ReportWire

Tag: Fundraising

  • Local charities to welcome 2026 with Polar Plunges

    The first day of 2026 will bring the first dip into the ocean for many locals on the North Shore — an icy one at that.

    Looking to join them? Here’s a list of local Polar Plunges charities will host on or around Jan. 1 and later this winter. 

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    By Caroline Enos | Staff Writer

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  • Supabase hit $5B by turning down million-dollar contracts. Here’s why. | TechCrunch

    Vibe coding has taken the tech industry by storm, and it’s not just the Lovables and Replits of the world that are winning. The startups building the infrastructure behind them are cashing in too. 

    Supabase, the open-source database platform that’s become the backend of choice for the vibe-coding world, raised $100 million at a $5 billion valuation just months after closing $200 million at $2 billion. But co-founder and CEO Paul Copplestone has a surprising strategy: he keeps turning down million-dollar enterprise contracts from deep-pocketed but demanding customers. He’s betting instead that if he sticks to his own product vision, the world will come to him. So far, he’s been right.  

    Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Julie Bort sat down with Copplestone to explore Supabase’s rise and what it means for vibe coding, developers and the database giants who have historically controlled this market. 

    Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. 

    Theresa Loconsolo

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  • UNC GM Michael Lombardi visited Saudi Arabia on preseason fundraising trip

    North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi walks the sidelines prior to the Tar Heels’ game against UCF on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

    North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi walks the sidelines prior to the Tar Heels’ game against UCF on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Fla.


    Robert Willett

    rwillett@newsobserver.com

    CHAPEL HILL

    North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi traveled to Saudi Arabia on an “exploratory fundraising trip” ahead of the 2025 season, UNC’s Brandon Faber confirmed to the News & Observer on Thursday night. The visit was at the invite of the hosts and “funded by hosts.”

    Dean Stoyer, UNC’s vice chancellor for communications and marketing, told the N&O Thursday night that Lombardi’s trip was “at the request of a Saudi national who is a college football fan, interested in supporting Coach Belichick.”

    Stoyer denied earlier reports that Lombardi’s meeting was related to possible investments by the country’s Public Investment Fund to UNC football. He called the reports “inaccurate.”

    Saudi Arabia’s PIF is worth $1 trillion and has invested in LIV Golf, as well as various soccer, martial arts, wrestling and racing ventures.

    Lombardi, who was hired by North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick last December as part of a dramatic overhaul of the football program, is currently under a three-year contract worth $1.5 million annually — believed to be the highest for a college football general manager, according to multiple reports. It’s one example of the skyrocketing costs of college athletics at North Carolina and across the nation. And, in the revenue sharing era, some colleges and conferences — such as Boise State and the Big Ten — are reportedly exploring new avenues for potential revenue, such as private equity.

    Journalist Pablo Torre, the host of “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, first reported on social media Thursday that Lombardi left the team in August “two weeks before the season-opener” to fundraise in Saudi Arabia.

    Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots, made headlines with his move to college football this offseason. Lombardi billed the Tar Heels as the 33rd NFL team under Belichick’s leadership.

    North Carolina is 2-3 and has suffered blowout losses to all its Power 4 opponents so far: TCU (48-14), UCF (34-9) and Clemson (38-10). The Tar Heels play Friday night at Cal (4-2) following its second bye week and are still searching for their first ACC win.

    This is a developing news story and will be updated.

    This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Shelby Swanson

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  • Free Printable Carnival Station Signs for Your Next Event

    Whether your school carnival happens as a fall festival or an end-of-year party, the right decor can help make the carnival an official big-top event. Our bundle of 70 printable carnival station signs includes everything you need to organize your next carnival. Download and laminate them so they can be used year after year. 

    Need ideas for your school carnival? Check out our favorite fun and easy school carnival games.

    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    FREE PRINTABLES

    Carnival Games and Booths Signs

    Download our free set of carnival signs with options for food, drink, games, and other booths. Just enter your email in the form on this page!

    What carnival station signs are included?

    We’ve included signs for 70 classic carnival stations, from cornhole and Ping-Pong to admission and tickets. Use these signs to plan and set up a carnival, and you’ll have every game covered!

    Here’s a small sample of the signs included in the bundle:

    carnival station sign admission
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Admission

    Let people know where the fun is with an admission sign. Print multiple copies of this sign and post them along the road leading up to school so people know where to start. 

    tickets school carnival sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Tickets

    Start at the ticket booth. Selling tickets that people can use to play the games turns a carnival into a fundraiser. 

    photo booth carnival sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Photo Booth

    Create memories with a photo booth. Include school-themed props. Students can take photos with their own cameras, or have someone take photos to share. 

    water gun race carnival sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Water Gun Race

    This is a game of skill and accuracy. Line up Ping-Pong balls and have players try to shoot them off using a water gun. 

    football toss carnival station sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Grab footballs from the gym and use them in this fun game. The person who tosses the football across a yard line wins. 

    cornhole carnival station sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Cornhole

    Bring cornhole to your school by making or painting cornhole boards in your school colors. 

    flamingo toss carnival sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Flamingo Toss

    Use flamingo floaties and Ping-Pong balls to create a simple yet tricky game of accuracy. 

    prize punch board station sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Prize Punch Board

    Elementary schools need this activity. Students turn in a ticket for a chance to punch a prize. Everyone is a winner!

    leap frog carnival station sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Leap Frog

    This is a carnival game you might remember from your childhood. Build a game that combines strength with chance. 

    guessing game carnival station sign
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    Guessing Game

    Fill a jar with candy or other small objects and have students guess how many there are.

    Download your free printable bundle of carnival signs!

    printable carnival station sign examples
    Myranda McDonald for We Are Teachers

    To get your free printable bundle of all 70 signs, just click the button below and fill out the simple form on this page for instant access.

    Plus, get all the latest teaching news and ideas when you sign up for our free newsletters!

    Pinterest pin promoting free printable carnival station signs with 3 carnival sign examples

    Samantha Cleaver, PhD, Special Ed &#38; Reading Intervention

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  • Sam Altman’s OpenAI Is Officially the World’s Most Valuable Startup at $500B

    A secondary share sale propelled OpenAI’s valuation, setting a new record for private companies. The Washington Post via Getty Images

    OpenAI has reached a new milestone: a $500 billion valuation that makes it the world’s most valuable private company, surpassing Elon Musk’s SpaceX and widening the gap with other major private companies like its direct competitor, Anthropic, and TikTok parent ByteDance.

    The staggering valuation follows a secondary shares sale, first reported by Bloomberg, that allowed current and former employees to sell stock to investors, including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, MGX and T. Rowe Price, The sale didn’t bring new funding to the company but boosted its valuation from $300 billion in March, when it raised $40 billion in a round led by SoftBank.

    OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit dedicated to advancing A.I. for humanity’s benefit, but later adopted a capped-profit structure. The company currently has about 700 million weekly users and $12 billion in annualized revenue. It has signed some of the largest cloud deals, including a $300 billion partnership with Oracle for computing power over the next five years.

     

    The company is also in the midst of a long-anticipated transition to a for-profit structure. Last month, it signed a non-binding deal with Microsoft, its largest shareholder, to convert its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation controlled by the remaining nonprofit.

    Elon Musk, who left OpenAI in 2018 and went on to launch his own startup, xAI, has since become one of the company’s fiercest critics. He has filed multiple lawsuits aimed at halting its restructuring and accused the company of straying from its founding mission in favor of profits. Most recently, he sued the company for allegedly hiring former xAI employees who he claims stole trade secrets.

    Secondary share sales gain steam

    Secondary share sales, an increasingly popular method among startups to retain and reward staff, have boosted the valuation of several already highly valued companies. SpaceX reached a $400 billion valuation in July after a round of secondary share sales; Stripe’s February tender offer valued it at $91.5 billion; and Databricks’ December secondary sale gave the company a $62 billion valuation.

    As OpenAI’s tools continue weaving into daily life, the company has had to reckon with the social consequences of its rapid ascent. Earlier this month, it rolled out parental controls for ChatGPT, giving parents options such as limiting their children’s exposure to sensitive content or disabling certain voice and image modes. The feature came after OpenAI was sued in August by the parents of a teenager who committed suicide after ChatGPT allegedly gave him self-harm advice.

    More recently, OpenAI sparked backlash with the launch of Sora, a short-form A.I. video app, drawing criticism that consumer-facing products conflict with its loftier goals of scientific advances and artificial general intelligence (AGI). Altman addressed the criticism on X yesterday (Oct. 1), writing: “It is also nice to show people cool new tech/products along the way, make them smile, and hopefully make some money given all that compute need.”

    He added that most of OpenAI’s resources remain focused on science and AGI research. “When we launched ChatGPT, there was a lot of ‘who needs this and where is AGI?’ Reality is nuanced when it comes to optimal trajectories for a company,” he wrote.

    Sam Altman’s OpenAI Is Officially the World’s Most Valuable Startup at $500B

    Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly

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  • Annual SHINE fundraiser for breast cancer care services only weeks away

    SALISBURY – Anna Jaques Hospital and the Institution for Savings are teaming up for their annual SHINE fundraiser on Oct. 16 to raise funds for breast cancer care services and celebrate the women battling the disease.

    The annual fundraiser will be hosted at Blue Ocean Event Center and offer attendees the chance to engage in an auction, dinner, dancing and more.


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    By Caitlin Dee | cdee@newburyportnews.com

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  • Bowie man tackled a mountain called cancer. Now he’s going after Kilimanjaro – WTOP News

    This weekend, Eric Morrow of Bowie, Maryland, will be joining the CEO of Zero Prostate Cancer and others to begin a fundraising trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

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    Bowie man tackled a mountain called cancer. Now he’s going after Kilimanjaro

    In 2021, when he was 49 years old, Eric Morrow of Bowie was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

    Now, having climbed that mountain called cancer, this weekend he and about 20 others, including many survivors, will be joining the CEO of the Alexandria, Virginia-based Zero Prostate Cancer nonprofit to begin a fundraising trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

    About 10% of prostate cancer cases are considered early onset, and Morrow fell into that group. He had no symptoms and he made it sound like it was found almost accidentally.

    “It was a totally unrelated routine exam that kind of put the doctors on to trying to investigate what was going on with me,” Morrow said. “And, when I was diagnosed, they discovered that the cancer had invaded my pelvic lymph nodes already, and that it was very aggressive. So, it was kind of spreading quickly.”

    In hindsight, Morrow checks a lot of boxes that made him a candidate for early-onset prostate cancer: He has African lineage and a family history, and he’s also former military. At the time of his diagnosis, he admits he was worried his days were numbered.

    But after surgery and radiation, and two years of hormone therapy, he counts himself as a prostate cancer survivor. However, he’s also been told he simply won the battle and that the war will return to his body at some point.

    A leading nonprofit that helps

    Morrow credits the nonprofit Zero Prostate Cancer for helping him — and others — get through it.

    “Zero Prostate Cancer is probably the leading nonprofit here in the U.S. that’s focused on the patient and survivor experience with prostate cancer,” he said. “They have a network of support groups that they run to help connect new patients with men who’ve been living with prostate cancer, in some cases, for decades, to provide them peer-to-peer counseling services.”

    Since his recovery, he’s gone all in to help that group continue the work.

    He describes it as his mission. And, as part of that, Morrow is joining in the organization’s inaugural fundraising trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

    It’s the tallest peak in Africa at more than 19,000 feet above sea level. The trek at the bottom starts with a warm, almost jungle-like climate. However, at the very top, it can be well below freezing.

    “I’m nervous, but it’s a excited kind of nervous,” Morrow said. “I think I’ve done everything in my power — short of taking a month and flying to Colorado to train — that I can to prepare for this.”

    Training to take on a challenge

    That preparation started with building up his cardio endurance at the start of the year. In recent months he’s spent a lot of time hiking around nearby mountains that offer at least some elevation, like in the Harpers Ferry area. But he knows there’s nothing that will really replicate what he’s about to get into.

    “The altitude is definitely going to be a challenge. And I’m going to have to have to draw on a lot of kind of previous experiences that have given me some mental toughness,” he said.

    “And, you know, we’re taking a slow approach, also. It’s going to take us a total of six days to reach our high camp at about 16,000 feet,” Morrow said. The hope is that their bodies will gradually acclimate to the altitude that way.

    “Summit day is going to be a huge challenge. We’re getting up at about midnight, layering up. The guides have told us to expect temperatures down to potentially negative 20 degrees, and it’s about a three-mile hike from our high camp up to the summit,” he said.

    “But because of the thin air and the steepness of the grade, it’s going to take us about seven hours to do that. So we’ll get to the summit right after sunrise, spend about 20 minutes celebrating and taking pictures, and then we have a seven-mile trek back down to a lower camp where we can rest for the evening.”

    If all goes well, that will happen on Monday, Sept. 29.

    “I’ve wanted to do Kilimanjaro for a number of years. I thought it would be something really exciting to do,” Morrow said. “But my reason for going on this specific adventure is to show men everywhere that although, … a prostate cancer diagnosis is going to be life changing — and there’s no getting around that — it doesn’t have to be life limiting.”

    “You can still do huge things,” he promised.

    Click here to find out more about the Zero Prostate Cancer Zero Peaks Challenge, or to donate to the cause.

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    John Domen

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  • Canine candidates face off in Salem’s first dog mayoral race

    SALEM — Salem residents can still cast their votes in the heavily contested dog mayoral race with candidates’ platforms ranging from safer crosswalks to more treats.

    The city’s very first dog mayoral race is a fundraiser organized by Salem Main Streets that has already seen 58 candidates raise a total of $12,497 since its launch at the end of August. The fundraiser has attracted at least 388 donors with contributions ranging from $1 to $250, the majority of whom have not donated to Salem Main Streets before, according to the organization.


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    By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

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  • Why Steve Aoki is Backing Brain-Boosting Gum Brand | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

    He continues, “Nobody wants to give a weak interview, a half-hearted answer or put out a song they didn’t fully commit to. You have to give 1000%. That’s why I believe the highest quality of life is tied to your energy level.”

    Related: How This Grammy-Nominated DJ and Entrepreneur Draws Inspiration from Every Day Life

    Potential in a plastic bag

    Aoki first met the Neuro founders nearly a decade before he started working with them.

    “I still remember when they came into the office and presented this caffeine gum to me”, he recalls. “They brought it in a plain plastic bag — no branding, no packaging. Just, ‘here’s this stuff that works.’

    He laughs. “You look at it and think, what is this, some kind of drug?“

    Luckily for Neuro, Aoki loved it.

    “It’s more exciting for me to see indie startups with brilliant ideas than something incubated by a big company with a huge team behind it,” he shares. ” I’d rather see two guys in their college dorm saying, ‘Hey, this is a great idea that could really help people or become something a lot of people will actually use.’”

    Still, the shrewd DJ wasn’t ready to commit right away. He and his team took their time with due diligence while keeping a friendly relationship with the founders.

    “It’s important for me to see that this works before I get involved,” Aoki explains.

    For Neuro, working means giving consumers the caffeine boost they need without triggering their anxiety — or their bladders.

    “I’m a big coffee drinker, and I love energy drinks,” Aoki admits. “But you can’t be pounding beverages all the time.”

    Neuro products, on the other hand, are designed for consistent use throughout the day and are formulated to mitigate side effects while providing a crucial boost.

    “Over the years, it’s become one of my staples,” Aoki professes. “I always have it in my pocket or backpack. If I’m doing a long set, it’s right there with my earplugs. After a couple of hours, if I start to feel tired, I just pop a piece, and I get that little boost I need.”

    Related: Elon Musk Lost His World’s Richest Title, But Only for a Few Hours. Here’s Who Took His Spot.

    Every drop needs a story

    Steve Aoki has never been the type to just slap his name on something and walk away. He throws himself into every project, obsessing over the details until it feels true to him. He had a hand in everything with Neuro. He helped pick out flavors, shape the vibe of the brand and even found a way to work in one of his personal passions, HiROQUEST, the trading card project he’s been building.

    Instead of a standard product launch, Aoki wanted it to feel like an experience. That’s why certain Neuro releases come with collectible cards, turning an everyday item into something fans can get excited about.

    “I’m a card guy,” Aoki says. “I love ripping open packs, chasing the rare hit. I wanted to bring that same feeling to something you’d never expect — like a tin of Neuro mints.”

    By adding in HiROQUEST, Aoki boosts awareness for his own brand and adds an experiential layer to the Neuro collaboration. This has long been central to his success.

    “I’m always thinking about how we can create a better, more unique experience,” Aoki says. “Something that gets people excited for the next drop or the next collaboration, and helps build the story within the world we’re creating. That’s why I love caking people. Whether you’re the one getting cake in your face or watching it happen, you’ll never forget that moment.”

    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Leo Zevin

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  • I Founded a $1.5 Billion Business. Here’s My Success Secret. | Entrepreneur

    This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Shanaz Hemmati, COO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, a $1.5 billion company that provides an all-in-one platform helping small businesses become official, stay compliant, manage finances and more. Her co-founder is Ross Buhrdorf, who serves as CEO. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of ZenBusiness. Co-founder and COO Shanaz Hemmati.

    I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but I never really thought about going off and starting my own business.

    At the University of Texas at Austin, I studied computer engineering, starting with hardware design before pivoting to software engineering. I truly love technology, and especially software engineering, because you’re coding to solve problems — I still love solving problems.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    My husband’s an entrepreneur who’s always had his own businesses. He’d encourage me to start my own business, but I was too concerned. Sometimes women can think too hard about doing something; that’s what held me back from becoming an entrepreneur.

    For women in male-dominated fields, it’s important to seek out mentors who can help you from their experience, even if their journey looked different from yours. You can bounce ideas off them and ask them questions. Mentorship pushes you, but it also gives you assurance and confidence.

    Over the course of my career, I learned so much, which helped me when I made the leap to founder.

    “Small businesses are what keep the economy growing.”

    I first met my ZenBusiness co-founder Ross Buhrdorf when we worked at Excite.com, a web portal company founded in 1994. Several years later, I joined HomeAway, a vacation rental marketplace, where I stayed for 11 years until the company was acquired by Expedia.

    Later on, Ross and I met up for coffee, and he started talking about this idea of building something to help entrepreneurs and people who are starting small businesses. I was intrigued and excited. I’d always been passionate about that category in the market: Small businesses are what keep the economy growing and going.

    Related: I Walked Away From a Corporate Career to Start My Own Small Business — Here’s Why You Should Do the Same

    So Ross and I founded ZenBusiness in 2017.

    When it comes to a fast-growing company like ours, we have so many things on our to-do list, but we don’t always have the resources to get them done at the same time, so we have to prioritize.

    AI has been one of those priorities. Everybody in business should be using it these days. It’s a great tool that saves time once you get employees on board and using it based on their role and function. Our personalized AI assistant, ZenBusiness Velo, is included with every LLC formation and helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

    Related: Two-Thirds of Small Businesses Are Already Using AI — Here’s How to Get Even More Out of It

    “It all comes down to this — people are at the center of any great company.”

    For a long time, I’ve had this mantra that’s helped me succeed as a business leader: Be fearless, be ethical, be passionate.

    Being fearless means recognizing that nothing is ever going to be perfect, but you just do it anyway. Being ethical means always being honest, to yourself, to your co-workers, to anyone. And being passionate is everything. Loving your work and doing the best job possible will help you progress in your career and build your business.

    It all comes down to this — people are at the center of any great company. Anything you do is all about people, whether they’re employees, customers or the community.

    ZenBusiness puts this rule into action by hearing and supporting its employees.

    For example, we became an early adopter of remote work. The company sent employees home when the pandemic hit, but as we continued to grow and hire more people, we listened to employees who said that they preferred working from home. Remote work gave them the chance to spend time with their families, cut down on commute hours and be more productive.

    Related: A CEO Who Runs a Fully Remote Company Has an Unusual Take on Employees Starting Side Hustles: ‘We Have to Be Honest With Ourselves’

    “Maybe you launch as a side hustle to test it out.”

    All aspiring entrepreneurs should avoid the pitfall of thinking about a business idea for too long before they take action: Do it sooner rather than later.

    You don’t have to drop everything else you’re working on to start. Maybe you launch as a side hustle to test it out. Talk to the people you’re trying to solve a pain point for because those conversations will give you a lot of information.

    Every day, you’re learning something new, and being able to pivot fast can be the difference between driving your business in the right direction or not. There are always going to be surprises along the way. So remember, it’s all about the people who are around you — it’s all about the people you bring in to help you go through your business journey.

    This article is part of our ongoing Women Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of running a business as a woman.

    This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Shanaz Hemmati, COO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, a $1.5 billion company that provides an all-in-one platform helping small businesses become official, stay compliant, manage finances and more. Her co-founder is Ross Buhrdorf, who serves as CEO. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of ZenBusiness. Co-founder and COO Shanaz Hemmati.

    The rest of this article is locked.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • How a Mom’s Garage Side Hustle Hit $1 Billion Revenue | Entrepreneur

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I had just stepped away from seven years at eBay Inc., where I had launched PayPal Mobile and led the eBay fashion business. I was working on a new fashion-related startup idea before I ended up starting KiwiCo in 2011.

    Where did you find the inspiration for the side hustle?
    When my kids were younger, I tried to find ways for them to exercise their creativity and put their problem-solving skills to work. I wanted them to grow up to feel like they could envision and better the world around them. As an engineer by training, I saw creating and building through hands-on activities as a way to explore, discover and build creative confidence. At the same time, I was drawing on my own childhood — I have such fond memories of making and building things with my mom while I was growing up.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    I started by creating hands-on projects for my kids. Then, I started to share them with friends and family during playdates. The parents and kids were so enthusiastic about the activities that it gave me the confidence to take it further. I laid the groundwork to see if there was a market for a real business. Then, I leveraged my network to start conversations with investors. We raised a little more than $10 million in venture funding. From there, we were able to become profitable and cash flow positive — and fund our own growth.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    Are there any free or paid resources that have been especially helpful for you in starting and running this business?
    I had a strong background in product design (having worked in R&D at Procter & Gamble) and ecommerce (from time at PayPal and eBay). Yet, I didn’t have any direct experience with fulfillment, supply chain and operations. I had a lot to learn. So I made a conscious effort to surround myself with people who were true experts. One example is Mike Smith, who was the COO of Walmart. He provided invaluable guidance, and he even helped interview our VP of operations candidates when we were hiring. Advisors like Mike were so helpful to us at that time.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    I had always heard people say that a strong culture is so important to define and cultivate when you build a company. That way, you can point to and reinforce the behavior and values that align. While I was able to grok that academically, I put it aside when I should have addressed it earlier. As a result, some of our hiring was off in the beginning, and we had to course correct, which was costly. It would have been helpful to have put the framework into place from the beginning.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    During the pandemic, one of our toughest challenges was sourcing enough supplies to keep up with surging demand. In the years since, we’ve seen our fair share of ups and downs on that front, but one thing has remained constant: the importance of strong, trusted relationships with our suppliers. They’ve been incredible partners through it all, and those collaborations have been key to helping us navigate post-pandemic growth with resilience and adaptability.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I’ll never forget our very first alpha shipment. We had just 19 crates to send out, and it took a team of five of us the entire day to get them boxed and shipped. By the end, we were exhausted and looking at each other like, There has to be a better way. It was a wake-up call that we needed better systems and processes for fulfillment if we were going to scale. We figured it out along the way, but that moment sticks with me as a reminder of how far we’ve come.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
    With our core business being subscription-based, we’ve seen consistent monthly revenue from the beginning. KiwiCo has been profitable and self-funded for many years now. What started in my garage has grown into a company that has shipped more than 50 million crates to families in over 40 countries and created more than 1,500 hands-on products and activities. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, while still staying true to the heart of why we started: sparking creativity and confidence in kids everywhere.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    To date, KiwiCo has generated more than $1 billion in lifetime revenue. This is something I’m incredibly proud of, not just because of the number itself, but because it represents millions of moments of creativity and discovery for kids and families. Additionally, we launched in Target and Barnes & Noble this past year as part of building our wholesale channels.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    One of my favorite parts of this journey is that my kids not only understand what I do for work but also are involved in helping shape KiwiCo’s products. My kids were the original source of inspiration for the company, and they continue to be critical testers of our products to ensure we’re creating the best hands-on activities for kids to discover and unleash their creativity and explore as they learn about the world around them.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Finding a community of founders can be so helpful. Sharing the challenges and the opportunities that come from building a business with others who are in the same boat can be so valuable. You can gather everything from tangible, actionable advice to empathetic ears that have been there and done that.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    The rest of this article is locked.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Miles for a cause: Walk to End Alzheimer’s steps off in Yuba City

    CAUSE TODAY. THE 2025 WALKED IN. ALZHEIMER’S GOT UNDERWAY IN YUBA CITY, KCRA 3’S ERIN HEFT SHOWS US HOW YOU CAN STILL HELP. THE FLOWERS ARE A BEAUTIFUL REPRESENTATION OF THE CONNECTION THAT WE HAVE TO ALZHEIMER’S. THE CONNECTION THAT WE HAVE AS A CAREGIVER IS YELLOW. THE CONNECTION THAT WE HAVE FOR SOMEONE THAT IS EMPATHETIC TO THE CAUSE BUT DOESN’T REALLY HAVE SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW CLOSE TO THEM, THAT IS ORANGE. AND THEN FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS LOST SOMEONE TO ALZHEIMER’S, THAT IS THE PURPLE FLOWER. FLOWERS IN HAND, MARCHED DOWN THE STREETS OF YUBA CITY, A LIFE BEHIND EACH ONE. THE BLUE ONE IS THE ONE THAT IS THE HARDEST TO SEE. SOMETIMES IT’S THE PERSON THAT HAS ALZHEIMER’S AND WE WANT THEM TO FEEL INCLUDED. AND THIS ONE TIME, MAYBE JUST ONCE A YEAR, THEY FEEL THAT THEIR CONNECTION IT MATTERS. A DAY TO SUPPORT, A DAY TO BRING TOGETHER, A DAY TO HONOR THE MANY LIVES TOUCHED BY DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER’S. WE SPOKE WITH RANDY MA, WHO EXPLAINED SHE’S HERE TO HONOR A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND AS ONE OF THEIR CARETAKERS. IT IS VERY STRESSFUL AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION AND BE JUST BE THERE FOR THOSE THAT NEED YOU TODAY AND TOMORROW AND IN THE FUTURE. THESE CROWDS, NOT ONLY RAISING FUNDS, BUT AWARENESS, LEAVING LOVING MESSAGES OF TRIBUTE. THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION BRINGING TO LIGHT THE REALITY THAT THE COUNTRY FACES WITH 7 MILLION AMERICANS CURRENTLY DIAGNOSED, THAT NUMBER IS PROJECTED TO NEARLY DOUBLE BY THE YEAR 2050 THROUGH FUNDRAISING. IT’S THEIR GOAL TO END ALZHEIMER’S, PUTTING ONE STEP IN FRONT OF THE OTHER TO CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR MILLIONS. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU IN YUBA CITY, ERIN HEFT KCRA THREE NEWS WALKED IN ALZHEIMER’S YUBA CITY HAS A FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $97,500, AND CURRENTLY THEY’VE MADE IT TO 70% OF THEIR GOAL. BUT

    Miles for a cause: Walk to End Alzheimer’s steps off in Yuba City

    Flowers in hand, participants marched through city streets, each bloom symbolizing a life, a story, and a connection to the cause.

    Updated: 10:29 PM PDT Sep 6, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s set off in Yuba City on Saturday, drawing families, caregivers and supporters determined to change the future of dementia. Flowers in hand, participants marched through city streets, each bloom symbolizing a life, a story, and a connection to the cause.“The flowers are a beautiful representation of the connection that we have to Alzheimer’s,” explained Elicia Stewart, Walk Manager for Yuba City and Chico. “Yellow represents caregivers. Orange is for those who support the cause. Purple honors those we’ve lost. The blue one is the hardest to see…it’s for the person living with Alzheimer’s, and we want them to feel included.”It was a day to support, a day to bring together and a day to honor the many lives touched by dementia and Alzheimer’s. Among the walkers was Randie Marr, who came to honor a close family friend as one of their caretakers. “It is very stressful, and you have to have a lot of love and compassion,” Marr said. “Just be there for those that need you today and tomorrow and in the future.”Beyond the sea of flowers and heartfelt tributes, the crowd focused on raising both funds and awareness. The Alzheimer’s Association underscored the urgency: with 7 million Americans currently diagnosed, that number is projected to nearly double by 2050. Through fundraising and community action, the goal is clear, to end Alzheimer’s.The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Yuba City has set a fundraising goal of $97,500 and has already reached 70% of that target. Donations remain open on the event website through the end of the year, as walkers keep putting one step in front of another to change the future for millions.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    YUBA CITY, Calif. —

    The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s set off in Yuba City on Saturday, drawing families, caregivers and supporters determined to change the future of dementia.

    Flowers in hand, participants marched through city streets, each bloom symbolizing a life, a story, and a connection to the cause.

    “The flowers are a beautiful representation of the connection that we have to Alzheimer’s,” explained Elicia Stewart, Walk Manager for Yuba City and Chico. “Yellow represents caregivers. Orange is for those who support the cause. Purple honors those we’ve lost. The blue one is the hardest to see…it’s for the person living with Alzheimer’s, and we want them to feel included.”

    It was a day to support, a day to bring together and a day to honor the many lives touched by dementia and Alzheimer’s. Among the walkers was Randie Marr, who came to honor a close family friend as one of their caretakers.

    “It is very stressful, and you have to have a lot of love and compassion,” Marr said. “Just be there for those that need you today and tomorrow and in the future.”

    Beyond the sea of flowers and heartfelt tributes, the crowd focused on raising both funds and awareness. The Alzheimer’s Association underscored the urgency: with 7 million Americans currently diagnosed, that number is projected to nearly double by 2050. Through fundraising and community action, the goal is clear, to end Alzheimer’s.

    The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Yuba City has set a fundraising goal of $97,500 and has already reached 70% of that target. Donations remain open on the event website through the end of the year, as walkers keep putting one step in front of another to change the future for millions.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    Source link

  • Edtech Leader Wooclap Raises $29 Million From Impact Expansion to Accelerate International Growth and Spearhead Innovation in Active Pedagogy

    Wooclap’s active pedagogy platform is used by over 50 million learners globally. The $29 million funding round was led by Impact Expansion, an impact fund focused on education, health and climate.


    BRUSSELS, September 4, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Wooclap, a leading EdTech company today announces a $29 million investment round led by Impact Expansion, a $175 million private equity fund specializing in growth capital and buy-out for mission-driven businesses.

    Wooclap: Transforming learning through engagement

    Wooclap’s platform enables higher education institutions and corporations to boost learner engagement and retention in both in-person and online settings. By turning passive lectures into interactive experiences, Wooclap empowers educators and trainers with tools to make learning more active, efficient, and impactful.

    Already trusted by over 50 million learners, Wooclap has become a global reference in active pedagogy.

    Scaling internationally in education and corporate learning

    With Impact Expansion’s backing, Wooclap will accelerate its international growth, with a strong focus on the North American higher education market and the corporate learning sector. Just as critically, the investment will enable Wooclap to lead the next wave of innovation in active pedagogy by further developing AI-powered features that enhance learner engagement.

    “Active engagement is at the heart of every successful learning experience, and empowering educators is the key to making that possible,” said Baudouin Corman, CEO of Wooclap. “We’re proud of our team, our community of users, and our partners who bring this vision to life every day in classrooms and training rooms around the world. With Impact Expansion by our side, we are ready to accelerate our growth, drive innovation, and partner with educators to shape the future of active learning.“

    Wooclap’s pedagogical excellence and co-construction approach with education experts have made it the platform of choice for organizations around the world. Recognized for its educational relevance, ease of use, and seamless integration into other reference tools, Wooclap has become a standard for interactive learning. From leading universities to global companies, organizations across sectors use Wooclap to transform passive audiences into active participants and deliver measurable impact at scale.

    “Since day one, we’ve believed that every learner should be empowered to take an active role in their learning,” said Sébastien Lebbe, co-founder and chairman of Wooclap. “This investment brings us closer to that vision and gives us the means to continue building tools that truly support educators and learning designers around the world.”

    Impact Expansion was drawn to Wooclap’s unique combination of pedagogical depth, product quality, and global ambition.

    “We’re thrilled to back a company and a team that combines tech excellence and pedagogical depth with measurable impact on learning. Wooclap is redefining the way knowledge is shared and absorbed, providing immediate value to teachers and instructors to achieve their mission,” said Gilles Davignon and Karen de Vits, Managing Director and Investment Manager at Impact Expansion.

    With this new funding and a continued commitment to pedagogical innovation, Wooclap is set to bring its vision of active learning to even more institutions and learners around the world. New partners will join the ranks of leading organizations such as Sorbonne University, University of Sheffield andDuke University, as well as large organisations like Dior, Pernod Ricard, Onepoint and the Red Cross for their learning & development programs, all of whom trust Wooclap to power more engaging, effective learning experiences.

    About Wooclap

    Wooclap is an EdTech platform that turns any class or training session into an interactive and engaging experience. Founded in 2015 in Brussels by Sébastien Lebbe and Jonathan Alzetta, with the support of Olivier Verdin, Wooclap’s mission is to make learning more effective by placing the learner at the center of the process. Based on cognitive science, the platform offers dozens of interactive activities (multiple-choice questions, polls, word clouds, brainstorms, image annotations, etc.) that help capture learners’ attention, measure their understanding in real time, and strengthen skills acquisition.

    Intuitive and powerful, Wooclap integrates seamlessly with existing tools (LMS, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, etc.) and is now used by tens of millions of teachers, trainers, students, and professionals.

    Wooclap is also behind Wooflash, a complementary microlearning app powered by AI and spaced repetition, designed to help learners retain knowledge more effectively and build long-term understanding.

    Learn more: www.wooclap.com andwww.wooflash.com

    About Impact Expansion

    Impact Expansion is a European investment fund dedicated to companies with strong social and environmental impact. Sponsored by KOIS, a pioneer in impact investing, Impact Expansion provides growth or buyout capital to innovative scale-ups, particularly in the fields of health, education & climate. Learn more:www.impact-expansion.com

    Source: Wooclap

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  • Texas Legislature approves stiff penalties, fundraising limits for lawmakers who leave state to block bills

    Texas Republican lawmakers on Wednesday evening adopted a package of sharper penalties and new fundraising restrictions for members who leave the state to freeze legislative action, in a bid to deter future standoffs like what ensued when House Democrats absconded last month to delay passage of a new congressional map.

    The array of new punishments includes a proposal to severely curtail how much lawmakers can fundraise should they leave Texas to deny their chamber the headcount required to conduct business. Under House Bill 18, absent members and their legislative caucuses will be prohibited from accepting daily political contributions beyond their per diem allocation — currently $221 a day, as set by the Texas Ethics Commission — and barred from spending any campaign cash on travel, food or lodging related to their out-of-state trip.

    The measure passed the lower chamber Tuesday and was whisked through the Senate and on to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk late just after midnight Thursday.

    Meanwhile, the Texas House also adopted new rules Wednesday that impose a handful of harsher punishments for lawmakers who break quorum, including erasing two years of legislative seniority for each day lawmakers are absent, starting after they miss three consecutive days of legislative business. The changes also include higher daily fines for lawmakers who flee the state and a new provision stripping them of committee leadership appointments.

    The new rules are largely symbolic and aimed squarely at future quorum breaks, as Democrats have returned from their August protest against congressional redistricting. And the Legislature already passed the reconfigured map — ordered by President Donald Trump to secure the GOP more seats in the U.S. House — which was recently signed into law by Abbott and now faces legal challenges.

    House members adopt rules anew at the beginning of each regular session on odd-numbered years. After Democrats left the state to delay a package of GOP voting restrictions in 2021, the House held off on updating the rules until 2023, by which time tensions had mellowed out.

    House GOP hardliners for weeks urged state leaders to castigate Democrats for what they characterize as an abandonment of their duties, though the state Constitution permits quorum breaks.

    “I think these penalties are reasonable,” Rep. Cody Vasut of Angleton, the rules package author, said Wednesday night. “I think they are strong to help deter a future quorum break.”

    The calls for retribution were answered in short order. After Democrats returned and the House approved the new district lines, Abbott — who decides which topics can be considered during special sessions — expanded his agenda, giving lawmakers permission to enact the stiffer penalties.

    Such legislation was needed, Abbott said at the time, “to ensure that rogue lawmakers cannot hijack the important business of Texans.”

    On the House floor this week, Republican Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano, the author of the fundraising restriction bill, argued that current law creates a financial incentive for members to protest with their absence, pointing to fundraising efforts touting the Democrats’ departure.

    Democrats cast the penalties — particularly the new House rules — as vindictive and unnecessarily punitive.

    In opposition speeches, they noted the “outside influences” — nodding to Vasut’s wording — that nudged the GOP into mid-decade redistricting. Some struck a defiant tone, arguing that voters could kick them out of office at the polls if they disapproved of their quorum breaking.

    “When politicians change the rules of the game, it’s because they know they’re losing,” Houston Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic Caucus leader, said in a statement. “By breaking quorum, we exposed the corrupt deal between Trump and Abbott to rig Texas’ congressional maps, and turned it into a national movement.”

    The fundraising clampdown sailed through the GOP-dominated Senate, though some Republicans who supported the measure said it would not solve the issue at hand, bemoaning that it stopped short of the upper chamber’s more aggressive approach of barring lawmakers from fundraising altogether during special sessions. That moratorium is already in place for the Legislature’s 140-day regular sessions that take place every other year.

    During a Senate committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, noted that quorum breaks generally do not happen on the spur of the moment and instead are preceded by weeks of chatter and planning, during which it will still be legal for lawmakers to raise money. Hall ultimately voted to advance the measure as part of a 9-1 committee vote.

    More all-star speakers confirmed for The Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 13–15! This year’s lineup just got even more exciting with the addition of State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo; former United States Attorney General Eric Holder; Abby Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight”; Aaron Reitz, 2026 Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General; and State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Get your tickets today!

    TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.

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  • Web3’s Speed Is No Longer Optional. It’s the Path to Adoption. | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    After Bitcoin launched in 2009, it became clear to proponents that it would have a difficult time ever becoming “electronic cash.” It was too slow and decentralized. Instead, the consensus was reached that its purpose should fit its architecture. The pivot was important: Bitcoin aimed to be a decentralized store of value — a digital vault. It wasn’t built for speed, and as a store of value, it would never need to be fast.

    Ten-minute block times were acceptable because they didn’t need to be used for daily payments, let alone real-time gaming or algorithmic trading. It wouldn’t have to compete with Visa or PayPal; it simply had to serve as a hedge against macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, like its gold and rare metal counterparts.

    As such, its limited throughput was reframed as a feature rather than a flaw, a security trade-off that prioritized immutability and decentralization over instant convenience.

    In many ways, Bitcoin became a philosophical statement about the trade-offs inherent in trustless systems, teaching the industry that decentralization has costs, but those costs define its unique value proposition.

    Related: America Needs a Bitcoin Reserve — Here’s Why

    The blockchain space has evolved far beyond its origins, and no other chain can attempt to recreate Bitcoin’s narrative. In 2025, Web3 is no longer about theoretical use cases. It is powering actual economies, which rely on fast finality and battle-tested security. Tokenized assets, payments apps, decentralized finance, consumer loyalty, identity, gaming and increasingly AI systems all rely on the same foundation: scalable, low-latency infrastructure.

    These real-world applications demand performance that was inconceivable in the early days of cryptocurrency. The promise of decentralized technology can no longer exist solely as a concept; it must operate at the speed, scale and reliability that modern users have come to expect.

    But that foundation is nowhere near where it needs to be. Today’s blockchains are asked to perform like global-scale platforms, even as most still struggle with 1990s-era throughput. That mismatch is the biggest threat to Web3’s future, the distance between what’s demanded of a decentralized blockchain and what these protocols can actually offer.

    Most chains today still process fewer than 100 transactions per second. Legacy networks like Visa can handle tens of thousands without breaking a sweat. High-frequency trading platforms operate with microsecond latency. And yet we expect developers, enterprises and users to build and transact on infrastructure that’s slower than dial-up.

    Related: Why Gold and Bitcoin Are the Go-To Safe Havens in 2025

    The public will not wait for us to catch up. They are used to seamless, real-time experiences. Anything less feels broken. This is not a matter of optimization. It is a question of survival. If we do not build for performance, we will not be taken seriously. Web3 cannot survive on nostalgia or theoretical ideals alone; it needs infrastructure capable of handling the realities of billions of users, each expecting instant results, frictionless interaction and financial security at all times.

    What Web3 needs now is a clean break from legacy limitations. The next generation of chains must be built for speed from day one. This includes advanced sequencing architectures that allow networks to prioritize and order transactions efficiently. It also includes parallelized execution, which enables blockchains to process thousands of transactions simultaneously, rather than one after another, in a single line. On top of that, developers need predictable fee structures that make sense at scale. Micropayments don’t work when fees are higher than the transaction itself. Without these foundational changes, innovation will remain bottlenecked and adoption will stall.

    None of this is optional anymore; If we want blockchain technology to serve billions of users, we need infrastructure that performs like global financial rails. That means sub-second latency. It means tens of thousands of transactions per second. It means costs that make sense for everyday use.

    Some of this is already underway. Several high-throughput chains are being tested right now, and a few are in production. Polygon PoS is expected to cross 5,000 transactions per second this year. Within the next twelve to eighteen months, 100,000 TPS is within reach. At that point, Web3 can begin to seriously challenge legacy platforms.

    Plus, with the power of ZK technology, we can now have institution-grade blockchains that can provide 10s of thousands of TPS with full control and compliance available to the corresponding institution. Zero-knowledge proofs allow for privacy-preserving verification and regulatory compliance simultaneously, making it possible for institutions to leverage public blockchains without compromising security or governance requirements.

    Related: I Studied 233 Millionaires — These Are the 6 Habits That Made Them Rich

    But we can’t afford to celebrate incremental improvements. Speed is not just a technical achievement. It is what unlocks the real-world applications we have been promising for over a decade. Without it, we stay stuck in the prototype phase.

    The next generation of the internet won’t wait for us. It will move forward with or without blockchains at its core. If Web3 wants to be part of that future, it must start building like it.

    Now.

    After Bitcoin launched in 2009, it became clear to proponents that it would have a difficult time ever becoming “electronic cash.” It was too slow and decentralized. Instead, the consensus was reached that its purpose should fit its architecture. The pivot was important: Bitcoin aimed to be a decentralized store of value — a digital vault. It wasn’t built for speed, and as a store of value, it would never need to be fast.

    Ten-minute block times were acceptable because they didn’t need to be used for daily payments, let alone real-time gaming or algorithmic trading. It wouldn’t have to compete with Visa or PayPal; it simply had to serve as a hedge against macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, like its gold and rare metal counterparts.

    As such, its limited throughput was reframed as a feature rather than a flaw, a security trade-off that prioritized immutability and decentralization over instant convenience.

    In many ways, Bitcoin became a philosophical statement about the trade-offs inherent in trustless systems, teaching the industry that decentralization has costs, but those costs define its unique value proposition.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Sandeep Nailwal

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  • Intercollegiate Studies Institute Launches $25 Million Campaign for Education and Civilizational Renewal


    WILMINGTON, Del., August 25, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) announced the launch of the America 500 Campaign, a $25 Million initiative to expand programs that educate rising leaders for liberty.

    As Americans approach the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, ISI will honor the prudence and courage of the Founders while investing in the leadership, virtue, and vision needed for long-term civilizational renewal in public life and culture.

    President and CEO John A. Burtka IV called the effort “a chance to cast a vision for the next 250 years of American greatness and goodness.”

    To realize this goal, ISI will raise $25 million for its America 500 Education Fund. Donations will support academic and student journalism programs, educational media, and core infrastructure and capacity-building.

    The America 500 Education Fund will strengthen the Institute’s “Reach, Teach, Launch” educational model. ISI uses educational media to reach students and introduce them to conservative thought and the Western tradition. In-person, faculty-led campus programs teach undergraduate students and foster deep intellectual formation and community. Finally, selective, advanced experiences like the Honors Program and alumni events such as ISI’s annual Homecoming Weekend launch future leaders.

    In recent years, the Institute has seen strategic growth in key areas, including construction of the Linda L. Bean Conference Center at its Delaware headquarters in 2023. In the coming academic year, ISI is planning 250 educational events for students across the country-a 67 percent increase over previous years. The Institute’s programs are shaped by a commitment to ordered liberty, economic freedom, cultural excellence, and public virtue.

    Participate in the America 500 Campaign

    Supporters of ISI are invited to participate in the America 500 Campaign in three ways.

    More information, campaign media, event registration, and giving opportunities are available at isi.org/america500.

    Media Contact:

    Spencer Kashmanian
    Chief of Staff | Intercollegiate Studies Institute
    skashmanian@isi.org  | (302) 524-6119

    Related Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q4EcFxzsWA

    Source: Intercollegiate Studies Institute

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  • Club Car Wash Opens New Omaha Location With $1 MVP Wash

    Press Release
    •

    Aug 22, 2025

    Limited-Time $1 Wash Deal Helps Families Through RMHC


    OMAHA, Neb., August 22, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Club Car Wash, one of the fastest-growing express car wash companies in the United States, is excited to announce the grand opening of its newest location at 18318 Evans St, Omaha, NE 68022.

    The new Omaha site offers Unlimited Wash Memberships, powerful vacuums, complimentary microfiber towels, and a fast, efficient wash experience designed to keep vehicles looking their best in just minutes.

    To celebrate the opening, Club Car Wash is offering its top-tier wash-the $25 MVP-for just $1, but only for a limited time. All proceeds will support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a nonprofit dedicated to providing a home-away-from-home for families with children receiving medical care.

    “We’re thrilled to continue expanding in Nebraska and bring our services to the Omaha community,” said Cory Via, Chief Operations Officer at Club Car Wash. “Opening this location is another step in our mission to deliver convenient, high-quality car care while supporting the communities we serve through incredible partnerships like RMHC.”

    For more information, visit www.clubcarwash.com or stop by the new Omaha location to take advantage of the limited-time offer.

    Contact Information

    Sarah Smith
    Chief Marketing Officer
    marketing@clubcarwash.com
    (833) 416 – 9975

    Source: Club Car Wash

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  • Support Iowa City Schools at Club Car Wash This Weekend

    Press Release
    •

    Aug 21, 2025 15:20 EDT

    From August 22-24, Club Car Wash at 985 Hwy 6 will donate $1 from every MVP wash and all donations to local schools.


    IOWA CITY, Iowa, August 21, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Club Car Wash is proud to announce its Back-to-School $5 Wash Weekend, taking place August 22-24 at 985 Hwy 6, Iowa City, IA 52240. During this limited-time event, customers can receive the MVP wash for just $5-with $1 from every wash donated directly to the Iowa City School District to help teachers and students start the school year strong.

    This initiative is part of Club Car Wash’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities it serves. The Iowa City location has partnered with the Iowa City School District to make a meaningful local impact.

    “We’re proud to support education and help ease the back-to-school transition for students and educators,” said Collin Bartels, President at Club Car Wash.

    In addition to the $5 wash promotion, customers can also contribute donations, available at the Iowa City location throughout the weekend. Every dollar collected through open donations will go directly to the Iowa City School District.

    Contact Information

    Source: Club Car Wash

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  • Why Every Entrepreneur Needs an Exit Mindset from Day One | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    After three decades in capital markets and entrepreneurial ventures, I’ve learned one hard truth: Most founders wait too long to think about their exit. They’re focused on growing the business, product-market fit, hiring the right people or raising their next round, and understandably so. But here’s the reality: The companies that scale, endure and lead are the ones built with the end in mind.

    Having an exit mindset doesn’t mean you’re planning to abandon ship. It means you’re architecting your business with intention and strategic foresight. Whether your future includes an IPO, a SPAC merger, a venture-backed acquisition or simply attracting long-term capital, an exit mindset forces clarity. It requires discipline. And it ensures you’re building not just for now but for what comes next.

    Related: Starting a Business? You Should Already Be Thinking About Your Exit Strategy. Here’s Why.

    I learned this the hard way

    During the Great Recession, I lost everything. Years of work and millions in value disappeared seemingly overnight. That moment was both devastating and instructive. I realized that while I had been focused on growth and momentum, I hadn’t built with durability in mind. I hadn’t built to exit; I’d built to run.

    Coming back from that loss forced me to rebuild from the ground up and reimagine what success really meant. I leaned into the volatility instead of resisting it, and over time, that shift led me to support other founders navigating the capital markets, helping them structure for growth and prepare for their own exits.

    I noticed a pattern: The most successful entrepreneurs weren’t necessarily the smartest or the most well-funded. They were the ones who led with clarity, who built their businesses with the intention to exit, whether that meant selling, stepping back or scaling beyond themselves.

    Exit is a mindset, not a milestone

    Going public or selling your company shouldn’t be a last-minute decision. It can (and should) take years, as a natural progression of a business built on solid fundamentals. That starts with a clear answer to one question: What are you building toward?

    If your answer is vague or reactive, it’s time to revisit your strategy.

    An exit mindset helps you:

    • Build toward investor-grade readiness: This includes predictable revenue, clean cap tables, strong corporate governance and a scalable operating model.

    • Attract the right capital partners: Investors can sense when a business has long-term value versus short-term hustle.

    • Avoid short-term traps: When you’re playing the long game, you’re less likely to overpromise, overhire or overextend.

    Related: 4 Go-To Moves to Help Start Your Exit Strategy Now

    Think like a public company (even if you’re not one yet)

    Entrepreneurs often underestimate the rigor and transparency required to go public or raise institutional capital and often think of an IPO or acquisition as a finish line. But it’s not a finish line, it’s a new starting gate. And the market doesn’t hand out second chances.

    If you want public markets, investors or strategic acquirers to take you seriously, you need to demonstrate:

    • Financial maturity: Are your books audit-ready? Do you understand your KPI and unit economics? Can you forecast with precision?

    • Strategic clarity: Do you have a clearly articulated long-term vision? Can you tell a compelling growth story?

    • Operational resilience: Have you built processes that scale? Do you have a team that can lead beyond you?

    I tell the entrepreneurs I work with that the stock doesn’t trade itself. A great business is not the same as a great public company. The companies that perform post-IPO are the ones that prepared for the scrutiny long before the bell rang.

    Lessons from the frontlines

    Over the past few years, I’ve seen how volatile and unforgiving the IPO and public markets can be. In 2021, deal flow was booming. In 2022 and 2023, it all but froze. Yet in that same period, a handful of companies thrived. Why? Because they had built with optionality in mind.

    Take CAVA Group, for instance. In a tough IPO market, they went public in 2023 and saw their stock jump 37% on the first day. That didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of strategic decisions made years earlier: disciplined growth, strong financial performance, well-crafted storytelling, focused leadership and the ability to meet investor expectations.

    Don’t just raise capital. Rehearse the exit.

    Too many founders treat fundraising like a finish line. But capital is a tool, not a strategy. If you raise money without a clear exit roadmap, you risk dilution, misalignment, or worse, getting stuck in the middle.

    Instead, start with the exit in mind. Ask yourself:

    • What would a strategic acquirer find most valuable about my business?

    • If I were to list tomorrow, are my systems, controls and structures ready?

    • Do I have the right team and board to guide me through a real transition?

    The earlier you ask these questions, the more optionality you create. And in this volatile market, optionality isn’t a nice-to-have. It is your edge.

    Related: How to Expertly Position Your Business for an Exit

    Build to exit, lead to endure

    The paradox is real: The strongest exits come from businesses that aren’t built just to exit. They’re built to endure. They have resilient models, committed teams and founders who lead with transparency and purpose.

    An exit mindset doesn’t mean you’re pulling back. It means you’re more strategic and leading with vision. It doesn’t mean you’re ready to walk away; it means you’re building something that can outlast you.

    So, whether you’re on your first round or your fifth, ask yourself: If I had to exit tomorrow, would I be ready?

    If the answer is no, you’re not alone. The time to start building with that end in mind is now.

    After three decades in capital markets and entrepreneurial ventures, I’ve learned one hard truth: Most founders wait too long to think about their exit. They’re focused on growing the business, product-market fit, hiring the right people or raising their next round, and understandably so. But here’s the reality: The companies that scale, endure and lead are the ones built with the end in mind.

    Having an exit mindset doesn’t mean you’re planning to abandon ship. It means you’re architecting your business with intention and strategic foresight. Whether your future includes an IPO, a SPAC merger, a venture-backed acquisition or simply attracting long-term capital, an exit mindset forces clarity. It requires discipline. And it ensures you’re building not just for now but for what comes next.

    Related: Starting a Business? You Should Already Be Thinking About Your Exit Strategy. Here’s Why.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Peter Goldstein

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  • Celebrate Local Artisans at the VRCCO Dog Days of Summer Market

    Supporting Pets and Community With Markets Each Season


    BEND, Ore., July 29, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon is excited to host their third seasonal artisan market on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Ponch’s Place will celebrate community and compassion during the Dog Days of Summer Market, a vibrant outdoor event benefiting the VRCCO Care Fund, presented by event sponsors Umpqua Bank and Monarch Medical.

    From 11 AM to 5 PM, visitors are invited to explore a curated selection of handcrafted goods from talented local artisans. Shoppers can expect a diverse range of items, from handmade jewelry and home goods to pet-themed accessories and unique gifts, perfect for summer browsing or early holiday shopping.

    This family- and pet-friendly event offers a full day of fun with donation-based activities, including face painting, kids’ crafts, paw print art for your furry friends, and the chance to win exciting raffle prizes. Plus, you can enjoy live local music from The Quons Trio starting at 3 PM. Ponch’s Place will feature beverage specials throughout the day, along with delicious fare from their four popular food trucks: 5th Street Bagels, The Tin Pig, Pops Southern BBQ, and Los Brothers.

    Admission is free, and all are welcome. Make sure to bring the whole family (including four-legged members) and support a great cause while celebrating Central Oregon’s incredible makers and artists. These seasonal markets reflect VRCCO’s ongoing commitment to fostering community connections, supporting local businesses, and expanding its philanthropic endeavors. Stay tuned for more information on their next Winter Holiday Market, which takes place on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

    The VRCCO Care Fund uses 100% of its funds to provide financial assistance to pet parents facing financial hardship in their community. The funds raised will provide medical services to the neglected, abused, and financially constrained animals with otherwise good prognoses that find their way into the Emergency and Specialty Hospital.

    For more information on this event, please visit: https://vrcvet.com/event/dog-days-of-summer-summer-market/. If you are unable to attend and would like to donate or learn more about the VRCCO Care Fund, please visit: https://vrcvet.com/donations/.

    The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon offers the most advanced emergency and specialty care options to members of the Central Oregon community and beyond. Ponch’s Place is a space for the community to gather for food, drinks, and entertainment. This pavilion offers local craft beverages, including coffee and beer, plus delicious cuisine from four food trucks, as well as weekly community events.

    Contact Information

    Katie Sedivec
    Marketing Director
    marketing@vrcvet.com
    541-209-6960

    Source: Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon

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