More than 35 startups have already joined the increasingly less-exclusive unicorn club this year, despite the fact that most people are home doing Zoom conferences to prove how much they’re working while not actually working. There are the usual hardware tech startups, such as ultrasound medical device company InSightec and smart security camera startup Verkada, […]
If you thought taking care of a pet was a big responsibility, try caring for thousands of animals as if your livelihood depended on it. It’s what livestock farmers do every day across the globe, and it’s an occupation that’s coming under increased pressure from all angles. A decrease in demand for dairy and meat, large corporations that […]
The global demand for meat is expected to jump 70% by 2050 as the population grows to roughly 9.6 billion people. As expected, the bulk of the burden will be on widely consumed protein sources like fish, beef, and chicken. With the possibility of running out of resources and the strain caused by the production of these […]
We may not have much in common with each other these days in ‘Murica, but there is one thing that still binds us together: food. And we’re not even talking about rampant obesity and diabetes. The majority – six out of 10 of us, according to the National Restaurant Association – have worked in the […]
By now you’ve seen the big news about the world’s largest fast-food chain by revenue. It was a bit shocking that it took this long to happen, but McDonald’s (MCD) is finally embracing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence to boost sales. The guy credited with the turnaround at the 65-year-old restaurant behemoth since 2015, Steve […]
Regular readers will be familiar with Gartner’s Hype Cycle for emerging technologies, which graphically represents the ups and downs that most new technologies undergo, as they move from the “that’s super cool” stage to “what’s it good for” stage to “here’s how we can actually make money” stage. We often refer to the Hype Cycle […]
Regular readers know that we don’t just publish articles, but foster a conversation about emerging technologies and how they will improve the world (and our investment portfolio). One of our ongoing themes – aside from Elon Musk’s hair – is how this little green and blue ball we inhabit can continue to sustain life as […]
While the first Starbucks was founded in 1971, the company didn’t start properly expanding until 1987 when they went from nine outlets to more than 29,000 outlets as of 2018. That translates to opening 2 stores a day for 32 years in a row. It all started in ‘Murica, where 90% of Americans consume caffeine in various […]
When did food become so complicated? There are dozens of diet fads out there with names that seem like they were based on vanished civilizations from the time of Conan – Keto, Dukan, Optavia. Science seems to flip-flop between glorifying and demonizing everything from coffee to fat. In some circles, meat has become public enemy […]
In Western cultures, there are some topics that you aren’t supposed to raise in casual conversations without people getting a little bit upset. For example, you really shouldn’t remark that someone appears to be overweight. In China, however, all bets are off. Don’t be surprised if a Chinese person tells you that you’re looking a bit fatter […]