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#promo (please see also the post above)

Earn several thousand dollars per day by moving. Is the new move-to-earn StepN app financially sustainable or is it a financial pyramid?

The idea
StepN is a blockchain app that lets users walk and run to earn tokens. Users may then exchange the tokens for real money.

Since its launch in December, the app accumulated 2 to 3 million active users per month. With tens of thousands of new users joining the app every day, the developers had to limit the number of daily registrations.

How it works
To start earning by logging daily mileage, users have to buy a pair of virtual shoes first. At least 12 Solana coins or around $500 at the current market rate.

The digital shoes are in the form of NFT. You can sell them later but it is not a trivial amount for every casual player anyway.

Over time, users need to accumulate new kicks to level up. The usual return on investment requires about a month. Then users can start generating income of up to several thousand dollars per day. It depends on their level, activeness, and the current price of StepN tokens.

Is it sustainable?
Critics question the sustainability of the play-to-earn game model. To maintain it, the game should be addictive to prevent users from cashing out. Or, StepN has to attract new users who buy in and replace those cashing out. Some experts even compare such a model with a financial pyramid.

StepN proposes a twofold solution to sustainability. For one, it’s working on a price stabilization mechanism. The team ensures the cost of its coins is always at a rate that the shoes are affordable for new users. At the same time, it's not so cheap that existing users lack the incentives to create new shoes.

I do not believe in get-rich-fast schemes. The return will stabilize over time. The question is whether it will be attractive enough for new users to come in.

The future
Huang, the StepN founder, argues that besides earning money in the early stage, the real benefit of StepN is its fitness component. Users become accustomed to staying active. They will continue to walk or run regardless of financial rewards.

StepN raised $5 million from Sequoia Capital, one of the most reputable venture funds. It’s generating $3-$5 million in net profit from trading fees a day and earns up to $100 million every month.

The current crypto downturn may slow down the app's growth. Yet, the founders are optimistic in this regard. They say, now the bubble is bursting, their shoes will become more affordable. And they believe their app will survive as it has a real use case.

Now it's your turn
I'd be happy to know your thoughts. Have you tried StepN? What is your experience with the app? If not, would you consider risking a few hundred bucks to try?

#apps #startups

Vegan leather from cactus

Let's have a little break from longer-form content and enjoy a short and well-made video.

Adrian and Marte are two Mexican guys making a huge impact on the textile industry's sustainability. Meet Desserto, an innovative vegan leather made from cactus leaves. Here is what's good about it:

♻️ Cactus requires almost no water to grow,
♻️ It survives in areas not suitable for any other crops,
♻️ The mature leaves are cut and used without damaging the plant,
♻️ Desserto requires no toxic chemicals to produce,
♻️ No cows are dying for you to have a cool-looking leather jacket,
♻️ The product has a 10-year life span.

The startup is already on fire having iconic collaborations with such brands as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Givenchy, H&M, and others.

#sustainability #startups

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute Doc, are you telling me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean?

DeLorean showed the Alpha5 concept - an electric version of the car from "Back to the Future".

This is a new version of the DMC-12 produced from 1981 to 1983. The car became popular thanks to the movie "Back to the Future". Marty, the main character was driving it to travel through time.

The official presentation will be in August 2022. Production will start in 2024 in Italy. Alpha5 will have a limited series: 88 cars only. The reference is to 88 mph - the speed Marty had to speed up to jump in time.

Some tech specs:
0-60 mph (96 kph) in 3.4 seconds
top speed - 150 mph (241 kph)
Range - 300 miles (483 km).

Italdesign created the original car, so it developed the Alpha 5. The car retained the “seagull doors” opening upwards. Yet, otherwise, it differs from the DMC-12, e.g. it became a four-seater.

The price of the car is still unknown. In the future, DeLorean also plans to launch a V8-powered sports coupe and an electric SUV.

Does anyone also feel like traveling into the future with this car?

#EV

📷 Photos are here (don't miss)

A secret bonus for those who read my content carefully is inside.

A new gig economy platform to help event and venue photographers up their game: the story of the Smiler app.

An Amsterdam, Netherlands-based Smiler app comes up with a new venue and event photography approach.

Freelance photographers use the app to attend events. They can sell their work attached to the specific venue. Customers may buy photos right at the event or later online.

A photographer shares a QR code with clients to connect to their photos. Customers can then review the photoshoot and buy online with a credit card. Both digital copies and high-quality prints are available. Smiler can ship the latter worldwide for free (the price embeds the shipping cost, to be exact).

There are already 9000 photographers on the platform. And it is not for professionals only. Freelancers and photo enthusiasts wanting to earn with their passion also become Smilers.

Smiler partner venues now include Manchester City Football Club, Paris's Montparnasse Tower, ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo, and the Tower of London.

The startup has recently raised $8 million. They plan to use the funds to expand across the UK, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Italy.

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#apps #gigeconomy #photo

Those who live in Africa will soon see a lot of drones above their heads. Wingcopter will deploy 12000 of them across the continent

Wingcopter startup announced building a massive delivery network. It will span 49 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Drone delivery is still not widely used. The main questions are efficacy, air traffic congestion, and regulation. Such tech can make more sense in remote areas, where traditional delivery is limited or absent. In Africa, such a rollout will allow people to get access to medicines, lab samples, and other key medical supplies.

A strong social impact will also come from food delivery. With the potential food crisis on the African continent, drones can help deliver food to where it is needed most. That is, especially in areas with weak infrastructure. And those additionally affected by droughts and other plagues.

Wingcopter 198 is the startup's primary product. It is a large fixed-winged drone capable of transporting 13 pounds (6 kg) of payload up to 68 miles (109 km).

Pilots control Wingcopters remotely and can track 10 systems at once. The drone can carry 3 boxes and deliver to multiple locations in a single flight.

The first drone fleet will start working in Q1 2023. Will be happy to get feedback from those living in Africa.

___________________________

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I won't mind and there are no hard feelings.

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#drones #startups

A perfect partnership for Sunday.

If you're like me and love mobile RPG games, today's #promo post is for you.

Blitz Rise of Heroes is a mobile RPG game having over 1M downloads (in Play Store only). At first, the gameplay looks easy, but as you progress, the game requires you to employ tactical skills to win battles. There is also a game economy component where you balance your resources between upgrading equipment, summoning new heroes, and purchasing consumables for battles.

The ad post is below. Click the link, download the game and enjoy.

Many have fallen. Can YOU complete this quest?⚔️🛡

Play: https://blitz2022.onelink.me/4guT/l1x4rj54

TG channel: https://www.tg-me.com/BlitZROH

#promo

AI to fight breast cancer by making screening more efficient and accessible

Idea
Vara is a startup from Berlin fighting breast cancer with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

They use a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. Vara installs their software on existing radio screening machines. In that way, hospitals and healthcare centers do not need to invest in new equipment.

Efficiency
The AI works in two ways.

First, it filters out normal cancer-free mammograms (breast screenings). The radiologist can spend more time focusing on suspicious screenings with potential cancer signs. Second, Vara's tech alerts the radiologist of a potential missed cancer case.

In clinical trials in Germany, Vara found 40% of all cancers that were missed by radiologists.

Accessibility
Let's get an idea of the cost savings the company provides.

In Mexico, Vara's AI software screening services are offered for $15. The same screening made in private clinic without Vara costs between $50 and $150. Quite a notable difference, right?

Impact
Why are those efficiency and cost savings significant?

In the U.S., there are around 260,000 diagnosed breast cancer cases per year. 42,000 die from the same.

The common preventative care for breast cancer is an annual mammogram. And it is usually covered by standard health insurance. Yet, if they find any abnormalities, extra screening is required, and those costs are not covered.

In 2020, 28 million U.S. citizens didn’t have health insurance at any point during the year. And the ones who did, still may not have coverage for everything they need.

That's where Vara's AI may step in by providing quality options at a lower cost.

#AI #startups #software

A motorbike with a roof

For city dwellers, a motorbike can be a convenient solution.

Navigating packed streets become much easier and cheaper than driving a cumbersome vehicle. And if your bike is electric, you've got other benefits - cleaner air and quiter surroundings. But what happens when it rains?

The Idea
Nimbus from Michigan is a startup that answers that question in a simple way.

Let's put a roof on your electric bike. Their Nimbus One is a prototype of a tiny, three-wheeled EV. It tries to combine convenience and cost of a bike with safety and comfort of the car

Tech specs
A pod-like EV is 3 to 5 times smaller than a compact car. That means easier parking and navigation on busy streets. Yet, it has a space in the back for a passenger or your groceries. ISOFIX points for baby seat are also there.

The vehicles tilts like a motorbike. Yet, it doesn't require a skill to do it. The front airbag also adds to the safety.

The top speed is 50 mph (80 kph). Nimbus can drive 93 miles (150 km) on a single charge. Full charge will take 5.4 hours with household charger and 1.2 hours on a Level 2 charger.

Bluetooth speakers, display, power windows, A/C, heating are all there.

How much?
The EV will cost $9980 to buy outright. Another option is a $200 monthly subscription fee.

The team plans first deliveries for Q3 2023.

Future
With rising cost of living in big cities, the company may find its audience of young people caring for sustainable energy. Yet, not sure about revolutionizing the urban mobility market.

📷 3 photos are here

#EV #urbantech

Magic Mushrooms

The post is not about psilocybin and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

How do you like the idea of replacing nasty plastic packaging using mushrooms? This is what UK's Magical Mushroom Company is into. They combine agricultural waste with mycelium - the root structure of a mushroom.

The resulting product is biodegradable (45 days), durable, and comparable in price to traditional plastic packaging.

What else is good about Mushroom packaging:
- no use of fossil fuels or trees in production;
- biodigestable, i.e. compatible with food waste collection;
- water-resistant;
- no use of animal product by-products;
- the company grows raw materials for production;
- withstands temperatures from 70c down to -25c.

The company has just raised 3 million pounds to build its first raw material production facility.

It is already working with clients from many industries. For instance, a beauty/cosmetics producer Lush, and Raymarine, a marine navigation company.

#startups #recycle

Familiar to you?

Make shipping green

From 2023, shipping will come under the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS). EU will tax all ships transporting goods to and from the EU on their emissions.

The regulation will further increase the price of marine fuel. It is already at a record high due to the impact of the war in Ukraine on supply chains.

An ample opportunity for startups.

One of the exciting marine industry startups is the UK's Smart Green Shipping.

They designed a retrofitting solution for ships looking to decarbonize. That is retractable steel and aluminum sails. They allow operators to use wind power instead of fossil fuels for part of their voyage.

A pilot project found a cargo ship fitted with sails saves 20% in fuel every year. We talk about a transatlantic voyage from Baton Rouge to Liverpool.

- The tech needs no extra crew to operate it;
- No port-side infrastructure changes are required;
- Some 10,000 of ships are suitable for conversion (i.e. clear deck space, windy routes).

Despite all the above, the UK company still struggles to attract investment. Looks like investors are hesitant to fund some of the R&D required.

#startups #shipping

Leisure boat industry revolution?

We've talked a lot about electric cars. But what's happening with other types of transport, specifically in the electric boats industry?

You may not know, but small leisure boats consume 4 times as much fuel as a modern car per mile. A normal-sized leisure boat lets out as much carbon dioxide as a loaded truck going uphill.

It is also costly. In Sweden for example, a boat with a 200-horsepower engine eats €160 in fuel for an hour’s cruise at full speed.

There are many startups in the field. I have selected the one I see as the most unusual and promising. Meet Sweden-based Candela. Founded in 2014, the company makes hydrofoil electric boats. They lift above the water surface when their speed picks up.

Hydrofoils help the boat deal with water pressure. That's one of the main factors in high fuel consumption. The team claims they can reach 80% less energy consumption which sounds crazy. That, in turn, allows making a boat electric, and clean, without compromising speed, power and range.

Candela C-8 boat has two permanent magnet motors under the water. They provide enough thrust to make the boat fly at a speed of 30 knots (55 km/h), in absolute silence and without any vibration.

The C-8 can be booked at Candela's website. Due to high demand, the earliest date to get the boat is the first half of 2024.

#EV #startups #boats

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#promo

Please don't miss it 👆

That's our long-term partner and a good opportunity for everyone who's trying to start their career in tech

Industrial revolution or danger to our species?

The picture below is the new Cosmo cover image created by DALL-E, a neural network generating realistic images based on text requests.

In 2021, the Open AI company presented the first version of its neural network. A year later, Cosmopolitan magazine team created the cover with it. In 20 seconds. The text request they used was:

"wide-angle shot from below of a female astronaut with an athletic feminine body walking with swagger toward camera on Mars in an infinite universe, synthwave digital art."

Isn't that fascinating?

DALL-E can create illustrations, photos, combinations of any objects. Whether these combinations already exist or not. It can also answer questions, write texts, pass IQ tests, and much more.

My question is how much time will pass before the world doesn't need photo stocks? Will the world need photographers? Artists? Musicians? Will we be able to distinguish between human and machine creations? If now the answer is yes, what happens in 5 years?

In fact, the industry experts are already ringing the alarm bell. Max Tegmark, for example, says that we are in the worst case scenario. Nobody expected such speed of AI development. The experts thought humanity has enough time to deal with AI safety. But we don't.

Max gives a simple example.

7 years ago, no expert could have imagined that in 2022 AI would be able to answer this question:

“I'm going to go to a mountain with faces on it. What is the state capital to the east of the state in which it is located?"

And today each of us can:
1. Ask a smartphone with a search engine: “mountain with faces”, and get the answer “Mount Rushmore”
2. Ask - "Mount Rushmore State", and hear "South Dakota"
3. Ask - "state east of South Dakota", and hear "Minnesota"
4. Ask - "the capital of Minnesota", and hear "Saint Paul"

But, unfortunately, that's not all progress.

Modern AIs (GPT-3 models) don't need to ask these 4 leading questions. They don't need to ask any questions at all.

For the AI, having heard the question "I'm going to go ...", will immediately give the answer "Saint Paul".

Someone will say - this is not understanding, but statistics. And he will be right.

But if progress continues at the same rate, what will such statistics be capable of in a couple of years?

#AI

Banana fingers

The soft actuator is the device that senses the touch and performs a specific action based on that. It uses pneumatics to move. It has such applications as:
🔻 assistive wearables,
🔻 exoskeletons,
🔻 soft robotics,
🔻 and interactive devices.

The problem is making soft pneumatic actuators remain slow, costly, and manual.

MIT researchers published a paper on the new fabrication method. That includes
- designing a device using a special app,
- knitting on a machine in under 5 minutes.

The machine knits a textile sheath around the ordinary silicone tube. The conductive layer under the stitches allows sensing capability. Elastic stitches between normal stitches control the tube's bend direction and strength.

The potential applications include, for example:

1️⃣ Assistive gloves. Minimal muscle activity activates the glow to grasp various size and shape objects
2️⃣ A shirt sleeve with actuators that can assist in elbow bending
3️⃣ The robot responding to a human’s touch
4️⃣ A robot with soft pneumatic legs
5️⃣ Pneumatic exoskeleton that assists in lifting weights or moving

#robotics #wearables

An oddly satisfying video and a business idea

I sometimes surf TikTok to search for post ideas. Yesterday, I've lost an hour of my life watching the oddly satisfying videos of a fiber laser machine work. Here is one of them from youtube.

I thought that this thing was actually a good business idea. On Amazon, there is a bunch of these machines ranging from $2800 to $17100.

I've searched the companies providing the service of engraving in the US. They sell various services and products such as:
- engraving metal tumblers, glasses, wood plates, trophies, leather notebooks, etc.;
- selling the same engraved items;
- corporate engraving, i.e. business cards, gifts, desk signs, name badges, wine bottles, etc.
- industrial engraving, i.e. metal signs and parts, surgical and other tools marking, etc.;
- and many many more services and products.

What I like about the idea:
- the investment is not so large;
- the marketing is so natural - these videos collect millions of views on TikTok, Youtube, and other platforms;
- the range of products and services is so wide. I can target both B2B and B2C customers;
- the production process looks like I have to spend some time to master it. Yet, it is automated and shouldn't be rocket science;
- I don't need any special room for that, can use any garage or do it at home.

Of course, to succeed, I'd have to spend hours educating myself, finding customers, and growing the business. The key here would be great interest and consistency. The same applies to any startup though.

Your thoughts?

#devices #startups