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How this fintech company got Russia’s first banking license in 4 years

Apr11
by on April 11, 2019 at 11:13 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Podium


The Russian Federation doesn’t exactly scream friendliness when it comes to financial innovation, but appears to be making an exception for a company called Bank 131. At a time when Russia is taking away banking licenses, this fintech business is the first to receive a license in four years. One of the primary thrusts of Bank 131 is that it will easily handle international payments to its Russian users. It’s historically a complicated and bureaucratic process to receive international income in Russia. The country is extremely modern in its deployment of domestic payment technologies, but this convenience doesn’t carry over to…

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Here’s why Israel’s first moon landing ended in an awesome crash

Apr11
by on April 11, 2019 at 10:34 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, artificial intelligence, robots, Space


Israel‘s first attempt at landing an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon today ended in a hard landing after an engine failure caused it to miss its descent window. While it’s unfortunate the craft’s journey ended abruptly, the mission should be lauded as a total success. The craft, named Beresheet (translated: in the beginning), was slated to touch down on the surface of the Moon at approximately 3:25 PM PST, but communications with the vessel were lost upon impact. The Israeli Aerospace Industry’s space division and SpaceIL, the non-profit that sent the craft into space, are currently indicating they presume it to be…

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Hallelujah! Google Assistant finally has access to your G Suite calendar

Apr11
by on April 11, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, artificial intelligence, Google


Google yesterday announced Calendar support via Google Assistant for G Suite customers at its Google Next event. This means employees and students using G Suite accounts will finally be able to edit, update, and check their Calendar using Assistant. It’s about damn time. G Suite users have been forced to live with a crippled Assistant for years now, while regular Google account holders have existed in a paradise wherein phrases like “Hey Google, access my Calendar” would solicit a response other than: But those of us using G Suite have glowered at our Google Minis and Assistant Apps for years…

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Activision knows when its employees are having sex

Apr11
by on April 11, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, gaming


The Washington Post this week reported Activision Blizzard has been using various apps to track its employees’ health data — including their pregnancies and sexual activity — by receiving anonymized data from health apps the employees are in no way, absolutely not compelled to use. But don’t worry, they’re properly compensating these industrious workers: they offer them $1 day in gift cards. The report detailed the sort of data collected by pregnancy tracking apps, specifically Ovia. Ovia’s main claim to fame is its algorithm, which helps its users figure out the best times to conceive a child based on their menstrual cycles. A…

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6 sure-fire areas of concern for startups dead-set on rapid growth

Apr11
by on April 11, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Podium


Successful startups don’t remain as one- or two-person operations running out of a home office forever. As demand for your product or service grows, so too will the need to scale your business. Business growth is an exciting time — I know because I’ve experienced it firsthand! But while achieving rapid growth is an admirable goal, scaling can also prove to be a significant challenge for startups. In fact, studies have found that 74 percent of startups fail because they scaled prematurely or weren’t prepared to scale. If you want to make sure that your goals of rapid growth don’t…

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