You may be wondering how Santa could possibly accomplish this feat. The truth is, Santa doesn’t believe in taking Xanax, instead he enlists the help of Big Data. With the help of Big Data, Santa is able to manage inventory, personalize presents and manage his workers like a boss. However, after interviewing Santa for this article, the jolly old man and I decided the exact details of the North Pole are far too precious to share just yet....

According to the Wall Street Journal, MeowChat was just debuted this past summer, but already brings in more than 900 million messages a month to more than 12 million users across 170 countries. Looking deeper, though, it seems the app has actually been around for a year – since Minus’s pivot from a photo-sharing website to the mobile-friendly MeowChat – and was only officially released in the App Store by that name this past summer....

Image Credit: Flickr/COD Newsroom So what about those technically gifted students who want to work in tech and also get a college education? Worry not. Higher ed isn’t going anywhere. And some universities are really delivering when it comes to fueling tech companies in the United States. Below are lists of the best public and private universities that produce the best-equipped graduates to make an impact in the world of technology....

Our search for the Startup of the Year has visited several cities and regions, and we are looking to invite the top startups to Celebrate 2015. Prizes will be awarded to the finalists in Las Vegas, and some prizes will be offered to the competing semifinalists chosen by our sponsors. Techstars, one of the top U.S.-based accelerators, has reserved a guaranteed “fast track” in the Techstars application process, including an interview with one of their Managing Directors....

Register for the Event Here We’ll have a dozen up-and-coming startups on hand showcasing their goods, but before the event kicks off, we want to know what you think – who is LA’s Hottest Showcasing Startup? Let us know your thoughts by answering the poll at the end of this post (ends at 6:00pm local time on the day of the event). (Startups apply here) The winner will be announced live at the event and will receive a couple of minutes on stage to pitch their startup in front of all attendees....

I’ve been truly fortunate to have a life filled with individuals worthy of hero status, but I think the person with the biggest influence on the past decade of my life and career is Ellen McGirt, Senior Editor at Fortune Magazine and the wisdom behind raceAhead. I was a fan of Ellen’s writing at Fast Company for years before our paths crossed. There was something in the way that she created immediate intimacy with and captured the vulnerability of startup founders and entrepreneurs without fawning over them that made her work stand out and her abilities clearly world-class....

Here’s the local news problem in two numbers: In 2005, U.S. newspapers earned $47.4 billion in print revenue. In 2014, that number was just $16.4 billion. Digital revenue during that period went from $2 billion to $3.5 billion. The latest data points: the Wall Street Journal has announced “substantial” buyouts after reports that the paper is as much as 30 percent below its budgeted revenue. Two of the biggest U....

Has it been a while since you’ve replaced your router? Wireless routers are in an exciting growth phase, with new innovations being added and smart technology improving their performance in nearly every way. A new router may be just what your busy home, office, dorm or apartment needs to manage all the connected devices…as long as you choose the right one. But don’t sweat it – we’ve got some of the best wireless routers of 2016 to help you make up your mind....

For on-demand startups and their investors, it’s no laughing matter. Favor: A New Approach to Delivery This existential threat is no less pronounced in on-demand delivery, where a number of startups have folded after years of operating at negative margins. VCs are increasingly wary of the space, prompting companies like Instacart, Zomato, and Sprig to adjust their model in an effort to improve supply-side liquidity and increase revenue. Strategies for boosting consumer and contractor retention vary, from offering incentives to improving support services and supplier payouts....

The power to co-create the brand image of a digital business takes away the control from the brand and given it to the consumers. The playing field and rules have changed, lead by an accelerated shift towards a more connected culture. Here a few key points on writing content that best connects with your target audience: Digital PR Strategy Create a digital PR strategy in sync with your social media and content marketing campaign....

Elizabeth Rhodes will join YC as the project’s Research Director, YC president Sam Altman announced in a blog post yesterday. Her joint PhD in Political Science and Social Work gave her the background needed to stand out from the position’s 1000 applicants. For it, she researched health and education in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. The goal of YC’s study of basic income is to uncover the challenges and potential trip-ups that a comprehensive basic income plan could run into....

For startups, a lack of conflict can be deadly in a different way: deadly for your company. If your employees don’t feel comfortable disagreeing, bringing up their concerns, or voicing areas for improvement, your startup may be destined for mediocrity. In a TEDGlobal 2012 talk called “Dare to disagree,” serial CEO Margaret Heffernan explains three ways to promote conflict in your business. Work with people different from you. She tells the story of Alice Stewart, the physician who set out to prove that childhood cancer was caused by pregnant women being x-rayed....

The new expansion, called YouTube Backstage, will first be available only to select YouTubers and in a basic version. All their subscribers will receive these additional media updates through their personal feeds and notifications. As VentureBeat, which has the official scoop, reports, YouTube Backstage will “eventually enable users to share both traditional YouTube videos and Backstage-only videos, possibly creating an opportunity for more intimate, or even ephemeral, video sharing between YouTubers and their fans....

Fortunately, despite edtech funding taking a hit last year, 2017 has proven to be a powerhouse of free-flowing capital, as ten edtech companies have shown that huge rounds are not just reserved for social media apps and nostalgic augmented reality games. According to data from EdSurge, there were 58 US deals totaling more than $887 million through June of this year, meaning that in just six months, edtech funding has nearly surpassed the funding for all of 2016....

You should definitely watch out for these startups: AnswerRocket AnswerRocket’s goal is to empower business users to get answers to their day to day business questions instantly. AnswerRocket is like Google™ search for business intelligence and analytics. Bastille Launched in 2014, Bastille is the first security company to detect and mitigate threats affecting the Internet of Things. Bastille secures the IoT on corporate campuses by bringing visibility to airborne threats and allowing for preemptive response....

Over 50 speakers took the stage and shared some valuable advice. Here are some takeaways: 1.“The best way to hire people is understanding their long-term vision.” – Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures. Rabois spoke about hiring and firing, which can be difficult for startups when competing with more established companies like Google. He added that when it comes to hiring, motivation is key when looking for the perfect candidate. When it comes to letting a bad fit go, he advised to “move fast, but it’s our human nature — it’s hard to fire someone....

Startup rituals might seem like just a bit of fun, but they’re actually much more significant than that. In an environment where work is nonstop, the pressure is high, and success is uncertain, a little bit of fun can be a signal to your team that you appreciate them and care about their well-being. A happy hour isn’t a way to drown the week’s sorrows, but a celebration of what everyone has accomplished....

Let’s be honest, every time you share a password via text, messenger, or email, your heart skips a beat. That’s because with online security in such a troubled state of late, you never know how or when you could be at risk of being hacked. Fortunately, there are tools — like password managers — that make existing online a little less daunting, and 1Password is adding another one to the pile....

Today’s sound bars have wireless capabilities and enough power to fill a whole room with music or environmental effects. That is, as long as you pick the right one. To help out, we’ve gathered three of the best sound bars for 2016 for you to examine: Yamaha YAS-203 – $400 Long sound bars are often difficult to place and end up getting balanced in awkward positions with dangling wires. If you’re short on space, take a look at the versatility of this 40-inch Yamaha model....

In the tech industry, which provides security software and cloud-based solutions to help prevent these kinds of attacks, everyone can benefit from the trend towards stronger workplace security practices. Here are three forms of cyber defense: Regular Password Resets I know, this one has been around forever, but it seems like it’s becoming less and less common in today’s workplace. Unfortunately, even with all of the programs that automatically require a password change every few months, SoftwareAdvice....