Curating the Internet: Business, leadership, and management micro-summaries for September 27, 2019

remlaps-lite (76)in #rsslog • 5 years ago

Overstock's venture capital arm invests $2 million in blockchain-based digital-ID startup, Evernym; Wework is selling assets amid a leadership shakeup and potentially delayed IPO; A survey describing some negative impacts of politics on society; 25,000 points of sale will begin accepting bitcoin in France; Facebook ventures into the mind-controlled computer business

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Overstock’s VC Arm Puts $2M Into Blockchain-Based ID Systems Startup - According to a September 26 press release, Medici Ventures, the venture arm of Overstock, has invested $2 million in Evernym, a Salt Lake City based firm that develops, "self-sovereign identity networks." The deal closed on September 4, and Evernym will use the money to support its development efforts. Overstock's CEO, Jonathan Johnson, is quoted saying, "Evernym’s platform allows every person, organization, and connected thing to have an independent identity. Evernym fills out Medici Ventures’ identity pillar within our keiretsu and will help advance our government-as-a-service technology stack for civilization.". This comes at a time when other major industry stakeholders are also exploring possibilities for blockchain identity solutions.

WeWork is selling the company's $60 million luxurious private jet that Adam Neumann and his family personalized and used to fly all over the world - The Gulfstream G650 was purchased for $60 million last year, but the company received complaints about the opitics of the jet when promised raises or bonuses for employees went unfulfilled. Some investors also say that the jet was a red flag in the lead up to the company's planned IPO. This comes in the wake of Neumann's resignation as CEO and his replacement by co-CEOs, Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham. The new CEOs are also looking to offload three lines of business: Q, Conductor, and Meetup. Employees who worked on the jet say it was fitted with entertainment gear, and that employees were forced to spend long periods of time downloading movies to entertain the kids. Neumann was also known for holding meetings on the jet, and cases were also reported where employees got on board the jet for their meeting, then had to fly home by commercial airlines.

Stressed and losing friends over politics? You’re not alone... - As a consequence of politics, a survey of 800 Americans, found that 40% of Americans are stressed out, almost 30% lose their temper, close to 25% hate some people, have become depressed over a candidates lost, or have Seriously considered moving. Additionally, about 20% feel fatigued or have damaged friendships. And alarmingly, 4% have considered suicide. This comes amid a generally rising trend in reports of stress and anger.

25,000 Points of Sale in France to Accept Bitcoin Payments - A press release from Global P.O.S. says the company is leveraging its EasyPayments application in order to enable bitcoin payments for nearly 30 brands. These brands include: "cosmetics giant Sephora, sports gear company Decathlon, Intersport, Foot Locker and others.". The company notes that up to 4 million French citizens currently hold cryptocurrencies. Conversion services, from bitcoin to Euros, will be provided by Savitar and Deskoin.

STEEM FB Buys A Company That Lets You Control Your Phone With Your Mind - In this post, @janton discusses Facebook's billion dollar purchase of Ctrl-Labs, a company that makes a "mind reading wrist band" that enables you to encode digital signals by thinking about taking actions with your hands. Facebook says the technology will be, "instrumental in developing new ways of interacting with machines without needing traditional mouse-and-keyboard setups, touchscreens, or any form of physical controller whatsoever." (A 10% beneficiary setting has been applied to this post for @janton)

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