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ReFocus AI

refocusai

HackerNoon Reporter: Please tell us briefly about your  background. I don't believe it’s possible for someone to ‘just do a startup.’ It’s a mission you fall in love with over and over, it’s a passion to breathe the rarefied air of a fast-growing technology company, and it’s your child. All of these things simultaneously and sometimes in competition with each other. I caught the startup bug while working for a space technology company and I have never looked back. Later, I had the opportunity to work for one of the largest catastrophe insurance companies in the world, which provided the mental springboard to my own company. What's your startup called? And in a sentence or two, what does it do? Our company’s name is ReFocus AI. ReFocus AI is a data-driven sales enablement platform that derives insights from every interaction and helps match customers’ wants and needs with suppliers’ products and services at scale. Over 80% of people purchasing insurance will speak to an insurance professional, but when it comes to how insurance agents sell, there is a major disconnect. They have a difficult time weeding through all the prospects they could be contacted to find the fraction of the 80% that want to purchase today. What is the origin story? We started it as my kitchen table in September of 2021. Then BAM! COVID-19 popped onto the world stage. When we began the company, we knew there was a major opportunity to use the data that companies already have - locked up in their CRMs and data warehouses - to help companies make better business decisions. But that’s all we knew at the time. What proved elusive at the beginning was . So we picked up the phone and spoke to almost 100 people in 3 months. what the better decisions were for Starting a business so close to a global pandemic may seem foolhardy. But what we found is that it actually pushed us to dig further into the problem we were trying to solve. I remember a conversation with a prospect 6-months in. They told us they loved our product (which compared to today was almost something else entirely). But unless we could increase their revenue, they would never consider purchasing it. And that was our light bulb moment. Enter ReFocus AI as a sales enablement and opportunity management platform. We have not looked back since. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? I could not ask for a better team. It’s also not the one we started with. Out of the three original co-founders, I am the only one that remains. A new addition to our team, Dr. Nisar Hundewale, is currently the second co-founder. As our Chief Data Officer, he brings 20+ years to the team solving complex lead and demand generation problems for Fortune 50 companies. We have an amazing roster of advisors and a great team that works tirelessly. Everyone is here for a reason, and they add value beyond what any one of us could do alone. As a group of individuals, we have an amazing echo effect where ideas are amplified and strengthened. The problem we are tackling is a tough nut to crack. It’s forward-thinking which means that our prospective customers are not yet aware of the problem and from a technology point-of-view, it’s only now becoming possible to solve as companies realize their data is an asset. We are the team solving this problem because we are the people who have experienced this problem first hand in past (and for some on our team) current jobs. Pulling this off means we will change how companies interact with their prospects forever - and may just make traditional marketing obsolete as a result. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I haven’t given much thought to what I would be doing if it was not building ReFocus AI. Call it a bandwidth issue! At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your core metrics? We determined early on that to be successful, our machine learning models must be accurate. So we measure the F-Score and track it over time for all of the models our customers have in production. From a business health and growth standpoint, we also track our customer acquisition cost and burn rate. Success for us is macro - we are trying to shift how insurance is sold. When the industry adopts ReFocus AI as its core enabler to make that happen, we will have won. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? Our traction has grown exponentially. Perhaps the most exciting thing to me personally is that we have validated that companies can increase their revenue by over 10% by enabling their sales teams to target real-time opportunities. We have been able to validate this in both the insurance and logistics industry. In the grand scheme of the universe, we have been around for less than a 2-year blip (at the time of writing). That we have been able to scale so quickly is a testament to our entire team’s vision and ability to break down complex problems into streamlined end-user-facing solutions. What technologies are you currently most excited about, and most worried about? And why? I am extremely bullish on battery technology that will literally power the world using sustainable energy. Making solar and wind power viable at scale to overtake fossil fuels requires the ability to store it cheaply and safely. In the last few years, we have seen breakthroughs in battery technology that will make a green future possible. Blockchain technology makes me nervous, but not exactly worried. And I’m not referring to the underlying distributed ledger or cryptocurrency. The value in the blockchain is having the ability to come back and verify something later and trust its accuracy. Blockchain seems to be popping up everywhere and in everything. Blockchain is not a magic solution and honestly, should only be included where that later validation is required. What drew you to get published on HackerNoon? What do you like most about our platform? Getting published on HackerNoon was always a goal of mine. I consider it a professional accomplishment having now been published over 5x on the platform. I like HackerNoon because of the originality of the content and the quality of the ideas that are shared on it. What advice would you give to the 21-year-old version of yourself? Do what you love and love doing it. What is something surprising you've learned this year that your contemporaries would benefit from knowing? We still have not communicated with aliens. The wait continues…. Vote for ReFocus as the , Sacramento. Startup of the Year

"Do what you love and love doing it": Colby Tunick, ReFocus AI Co-Founder

We'll start off this article by discussing the history of drones. Upon the creation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, the UK . Target practice entailed towing gliders behind crewed aircraft. However, that method failed to provide a realistic simulation for engaging enemy fighters in live combat. So in 1935, the De Havilland DH.82B Queen Bee aircraft came into existence as a low-cost radio-controlled drone developed for aerial target practice. The Queen Bee was the first modern drone. needed effective methods for training pilots 3D printing and affordable consumer models significantly lowered the financial bar of owning a drone. Since 1935, , primarily for military reconnaissance and in niche hobby scenes. In the 2000s, drones had a breakout moment as cultures, content, and open-source collaboration moved online, powering the consumer drone hobbyist scene. 3D printing and affordable consumer models significantly lowered the financial bar of owning a drone. 3D printing and open-source design allowed for the everyday consumer to manufacture replacement parts easily and affordably from the comfort of their own homes creating a thriving hobbyist community. drones have existed as specialty tools This led to the cost of manufacturing sensors decreasing dramatically. These new sensors opened up new applications for drones in both consumer and professional applications. Affordable sensors not only decreased the final price point but enabled experimentation. Whereas before a drone may cost in the hundreds of thousands, a drone that cost a few thousand was expendable. This expendability and ubiquity are powering the future of the drone economy. Consumer drone technology in 2021 Drones Today Outside the well-documented (and potentially infamous) applications of military drones, they have a variety of applications in both the commercial and the insurance space. . More are created every day Among the most prevalent are companies that use drones to survey land and property to build catastrophic flood, fire, and wind risk and other property-related risk maps. Drones are also seeing use to assess property claims in unstable or hazardous areas post-catastrophe. A real-world example is the failed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Drones are being developed that can autonomously navigate in a confined, GPS-denied environment, avoiding obstacles along the flight path, and surviving the radiation levels expected during a mission inside the collapsing power plant. Other use cases include: Powered by AI and computer vision, drones have also adopted the role of mobile security and surveillance. In agriculture, farmers are using drones to assess crop viability over large pieces of land. Universities are experimenting with using drones to for pest and disease control. distribute vectors Drones will soon proliferate Drones Tomorrow Especially for traversing large distances, it is still more time and cost effective to collect data and deliver packages, using fossil fuel powered vehicles. Artificial intelligence is enabling the use of drones to deliver packages and people as the technology matures. The path to adoption for these future applications of drones is riddled with practical and legislative obstacles. In the US, regulators require licensed drone operators to maintain a clear line of sight of their drones. This additional redundancy significantly reduces the financial viability of commercial drone applications due to labor costs. However, the Federal Aviation Administration recently gave permission in January 2021 for a private company to conduct autonomous commercial drone flights. This momentous decision will open up autonomous commercial flights for other companies, leading to a proliferation of drone technology and usage. Technological challenges for drones center on the current limitations of weight to battery capacity. Especially for traversing large distances, it is still more time and cost-effective to collect data and deliver packages, using fossil fuel-powered vehicles. As battery technology continues to develop, the applicability of drones will increase exponentially. The urban landscape will also change to accommodate the use of drones. From communal drone landing pads and universal charging stations, cities will build ‘drone friendly’ features which will increase the utility of drones. Drones present a new opportunity for insurance professionals What does this mean for Insurance? Imagine a scenario where you got in a car accident. Rather than calling 911 for potential injuries and waiting for 60-90 minutes for an ambulance and law enforcement to assess a scene, your phone or onboard system will send out a distress message. This will trigger a drone to fly out in less than 10 minutes to assess the scene of the accident, the health of the drivers, and damage to the vehicles. They relay this data in real-time to emergency services so they show up prepared for the situation and to your insurance company to give a more accurate representation of the accident and expedite the claims process. Assuming there were no injuries sustained in the accident, the insurance company now has the data to send both a tow truck to transport your vehicle to an adjuster and body shop and a rental car to the site of the accident so you could continue your day as if nothing happened — saving hours of time, paperwork and providing unbeatable customer service. To prepare for this opportunity, insurance brokers should understand how their insureds use drones - in a personal or commercial capacity. This is simply one of the amazing future use cases for drones. On the insurance side today, drone applications are still undergoing pilots (pun intended). Many insurance companies today cannot receive, handle, and effectively use the vast quantity and variety of data drones offer at scale. These siloed legacy systems will continue to buckle under technological advancements, and nonstop challenges will continue to emerge for startups until the industry creates data and API standards to connect their systems. To prepare for this opportunity, insurance brokers should understand how their insureds use drones - in a personal or commercial capacity. It is extremely important to educate commercial clients about the risk that drones possess so that when they purchase one, their insurance agent is the next call they make. Wholesalers should position themselves so that they are working with the handful of forward-thinking carriers that currently offer drone-related policies. Last, carriers should dedicate time and resources to explore personal and commercial drone offerings. A key piece of this preliminary research is triggered that would signal to the carrier that it is time to launch the policy. It is never too early to be thinking about the future. And if you are thinking about the future, think about drones. Special thank you to the co-author of the article, Elisha Cheng . Elisha is the COO of ReFocus AI , an enterprise AI-powered sales plugin for insurance professionals. As a recent graduate, he co-founded EPort an international import export company out of Southern China which he sold to East West Trading Co. He holds a bachelor's degree from University of California, Riverside in International Political Economy. Elisha currently resides in Sacramento, California. Also published on: https://blog.refocusai.com/drones-and-insurance/

Drones Will Change The Insurance Industry

Welcome to the dawn of the self-driving car era, and a subsequent emerging challenge: how to insure them. For the last two decades, improvements to sensor technology & its gradual adoption into both commercial and domestic sectors has drastically improved the affordability of manufacturing. This cheaper technology eventually made its way into the hands of automakers, and is the genesis of self-driving technology. To understand this and how to insure its additional risks, we must first look at the technology itself. Technology & Viability Advanced technology provide the 'brains' for self-driving vehicles Originally, the largest technical limitation to self-driving cars was the significant processing power required to synthesize the data from so many sensors. However, recent advancements in cloud systems, computer chip design, and AI has enabled much smaller computers to monitor real-time data, take action, and provide services autonomously. This data gold rush has driven companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Luminar into a race to create commercially viable self-driving vehicle systems. In contrast to the cloud systems and AI, many sensor technologies are mature in their development if not application. Many of these companies are making the push to create self-driving systems that use an array of sensors to feed data into a computer that autonomously decides on behalf of the driver. These sensors include cameras (which detect and identify objects via an AI called computer vision), ultrasonic, radar, and Lidar (which is better at detecting and mapping short and long range distance). In contrast to the cloud systems and AI, many sensor technologies are mature in their development if not application. For example, the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are still undergoing digital transformation incorporating cloud and AI technologies into their operating models. Whereas sensor tech like Lidar and radar has been used for decades in military and commercial applications. What this means is that vehicles like Tesla which rely heavily on cameras/computer vision, radar, and ultrasonic sensors are still years from maturing their technology and having fully autonomous self-driving capabilities. Companies like Luminar (which provides the sensors) with proven lidar systems are beyond the price range of the average consumer, making them uneconomical for self-driving applications. Unless industry makes drastic advancements on cheaper lidar versions, these systems will not be viable at scale except perhaps in commercial applications like driverless delivery. What does this mean for insurance? When fully autonomous vehicles reach saturation, the reduction in risk will drive the price of auto policies down. Yet, the increase in value of autonomous vehicles will require owners to purchase more coverage. Over time, this will create a major problem for state insurance regulators. The high purchase price of fully autonomous vehicles will exclude many low income auto owners from adequately insuring their vehicles, potentially resulting in an overall increased cost of coverage. State regulators will also have to set new minimums on auto coverage to address the increased value of self-driving systems included in the overall cost of the average vehicle. Ultimately, state legislatures will have to be cautious that they do not create a system that imposes more costs on the less financially abled. The intersection between vehicles with greater connectivity and cyber security will become increasingly important over the next decade. Cyber crimes will continue, and it is only a matter of time before cyber criminals hack into these systems/vehicles. The purpose of these hacks may vary, but the use of ransomware, disabling the vehicle until the owner pays the ransom, will make up a significant number of these cyber security incidents. This will lead to insurers either including, or offering supplemental coverage options for cyber to consumers as a part of auto insurance. Self-driving cars will require changes to not just auto insurance, but the new infrastructure being built to support them. Self-driving vehicles will pose unique opportunities and challenges for claims professionals. On one hand, the plethora of sensor data will make it easier to determine the accident timeline and which driver(s) are at fault. On the other insurance companies will have to develop the capacity to analyze this sensor data, thus imposing an additional expense on the insurer. The new reliance on vehicle sensor data will see the claims field shift to a heavier IT emphasis, with new software augmenting much of what a claim professional does. Eventually, determining payouts and accident faults will be entirely automated under the belief that ‘data does not lie.’ As claims are on the tail-end of the insurance life-cycle, self-driving technology will have little to no effect in the immediate future. Within the next decade, though, claims will undergo a radical shift because of this new technology. Self-driving cars will require changes to not just auto insurance, but the new infrastructure being built to support them. In commercial applications like increasingly popular last mile delivery services, driverless delivery will dramatically cut labor expenses. The cost for insurance however will increase in the short run. Without a driver involved, there is an ambiguity of who handles goods delivered. The retailer, the storage facility, the delivery service, or the customer? This increases the liability for lost, damaged, or stolen packages. Storefronts and storage facilities being repurposed for last mile delivery are especially exposed to extra risks like theft, property damage, spoilage of food products, and fire. Thinking about insurance holistically (auto, property, general liability, etc.) will become increasingly important in the era of the self-driving vehicles. Self-driving vehicles are coming into existence because consumers want even greater convenience. And to stay relevant, insurance professionals will need to match that level of convenience. On the technology side, regardless of the flavor of the sensor, companies on the cutting edge of technology and manufacturing processes are still 3-10 years away from making a commercially viable fully autonomous vehicle, plus an additional 4-10 years after commercial viability before enough companies and segments of the population adopts these vehicles to make a significant impact on insurers. Whether through embedded insurance, better sales technologies, or new product offerings like auto-cyber, the next decade will see major innovation within the insurance industry. Special thank you to the co-author of the article, Elisha Cheng . Elisha is the COO of ReFocus AI , an enterprise AI-powered sales plugin for insurance professionals. As a recent graduate, he co-founded EPort an international import export company out of Southern China which he sold to East West Trading Co. He holds a bachelor's degree from University of California, Riverside in International Political Economy. Elisha currently resides in Sacramento, California. Also published on: https://blog.refocusai.com/insurance-and-self-driving-cars/

How Self-Driving Cars Will Change the Auto Insurance Industry

As someone who speaks and writes about business on a regular basis, I revel in any opportunity to look at business from a fresh perspective. After a while, the same topics get tired; how to come out on top financially, the best way to drive a profit, how to beat the competition. It was in a recent interview that I realized why these topics feel so tiresome. They are hellbent on the financials, and nothing else. It feels like every business conversation ultimately comes down to how much money can be made, and in a world where so much more is at stake – our environment, our socio-economics, our wellbeing – this myopic focus no longer feels sustainable. Abby Falik is, among many things, a social entrepreneur. Her life's work is focused on changing our perspective from money chasing to the pursuit of curiosity, courage, and conviction. I was enamored by her beliefs about leadership, and in particular, the idea that our bottom line should be people – not profit. If you listen to , or if you're yet to give it a crack, this one is bound to get you fired up. Let's dive into some of the key points Abby made. my podcast Abby Malik's Mission to Change Our Entrepreneurial Mindset How can I summarize Abby's career? From my point of view, she's one of the most accomplished people I've met – and not because of profits or growth. Abby is the Founder & CEO of Global Citizen Year, a nonprofit using the power of a global immersion between high school and college to unlock curiosity, conviction, and courage in our next-generation leaders. Her conviction began right after she finished secondary education. “When I finished high school, I was so tired from the treadmill. I had been an excellent sheep; I’d ticked all the boxes, I’d gotten into college. But I knew something was missing.” What Abby saw was a gaping hole in her education. She'd learned how to cram for tests, and to regurgitate knowledge – but at no point had she been taught about authentic and purpose-filled leadership. She hadn't learned about contributing to the world around her, or about shaping her values. “I desperately wanted to spend some time outside of the classroom in the real world in a way that would shape my values and perspective and identity and sense of purpose – in a way that I knew my freshman year of college couldn't.” After recognizing that our education system is fundamentally flawed in the way it prepares young people for the world, Abby was fixated on this idea of helping young people become global citizens. She founded GCY to give students access to a year of global education; one that would teach them how to be citizens of the world, and to gain resilience, empathy, agency, and leadership. The Purpose of Global Citizen Year In founding GCY, Abby's mission was to intercept young people right at the point of influence; those formative years when ideas are being flung at them from all angles. "Once they're then in college and being swept along, [young people need] a counter-force to all of the pressures that say, ‘Optimize for your own personal advancement. Maximize profit generation for yourself or your entity.’” Because this is what young people have impressed upon them from a very young age; you exist to make money, and to get as wealthy and comfortable as possible. You start a business in order to drive profit for yourself and those involved. As an adult and businessperson myself, I've experienced the outcome of this mindset. Every board meeting is focused on the financials; what are the sales, what's the profit margin, how can we do better? But Abby and GCY believe that there is a different way. A bottom line that is people-centric; one where business decisions are made with the wellbeing of everyone involved in mind. "What does it look like to embed a sense of civic responsibility that extends so far beyond yourself and personal gain, but to hold people in our planet as, as your bottom line?" This is what Abby's organization is trying to impress upon the next generations of leaders. But it isn't just our young people who need to shift their mindset – there's plenty we can learn from Abby's mindset and ideology, too, and it's never too late to pivot. The Problem With A Financial Bottom Line Before we launch into some business theory, here's a disclaimer: I'm not here to slam anyone for wanting to make money. It is, after all, how we survive – and as Abby informed me in our interview, even the most non-for-profit organizations still have to think about revenue strategy. The problem that Abby wants to tackle, and the issue I see so clearly in the business world, is this endless drive toward making more money and nothing else. Every business move is made for the ultimate goal of maximizing profits. Even decisions that might be bad for the environment, or workers, or customers – as long as they increase the bottom line, they're seen as viable moves. And that mindset simply isn't sustainable in the world we currently live in, especially if we want to preserve any kind of future. "I think so many businesses have been founded with a very singular, and focused, and easy to measure profit maximizing purpose – period," Abby explained. "What you measure is what gets done; it's what you manage toward, and the form and the function of what you're actually oriented around." How It Hurts Society If what you're oriented around is driving a profit, there's little room left for social responsibility. Some organizations exist under the guise of having a double bottom line, one that focuses on both profit and people; however, when push comes to shove, the people tend to lose out. "I don't mean that the profit maximizing oriented orientation is necessarily bad. I think the problem is when you're not then accounting on your balance sheet for all the externalities or harm you may be causing." I loved the way Abby clarified this. You can make a profit, and you can set your team up for a comfortable life. But where it goes wrong is negligence toward the impact you have on the world at large. "It doesn't work for society to have companies that maximize profits for shareholders whilst ignoring other stakeholders, including humans, and health, and the planet's sustainability. Out of those profits, you might give some of it away to help; you've made the money in one hand, and you're giving it away as band-aids on problems that you may have contributed to." Sadly, problems don't go away when we throw money at them. We can't have our cake – financial monopoly – and eat it too. Somewhere along the line, our businesses and our leaders need to switch from a mindset of 'make more' to one of mutually benefiting society. "It's a much more holistic way to see the role of the corporation in society: as accounting for its positive and detrimental contributions." What's At Stake? In the Western world, we live in a green-washed society. Our chocolate is stamped with a free trade symbol. Our meat is 'RSPCA approved'. Cars are going electric and companies are going carbon-neutral. We like to think of ourselves as responsible global citizens, and our economy reflects that with a focus on sustainability and social responsibility. But scratch the surface, and it's clear that profit is still the be-all and end-all for many businesses. Take a look at the headlines – companies going bankrupt, mass redundancies, tax avoidance schemes. Behind the PR gloss, it's clear that profit is still taking precedence over people. The problem is that this short-term focus on profit can have devastating consequences for both people and the planet. When businesses are forced to make decisions based on profit rather than people, we see things like: Household incomes have been since 2019. Low wages and precarious work: steadily decreasing Unsafe and unhealthy working conditions cause every single day. Poor working conditions: 7,500 deaths For up to 16 hours per day, between 5 and 14 are forced to work in sweatshops. Sweatshops: 250 million children Globally, are raised for consumption each year. Factory farming: 50 billion farm animals are released into the air and earth by industrial facilities every single second. Toxic pollution: 310 Kg of toxic chemicals The rate of temperature increase has over the past 40 years, and continues to rise. Climate change: more than doubled And the list goes on. At a time when the world is facing some of its biggest challenges – from climate change to inequality – it's clear that we need to rethink our bottom line. But the illusion of corporate social responsibility makes us feel as though we're already doing enough, and that's how we get caught out. "In an era when big tech and social media hijack our attention and sell it, unless we know our ability to choose how we invest our time and energy and resources – if we are just carried along without a sense of our own – we end up in a spot where there's a threat of authoritarian leadership. We are the product," Abby explained. "We live in a time that requires every human to know their responsibility to contribute to solving problems, big or small. Because without all of us having that orientation, we will just get swept along and swept off a cliff. We need everybody to see their power as change agents." Of course, I'm not saying that Elon Musk hasn't made a difference with his electric cars, or that the free trade initiative hasn't made a difference. But how much more could we achieve if businesses put people first, and solely first? It's a chilling thought. The Alternative: Social Entrepreneurship You may be wondering – so what's the alternative? How do we put people first, whilst staying afloat and achieving our financial goals? What Abby advocates for is social entrepreneurship. And no, it isn't just corporate social responsibility (CSR) – which is often seen as a PR move, and a way to greenwash dodgy business practices. Social entrepreneurship is the real deal: it's using business as a tool for social change. It's creating innovative solutions to social problems, without the guarantee of a significant financial outcome. I particularly love Abby's broader definition: "My favorite definition of entrepreneurship is the pursuit of an opportunity, independent of the resources under control. It's this notion of stepping off a cliff and having confidence that you will assemble the airplane or the parachute as you before you land. But it's a pursuit of an opportunity before you know where the resources come from." Going Against the Grain When you think about it, this is so counter-intuitive to our current business model, which is all about certainty and control. We want to know what the return on investment is going to be, we want to minimize risk. Our biggest corporations pay billions of dollars for incredibly precise predictions of consumer behavior, so they can plan and strategize to the nth degree. "In social entrepreneurship, I think that the opportunity you're pursuing holds people and our planet and a sense of social purpose as your bottom line," Abby explained. What a noble goal to pursue. It's one in which financial success is not the only – or even the primary – measure of success. It moves us away from egocentricity and towards a more holistic worldview. And if we're honest with ourselves, it's probably one of the most sure-fire ways to feel that you have succeeded as a human. We are naturally wired toward contributing to the greater good. We derive a lot of satisfaction from helping others and making a difference in the world. It feels good to see our efforts contribute to the betterment of society as a whole. Even something as simple as giving a thoughtful gift sends tingles up our spine. If you know the principles of Ikigai, you know that we feel most fulfilled when our work connects to our passion, supports our community and contributes to the world around us. This is what social entrepreneurship is all about. So how can you get involved? How To Shift Your Bottom Line According to Abby, our best bet at shifting toward a people-centric bottom line is to 'change the world from the inside out'. You might have heard of this concept in leadership circles; to benefit others, you must problem-solve from within. The problem is, change rarely comes about from these lofty ideals. Abby's goal is to impress upon people the importance of this concept. Her theory of change is that in order to change the world, you need to change individuals first – which is where her concept for GCY came about. As business leaders, we can take this concept into our own companies and organizations, too. Let's close out the article with a few strategies and mindset shifts you can walk away with. Alter Your Company's Mission As we've been talking about, your bottom line is the thing that drives your company. It's what you use to make decisions and it's what you're ultimately responsible for. Therefore, this is the element you should start with when looking to change your company culture and make it more people-centric. Take a good, hard look at your mission statement. Is it profit-driven or people-driven? Are you acting with the intention of benefiting others, or just your shareholders? Change truly comes from within, so look at the internal parts of your company and make the necessary tweaks to reflect a people-centric mission. Change Your Mindset From 'Should' To 'Must' Abby touched on something that I feel is crucial to making such pivotal changes within our businesses: the mindset of 'should'. "As you're talking, you've used the word 'should'. I think that's a really hard place to respond from, because it feels like an obligation or a responsibility. And so there's something that needs to shift from the 'should' to the 'must'. I do it this way because of experiences I've had, and because of the way I see the world." must It's true – taking responsibility for our impacts on the world is not really an option if we want to see real change. It's not optional if we want our people and our planet to thrive; and not even thrive, but simply survive. It's a must. Don't Miss The Moment The recent pandemic has presented us with a unique opportunity to change our business models, and to change the way that we view the bottom line. "What I would say to anybody who cares about contributing to a future that looks better than the present, is that we can't miss this moment. Arundhati Roy wrote about the pandemic is a portal, a door that we're walking through from one era of history into the next. And we choose what we carry, and we choose what we leave behind. I think so many sectors and industries are missing the opportunity to rethink everything." I think that's a pretty strong note to leave today's newsletter on; seize the moment. Don't let this opportunity pass you by to take initiative and rethink what the bottom line means to you and your company. If you want to connect with Abby Falik, you can on all of the usual platforms – and don't forget to listen to , because there are plenty more gems on changing education, leadership, starting a company, and more. find her our interview Thanks again for reading! Also Published here

Refocusing Your Business: From Profit to People

The image of a programmer is often that of a quiet genius who spends hours deep in code, fueled by coffee and dedicated to finding the best solution. For someone with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), however, this dream job poses unique challenges. The tendency to struggle with focus or become easily bored doesn’t quite match the stereotype—and yet, there are many people with ADHD who thrive in the programming world. A few years ago, I entered the world of software programming as a career-changer, and I have ADHD myself. When I research this topic online, I often find articles that highlight the positive aspects, but in my opinion, the negative sides of this condition are often overlooked. So, what does it really mean to work as a programmer with ADHD? Here’s a look at the strengths, weaknesses, and the daily balancing act it involves. Hyperfocus: Both a Blessing and a Curse Many people with ADHD experience “hyperfocus.” During these phases, they can become almost obsessively absorbed in a task that interests them—losing all sense of their surroundings. Hyperfocus can be a tremendous strength for programmers, allowing them to be extremely productive and complete tasks in a fraction of the time. The Positive Side: Productivity Spurts: When a developer with ADHD enters hyperfocus, they can often program for hours without interruption, solving even complex problems surprisingly quickly.
Creativity in Problem Solving: Hyperfocus can help them delve deep into the details of a task and find innovative solutions that others might not think of. The Negative Side: Loss of Time Awareness: However, hyperfocus can cause them to lose track of time—sometimes at the expense of other important tasks or obligations.
Energy Depletion: After periods of hyperfocus, many feel exhausted and struggle to concentrate on other tasks. Distraction and Impulsivity: The Daily Battle with Chaos Programming often requires a lot of concentration and patience, as even a missing semicolon can cause errors. Programmers with ADHD constantly battle distracting thoughts and impulses, which can impair their ability to work on detail-oriented tasks. The Positive Side: Quick Adaptability: People with ADHD are often spontaneous and creative thinkers, used to shifting their thoughts quickly. This can be helpful in agile development environments, as they can quickly adjust to new requirements.
Multitasking: Many are skilled at switching between various tasks—an advantage in a dynamic work environment. The Negative Side: Constant Battle with Distractions: A single beep, message, or thought can be enough to break concentration. Constantly refocusing on the original task costs energy and time.
Struggles with Monotonous Tasks: Debugging or waiting for code to compile can quickly become boring. For someone with ADHD, boredom often leads to impulsivity and distraction. Finding a Path to Productivity One of the biggest challenges for programmers with ADHD is the lack of structure. The software development world often offers flexible work hours and remote work—a dream for many, but not necessarily for someone with ADHD. The Positive Side: Freedom to Structure Their Own Day: People with ADHD can make the most of their productive phases without being tied to rigid schedules. Many develop their own creative solutions and routines to stay productive.
Custom Work Methods: The flexibility to adjust breaks and workflows allows them to find ways that better suit their brains and needs. The Negative Side: Difficulty with Self-Discipline: Flexible work hours require a high level of self-discipline. Without set hours, it’s challenging for many to structure their workday.
Delays and Procrastination: The tendency to procrastinate is common, which can lead to last-minute work, resulting in stressful deadlines and sometimes below-average results. Strengths as Team Players and Challenges in Social Interactions While many people with ADHD have strong social skills and empathy, they can also be impulsive and emotional. This can make teamwork challenging, as projects often require clear communication and patience. The Positive Side: High Empathy: Many people with ADHD are especially empathetic and have a good sense for social dynamics, making them valuable team members.
Creative Input and Diverse Ideas: An ADHD programmer’s way of thinking can enrich the team, as they often bring in ideas and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed. The Negative Side: Impulsivity in Communication: Unfiltered comments or frequent shifts in thoughts can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts within the team. This impulsivity can also mean frequent topic changes, which may confuse colleagues.
Lack of Patience for Long Meetings: Long, detail-oriented discussions and meetings are often frustrating and exhausting—leading them to mentally check out or lose track of the conversation. Conclusion: The Daily Balancing Act Working as a programmer with ADHD is a balancing act between creativity and chaos, between hyperfocus and distraction, between freedom and structure. People with ADHD can be highly successful programmers and often possess talents and perspectives that are valued in the industry. But the challenges are real: the daily struggle with distraction, impulsivity, and the need for structure is never easy. It helps to develop strategies to compensate for weaknesses, whether by using time-management tools, taking regular breaks, or collaborating with structured colleagues. In an industry that values both creativity and precision, the unique traits of an ADHD mind can be both a curse and a gift. The key is to find a personal rhythm that transforms this daily balancing act into a fulfilling and productive experience. Over the last few years, I’ve had to develop many new strategies to cope with the negative sides of ADHD. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my condition—both good and bad things. I need more breaks than others, have to write things down, and work extensively with checklists. That helps. But still, I keep falling back into old patterns, which can be very demotivating and frustrating at times. On the other hand, I see these phases as motivation to continue building healthy strategies and behaviors. Still, the negative traits of my ADHD often cause self-doubt, even though my ADHD also brings incredible, fascinating aspects that I need to accept and appreciate more. If you’re in a similar situation, I hope this article helps you better understand and accept your condition with all its positive and negative aspects. Having ADHD is certainly a positive thing in the programming world, but it’s also essential to be aware of its challenges. If you’re considering starting a career in software programming or are already in the field but wonder how it can work with ADHD, I hope this article helps clarify things for you. The image of a programmer is often that of a quiet genius who spends hours deep in code, fueled by coffee and dedicated to finding the best solution. For someone with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), however, this dream job poses unique challenges. The tendency to struggle with focus or become easily bored doesn’t quite match the stereotype—and yet, there are many people with ADHD who thrive in the programming world. A few years ago, I entered the world of software programming as a career-changer, and I have ADHD myself. When I research this topic online, I often find articles that highlight the positive aspects, but in my opinion, the negative sides of this condition are often overlooked. So, what does it really mean to work as a programmer with ADHD? Here’s a look at the strengths, weaknesses, and the daily balancing act it involves. Hyperfocus: Both a Blessing and a Curse Many people with ADHD experience “hyperfocus.” During these phases, they can become almost obsessively absorbed in a task that interests them—losing all sense of their surroundings. Hyperfocus can be a tremendous strength for programmers, allowing them to be extremely productive and complete tasks in a fraction of the time. The Positive Side: The Positive Side: Productivity Spurts: When a developer with ADHD enters hyperfocus, they can often program for hours without interruption, solving even complex problems surprisingly quickly. Creativity in Problem Solving: Hyperfocus can help them delve deep into the details of a task and find innovative solutions that others might not think of. Productivity Spurts: When a developer with ADHD enters hyperfocus, they can often program for hours without interruption, solving even complex problems surprisingly quickly. Productivity Spurts: Creativity in Problem Solving: Hyperfocus can help them delve deep into the details of a task and find innovative solutions that others might not think of. Creativity in Problem Solving: The Negative Side: The Negative Side: Loss of Time Awareness: However, hyperfocus can cause them to lose track of time—sometimes at the expense of other important tasks or obligations. Energy Depletion: After periods of hyperfocus, many feel exhausted and struggle to concentrate on other tasks. Loss of Time Awareness: However, hyperfocus can cause them to lose track of time—sometimes at the expense of other important tasks or obligations. Loss of Time Awareness: Energy Depletion: After periods of hyperfocus, many feel exhausted and struggle to concentrate on other tasks. Energy Depletion: Distraction and Impulsivity: The Daily Battle with Chaos Programming often requires a lot of concentration and patience, as even a missing semicolon can cause errors. Programmers with ADHD constantly battle distracting thoughts and impulses, which can impair their ability to work on detail-oriented tasks. The Positive Side: The Positive Side: Quick Adaptability: People with ADHD are often spontaneous and creative thinkers, used to shifting their thoughts quickly. This can be helpful in agile development environments, as they can quickly adjust to new requirements. Multitasking: Many are skilled at switching between various tasks—an advantage in a dynamic work environment. Quick Adaptability: People with ADHD are often spontaneous and creative thinkers, used to shifting their thoughts quickly. This can be helpful in agile development environments, as they can quickly adjust to new requirements. Quick Adaptability: Multitasking: Many are skilled at switching between various tasks—an advantage in a dynamic work environment. Multitasking: The Negative Side: The Negative Side: Constant Battle with Distractions: A single beep, message, or thought can be enough to break concentration. Constantly refocusing on the original task costs energy and time. Struggles with Monotonous Tasks: Debugging or waiting for code to compile can quickly become boring. For someone with ADHD, boredom often leads to impulsivity and distraction. Constant Battle with Distractions: A single beep, message, or thought can be enough to break concentration. Constantly refocusing on the original task costs energy and time. Constant Battle with Distractions: Struggles with Monotonous Tasks: Debugging or waiting for code to compile can quickly become boring. For someone with ADHD, boredom often leads to impulsivity and distraction. Struggles with Monotonous Tasks: Finding a Path to Productivity One of the biggest challenges for programmers with ADHD is the lack of structure. The software development world often offers flexible work hours and remote work—a dream for many, but not necessarily for someone with ADHD. The Positive Side: The Positive Side: Freedom to Structure Their Own Day: People with ADHD can make the most of their productive phases without being tied to rigid schedules. Many develop their own creative solutions and routines to stay productive. Custom Work Methods: The flexibility to adjust breaks and workflows allows them to find ways that better suit their brains and needs. Freedom to Structure Their Own Day: People with ADHD can make the most of their productive phases without being tied to rigid schedules. Many develop their own creative solutions and routines to stay productive. Freedom to Structure Their Own Day: Custom Work Methods: The flexibility to adjust breaks and workflows allows them to find ways that better suit their brains and needs. Custom Work Methods: The Negative Side: The Negative Side: Difficulty with Self-Discipline: Flexible work hours require a high level of self-discipline. Without set hours, it’s challenging for many to structure their workday. Delays and Procrastination: The tendency to procrastinate is common, which can lead to last-minute work, resulting in stressful deadlines and sometimes below-average results. Difficulty with Self-Discipline: Flexible work hours require a high level of self-discipline. Without set hours, it’s challenging for many to structure their workday. Difficulty with Self-Discipline: Delays and Procrastination: The tendency to procrastinate is common, which can lead to last-minute work, resulting in stressful deadlines and sometimes below-average results. Delays and Procrastination: Strengths as Team Players and Challenges in Social Interactions While many people with ADHD have strong social skills and empathy, they can also be impulsive and emotional. This can make teamwork challenging, as projects often require clear communication and patience. The Positive Side: The Positive Side: High Empathy: Many people with ADHD are especially empathetic and have a good sense for social dynamics, making them valuable team members. Creative Input and Diverse Ideas: An ADHD programmer’s way of thinking can enrich the team, as they often bring in ideas and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed. High Empathy: Many people with ADHD are especially empathetic and have a good sense for social dynamics, making them valuable team members. High Empathy: Creative Input and Diverse Ideas: An ADHD programmer’s way of thinking can enrich the team, as they often bring in ideas and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed. Creative Input and Diverse Ideas: The Negative Side: The Negative Side: Impulsivity in Communication: Unfiltered comments or frequent shifts in thoughts can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts within the team. This impulsivity can also mean frequent topic changes, which may confuse colleagues. Lack of Patience for Long Meetings: Long, detail-oriented discussions and meetings are often frustrating and exhausting—leading them to mentally check out or lose track of the conversation. Impulsivity in Communication: Unfiltered comments or frequent shifts in thoughts can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts within the team. This impulsivity can also mean frequent topic changes, which may confuse colleagues. Impulsivity in Communication: Lack of Patience for Long Meetings: Long, detail-oriented discussions and meetings are often frustrating and exhausting—leading them to mentally check out or lose track of the conversation. Lack of Patience for Long Meetings: Conclusion: The Daily Balancing Act Working as a programmer with ADHD is a balancing act between creativity and chaos, between hyperfocus and distraction, between freedom and structure. People with ADHD can be highly successful programmers and often possess talents and perspectives that are valued in the industry. But the challenges are real: the daily struggle with distraction, impulsivity, and the need for structure is never easy. It helps to develop strategies to compensate for weaknesses, whether by using time-management tools, taking regular breaks, or collaborating with structured colleagues. In an industry that values both creativity and precision, the unique traits of an ADHD mind can be both a curse and a gift. The key is to find a personal rhythm that transforms this daily balancing act into a fulfilling and productive experience. Over the last few years, I’ve had to develop many new strategies to cope with the negative sides of ADHD. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my condition—both good and bad things. I need more breaks than others, have to write things down, and work extensively with checklists. That helps. But still, I keep falling back into old patterns, which can be very demotivating and frustrating at times. On the other hand, I see these phases as motivation to continue building healthy strategies and behaviors. Still, the negative traits of my ADHD often cause self-doubt, even though my ADHD also brings incredible, fascinating aspects that I need to accept and appreciate more. If you’re in a similar situation, I hope this article helps you better understand and accept your condition with all its positive and negative aspects. Having ADHD is certainly a positive thing in the programming world, but it’s also essential to be aware of its challenges. If you’re considering starting a career in software programming or are already in the field but wonder how it can work with ADHD, I hope this article helps clarify things for you.

Life as a Programmer with ADHD: A Balancing Act Between Creativity and Chaos

AutoStory: Generating Diverse Storytelling Images with Minimal Effort: Conclusion and References

Rootstock — the First Sidechain in the Bitcoin Network

রুটস্টক — বিটকয়েন নেটওয়ার্কের প্রথম সাইডচেইন

Rootstock – die erste Sidechain im Bitcoin-Netzwerk

Rootstock: la primera cadena lateral en la red Bitcoin

Rootstock – la première sidechain du réseau Bitcoin

रूटस्टॉक - बिटकॉइन नेटवर्क में पहला साइडचेन

Rootstock — ビットコインネットワークの最初のサイドチェーン

Rootstock — 비트코인 네트워크의 첫 번째 사이드체인

Rootstock — o primeiro Sidechain na rede Bitcoin

Rootstock — первый сайдчейн в сети Биткойн

Anaç — Bitcoin Ağındaki İlk Yan Zincir

Rootstock — Sidechain đầu tiên trong Mạng Bitcoin

Rootstock——比特币网络中的第一条侧链

In the fast-paced world of startups, time is not just a resource; it's the currency of innovation and growth. Yet, many entrepreneurs find themselves bogged down by a myriad of operational tasks that, while crucial, can devour this precious currency at an alarming rate. From managing intricate HR processes to navigating the complex maze of compliance, these necessary but time-consuming activities often divert focus from a startup's core mission: to innovate and grow. Enter the realm of smart outsourcing – a strategic paradigm shift that is redefining the startup success story. Smart outsourcing is not just about delegating tasks; it's about unlocking a treasure trove of time and opportunity. Imagine reclaiming up to three months of focused, strategic effort – time that could be channeled into perfecting your product, enhancing customer experiences, or breaking into new markets. This is where come into play, offering a pathway to unlock this potential. smart outsourcing strategies But how significant is this impact? Consider this: a by Deloitte revealed that companies leveraging outsourcing could see a 31% reduction in operational costs. Moreover, outsourcing allows startups to tap into a pool of specialized skills and expertise, which might be too costly or time-consuming to develop in-house. This approach isn't just a lifeline; it's a catapult to accelerated growth and innovation. study The Burden of Operational Tasks in Startups As we delve deeper into the world of smart outsourcing, we will explore how this approach is not just a stop-gap measure but a strategic tool in the arsenal of modern startups. It's about making every second count, ensuring that every minute spent by a startup propels it toward its ultimate goal. So, if you're ready to unlock the full potential of your startup, let's embark on this journey of transformation together. In the adrenaline-fueled race to innovate and disrupt, startups often encounter an unexpected adversary: the sheer volume and complexity of operational tasks. These tasks, ranging from human resources to financial management, form the backbone of any business. However, for startups focused on rapid growth and development, they can represent a significant burden. The Multifaceted Nature of Operational Challenges Startups, especially in their early stages, typically operate with lean teams. Each member is often stretched across multiple roles, juggling core business activities with a plethora of operational responsibilities. A by McKinsey & Company highlights that small businesses can spend up to 40% of their working hours on tasks that do not generate income, such as hiring, HR tasks, and managing payroll. report The Cost Implication The cost of handling these operations in-house can be staggering. For instance, consider the financial implications of setting up an HR department – recruitment, training, payroll management, compliance with labor laws, and employee benefits management. A by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) estimates that the average annual cost per employee for HR alone can be as high as $2,296. For a startup operating on a tight budget, these costs can divert crucial funds from core business development. Exploring can be a game-changer in this scenario. study cost-effective operational solutions The Time Factor Beyond the financial aspect, there's the critical factor of time. Operational tasks are often repetitive and time-consuming. For example, a by Score found that small business owners spend an average of 120 working hours a year on accounting and bookkeeping tasks. survey This is time that could be better spent on activities that directly contribute to business growth, such as product development, market research, and customer engagement. Impact on Agility and Innovation In the startup ecosystem, agility and the ability to innovate rapidly are key competitive advantages. However, the burden of operational tasks can significantly slow down these processes. It creates a scenario where the startup's agility is hampered, and its ability to innovate at speed is compromised. This is particularly detrimental in industries where the pace of change is rapid and the window of opportunity is narrow. So, while operational tasks are indispensable to the functioning of any business, for startups, they can pose a significant challenge – financially, in terms of time, and in maintaining competitive agility. This sets the stage for exploring how smart outsourcing can be a game-changer in addressing these challenges, a topic we will delve into in the next section. Understanding Smart Outsourcing As startups grapple with the operational challenges outlined earlier, smart outsourcing emerges not just as a solution but as a strategic enabler. But what exactly is smart outsourcing, and how does it differ from traditional outsourcing models? This section delves into the nuances of smart outsourcing and its role in transforming startup operations. Defining Smart Outsourcing Smart outsourcing goes beyond the conventional approach of simply hiring external agencies to handle non-core tasks. It involves strategic partnerships with firms like , which understand the unique needs of startups. It's a strategic decision involving a careful analysis of which operations can be outsourced for maximum efficiency and impact. This approach focuses on partnering with experts who not only take over routine tasks but also add value through their specialized skills and knowledge. levy Choosing the Right Tasks to Outsource The key to smart outsourcing is identifying the right tasks to delegate. These are typically non-core activities that are essential but don't necessarily contribute directly to the startup's unique value proposition. For instance, tasks like payroll processing, accounting, and administrative duties are prime candidates. According to a by Deloitte, 57% of companies outsource to focus on their core business. survey Finding the Right Outsourcing Partner Equally important is choosing the right partner. A good outsourcing partner should understand the startup's vision and culture. They should offer not just services but solutions tailored to the startup's specific needs. This involves a blend of reliability, expertise in their domain, and the ability to scale services as the startup grows. Benefits of Smart Outsourcing The benefits of smart outsourcing are multifaceted: : By outsourcing, startups can convert fixed costs into variable costs, releasing capital for investment elsewhere in their business. This also eliminates the need for significant investment in infrastructure and technology. Cost Efficiency : Outsourcing operational tasks allows the startup team to focus on developing their core products or services, market expansion, and other strategic areas. Focus on Core Business : Startups gain access to world-class capabilities and experience without the need to hire and train specialists. Access to Specialized Skills : Outsourcing partners can quickly scale services up or down depending on the startup's requirements, providing flexibility that is crucial in the dynamic startup environment. Scalability Smart Outsourcing in Action To illustrate smart outsourcing in action, consider a tech startup that outsources its customer support to a specialized firm. This not only ensures professional handling of customer queries but also frees up the core team to focus on product development and innovation. In a way, smart outsourcing is about making informed choices on what to outsource, who to partner with, and how to integrate these services into the overall business strategy. It's a step beyond traditional outsourcing, offering a pathway to greater efficiency, innovation, and strategic focus for startups. The Time-Saving Impact of Outsourcing In the quest for startup success, time is an asset as valuable as capital. Smart outsourcing, when executed strategically, can unlock significant time savings, a crucial factor for startups aiming to stay agile and competitive. This section explores how outsourcing operational tasks can lead to substantial time efficiencies, ultimately contributing to faster growth and innovation. Quantifying Time Savings The immediate benefit of outsourcing is the liberation of time. Tasks that previously consumed hours of a startup team's day can be efficiently managed by specialized external partners. For instance, a by the National Small Business Association (NSBA) indicates that 40% of small business owners spend over 80 hours a year on tax preparation alone. Leveraging can significantly reduce this burden. Outsourcing such financial tasks can reclaim these hours for core business activities. study expert financial outsourcing services Refocusing on Core Competencies By freeing up time through outsourcing, startup founders and their teams can refocus their energies on areas where they excel and which directly contribute to business growth. This shift from operational management to strategic development can be transformative. It allows startups to accelerate product development, enhance customer engagement, and pursue new market opportunities. The Ripple Effect of Time Savings The time saved through outsourcing has a ripple effect across the startup. It leads to quicker decision-making, faster turnaround times for product updates, and more time for customer-focused innovation. This agility is often what gives startups a competitive edge in fast-paced industries. Consider the case of a startup that outsourced its digital marketing efforts. By entrusting this aspect to experts, the startup not only benefited from professional marketing strategies but also gained valuable time to focus on product refinement and user experience, leading to increased customer satisfaction and growth. Similarly, a fintech startup outsourcing its compliance and regulatory tasks to a specialized firm could navigate the complex financial landscape more efficiently, ensuring compliance while dedicating more time to innovation and customer service. The Strategic Value of Time In the startup world, time is not just about hours saved; it's about strategic value gained. The time reclaimed through outsourcing can be strategically invested in areas that offer the highest return in terms of business growth and innovation. This strategic reallocation of time resources is a critical component of a startup's journey to success. The time-saving impact of outsourcing is a game-changer for startups. It's not merely about offloading tasks; it's about strategically reallocating one of the most precious resources – time – towards activities that drive growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. Beyond Time Savings: The Strategic Advantages While the time-saving aspect of outsourcing is undoubtedly significant, its strategic benefits extend far beyond just freeing up hours in a day. Smart outsourcing can be a catalyst for several key advantages that propel startups into a trajectory of sustainable growth and competitive edge. This section delves into these strategic advantages, illustrating how outsourcing transcends mere efficiency and becomes a powerful tool for business transformation. Enhanced Focus on Innovation and Growth Outsourcing operational tasks allows startups to channel their creativity and resources towards innovation. With the operational load handled by experts, startup teams can dedicate more time to research and development, brainstorming new ideas, and exploring growth opportunities. This heightened focus on innovation can lead to breakthrough products and services, setting the startup apart in the market. Access to World-Class Expertise and Technology Outsourcing opens the door to a world of expertise and advanced technology that might otherwise be inaccessible for startups, especially those with limited resources. By partnering with specialized service providers, startups benefit from the latest tools, technologies, and industry insights. This access can improve product quality, enhance customer experiences, and streamline business processes, driving overall business performance. Scalability and Flexibility Startups need to be agile and scalable, ready to grow or pivot in response to market demands. Outsourcing provides this scalability, allowing startups to easily ramp up or scale down operations without the constraints of in-house resources. This flexibility is crucial in navigating the unpredictable waters of the startup ecosystem and responding effectively to growth opportunities or challenges. Risk Mitigation and Compliance Startups operate in a landscape filled with regulatory, financial, and operational risks. Outsourcing to specialized firms can significantly mitigate these risks, especially in areas like legal compliance, financial auditing, and data security. These firms bring in expertise and processes that ensure compliance with regulations, reducing the risk of costly legal or financial penalties. Consider a tech startup that outsourced its customer service to a firm with advanced AI-driven support systems. This move not only enhanced customer satisfaction through prompt and efficient service but also provided the startup with valuable customer insights, driving product improvements and targeted marketing strategies. Another example is a health-tech startup that outsourced its regulatory compliance to a firm specializing in healthcare laws. This partnership ensured that the startup remained compliant with complex healthcare regulations, avoiding potential legal hurdles and building trust with its customer base. The strategic advantages of outsourcing extend well beyond time savings. They encompass access to expertise, technological advancement, scalability, and risk mitigation – all crucial elements for a startup's success. By embracing smart outsourcing, startups can not only optimize their operations but also position themselves for innovation, growth, and long-term success in the competitive business landscape. Implementing Smart Outsourcing in Your Startup Implementing smart outsourcing is a strategic move that requires careful planning and execution. For startups looking to harness the full potential of outsourcing, it's crucial to approach this process methodically. This section provides a roadmap for startups to effectively integrate smart outsourcing into their business model, ensuring they reap the maximum benefits. Identifying What to Outsource The first step in smart outsourcing is to identify which tasks or processes should be outsourced. Startups should focus on non-core activities that are essential but don't necessarily require in-house expertise. These can include functions like accounting, HR, customer service, or IT support. The key is to retain core competencies in-house while outsourcing the tasks that are routine yet critical. Choosing the Right Outsourcing Partner Once the tasks to be outsourced are identified, the next step is selecting the right partner. This decision should be based on several factors: : Look for partners with a proven track record in your specific area of need. Expertise and Experience : Ensure the partner understands your startup's vision and goals. Alignment with Business Goals : Choose a partner who can scale their services as your startup grows. Scalability and Flexibility : Consider the quality of service, including communication, reliability, and feedback from other clients. Quality of Service Integrating Outsourced Operations After selecting an outsourcing partner, the next challenge is integrating their services into your existing operations. This integration should be seamless, ensuring that the outsourced services align with your business processes. Effective communication and a clear understanding of roles and expectations are crucial. Regular meetings and updates can help maintain alignment and address any issues promptly. Measuring the Impact To evaluate the effectiveness of outsourcing, startups should establish clear metrics and KPIs. These could include cost savings, time saved, improvement in service quality, or increased customer satisfaction. Regularly reviewing these metrics will help assess whether the outsourcing arrangement is meeting its objectives and where adjustments may be needed. Building a Collaborative Relationship Finally, successful outsourcing is about building a collaborative relationship with your partner. Treat them as an extension of your team, involving them in relevant discussions and decision-making processes. A collaborative approach ensures that both parties are aligned and working towards the common goal of growing your startup. Implementing smart outsourcing in a startup is not just about delegating tasks; it's about strategically enhancing your business's efficiency and capacity for growth. By carefully selecting tasks to outsource, choosing the right partners, seamlessly integrating their services, measuring impact, and fostering collaboration, startups can turn outsourcing into a powerful tool for success. Conclusion: As we've navigated through the intricacies of smart outsourcing, it's clear that this approach is more than a mere operational tactic; it's a strategic cornerstone for startup growth and efficiency. Smart outsourcing, when implemented thoughtfully, can be a transformative force, unlocking new levels of innovation, agility, and focus for startups. The journey from recognizing the burden of operational tasks to understanding and implementing smart outsourcing underscores a fundamental shift in how startups can optimize their resources. By reallocating time and energy from routine tasks to core business functions, startups can not only enhance their operational efficiency but also foster a culture of innovation and strategic growth. The key takeaway is that smart outsourcing isn't just about cutting costs or saving time; it's about empowering startups to focus on what they do best – innovating and growing their business. It's about building partnerships that extend beyond mere service agreements, creating synergies that propel startups toward their goals. As startups continue to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape, smart outsourcing stands out as a vital tool in their arsenal – a tool that offers not just operational solutions but strategic advantages. By embracing this approach, startups can position themselves to thrive in a competitive environment, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and success. To conclude, smart outsourcing is not just a pathway to efficiency; it's a gateway to unlocking the full potential of your startup. It's an invitation to rethink how you operate, to focus on your strengths, and to catapult your business towards unprecedented growth.

Smart Outsourcing: Unlocking 3 Months of Focus and Redefining Startup Success

স্মার্ট আউটসোর্সিং: 3 মাসের ফোকাস আনলক করা এবং স্টার্টআপ সাফল্যকে পুনরায় সংজ্ঞায়িত করা

Intelligentes Outsourcing: 3 Monate Fokus freisetzen und Startup-Erfolg neu definieren

Subcontratación inteligente: desbloquear 3 meses de enfoque y redefinir el éxito de una startup

Externalisation intelligente : débloquer 3 mois de concentration et redéfinir le succès des startups

स्मार्ट आउटसोर्सिंग: 3 महीने के फोकस को अनलॉक करना और स्टार्टअप की सफलता को फिर से परिभाषित करना

スマート アウトソーシング: 3 か月の集中力を解き放ち、スタートアップの成功を再定義する

스마트 아웃소싱: 3개월 간의 집중 활성화 및 스타트업 성공 재정의

Terceirização inteligente: liberando 3 meses de foco e redefinindo o sucesso das startups

Умный аутсорсинг: 3 месяца сосредоточенности и новое определение успеха стартапа

Akıllı Dış Kaynak Kullanımı: 3 Aylık Odaklanmanın Kilidini Açmak ve Startup Başarısını Yeniden Tanımlamak

Gia công phần mềm thông minh: Mở khóa 3 tháng tập trung và xác định lại thành công của khởi nghiệp

智能外包：释放 3 个月的专注力并重新定义初创公司的成功

151 Stories To Learn About Entrepreneur

Let's learn about via these 65 free stories. They are ordered by most time reading created on HackerNoon. Visit the to find the most read stories about any technology. Ethics /Learn Repo 1. The Development of AI: Balancing Convenience and Ethics AI isn’t completely free from controversy. 2. Stop Teaching Ethics to Software Engineers 3. The Implications of Open-Source AI: Should You Release Your AI Source Code Publicly? In this article, I will share my thoughts on why it's better and safer to bring the new AI tech into the hands of business rather than release it into the wild. 4. The Ethics of Software Development with Uncle Bob Martin The clip is an excerpt from episode 15 of the Level-up Engineering podcast: 5. Creative AI ‘Shakes’ the Core of Humanity and Requires a Broader Discussion About Ethics The boundary between machine and humans was clear. But now the machine has become creative! Can self expression still be at the core of our humanity? 6. Ethical Hacking 101: Part 2 Ethical Hacking 101: Part 2 7. Is Building Digital Escapes Ethical? Digital escape is the idea of escaping the ‘real world’ through consumption of online content. In my piece on 2019 predictions, I wrote about how “in everyday life, you’ll take a stroll, but in electronic life, you take a scroll”. Since the beginning of time, humans have found escape in stories, art, games, human contact. In today’s world, we’re finding digital escapes in the form of scrolling through our Instagram feed, playing online games or even watching others play them on Twitch. Either intentionally or unintentionally, many social media platforms today have become spaces for digital escape. By building for user engagement and retention, platforms are incentivized to maximize the time users spend — essentially, building deep wells for digital escape. In this piece, I will explore the argument that building for digital escape, within clear boundaries, is not morally objectionable and can be value additive and creditable. 8. A Free Ethical OS Toolkit for Woke AI Enterprises Are your algorithms transparent those they impact? Is your technology reinforcing or amplifying existing bias? 9. Don't Be Data-Driven. Become Purpose-Driven and Data-Assisted. 10. On the difficulty of creating a data science code of ethics undefined 11. Can we be honest about ethics? The “manifesto for data practices” (datapractices.org), was produced by a Data for Good Exchange, sponsored by Data for Democracy and Bloomberg, promoted by former U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil. The document’s creators incurred no risk by creating and promoting it, so it should not be surprising that the product fails to live up to its own ethical standards. We won’t fix ethics by fixing those tools, the creators of those tools built systematic bias into their products before deploying them. 12. The Ethical Implications with Algorithmic Trading Between the 2000 dot.com boom and bust and the "Big Short" of the 2008 credit crunch, we heeded the wisdom of the legendary traders of the 20th century - guys like Jesse Livermore (1920s) and Paul Tudor Jones (1970s). The wisdom was to be dispassionate (no emotion) and trade methodically (like a robot) - executing trades mechanistically every time. Of course, for the previous generation of traders, the rise of the PC and internet and exchange APIs meant that much of this "mechanistic" work could be automated. Most of the technical and methodical signals can be algorithmically determined and acted upon. The trader is merely the strategist and commander who decides when which algorithm (trading method) should be applied. 13. How to save A.I in 3 easy steps Do the benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the risks? 14. Ethical AI: Who Watches the Watchmen? The Axial Age saw the independent rise of multiple societies, each with their own set of religious and cultural practices. The silk road arguably marked the end of the Axial Age, connecting these previously isolated cultures together in a network that traded not only goods and germs, but also ideas. 15. The hidden risk of ethics regulation Regulating the tech industry won’t fix its ethical problems, it might make them worse. Mike Monteiro has written the most compelling argument I have seen for regulation. Regulation would address many of the kinds of ethical risks that have made headlines recently. But I think it would leave many risks in place and introduce new risks — a more systemic risk, in fact — that in the long term would actually expose the public and the industry to more potential downside that it currently faces. Regulation at scale requires rules that stipulate what is ethical and what is not, in the case of the discussion of the ethics. 16. Why You Should Learn Ethics of AI With This Free Online Course Besides being known as the happiest country in the world, Finland is a technology leader, ahead of China and the US. 17. Revisiting Open Source in The New Decade Lots of times, companies that are hailed as heroes of open source often do things that violate human rights or go severely against freedom. These can range from predatory practices and anti-repair designs to even using child labor in third world countries. 18. The Question of Ethics in Decentralization The importance of ethics in a decentralized world. 19. The Metaverse isn't New - So Why is Big Tech Acting Like it is? We already had the tech for a VR renaissance in the mid-aughts. What's The Metaverse and why the renewed interest? One word: Money. 20. We Need to Teach Silicon Valley to Be Ethical The tech industry’s ethics problem is the longest running game of “Not it.” No one wants to take responsibility for teaching men-children millionaires and honestly, that’s fair. We’re not the ones at the forefront of Silicon Valley, however, someone has to do the dirty work. 21. Data Analysts As Arbiters of Truth Coming out of college with a background in mathematics, I fell upward into the rapidly growing field of data analytics. It wasn't until years later that I realized the incredible power that comes with the position. 22. Alternatives to Corporate Consciousness We must conceive of a new kind of group consciousness, something alternative to corporate consciousness, that is capable of production on a large scale. 23. The Ethics of Machine Learning: Understanding the Role of Developers and Designers We know that the whole world is fascinated by the tools that are using Machine learning and deep learning algorithms and they are fun to use. 24. The Universal Benefits of PDF/UA With over one billion people worldwide affected by disabilities, there is good reason to make digital content more accessible. When it comes to digital PDF docu 25. Five Questions About AI Bias You Probably Wanted to Ask 5 main questions from a panel discussion on bias in AI. Panelists offer insights into the sources of bias, the responsibility of developers and Ai's future. 26. The New York Fashion Act is a Step in the Right Direction The recent New York Fashion Act is a revolutionairy demand, setting precedence to enabling transparency in the fahsion industry. 27. The Importance of a Media Strategy in Communication Plan Media strategy is a medium-term communication plan that taking into account the marketing tasks of your brand. The main objectives of the media strategy is to make a fundamental choice of communication channels and marketing promotion of the brand products and assess the estimated costs of its implementation. 28. Towards Cruelty-Free Fashion with Lab-Grown Fur and Leather With consumer conscientiousness on the rise, more and more brands are finding ways to adapt to an ethical production of fur and leather. 29. Deus Ex Machina: fA.I.th in the age of Artificial Intelligence Religious doctrine may yet be of some use in the New Tech World 30. Ethical Concerns About AI are Overrated Thanks to AI, we can send, receive and process vast amounts of information near-instantaneously.  But there is still much work to be done. 31. Victim Bias and Blockchain We live in an age where "Fake News" is rife. Could a verifiable voting system be the solution? The problem is "fake evidence" is at best a self-serving distraction. It's a way of pretending to believe in an alternative world. 32. 11 Reasons Why CEOs Got Fired And Companies Got Sued in 2020 Although a typical CEO remains in the role for about seven years, legal issues pose major threats to these positions and, ultimately, company or shareholder val 33. 5 Ways We Can Work to Close the Gender Gap in Tech It’s really not as hard as it sounds 34. Understanding the 'Data is the New Oil' Analogy Earlier, we lived in industrial and post-industrial societies, and gas and oil were the only things of value. Now, it’s the age of information society and data has replaced petrol as the economy’s driving force. The reason is that with the help of Big Data, people significantly improve production efficiency and business economics. That’s true. 35. A product manager’s 64 insights from 2022 In an attempt to hedge my bets against AI, many of my insights this year reflect on the human vocations I believe a machine will always struggle with. 36. Intelligence Explosion by AI and Its Impact on Superintelligence “What if the great apes had asked whether they should evolve into Homo sapiens [and said] ‘Oh, we could have a lot of bananas if we became human’?” — Nick Bostrom 37. How Biodiversity is Harmfully Affected by the Overlapping Effects of Fast Fashion Biodiversity is crucial for the sustainability and fruition of Earth, however, the effects of fast fashion are acting as a major detriment. 38. What Is the Future of AI Rights? As AI advances to a point where it could become conscious, even autonomous, when is there a moral requirement to consider the extension of human rights for AI? 39. Looking Within to Battle Intrinsic Bias in AI Intrinsic bias. We’re all guilty of it; it’s part of what makes us human. But we should always strive to be better and fairer, and to eliminate these biases when they arise. This is especially true in today's workplace, where the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology risks hardcoding these biases into the future of work. 40. Refocusing Your Business: From Profit to People Rethinking The Bottom Line: From Profit to People 41. ChatGPT: A Potentially Dangerous New Source of Misinformation ChatPGT sounds credible but it is frequently wrong. 42. Is it Ethical for Media Outlets to Use AI to Write Stories? If media outlets are hiding their usage of AI-generated content, is it because this is ethically wrong? 43. Polyester: A Sustainable Option? Polyester is the most widely used modern fabric in the world, yet raises a question between the boundaries of sustainability and convenience. 44. Ethical Considerations When Approaching Scientific Content We need to employ healthy doubt and curiosity when reading scientific content as popular science books do not always get their facts straight. 45. Poll Finds About 1 in 3 Professionals Use Cannabis at Work Companies might have another concern to navigate: drug use. 46. Bitcoin Is the Currency of the Gods Discounting is the single most important concept in finance and possibly economics. It’s the idea that money (cash) is less valuable tomorrow than today. The reason is quite existential: our impending death. 47. What Is the GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) Certification? You need to ensure your resources are put to the best use. With that in mind, it is important to know more about what the GIAC Penetration Tester Certification 48. Affiliate Marketing Can Be Dangerous But Is It Always Bad? Affiliate marketing has become the norm among review sites. I don't know if a review site exists without any affiliate links. On one side, people hate this because the reviews are poisoned by green. But, on the affiliate's side, why would they write something without getting compensation? 49. 🖥 The Ethical User Interface What makes the user interface ethical? Give the user enough options, that they keep their autonomy. But not too many, that they become paralysed by choice. 50. Podcasting And Ethical Dilemmas When starting a podcast, it is normal for a host to want to grow the podcast as much as possible. The desire to grow might lead a host to take actions that are not moral. A host has to keep in mind that taking these shortcuts are short-term solutions. Any misdeeds will either backfire or not help in the long-term. 51. Gene-Modified Babies: Essentials of the Bioethics Subjecting 'Designer-Babies' for Future Parents The ever-moving technological advancement has led us to the era where maintaining a downed Facebook server has become more important compared to the preservation of our own species, which is now considered as 'optional'. 52. The Sinister Side of Instagram Filters Over time, social media platforms have grown and transformed into abilities and features. They first started as platforms used for tagging and connecting with long lost family members and friends. But now, they have transformed and are used for uploading and sending selfies with filters thanks to apps like Snapchat. 53. Google's Search Algorithm Affects Our Lives in More Ways Than One [A Deep Dive] For better or for worse, Google has become one of the biggest vendors of information in the world. Its library of search results shape and/or reaffirm opinions on a daily basis. The search giant's algorithm dictates what information searchers receive and thus has a direct impact on every person's knowledge base and understanding of numerous topics. 54. 4 Things Humans NEED in an AI-Led World As the world moves forward, those working with AI — meaning almost all of us — need to take the ethical matter into our own hands. 55. IoT: Is Data Beyond Ethics? Over the last decade, the Internet of Things has been delivering heaps of data and remote device control across virtually every industry, from healthcare to hospitality. 56. Great News About Self-Regulation In VPN industry: i2Coalition’s VTI Essentials In the last decade, the VPN market has been steadily growing, and this growth was spiked even further in 2020. Two main reasons contributed to an even more expansive use of VPN software: 1) Covid-19, quarantine, and work from home set the needs for home network security; 2) cybercrime has been on the rise and cybersecurity became a more common issue. 57. Why Algorithmic Fairness is Elusive In 2016, Google photos classified a picture of two African-Americans as “gorillas.” Two years later, Google had yet to do more than remove the word “gorillas” from its database of classifications. In 2016, it was shown that Amazon was disproportionately offering one-day shipping to European-American consumers. In Florida, algorithms used to recommend detention and parole decisions on the basis of risk of recidivism were shown to have a higher error rate among African-Americans, such that African-Americans were more likely to be incorrectly recommended for detention who would not go on to re-offend. When translating out of a language with gender-neutral pronouns, and into languages with gendered pronouns, Google’s word2vec neural network injects gender stereotypes into translations, such that pronouns become “he” when in conjunction with “doctor” (or “boss,” “financier,” etc.) but become “she” when translated in conjunction with “nurse” (or “homemaker,” or “nanny,” etc.). 58. How to Embed AI Ethics into your Work Culture AI ethics has long been a hot-button issue. For some, it’s reduced to debate about whether AI should be making decisions traditionally reserved for humans. 59. Lessons Learned From Sharing 30 Fake Stories Created With ChatGPT Insights and lessons from a fake news experiment. 60. Coronavirus: A Test For Modern Technology and Tethics ICYMI: The spread of the new strain of Corona virus known as Covid-19 has caused massive disruption to daily life- be it social or economic. 61. A Summary and Review of The Ethical Algorithm A summary and review of: The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design by Aaron Roth and Michael Kearns. 62. Ethics, AI, and Responsible ML: Design Principles and Potential Dangers As we enter the 2020s, it is interesting to look back at how life has changed over the last decade. Compared to your life in 2010, most of you reading this probably use a lot more social media, watch more streaming video, do more shopping online and, in general, are “more digital”. Of course, this is as a result of the continued development in connectivity (4G becoming prominent, with 5G on the horizon), the capability of mobile devices, and lastly, the quiet and transparent adoption of machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, in the services that you consume. 63. Open Source is Broken The Open Source movement, as championed by the OSI, prizes absolute openness above all other concerns. Openness, they claim, is an absolute good, from which all other virtues flow, not to be questioned or criticized. It doesn’t matter if that openness enables evil in the world, without openness we cannot have truly collaborative software development communities. So the claim goes. 64. Make Software Great Again: Can Open Source be Ethical and Fair? Is there a way to go beyond open source, and have ethical, fair software in a cloud-first world? This is what some people in the open source community think. 65. AI is Not Something to Be Trusted or Not Trusted Is A.I. a revolution or a war? A god or a pet? A hammer or a nail? Do we really need more metaphors to describe it? Nowadays, A.I dictates what information is presented to us on social media, which ads we see, and what prices we’re offered both on and offline. An algorithm can technically write and analyse books, beat humans at about every game conceivable, make movies, compose classical songs and help magicians perform better tricks. Beyond the arts, it also has the potential to encourage better decision-making, make medical diagnoses, and even solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It’s intertwining with criminal justice, retail, education, recruiting, healthcare, banking, farming, transportation, warfare, insurance, media… the list goes on. Thank you for checking out the 65 most read stories about Ethics on HackerNoon. to find the most read stories about any technology. Visit the /Learn Repo

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