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Reputational damage to the Fed and US assets will not be easily reversed View the full article

Anjan Roy was studying with friends at Missouri State University when he got an email that turned his world upside down. His legal status as an international student had been terminated, and he was suddenly at risk for deportation. “I was in literal shock, like, what the hell is this?” said Roy, a graduate student in computer science from Bangladesh. At first, he avoided going out in public, skipping classes and mostly keeping his phone turned off. A court ruling in his favor led to his status being restored this week, and he has returned to his apartment, but he is still asking his roommates to screen visitors. More than a thousand international students have faced similar disruptions in recent weeks, with their academic careers—and their lives in the U.S.—thrown into doubt in a widespread crackdown by the The President administration. Some have found a measure of success in court, with federal judges around the country issuing orders to restore students’ legal status at least temporarily. In addition to the case filed in Atlanta, where Roy is among 133 plaintiffs, judges have issued temporary restraining orders in states including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Judges have denied similar requests in some other cases, saying it was not clear the loss of status would cause irreparable harm. International students challenge grounds for their status revocation Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month the State Department was revoking visas held by visitors who were acting counter to national interests, including some who protested Israel’s war in Gaza and those who face criminal charges. But many affected students said they have been involved only in minor infractions, or it’s unclear altogether why they were targeted. The attorney for Roy and his fellow plaintiffs, Charles Kuck, argued the government did not have legal grounds to terminate the students’ status. He speculated in court last week the government is trying to encourage these students to self-deport, saying “the pressure on these students is overwhelming.” He said some asked him if it was safe to leave their homes to get food, and others worried they wouldn’t receive a degree after years of work or feared their chances of a career in the U.S. were shot. “I think the hope is they’ll just leave,” Kuck said. “The reality is these kids are invested.” An attorney for the government, R. David Powell, argued the students did not suffer significant harm because they could transfer their academic credits or find jobs in another country. At least 1,100 students at 174 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. The AP is working to confirm reports of hundreds more students who are caught up in the crackdown. In a lawsuit filed Monday by four people on student visas at the University of Iowa, attorneys detail the “mental and financial suffering” they’ve experienced. One graduate student, from India, “cannot sleep and is having difficulty breathing and eating,” the lawsuit reads. He has stopped going to school, doing research or working as a teaching assistant. Another student, a Chinese undergraduate who expected to graduate this December, said his revoked status has caused his depression to worsen to the point that his doctor increased his medication dosage. The student, the lawsuit says, has not left his apartment out of fear of detention. Tiny infractions made students targets for the crackdown Roy, 23, began his academic career at Missouri State in August 2024 as an undergraduate computer science student. He was active in the chess club and a fraternity and has a broad circle of friends. After graduating in December, he began work on a master’s degree in January and expects to finish in May 2026. When Roy received the university’s April 10 email on his status termination, one of his friends offered to skip class to go with him to the school’s international services office, even though they had a quiz in 45 minutes. The staff there said a database check showed his student status had been terminated, but they didn’t know why. Roy said his only brush with the law came in 2021, when he was questioned by campus security after someone called in a dispute at a university housing building. But he said an officer determined there was no evidence of any crime and no charges were filed. Roy also got an email from the U.S. embassy in Bangladesh telling him his visa had been revoked and that he could be detained at any time. It warned that if he was deported, he could be sent to a country other than his own. Roy thought about leaving the U.S. but decided to stay after talking to a lawyer. Anxious about being in his own apartment, Roy went to stay with his second cousin and her husband nearby. “They were scared someone was going to pick me up from the street and take me somewhere that they wouldn’t even know,” Roy said. He mostly stayed inside, turned off his phone unless he needed to use it, and avoided internet browsers that track user data through cookies. His professors were understanding when he told them he wouldn’t be able to come to classes for a while, he said. New doubts about students’ future in the U.S. After the judge’s order Friday, he moved back to his apartment. He learned Tuesday his status had been restored, and he plans to return to class. But he’s still nervous. He asked his two roommates, both international students, to let him know before they open the door if someone they don’t know knocks. The judge’s restoration of his legal status is temporary. Another hearing scheduled for Thursday will determine whether he keeps that status while the litigation continues. Roy chose the U.S. over other options in Canada and Australia because of the research opportunities and potential for professional connections, and he ultimately wanted to teach at an American university. But now those plans are up in the air. His parents, back in Dhaka, have been watching the news and are “freaked out,” he said. His father mentioned to him that they have family in Melbourne, Australia, including a cousin who’s an assistant professor at a university there. _ AP reporters Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this story. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Kate Brumback, Associated Press View the full article

Long-maturity Treasury yields tumbled Wednesday as part of a broader rally in dollar-denominated risk assets, after US President Donald The President said he wasn't inclined to fire the head of the Federal Reserve and suggested tariffs on Chinese imports could drop. View the full article

I create video content for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, so I’m always looking for new tools to make the process smoother — and I may just have found my new favorite. Instagram has just launched their brand-new video editing app, Edits by Instagram, and it’s already way surpassed my expectations. If you’ve ever tried to edit a reel with Instagram’s native video editing tools, you’ll know why I was a bit skeptical. Optimistic, but skeptical. But Edits has not disappointed. The new app is lightyears ahead of Instagram’s built-in editing capabilities — which makes sense, given that this new app is meant to rival CapCut, the Swiss Army knife of video editing tools. Edits is sleek, powerful, and surprisingly easy to use. I suspect that anyone creating content on mobile will really enjoy this (completely free!) app — whether you’re a video veteran or just starting out. After some serious hands-on time with Edits by Instagram, here’s my everything guide, from getting started to tips and tricks to take you to the next level. How to use Instagram Edits: The basicsBefore we get into the tips, here’s a quick crash course in using Edits. Step 1: Download + sign inHead to the **App Store or Google Play**, search for “Instagram Edits,” and download the app. Then, log in using your Instagram account — no new profile is needed. Step 2: Create a projectOnce you’re in, you can either record directly in the app (up to 10 minutes of footage) or upload existing clips from your camera roll. Handy if you’re editing on the go or batch-shooting for later. To add media from your camera roll, tap the ‘+’ button on the bottom right of the app.To record your own footage right in Edits, tap the ‘record’ button on the bottom menu bar.⚡️ Pro tip: If you plan to record new clips and use footage from your camera roll, start by adding the footage first. You can record directly in the editor, too. Step 3: Edit with the timelineNifty new features aside, the basics are where things are vastly improved from Instagram’s built-in editing tools — no more fiddly dragging and fumbling fingers. The frame-accurate timeline lets you trim, split, rearrange, and sync your clips with precision. To zoom in on the timeline and get ultra-precise, pinch your fingers together. Pull them apart to zoom out.To reorder your clips, tap and hold on the one you want to move. Keep holding while you drop it into position.Here’s a quick overview of all the changes you can make to your clips in the timeline (tap on the clip you want to edit to highlight it, and these options will appear): Split: Cut your clip at a specific point in the timelineVolume: Adjust or mute the soundAdjust: Play around with brightness, contrast, warmth, etc.Speed: Slow the clip down or speed it up (up to 10x speed).Delete: Remove the clip from the timeline (don't worry, there’s a handy ‘undo’ arrow above the timeline).Filters: Choose from a range of filters (including a few IG OG’s like ‘Paris’ and ‘Jakarta’).Green screen: This opens your camera roll and removes your background, so you can record yourself over the footage already in your timeline. (More on this below.)Effects: Apply a handful of interesting effects, from zooms to strobe lights.Voice FX: Apply an effect to spoken audio from squeaky ‘Helium’ to creepy ‘Alien.’Extract audio: Detach the audio from a clip.Mirror: Flip the footage vertically.Replace: Swap the clip out with another one (maintaining the length).Slip: A handy way to select another moment from a clip.Duplicate: Add an exact copy of a clip to the timeline.⚡️ Pro tip: Don’t miss checking out the filters. There are some really lovely, subtle ones that enhance your footage rather than make it look weird. Step 4: Add effects, text, and audioBeyond the fundamental edits, there are some really fun features in Edits that will help elevate your video. To access these options, make sure that no footage is selected on your timeline: Audio: Add sounds from within the Instagram app (any audio you’ve saved on Instagram will appear here, too).Text: Add text to your video. More on this below.Voice: Record a voiceover.Captions: Automatically detect captions.Overlay: Add an image or clip over the footage already in your timeline.Sound FX: Add fun sound effects. More on this below.Cutout: Add a portion of an image or clip as an overlay. More on this below, too.Sticker: It wouldn’t be Instagram without stickers, would it? Add some beloved and new sticker designs and GIFs.Step 5: Export + post anywhereOnce you’re happy with the result, export in high-quality, watermark-free format (up to 4K!) — perfect for posting to Instagram, or any other short-form video platforms. The video will save to your camera roll, and you’ll also be prompted to post directly on Instagram or Facebook. 7 Instagram Edits tips and tricks to help you level up your next videoEdits is not Instagram — there’s so much more you can do here than you would be able to in the social media platform’s own, basic editing tools. Here are some ways you can get the most out of the new app: 1. Save ideas and inspirationIf you’re anything like me, you get your best ideas while anywhere but your desk — so having a place to store them all on the go is really handy. With Edits, you can save ideas as cute sticky notes inside the app by tapping the sticky note icon on the bottom left. To create a new note, tap the ‘+’ icon on the bottom right. Here, you’ll also find all your saved reels from Instagram by tapping the ‘Saved’ button at the top, as well as your Instagram collections. ⚡️ Pro tip: Get into the habit of saving any reels that feature audio you’d like to use on Instagram. They’ll appear right in your Edits app, complete with a ‘Use audio’ button that automatically creates a new project with that audio already on the timeline. 2. Experiment with new fontsIf you’re a little tired of Instagram’s native fonts, you’ll be delighted to hear that Modern, Classic, Typewriter, and co. are far from the only options. There are around 50 new fonts to experiment with in the app, all helpfully organized into categories like ‘Simple,’ ‘Bold,’ and ‘Handwritten.’ Each font can be customized, too, with scores of fun animations, styles (also animated), and background options to play with. Discovering aesthetic combinations is one of my favorite new Edits features. There are enough fonts for you to really experiment, but not so many that it becomes overwhelming (I’m talking to you, CapCut). 3. Use the green screen for low-edit winsAdding a talking head overlay is one of the best ways to explain something on video — but the editing can be really, really fiddly. The only tool to have really made this simple is TikTok, but as seasoned creators will know, it’s best not to upload videos made in TikTok to Instagram (unless you’re comfortable removing the watermark). Enter Edits: The app has made recording off-the-cuff green screen videos really smooth. To do so, add your background footage or image to a new project first, then tap the green screen button underneath the timeline (pictured above). You can play around with the placement and size of your green screen overlay by pinching your fingers and dragging it around. As you record, the background video will play, so you can actually see what you’re talking about as you film. The only drawback to this approach is that there is no way to edit the green screen recording once you’re done, but I found I rather liked the simplicity of this. Cutting and moving green screen footage around can often make more of a mess than whatever you’re trying to clean up. Of course, there is a way to record an editable green screen — though you won’t see your background footage as you film. You’ll just need to use your regular phone camera to film the green screen clip, then use the cutout feature, below. 4. Get creative with cutoutsThis might just be my favorite Edit’s feature — it just has so much potential for some really creative, well, edits. Cutout lets you add a portion of another clip or image over another. You can manually choose what part of the media you want, or Edits chooses it automatically. Here’s how it auto-selected this cutout: I was able to layer several of the same clip on top of each other with this feature, having my daughter appear three times in the same scene. All that said, my hope was that this feature would allow me to layer cutouts over text (a bit like I’ve done in this video, which took ages of fiddly work on CapCut desktop). But, a bit frustratingly, you can’t add a cutout over text in Edits right now. It will always appear on top of all the elements in your timeline. Here’s hoping the Instagram team adds this soon! 🤞 5. Don’t be shy with sound effectsOne of my favorite hacks for elevating a video from good to scroll-stopping is to add sound effects. But many video editors don’t have these built in, and those that do (CapCut again) always seem to be oddly named, so it’s difficult to find what you’re after. Not only does Edits have its own sound effects you can add right in the app — there are around 50 here too — they’re also organized into neat categories and feature their own icons. Easy to find exactly what you need at a glance. To use sound effects to their best advantage, I like to add things like bubble pops or clicks when text appears on screen, or even subtle swooshes for rapid transitions. 6. Scroll through trends to get inspiredFinding fun formats and trending audio on Instagram can be a little tricky — you have to rely on the algorithm, hoping to stumble on something that will work for you. But Edits pulls them right into their native video tab. It’s your reels feed, but only with trending videos. Tap on the video icon at the bottom left of the app to navigate there, and get scrolling. When you find an audio you like, you can even tap the ‘Use audio’ button to open a new project with that audio already on the timeline. 7. Let insights guide your next moveEdits has made it even easier to learn from your Instagram analytics by bringing them right into the app. Tapping the graph icon on the bottom right of Edits will open real-time Insights for all your reels for the last 7-60 days. Tapping on one will open up in-depth metrics, including some interesting ones exclusive to the Edits experience (like skip rate, like rate, and share rate). There’s even a retention graph that shows you when your viewers started dropping off the video (helping you pinpoint what works and what makes your audience lose interest. If you’re an Instagram creator, Edits is a no-brainerEdits brings your entire video process — ideas, filming, editing, exporting — into one intuitive, creator-first space. There are new features coming soon, too, like: Key frames: Pinpoint exact moments for adjustments to your video's timing, motion and effects.Modify: Change the look and feel of your videos with AI effects, using prompts.Collaboration: Share drafts with your team, other creators, or brands for feedback.More effects: Even more fonts, text animations, transitions, voice effects, filters, and music options, including royalty-free.Will Edits replace CapCut? If you’re an Instagram-first creator, absolutely. But if you’re focused on longer, more complicated videos, say, for YouTube, you’ll probably be inclined to stick with your current set-up (especially if you prefer to create on desktop). Edits is brilliant for short-form content, but it’s probably not best suited for advanced creators who want all the bells and whistles they can get from more comprehensive tools. But if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly video editing app, Edits might be exactly what you need. 🎥 Edits is available now on iOS and Android. View the full article

Max is joining the lineup of streaming platforms limiting users sharing a single subscription to those in the same household—unless you pay $7.99 per month for an "extra member" add-on. Adding an extra member to an existing streaming plan costs a little bit less than purchasing a new, separate subscription, though these users are limited to one profile and one supported device at a time. The best value for extra members typically comes with the most expensive plans. On Max, that's Premium, which costs $20.99 per month. How Max's "extra member" option stacks upMax subscribers on any plan (except Disney+/Hulu/Max bundles) can add one extra member at $7.99 per month if the plan is billed directly through WarnerMedia. Those who pay through third-party apps and mobile and TV providers are ineligible. Extra members get their own account login but only one profile and streaming via one device at a time. Extra members also have to be 18 and in the same country as the primary subscriber. As noted, the best deal is on Max's $20.99-per-month Premium plan and a decent one on Standard, which costs $16.99 per month. An entire Basic with Ads subscription at $9.99 per month is barely more than an extra member, especially if you buy a whole year upfront for $100. Plus, as 9to5Mac notes, Max often runs promos that bring subscriptions down to $2.99 per month. Other streamers with "extra member" plansMax isn't the only streamer cracking down on password sharing with extra member pricing. Netflix allows users on its Standard plan to add one member outside the account holder's household—two for those on a Premium subscription—at $6.99 per extra member per month with ads and $8.99 per extra member per month without. Netflix charges $7.99 per month for its Standard plan with ads, $17.99 per month for ad-free, and $24.99 per month for Premium subscriptions. Disney+ subscribers can also add one extra member to any Disney+ plan billed directly by Disney+ as well as bundles billed by Disney+ or Hulu. (Hulu + Live TV plans are excluded.) Fees range from $6.99 per extra member per month on Disney+ Basic to $14.99 per extra member per month for the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ Premium bundle. The same standalone plans cost $9.99 per month and $26.99 per month, respectively. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: The letter you posted from the volunteer who didn’t disclose something to a student’s teacher and parents reminded me about something that happened to me a while ago with an outside mentor for an after-school program, especially since I was a lot like Marvin in that letter (without the expensive romantic overtures). I was the only girl in a STEM club at my high school, and the mentor was, let’s say, a teapot designer who also trained teapot drivers. Bob wasn’t actually a teacher at my school. He was a volunteer who worked at a well-known organization that the club was associated with, which other schools were involved in. I was 14, and he was in his mid-40s(?). I was that straight-A nerdy gifted-and-talented kid just like Marvin who barely socialized with my peers and gravitated towards teachers instead. I especially gravitated towards Bob because it was/is my dream to be a teapot driver. We had a very close mentor-student relationship, and he always regaled me with stories of his job. After I graduated high school, I stayed in touch with Bob. We would go out to lunches whenever we were in the same city and have long text conversations. I never thought anything was off because our conversations always focused on changes in the industry, scientific discoveries and theories, learning new languages, literature, etc. It was like being friends with Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society. However, after I graduated college, I off-handedly mentioned to him that I had broken up with someone I had been dating. That was when Bob nervously confessed to me, “I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but I’m attracted to you.” My mind did a complete record-scratch. The only thing I could manage to say was, “Sorry, I don’t date married men.” (Even though him being married was obviously the least of my concerns.) It was the last time I saw him (January 2021). He texted me exactly three times since that occurred — August 2021, January 2022, and February 2022. I ignored all of them, and it was the last I ever heard from him. I had spent the following years questioning myself and my ability to read his intentions (especially after an autism diagnosis that came shortly after). I suddenly remembered a time when he visited me at college. When we were at an ice cream shop, he joked, “A lot of the people there were looking at us thinking I was some old guy dating a young lady like you.” I thought nothing of it at the moment and took it at face value. When he was driving me back to my dorm, he patted my leg and said, “You must be cold! You have goosebumps!” And I laughed then because I actually was cold! And when he offered to take me to his hotel, his intentions flew completely over my head, and I told him that it was late and that I had a mid-term in the morning. (It wasn’t even an excuse! I actually did have a mid-term and truly had no idea he was implying sex!) It made me feel so gross and confused. Did I unknowingly encourage it all because of my autism? Should I have seen the signs either way? Did Bob actually enjoy any of our intellectual conversations, or was he just playing some long game to get into my pants? How long did he have those feelings? Did he become attracted to me after I graduated high school or before? I blocked it all out for the last five years because I didn’t want to think about it. I never even told a therapist about it. A friend suggested I talk to someone at RAINN for advice, but I don’t want to misuse their services since Bob never actually tried to rape or even kiss me. I’m now 28. After I read the Marvin letter, I googled Bob. He’s still in that organization. I feel like I need to say something to someone to stop him from potentially doing this to another student, but I have no idea where to begin or what consequences would arise if I bring it to light. I have no idea if this is something legitimate to warn someone about, or if I’m overreacting, or if it’s been too many years. I’m scared of it turning into a mess of “he said, she said” and having it blow up in everyone’s face. It wasn’t an actual crime that could be applied in a legal sense, so I can’t go to the police. Is there anything I should do? I’m very sorry this happened to you. Bob positioned himself as an older, wiser authority figure and mentor, someone you could trust, and then he abused that trust by trying to sexualize the relationship. Of course you’re now questioning whether he ever enjoyed your conversations the way you thought he did or whether it was all a long game to groom you. I don’t think we’ll ever know the answer to that for sure, but what I do know for sure is that you didn’t encourage it. This was a person who had been mentoring you since you were a child. Think about how young the 14-year-olds you know are, and how unreasonable it would be to expect any of them to screen all their interactions with adults through the lens of “am I encouraging this adult to view me sexually?” You paid him the respect of assuming that he was being genuine with you and that he wasn’t a predatory creep. It’s not your fault that he hid it for a while. That’s what dudes like this do. That’s part of how they do it; they know they wouldn’t get anywhere if they made their intentions clear up-front (and in some cases that would get them sent to prison, and rightly so). He took advantage of the access the mentoring program gave him, and he took advantage of the trust you had in him. You aren’t responsible for his choice to do that; that’s 100% on him and no one else. And for the sake of thoroughness, sure, it’s possible that Bob’s interest in you was utterly wholesome for years and then one day, once you were solidly into adulthood, that changed. It still wouldn’t be okay that he didn’t think about or care how violated it might make you feel to be hit on by someone who had been mentoring you since you were 14. (And his visiting you at college and then suggesting you come back to his hotel with him is just … ugh. You might have been technically an adult, but there’s no world where that’s appropriate for the man who’s mentored you since you were a child to do while you’re in college.) As for what to do now … first, you absolutely can contact RAINN, even though Bob didn’t assault you. What he did was a violation, and it’s making you question the same sorts of things people often question after they are assaulted, and the question is around a trusted figure who has made you feel preyed upon. I am confident that they would be happy to talk with you. (Even if they’re not, they’d just explain that; they won’t be outraged that you asked. But again, I’m sure they’ll talk to you. Please call them if you want to!) You would also be on very solid ground in contacting the organization Bob still volunteers for. You’re not asking for an extensive investigation that becomes “he said, she said.” You’d simply be contacting them to say, “I want to let you know that one of your volunteers formed a mentor relationship with me through your program when I was 14, stayed in close contact with me after I graduated, and then propositioned me while I was in college and then a second time after I graduated. It felt very much like an abuse of his access to teenage girls, and I want to make you aware of it.” What they do from there is up to them, but you get to tell them that it happened and that it shouldn’t have. View the full article

I am seeing a number of complaints that Google Analytics real-time reporting is not working properly. Many are complaining that the data looks off and is underreporting, at best.View the full article

Investment bank awarded $80mn retention bonuses to David Solomon and John Waldron in JanuaryView the full article

Purchases of new single-family homes increased 7.4% in March to an annualized rate of 724,000, mostly driven by a surge in the South, according to government data released Wednesday. View the full article

Gmail already adds an Unsubscribe button to every promotional email or newsletter you receive in your inbox. That way, you can stop someone from sending you emails without first visiting their website. The service is now going one step forward, giving you a single place to manage all your subscriptions, and an option to unsubscribe from each with just a tap—kind of like the Subscriptions screen on YouTube. Manage Subscriptions is rolling out nowThere's a clear advantage to the new Manage Subscriptions feature. With it, you no longer need to go through your entire inbox to find all the newsletters, as Gmail will instead surface them for you. You'll see the names and email addresses of senders of both newsletter subscriptions and promotional emails. The feature is rolling out on Android, iOS, and on the web, but according to Google, it's going to be a gradual rollout, so it might take time to show up on your devices. For example, I can access it on Gmail's iPad app, but not on my iPhone or the web, even though they're all logged into the same account. How to easily unsubscribe to email newsletters en masseFirst, let's find a list of all your subscriptions. To do this on iPhone or Android, tap the three-lined Menu in the top left, and choose Manage Subscriptions. On the Gmail website, you'll have to click the More button to expand the sidebar options and find Manage Subscriptions. Credit: Khamosh Pathak You'll now see a list of all the people who send you newsletters, and an estimate of recently received emails. If you tap on a sender name, Gmail will show you a list of all of their recent emails. To unsubscribe from a newsletter, tap Unsubscribe on the right (the button that looks like a mail icon with a minus sign). Credit: Khamosh Pathak Gmail will then ask you for a confirmation. Just tap Unsubscribe, and you're done. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Gmail will tell you that it has unsubscribed you from the newsletter on your behalf, but that it might take a few days to stop receiving those emails. For most newsletters, the ones that have a clear-cut Unsubscribe button, this is how it will work. But in some cases, Gmail won't be able to unsubscribe automatically on your behalf. In such cases, you'll see Go to website instead, where Gmail will open the website for confirmation. But that's just one extra tap, and is still easy to do. Credit: Khamosh Pathak View the full article

The industry's largest servicer, which agreed at the end of the quarter to be acquired by Rocket, had a $82 million write-down due to shifting interest rates. View the full article

Harmful bleaching of the world’s coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean’s reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, the International Coral Reef Initiative announced Wednesday. It’s the fourth global bleaching event since 1998, and has now surpassed bleaching from 2014-17 that hit some two-thirds of reefs, said the ICRI, a mix of more than 100 governments, non-governmental organizations and others. And it’s not clear when the current crisis, which began in 2023 and is blamed on warming oceans, will end. “We may never see the heat stress that causes bleaching dropping below the threshold that triggers a global event,” said Mark Eakin, executive secretary for the International Coral Reef Society and retired coral monitoring chief for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We’re looking at something that’s completely changing the face of our planet and the ability of our oceans to sustain lives and livelihoods,” Eakin said. Last year was Earth’s hottest year on record, and much of that is going into oceans. The average annual sea surface temperature of oceans away from the poles was a record 20.87 degrees Celsius (69.57 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s deadly to corals, which are key to seafood production, tourism and protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. Coral reefs are sometimes dubbed “rainforests of the sea” because they support high levels of biodiversity—approximately 25% of all marine species can be found in, on and around coral reefs. Coral get their bright colors from the colorful algae that live inside them and are a food source for the corals. Prolonged warmth causes the algae to release toxic compounds, and the coral eject them. A stark white skeleton is left behind, and the weakened coral is at heightened risk of dying. The bleaching event has been so severe that NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program has had to add levels to its bleaching alert scale to account for the growing risk of coral death. Efforts are underway to conserve and restore coral. One Dutch lab has worked with coral fragments, including some taken from off the coast of the Seychelles, to propagate them in a zoo so that they might be used someday to repopulate wild coral reefs if needed. Other projects, including one off Florida, have worked to rescue corals endangered by high heat and nurse them back to health before returning them to the ocean. But scientists say it’s essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet, such as carbon dioxide and methane. “The best way to protect coral reefs is to address the root cause of climate change. And that means reducing the human emissions that are mostly from burning of fossil fuels . . . everything else is looking more like a Band-Aid rather than a solution,” Eakin said. “I think people really need to recognize what they’re doing . . . inaction is the kiss of death for coral reefs,” said Melanie McField, co-chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, a network of scientists that monitors reefs throughout the world. The group’s update comes as President Donald The President has moved aggressively in his second term to boost fossil fuels and roll back clean energy programs, which he says is necessary for economic growth. “We’ve got a government right now that is working very hard to destroy all of these ecosystems . . . removing these protections is going to have devastating consequences,” Eakin said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Isabella O’Malley, Associated Press View the full article

Start with proactive planning instead of reactive reporting. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today Go PRO for members-only access to more Art Werner. View the full article

Start with proactive planning instead of reactive reporting. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today Go PRO for members-only access to more Art Werner. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google AI Overviews hurt click-through rates...View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your tablet or just want something lightweight that doesn’t feel like a compromise, this refurbished 2022 iPad Air deal on StackSocial could be worth a closer look. It’s the 5th Gen 64GB model in pink (other colors are available too), going for $369.99, a decent drop from Amazon’s current $435.06 listing. And while it’s refurbished, it comes with a Grade "A" rating, meaning you’re getting a nearly new device with little to no visible wear and nothing that impacts how it works. It’s also light and slim, making it easy to throw in a bag or hold for long stretches. For reference, PCMag gave this model an Editor’s Choice award when it debuted and named it the Best iPad of the Year 2022 (read the full review). Under the hood, this iPad Air runs on Apple’s M1 chip—the same one found in the MacBook Air and iPad Pro—so performance is not an issue. It handles multitasking, gaming, and media editing without lag. That said, the 64GB of storage might not cut it if you download lots of files or use heavy creative apps, and there’s no way to expand it later. The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is fully laminated, shows off vibrant color with P3 wide color support, and gets bright enough for most lighting. And the 12MP front-facing camera with Center Stage is a big plus if you’re often on video calls—it follows your face as you move, keeping you centered in the frame. This iPad also supports the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard (sold separately), so it can pull double duty as a sketchpad or productivity device if you’ve already got the gear, or plan to grab it later. However, it's wifi only—no cellular connectivity. There’s also no Face ID, though Touch ID on the top button does a fine job. If you need a modern iPad for web browsing, reading, streaming, or light creative work, this one delivers a lot of value for the price, without jumping to the Pro models or spending full retail. View the full article

There are so many ways to reach your ideal customer using audience targeting in Google Ads. We’ve recently covered Detailed demographic segments, Lookalike segments and Engaged Audiences, Today, we’re exploring how to use Life Events segments effectively. This article will cover: What are Life Events segments in Google Ads? How are Life Events different from In-Market segments in Google Ads? Which Life Events can you target in Google Ads? Can you use Life Events in all campaign types? Tips for using Life Events effectively in Google Ads What are Life Events segments in Google Ads? Life events segments are one of the four types of audience targeting you can use in Google Ads based on the data that Google has about its users. With this option, you can target users based on major transitions they are experiencing. How are Life Events different from In-Market segments in Google Ads? When you go to use Life Events in Google Ads, you’ll often find them grouped with In-Market segments under a category called “What they are actively researching or planning.” This is because both of these audience types leverage Google’s proprietary data to categorize users around temporary stages in their lives. For In-Market segments, those “temporary stages” are when someone is currently researching or planning a purchase. It can be a purchase as small as “Razors & Shavers” or as large as “New Houses (For Sale).” In-Market segments are product- or service-focused. For Life Events, those “temporary stages” are when someone is going through a specific change in their life, like getting married or graduating from college. Life Events segments are human-focused. Which Life Events can you target in Google Ads? There are nine categories of Life Events you can use in your Google Ads campaigns: Business creation College graduation Home renovation Job change Marriage Moving New pet Purchasing a home Retirement For each category, you can target people who are approaching these milestones or have recently completed them. For instance, a pet store could target individuals who are “about to get a new pet,” those who “recently got a new pet,” or both. Some Life Events categories have sub-categories, too. In our pet example, you can get more specific to target people who are getting a dog and/or people who are getting a cat. Can you use Life Events in all campaign types? Unlike the other types of “Google audiences” (Detailed demographics, In-Market segments, Affinity segments), Life Events segments are not compatible with all campaign types. You can use Life Events segments in: Display campaigns Demand Gen campaigns Video campaigns Performance Max audience signals Combined segments (for Display campaigns) However, Life Events are not compatible with Search or Shopping campaigns. Tips for using Life Events effectively in Google Ads The best way to use Life Events is to ensure that your ad creative directly addresses the user’s current situation, and demonstrates how your product or service can assist them through this transition. For example, if you’re: Targeting people who are moving, your ad copy could highlight your stress-free moving services. Reaching out to newlyweds, showcasing your home goods or financial planning services would be relevant as they relate to starting a new life together, building a strong relationship foundation, etc. Life events segments offer a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers during pivotal moments in their lives. Have you experimented with this audience targeting option in your Google Ads campaigns yet? This article is part of our ongoing weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, Jyll highlights a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read. View the full article

European Union watchdogs fined Apple and Meta hundreds of millions of euros Wednesday as they stepped up enforcement of the 27-nation bloc’s digital competition rules. The European Commission imposed a 500 million euro ($571 million) fine on Apple for preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store. The commission, which is the EU’s executive arm, also fined Meta Platforms 200 million euros because it forced Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them. The punishments were smaller than the blockbuster multibillion-euro fines that the commission has previously slapped on Big Tech companies in antitrust cases. Apple and Meta have to comply with the decisions within 60 days or risk unspecified “periodic penalty payments,” the commission said. The decisions were expected to come in March, but officials apparently held off amid an escalating trans-Atlantic trade war with U.S. President Donald The President, who has repeatedly complained about regulations from Brussels affecting American companies. The penalties were issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, also known as the DMA. It’s a sweeping rulebook that amounts to a set of do’s and don’ts designed to give consumers and businesses more choice and prevent Big Tech “gatekeepers” from cornering digital markets. The DMA seeks to ensure “that citizens have full control over when and how their data is used online, and businesses can freely communicate with their own customers,” Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said in a statement. “The decisions adopted today find that both Apple and Meta have taken away this free choice from their users and are required to change their behavior,” Virkkunen said. Both companies indicated they would appeal. Apple accused the commission of “unfairly targeting” the iPhone maker, and said it “continues to move the goal posts” despite the company’s efforts to comply with the rules. Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a statement that the “Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.” In the App Store case, the Commission had accused the iPhone maker of imposing unfair rules preventing app developers from freely steering consumers to other channels. Among the DMA’s provisions are requirements to let developers inform customers of cheaper purchasing options and direct them to those offers. The commission said it ordered Apple to remove technical and commercial restrictions that prevent developers from steering users to other channels, and to end “non-compliant” conduct. Apple said it has “spent hundreds of thousands of engineering hours and made dozens of changes to comply with this law, none of which our users have asked for.” “Despite countless meetings, the Commission continues to move the goal posts every step of the way,” the company said. The EU’s Meta investigation centered on the company’s strategy to comply with strict European data privacy rules by giving users the option of paying for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram. Users could pay at least 10 euros ($11) a month to avoid being targeted by ads based on their personal data. The U.S. tech giant rolled out the option after the European Union’s top court ruled Meta must first get consent before showing ads to users, in a decision that threatened its business model of tailoring ads based on individual users’ online interests and digital activity. Regulators took issue with Meta’s model, saying it doesn’t allow users to exercise their right to “freely consent” to allowing their personal data from its various services, which also including Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, and Messenger, to be combined for personalized ads. Meta rolled out a third option in November giving Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option to see fewer personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription. The commission said it’s “currently assessing” this option and continues to hold talks with Meta, and has asked the company to provide evidence of the new option’s impact. “This isn’t just about a fine; the Commission forcing us to change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service,” Kaplan said. “And by unfairly restricting personalized advertising the European Commission is also hurting European businesses and economies.” —Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer View the full article

The US bond market is starting to get some relief, with long-maturity yields falling on Wednesday after The President indicated a willingness to strike a trade deal with China. View the full article

Key Takeaways Startup Incubators Provide Essential Support: These programs offer resources such as mentorship, funding access, and networking opportunities, which are crucial for turning innovative ideas into successful businesses. Types of Incubators: Different incubators, including university-based, corporate, and non-profit, cater to specific entrepreneurial needs, allowing startups to choose based on their business model and goals. Access to Funding: Joining a startup incubator helps entrepreneurs connect with various funding sources, including venture capital and angel investors, which are vital for maintaining cash flow during the startup journey. Mentorship is Key: Founders benefit from guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing skills in critical business areas like planning, marketing, and customer acquisition. Focus on Long-Term Growth: Beyond immediate support, incubators equip startups with strategies for sustainable growth and future scaling, enhancing their chances of success in a competitive market. Notable Incubator Programs: Established programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups offer substantial investments and mentorship, significantly impacting the growth trajectory of participating startups. Starting a new business can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re navigating the complexities of the startup world. That’s where startup incubators come in. These programs provide invaluable resources, mentorship, and support to help turn your innovative ideas into successful ventures. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced founder, finding the right incubator can make all the difference. With numerous options available, each offering unique benefits, it’s essential to identify which ones align with your goals and vision. In this article, you’ll discover a curated list of startup incubators that can propel your business forward, giving you the tools and connections needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Overview of Startup Incubators Startup incubators serve as vital resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of launching a new venture. These programs offer various services aimed at helping you transform your business idea into a viable enterprise. You gain access to crucial support, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on guidance in areas like market research and business planning. In a startup incubator, you often find a collaborative environment where like-minded individuals work toward similar goals. This setting enhances your chances of success, allowing you to learn from peers and seasoned professionals. Many incubators provide resources related to funding options, including venture capital, crowdfunding, and angel investors. Such financial backing is essential for realizing your business ambitions. You’ll also benefit from workshops and training sessions that cover topics such as legal structure formation, whether you’re considering an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Understanding the intricacies of these structures helps you meet regulatory requirements efficiently. Furthermore, incubators assist with branding, marketing strategies, and customer acquisition techniques, ensuring your startup can effectively reach its target audience. Business incubators not only focus on the immediate needs of your startup but also emphasize long-term growth strategies. This approach prepares you for future scaling, positioning your business for sustainable success. By taking advantage of the resources and expertise available in an incubator, you enhance your ability to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the competitive market landscape. Benefits of Joining a Startup Incubator Joining a startup incubator provides numerous advantages for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses effectively. Incubators facilitate essential resources that support early-stage startups. Access to Funding You gain access to various funding options by joining a startup incubator. Incubators often connect you with venture capital firms and angel investors seeking innovative business ideas. Additionally, they may offer direct funding or assistance with crowdfunding initiatives. The financial backing can cover expenses like marketing, product development, and staffing, ensuring you maintain a healthy cash flow while navigating your startup journey. Mentorship and Guidance You benefit from invaluable mentorship and guidance when partaking in an incubator program. Experienced business coaches provide insights into creating a solid business plan and selecting the right legal structure for your venture, whether it’s an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Additionally, you’ll receive expert advice on market research, branding, and customer acquisition strategies tailored to your target audience. This hands-on support enhances your skills in areas like finance, accounting, and digital marketing, empowering you to build a sustainable growth strategy and successfully pitch your startup to potential investors. Types of Startup Incubators Startup incubators serve diverse purposes, and understanding the types can help you choose the right one for your entrepreneurial journey. University-Based Incubators University-based incubators connect startups to academic expertise and resources. These incubators often support entrepreneurs associated with research institutions. Examples: UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck fosters startups founded by students, faculty, and alumni. Harvard Innovation Labs (i-lab) offers entrepreneurs access to specialized equipment, mentorship, and university workspaces. Benefits: Startups gain credibility associated with the university. Access to innovative research, collaboration opportunities, and a talent pool of students and faculty enhances your business development. Corporate Incubators Corporate incubators focus on fostering innovation from within established businesses. These incubators typically support startups aligned with the corporation’s business model. Examples: Google’s Launchpad Accelerator provides mentorship, resources, and investment opportunities for selected startups. Target’s Hatch incubator helps startups develop products that align with retail trends. Benefits: Startups access funding options and market insights from experienced corporate professionals. You may benefit from networking opportunities that can lead to strategic partnerships and product development. Non-Profit Incubators Non-profit incubators prioritize social impact, providing resources and support for startups with a community or social focus. These incubators often operate on a mission-driven basis. Examples: Ashoka supports social entrepreneurs aiming for systemic change. The Unreasonable Institute accelerates startups solving global challenges. Startups receive mentorship from industry leaders committed to social innovation. Access to grants and funding sources enables you to manage expenses effectively while pursuing your business goals. Choosing the right type of startup incubator aligns with your business model and growth strategy, enabling you to propel your startup forward. Notable Startup Incubators to Consider Exploring startup incubators can significantly enhance your business journey. Below are some notable options that provide vital resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities to elevate your startup. Y Combinator Founded: 2005 Location: Operates remotely Y Combinator (YC) invests $500,000 in each startup through two Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFES). You receive $125,000 for 7% equity and $375,000 via an uncapped SAFE with a Most Favored Nation clause. The three-month program features intense mentorship, guest speakers, and group office hours. You’ll also access a robust alumni network post-program, enhancing your networking opportunities. Notable alumni include Airbnb and Dropbox, showcasing the potential success that comes from YC’s resources. Techstars Founded: 2006 Location: Multiple global locations Techstars supports startups with a $120,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity. You participate in a three-month acceleration program that includes mentorship, networking, and access to key industry contacts. Specialized programs focus on verticals and regions, enabling you to connect with mentors and investors aligned with your business model. Alumni such as SendGrid and ClassPass highlight the impact of their guidance on scaling startups. 500 Startups Founded: 2010 Location: Global network 500 Startups provides a $150,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity. The four-month program includes mentorship, workshops, and created community within its startup ecosystem. You gain insights on business strategies, funding options, and market expansion. Their extensive curriculum covers finance, marketing, and growth strategies. Alumni like Credit Karma and Canva exemplify the long-term success achieved through their innovative and supportive approach. Conclusion Choosing the right startup incubator can be a game changer for your entrepreneurial journey. With the right support mentorship and resources you can navigate challenges more effectively and accelerate your growth. Each incubator offers unique benefits tailored to different needs whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur. Take the time to explore the options available and find one that aligns with your goals and vision. By leveraging the strengths of an incubator you position yourself for success in today’s competitive landscape. Embrace the opportunity to learn connect and grow as you embark on your startup adventure. Frequently Asked Questions What is a startup incubator? A startup incubator is an organization that supports new businesses by providing resources such as mentorship, networking, and essential services like market research and business planning. Incubators help entrepreneurs, whether they are first-time or experienced founders, enhance their chances of success in a competitive market. How can startup incubators help entrepreneurs? Startup incubators provide important support, including access to funding options, expert mentorship, and training sessions. They focus on developing solid business plans, marketing strategies, and customer acquisition techniques, ultimately empowering entrepreneurs to build sustainable growth strategies. What types of startup incubators are there? There are several types of startup incubators, including university-based, corporate, and non-profit incubators. University incubators connect startups to academic resources, corporate incubators focus on innovation within established companies, and non-profit incubators prioritize social impact and mission-driven initiatives. How do I choose the right incubator for my startup? Selecting the right incubator depends on aligning your business model and growth strategy with the incubator’s focus and resources. Consider factors like mentorship expertise, funding options, and the incubator’s reputation to ensure it matches your entrepreneurial goals. Can startup incubators offer funding for my business? Yes, many startup incubators provide funding directly or assist with crowdfunding initiatives. They also connect entrepreneurs to venture capital firms and angel investors, which can help cover essential business expenses and support growth. What are some examples of notable startup incubators? Notable startup incubators include Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups. Each offers unique funding opportunities and resources, like mentorship and community support, to help accelerate the success of startups and their founders. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential List of Startup Incubators to Boost Your Entrepreneurial Journey" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Startup Incubators Provide Essential Support: These programs offer resources such as mentorship, funding access, and networking opportunities, which are crucial for turning innovative ideas into successful businesses. Types of Incubators: Different incubators, including university-based, corporate, and non-profit, cater to specific entrepreneurial needs, allowing startups to choose based on their business model and goals. Access to Funding: Joining a startup incubator helps entrepreneurs connect with various funding sources, including venture capital and angel investors, which are vital for maintaining cash flow during the startup journey. Mentorship is Key: Founders benefit from guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing skills in critical business areas like planning, marketing, and customer acquisition. Focus on Long-Term Growth: Beyond immediate support, incubators equip startups with strategies for sustainable growth and future scaling, enhancing their chances of success in a competitive market. Notable Incubator Programs: Established programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups offer substantial investments and mentorship, significantly impacting the growth trajectory of participating startups. Starting a new business can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re navigating the complexities of the startup world. That’s where startup incubators come in. These programs provide invaluable resources, mentorship, and support to help turn your innovative ideas into successful ventures. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced founder, finding the right incubator can make all the difference. With numerous options available, each offering unique benefits, it’s essential to identify which ones align with your goals and vision. In this article, you’ll discover a curated list of startup incubators that can propel your business forward, giving you the tools and connections needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Overview of Startup Incubators Startup incubators serve as vital resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of launching a new venture. These programs offer various services aimed at helping you transform your business idea into a viable enterprise. You gain access to crucial support, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on guidance in areas like market research and business planning. In a startup incubator, you often find a collaborative environment where like-minded individuals work toward similar goals. This setting enhances your chances of success, allowing you to learn from peers and seasoned professionals. Many incubators provide resources related to funding options, including venture capital, crowdfunding, and angel investors. Such financial backing is essential for realizing your business ambitions. You’ll also benefit from workshops and training sessions that cover topics such as legal structure formation, whether you’re considering an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Understanding the intricacies of these structures helps you meet regulatory requirements efficiently. Furthermore, incubators assist with branding, marketing strategies, and customer acquisition techniques, ensuring your startup can effectively reach its target audience. Business incubators not only focus on the immediate needs of your startup but also emphasize long-term growth strategies. This approach prepares you for future scaling, positioning your business for sustainable success. By taking advantage of the resources and expertise available in an incubator, you enhance your ability to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the competitive market landscape. Benefits of Joining a Startup Incubator Joining a startup incubator provides numerous advantages for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses effectively. Incubators facilitate essential resources that support early-stage startups. Access to Funding You gain access to various funding options by joining a startup incubator. Incubators often connect you with venture capital firms and angel investors seeking innovative business ideas. Additionally, they may offer direct funding or assistance with crowdfunding initiatives. The financial backing can cover expenses like marketing, product development, and staffing, ensuring you maintain a healthy cash flow while navigating your startup journey. Mentorship and Guidance You benefit from invaluable mentorship and guidance when partaking in an incubator program. Experienced business coaches provide insights into creating a solid business plan and selecting the right legal structure for your venture, whether it’s an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Additionally, you’ll receive expert advice on market research, branding, and customer acquisition strategies tailored to your target audience. This hands-on support enhances your skills in areas like finance, accounting, and digital marketing, empowering you to build a sustainable growth strategy and successfully pitch your startup to potential investors. Types of Startup Incubators Startup incubators serve diverse purposes, and understanding the types can help you choose the right one for your entrepreneurial journey. University-Based Incubators University-based incubators connect startups to academic expertise and resources. These incubators often support entrepreneurs associated with research institutions. Examples: UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck fosters startups founded by students, faculty, and alumni. Harvard Innovation Labs (i-lab) offers entrepreneurs access to specialized equipment, mentorship, and university workspaces. Benefits: Startups gain credibility associated with the university. Access to innovative research, collaboration opportunities, and a talent pool of students and faculty enhances your business development. Corporate Incubators Corporate incubators focus on fostering innovation from within established businesses. These incubators typically support startups aligned with the corporation’s business model. Examples: Google’s Launchpad Accelerator provides mentorship, resources, and investment opportunities for selected startups. Target’s Hatch incubator helps startups develop products that align with retail trends. Benefits: Startups access funding options and market insights from experienced corporate professionals. You may benefit from networking opportunities that can lead to strategic partnerships and product development. Non-Profit Incubators Non-profit incubators prioritize social impact, providing resources and support for startups with a community or social focus. These incubators often operate on a mission-driven basis. Examples: Ashoka supports social entrepreneurs aiming for systemic change. The Unreasonable Institute accelerates startups solving global challenges. Startups receive mentorship from industry leaders committed to social innovation. Access to grants and funding sources enables you to manage expenses effectively while pursuing your business goals. Choosing the right type of startup incubator aligns with your business model and growth strategy, enabling you to propel your startup forward. Notable Startup Incubators to Consider Exploring startup incubators can significantly enhance your business journey. Below are some notable options that provide vital resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities to elevate your startup. Y Combinator Founded: 2005 Location: Operates remotely Y Combinator (YC) invests $500,000 in each startup through two Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFES). You receive $125,000 for 7% equity and $375,000 via an uncapped SAFE with a Most Favored Nation clause. The three-month program features intense mentorship, guest speakers, and group office hours. You’ll also access a robust alumni network post-program, enhancing your networking opportunities. Notable alumni include Airbnb and Dropbox, showcasing the potential success that comes from YC’s resources. Techstars Founded: 2006 Location: Multiple global locations Techstars supports startups with a $120,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity. You participate in a three-month acceleration program that includes mentorship, networking, and access to key industry contacts. Specialized programs focus on verticals and regions, enabling you to connect with mentors and investors aligned with your business model. Alumni such as SendGrid and ClassPass highlight the impact of their guidance on scaling startups. 500 Startups Founded: 2010 Location: Global network 500 Startups provides a $150,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity. The four-month program includes mentorship, workshops, and created community within its startup ecosystem. You gain insights on business strategies, funding options, and market expansion. Their extensive curriculum covers finance, marketing, and growth strategies. Alumni like Credit Karma and Canva exemplify the long-term success achieved through their innovative and supportive approach. Conclusion Choosing the right startup incubator can be a game changer for your entrepreneurial journey. With the right support mentorship and resources you can navigate challenges more effectively and accelerate your growth. Each incubator offers unique benefits tailored to different needs whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur. Take the time to explore the options available and find one that aligns with your goals and vision. By leveraging the strengths of an incubator you position yourself for success in today’s competitive landscape. Embrace the opportunity to learn connect and grow as you embark on your startup adventure. Frequently Asked Questions What is a startup incubator? A startup incubator is an organization that supports new businesses by providing resources such as mentorship, networking, and essential services like market research and business planning. Incubators help entrepreneurs, whether they are first-time or experienced founders, enhance their chances of success in a competitive market. How can startup incubators help entrepreneurs? Startup incubators provide important support, including access to funding options, expert mentorship, and training sessions. They focus on developing solid business plans, marketing strategies, and customer acquisition techniques, ultimately empowering entrepreneurs to build sustainable growth strategies. What types of startup incubators are there? There are several types of startup incubators, including university-based, corporate, and non-profit incubators. University incubators connect startups to academic resources, corporate incubators focus on innovation within established companies, and non-profit incubators prioritize social impact and mission-driven initiatives. How do I choose the right incubator for my startup? Selecting the right incubator depends on aligning your business model and growth strategy with the incubator’s focus and resources. Consider factors like mentorship expertise, funding options, and the incubator’s reputation to ensure it matches your entrepreneurial goals. Can startup incubators offer funding for my business? Yes, many startup incubators provide funding directly or assist with crowdfunding initiatives. They also connect entrepreneurs to venture capital firms and angel investors, which can help cover essential business expenses and support growth. What are some examples of notable startup incubators? Notable startup incubators include Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups. Each offers unique funding opportunities and resources, like mentorship and community support, to help accelerate the success of startups and their founders. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential List of Startup Incubators to Boost Your Entrepreneurial Journey" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. There’s a sweet spot between overpaying for a flashy machine and settling for a sluggish budget buy. Right now, this refurbished Dell Inspiron Plus 7630 (2023) is sitting in that zone, on sale for $739.99 on StackSocial (versus $999 on Amazon). It’s been given a Grade “A” rating, which means you’ll get a laptop that looks nearly brand new—maybe a faint scuff here or there. Plus, it ships free across the contiguous US and has a one-year parts and labor warranty. It runs on an Intel Core i7-13700H chip, a high-performance 14-core processor typically found in laptops built for content creation and multitasking. Pair that with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, and you’re not going to struggle with heavy spreadsheets, streaming, or having 25 tabs open at once. The 16-inch 2.5K screen (2560 x 1600) adds a lot of visual real estate with sharp details and passably vivid colors (according to this PCMag review), although it’s not a touchscreen. And while the Intel Iris Xe Graphics can’t handle AAA gaming, it’ll do the job for casual editing and streaming. You also have a fingerprint reader on the power button, a decent 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter, and a backlit keyboard that makes night typing less annoying. Battery life clocks in at up to 8 hours, though real-world usage may vary depending on your workflow. Ports include USB-C with DisplayPort, HDMI, and even a trusty SD card slot for photo transfers. It runs on Windows 11 Home, so you’re set up for current apps and updates. All in all, if you need a daily driver with power and polish, without paying new-laptop prices, this Dell Inspiron Plus feels like a solid bet. View the full article

US mortgage rates rose again last week, reaching the highest level since mid-February and further depressing the appetite to buy homes or refinance loans. View the full article

Bezalel Smotrich says government has ‘no right to exist’ if it does not occupy Palestinian enclave and expel populationView the full article

As the founder of World Central Kitchen, renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés has truly mastered the art of leading through crisis. Andrés shares insights from his new book, Change the Recipe—a candid collection of personal stories that doubles as a playbook for navigating uncertainty, breaking rules, and leading with heart. José also explores how AI is poised to reshape the food industry and more. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. One of the book’s key themes is adaptability, right? Yeah. For many people, especially today, things feel very volatile. There can be panic, there could be paralysis. How do you center yourself in those moments and how much do you think adaptability is about temperament versus something we can learn? I think the human DNA of who we are, we are a species that we are highly adaptable. We are not adaptable with our bodies, meaning evolution happens over hundreds of thousands, millions of years, but our brain can and our heart can. Once you find out what something is, your heart adapts and we change. You talk in the book about breaking rules and that you need to break rules to make progress. Yeah. Obviously, that one can be used in many ways because you could argue that rules are being broken right now in our government. I want to ask you because you’re in favor of rule-breaking sometimes to get certain things done, right? Let me tell you: It’s like when you show up somewhere and somebody comes and tells you that you are not needed here and you’re looking around and you are only seeing hunger, destruction. I’m sorry, but I want to be respectful, but if I see that there’s need, we’re going to stay here because our mission is not going to be following your guidance. It’s going to be following what the people are telling us. And so this is a way of breaking rules. We were told sometimes in some hurricanes in America that some schools, we couldn’t use the kitchens, and the school kitchen was the best kitchen in many kilometers around and was complicated to navigate through roads and destruction, and even we were told we couldn’t use that kitchen. We used that kitchen. We got in trouble. We got in trouble until, “Oh, you are feeding 2,000 people every day?” I think that’s a rule that I will not mind to pay a penalty or even be sent to jail. Right. You’re okay if you pay a penalty for breaking those rules because the goal is important enough. That’s what breaking the rules means. Sometimes the rules are in your own brain. It’s breaking the chains of the own rules that you set on your own that don’t allow you to do the extra step to make something happen. Sometimes they’re rules then, they’re not really rules. You’ve just taken them as rules. I want to ask you, there’s something else you write about in the book, the difference between thinking like software and thinking like hardware. Can you explain what that is? Yeah. Well, obviously, this is one that in emergencies I learned a long time ago. Very often in emergencies, you can hear presidents, “We are positioning military or helicopters or boats or food or armories or water or ambulances.” Okay. All of that is hardware. The hardware are tools, things that will allow you to have a good response. Everybody’s going to be working on bringing the hardware to ground zero. A week later, two weeks later, you are still in the business of being a transportation company, trying to move hardware from point A to ground zero. All of a sudden, you forgot who you were. Who you were: a feeding organization. Software will allow you to respond to your main mission, which is feeding people on day one. What software is, what do you have around to feed people? What is at your finger points today? Ain’t going to be perfect. Ain’t going to be pretty. You’re not going to have logos. It’s not going to be perfect. Maybe tamales in a banana leaf because it’s the only thing we have. We don’t even have forks and knives, but that allows you to give to somebody a piece of food that actually you can be holding in your hands and you are feeding day one in the heart of Puerto Rico with nothing. So that’s the hardware versus software. Never forget your mission, never forget what you’re there for. Every organization has to be clear what your mission is to the most simplistic, smaller phrase possible, and never let anybody forget that. If not, your mission becomes something else. Concentrating on the software will always allow you to be faster and quicker. As you’re talking about technology, I recently did an episode with Marc Lore, the founder of Wonder, the food delivery app. I know you’ve collaborated with Wonder. And Marc talked about how he uses AI to pick all of his meals, like every meal, and he thinks one day everybody’s going to do that and you’re even going to use it at a restaurant to pick your meals for you. Has he talked to you about this? Have you tried it? Do you think this is a good thing? Anything Marc says, I will support because Marc is one of those amazing brains. Obviously, he’s working on taxis that will lift up in the middle of the cities, planes that will fly us away. And obviously, Wonder I know very well. I’m on their board. The big thing for me and AI is when I tell AI, “What are the food problems and food solutions in America and planet Earth?” And AI right now, the best it can do is give you a very good glimpse of all the different situations food is a problem and can be a solution . . . Things people don’t even imagine. But food is everything. Food is national security, food is defense, food is immigration, food is science, food is health, food is the economy. Food is very much in everything, and we don’t even realize. We only have food on planet Earth for around six, seven weeks, no more; 90 days is the total food that we have stored to feed the eight billion people on planet Earth. If a major thing will happen at once, and it’s been glimpses in the past that we had back-to-back hurricanes in high productive food areas of America, Central America, tornadoes, droughts, pests wiping out food production, wiping out cattle, wiping out eggs, wiping out chickens. Imagine if the perfect storm happens. We have enough food to eat on planet Earth. Why are we not finding the way to make sure that those people that are really poor, we distribute that excess of food through better distribution, et cetera? That’s the problem now. We have enough, but not everybody is receiving the food, and we should be solving this problem. I believe it’s highly solvable. So obviously, if Marc is saying, “This is the way,” I will listen to Marc because we need more brains like Marc solving problems, and it doesn’t seem we have the people or the experts concentrated in what can become a very big problem not too far away from today. View the full article