Source: To hire your first startup employee, begin with a list of 1,500 people
Summary
Hiring your first employee for a start-up is always challenging, especially if you don’t have a network of potential contacts. It’s advisable to map out a list of 1,500 people with a similar skill set as yours and start by identifying the requirements you want for the role.
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Source: Time’s up for Elizabeth Holmes
Summary
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has lost her appeal to avoid prison time for defrauding investors. She was previously found guilty but had been delaying sentencing. Holmes and former COO Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani were also ordered to pay $452m in restitution to victims of their fraud, for which they are jointly liable.
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Source: In a more conservative venture capital market, will big tech step up?
Summary
Microsoft for Startups is integrating itself more deeply into the startup world with its Pegasus program, which offers benefits to startups that are accepted. The tech giant is also providing capital to up and coming startups through its venture arm. Working with a big tech company, like Microsoft, could be enticing in a market that is more conservative. Microsoft is also closely working with OpenAI, which puts its work on the cloud in a different context than a year ago.
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Source: Amazon undercuts the Echo Dot with the $40 Echo Pop
Summary
Amazon announces a new device, the Echo Pop, a unidirectional smart speaker that undercuts the cost of its standard Echo devices by $10 and is available in black, white, lavender, and teal. The Amazon Echo Pop is designed to target teenagers, college students, and young adults looking for the cheapest self-contained entry into a major smart home ecosystem.
Fact
💬 The Echo Pop is a unidirectional smart speaker that targets teenagers, college students, and young adults looking for the cheapest self-contained entry into a major smart home ecosystem.
💲 At $40, the Pop is $10 cheaper than Amazon’s other smart speaker, the Echo Dot.
🔵 The Pop is available in black, white, lavender, and teal.
🔉 It has built-in Eero support and lets the user know when Alexa is listening.
👨💼 Alexa is one of Amazon’s biggest investments and facing a more exciting future with AI and better technologies.
Source: Amazon refreshes its Echo lineup, adds a Wi-Fi extender and smart speaker combo, Echo Pop
Summary
Amazon expanded its line of Echo devices by introducing Echo Pop, Echo Show 5, Echo Buds, and Echo Auto. Echo Pop comes in a semi-circle form factor and serves as a Wi-Fi extender. Amazon also claims to invest heavily in AI integration in Alexa for more substantial developments in its services for customers.
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