging at this point in time. For instance, 'bio-degradable' doesn't mean compostable, and compostable doesn't mean plastic suddenly turns into dirt (if only). Kraft paper packaging isn't typically recyclable, and the 'made from 100% recycled plastic' water bottles that you may see advertised in the supermarket aren't actually made from post-consumer recycled plastics, but material straight from the product line (and hence still up to Australian food safety standards).
The biggest issue we face in Australia right now is an overwhelming infrastructure problem. Current processes cannot sustain our population, which is surprising considering we’re relatively small in comparison to many other western nations. We should be able to do better, to be self-sufficient in our waste disposal practices over the years ahead.
The government never bothered to invest in waste and packaging innovation before now, choosing to simply ship the problem elsewhere and ignore it like on that episode of Futurama. Now that we’re in crisis, they’re finally realising the cost of stagnation, and that the future of Australia relies on creating a truly functioning waste process, one that allows the majority of materials to be recycled post-consumer back into new products and fuel a circular economy, rather than rotting in landfill.
So what’s the bottom line when trying to help the environment?
Make better choices and reduce your own personal waste where you can, be vocal to your local government and brands about investing in better waste practices and eliminating unnecessary packaging where possible, and keep a long-term point of view. Oh, and make sure your packaging supplier is working on sustainable innovation too- because we're all responsible.


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SAN FRANCISCO - After the success of its iPhone smart phone, Apple Inc. will introduce a new iPhone model that can access the Internet faster.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Jobs explained Apple Inc., the new product is targeted to attract consumers and business from the BlackBerry to capture more consumers to International.
Quoted by Bloomberg, on Saturday (07/06/2008), Jobs would become speaker in the Apple development conference in San Francisco June 9 to announce the upcoming possible the latest version of the iPhone that works with third-generation network technology (3G) it.
Piper Jaffray & Co. analyst Gene Munster, explained with a higher speed. iPhone is equipped with software that can be associated with corporate email systems. This can be a big threat to the BlackBerry, produced and Research In Motion (RIM). (Jri)


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Home Tags Warren at bay
Tag: warren at bay
The NYC-based taqueria that opened its first brick and mortar restaurant in NoLita has signed an agreement to open at a sizable space in JC's Powerhouse Arts District.
The China-based chain known for providing a unique pre-dining experience has agreed to a deal that will bring their Sichuan-style hot pot to a prominent Downtown retail project.
A stalled office and retail project from KABR Group has been revamped with a new look and extended upward by two additional stories.
Back in February, we reported that the KABR Group and Kushner Companies had closed on the purchase of Warren at Bay. Now after a recent tour, we have a few more details on the vision for the project.
Kushner Companies and KABR Group announced today that they have purchased the iconic 124-134 Bay Street, commonly known as Warren at Bay, in the...


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AUG 23, 2021
McDonald’s, Apple led in spending among US out-of-home advertisers in 2020
AUG 23, 2021
The five largest OOH advertisers in 2020 were McDonald’s, Apple, Geico, Amazon, and HBO, according to OAAA and Kantar. The top 20 OOH advertisers collectively spent $510.7 million in 2020. The industries that spent the most on OOH ads in Q1 2021 were miscellaneous local services and amusements, retail, and restaurants, according to OAAA and Kantar estimates.
OCT 4, 2021
Big Tech seems to be following the footsteps of businesses like McDonald’s. The fast- food franchise is also considered a successful real estate company because it owns most of the land its stores are built on. But owning more real estate also puts companies at risk of losses if property values fall in the future, which no landlord or property manager can control.
SEP 19, 2019
eMarketer principal analyst Andrew Lipsman discusses what made the Apple Store so successful, which retailers are nailing the in-store experience, McDonald’s voice-activated drive-thrus, Walmart’s ecommerce initiatives and more.
AUG 7, 2021
MAR 24, 2021
Tencent hires out game character Xing Tong for brand deals, and in January 2021, McDonald’s unveiled its own virtual idol, Happy Sister, as brand ambassador in China. Most lifelike of the bunch is Ling, who blended in with human celebrities on the February cover of Vogue Me China. There are advantages to working with virtual influencers over their human counterparts.
JUN 1, 2021
SEP 1, 2020
For example, messaging from brands like McDonald’s and Audi letting everyone know they’re taking social distancing seriously doesn’t necessarily carry much weight or sincerity for consumers coping with their own problems. When a brand does right by its customers, and even staff, it stands to benefit from some positive vibes.
OCT 29, 2020
This campaign is reminiscent of the McDonald’s and Travis Scott collaboration, more in terms of the influencer aspect and with the brand looking to reach a younger audience. Absolutely. There's an accelerated shift in the way people buy, how they shop, and how they interact with brands. We believe that this could be an interesting method for us to continue reaching consumers and a younger demographic.
NOV 25, 2019
During a panel at LiveRamp’s RampUp conference in February 2019, marketing executives from Quantcast and McDonald’s stated that they’d short sell OTT if it were a stock. Their bearish tendencies stemmed from measurement issues. But others see measurement as an opportunity.
OCT 28, 2020
In the 2020 edition of an annual “Brand Love” report by Smarty Pants, YouTube was the top-ranked brand among 9-to-12s and 13-to-17s and ranked second (topped only by McDonald’s) among 6-to-8s. Netflix also has a sizable fan base among school kids. Morning Consult’s survey identified 66% of 5-to-12s and 71% of 13-to-17s as viewers.
SEP 14, 2020
For example, messaging from brands like McDonald’s and Audi about their social distancing policies doesn’t necessarily carry much weight or sincerity for consumers who are trying to cope with their own problems. When a brand does right by its customers, and even its staff, it stands to benefit from some positive vibes.
MAY 6, 2021
AUG 26, 2020
December 2019: Introduced McDonald’s and The Coca-Cola Co. as the first marketers to use Snapchat Scan, a visual search and AR technology that lets users scan a logo or image with their phone to reveal additional AR content. March 2020: Rolled out Lens Web Builder, a web-based way for marketers to create branded AR Lenses on Snapchat.
NOV 21, 2019
And it’s not the only one: Other retailers are also introducing or further developing payment platforms within their apps, including Kroger, Dunkin’ and McDonald’s. Dunkin’s mobile loyalty program DD Perks, for instance, has 12 million users—most of whom take advantage of the mobile payments option, which is based on QR codes like Starbucks.
DEC 26, 2019
eMarketer principal analyst Andrew Lipsman discusses what made the Apple Store so successful, which retailers are nailing the in-store experience, McDonald’s voice-activated drive-thrus, Walmart’s ecommerce initiatives and more. Are Food Delivery Drivers Eating My Meal?
OCT 21, 2019
Headlines on this announcement were quick to say that McDonald’s removed the CMO role altogether, but that is true only at the global level, as McDonald’s still has a US CMO. (We reached out to McDonald’s for comment and didn’t receive a response.). Other companies are also developing new C-level positions to take a broader approach to marketing.
FEB 26, 2020
Companies like McDonald’s and Starbucks are increasing delivery services that limit human-to-human contact, and orders are packaged to keep them free of contamination. Time Spent Online and with TV Increasing as Consumers Fight Boredom at Home.
FEB 3, 2020
The company recently worked with McDonald’s on a project involving geofencing more than 300 digital billboards in California and serving up full-screen, mobile ads with directions to McDonald’s to Waze users that came within proximity of the billboards.
OCT 24, 2019
And it’s not the only one: Other retailers are also introducing or further developing payment platforms within their apps, including Kroger, Dunkin’ and McDonald’s. Dunkin’, for instance, has a mobile loyalty program called DD Perks with 12 million users. Most users take advantage of the mobile payments option, which is based on QR codes like Starbucks.
OCT 10, 2019
Nine in 10 internet users in the US rely on email, and many say it’s a preferred channel for receiving brand communications. Email also still plays a central role for marketers looking to maintain and nurture relationships.
SEP 11, 2019
It’s official: WhatsApp Status ads are coming, likely sometime in 2020. And though paid advertising is just one piece of the puzzle for companies looking to connect with customers on WhatsApp, it’s a major change for the chat app, which has so far remained ad-free.
NOV 6, 2019
eMarketer junior forecasting analyst Nazmul Islam explores our recently adjusted ad spending figures for YouTube, including how the platform has weathered brand-safety concerns.
JUL 23, 2019
At the end of April, Snap hired Kenny Mitchell, previously marketing vice president at McDonald’s, as its first CMO. The role was formed as Snapchat attempts to expand its user base, particularly in international markets. In May, Derek Andresen replaced Lara Sweet as Snap’s CFO. Lara Sweet had been serving as interim CFO since Tim Stone’s departure in February and is now Snap’s chief people officer.
OCT 17, 2019
Ads on WhatsApp are to be expected sometime in 2020. And most advertisers we spoke to for our new report on global messaging apps agreed that Status—WhatsApp’s version of Stories—makes sense as a testing ground for ads.


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For those with the nostalgic love, this one is sure to appease the appetite. PlayStation recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary (yesterday, in fact) and to celebrate the anniversary they’ve announced an extremely limited run of PlayStation 4’s that are styled after their much older brother.
Check out the video, and have a think about if you’d want one.
Want one? Well there are only 12,300 of them being manufactured globally. More details on how to pre-order and snag one will be announced in the future but right now it’s at least been confirmed that retailers in our region won’t be receiving the consoles to sell at all.
We’ll be running another article with details on how to grab one when information becomes available, but right now what’s recommended is at the very least to keep some money spare. They are pretty damn beautiful.


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Starbucks is embarking on a fairly bold, full-bodied plan to jump-start its in-store experience, hoping to draw foot traffic back to its cafes in malls and other commercial centers as e-commerce takes bigger and bigger chunks away from brick-and-mortar shopping.
The biggest step the company is taking is changing the menu and drink options to establish its outposts as meet-up destinations. More lunch options and “evening snacks” will be available, including a cheese plate, truffle mac and cheese, parmesan chicken skewers, and other appetizers.
Plus (and most notably), beer and wine. After experimenting in cafes in Seattle in 2010 and expanding to locations in and around Chicago two years later, the company is ready to take alcohol sales national. The move is aimed at the after-work happy hour crowd (booze will only be sold after 4 p.m.) who might otherwise go to a bar to or restaurant to unwind. The company sees a lot of potential in this program, which dubs the locations that will participate Starbucks Evenings. They predict it will bring in $4 billion in added revenue annually within five years.
For locations where foot traffic is already high, the company is rolling out a new mobile app, which Fast Company has already explored in depth. It will allow users to place and pay for orders—and then pick them up in cafes. A map shows wait times at nearby locations, steering users toward the best options for a quick caffeine fix while on the move. It’s currently being tested in Portland.
The last prong of the company’s new strategy was unveiled today with the first “Roastery” in Seattle, a 15,000-square-foot space that’s both factory and flagship store. Fast Company‘s own Mark Wilson recently got an exclusive tour of the Roastery and compared the facility to an interactive museum where visitors can lounge in a two-story library or talk shop with master grinders before getting a freshly roasted beverage.
Starbucks wants you to come to Starbucks in all its iterations—and drink whatever you like to drink. And hopefully they’ll be able to clean up any spilled-beer smell before you come in for your first coffee at 5 a.m.


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Delphi in Troy offers $1B for complementary division of French company
Troy-based Delphi Corp. has offered slightly less than $1 billion for a piece of a French company.
Delphi Corp. said it was close to completing a deal with Bain Capital LLC about buying the motorized vehicles division of connectors maker FCI SA for $972 million.
"This transaction will solidify Delphi's position as one of the premier global automotive suppliers and will create significant shareholder value," said Rodney O'Neal, chief executive officer and president of Delphi.
"The addition of MVL strengthens the high growth connector product portfolio of our (electronics) segment, broadens our mix of global customers and furthers our strategy of providing our customers with solutions to address the trends of safe, green and connected," O'Neal said.
"As a result, following the acquisition, we will be better positioned to further drive growth in electronic content in motor vehicles. As MVL's largest customer, we respect their accomplishments and share a commitment to developing innovative products and delivering solutions that meet a wide range of needs and applications," he said.
The motorized vehicles unit of the Guyancourt, France-based company makes connectors for the automotive industry and had revenue of $1 billion in 2011, accounting for 62 percent of FCI's total $1.5 billion in revenue.
Delphi, which beat unidentified international strategic bidders in an auction run by Rothschild and Goldman, Sachs & Co., must still secure approval from European unions and regulatory clearances.
O'Neal said the purchase will lift earnings before interest taxes amortization and deprecation by 2015 pretax savings of $80 million.
Delphi added that the deal will broaden its customer base and boost its business in Asia, giving it manufacturing and engineering facilities in China, India and Korea.
"We believe the acquisition of this automotive connectors business would be consistent with Delphi's stated business strategy, would complement Delphi's existing portfolio of connector products, and would offer the opportunity for good profit generation," Standard & Poor's said in a note to investors.
"We believe auto connectors have growth potential that exceeds the auto industry's growth because of rising vehicle electrification, and the purchase will increase Delphi's position in the market. Delphi would finance the acquisition, which it expects to close by year-end 2012," it added.
Delphi was bought out of bankruptcy in 2009 by a consortium of hedge fund and private equity owners including Paulson & Co. Inc., Elliott Associates LP, Silver Point Capital LP and Oaktree Capital. Paulson contributed most of the shares sold in the IPO.
FCI, which Bain bought in 2005 for $1.07 billion from French state-owned nuclear energy group Areva SA, has shed other units in recent years.


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The upcoming Halo Infinite campaign co-up update will introduce "several" new achievements, 343 Industries has announced.343 recently detailed what we can expect from Halo Infinite's campaign co-op update in a lengthy blog post, which explained more about how progression will work with co-op in Halo Infinite, a new mission replay feature, and more. The post also revealed that more Halo Infinite achievements are on the way.
Halo Infinite to get "several brand-new achievements" with campaign co-up update
Halo Infinite's lead world designer, John Mulkey, explained that the new achievements have come about thanks to campaign co-op and mission replay.
According to Mulkey, we can expect mission replay achievements that "are targeted at immaculate play challenges" while the co-op achievements will "revel in the possibilities presented by playing together."
To give us a taste of what we can expect from the new batch of achievements, Mulkey has given an example. "We challenge you to kill enemies with a Gravity Hammer from the back of a vehicle being driven by your buddy."
Unfortunately, that's all 343 had to say on the new achievement front. We don't know how many there will be or what else we can really expect. As it stands, the Headmaster achievement in Halo Infinite is currently broken. Hopefully, 343 will also fix this in the coming update.
The Halo Infinite campaign co-op update is expected to roll out to players in late August.
Are you glad to see more achievements come to Halo Infinite? Let us know.


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The U.S. Justice Department has warned Apple and five of the biggest U.S. publishers that it plans to sue them for conspiring to raise the price of electronic books, reports “The Wall Street Journal” (http://macte.ch/IAe6j), quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”
The five publishers facing a potential suit are :CBS Corp.’s Simon & Schuster Inc.; Lagardere SCA’s Hachette Book Group; Pearson PLC’s Penguin Group (USA); Macmillan, a unit of Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH; and HarperCollins Publishers Inc., a unit of News Corp. Several of the parties have purportedly held talks to settle the antitrust case and head off a court battle.
According to the “WSJ,” the case centers on Apple’s move to change the way that publishers charged for e-books as it prepared to introduce its first iPad in 2010. Traditionally, publishers sold books to retailers for roughly half of the recommended cover price. Under that “wholesale model,” booksellers were then free to offer those books to customers for less than the cover price if they wished.
Apple suggested moving to an “agency model,” under which the publishers would set the price of the book and Apple would take a 30% cut. However, Apple also insisted that publishers couldn’t let rival retailers sell the same book at a lower price.
The Justice Department feels Apple and the publishers acted in concert to raise prices across the industry. It’s prepared to sue them for violating federal antitrust laws, says the “WSJ.”


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Washington Post Article - Who Is Gen Z?
Researchers from The Center for Generational Kinetics, Denise Villa, Ph.D., and Elli Denison, Ph.D., lead a focus group in Austin, Texas with members of Generation Z.
Dr. Denison, left, and Dr. Villa, right, debrief after the focus groups with Gen Z teens and tweens.
WASHINGTON POST FEATURE STORY ON GENERATION Z
“I lost my phone for a week once, and I had three thousand messages,” 11-year-old Molly announces with a dramatic flourish. This quote and much more were part of a landmark research study on Gen Z led by The Center for Generational Kinetics.
The Washington Post was on hand to observe The Center's research process and focus group interviews with Gen Z. The article WaPo published includes behind-the-scenes photos at The Center and some very interesting commentary from the Gen Z participants.
Click here to read the entire article! Below is another excerpt:
DIFFERENT, BUT HOW?
It might seem like the same age-old dilemma: grown-ups struggling to understand Kids These Days. But there is a new sense of urgency when it comes to this generation of post-millennial teens, because they represent a significant turning point in societal evolution. Society and technology are always taking big leaps forward, and these leaps often feel alarmingly unprecedented — plenty of people predicted that television would turn us into a society of slack-jawed zombies — but many researchers agree that this generational pivot actually is unprecedented.
What does that mean for society at large? The Center for Generational Kinetics has more than 100 high-profile clients — financial institutions, restaurants, car manufacturers, fashion retailers, education groups, tourism companies, policymakers — who want to find out. And the sooner the better: This fall, the older members of Gen Z will be able to vote for the first time (only 26 percent of them say that they trust elected officials, according to the center’s research). By 2019, tens of millions of Gen Z’ers will enter the workforce. And by 2020, the young adults will wield roughly $3 trillion in purchasing power.
Clearly, there is money to be made mining the propensities of this group.
“People are trying to get the inside scoop on this generation,” says Jason Dorsey, The Center’s Co-Founder and President. “They come to us saying, ‘We can already tell they’re different, but we don’t know how different, and we don’t know what to do about it.’”
Social trends, especially those driven by technology, ripple from the youngest generation to the oldest, Dorsey says. Automakers must determine what built-in technology future drivers will expect. Advertisers must realize that their target audience is watching YouTube instead of live TV. If Gen Z’ers prefer to shop on their phones and choose to attend college online — and do not feel that it is necessary to conduct a job interview in person or work in an office building — then the broader culture must respond and adapt, he says.
Last year, the research company — which also gathers data about Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials — launched a national survey to learn more about how Gen Z communicates and uses technology. The findings confirmed trends and illuminated a few new ones: Yes, this generation communicates almost entirely through screens and not always with actual words (GIFs, videos, and emoji also do the trick). Gen Z’ers are less idealistic and more thrifty than Millennials, having grown up in the twin shadows of the recession and student debt crisis. When it comes to privacy on social media sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, or Twitter, the survey showed that teens are far less guarded than Millennials and Gen X'ers. Members of Gen Z think that everyone should get a smartphone at age 13 and that it is acceptable to use it basically anywhere — at a family dinner, during a religious service, even at weddings (even their own weddings, the survey shows.)
And that is just scraping the surface. This is one national survey of 1,250 people, Denison says, and there is not a ton of research out there otherwise — Gen Z is still largely uncharted territory.
GEN Z IS HERE
Gen Z is about to change everything. This fast emerging generation, currently ages 21 and under, is bringing unprecedented challenges or rare opportunities—depending on which actions you take now. Forward-thinking leaders who want to make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity need research-based insights and actionable strategies. That's exactly what The Center provides.
Contact us for more info.


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Bangladesh Embraces the World’s First Blockchain-Based Smartphone
Another major leap of blockchain technology is marked as Bangladesh embraces the world’s first smartphone built on top of blockchain technology—Finney. The smartphone, manufactured by Sirin Lab based out of Switzerland, has recently been cleared by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for importing into the country and will be available in the market this October.
First unveiled to the world in 2018, Sirin Lab’s Finney represents a robust and secure flagship with an integrated cold storage crypto wallet. Priced at $899, the sleek and sporty looking smartphone runs on Android 8.1 as well as Sirin OS, backed by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable via MicroSD. The device is manufactured by Taiwanese multinational electronics behemoth—Foxconn Technology Group.
Sirin OS from Sirin Labs perfectly secures storage and transactions using cryptocurrencies in a mobile environment, alongside offering a seamless Android experience to its users. What sets the Sirin OS apart is the built-in cold crypto wallet accessible only via the Safe Screen. The firm believes that all these factors will majorly contribute to the mass adoption of blockchain technology through Finney.
Moshe Hogeg, co-founder and co-CEO of Sirin Labs, believes that Finney adeptly blends multiple facets of blockchain and cryptocurrency into a single state-of-the-art device. He says,
Before the Finney, you needed a ledger, you needed a computer, you needed wallet software and then you needed to go to an exchange, and then you could convert. The Finney does all of this on one phone.
The smartphone market in Bangladesh is experiencing a steady boom and Finney’s launch is most likely to propel that growth forward. In a report released by global research firm, GSMA Intelligence, last year, says that about 75% of Bangladesh’s population (138 million) will have access to smartphones by the end of 2025 and 41% (73 million) of those will be mobile internet subscribers by then. Although the increasingly urbanized population is more inclined towards budget smartphones, Finney’s price label is more on the side of high-end smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 which is available in the country for 74,900 takas or $894.
The blockchain technology has made pretty impressive progress in Bangladesh. In August, the government allocated a part of its $208 million IT project, to be invested in training several graduates in blockchain, in India and Japan. Sources also report that 100 fresh IT graduates are also going to be sent overseas to learn and enhance expertise in the nascent fields of distributed ledger technology, besides machine learning, AI, and cybersecurity.
Experts believe that more developing nations embrace blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies, the easier it will get for the new markets to gain mainstream acceptance.


text: According to Coindesk, Chan Chan CEO Zhao Changpeng said at the Asian Block Summit in Taipei that “Coin Security will soon launch a futures platform. I have no exact date. The simulation test version will be launched in a few weeks.” Although the official release date has not yet been determined, a spokesman for the currency said that the company plans to launch the test within about two weeks from now. The futures trading function was launched after the company launched a margin trading on the platform last month. The spokesperson added, "Margin trading will be launched first to all users (around July 11), and the futures test network will be launched one week later."


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Change is coming to the world of Batman on the year of his 75th Anniversary, and if you've been following the events of the Caped Crusader's numerous titles and the new weekly series Batman: Eternal, then you'd have seen the seeds planted that will vastly affect his network and allies, including a certain female love interest and cat burglar who will take on a new role very soon.
Straight out of the previews for the October 2014 solicitations for DC Comics, the ongoing adventures of Selina Kyle in her very own "Catwoman" series for The New 52 universe takes a new direction, with the feline femme fatale becoming the new Kingpin of Gotham City as seen in the "Sneak Peek" one shot issue of Batman #28.
Beginning in Catwoman #35, the new creative team of Genevieve Valentine and Garry Brown will take over the title, showing how Selina slips into her new "Mob Boss" persona and dictates a new status quo that will affect her relationship with Batman, her allies, and the entire city of Gotham.
For more on the story, visit the source post at iO9 and Comic Book Resources.
Catwoman #35 hits comic shops and retailers on October 22.


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McDonald’s is pleased to announce that Sid and Daphne Johnson have been named the newest owner operators in the Abbotsford community, taking over four McDonald’s restaurants from Chuck Vertes, who will continue to operate restaurants in Aldergrove.
“Sid and Daphne Johnson have done an excellent job as Franchisees in Alberta, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Sid over the years” said Chuck Vertes. “I am happy to pass on the torch to this young couple who share my commitment for the local community”.
Johnson and Vertes share a long history together. As a 19-year old, Sid Johnson began working with Vertes as a Restaurant Manager at one of Vertes’ McDonald’s restaurants in Leduc, Alberta.
In 1991, Vertes offered Johnson and his wife, Daphne, an opportunity to move to Abbotsford, BC where Sid played an integral role helping to grow Vertes’ business from one to six McDonald’s restaurants. In 2005, Johnson teamed up with his wife to own and operate McDonald’s restaurants located in Wetaskiwin and Camrose, Alberta prior to returning to Abbotsford.
“My wife and I are thrilled to be back in Abbotsford, to continue Chuck Vertes’ legacy of community support and provide customers and staff a great experience at our restaurants,” said Sid Johnson.
The four McDonald’s restaurants now under Sid and Daphne Johnson’s ownership include:
1812 Vedder Way, Abbotsford, B.C.
2532 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, B.C.
32983 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, B.C.
3230 Mt Lehman Road, Abbotsford, B.C.


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Reviewed by: Cecilia Wood
There’s a new Birmingham-based startup climbing the ranks after securing $1 million in seed funding. Say hello to Astound, one of the first digital marketplaces for industry-funded academic research.
What Astound is all about
According to PR Newswire, CEO and Founder Dr. Joel Berry is behind the company. A biomedical engineer, he has 30 years of experience in life sciences and bioengineering product development. Wow!
After seeing the need for easier collaboration between industry and academia, Dr. Berry created Astound, one of the first digital marketplaces for industry-funded academic research.
Through their up-and-coming platform, Astound helps research institutions and universities more easily find corporate sponsors for important science research while also accelerating new technologies from lab to market.
“Corporate spending on sponsored university research is approximately $80B globally and over $40B annually in the US alone. Astound will provide a platform that makes it easy and fast for companies to find and sponsor research relevant to their product development goals. Ultimately, our mission is to be a catalyst for advancing science and technology.”Dr. Berry, CEO + Founder, Astound Research
Behind Astound’s $1M in seed funding
Wondering who’s behind the $1 million in seed funding? It’s Nashville-based company, Mark Two Ventures, a venture studio that provides startups with seed-stage capital as well as product development, software engineering and design expertise.
“As a venture studio, we will provide Astound with access to our team of experienced product managers, software engineers, designers, and more to help them build and grow their platform.”Glenn Clayton, Managing Partner + Co-Founder, Mark Two Ventures
What’s next for Astound
The startup plans to have a limited launch for early beta customers later this year with a full platform launch in early 2023. Currently, the company is actively seeking universities and corporate research sponsors who have an interest in learning more about the platform.
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Amazon and Apple are powering a shift away from Intel’s chips
Apple and Amazon are cutting their dependence on the Intel chip technology that has long controlled most personal computers and larger server systems. Instead, the companies are increasingly leaning on homegrown chips.
Interns' pay in tech MNCs sees big jump
Interns in tech companies receive attractive stipends, a real-world job experience, and they get a fo...
Google, Netflix, Adobe pay up 2 per cent additional Equalisation Levy
The government had imposed a 2% tax in the budget for FY21 on the sale ...
Those who think about the future will create separation with competitors: Scott D. Anthony, Innosight
In an exclusive interaction, the world-renowned innovation expert spoke about the benefits of driving an innovation agenda during uncertain times, the future-back strategy framework and how companies can deal with market dislocations.
Four Indian corporations among companies urging world leaders for net-zero recovery from COVID-19
Four Indian corporations are among over 150 global companies that have signed a statement urging governments around the world to align their COVID-19 economic aid and recovery efforts with the latest climate science that prioritises a faster and fairer transition from a grey to a green economy.
Mobile banking malware that hides in MS Word, Adobe flash apps may affect Android smartphones
It has been observed that a new Android mobile malware named EventBot is spreading.
DPIIT to discuss with cos issues related with data storage in draft e-comm policy on Jan 14
Representatives from different companies including Accenture, Adobe, Facebook, Genpact, Google, HCL, Infosys, Intel, Microsoft and TCS are expected to participate in the deliberations, sources said.
Adobe appoints Nanda Kambhatla as India research team head
Based out of Bengaluru, Kambhatla will lead Adobe's research initiatives in the region, including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, big-data analytics and insight, and content intelligence technologies. He will report to Adobe Research Vice President. Before joining Adobe, Kambhatla was the VP of Enterprise AI at Symphony AI.
Re-imagining smartphone photography: Adobe’s new camera allows you to photoshop pictures in real-time
The Adobe Photoshop Camera is an AI-powered camera app.
Three Indian-origin CEOs in Harvard Business Review's top 10 best-performing CEOs
The "Best-Performing CEOs in the World, 2019" list, compiled by the Harvard Business Review features 100 CEOs, has been topped this time by American technology company NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang.
Adobe says it nearly closed opportunity parity gap globally
The company disclosed that in the US, the promotion rate was 13.5 per cent for white employees and 13.2 per cent for non-white employees, it added.
TCS closes in on Adobe on m-cap chart
Since its listing in August 2004, TCS stock has returned 1,790 per cent.
E-commerce platform Fynd counters gender gap, pays women 10% more
The idea was born when the 130-employee startup saw that while it had an overall 40% representation of women, it was only 4-6% in the engineering team.
Adobe, Nvidia, Microsoft best tech companies to work for in India: Indeed
According to the Top-Rated Workplaces: Best in Tech report, as rated by Indian employees on Indeed, multinational companies continued to dominate the list.
ET Awards 2018: Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen is the 'Global Indian of the Year'
Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems Inc and winner of Global Indian of the Year Award, said his achievements have been shaped by his Indi...


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Kayat mo Tinapong nga kape? Baguio coffee gets new name
BUSINESS / NEWS
FINALLY, the Summer Capital’s very own coffee product that was launched last year has its own label and brand – ‘ Tinapong’ Baguio Arabica.
Baguio City Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BCFAC) Board of Directors Chairperson Dr. Brigit Piok said the...
Read latest The Baguio Chronicle online.


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With Bentley looking to put more focus on the performance of its vehicles in the future, the snooty British brand certainly chose the right way to show off its latest product at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Supersports Convertible, the world’s fastest drop-top, tacked the exciting hillclimb event driven by none other than racing legend Derek Bell.
Judging from the photos, Bell certainly made the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 overpower the Bentley’s AWD system. And why not, with 621-hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque available. Bentley claims the Supersports Convertible will hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.
But enough about the stats, check out the exciting action in our gallery below.
GALLERY: Bentley Supersports Convertible at Goodwood Hillclimb
Official release after the jump:


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[qi:011] There is supposed to be a big meeting today at Yahoo (YHOO) headquarters today, where the entire management will meet and discuss the company’s “grand plan.”
About 300-odd folks with titles that say vice president or something equally elevated will get into a room and listen to Jerry Yang (CEO and co-founder) talk about the future and how it will impact 14,000 Yahooligans. Kara Swisher predicts the meeting will be a snoozefest, and suggests turning it into “Survivor: The Sunnyvale Edition.”
Since June 18, when Yang took over as CEO, the company has spent around $700 million on new companies, shut down some minor projects, shaken up the sales staff, and gotten rid of
Lloyd Braun and a bunch of other folks.
The actions thus far are muddled, and while there are high expectations from this meeting, I wouldn’t count on it. How do you rate Yahoo and Yang’s performance so far?


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The convergence of digital twin technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized various industries, enabling precise real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization of physical...
Aug 11, 2023
Gartner's forecast for 2023 reveals that worldwide IT spending is expected to reach new heights, with a projected 4% increase from the previous year. The rapid adoption of emerging technologies such...
Jul 20, 2023
As we keep making strides towards smoother and more convenient transportation, safety has become a key consideration. Since the early days of the automotive industry, there have been continuous...
May 08, 2023
Nirmala Sitharaman, the finance minister of India, presented the final, comprehensive budget of the PM Narendra Modi administration this week. The budget includes initiatives to spur technology-...
Feb 02, 2023
We have witnessed how the industry has evolved over the years, with several developments such as Cloud, AI, IoT, and 5G, among many others. Cloud, with its advantages over traditional on-premise...
Dec 13, 2022
Pulp and paper producers face twin challenges. First, the gigantic machines converting wood pulp into paper-based products are a single point of failure. Second, the industry is embracing...
Jan 24, 2022
The transformation from analog 1G to digital 2G made text messages a reality, and 3G enabled data services. As far as 4G is concerned, it made the mobile internet a practical reality. It has become a...
Jan 21, 2022
The largest technology generation of module models cataloged is 4G, which is not a shock since, unlike 2G and 3G, 4G is not under threat from network sunset. 4G represents 60% of the module models...
Jan 13, 2022
68% of chief technical officers (CTOs) have implemented machine learning at their company, reported research from STX Next. Machine learning is, by far, the most popular AI subset to be implemented;...
Jan 10, 2022
Smart hospitals will deploy over 3,850 connected Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, amounting to 7.4 million devices globally by 2026, according to a study. The study by Juniper Research...
Jan 05, 2022
The first quarter of 2021 saw cyber adversaries shift from low-return, mass-spread ransomware campaigns toward fewer, customized Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) campaigns targeting larger, more...
Jun 24, 2021
99% of security professionals report challenges with the security of their IoT and IIoT devices, and 95% are concerned about risks associated with these connected devices, according to a Tripwire-...
Apr 06, 2021
The digitalization of industrial infrastructure is underway and 55% of organizations are confident that the Internet of Things, as one of its key aspects, will change the state of security in...
Oct 19, 2020
Organizations are rapidly increasing the size, scope and scale of their data protection infrastructure, reflected in dramatic rises in adoption of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) across enterprises...
Oct 13, 2020
As the IoT data-enabled services continue to expand, the market is approaching the stage of data democratization, where real-time analytics is very sought after. Currently, data integration, real-...
Jul 30, 2020
While digital transformation is understood to be critical, its rapid adoption, as seen with cloud providers, IoT and shadow IT, is creating significant vulnerabilities for most organizations,...
Jun 18, 2020
Non-integrated, point solutions make enterprise security more challenging, according to Check Point Research-Dimensional Research survey, examining global security leaders attitudes towards...
Jun 12, 2020
Most companies see strong business drivers to adopt IoT as part of a broader digital transformation process, according to Syniverse-Omdia study. Improved efficiency and productivity, improved product...
Jun 02, 2020
There have been rapid substantial changes in device usage trends as businesses shifted their operations in March due to COVID-19, according to ExtraHop’s report, titled Connected Devices in the Time...
May 08, 2020
67% of digital workers in India said emerging technologies, such as Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) are increasing their effectiveness at work, according...
Apr 17, 2020
40% of tech investments are being directed into Data: centralization, IoT-driven predictive analytics and portfolio-wide intelligence, according to Facilio’s 2020 State of CRE Operations 3.0. The...
Mar 05, 2020
There is strong adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Internet of Things (IoT) devices along with an increasing confidence in organizations to lead IoT development, according to element14’s...
Mar 04, 2020
The year 2020 will finally see all the hype words of the past decade come together to create completely connected environments that are capable of running themselves autonomously to build more...
Nov 14, 2019
7.2 billion malware attacks were launched in the first three quarters of 2019 as well as 151.9 million ransomware attacks, marking 15% and 5% year-over-year declines, respectively, according to...
Nov 13, 2019
A record 61% of enterprises worldwide are on the path to becoming “intelligent,” compared to only 49% in 2018, according to Zebra Technologies Corporation’s third annual Intelligent Enterprise Index...
Oct 16, 2019
Internet users in Asia-Pacific want security and privacy guarantees for the Internet of Things (IoT) -- the rapidly expanding network of devices, physical objects, services and applications that...
Sep 30, 2019
Almost half (49%) of businesses believe cloud apps make them a target for cyber-attacks, according to new research from Thales. Surveying 1,050 IT decision makers globally, Thales’ 2019 Access...
Aug 14, 2019
Healthcare professionals are mostly concerned about the risks associated with Internet of Things (IoT), medical devices, third-party vendors, and program development/management, according to...
Jun 12, 2019
Unsecured Internet of Things or IoT devices in the workplace and those used by third parties are causing large scale cyber attacks, disrupting the privacy and security of organizations. But most...
May 09, 2019
The global Internet of Things (IoT) security market size will grow from USD 8.2 billion in 2018 to USD 35.2 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33.7% during the forecast...
Apr 30, 2019
Vast volumes of data are being produced from various sources in our hyper connected world. Every second we are adding millions of gigabytes of data to the already overflowing data bank. Where is all...
Apr 04, 2019
Cybercriminals are constantly evolving the sophistication of their attacks—from continuing to exploit the vast insecurity of IoT devices, to morphing open source malware tools into new threats,...
Mar 05, 2019
13% of organizations implementing Internet of Things (IoT) projects already use digital twins, while 62% are either in the process of establishing digital twin use or plan to do so, according to a...
Feb 22, 2019
The healthcare industry is increasingly leaning toward adopting hybrid clouds that combine private and public cloud services, and their respective benefits — with healthcare ranking third in the...
Feb 18, 2019
In the realm of cyber-intrusion onto virtual reality, growing corporates are stringently concerned on seamless business continuity. Off late IT is augmented as a service in a delicate dilemma of...
Jan 16, 2019
Worldwide spending on the Internet of Things (IoT) will reach USD745 billion in 2019, an increase of 15.4% over the USD646 billion spent in 2018, according to IDC’s Worldwide Semiannual Internet of...
Jan 04, 2019
In today’s modern retail environment, information is available everywhere. Consumers are well informed and expect personalized experiences when they shop. This means that the table stakes have...
Dec 24, 2018
66% of organizations have plans to deploy 5G by 2020, according to a new 5G use case and adoption survey by Gartner. Organizations expect 5G networks to be mainly used for Internet of Things (IoT)...
Dec 18, 2018
Blockchain, IoT, city operations centers, smart city frameworks, digital twins and smart contracts are among the technologies that will achieve mainstream business adoption in the next five to 10...
Dec 14, 2018
Gemalto, the global leader in digital security, is expanding highly efficient IoT connectivity with the launch of its Cinterion Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) wireless module platform. The new solution...
Nov 26, 2018
In 2018, the theme for CIO&Leader’s annual Summit was Practical CIO. The Forrester 2019 forecasts validate that. Multiple predictions point to a shift towards organizations moving from generic to...
Nov 26, 2018
Piramal Glass, a global specialist in design, production, and decoration of glass packaging (flaconnage) solutions for Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics & Perfumery, and Specialty Food & Beverage...
Nov 21, 2018
At the IoT India Congress 2018, Aeris, a preferred Internet of Things (IoT) technology partner for Enterprises, today announced that it was awarded a contract by Sify Technologies Limited (SIFY), an...
Oct 09, 2018
Internet of Things (IoT) is the most adopted emerging technology by marketers, according to the recently released State of the Martech 2018 report released by Walker Sands Communications. It is the...
Jul 12, 2018
Dell Technologies has teamed up with Microsoft to deliver a joint Internet of Things (IoT) solution to help vertical customers simplify deploying their end-to-end IoT solutions, from the edge to the...
May 03, 2018
MediaTek announced its collaboration with Microsoft to deliver the first ever Azure Sphere chip, the MT3620 that will drive IoT innovation with built-in security and connectivity. Azure Sphere is a...
Apr 17, 2018
In the last four days, we have presented various importance points of debate in digital transformation as it is panning out in India, especially in the core sectors of Indian business. We have...
Apr 12, 2018
Microsoft has announced that the company will invest USD 5 billion in the Internet of Things (IoT) globally over the next 4 years. This increased investment will support continued research and...
Apr 05, 2018
Although enterprises in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region are more bullish on adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Cloud when compared to their global counterparts, they are behind the...
Mar 29, 2018
The Internet of Things (IoT) is used to describe a network of objects (or “things”) that have sensors or hardware, and software to enable objects to connect to the Internet through wired and wireless...
Feb 09, 2018


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The Clash of Clans Summer 2015 update Sneak Peek five has just gone live! Many of you had predicted it already when Earthquake was announced and we can confirm that it is going to be the Haste Spell in Clash of Clans.
Supercell has just given fans a preview of the spell, which will be coming in the CoC July 2015 update which could just be hours away if it goes live on Wednesday July 1.
More importantly, we have the first Haste Spell gameplay in CoC to share with you, thanks to YouTuber PlayClashofClans who Supercell has referred fans to for the Sneak Peek.
Haste is going to be the third new dark spell in Clash of Clans after Poison and Earthquake, with haste giving you the ability to speed up your troops in action.
More information is coming soon on this brand new spell as we get it, but for now check out the gameplay which has just gone live minutes ago and give us your reaction.
How many of you predicted Haste would be coming to Clash of Clans?
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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This week, Tinder unveiled its first ad in the form of a video promoting Budweiser’s next #Whatever, USA campaign. The video ad will show up for Tinder users the next time they open the app, but much like Instagram’s foray into advertising, Tinder ensures that rolling out advertising on the platform will go slow.
Within a few swipes, users will land on Bud Light’s profile with a special auto-playing video, asking users to enter into the next #UpForWhatever contest. #WhateverUSA is a campaign that has already worked once for Bud Light, where the brand builds a random party town for a week of ‘spontaneous fun’ with contest winners and celebrities in attendance.
With the new Bud Light ad on Tinder, Users can swipe out of the video immediately, with the same animations for left-swipes (Pass) and right-swipes (Like), which will be recorded by Tinder for the brand.
“If you think about the way Tinder works, with ‘like’ and ‘pass’, we have a really amazing signal for advertisers,” said Brian Norgard, VP of Advertising at Tinder. “We’re being careful to respect our core experience for our users, which ensures that we can give that data back to our brands in a really valuable way. The response so far has been off the charts. You won’t believe how many people will swipe right if the content is high quality.”
If a user chooses to watch the video instead of swiping out — there’s a button on the top corner of the video to “Enter Now” — users can learn about the different ways to enter the #UpForWhatever contest. They can sing favorite song into a Bud Light, toast ‘a match’, or swap sunglasses with someone, and then share a photo or video of the experience on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtags #UpForWhatever and #Enter.
Tinder is using this first advertising campaign as a way to test the waters, using a number of different video lengths across the course of the campaign.
“The product is very early, and we’re just starting to learn how our users are reacting to this format,” said Sean Rad, cofounder and president at Tinder. “Based on that we’ll make decisions on where we want to take the product or if we even want to proceed. Like everything else we do, we care a lot about the user experience and will protect a good balance between enjoying that uninterrupted Tinder experience with asking you to hear something from a sponsor or advertiser.”
Rad and Norgard were both very clear about the fact that things will go slow at first, with Rad telling AdWeek that “it’s going to be a long time until [advertisements are] a consistent part of your experience.” They also told me that the engagement has been overwhelming and surprising.
“We’ve learned that when people are in the mindset of discovery, they’re willing to discover a variety of content, from people to videos, so when a user is on Tinder that’s actually an appropriate time to see a word from an advertiser,” said Rad.
“We’re investing heavily in relevance, whether it’s leveraging the data we have with these signals our users give us, or using that data to do a better job of matching our users,” added Norgard.
It only makes sense that Bud Light and Tinder would be a match, so to speak. Bud Light wants to be associated with off-the-cuff, spur-of-the-moment parties, and Tinder is a platform where strangers meet each other in spontaneous, off-the-cuff situations. With the deal, Bud Light gets a young, spontaneous crowd of potential candidates who are #UpForWhatever, but Tinder actually gives users the chance to take action and go to an actual party instead of swiping endlessly in their sweatpants.
Tinder has recently partnered with various brands (Jason Derulo and The Mindy Project, specifically) over the past few months, giving them a ‘promoted profile’ that is blasted to the entire Tinder network, untethered by location or gender. Matching with these profiles can lead to exclusive content or access.
That said, Rad said that this type of partnership is more about being open to working with relevant brands then about building another type of advertising.
Tinder recently launched Tinder Plus, offering premium features for an age-based monthly subscription, which will also offer an ad-free experience.


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Honeywell International Inc. said today it will acquire material handling automation provider Intelligrated Systems Inc. from its private equity owner for $1.5 billion, triggering a second wave of consolidation in the material-handling sector just two weeks after rival systems integrator Dematic Corp. was sold.
With the two largest U.S.-based material handling suppliers trading hands within a month, the changes show a rush by automation providers to stay ahead of fast-growing demand for e-commerce and home delivery.
Germany's Kion Group AG acquired Atlanta-based systems integrator Dematic Corp. for $2.1 billion on June 21, in a effort to extend its core businesses of forklifts beyond basic warehouse technology into the broader world of logistics systems integration.
Honeywell will fold Mason, Ohio-based Intelligrated into the Sensing and Productivity Solutions (S&PS) division of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions business. Chris Cole and Jim McCarthy, Intelligrated's co-founders, will continue to serve in leadership roles after the deal closes by the end of the third quarter, Intelligrated said in a statement.
Intelligrated's warehouse execution system (WES) software and order fulfillment technologies will complement Honeywell's product lines in mobile computers, scanning and auto-identification, and voice automation technology, the Morris Plains, N.J.-based industrial and technology giant said in its statement.
Honeywell earlier strengthened its position in those capabilities with its $600 million purchase of mobile computing and auto-ID provider Intermec Inc. in 2012. Honeywell leveraged that acquisition to bring its scanning equipment into the material handling market through Intermec's Vocollect division, which makes voice-directed picking systems.
Intelligrated had estimated 2016 sales of $900 million and 3,100 employees who provide automated warehouse distribution and fulfillment systems, software, and integration. By merging those supply chain automation tools with its existing products in mobile worker applications and data collection hardware, Honeywell hopes to strengthen its position in the market, it said.
"E-commerce continues to grow at an unprecedented rate and customer demands for faster delivery times have created a need for warehouse, logistics, and fulfillment solutions that can increase productivity and lower costs for our customers," Alex Ismail, president and CEO of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, said in the statement. "This acquisition fits with our vision for a connected industrial company and a connected worker."
Demand for supply chain solutions will continue to evolve quickly in future years, under continued pressure by e-commerce growth on traditional fulfillment systems, parcel handling, and store-level productivity, said Permira, the London-based investment firm that owned Intelligrated before the sale. Intelligrated is well positioned to succeed in this sector because of its recent investments in an automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS), a full parcel solution to compete in the high-growth global parcel market, and robotic platforms, according to Permira.
Given that technology platform and recent growth, Honeywell could use this strategic action to position itself as a much larger player in the integrated-supply chain solution space, said Jeff Smith, a supply chain management and analytics professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
"From the Honeywell perspective, I think it is a smart move as it really expands their range of products in order to offer a more expansive solution set to their respective customers," Smith said.
Honeywell, Intelligrated, and Permira all declined comment beyond the statements.