Business Archives - Page 32 of 53

Panera Booth to PR Heavyweight: The Journey of Aaron Knipp and Cicospace

Market Daily Staff on May 25, 2023

A Bold Leap into Entrepreneurship

In 2021, Aaron Knipp, a partner at a successful wealth management firm, decided it was time for a change. At 28 years old, he left his established career, setting up camp in a booth at his local Panera Bakery. His vision was to revolutionize how keynote speakers enhance their digital presence. Two years later, in 2023, his company Cicospace has done just that, commanding a valuation nearing seven figures and proudly serving some of the most respected keynote speakers in the nation.

Blending PR Strategies for Success

Cicospace is recognized in the PR landscape for its unique blend of traditional PR methods and modern digital marketing strategies. They’ve reinvented how keynote speakers maintain their online presence, controlling their narrative through strategic media placements, insightful social media campaigns, and effective SEO work. The result is a bespoke service, allowing clients to stand out in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

From Wealth Management Partner to Entrepreneur

Aaron’s journey wasn’t your typical corporate-to-entrepreneurship transition. After leaving his high-level role, he made clever use of his resources, renting out his house and car to financially fuel his nascent venture. But the secret ingredient to Cicospace’s success wasn’t solely the financial acumen of its founder—it was a blend of resilience, ambition, and countless refills at Panera Bakery.

Panera: The Birthplace of a PR Powerhouse

“The birth of Cicospace, right there in the comfort of a Panera booth, was both a challenging and exhilarating chapter of my life,” Knipp shares. “Those early days instilled the core values of our company: creativity, resourcefulness, and the relentless pursuit of success.”

An Esteemed Entity in the PR Landscape

Today, Cicospace represents a roster of the most renowned keynote speakers in the country. And Panera Bakery’s role in this journey? Irreplaceable, according to Knipp. To him, Panera was more than a coffee shop—it was his first office, a startup incubator, and a wellspring of inspiration and determination. This speaks volumes about how revolutionary ideas can spring from the most ordinary places.

The Power of an Entrepreneurial Dream

Aaron’s story serves as an affirmation that extraordinary things can unfold over a cup of coffee at Panera Bakery. His journey reminds us that game-changing ideas don’t always originate from high-rise offices or extravagant boardrooms. Sometimes, a comfortable booth, an encouraging environment, and an entrepreneurial dream is all you need.

Join the Journey with Cicospace

For those aspiring to make their own mark, Aaron Knipp’s journey serves as an inspiring testament to what can be achieved when a bold vision meets unyielding determination. Cicospace now plays a pivotal role in shaping the narratives of top-tier keynote speakers, merging traditional PR techniques with innovative digital strategies to keep their clients at the forefront.

Interested in learning more about Aaron, Cicospace, and their groundbreaking work in the PR world? Visit their website or reach out directly. Who knows, your story could be the next one they help to shape. Remember, in the realm of PR and personal branding, every story has the potential to inspire and captivate.

Redefining the Vineyard: Monae’s Wines Journey to Empowerment

Market Daily Staff on May 23, 2023

Dr. Monique Simone Barr stands as a beacon of change in the traditionally male-dominated and European-centric wine industry. As the founder of Monae’s Wine, she has defied norms, shattering the proverbial glass ceiling to create a brand that personifies her passion and ambition.

At its core, Monae’s Wine is rooted in three key principles – authenticity, accessibility, and artisanal craft. It embodies the mission to create superior wine that upholds these values, living by the motto: “Wine made with passion: to Inspire, Cultivate, & Relax One’s Spirit!!”

The seed for Monae’s Wine was sown during Dr. Barr’s time at Cornell’s Wine Essentials classes. From there, she cultivated her skills and understanding of wine, blossoming into one of the nation’s few certified Black female winemakers with the launch of “Monae’s Wines”.

But Dr. Barr’s aspirations extend beyond just crafting fine wines. She seeks to be a trailblazer for the under-represented, especially Black females, in the wine industry. Her relentless determination and strength aim to bridge the diversity gap, making wine a more inclusive and representative sphere.

“To start a business as a Black woman takes gumption,” Dr. Barr conveys. Yet, she has risen to the challenge, propelled by her supportive husband and an unwavering community that has walked every step of the journey with her.

Being one of the few Black female wine collection owners, Dr. Barr stands at the vanguard, paving the way for future minority female entrepreneurs. Her ambition is to ignite a flame of inspiration for the next generation while cultivating generational wealth and community prosperity.

Dr. Barr is much more than an entrepreneur – she’s a change agent, a role model, and a symbol of defiance against the status quo. Each bottle of Monae’s Wine encapsulates not just a delightful wine experience but the spirit of empowerment and inclusivity.

Discover the captivating journey and unique flavors of Monae’s Wine by visiting their website, monaeswine.com, or connecting with them on Instagram at monaes_wine and Facebook at Nikki Murdock. With its commitment to diversity and quality, Monae’s Wine is set to transform the landscape of the winemaking industry.

5 Companies to Watch as Israel Boosts Support for Sustainable Foods

Market Daily Staff on May 23, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

Israel, a global leader in tech startups, is poised to strengthen its support for sustainable foods. Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced regulatory shifts aimed at approving cultured milk and expressed the government’s commitment to fostering this sector. Recognizing the importance of not just leading in research but also in production, Israel is on the verge of granting its first permit to a local company to produce alternative milk.

In a significant development, Prime Minister visited Steakholder Foods, a start-up specializing in cultured meat, where the company showcased a groundbreaking achievement—a 3D-printed cultured fish. During his visit, the PM highlighted the ongoing global revolution in food production, emphasizing Israel’s pivotal role in the alternative protein field.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said:

“Today we ate fish that was produced without fish and meat that was produced without cattle. This is a global revolution. Israel is a global leader in the field of alternative protein, and we will see to it that we continue to lead. Soon we will have new permits and new heights that will change the world.”

Israel’s move aligns with a growing trend seen in other countries. For example, Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, recently emphasized the importance of food tech in realizing a sustainable food supply. The country aims to foster a cultivated meat industry domestically and create a supportive environment, joining a rapidly expanding list of countries recognizing the potential of sustainable proteins.

Currently, Singapore is the only Asian country to have legalized lab-grown meat production and distribution, leading the way in this field. Being heavily reliant on food imports, Singapore aims to increase self-sufficiency in food by 30% by 2030. As a result, the country has aggressively invested in cultivated meat production, offering substantial growth potential for market participants.

Here are 5 companies to watch given these developments:

Remilk:

Remilk, an Israeli-based company, is revolutionizing the dairy industry by producing cultured milk and dairy products without cows. Founded in 2019, the company has emerged as a key player in the alternative dairy industry. The company employs yeast-based fermentation techniques to create milk proteins that are indistinguishable from those found in cow’s milk. By utilizing this fermentation process, Remilk significantly reduces land usage, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions typically associated with dairy production. Remilk’s products are lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and free from any hormones, ensuring a healthier choice for consumers concerned about their dietary intake. The company has achieved notable regulatory milestones. Earlier this year, Remilk obtained regulatory approval to sell its cow-free milk in Singapore, a testament to the safety and quality of its products. Furthermore, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a letter confirming the safety of Remilk’s animal-free whey protein for use in food products. This recognition opens up new avenues for Remilk, building upon its successful launch of protein sales in the United States last year.

Steakholder Foods:

Steakholder Foods is a groundbreaking food technology company focused on transforming the meat supply chain sustainably. The company specializes in producing high-quality real meat without the use of conventional livestock farming practices, reducing environmental impact. Utilizing advanced technology and natural flavors, Steakholder replicates the taste, texture, and nutrition of traditional meat while remaining free from cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics. Notably, strategic partnerships with entities like Umami Meats target the Asian market with 3D bio-printed seafood products. Singapore’s supportive stance on alternative meat production, along with its thriving $110 billion seafood and fish market, offers excellent expansion opportunities. Furthermore, Steakholder’s collaboration with Wilk Technologies Ltd. and other industry leaders demonstrates its commitment to strategic growth and exploring synergistic possibilities. Steakholder Foods (STKH), which is traded on the NASDAQ, provides an opportunity for everyday investors to participate in this growing market.

Wilk Technologies:

Wilk is a biotech and food tech company, founded in 2020, that specializes in cultured human and animal milk. The company has developed a groundbreaking hybrid yogurt using cell-cultured milk fat, a first-of-its-kind hybrid product in November 2022. This concept product has been validated by external laboratories and showcases Wilk’s ability to create functional milk components for a range of dairy products. The company’s research also focuses on developing human milk fat components for infant formula, offering improved nutrition for premature and at-risk infants. Wilk’s innovative approach represents a major milestone for the Israeli FoodTech industry and strengthens its position in the environmentally conscious dairy production market.

Aleph Farms:

Aleph Farms, in collaboration with Israeli food-tech incubator the Kitchen Hub and Technion Institute of Technology’s Shulamit Levenberg, is revolutionizing the cultivated meat industry by growing real beef steaks directly from cells. The company has adopted an “asset-light” strategy to scale up production through manufacturing deals in Israel and Singapore. With a memorandum of understanding signed with ESCO Aster, Aleph Farms plans to commence production in Singapore by 2025. Additionally, the acquisition of facilities and assets from VBL Therapeutics in Israel will enable increased meat production by late 2024. Aleph Farms aims to achieve cost parity with premium beef by 2028 while planning a small-scale launch of cultivated beef steaks in Israel and Singapore later this year.

Believer Meats:

Believer Meats, formerly known as Future Meat Technologies, is a cultivated meat company founded in 2018 with a vision to revolutionize global meat production. The company’s mission is to make real and delicious meat accessible and affordable for future generations. Through its cutting-edge cellular agriculture technology, developed by renowned biologists and bioengineers, and in collaboration with innovative chefs in Jerusalem, Believer Meats aims to create animal-free meat on a large scale. In December 2022, the company broke ground on its first U.S. commercial facility in Wilson, North Carolina. Once operational, this facility will be the world’s largest cultivated meat production center, with the capacity to produce over 10,000 metric tons of meat without the need for animal slaughter. This milestone represents a significant moment for the cultivated meat industry, allowing Believer Meats to meet the growing demand for years to come.

Israel and Japan’s increased investment in alternative protein and cultivated meat technologies highlight the global recognition of the sector’s potential. With advancements in technology, strategic partnerships, and regulatory approvals, the sustainable food industry is poised to meet the rising demand for ethical and environmentally conscious food choices.

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Oleksandr Semeniuk: Co-owner and CEO of Crystalia Glass, Harnessing the Power of Sunlight to Illuminate American Buildings

Market Daily Staff on May 22, 2023

Oleksandr Semeniuk, the founder and CEO of Crystalia Glass LLC, has a deep understanding of modern American architecture. It is the strict, clean lines, abundance of glass and metal that have inspired him to create unique designs, which have made the buildings of major cities in the United States, as well as Mexico and Canada, particularly attractive.

The innovative glass structures crafted by Oleksandr Semeniuk can be seen in prominent locations such as Madison Square Garden, the offices of companies like Banana Republic, Old Navy, Bank of America, SpaceX, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Yum Yum Donut Shops Inc., Starbucks, Nakatech, Nike, Vision Solar, The LaSalle Chicago, and Autograph Collection.

In addition to Crystalia Glass LLC, Oleksandr Semeniuk also owns CGLoft, a company specializing in the production of artistic steel doors and partitions with glass inserts that perfectly fit the aesthetics of loft-style architecture.

Based on numerous customer reviews, the glass and steel structures created by Oleksandr Semeniuk are highly functional and durable, as they are made from the highest quality materials. They not only preserve the originality of industrial buildings but also accentuate their elegance.

Who is Oleksandr Semeniuk?

Oleksandr Semeniuk is a 36-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Crystalia Glass LLC and CGLoft LLC. He was born and raised in Ukraine. At the age of 15, he began exploring business opportunities by collecting scrap metal, distributing flyers, washing cars, and working as a gardener after school.

While in school, he pursued swimming seriously but had to end his athletic career due to a shoulder injury. He then enrolled in one of the oldest and highly prestigious universities in Ukraine, the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University, which was founded in 1906. According to Oleksandr Semeniuk, it was there that he learned to analyze and manage financial resources.

This knowledge proved valuable as Oleksandr Semeniuk built his career in marketing and sales in Ukraine. In the United States, his determination and persistence eventually led him to establish his own companies in 2017. He personally oversees the development of new products and innovative projects in the field of architectural glazing.

While Crystalia Glass LLC, founded by Oleksandr Semeniuk, has its main office in New York, the ambitious businessman plans to open offices in Miami and Houston (Texas) by the end of 2023. He also aims to expand a wide network of dealerships in the United States and Canada.

Furthermore, Oleksandr Semeniuk intends to establish his own school, Crystalia Glass, to train specialists in glass constructions and develop Steel Partitions for streets in the United States.

Currently, Oleksandr Semeniuk’s showrooms in New York and California are open for visits during business hours. Satisfied clients, including the actress Ana de Armas, who played Paloma in the milestone James Bond film “No Time to Die,” speak highly of his work. If your dream involves glass space solutions, Oleksandr Semeniuk is the person to call, according to these grateful customers.

ExperityCPA: Your One-Stop Solution for Streamlining Your Back-Office Operations

Market Daily Staff on May 18, 2023

Running a business can be tough, especially when you’re juggling the many moving parts of your back-office operations. From accounting and taxes to compliance and payroll, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This is where ExperityCPA comes in, with a seamless and customized solution that ensures your back-office runs smoothly, giving you the freedom to focus on what matters most – growing your business.

The seasoned professionals at ExperityCPA boast a century’s worth of collective know-how in the fields of accounting, taxes, compliance, and payroll. Their invaluable expertise has empowered countless enterprises to evolve from humble beginnings to multinational entities, crossing geographical boundaries. Whether it’s navigating the trials of a budding startup or the complexities of an established corporation, the team at ExperityCPA has the experience and proficiency to guide you through every step of scaling your business to new heights.

As any successful business owner knows, it’s crucial to operate lean, which is why ExperityCPA has created a pricing structure that recognizes your need to only pay for what you really need at each stage of your business growth. This means that you won’t be overpaying for services you don’t require, and you’ll only pay for what you use.

ExperityCPA offers its clients a single point of contact for all their inquiries, accompanied by a strategic dashboard that enables them to track their business’s current status and future trajectory. As a one-stop-shop solution, ExperityCPA guarantees full coverage and tax compliance, as well as adequate insurance coverage and adherence to the latest labor regulations. By having a team of specialists anticipate future needs on their behalf, clients can enjoy the reassurance that their back-office operations are being actively managed.

ExperityCPA offers tax reduction strategies that help business owners maximize their tax savings. They provide various methods such as utilizing small business retirement plans, section 179 and bonus depreciation, the Augusta Rule, investing in real estate, shifting income, maximizing home-office deductions, and getting the most out of vehicle deductions. ExperityCPA is fully committed to implementing these strategies, ensuring that business owners are informed and don’t miss out on any opportunities to lower their tax liability.

Jonathan Bander, the founder of Rich and Bander LLP, is a driving force behind ExperityCPA. With the experience of more than 25 years in all aspects of corporate accounting and taxation, Jonathan has committed his entire career to public accounting. He has provided advisory services to numerous companies of different sizes and offered ongoing services to clients in private equity and family offices. In 2005, he established Rich and Bander LLP with the aim of providing clients with direct, dedicated, and personalized services. The firm, which boasts a team of over 50 professionals, has grown to serve more than a thousand clients.

ExperityCPA stands tall as a reliable ally for all your back-office needs. With a track record of success and a commitment to excellence, ExperityCPA has helped and earned the trust of over 1,000 businesses to achieve their goals. By collaborating with ExperityCPA, entrepreneurs can confidently rely on their expertise to streamline their business operations, freeing up their time and resources to invest in other crucial aspects of their company. Trustworthy, efficient, and effective – ExperityCPA is the go-to solution for businesses seeking growth and success.

How to clean up the planet from food waste: the opinion of business analyst Elizabeth Keshchian

Market Daily Staff on May 18, 2023

According to the UN report, Earth’s inhabitants discard over 900 million tons of food annually. For comparison, if this amount of food waste were filled in 40-ton trucks, it would result in 23 million trucks, which, if lined up, could encircle the planet 7 times. At the same time, 690 million people worldwide, according to the UN, are officially classified as hungry. Paradox? Yes. But why does it happen?

Elizabeth Keshchian, a business analyst with expertise in the food industry, believes that in developed countries, the growth of food waste is mainly due to the consumers’ incorrect attitude towards food products. In other words, people buy more food than they can consume.

“Psychologically, the fact of a half-empty refrigerator is depressing, so when people raid supermarkets, they buy more food than they actually need. Stuffing their shelves to the brim, they forget that during the workweek, the maximum they allow themselves at home is a breakfast consisting of a cup of coffee, a handful of cereal, or toast. And on Saturday, while throwing away spoiled products from the past seven days, they go shopping again,” says the expert.

According to Elizabeth Keshchian, this also applies to restaurants that serve food in enormous portions, much more than one person can handle. And in supermarkets and public eating establishments, storage conditions for food products are not always adhered to.

In addition, the specialist notes that since 2016, according to the food waste reduction plan adopted in the United States, the expert community has already developed a range of innovative solutions, some of which are truly ingenious.

Condensation Absorbing Sticker

This invention is a disposable insert that needs to be placed on the inner side of the lid of a food container. Thanks to its special composition, the sticker absorbs the condensation that forms, thus extending the shelf life of both fresh produce and prepared food.

Markers on Packaging

This solution suggests attaching labels with special safe inks to the inner side of transparent packaging lids or food containers. As the product deteriorates, at each stage, volatile compounds inside the packaging react with the inks, causing the color on the labels to change.

Fresh Stickers for Fruits

This innovation aims to significantly slow down the ripening process of fruits. The protective compounds infused in these fresh stickers create a “cocoon” around the fruit, which extends the product’s shelf life by almost three weeks while fully preserving its initial appearance and taste.

An innovative solution, particularly useful for people with poor eyesight. It is applied not only to packaging but also to bottle caps. While the product is fresh, the label surface remains smooth and pleasant to the touch. However, once the expiration date is reached, the label becomes rough and heavily textured.

Sachet Membrane

The shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be extended by up to 80% without the risk of microbial, fungal, or mold spore growth. The packaging consists of three layers—a permeable membrane, a protective layer, and a special infusion with active biological ingredients that stimulate fruits and vegetables to use their own (natural) immunity to protect against spoilage.

“The critical growth of food waste requires urgent actions and innovations. By implementing a multi-faceted approach that covers the entire food supply chain, from production to consumption, we can achieve significant success in reducing food waste. Through technological progress, consumer education, surplus redistribution, closed-loop economy practices, and collaborative efforts,” concludes Elizabeth Keshchian.

Serhii Kukunin: “In life, you need to strive to outdo not others, but yourself” (Maltbie Davenport Babcock)

Market Daily Staff on May 18, 2023

Serhii Kukunin is an internationally recognized IT expert in software development and a technical leader of large international IT projects. In his life, he has never chased success. Success just follows him closely. Everything he undertakes, he succeeds in and it leads to victories. The year 2022 was no exception when Serhii received an invitation to participate in the StartupBus championship. He liked the idea so much that he decided to take part in the competition.

This is about StartupBus – one of the most well-known technology startup competitions in the world that has been around for over 10 years. The competition has taken place on four continents, and its participants have included more than 1,800 entrepreneurs from various IT professions who have built amazing startups that have attracted around 1 billion dollars in venture capital. Notably, StartupBus has been sponsored by many large and small companies, including Microsoft, Andreessen Horowitz, Spotify, Facebook, New York Times, AT&T, SAP, and others.

StartupBus is an educational camp for entrepreneurs that involves software engineers, designers, managers, subject matter experts, and other professionals and innovators from across the country where the championship takes place. Previously unknown contestants form teams while traveling on a bus and develop well thought-out and coded technical presentations, competing against each other.

It was also the case at a competition held in Austin, Texas, USA. Four participants, including Serhii Kukunin, formed a team called Recruitly to create a platform for video interviews based on artificial intelligence. Spoiler alert: the expert jury of the competition recognized Recruitly’s work as the best among the most interesting and promising projects, and the team ultimately won the championship.

Each team had three days in total. Recruitly lucked out a bit with their idea. The source of inspiration for developing the AI-based video interview platform was a bus conductor who was riding with the team. The girl was a recruiter, so the guys set out to build a solution that solves her work problems.

Although all members of the team had technical backgrounds, it was Serhii who took on the technical implementation of the project. One team member prepared the pitch, slides, communicated with potential clients, and put forward ideas. Two more members were engineers and focused on artificial intelligence technologies. Serhii was the most experienced software developer, and therefore took on all the basic development of the application, including the main architecture, infrastructure, server-side, and part of the external interface development. In the competition, he was responsible for writing 80% of the code. And after the championship, he completed it entirely.

Thus, the victory in the StartupBus 2022 provided an opportunity to launch a potential startup in the field of personnel management. After the event, Serhii and another team member continued to work on the project, renaming Recruitly to eClare. Soon they plan to launch the first version, so to this day they are working on the project.

Returning to the competition, it is worth noting the colossal work of the professional jury. For many years, StartupBus has had many prominent names in technology from different countries around the world serve as judges. They were chosen for their contributions to startups, technical knowledge, and years of experience. We are confident that this year, as well, StartupBus will organize another spectacular event in the history of technology, aiming to arm a new generation of technology leaders and challenge the existing order. It is quite possible that at this championship, Serhii Kukunin will participate not as a contestant but as a full-fledged member of the jury.

Given his expertise and professionalism in software development, leading roles in launching and developing such massive startups as EasyHealth Inc., Spotlight Media Labs Inc., and Matic Insurance Services Inc., as well as experience judging well-known IT competitions like DevChallenge XVII and the European Digital Blockchain Hackathon “UtonHack,” the StartupBus 2023 competition will be able to add another well-known name in the IT technology field to its history – the name of Serhii Kukunin, which will increasingly resonate in the wider circles of American business each year.

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Sebastian Karnaby: A Visionary Real Estate Entrepreneur Making Waves in New York City

Market Daily Staff on May 17, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

Sebastian Karnaby has emerged as a shining example of the remarkable achievements that can be attained through unwavering determination, relentless hard work, and a profound understanding of the intricacies of the real estate market. His awe-inspiring journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring individuals seeking to leave their mark in the fiercely competitive realm of New York City real estate.

New York City, with its dynamic and ever-changing real estate market, demands a discerning eye to identify hidden opportunities amidst the perpetual flux. Sebastian’s resounding success in uncovering undervalued properties and accurately predicting market trends has catapulted him to millionaire status within a remarkably short span of time.

Sebastian’s approach to real estate investment extends beyond mere profit-making; it is rooted in the creation of value for both himself and the community. His passion lies in restoring historic buildings, breathing new life into them, and repurposing them for contemporary use. The result is a collection of spaces that not only enhance the city’s architectural landscape but also generate substantial returns.

Undoubtedly, one of Sebastian’s most notable milestones on his real estate journey was his appearance on the widely acclaimed reality show, “Million Dollar Listing,” aired on Bravo network in 2012. It was during this pivotal moment that he astutely acquired a townhouse on 16 Minnetta Ln for $2 million, and three years later, successfully sold it for a staggering $4 million, more than doubling his initial investment. This resounding triumph acted as a catalyst, propelling him to acquire numerous other properties across the city, further cementing his status as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

Sebastian’s expansive portfolio now encompasses a myriad of commercial and residential properties spread throughout the heart of Manhattan, positioning him as a towering figure in the New York City real estate landscape. His exceptional net worth, estimated at $55 million, stands as a testament to his unwavering investment acumen and indomitable business savvy.

While Sebastian undoubtedly possesses an innate talent for real estate, his success is not solely attributable to his prowess as an investor. He possesses an entrepreneurial spirit that enables him to meticulously calculate risks and transform them into highly lucrative endeavors.

For those yearning to follow in his footsteps, it is imperative to remember that success in the realm of real estate does not materialize overnight. It demands the passage of time, unwavering patience, and a fearless willingness to embrace calculated risks. Equally important is a profound understanding of the market landscape, coupled with a steadfast commitment to remaining abreast of current trends.

Sebastian’s journey serves as an undeniable testament to the immense potential that lies within the New York City real estate market. With the right approach, anyone can achieve remarkable success in this tantalizing industry. It is an arena that perpetually evolves, but armed with the right knowledge and a well-honed strategy, the possibilities for prosperity are boundless.

Enzo Day, CEO of SoClose is Pioneering Digital Entrepreneur on a Quest for Global Success

Market Daily Staff on May 16, 2023

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Enzo Day, an international serial entrepreneur, has always been driven by a passion for the digital world. From a young age, he found himself drawn to the endless possibilities that technology offered. Today, as the founder and CEO of SoClose, a leading digital factory company, Enzo is making his mark on the industry with his innovative ideas and unwavering dedication.

Born and raised in France, Enzo’s journey into entrepreneurship began at the age of 14 when he developed his first website called “Fiches Up.” This platform aimed to help French college students prepare for their exams and quickly gained popularity among gamers who appreciated its utility. As he pursued his education, Enzo also excelled in golf, competing at the national level in France.

At 18 years old, Enzo made a bold decision to forego a traditional academic path and fully dedicate himself to self-taught coding. This leap of faith allowed him to meet coding experts and expand his knowledge and skill set. By the time he turned 20, he had started developing websites for clients, honing his craft and gaining valuable experience along the way.

At the age of 22, Enzo embarked on his most ambitious endeavor yet—launching SoClose. The digital factory company set out to revolutionize the industry by developing its own comprehensive content management system (CMS). This CMS included various modules like CRM, project management, and accounting, offering clients a complete package for their digital needs.

However, SoClose’s vision extended beyond just software development. Enzo envisioned the company as a marketplace where individuals could come together to collaborate and create exciting projects. He believed in the power of peer learning and wanted to foster an environment where people could share their expertise and learn from one another.

The success of SoClose can be attributed not only to Enzo’s entrepreneurial spirit but also to the company’s core values. Peer learning, one of their foundational principles, embraces collaboration and an agile approach to learning. Enzo firmly believes that even the most complex skills can be mastered through collective effort.

Another core value that drives SoClose is the notion that life is art. Enzo encourages individuals to take charge of their lives and decide their own path. By nurturing creativity and innovation, So Close empowers people to transform their ideas into reality.

Enzo’s personal philosophy of “SoClose” emphasizes the importance of sharing closely with others. He envisions a future where So Close becomes not only a virtual community but also a physical space where individuals can come together and bring their visions to life.

Of course, Enzo’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Reflecting on his early days, he recalls a humorous yet enlightening mistake he made. In a major project, he entrusted a close friend whom he believed would make an ideal partner. However, he quickly learned that building a team requires more than just familiarity; it demands trust based on real experiences, especially during tough times.

Enzo, through SoClose, has proven to be a formidable player in the industry despite facing challenges and obstacles. His ability to create a collaborative environment and his commitment to excellence sets him apart from the competition. Enzo’s determination to succeed and his unwavering work ethic have been instrumental in establishing So Close as a great place to collaborate and develop exciting projects.

Looking ahead, Enzo plans to continue his journey of growth and innovation. So Close is currently developing its own CMS with several modules, aiming to transform it into a Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) platform. This strategic move will enable them to support their business development and expand their reach globally.

Dylan Taylor on America’s Future in Space

Market Daily Staff on May 16, 2023

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The next international space station will feature Hilton-designed interiors, a startup-conceived kitchen in space, and a science park named for George Washington Carver. Starlab, expected to become operational in 2027, represents a turning point in America’s future in space. This research institution, commercial platform, and tourism destination will help drive the NewSpace economy, which could be a $1 trillion enterprise by 2040.

Space entrepreneurs like Dylan Taylor are shaping that future now.

Taylor is the founder and CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, one of the many companies constructing the new off-Earth economy. Voyager Space partnered with Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin and Airbus to build Starlab, the first free-flying commercial space station. Taylor expects Starlab to help revolutionize space access just as commercial flight revolutionized access to Earth. He predicts that commercial spaceflight could transform education, science, tourism, and even the essential nature of human resilience.

Further, Taylor forecasts that space will reshape the American and global economy, funneling people, ideas, and investment into its unlimited expanse. In 2021, Taylor said, “Everyone’s in the space industry. They just don’t know it yet.” So far, everyone is proving him right.

Morgan Stanley and Citigroup project space to be a trillion-dollar industry by 2040, attributing the rise to continually lower launch costs, progressive expansion of the satellite market, and rapid development of new technologies and applications. Taylor, who credits Elon Musk’s Space X for delivering reusability to the market, sees those applications touching every corner of life in space and on Earth.

For instance, Starlab partner Nanoracks is working on a Zero-G Oven that can cook in space. Some of Voyager Space’s projects include laser communications devices, an orbiting greenhouse on Starlab, and visualization products that support ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) applications. Meanwhile, the Voyager Space-Hilton partnership marks a design plan for Starlab and the gateway to a future space hotel.

Taylor expects opportunities to expand further, particularly in the startup world that has become the space economy’s lifeblood. “Space has been hot for quite some time,” Taylor said. “For those of us in the industry, it’s been sort of a best-kept secret. … With inexpensive launch, a whole new era of business plans has opened up.”

But Dylan Taylor also wants the NewSpace economy to drive more than investment in the cosmos. He envisions space tech benefitting Earth as new satellites increase consumer broadband access and deliver applications to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. He believes space will change medical technology and generate new energy for STEM education, as the Apollo missions did in the 1960s and 1970s. He also anticipates that space exploration will revive America’s sense of wonder while bringing it to others globally for the first time.

Taylor calls this the “democratization of space.”

“Space is an investment opportunity but it’s also a fundamental tool for transformation,” he said. “If you look at how many people were inspired for STEM education from the Apollo program, the hope is, going back to the moon with Artemis and landing the first woman on the moon will have a similar impact on STEM education not only in the U.S. but around the world.”

As a citizen astronaut (he flew on Blue Origin’s NS-19 mission in 2021), Taylor said he experienced the profound combination of awe and humility that fewer than 600 people have known. Expanding that life-changing access is essential to the future of American and global space exploration, says Dylan Taylor.

Taylor pointed to Space4Women, AstroAccess, and Space for Humanity (the non-profit he founded) as organizations championing space for all. Spacy for humanity has sent two citizen astronauts, Sara Sabry and Kat Echazarreta, to space aboard Blue Origin missions. Taylor envisions many to follow.

“What inspires me is, I think space is transformational for humanity,” Taylor said. “I think it’s the next big thing. I think it allows us to imagine what humanity 2.0 could be.”