TechLaunch showcased several interesting startup ideas this year, which ranged from mobile applications to mechanical prototypes. One noticeable startup was MinePerformance, Inc., with their HIRB prototype, which removes unwanted slack in ropes that control electric mining shovels. This process reduces cycle time and leads to increased efficiency and operator safety. Startups also faced off in a competition for the grand prize of $11,000. This year’s winner, Citius Composites, LLC, pitched their idea of creating an advanced prosthetic for above the knee (AK) amputees....

1. NexTrack: Making Exercise Fun Your weight loss regime might be perfect according to your work schedule, but the only way to find its effectiveness is by monitoring its results. The NexTrack by Nexercise Apps, Inc. was first launched on a CBS “The Doctors” talk show and has since become one of the best fitness monitoring apps for android. The app turns your daily exercise routines into a game, where you can earn several rewards and stay motivated for a daily workout....

The Global Learning XPRIZE has just announced the finalists for their $15 million prize. The companies, hailing from countries like India, Malawi, Tanzania, the UK, and the US, were chosen because they best exemplify the mission of the XPRIZE: to develop open source software that will enable children in developing countries to teach themselves basic reading, writing, and arithmetic within 15 months. With an estimated 250 million children around the world unable to read, the $15 million prize shouldn’t be too surprising....

Here are five habits that you can start implementing today to get your workday on the right foot. Be Present The top tip that can make a difference is allowing yourself to be present. This can be the most difficult tip to figure out, but remaining present can boost your productivity. Before your workday begins, take a few minutes to center yourself, and watch what a difference it makes as you execute your day....

Those who are victimized by identity thieves often finds themselves in financial trouble. Most victims have had their information stolen through their phones, as a hacker was able to hack into the phone or that they found the victim’s phone and took all of their information from it. To protect yourself from this threat, here are five apps that can help you protect your personal info. PassKey Why stop at fingerprint screen locking when you can also use your fingerprint to lock single apps as well?...

Here are some of the likely developments in the near future. 1. Solutions to Nursing Shortages There’s a fairly broad nursing shortage in hospitals right now. It’s difficult for medical centers to remain fully staffed because many nurses have opted to work at slower-paced clinics and rehabilitation homes. In addition, issues with expired certifications or incompetence at the hospital level that has sent administrations scrambling for alternative solutions. In response, hospitals have begun to “grow their own” specialty-care registered nurses....

The field as a whole has raised over $21.8 billion dollars and is producing some of the most promising companies out there. With all of this investment, it’s easy to see why the industry has grown by around 170 percent in one short year–making an impact in 43 different categories. With that impressive information at hand, here are some MarTech startups you should look out for: Optimove Since no two customers are alike in terms of their needs, interests, and behavior, personalized marketing has gained momentum in recent years....

The point is, this can boost your overall conversion rate and can help you stay competitive both in the brick-and-mortar marketplace and in your online enterprises. Here are five key retargeting strategies that can revolutionize your internet marketing campaigns. Facebook, Twitter and other major social media sites offer a wide range of advertising strategies for business managers interested in re-marketing visitors to their websites. Incorporating these venues into your overall marketing plan can help you capture the attention of potential customers in the online places they most frequently gather....

The notion of price, or even of product value in general, as being a significant factor in a client’s buying process can be ruled obsolete by the clout of the sales person to directly influence the deal using his own interpersonal prowess. Price is only an issue in the absence of value, and value is only an issue in the absence of salesmanship. The power of the sales person to influence the trajectory of the deal has been proven to be more impactful than objective criteria such as price, function, and convenience combined....

Nintendo and Microsoft have no issue with sharing profiles across platforms, so the Fortnite issue appears to sit squarely with Sony. The company utterly failed to appreciate how loyal Fortnite users would naturally assume they could port their user accounts between devices – many of whom had spent considerable money on character outfits and upgrades, after all. Sony’s response has been fairly lacklustre, acknowledging the outcry, but showing absolutely no intention of addressing it....

In order to get the extra edge on your competition, here’s some great e-commerce tools you can use to keep yourself professional, organized, and more customer oriented: 1. Webyclip Though online purchases are becoming more appealing and commonplace than ever, there is still something innately satisfying about being able to visually experience the product prior to purchase. Although difficult to believe, the inability to visually interact with products online keeps many people in the dark ages of in store purchases rather than jumping on the online bandwagon....

As the infrastructure of the Internet of Things comes to life, more and more home appliances are being rebuilt with Wi-Fi connectivity and other wireless protocols. Here are the top tech ideas that are paving the way for a new standard of living: Nest Learning Thermostat The Nest Learning Thermostat is your solution to a more energy-efficient and economical household, and its ability to learn your schedule is first rate....

1. Broadcast Live Events Perhaps you attend a trade show; maybe you are supporting a charity and there is an event you are attending. Broadcasting these events live (announcing them in advance, of course) and allowing your audience to participate by asking questions or by telling you what they want to see more of and drive what content you provide, right there on the spot, in real time. Ask viewers what they want to see more of and then respond....

So let’s take a look at the seven startups that launched at LaunchBox Digital Demo Day 2011: CityPockets – Real-time merchant CRM platform to help Daily Deal merchants convert new customers into regulars by capturing their contact info and offering follow-up deals. Fiscal Pie – Breaks the barrier between personal finance and social networks by providing an anonymous way for Facebook users to compare and learn about personal finance....

To keep plugging along, a good deal of mental strength is required. We’ve previously given you advice on how to stay in top physical shape, now here are some tips on how to keep yourself mentally strong for the times when you have no choice but to persevere. 1. Acknowledge Your Emotions Mentally strong people acknowledge their emotions rather than repress them. They are open about feeling sadness, embarrassment, and disappointment....

As the leading competition for French startups in North America, Startup Tour is where you’ll find a bevy of founders that are dedicated to making the world a better place. Co-organized by FrenchFounders and French Morning, the competition will host eight finalists for a chance to win up to $100,000 in cash, business resources, and mentoring opportunities. Which is, to say the least, a step in the right direction for getting set up in the US....

How did Fitbit get started? In late 2006, James Park and his co-founder, Eric Friedman, were working at a company which is now part of CBS. Nintendo had just released the Nintendo Wii, which was the first consumer device that had accelerometers, and it was the first product that proved gaming was begging to be made into something fun and active for users. During April 2007, they decided to start Fitbit....

Even the most modern technological iterations are burdened by this ball and chain relationship, forcing consumers around the world to beg for a better way. And so far, despite early attempts at wireless charging solutions, nothing has truly worked. However, while early examples of wireless charging have required just as much fuss as the wired way, the future of this technology could result in a world without wires. The Present of Wireless Charging Taunted by that small red sliver on the top right corner of their screens, people still have trouble enjoying social events without knowing exactly where the nearest wall outlet is situated....

Once the expanded infrastructure was in place, automakers began to roll out all kinds of new cars that filled numerous different purposes. Before long, so many cars were on the road that highways had to be expanded and new ones had to be added. And so the game of leapfrog continued. The same is true with digital networks today. These networks have rapidly expanded in the last two decades to handle the onslaught of use....

While the tech industry’s lack of diversity is nothing new, the idea that simply “getting girls to code” will right the situation seems to be failing. According to the authors of a forthcoming UN report, the solutions require a radical rethinking of governmental oversight and regulation of the tech sector itself. The Pipeline Problem Speaking virtually at the CogX conference, Judy Wajcman, professor of sociology at the London School of Economics, described the problems facing women in tech after gathering evidence for more than a year....