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Ari Stiegler: The Challenges Tech Startups Face

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

10% of startups fail in the first year. 90% of startups fail in the first five years. While the rewards for having a successful startup have the potential to be huge, the chances of a fresh startup getting to that point are slim. Startups face a constant uphill struggle against circumstances that are often out of their control.As founder of Prism, a company formed to help startups find venture capital funding, Ari Stiegler has seen it all. In fact, he faced many of the same challenges when he founded his own startup, TutorMe, which he sold to an NYSE-listed company.Every single day, Ari Stiegler is telling startups that their business is going to face a lot of challenges and the business may not make it through to the other side. However, with the right source of funding, dealing with these challenges can be easier.Let’s look at some of the challenges that a fresh startup may have to deal with.CompetitionThere is rarely a unique idea out there. We can promise you that no matter what...

Top 10 Industry Experts and Thought Leaders to Learn From and Get Inspired By

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

1 – Sean KellySean Kelly, CEO of Red Rock Secured, has revolutionized the precious metals investment industry with its simple three-step process and no-hassle policies. Drawing inspiration from his grandparents, who lost a substantial portion of their savings during the Great Recession of 2008, Kelly founded Red Rock Secured to provide gold and silver investments  The company’s success is illustrated by its remarkable 99% customer satisfaction rating, a testament to Kelly and his team’s efforts.Under Kelly’s leadership, Red Rock Secured has established a reputable name and become a leader in the precious metals investment industry in the United States. The company was ranked #211 on the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company list and received the 2023 Bullion Dealer of the Year Award. Red Rock Secured has also received A+ ratings from BBB, 5-star ratings from Business Consumer Alliance, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews, and accreditation from Consumer Affairs. The company is a sought-...

DeSantis signs new bills targeting trans kids, pronouns, drag shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

By Brendan Farrington | Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed bills Wednesday that ban gender-affirming care for minors, target drag shows, restrict discussion of personal pronouns in schools and force people to use certain bathrooms.DeSantis has made anti-LGBTQ+ legislation a large part of his agenda as he prepares to seek the Republican presidential nomination. He signed the bills in front of a cheering crowd at the evangelical Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The ceremony had a campaign-like feel, with DeSantis tossing Sharpies to a crowd, as opposed to when he privately signed measures on abortion and gun rights.Democrats opposed the bills and LBTQ+ rallies were held at the Capitol during the session that ended two weeks ago, but Republicans have a super-majority in both chambers and easily approved the bills for DeSantis’ signature.“It’s kind of sad that we even have some of these discussions,” DeSantis told the crowd, ...

No homers, so what? SF Giants use timely hitting to beat Phillies, sweep first series of 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Where, oh, where have the home runs gone? After being held homerless for a second straight game and completing a sweep of the Phillies, anyway, who cares?One of the homer-happiest teams in the majors, the Giants were starved of the long ball for a second straight game Wednesday. And for the second straight game, it didn’t matter. San Francisco recorded double-digit hits for the second game in a row, too, and proved it could win without the long ball.Beating the Phillies 7-4, the Giants completed their first series sweep of the season.Over the course of the series, the Giants homered only once (Michael Conforto’s three-run shot in the second inning Monday) but outscored the Phillies 17-10.Two straight games without a home run — what’s the big deal? Every team goes dry every once in a while, right? Why, yes, in fact. Entering Wednesday’s series finale, 29 of MLB’s 30 teams had been kept in the yard for at least one two-game stretch. ...

Arizona pitcher accidentally kills bird with throw before game in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

OAKLAND — Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers aspire to be like Randy Johnson.Zac Gallen unintentionally got really close to emulating the Hall of Famer.While warming up in the outfield before Arizona’s game against the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday, Gallen threw a curveball that hit a bird in midflight, apparently killing the animal.The throw was captured by cameras for Diamondbacks’ broadcaster Bally Sports Arizona.Johnson, a Livermore native, infamously killed a bird during a spring training game in 2001. While throwing a pitch against the Giants, a bird crossed in front of home plate and was destroyed by the baseball.Gallen’s incident happened one day before the anniversary of Johnson pitching a perfect game for Arizona against the Atlanta Braves in 2004.Zac Gallen really hit a bird with a curveball. pic.twitter.com/T6XOZudoMH— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 17, 2023Gallen, 27, is in his fifth big league season and his fourth in Arizona. This year, he...

“He purposefully drove off:” Man who drove Tesla off cliff did it intentionally, wife says in newly unsealed court records

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

REDWOOD CITY — The wife of a man who drove his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside told police after she was rescued that her husband did it on purpose, newly unsealed records in the harrowing attempted murder case show.The three-page court affidavit released Tuesday offers the first public statements from Neha Patel and sheds more light on the near-death experiences of the wife and her two young children after Dharmesh Patel drove off a coastal San Mateo County cliff on Jan. 2.“He drove off. He’s depressed. He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposefully drove off,” Neha Patel said to a California Highway Patrol officer as she was being airlifted out of Devil’s Slide to Stanford Hospital, according to the records.Dharmesh Patel — a radiologist from Pasadena — has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder. His attorney, Joshua Bentley, did not return a request for comment on Wednesday.Besides the wife’...

Montana gov. signs bill banning TikTok; challenge expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

By Amy Beth Hanson and Haleluya Hadero | Associated PressHELENA, Mont. — Montana became the first state in the U.S. to completely ban TikTok on Wednesday when Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a measure that’s more sweeping than any other state’s attempts to curtail the social media app.The measure is expected to be challenged legally and will serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America that many national lawmakers have envisioned.“Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party,” Gianforte said in a statement.TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but has said it will fight for Montana residents to be able to use the app.Some lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies are concerned the video-sharing app, owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, could be used to allow the Chi...

Harry and Meghan’s cab driver in paparazzi ordeal ‘wouldn’t call it a chase,’ as NYPD downplays the danger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

Queen Elizabeth III’s famous statement, “recollections may vary,” might apply to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s claim that they became prey Tuesday night to a “near catastrophic” pursuit by paparazzi through the streets of New York, with photographers allegedly causing multiple near collisions with other drivers, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.While Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson described a two-hour ordeal that is reminiscent of “The French Connection,” New York City police officials and a taxi driver briefly enlisted to help the couple evade the paparazzi offered far less dramatic accounts. A NYPD spokesperson agreed that there were numerous photographers following the couple Tuesday night, which made their “transport challenging.” But the spokesperson, Julian Philips, also said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination safely and there were no reported collisions or injuries and no one was a...

Woman arrested after meth, thousands in cash seized in Santa Rosa drug bust

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

(KRON) -- A woman was arrested Wednesday for being involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in Santa Rosa, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) said in an alert. The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Santa Rosa resident Maria Mondragon. Man arrested after stabbing at Safeway parking lot in Santa Rosa: police Mondragon was arrested around 10:40 a.m. when she was in her car on the 1100 block of Sebastopol Road. Authorities then served a search warrant and found six ounces of suspected meth packaged for sale and approximately $6,770 in cash (pictured above), according to SRPD. SRPD detectives began their investigation into a local meth distributor back in January of this year. They eventually identified the suspect to be Mondragon. Mondragon was booked into Sonoma County Jail for possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance for sale. Her bail is currently set at $250,000, according to Sonoma County Jail records. KRON On is s...

Md. man leads Virginia State police on chase in stolen SUV, rams into trooper car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:37 GMT

The disabled Virginia State Police SUV that was rammed multiple times during a stolen car pursuit on May 17, 2023. (Courtesy Virginia State Police)Police say a man from Brooklyn, Maryland, stole an SUV from a dealership in Prince William County, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, ramming into a Virginia State trooper vehicle multiple times after leading them on a chase.Prince William County police said that a GMC Yukon from the Koons dealership on Richmond Highway was reported stolen around 10:40 a.m. A detective located the vehicle and attempted to arrest the driver, but he fled the scene, according to police.The vehicle headed north, where the Virginia State Police identified the stolen SUV as it was headed into Fairfax County on Route 1.A state trooper activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, but the SUV driver would not stop and sped off, according to officials. The trooper pursued the stolen vehicle, and officers said the driver rammed the state trooper...