Entrepreneurship

How Hackers Use Bots to Score Prime Restaurant Reservations

"Forget about hacking an app or database: for a small cadre of hackers in San Francisco, it’s all about writing code that can score them a great table at a hot restaurant. According to the BBC, these developers and programmers have designed bots that scan restaurant Websites for open tables and reserve them. Diogo Mónica, a security engineer with e-commerce firm Square, is one of those programmers. A self-described foodie, he decided to get around his inability to score a table at the ultra-popular State Bird Provisions by writing a script that sent out an email every time the restaurant’s reservation page changed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow Hackers Use Bots to Score Prime Restaurant Reservations

Inside TimeSpace, the New York Times’ new startup accelerator

"The program is the first experiment of its kind by the owner of the country’s second largest newspaper. It’s goal is to infuse the 162-year-old Times Company, battered, bruised and barely profitable thanks to digital disruption, with some of that sweet innovation nectar startups are known for. In exchange, the startups get access to decision makers, lawyers, and editorial staff at the New York Times, with a little prestige and credibility to boot. The unspoken hope is that the entrepreneurial spirit will rub off on the slow-moving Times Company like osmosis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInside TimeSpace, the New York Times’ new startup accelerator

Transforming the Future of the Automotive Industry

"More often than not, innovation is born from destruction. That’s why it’s all too fitting that Tesla’s facility in California was once the site of a now-defunct joint venture between two traditional automotive powerhouses. General Motors and Toyota. In Early 2010, Tesla purchased the 5 million-square-foot facility for $42 million. Tesla took advantage of the soft economy, buying one of the biggest auto factories in the country for just pennies on the dollar (the factory is valued at approximately $1 billion). And that’s not the end of it. After the purchase of the factory itself, Tesla scooped up the usable NUMMI assembly equipment at fire-sale prices." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTransforming the Future of the Automotive Industry

The Smart Money is Investing Here…

"Wal-Mart paid $2.4 billion for Massmart, a major retailer in South Africa, in 2011. This year, Coke is launching solar-powered kiosks to reach some of the remotest parts of sub-Saharan Africa – parts that lack electricity – with ice-cold soda. Pepsi announced a $30 million manufacturing plant in Kenya to compete against Coke for market share of the continent. And Yum! Brands is expanding quickly, adding another 50 stores in Africa this year alone. Google is also investing in a solar plant in South Africa and developing high-speed internet access across the continent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Smart Money is Investing Here…

Erik Voorhees: “Bitcoin is the new Frontier”

"Erik Voorhees is one of the foremost Bitcoin entrepreneurs and has helped build some critical parts of the Bitcoin business ecosystem, as well as being a loud advocate for a free, decentralised and voluntary currency. When the history of Bitcoin is written, he will be remembered as one of the brave few explorers ready to set out into the unknown and risk life and fortune to create a new world." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingErik Voorhees: “Bitcoin is the new Frontier”

Uber Unveils On-Demand Boating Service in Amsterdam

"During last week's heat wave in the U.S., Uber modified its on-demand car service by letting residents in cities around the world order up ice cream trucks. Now the team at Uber has come up with another twist on the service called Uber Sloep. Launched as a special program in Amsterdam, the Netherlands' capital and largest city, Uber Sloep will allow anyone to use the Uber app to order up a private boat to travel the scenic canals of the city. For one day over the July 4 weekend, Uber offered $3,000 helicopter rides from New York City to the Hamptons under the 'Uber Chopper' moniker." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUber Unveils On-Demand Boating Service in Amsterdam

Manchester officials nab five illegal taxis in sting operation

"With most taxis grounded over maintenance issues, city police and licensing officials nabbed five gypsy or otherwise illegal cabs Friday in a sting operation, officials said. The culprits included an airport limousine service and a young woman who used her personal car as a taxi, said Kevin Kincaid, director of licensing and enforcement for the city Clerk's Office. As part of the sting, police used websites such as Craigslist and telephone searches to find a cab. But the owner of Amoskeag Airport Service said he was doing nothing wrong and has hired a lawyer to fight the $200 citation he received, as well as regain the Honda Accord that authorities confiscated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingManchester officials nab five illegal taxis in sting operation

Luxury private taxi app Uber launches in Zurich

"Uber produces an app which allows customers to book rides with limousine companies and private drivers using their mobile phone. Offering an alternative to taxis, the company claims to have hooked up thousands of drivers with thousands of customers using iPhone and Android technology. According to Liz Spengler of the Taxiverband Zurich, 'The taxi industry in Zurich is unhappy with the launch of Uber. We feel that customers will probably be deceived by the dishonest competition; the drivers charge will far too much and probably earn very little; and, on top of that, the taxi and limousine market here is already saturated.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLuxury private taxi app Uber launches in Zurich

San Francisco Taxis Promote Bitcoins

"In times when the US financial authorities are leaving no stones unturned in sacking Bitcoin transactions, some of the 375 taxis in San Francisco are now promoting the currency, and quite effectively. The new campaign can now be seen on the streets of San Francisco in which the taxis are playing a 'We use coins' promotion video. Among the 375 taxis, 75 of them are also featuring a still-image monitor. Bitcoin forum member Dadj explained that how they were looking for local companies interested in accepting bitcoins in their business transaction, to put their advertisement on the still-image monitors in the taxis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Francisco Taxis Promote Bitcoins

DetroitCoin: Why we should make Detroit into a Bitcoin Hub

"For one, it’s got nothing to lose. By now Detroiters should be sick of being pumped and dumped by the financial system. Detroit desperately needs to diversify its economy. Detroit and its neighbor, Windsor, form North America’s largest cross-border conurbation. It’s the ideal location for taking advantage of bitcoin’s frictionless, cross border transactions. Assets are selling like hotcakes in Detroit and lower costs mean less risk for the kind of entrepreneurs that are already starting to turn Detroit into a lab for innovation. Detroit is already the birthplace of two bitcoin exchanges. Coincidence? No. The solutions come from the people with the pain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDetroitCoin: Why we should make Detroit into a Bitcoin Hub