Author: Eric

MrBeast’s management company, Night Media, has a new venture fund that’s backed by creators

Eric Entrepreneurship ,

MrBeast’s management company is getting into the venture business. Night Media, the six-year-old, Dallas-based multimedia talent management company, is closing a debut fund with $20 million in capital commitments from the powerful family-friendly online influencers it manages, along with other social media stars. The idea, says Night Media CEO Reed Duchscher, is to write initial … Continue reading MrBeast’s management company, Night Media, has a new venture fund that’s backed by creators

If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?

Eric Entrepreneurship

New research suggests personality has a larger effect on success than IQ. Science doesn’t have a definitive answer, although luck certainly plays a role. But another key factor is personality, according to a paper Heckman co-authored in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He found financial success was correlated with conscientiousness, a personality trait … Continue reading If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?

The Fall of Travis Kalanick Was a Lot Weirder and Darker Than You Thought

Eric Entrepreneurship

In 2017, before the investor lawsuits and the federal investigations, before the mass resignations, and before the connotation of the word “Uber” shifted from “world’s most valuable startup” to “world’s most dysfunctional,” Uber’s executives sat around a hotel conference room table in San Francisco, trying to convince their chief executive officer, Travis Kalanick, that the … Continue reading The Fall of Travis Kalanick Was a Lot Weirder and Darker Than You Thought

How ‘Lean In’ Feminism Created Elizabeth Holmes and the Toxic Ladyboss

Eric Entrepreneurship ,

In recent years, the corporate world has given rise to a new figure: the Ladyboss. The Ladyboss is usually white. She is usually young. She is usually pretty. She pays lip service to promoting diversity and equality in the workplace, even though it’s hard not to notice that there are very few people of color … Continue reading How ‘Lean In’ Feminism Created Elizabeth Holmes and the Toxic Ladyboss

Stockwell, the AI-vending machine startup formerly known as Bodega, is shutting down July 1

Eric Entrepreneurship ,

Stockwell AI entered the world with a bang but it is leaving with a whimper. Founded in 2017 by ex-Googlers, the AI vending machine startup formerly known as Bodega first raised blood pressures — people hated how it referenced and poorly ‘disrupted’ mom-and-pop shops in one fell swoop — and then raised a lot of money. But ultimately, it … Continue reading Stockwell, the AI-vending machine startup formerly known as Bodega, is shutting down July 1

Cruise lays off 8% of workforce amid COVID-19, puts resources toward engineering

Eric Entrepreneurship , ,

Cruise, the self-driving car subsidiary of GM that also has backing from SoftBank Vision Fund, automaker Honda and T. Rowe Price & Associates, is laying off nearly 8% of its more than 1,800-member workforce today as it tries to reduce costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The layoffs will affect employees in Cruise’s product, marketing and … Continue reading Cruise lays off 8% of workforce amid COVID-19, puts resources toward engineering

The intersection of small business, tech and our financial system is more important than ever

Eric Entrepreneurship ,

The nation is rooting for our 30 million small businesses. They employ more than half of the country and create most net new jobs, and 80% of them have less than 60 days cash on hand. The world has never experienced dislocation of labor and business activity at this scale and speed. We applaud Congress … Continue reading The intersection of small business, tech and our financial system is more important than ever