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AI assistants like Rovo are incredible accelerators, allowing your teams of experts to do their best work without getting crushed by administrative tasks. Because AI tools like Rovo are only as good as the data you feed them, they need to plug into all the tools you use. Rovo’s AI is more powerful when it has access to knowledge from your entire enterprise tool stack. That’s why integration platforms like Unito are essential to getting more out of AI. Unito’s connectors, for instance, expand Rovo’s reach by syncing work items, projects, deals, comments, and more. This additional context empowers stronger information retrieval and seamless action. The best part? You can set them up yourself, even without any advanced technical skills. But first, what is Rovo? And why should you even bother enhancing it? What is Atlassian’s Rovo AI? Rovo is Atlassian’s AI, built into tools like Trello, Jira, and Bitbucket. This AI includes the following features: Search, which pulls information from multiple SaaS apps so you don’t have to keep switching tools. Chat, which gives you an AI chatbot that can help you work through complex problems, brainstorm ideas, and more. Studio, which allows you to build AI agents, automations, and apps to streamline your work and empower new workflows. Agent, which allow you to offload tasks to AI agents when they don’t need that human touch. Because it’s built into Atlassian, Rovo can natively pull data from all Atlassian tools across these functions, but it also has built-in connectors allowing it to access data from other tools as well. Think of it this way. If you’ve already been using tools like ChatGPT to enhance software development, ticket escalation, and project management tasks, now you can use Atlassian’s own built-in AI. Why enhance Rovo AI? While Rovo AI integrates natively with Atlassian tools and others, that isn’t always enough to support your workflows. Atlassian’s tools work together seamlessly natively, but tools like ServiceNow, ClickUp, GitHub, and others are connected through Atlassian’s Smart Link which creates hyperlinks between them. This allows users to quickly jump from tool to tool and find the context they need for their work. Rovo uses the same connectors, allowing it to make that same jump. But Smart Link isn’t always enough. That hyperlink accelerates your switching between tools and gives you a preview of the information you’re looking for, but it still involves making that switch. It also doesn’t let you interact with data in another tool from your own platform. Here’s how Unito can change that. How can Unito enhance Rovo AI? Unito is a no-code integration tool with some of the deepest two-way integrations for tools like Jira, ServiceNow, GitHub, and Atlassian’s Rovo AI. These integrations build two-way relationships between work items in these tools, syncing information back and forth between them in real-time. Unito integrations also include: Custom field support: Customize tools to your specific workflow and still use Rovo to pull or interact with that data. Configurable mappings: Many built-in connectors only support a few fields, with limited customization. Unito’s field mappings not only support more fields than most other integrations, they also let you customize your integration so you get just the data you need where you need it. Precise filtering: Unito’s rules allow you to filter out any data you don’t need synced over. You could, for example, filter out any Jira issues with a specific assignee, or only sync ServiceNow records with a High priority. You don’t need a technical background to build a Unito integration, but each integration has deep syncing capabilities with full customizability. That makes Unito one of the best ways to enhance Rovo’s already impressive capabilities. How to build a Unito flow with Rovo AI In this example, we’ll look at using Unito to integrate Rovo with ServiceNow, so developers in Jira can use Rovo’s AI features to get guidance on escalated tickets based on data from Servicenow, automate certain tasks, or search up context for a Jira issue. Connecting ServiceNow to Unito for the first time There are a few things you need to set up in ServiceNow before you can connect it with Unito: Make sure you connect a ServiceNow account with CRUD (create, read, update, and delete) rights for the records and tables you plan on syncing to Unito. Have a ServiceNow admin set up the initial connection between Unito and your ServiceNow account. After that, you can use OAuth 2.0 or a username and password to authorize Unito to sync data out of ServiceNow. Make sure you have the following information to connect your ServiceNow account to Unito: ServiceNow Domain URL: https://INSTANCENAME.service-now.com OAuth 2.0: An OAuth Client ID and Secret Username: Your ServiceNow username and password Step 1: Connect ServiceNow and Rovo to Unito Sign up for Unito. Click +Create Flow in the Unito app. Click Start Here to connect ServiceNow and Rovo. Click +Choose account for each tool and complete the authorization process. Choose the type of ServiceNow record you want to include in your flow. Unito supports all record types, including requests and incidents. Choose the ServiceNow table and Rovo workspace you want to sync. Once that’s done, click Confirm. If you need more guidance on connecting tools with Unito, we have a full guide here. Step 2: Set flow direction With flow direction, you decide where Unito automatically creates work items to match those you create manually. For most Unito integrations, you can choose between a two-way flow that creates work items in both tools or a one-way flow that only creates new items in one tool. With Unito’s Rovo integration, you can only build one-way flows that sync data from other tools to Rovo, feeding context to your AI agents and chatbots. Step 3: Build rules to sync specific work items Unito rules can do two things: Filter out work items you don’t want to sync. For example, you could create a rule that only syncs High Priority ServiceNow records. Automate certain actions. For example, you could create a rule that automatically populates fields in ServiceNow based on certain triggers. To start building your rule, click Add a new rule, then choose a trigger and action. Step 4: Map fields between ServiceNow and Rovo Mapping your fields tells Unito exactly where data from ServiceNow should land in Rovo, and vice versa. Unito can usually map most fields automatically, whether they have the same name (Assignee→Assignee) or not (Assignee→Owner). You can also map fields manually to support more custom workflows. If you need to add more field mappings, just click +Add mapping then Select a field. Unito will automatically recommend compatible fields in a drop-down menu. Step 5: Launch your ServiceNow-Rovo integration Just like that, you’re ready to launch your Unito flow. Now Unito will automatically sync data from ServiceNow to Rovo, so teams working in tools like Jira and Trello have all the context they need without switching tools. Get the most out of your AI assistant With Unito’s deep integrations, you can give Rovo all the data it needs to answer questions, take action when it’s needed, and supercharge your team’s productivity. Unito’s broad support across project management tools, customer service platforms, development tools, and more, mean Rovo always pulls from the right context, no matter where it lives. Ready to get more out of Rovo? Meet with a Unito product expert to see what Unito can do for your workflows. Talk with sales View the full article

This Sunday’s full moon, or “big cheese,” as it’s sometimes called, comes with a side of queso and chips. Fast-casual restaurant chain Qdoba is offering stargazers a free 4-ounce serving of its signature 3-Cheese Queso or Queso Diablo and chips all day on February 1, according to a press release. The deal is available for Qdoba Rewards members with the purchase of a full-size entrée in-restaurant, online at Qdoba.com, and through the Qdoba mobile app. No telescope is required. “The moon may not really be made of cheese, but we think a free side of our creamy, cheesy queso and tortilla chips—seasoned with salt and lime—is the next best thing,” Qdoba’s chief marketing officer Jon Burke said. Even better news: Qdoba is offering the deal on the day of each full moon in 2026. Those days are: March 3, April 1, May 1, May 31, June 29, July 29, August 28, September 26, October 26, November 24, and December 23. This weekend’s full moon, on February 1, is also dubbed the “snow” moon. Here’s what to know about it. What is the ‘snow’ moon? The second full moon of 2026 is called the Snow Moon, because it comes during a period of heavy snowfall in the northern hemisphere. (For those in the Northeast, you just have to look outside to see how fitting this is.) And this moon comes with a special treat: It will appear with “one of the most beautiful open star clusters in the night sky . . . in the Leo constellation,” according to Live Science. When can I see the February 2026 full moon? The best time to view the February full moon is at “moonrise” at 5:09 p.m. EST on February 1. It will also appear full and still be bright the following night, on Monday, February 2. The best way to view this full moon is to stand at an elevated point or an open space, looking toward the eastern horizon with binoculars or a telescope, though you’ll be able to see it with just your own eyes too, per Live Science. View the full article

It’s shaping up to be a busy year for initial public offerings from some of the most closely watched companies. Rumors have been floating around for a while now that SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space company, and Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup behind Claude, could make their market debuts in the summer and by the end of 2026, respectively. And now, a report says that OpenAI—Anthropic’s main competitor, and the owner of ChatGPT—could go public before the end of the year, too. Here’s what you need to know about OpenAI’s rumored IPO plans. OpenAI may go public in 2026 A report from the Wall Street Journal yesterday has investors buzzing: ChatGPT owner OpenAI is reportedly considering an initial public offering before the year closes. According to the report, OpenAI is in “informal talks” with banks on Wall Street about a “potential” IPO. The artificial intelligence company is also reportedly staffing up in preparation for an IPO. The WSJ says OpenAI recently hired a new chief accounting officer and a new business finance officer, the latter of whom will oversee OpenAI’s investor relations department. The report cited anonymous sources. Fast Company reached out to OpenAI for comment. Pressure and financial need may be driving OpenAI’s 2026 IPO ambitions In the past, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hasn’t spoken enthusiastically about one day running a public company. As a private company currently, OpenAI doesn’t have to answer to Wall Street or retail investors, giving it much more freedom in how it chooses to run its business—which is currently operating at a major loss. But as a public company, Altman and OpenAI would have to take investors’ desires and expectations for returns on investment into account. This would make Altman, who is currently answerable to very few, answerable to legions of shareholders. So why go public sooner rather than later? The Journal’s report says that there are two main factors driving OpenAI’s exploration of a 2026 IPO. The first is Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s biggest competitors. OpenAI executives have expressed concerns about Anthropic listing first, WSJ reports. There is massive pent-up demand from retail investors who want to get in on the latest spate of AI companies. If Anthropic were to go public first, it could potentially dampen demand for OpenAI shares. The second factor driving OpenAI to explore a potential 2026 IPO reportedly has to do with the company’s finances. Current investors are concerned about the company’s cash flow as it continues to spend billions training its models and building out its AI infrastructure. Despite ChatGPT’s popularity and cultural cache, loss-making OpenAI is burning through piles of cash. Most analysts don’t expect OpenAI to turn a profit until at least 2030. By going public, OpenAI would receive a massive injection of cash from its share sale. This could help alleviate current investor concerns over how the company can come up with the hundreds of billions of dollars it needs to keep expanding in the years before it starts to turn a profit. When is OpenAI’s IPO date? As of now, OpenAI has not announced an initial public offering. There are only reports that the company will do so by the end of this year. Whether that 2026 timeframe actually comes to pass remains to be seen. How much will OpenAI shares cost? Until OpenAI announces its IPO and how many shares it will offer, it is impossible to know what its IPO share price will be. How much is OpenAI worth? As a private company, it’s impossible to put an exact figure on OpenAI’s value. But most analysts currently value the company at around $500 billion, based on the amount of investment it has received so far. However, the Journal notes that OpenAI is currently in the middle of seeking additional fundraising, perhaps up to $100 billion more. If it achieves this, OpenAI could be valued at around $830 billion. View the full article

Learn how to create a resource breakdown structure, with steps, free templates, and tools to plan resources and control project delivery. The post How to Create a Resource Breakdown Structure + Free Templates appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

https://enterprise.shutterstock.com/image-photo/openai-logo-displayed-on-smartphone-screen-2520388517 or https://enterprise.shutterstock.com/image-photo/chatgpt-logo-displayed-on-smartphone-screen-2520385879 Last August, ChatGPT developers OpenAI unceremoniously killed the fan favorite GPT-4o model, before giving in to complaints and bringing it back a week later. Now, the company's taking a second swing at getting its users to move on. In a new post to its website, OpenAI announced that it's retiring GPT-4o again. The model's set to disappear from ChatGPT's model picker on Feb. 13, alongside other older models like GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-Mini. And OpenAI is clearly nervous about the decision. "While the announcement applies to several older models," OpenAI wrote, "GPT-4o deserves special context." According to the company, it has taken user outcry over the initial deprecation of 4o to heart while developing its newest models, GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2, and has built these models with the idea of maintaining the features fans liked best about the old model. The company says that now "only 0.1% of users" opt for GPT-4o on a daily basis. As such, the company wants to focus on "improving the models most people use today," which apparently means removing older ones. "We know that losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn't make this decision lightly," the post reads. What's the big deal with GPT-4o?So, what's with OpenAI treating its users so gingerly, especially when GPT-4o is a few generations behind, and there are newer models that supposedly do everything it does, but better? Well, when GPT-4o was first deprecated, people weren't happy. Users called its successor, GPT-5, "an unmitigated disaster," and accused OpenAI of pulling "the biggest bait-and-switch in AI history." Some criticized the model's usefulness, saying it got answers wrong and broke code, but what maybe stuck out the most was people calling out its more concise tone. GPT-4o has been called "sycophantic" by critics, something the company addressed and said it wanted to pull back on in future updates. But I guess one person's "yes man" is another person's "active listener." When the company initially pulled GPT-4o, users complained that its replacement was cold and felt less like a "friend." Even OpenAI acknowledged this, saying in today's post that users "preferred GPT-4o's conversational style and warmth." In short, in the words of 4o-supporters themselves, they were "grieving" the model. Is GPT-5.2 a good replacement for 4o?That said, with so many users now seeming to have moved on from 4o, OpenAI's decision does seem understandable on the surface. Personally, one of the things that drives me away from AI is how much reassuring filler text seems to fluff up most answers ("you're absolutely right" and such), seemingly just to make me feel good about myself. More concise, to-the-point responses would be a little less off-putting for me. To try to split the difference, OpenAI reworked its Personalization feature in GPT-5.1, so users can simply choose how the chatbot will treat them. There are options for more professional responses, more nerdy ones, more efficient ones, and for those who want that active listener style, more friendly ones. Going by OpenAI's numbers, that seems to have been enough for most people, but there are still some calling foul at the company's new announcement. GPT-4o loyalists are still out thereIn a Reddit thread responding to OpenAI's new posts, users doubted that the 0.1% number for 4o was accurate, saying that prompts have been "rerouting to 5.2 no matter what" and that "something somewhere in their calculations doesn't add up." Others pointed out that free users can't use GPT-4o and that it's not enabled by default, which will naturally juice the numbers against it. As such, calls to cancel ChatGPT subscriptions are once again circulating amongst 4o's more dedicated fans. In a popular thread on the OpenAI subreddit, one user called 4o "OpenAI's most advanced and beloved model," and praised its "personality, warmth, and consistency," saying that its fans have built long-term project and "emotional support routines" around it, and that suddenly losing it without even the option for a legacy mode "feels abrupt and deeply disappointing." "This isn't about resisting innovation," the post writes. "It's about respecting bonds users have formed with specific models." Whether the fan outcry will work again remains to be seen. However, as ChatGPT chief Nick Turley has previously looked at those kinds of bonds with skepticism, and because keeping old models in operating condition probably takes developer resources away from making new ones, I wouldn't count on it. View the full article

When you consider the hiring process in a large company, it’s crucial to understand the ten key steps that make it effective. From identifying the immediate need for a new position to the final onboarding of a candidate, each step plays a critical role in securing the right talent. Knowing these stages can help you navigate the intricacies of recruitment and improve your chances of success. Let’s explore how each step contributes to a seamless hiring experience. Key Takeaways Evaluate the need for a new hire by assessing current workloads and team dynamics to identify gaps. Develop a recruitment plan that aligns with business goals and includes detailed job descriptions. Utilize various advertising channels, including social media and job boards, to maximize job visibility. Screen applications using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and conduct standardized phone screenings. Conduct thorough background checks and implement structured onboarding to ensure smooth integration into company culture. Identifying the Need for a New Hire How can you determine if your team truly needs a new hire? Start by evaluating the current workload and team dynamics. If your department feels overloaded or lacks specific skills, it’s time to think about enlarging your team. Clearly define the role you need, whether it’s junior or senior, based on your organization’s needs and task complexity. Identify vital skills and qualifications required for the position, ensuring they align with your business objectives. This evaluation will help streamline the best hiring process, which is important for attracting the right candidates. Document the rationale for the new hire, focusing on unmet business needs or upcoming projects, to gain approval from stakeholders. Developing a Comprehensive Recruitment Plan To develop an extensive recruitment plan, you need to align your hiring strategy with your organization’s business goals. This means clearly defining your hiring needs based on factors like workload and skill gaps as you engage stakeholders to guarantee everyone agrees on the objectives for the new hire. A well-structured plan not just includes detailed job descriptions but likewise incorporates various advertising channels to attract a diverse pool of candidates. Aligning With Business Goals Developing a thorough recruitment plan is crucial for aligning new hires with your organization’s business goals. Start by outlining how each new hire will meet specific needs and contribute to broader objectives. Create a detailed job description that includes necessary skills, qualifications, and your company culture to attract the right candidates. Incorporating recruiting and hiring best practices guarantees a smooth hiring timeline. Involving relevant stakeholders in this process improves communication and aligns hiring objectives across departments. Regularly assess and update your recruitment plan based on changing business goals and market conditions. Utilize data-driven insights to identify potential bottlenecks, improving overall hiring efficiency as you implement unique hiring practices that resonate with your organizational values. Engaging Stakeholders Effectively Engaging stakeholders effectively is a crucial component of developing an extensive recruitment plan. By involving key players, you align your hiring efforts with organizational needs and priorities. Here are three hiring best practices to contemplate: Involve department heads: Their insights help define role responsibilities and necessary qualifications. Maintain clear communication: Regular updates and feedback sessions keep everyone informed, promoting collaboration. Outline sourcing and evaluation steps: A structured approach is imperative for companies with unique hiring processes, ensuring a smooth candidate experience. Companies with the best candidate experience prioritize stakeholder engagement, leading to timely decision-making and well-informed hires. Crafting an Effective Job Description Crafting an effective job description is fundamental for attracting the right candidates, as it serves as the first impression of your organization. Start by clearly outlining the fundamental skills, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the position. Use inclusive language to broaden your applicant pool and encourage diverse candidates to apply. Highlighting your company culture and values helps potential candidates assess their fit within your organization, which is significant for long-term retention. Be specific about the tools and technologies used in the role, as this improves clarity and attracts candidates with the right expertise. Engaging language can make your job description more appealing, showcasing the job’s impact on the organization. Companies with unique recruitment strategies often prioritize compelling job descriptions, whereas those with the best interview process know that a strong initial attraction is important in the big company hiring process. Aim for clarity and precision to improve application rates. Advertising the Position Across Multiple Channels Advertising your job opening across diverse platforms is essential for attracting the right candidates. By utilizing social media, job boards, and your company website, you can engage a targeted audience effectively. Implementing strategies like employee referrals and niche job boards can further improve your reach and elevate the quality of applicants. Diverse Advertising Platforms To effectively attract a diverse pool of candidates, it’s crucial to utilize various advertising platforms that maximize the visibility of job openings. Here are three key strategies: Leverage multiple channels: Post your job openings on job boards, social media, and industry-specific websites to reach both active and passive candidates. Engage employee networks: Encourage your employees to share job postings within their networks for trusted referrals, enhancing reach and applicant quality. Utilize targeted ads: Run paid ads on social media platforms to target specific demographics, aligning with your company’s culture and values. Targeted Audience Engagement When you engage a targeted audience across multiple channels, you greatly boost the chances of attracting the right candidates for your job openings. Utilizing a mix of platforms like company websites, job boards, and social media increases your visibility. Research shows that social media can expand your reach by up to 30%. Plus, encouraging employees to share job postings can lead to higher-quality referrals, with a 25% higher retention rate for referred candidates. Tailoring your advertising based on job type guarantees that your message resonates with the right audience. Advertising Channel Benefits Company Websites Direct engagement with potential applicants Job Boards Broad visibility and diverse candidates Social Media Improved reach and employee engagement Social Media Strategies Social media offers a dynamic way to connect with potential candidates, making it a valuable component of your hiring strategy. By leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, you can markedly broaden your job postings’ reach. Here are three effective strategies: Target: Use demographic and interest-based targeting to attract candidates who match your qualifications closely. Employee Engagement: Encourage your employees to share job postings within their networks, enhancing visibility and finding culturally fit candidates. Showcase Your Brand: Promote your company culture and values through posts, making your organization more appealing to potential hires. Implementing these strategies can lead to a higher application rate, as candidates tend to engage with brands they feel connected to online. Engaging Recruiters and Utilizing Referrals How can you improve your hiring process? Engaging professional recruiters or headhunters can greatly improve your talent pool, especially for specialized roles. These experts have access to networks that standard job postings mightn’t reach. Furthermore, implementing an employee referral program can be one of the most effective recruitment strategies. Referred candidates are often 55% faster to hire and 25% more likely to remain at the company long-term. You can incentivize referrals with bonuses or perks, motivating employees to participate and nurturing a sense of ownership in your company’s growth. Networking events also provide valuable opportunities for recruiters to connect with potential candidates, allowing for direct engagement in a more informal setting. Finally, utilizing social media to promote job openings and encouraging employees to share postings can expand your reach, attracting diverse candidates who may not be actively job searching. Screening Candidate Applications Efficiently Efficiently screening candidate applications is crucial for identifying the best talent in a timely manner, as a streamlined process can save your team valuable resources. Here are three key strategies to improve your application screening: Utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS): This tool filters resumes based on predefined criteria, allowing you to focus only on qualified candidates, reducing time spent on initial reviews. Implement Standardized Checklists: Create checklists to evaluate candidates consistently against job requirements. This approach minimizes bias, ensuring a fair assessment for all applicants. Conduct Phone Screenings: Use phone screenings to gauge baseline qualifications and communication skills. This step helps you narrow the candidate pool effectively, ensuring you only advance those who meet your criteria. Conducting Pre-Interview Screenings Pre-interview screenings serve as a vital step in the hiring process, helping employers quickly identify candidates who meet important qualifications. Typically, these screenings involve brief phone or video calls designed to assess your qualifications and confirm your interest in the position. By using structured questions focused on fundamental skills and experiences, employers streamline the selection process, eliminating those who don’t meet minimum requirements. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect during pre-interview screenings: Aspect Description Format Phone or video calls Purpose Assess qualifications and interest Benefits Saves time and resources Documentation Aids in candidate comparison Effective pre-interview screenings can greatly improve hiring efficiency, allowing only the best-fit candidates to move forward to in-depth interviews. Implementing In-Depth Interviews In-depth interviews serve as a critical component of the hiring process, allowing you to evaluate a candidate’s experience, skills, and cultural fit more thoroughly. To conduct effective in-depth interviews, consider these key steps: Diverse Perspectives: Include multiple interviewers to gather varied insights on the candidate. This helps you assess suitability from different angles. Structured Scoring: Use interview scorecards to improve objectivity, minimizing bias in your evaluations. This guarantees fair assessments of all candidates. Cultural Fit: Focus on alignment with company values and team dynamics, not just technical qualifications. Engaging candidates in informal discussions with potential team members can reveal compatibility and deepen your comprehension of their fit within the team. Performing Background Checks and Reference Verification When you’re hiring, performing background checks and verifying references are crucial steps in ensuring you choose the right candidate. Background checks help confirm a candidate’s criminal history, employment, and educational background, reducing the risk of hiring someone unqualified. Similarly, effective reference verification provides insights into a candidate’s past performance and reliability, allowing you to make informed decisions based on factual information. Importance of Background Checks Background checks play an important role in the hiring process as they help verify essential information about candidates, ensuring that employers make informed decisions. Here are three key reasons why background checks matter: Safety and Trust: They help identify any criminal history, allowing you to maintain a safe workplace for everyone involved. Verification of Information: Approximately 85% of employers conduct background checks to confirm the accuracy of candidates’ claims regarding employment history and credit issues. Reduced Turnover: Thorough checks can decrease turnover rates by up to 30%, ensuring a better fit between the employee and the company culture. Moreover, it’s important to comply with regulations like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to protect candidates’ rights throughout this process. Effective Reference Verification Effective reference verification is an essential step in the hiring process that helps guarantee candidates are a good fit for your organization. Background checks involve verifying criminal records, credit history, and previous employment, assuring compliance with legal standards. Always obtain candidate consent before conducting these checks to maintain transparency and legality. Additionally, referencing past employers or colleagues validates the candidate’s claims about their skills and performance. Don’t overlook social media, as it can provide insights into a candidate’s professional demeanor and cultural compatibility. Documenting your findings is important for future reference and to support informed hiring decisions. Check Type Purpose Importance Criminal Records Ensure safety and compliance Protects company reputation Credit History Assess financial responsibility Reduces hiring risks Employment History Verify claims and performance Confirms candidate qualifications Social Media Evaluate professional demeanor Assesses cultural fit Documentation Record findings for future use Supports decision-making Extending Job Offers and Onboarding New Employees Extending a job offer and onboarding new employees are critical steps in the hiring process that lay the foundation for a successful working relationship. When you extend an offer, make certain to include thorough details like salary, benefits, and terms of employment. This transparency builds trust. Be prepared for negotiations; approaching these discussions professionally can help you reach a mutually satisfying agreement. Onboarding is equally important. A well-structured process can greatly influence employee retention. Here are three key elements to reflect on: Confirm all necessary legal paperwork, such as tax and immigration forms, is completed without delay. Integrate new hires into the company culture, nurturing a sense of belonging. Gather regular feedback from new employees to refine your onboarding approach for future hires. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 7 Steps of the Hiring Process? The hiring process typically involves seven key steps. First, assess your hiring needs to identify skill gaps. Next, create a detailed job description that outlines responsibilities and qualifications. Then, advertise the position using various channels to attract candidates. After that, screen applications to narrow down your options. Conduct interviews to further evaluate candidates. Don’t forget to check references, and finally, make a job offer to your chosen candidate. What Are the 5 C’s of Recruitment? The 5 C’s of recruitment are crucial for a successful hiring process. First, the Candidate focuses on their qualifications and fit for the role. Next, Culture guarantees alignment between the candidate’s values and the organization’s ethos. Competency assesses the necessary skills for effective performance. Communication emphasizes clarity and transparency throughout the recruitment process. Finally, Cost considers the financial implications involved in hiring. Together, these elements help create a robust recruitment strategy. What Is the 80/20 Rule in Interviewing? The 80/20 rule in interviewing suggests that a small number of key questions can reveal most of a candidate’s potential. By focusing on the 20% of crucial skills and experiences that align with the job requirements, you can efficiently assess fit and qualifications. This approach streamlines the interview process, saving time and improving candidate engagement, at the same time enhancing the likelihood of making effective hiring decisions based on the most relevant criteria. What Is the 70 Rule of Hiring? The 70 Rule of Hiring suggests that you should have at least 70% of the necessary skills and experience for a position to be considered a strong candidate. This approach emphasizes potential and cultural fit rather than perfect qualifications, broadening the candidate pool. Conclusion In conclusion, grasping the ten steps in the hiring process is crucial for any organization aiming to attract top talent. By identifying the need for a new hire and developing a solid recruitment plan, you set the foundation for success. Each subsequent step, from crafting job descriptions to onboarding, plays a critical role in ensuring the right candidate is selected and integrated into the company. Following this structured approach can greatly improve your hiring outcomes and overall organizational effectiveness. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Steps in the Big Company Hiring Process You Should Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The European economy recorded modest growth at the end of last year, pushing past turmoil over higher U.S. tariffs. Now the economy faces another hurdle: a stronger euro against the dollar that could weigh on exports. Growth in the 21 countries that use the shared euro currency came in at 0.3% for the last three months of 2025, matching the figure from the third quarter, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Friday. Growth compared with the fourth quarter of 2024 was 1.3%. Moderate growth has defied recession fears from earlier in the year, when U.S. President Donald The President threatened to raise tariffs to levels that could have devastated trade. Talks settled on a 15% cap on U.S. tariffs, or import taxes, on goods from the European Union. The higher tax isn’t great for business — but the certainty resulting from the deal let companies at least go ahead and plan. That assurance was dented after the quarter ended when The President on Jan. 17 threatened EU member countries with higher tariffs for supporting Greenland against his calls for a U.S. takeover. The President later withdrew the threat. European services businesses — a broad category ranging from hairdressers to medical treatment — have shown moderate growth according to the S&P Global survey of purchasing managers. Exports have tanked and the industry continues to lag but showed improvement toward the end of 2025. Lower inflation of 1.9% in December — after a painful spike in 2022-2023 — and rising wages have left consumers with more purchasing power and willingness to spend. The latest threat is the dollar’s steep fall against the euro. It is at its weakest for 4 1/2 years, which makes European exports less competitive on price in a key foreign market. The dollar has weakened due to fears that The President’s tariffs will slow growth and that his attacks on U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will undermine the U.S. central bank’s role as an inflation fighter and protector of the dollar’s worth. The euro has risen 14.4% against the dollar in the past 12 months and traded at $1.19 on Friday. Analysts are saying that if the dollar’s weakness against the euro continues, the European Central Bank may cut interest rates later this year to stimulate growth. The ECB holds a rate-setting meeting on Thursday but is not expected to change rates then. Germany showed improved growth at 0.3% in the quarter, its best quarterly performance in three years, but still faces serious short- and long-term headwinds. The eurozone’s largest economy is still waiting for infrastructure and defense spending set in motion by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to show its effects through increased growth. Germany grew 0.2% last year, its first year of growth after two years of declining output. The government on Wednesday cut its growth outlook for this year to 1% from 1.3% previously. Germany has struggled with a raft of troubles: higher energy prices after the loss of Russian natural gas due to the war against Ukraine, a shortage of skilled labor, increasing Chinese competition in key export sectors such as autos and industrial machinery, years of underinvestment in growth-promoting infrastructure, and too much red tape. Growth for the broader 27-country European Union also came in at 0.3% for the fourth quarter of 2025 and 1.4% compared with the year-earlier quarter. Not all EU members have moved to join the euro, which gained its 21st member in January when Bulgaria joined. —David McHugh, AP business writer View the full article

Justice department announces it has concluded a review of files related to late sex offenderView the full article

Earlier statement that listed CEO as UAE resident had prompted concern among British regulatorsView the full article

Amazon has opened applications for its 2026 Climate Tech Accelerator, a program aimed at helping businesses develop technologies that can reduce the carbon impact of Amazon devices. This initiative not only provides a platform for innovation but also connects small businesses with the technical resources and leadership at Amazon, offering a tangible way to influence sustainability in the tech industry. Maiken Moeller-Hansen, Director of Energy & Sustainability at Amazon Devices & Services, emphasized the program’s intent, stating, “The primary goal of our Climate Tech Accelerator is simple—to speed up efforts to reduce the carbon impact of our devices.” The accelerator aims to streamline the journey from technology validation to potential adoption, making it an appealing opportunity for small businesses focused on sustainability. Participants in the 2026 cohort will work closely with Amazon’s team, receiving expert mentorship to ensure their technologies are viable for broader market integration. The program is particularly suited for companies innovating in areas such as displays, low carbon materials, semiconductors, and energy efficiency. The first cohort was successful, featuring 14 companies that developed advanced technologies, including energy-efficient display solutions and innovative battery designs, which they presented directly to Amazon decision-makers. The accelerator distinguishes itself from traditional models by fostering collaboration between climate tech innovators and enterprise decision-makers. This aspect can be vital for small business owners, as it helps bridge the gap often faced by mid-stage startups that may find themselves too established for conventional accelerators but not yet at a scale suitable for large partnerships. For small business owners, the potential advantages are substantial: Technical Mentorship: Participants will have direct access to Amazon’s experts who can validate and refine proposals, offering insights that can accelerate product development and market readiness. Structured Support: The program includes tailored guidance, bi-weekly progress reviews, and specialized workshops that facilitate technical integration, setting participants up for long-term success. Financial Opportunities: Selected participants may receive up to $100,000 in AWS Activate Credits, enabling them to leverage Amazon’s cloud infrastructure and data services, critical for businesses aiming to scale. Mike Casper, CEO of Azumo, a participant from the 2025 cohort, remarked, “This accelerator bridges a critical gap for companies like ours—too established for traditional startup programs, but not yet at consumer electronics scale for enterprise partnerships.” His company benefited significantly from understanding Amazon’s culture and processes, which are invaluable for any small business looking to innovate within the tech space. However, aspiring applicants should consider some potential challenges. The program’s structure and requirements may demand a significant commitment of resources and time, particularly for small businesses that may already be stretched thin. Furthermore, the competitive nature of the cohort selection—given that the first group already included global players—means that only the most promising technologies will be given the opportunity to participate. The program kicks off in May 2026 with a boot camp held in Amazon’s Hong Kong offices. Participants will showcase their technologies in technical workshops, also developing comprehensive plans for integration. Finalists will have the chance to pitch these technologies directly to Amazon’s leadership, providing immense visibility and a potential pathway to widespread application. For small business owners eager to engage in climate action and bring innovative technologies to market, the Amazon Climate Tech Accelerator presents a unique opportunity. By harnessing the support of a major industry player, businesses can enhance their offerings while contributing to a more sustainable future. Interested companies can find more details and application information here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Amazon Opens Applications for 2026 Climate Tech Accelerator Cohort" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

President Donald The President on Thursday signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis. The order would primarily put pressure on Mexico, a government that has acted as an oil lifeline for Cuba and has constantly voiced solidarity for the U.S. adversary even as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to build a strong relationship with The President. The President was asked by a reporter Thursday whether he was trying to “choke off” Cuba, which he called a “failing nation.” “The word ‘choke off’ is awfully tough,” The President said. “I’m not trying to, but, it looks like it’s something that’s just not going to be able to survive.” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and a number of other Cuban officials condemned The President’s executive order. Rodríguez called it a “brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people … who are now threatened with being subjected to extreme living conditions.” He accused the U.S. of resorting to “blackmail and coercion to try to force other countries to join its universally condemned blockade policy against Cuba.” Cuba relies on allies for energy This week has been marked by speculation that Mexico would slash oil shipments to Cuba under mounting pressure by The President to distance itself from the Cuban government. In its deepening energy and economic crisis, fueled in part by strict economic sanctions by the U.S., Cuba has relied heavily on foreign assistance and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia and Venezuela before a U.S. military operation ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Since the Venezuela operation, The President has said no more Venezuelan oil will go to Cuba and the Cuban government is ready to fall. In its most recent report, Mexico’s state-owned oil company Pemex said it shipped nearly 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba from January through Sept. 30, 2025. That month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mexico City. Afterward, Jorge Piñon, an expert at the University of Texas Energy Institute who tracks shipments using satellite technology, said the figure had fallen to about 7,000 barrels. Uncertainty simmers in Mexico Sheinbaum has been incredibly vague about where her country stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous answers to inquiries about the shipments, and dodged reporters questions in her morning press briefings. On Tuesday, Sheinbaum said Pemex had at least temporarily paused some oil shipments to Cuba. But she struck an ambiguous tone, saying the pause was part of general fluctuations in oil supplies and a “sovereign decision” not made under pressure from the U.S. Sheinbaum has said Mexico would continue to show solidarity with Havana, but didn’t clarify what kind of support Mexico would offer. On Wednesday, the Latin American leader claimed she never said Mexico has completely “suspended” shipments and “humanitarian aid” to Cuba would continue and decisions about shipments to Cuba were determined by Pemex contracts. “So the contract determines when shipments are sent and when they are not sent,” Sheinbaum said. The President and Sheinbaum spoke by phone Thursday morning. Sheinbaum said they did not discuss Cuba. “We didn’t address the issue of Cuba,” Sheinbaum said, adding that Mexico’s foreign affairs secretary had discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that it was “very important” for Mexico to maintain its humanitarian aid to Cuba and Mexico was willing to serve as an intermediary between the U.S. and Cuba. ‘Under threat of tariff coercion’ The lack of clarity from the leader has underscored the extreme pressure Mexico and other Latin American nations are under as The President has grown more confrontational following the Venezuelan operation. It remains unclear what the Thursday order by The President will mean for Cuba, which has been roiled by crisis for years and a U.S. embargo. Anxieties were already simmering on the Caribbean island as many drivers sat in long lines this week for gasoline, many unsure of what would come next. On Cuban state television, commentator Jorge Legañoa, who usually expresses views aligned with the government, asserted “Cuba was not a threat,” but rather that the island’s authorities were fighting gangs and preventing regional drug trafficking with their zero-tolerance policy. Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos F. de Cossio wrote on social media platform X that the U.S. is tightening its Cuban blockade after “the failure of decades of relentless economic warfare” and attempting to “force sovereign states to join the embargo.” “Under threat of tariff coercion, they must decide whether to forgo their right to export their own fuel to Cuba,” he wrote. —Michelle L. Price and Megan Janetsky, Associated Press Andrea Rodríguez and Dánica Coto contributed to this report. View the full article

Why they beat AUM and hourly fees for wealth management. By Rory Henry The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Why they beat AUM and hourly fees for wealth management. By Rory Henry The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Use your software to guide the training. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

Use your software to guide the training. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

No doc loans for LLCs are a financing option designed for businesses that need quick access to capital without extensive paperwork. They primarily rely on your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and recent financial activity, streamlining the application process. This means you can often receive funds within 24 to 48 hours. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to understand both the benefits and potential drawbacks before considering this route for your business financing needs. What should you know next? Key Takeaways No doc loans require minimal paperwork, primarily an EIN and basic revenue information, making them quick financing options for LLCs. Eligibility is based on business credit score and cash flow, not personal credit history, allowing easier access for startups. Common types include merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, and unsecured short-term loans, each providing quick capital. Approval and funding processes are rapid, often within 24 to 48 hours, catering to urgent business needs. While offering convenience, these loans typically come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms compared to traditional financing options. What Are No Doc Loans for LLCs? No doc loans for LLCs are a type of financing that allows businesses to obtain funds quickly during requiring minimal paperwork. These loans are particularly suitable for LLCs needing urgent financing without the hassle of extensive documentation. You typically need only your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and basic revenue information to apply. Unlike traditional loans, no doc loans for Rocket Mortgage often don’t require detailed financial records like tax returns or business plans. Instead, lenders may offer stated income business loans that focus on recent financial activity rather than historical data. Options for these business loans no documents include merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, and short-term loans. Nevertheless, be aware that although these loans provide fast access to cash, they typically come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms, so it’s critical to evaluate your ability to repay the loan before committing. How Do No Doc Loans Work? When considering no doc loans for your LLC, you should start by comprehending the application process, which involves providing minimal documentation like your business’s EIN and recent financial activity. Eligibility typically hinges on your business credit score and cash flow rather than personal credit history, allowing for quicker access to funds. Once approved, you’ll find that funding and repayment terms can vary, often featuring higher interest rates and shorter repayment periods because of the nature of these loans. Application Process Overview To secure a no-doc loan for your LLC, you’ll need to navigate a streamlined application process designed to minimize paperwork while still providing essential business information. Start by gathering basic details, like your LLC’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) and annual revenue figures. Many lenders now utilize online platforms, allowing you to complete forms quickly, sometimes within minutes. Although minimal documentation is required, be prepared to answer questions about your business operations and possibly provide bank statements for verification. Approval is typically faster than traditional loans, with some lenders offering instant decisions based on automated assessments. When considering what banks offer no doc business loans or a no doc business line of credit, keep in mind the potential for higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms. Eligibility and Requirements Comprehending the eligibility and requirements for no-doc loans is crucial for LLCs seeking flexible financing options. Usually, these loans require only basic information, like your business’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) and annual revenue, streamlining the application process. Although true no-doc loans don’t exist, lenders still ask for minimal documentation compared to traditional loans, often bypassing tax returns and financial statements. Eligibility hinges on your business’s cash flow and creditworthiness, with some lenders considering unpaid invoices as well. Approval times can be rapid, with funds available within one business day, making these loans ideal for urgent needs. Keep in mind that eligibility standards may vary by lender, but typically, these loans suit LLCs facing challenges with conventional financing. Funding and Repayment Terms Even though securing funding through no-doc loans can provide a quick solution for your LLC’s financial needs, comprehending how these loans function is crucial. Usually, they require minimal documentation, often just your business’s EIN and basic financial details for approval. You can expect fast access to funds, with some approvals happening within one business day. Nonetheless, repayment terms are typically shorter, ranging from 12 weeks to 24 months, and may come with higher interest rates because of the reduced documentation. Many loans require daily or weekly payments, which can strain your finances if not managed well. Lenders might additionally consider cash flow or unpaid invoices instead of traditional credit assessments, benefiting LLCs with limited credit history. Benefits of No Doc Loans for LLCs When you consider financing options for your LLC, no doc loans stand out due to their unique benefits designed for businesses. One significant advantage is the streamlined application process, requiring only your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and minimal financial documentation. This efficiency allows you to access funds quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours, which is crucial for urgent business needs. Furthermore, these loans feature flexible qualification criteria, making them accessible for startups or LLCs with limited credit histories. By using no doc loans, you can keep your business credit profile separate from your personal credit, allowing for financing based on your business’s performance rather than your individual financial history. Even though these loans may carry higher interest rates, the convenience and speed of funding often outweigh this drawback, particularly for LLCs that need immediate cash flow solutions. Potential Drawbacks of No Doc Loans Though no doc loans offer quick access to funds for your LLC, they likewise come with several potential drawbacks that you should consider. First, these loans often carry higher interest rates, which can range from 10% to over 30%. This reflects the increased risk lenders assume because of minimal documentation. Furthermore, repayment terms are typically shorter, usually between 3 months and 2 years, potentially leading to higher monthly payments that could strain your finances. You might as well face limits on loan amounts, which tend to be lower than traditional loans, capping your funding options. In addition, the lack of extensive documentation can result in unfavorable loan terms, as lenders may impose stricter conditions or higher fees. Finally, relying on no doc loans may hinder your ability to build a solid credit history, since these loans mightn’t report to credit bureaus like traditional loans do. Types of No Doc Loans for LLCs After weighing the potential drawbacks of no doc loans, it’s important to explore the different types available for LLCs. One option is Merchant Cash Advances (MCAs), which provide upfront funding based on future sales, with repayments linked to daily credit or debit card transactions. Invoice Factoring allows you to sell unpaid invoices to a third party for immediate cash flow, typically getting 85% to 90% upfront. Business Lines of Credit offer flexible access to funds, letting you borrow as needed during a draw period with minimal documentation. Unsecured Short-Term Business Loans are another choice, requiring no physical collateral, but often come with higher interest rates and short repayment terms. Finally, Invoice Financing uses unpaid invoices as collateral, giving you immediate cash flow as you retain the right to collect on those invoices, unlike factoring, where the invoices are sold. Each type has unique benefits customized to LLCs’ needs. Lenders That Offer No Doc Loans When you’re considering no doc loans for your LLC, it’s crucial to know which lenders are available. Companies like AltLINE, Bluevine, Fundbox, and Kapitus offer these loans with minimal paperwork, focusing more on your business’s credit profile and cash flow. Comprehending their application processes can help you secure funding quickly, often within just one business day. Top Lenders Overview Several lenders specialize in providing no-doc loans for LLCs, making it easier for businesses to secure funding without extensive paperwork. Here’s an overview of some top lenders: AltLINE – Offers flexible loan amounts and quick approval. Bluevine – Known for its fast funding, often within one business day. Backd – Provides a streamlined online application for convenience. Fundbox – Caters to a broad range of credit scores, from 300 to 650. These lenders commonly offer loan amounts ranging from $250,000 to $10,000,000, depending on your qualifications. The application process usually requires basic business information, ensuring you can access funds quickly and efficiently. Application Process Explained Comprehending the application process for no-doc loans is crucial if you’re looking to secure funding for your LLC quickly and efficiently. Start by gathering basic business information, such as your EIN and annual revenue. Lenders like Fundbox and Bluevine offer streamlined online applications that often take just minutes to complete, with approvals possible within the same business day. The focus is primarily on your business’s cash flow and creditworthiness, requiring minimal documentation. After submitting your application, be prepared to answer follow-up questions from lenders to clarify your financial situation or specific needs. Once approved, you could access funds as soon as the next business day, making no-doc loans a fast option for your financing needs. The Application Process for No Doc Loans Applying for a no-doc loan as an LLC can be a straightforward process, especially since many lenders prioritize efficiency over extensive paperwork. You’ll typically need to gather a few key pieces of information to get started: Employer Identification Number (EIN): This is crucial for identifying your business. Basic Business Information: Include details like annual revenue and the industry you operate in. Access to Financial Data: You may need to connect your accounting software or provide financial data for quicker processing. Be Ready for Questions: After submitting your application, lenders might follow up for clarification on your business’s financial situation. The online application process is streamlined, often allowing you to complete forms in minutes and receive quick approvals, sometimes within one business day. Many lenders focus on cash flow or creditworthiness instead of requiring extensive documentation, making this a convenient option for LLCs. How to Qualify for No Doc Loans Using Your EIN To qualify for no doc loans using your EIN, you need to understand the crucial benefits and criteria involved. Your EIN not merely separates your business credit from personal credit, but it additionally helps protect your personal assets during the loan process. EIN Benefits Explained Comprehension of the benefits of using your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for no-doc loans is essential for any LLC looking to secure funding. Here are some key advantages: Separation of Credit: Using an EIN keeps your business credit profile distinct from your personal credit history, allowing lenders to assess your business independently. Simplified Application: The application process is streamlined, often requiring only basic business information and revenue figures. Enhanced Credibility: Lenders favor businesses with an EIN, viewing it as a sign of a formal structure, which boosts trustworthiness. Asset Protection: Utilizing an EIN helps shield your personal assets from liabilities tied to the loan, minimizing your personal risk in case of default. Qualification Criteria Overview When considering no-doc loans using your EIN, it’s important to understand the specific qualification criteria that lenders may require. To qualify, you typically need to provide basic business information like annual revenue and your business credit profile, rather than extensive financial documentation. Lenders often set a minimum credit score ranging from 300 to 650, depending on their policies and the loan type. The application process is usually streamlined for quicker approvals, sometimes within one business day. Many no-doc loans emphasize your business’s performance and cash flow instead of personal credit history, making them accessible for LLCs with limited financial records. Some lenders may likewise review alternative data, such as incoming invoices or collateral, to evaluate creditworthiness. Alternatives to No Doc Loans for LLCs Although no-doc loans can be appealing for LLCs needing quick access to funds without extensive paperwork, several alternatives may better suit your needs and financial situation. Consider these options: Microloans: Ideal for small funding needs, microloans offer lower interest rates and flexible repayment terms. Equipment Financing: This allows you to acquire crucial machinery or equipment, using the equipment as collateral, which minimizes documentation requirements. Invoice Factoring: By selling unpaid invoices at a discount, you can achieve immediate cash flow, providing a faster funding solution without traditional loan hassles. Traditional Bank Loans or SBA Loans: If you can provide the required documentation, these loans typically feature lower interest rates and longer repayment terms compared to no-doc loans. These alternatives can help you secure the funding your LLC needs during potentially offering better financial terms. Tips for Managing No Doc Loans Managing no doc loans effectively requires a strategic approach, as these loans can offer quick access to funds but likewise come with risks. First, keep a clear record of your business’s cash flow to guarantee timely repayments and avoid defaulting on the loan. It’s wise to set aside a portion of your revenue particularly for loan repayments, which helps manage cash flow and prevents financial strain on your LLC. Regularly review the terms of your loan to stay informed about interest rates and repayment schedules, allowing you to plan your finances better. Utilize the quick access to funds from no doc loans to invest in growth opportunities that can lead to increased revenue, facilitating easier repayment. Finally, monitor your credit score and overall financial health to improve your chances of securing favorable terms for future financing options. Next Steps for LLCs Seeking Financing As you explore financing options for your LLC, consider the straightforward application process for no doc loans, which often requires only your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and some basic business information. To move forward effectively, follow these steps: Research Lenders: Look for reputable online lenders like Fundbox and Bluevine, known for quick approval times. Check Qualification Criteria: Understand that credit score requirements can range from 300 to 650, and assess your eligibility accordingly. Review Loan Terms: Be aware that no doc loans often come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms, typically between 12 weeks to 24 months. Evaluate Risks: Carefully consider the potential costs and risks associated with quick funding, as these loans may lead to debt accumulation if not managed properly. Frequently Asked Questions How Does a No Doc Business Loan Work? A no doc business loan simplifies the borrowing process by requiring minimal paperwork. You typically only need to provide basic information, like your business’s EIN and recent revenue figures. Lenders assess your creditworthiness based on business performance indicators, such as cash flow, rather than extensive financial documentation. As approval can be quick, often within a day, these loans usually come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms compared to traditional loans. What Are the Risks of a No Doc Loan? The risks of a no doc loan include high interest rates, which can soar above 300%, greatly increasing your borrowing costs. Short repayment terms often lead to frequent payments that might strain your cash flow. Minimal documentation means lenders may approve loans for borrowers who can’t repay, raising default rates. Moreover, unclear terms, including hidden fees, can catch you off guard, and defaulting may result in losing your collateral or assets. Are No Doc Loans Hard to Get? Yes, no doc loans can be hard to get. Lenders often perceive them as high-risk because of limited documentation, leading to stricter qualification criteria. You’ll likely need a solid business credit score, typically above 650, which can be challenging if your score is lower. Alternative lenders may offer these loans, but they tend to come with higher interest rates. Furthermore, newer businesses or those without extensive financial history may struggle to qualify. Can an LLC Get a Loan With No Credit? Yes, an LLC can secure a loan without established credit. Many lenders assess your business’s cash flow and overall performance instead of relying solely on credit scores. You can provide alternative documents, like revenue proof or unpaid invoices, to demonstrate your financial health. Options like unsecured short-term loans and merchant cash advances make it easier for your business to access funding quickly, regardless of whether you lack traditional credit history. Conclusion In conclusion, no doc loans for LLCs offer a quick financing solution with minimal documentation requirements, primarily relying on your EIN and cash flow. Although they provide rapid access to funds, it’s crucial to be aware of their higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms. Comprehending the benefits, drawbacks, and qualification criteria can help you make an informed decision. If you’re considering this option, weigh it against alternatives to guarantee it aligns with your business needs and financial situation. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "No Doc Loans for LLCs: How Do They Work?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Liftoff Mobile, a California-based mobile app marketing provider, announced on Thursday that it plans to launch . . . into the public markets. The company, backed by Blackstone, is targeting a valuation of nearly $5.2 billion for its IPO, and is looking to raise as much as $762 million in funding by selling more than 25 million shares. Share prices are expected to range between $26 and $30. It will trade under the ticker “LFTO.” The company’s roots go back to 2012, when it was initially founded. A majority stake was later acquired by Blackstone in 2021, and Liftoff was then combined with Vungle to create a single, large, independent mobile adtech platform. That platform provides users with an AI-powered tool to support customer acquisition and monetization for mobile advertisers or publishers. It works across several industries, such as finance and gaming. The company’s S-1 filing with the SEC states that it has more than 1.4 billion daily active users, and more than 1,000 global advertisers as of the fourth quarter of 2025. “To our new investors: You are investing in a company with a senior leadership team averaging twelve years of ad tech industry experience, and technology that gets smarter with every cycle. We have a history of delivering results and a commitment to sustaining that reputation. You can expect what we’ve always delivered: customer focus, product velocity, and results,” said CEO Jeremy Bondy in a statement included in the S-1 filing. The IPO market has felt quiet overall, but a recent report from EY shows that 2025 was the busiest year for IPOs since 2021. Last year, there were 216 total IPOs, amounting to $47.4 billion in proceeds. As for 2026, EY’s report notes that there is “significant optimism for investors and potential issuers in 2026,” fueled by strong interest in AI and other areas—something Liftoff is likely trying to take advantage of. Almost a month into 2026, data from Renaissance Capital shows that there have been nine IPOs priced so far, down 47% from 2025. View the full article

Epstein sent Reinaldo Avila da Silva payment in 2009View the full article

The last Sundance Film Festival in Utah is drawing to a close this weekend. The Park City gathering was a wistful farewell to the place Robert Redford’s brainchild has called home for over 40 years and launched so many careers. Although the festival isn’t ending — it will start anew in Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 — it did have many, from filmmakers to volunteers, feeling nostalgic about the change whether their Sundance story began in 2022 or 1992. A Wednesday night anniversary screening of “Little Miss Sunshine,” still one of the festival’s biggest hits, was an especially emotional affair as filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, and actors Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin, gathered once more, 20 years later, at the festival’s most famous and largest location, the Eccles Theater. Many in the audience had seen the movie and some had even been at the 2006 premiere. But a fair number were experiencing it for the first time and the response was rapturous. “Who would have imagined that a single film could deliver two electric nights at a Sundance Film Festival?” said festival director Eugene Hernandez. It wasn’t all looking back, however. The festival’s program is first and foremost about discovery. First time feature filmmakers comprised about 40% of the slate. The programmers also wanted to do right by Park City. “I feel like we achieved that based on what we’ve seen this week,” said Sundance programming director Kim Yutani. “The enthusiasm for the artists that we have now shared with the world is significant. It’s profound.” ICE and politics seep in The festival wasn’t a bubble to world events either. On the second night, a Florida Congressman was assaulted at a party by a man who told him he was going to get deported. ICE OUT pins were not an uncommon sight on major stars, like Natalie Portman, on the red carpet. And films like Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell’s “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” (in theaters March 27) sparked conversations about the end of the world. Memorable moments thanks to Charli xcx, Harry, Meghan and Billie Jean King It also didn’t stop people from having a good time. There was an all-night DJ’d party for the Charli xcx movie “The Moment” (in theaters this weekend) which had some out dancing until well after 3 a.m. The Billie Jean King documentary “Give Me the Ball!” had the audience erupting into spontaneous applause. (Afterward, King hit tennis balls into the balcony). Rufus Wainwright and Norah Jones sang Marianne Faithfull songs after a screening of “Broken English.” And the documentary “Cookie Queens,” about Girl Scout Cookie season, was an audience favorite that also brought a surprise appearance by Prince Harry and Meghan, who executive produced. Olivia Wilde’s big comeback Charli xcx might have had Wilde beat in numbers with three films at the festival, but Wilde took the spotlight for sheer impact. She confidently carried Gregg Araki’s comedic, and erotic, thriller “I Want Your Sex,” as the provocative artist Erika Tracy, who initiates an affair with one of her interns (Cooper Hoffman), changing his life and views about sex in the process. But her bigger moment was “The Invite,” a sharp chamber dramedy about an unhappy and sexless San Francisco couple (Wilde and Seth Rogen) who invite their upstairs neighbors (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) over for dinner. Wilde directed the film, which quickly became a festival favorite, sparking a competitive, 72-hour bidding war. A24 emerged as the winner (reportedly in the range of $12 million) in the biggest acquisition of the festival so far. A release date for “The Invite” has not yet been announced. “I Want Your Sex” has not yet been acquired for distribution. The Channing Tatum drama everyone is talking about One of the biggest hits was also one of the most challenging: “Josephine,” writer-director Beth De Araújo’s raw drama about an 8-year-old girl (Mason Reeves) whose life and sense of safety is upended after she witnesses a sexual assault in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Tatum and Gemma Chan play the parents who are unsure how to help her navigate these new emotions and fears. It has not yet been acquired for distribution. The queer horror breakout Writer-director Adrian Chiarella’s midnight movie “Leviticus” was scooped up quickly by the indie label Neon (of “Parasite” and “Anora” fame) in a reported seven-figure deal. The Australian coming-of-age thriller is about two teenage boys (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) trapped in conversion therapy horror. A critic for IndieWire wrote that it played like an episode of “Heated Rivalry” crossed with the psychological horror “It Follows.” A release date has not yet been announced. A documentary more than 50 years in the making The footage that makes up the new documentary “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” was shot in 1972, when groundbreaking filmmaker William Greaves ( who died in 2014 ) brought together the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance, poets, authors, librarians, photographers, critics and actors, to reflect on what it all meant, at a party at Duke Ellington’s home. His son David Greaves did camera work at the party and co-directed and finished the film, a striking and essential historical artifact (and a good, intellectually stimulating hang). It has not yet been acquired for distribution. Other buzzy titles John Turturro got an enthusiastic standing ovation for his performance in “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” a nostalgic crime thriller about a veteran pickpocket who steals from the wrong man, written and directed by Noah Segan. There was lots of chatter about “Wicker,” a quirky fantasy about a sardonic fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions a basket weaver to weave her a husband (Alexander Skarsgård), from filmmakers Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson. David Wain’s earnestly horny (and surprisingly gory) riff on “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” was a starry, easy crowd pleaser, with Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm and John Slattery. And Rinko Kikuchi got raves for her turn as a woman competing in the Tokyo ballroom scene in “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty.” All are still seeking distribution, but the end of the festival does not mean the end of those talks. “There are many more deals happening,” Yutani said. “The fact that these films are going to have these robust lives after their Sundance premieres is exactly what we want for these films. For them to reach wider audiences is definitely the goal.” For more coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival —Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer View the full article

Foreign minister says Tehran is ready for nuclear talks after The President sent ‘armada’ to regionView the full article

SparkToro research finds AI tools produce different brand recommendation lists more than 99% of the time when given the same prompt. The post AI Recommendations Change With Nearly Every Query: Sparktoro appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to other readers. * If you submitted a question to me recently, please do not repost it here, as it may be in my queue to answer. The post open thread – January 30, 2026 appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

If you're the kind of person who only uses Safari to download Chrome, you need to think again. For a Mac user, Safari might be the best browser there is (yes, even better than Chrome). It's fast, secure, doesn't buckle under most loads, sips RAM instead of munching through it, and it'll help your battery last longer as well. And yes, there are even extensions and ad blockers that work natively in Safari. It's time to take another look at Safari, and use all its hidden features and smarts to make your browsing better. Blast away ads and other distracting items Credit: Khamosh Pathak When this feature came out, it became a bit of a meme on TikTok. In case you haven't heard, Safari has a new Hide Distracting Items feature that can zap pretty much anything on a webpage out of existence. You'll find in the page options menu (the - icon to the left of the address bar). After activating it, try clicking on a popup menu, autoplaying video, newsletter box or pretty much anything else. It'll be banished from your screen, and there will even be a little animation showing it disappearing like it's just been snapped by Thanos. And Safari will remember your snap, so it won't show up the next time you visit that site on your Mac, or even your iPhone or iPad. And if you're feeling more like Iron Man, yes, you can cancel your snaps. Give Safari a decent ad blocker Credit: Justin Pot For ad blocking, Firefox and Chrome have the uBlock Origin extension. Then there are browsers like Brave and Opera, which come with ad-blocking built-in. Safari has always suffered in this regard. There was never really a true alternative to uBlock available for Safari. There is a version of uBlock Origin for Safari, but it doesn't use Safari's own framework for ad-blocking, so it suffers when it comes to performance and blocking capabilities. But now it seems like there's finally a decent alternative, called wBlock. I've been using it ever since my colleague, Justin Pot, wrote about it, and I am happy to say that it finally makes Safari's ad-blocking experience on par with some of the bigger browsers. And the best part? wBlock is free and open-source. Embrace tab groups and the sidebar Credit: Khamosh Pathak Before development was suspended, I loved the Arc browser. But ever since the company shut it down, I have become jaded, and I haven't really started using alternatives like the Zen Browser. The biggest features I miss from Arc are the workspaces and vertical tabs. But now, Safari has those too. In Safari, you can now create Tab Groups, which can contain as many tabs as you want. I use these as my workspaces. One group for reading long articles, another for travel research, and so on. And while I'm in a tab group, I also like to do it with the sidebar open (click the Sidebar button next to the Back and Forward buttons), which gives me a vertical-tabs experience similar to Arc's. It isn't exactly like Arc, because the horizontal tab bar up top doesn't disappear. But having a vertical list of tabs still helps. So does the fact that Tab Groups sync with my iPhone and iPad, so I can pick up my research there as well. To create a new tab group, click the New Tab Group button at the top of the sidebar. Or you can select multiple tabs, right-click, and choose the Move to Tab Group > New Tab Group option. On the iPhone, open the tab switcher, tap the Menu button from the top, and choose New Empty Tab Group to get started. Master Safari's new design for iPhone Credit: Khamosh Pathak Safari was one of the few apps that saw a major design update in iOS 26, with a redesigned bottom bar. Lifehacker has a detailed guide on all the new hidden gestures and features in Safari's iOS 26 redesign, but I'll highlight some of my favorites here. Swipe to switch tabs: To quickly switch between tabs, just swipe left or right on the address bar. Press and hold the address bar: A lot is hidden here. You can copy a link, paste from your clipboard, switch to another tab group, close tabs, or close all tabs. Swipe up on the address bar: Swipe up on the address bar to reveal all open tabs. From here, you can swipe left or right to switch between tab groups. From the top menu, you can copy links for all open tabs with ease. Pin tabs: Tap and hold a website from the tabs screen, and choose the Pin Tab option to pin the website to the top of your browser. Bring back the iPhone's old tab bar Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you don't like the iPhone's new compact tab bar or its gestures, you can still go back to the way things used to be. Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Tabs. Switch to the Bottom option to bring back the expanded bottom toolbar, or to go further back in time, go with the Top option. Lead separate browsing lives using Profiles Credit: Khamosh Pathak It's not as obvious as in Chrome, but Safari also has profiles that sync between iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can use Profiles to keep your work and personal lives separate. This can also be useful if you and your spouse use the same Mac. Profiles will fully separate your browsing from other users, including logins, cookies, browsing history, tab groups, favorites, and even extensions. To set one up for Safari on Mac, go to Settings > Profiles. On the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Profiles and tap New Profile. Give it a name, and make sure to pick an icon and color. This will tint the background of the start page, so it'll find it easier to know which profile you're in. Turn your favorite sites into apps Credit: Khamosh Pathak On Mac, you can use Safari to turn any frequently used website into an app of its own. It will show up in the Dock and the app-switcher. It's still the same website, but it will have its own shortcut on your Mac's interface, making it easier to use. If you use your Mac for retail, or any kind of specialized work that happens via a website, this can be really handy. To do this, visit a website, click the Share button, and click Add to Dock. Your logins will sync automatically, and so will your extensions. The toolbar will be colored based on the website colors as well. You can also do this on iPhone, by navigating to a site, tapping the Share button, tapping More, and tapping Add to Home Screen. The website's logo will show up as an "app" on your home screen, and it'll act as a shortcut to the site. Automatically close open tabs Credit: Khamosh Pathak I love opening tabs, but I hate closing them. That means it's easy for me to hit the 500 tab limit in Safari. So I enabled the option that automatically closes tabs that are older than 30 days. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Safari > Close Tabs. You can choose between one day, one week, or one month. Listen to a page out loud Credit: Khamosh Pathak You might be familiar with Safari's Reader Mode, which is perhaps the best in the business. But there's another feature hidden in the Page Settings option. Tap the Listen to Page button, and Safari will instantly start reading the site you're on out loud. Before doing this, though, I would recommend you switch to Reader Mode first, so the text-to-speech doesn't get caught on ads or other distractions. Customize or change the Safari start page Credit: Khamosh Pathak Every time you open Safari, or a new tab, you see the browser's default start page. Let's take some time to customize just how it looks and works. First, open the start page, then click the Edit button in the bottom-right corner to enable or disable which sections you want to see. I suggest adding sections for your Favorites, Reading List, iCloud Tabs, and Recently Closed Tabs. You can also change the background to any color that you like. If you don't like an overloaded start page, you can also try out the Bonjourr Safari extension. It's a start-page replacement that I've used for months now. It automatically cycles between serene backgrounds while showing the time and weather. You can add quick shortcuts for your frequently visited sites, too. It's also fully customizable, and looks great on iPhone as well as Mac. View the full article

Journalist Don Lemon and three other people were arrested Friday in connection with an anti-immigration protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church and increased tensions between residents and the The President administration, officials said. Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he had been covering the Grammy Awards, his attorney Abbe Lowell said. It is unclear what charge or charges Lemon and the others are facing in the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul. Lemon’s arrest came after a magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge him. Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023, has said he has no affiliation to the organization that went into the church and that he was there as a journalist chronicling protesters. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in a statement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.” Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media Friday morning confirming the arrest of Lemon and the others who were present during the protest at the church where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. “At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Bondi said. Since he left CNN, Lemon has joined the legion of journalists who have gone into business for himself, posting regularly on YouTube. He hasn’t hidden his disdain for The President. Yet during his online show from the church, he said repeatedly, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He described the scene in front of him, and interviewed churchgoers and demonstrators. Shortly after the first attempt to charge him fell through, he predicted on his show that the administration would try again. “And guess what,” he said, “here I am. Keep trying. That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. That’s not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead, make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel, if you want. Just do it. Because I’m not going anywhere.” Local independent journalist Georgia Fort livestreamed the moments before her arrest Friday on Facebook Live, saying “agents are at my door right now” and that they had an arrest warrant and a grand jury indictment. “I don’t feel like I have my first amendment right as a member of the press because now the federal agents are at my door arresting me for filming the church protest a few weeks ago,” Fort said, adding that she knew she was on a list of defendants that is under seal. A prominent civil rights attorney and two other people involved in the protest were arrested last week. Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service. The Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation after the group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in social media post last week. Cities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads an ICE field office. Many Baptist churches have pastors who also work other jobs. The Justice Department’s swift investigation into the church disruption stands in contrast to its decision not to open a civil rights investigation into Good’s killing by an ICE officer. The department has not said whether it will open a civil rights probe into the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal officers. “Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the The President Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell said. Associated Press reporters Dave Bauder in New York City, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed. —Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker, Associated Press View the full article

Google is experimenting with showing third-party endorsement content directly within Search ads. The test places short endorsements from external publishers under the ad description, including the third party’s name, logo, and favicon. What’s showing up. The test was first spotted by Sarah Blocksidge, Marketing Director at Sixth City Marketing, who shared a screenshot on Mastodon. In the example, a Search ad included the line “Best for Frequent Travelers,” attributed to PCMag, complete with the publication’s favicon. The endorsement appears directly beneath the ad copy, visually separating it from standard advertiser-written text. Why we care. If rolled out more broadly, the change could make Search ads feel more like product reviews — and potentially give advertisers with strong third-party validation a new advantage in crowded auctions. What Google says. A Google Ads spokesperson confirmed the test, calling it “a small experiment” – “This is a small experiment we are currently running that explores placing third-party endorsement content on Search ads.” Google did not provide details on eligibility, sourcing, advertiser controls, or how endorsements are selected. What we don’t know yet. It’s unclear whether advertisers can opt into the feature, request specific endorsements, or influence which third-party sources appear. Google also hasn’t said whether the test is tied to existing review extensions, publisher partnerships, or broader trust and safety initiatives. What to watch. If Google expands the experiment, third-party credibility could become a more visible factor in ad performance — shifting emphasis from advertiser claims to external validation at the point of search. For now, the test appears limited, but it offers a glimpse at how Google may continue blending ads, trust signals, and editorial-style context in search results. Dig Deeper. Screenshot shared on Mastadon. View the full article