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BagelUp Growth Lab Returns as Business Incubator for Emerging Bagel Entrepreneurs, Launching a Year-Round Partner Program
Great bagels may start with flour, water, yeast and skill, but building a successful bagel business takes much more. On Saturday, November 14th, 2026, BagelUp (which produces New York BagelFest) will present the second annual BagelUp Growth Lab, a business incubator designed to help promising bagel entrepreneurs gain the knowledge, connections and industry resources needed to turn their bagel concepts into sustainable businesses. Taking place at Loft 39 the day before New York BagelFest at Citi
Digital Science Appoints Charlesworth as Strategic Sales Partner of Altmetric and Dimensions in China's Scholarly Publishing Sector
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2026) - Digital Science has appointed Charlesworth as its strategic sales partner of Altmetric and Dimensions in China's scholarly publishing sector. This collaboration aims to support the growing demand for research data and information across this rapidly developing market.China's local publishing industry has grown significantly in scale and maturity, with journal publishers actively strengthening their international position, investing in.
Hospital and pharmaceutical prices are smothering America’s businesses
Workers and employers are drowning in their health insurance premiums. The reason for that deluge: the health care industry’s high and inscrutable prices.
The Surprising AI-Driven Tailwinds For BPO Growth
The market is understandably focused on the headwinds that artificial intelligence creates for the services industry.
OPKO Health (OPK) Sharpens Its Focus, Is It Still A Bargain?
OPKO Health (OPK) has been drawing attention after recent trading moves around its US$1.56 share price, with investors weighing its mixed return profile over the past year against longer term performance trends. For context, OPKO Health’s recent pullback, with a 7 day share price return of down 4.29% and a 30 day share price return of down 4.88% from US$1.56, comes after a stronger 90 day share price return of 4.70% and year to date share price return of 22.83%. The 1 year total shareholder...
Taylor Farms and Mexico’s Health Ministry Now Make the Same Cyclospora Argument. The Produce Industry’s Own Association, FDA and CDC Rejected It in September. Here Is a Specific Request to Eight People Before the Industry Meets in Orlando.
I spent four hours Sunday morning taking the deposition of an expert retained by the defense in the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak of November 2024 – the one
Prick’s theatrical industrial punk is perfect for spooky season
If Trent Reznor studied musical theater instead of computer engineering NIN might have sounded like Prick.
Black Men, Mental Health and the Entertainment Industry
Black men, mental health and entertainment collide as Charlamagne Tha God and Lil Nas X open up about anxiety, trauma and bipolar disorder, while therapist Jahthaime Smith examines the pressures behind the public spotlight.
U.S. treasury secretary to speak at Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry dinner
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent will be one of the guest speakers during the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's annual dinner Monday.
Is Political Polling Broken?
Veteran pollster Stefan Hankin reveals the industry secrets that help explain why polls seem so unreliable.
Petra Eyes Potential Sale of Business Amid Financial Struggles
Petra Diamonds is considering selling its assets to secure enough funding to pay creditors as it struggles with the industry downturn.
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: (Slightly) faster charging and potentially fewer camera artifacts
While industry insiders are currently focused on the starting mass production of some Galaxy S27 series components like the Exynos 2700, leakers are sharing more details about battery and camera improvements that could matter to end users.
How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy
Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.
Why doesn’t high speed rail work in America?
American railroads were once the envy of the world and the engine of its industrial age. But that hasn’t been the case for more than half a century.
The Youth Sports Industry Has The Recipe For Athletic Success All Wrong
Roughly 70% of kids in the U.S. have quit sports by age 13.
Is Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) Still Undervalued As Its Stock Sits At $22.14?
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) recently caught investor attention after its latest trading session, with the share price closing at $22.14 even as recent month and past 3 months returns show declines. Zooming out, Elanco Animal Health has a 1-day share price return of 1.70% at $22.14, while the 30-day and 90-day share price returns are down 9.63% and 11.90%, which points to fading short-term momentum even as the 3-year total shareholder return of 131.59% signals a much stronger longer-run...
ACO Expansion Might Change The Case For Investing In agilon health Stock (AGL)
In late September 2026, agilon health reported that The Jackson Clinic and Springfield Clinic would expand their partnerships by joining agilon’s Senior Health Connect ACOs. This extends value-based care support to roughly 30,000 additional Traditional Medicare beneficiaries on top of existing Medicare Advantage panels. The moves deepen agilon health’s integration with large multi-specialty groups, tying more senior lives into full-risk accountable care models that rely heavily on the...
Be Sure To Check Out Winvia Entertainment Plc (LON:WVIA) Before It Goes Ex-Dividend
Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Winvia...
Meta dodging taxes with data sites
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta's artificial intelligence push is a tremendous success. "Our investments in AI are accelerating every major part of our core business," he has told investors. "Every sign that we're seeing in our own work and across the industry gives us confidence in this investment."
Is Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) A Bargain After The Fraud Lawsuit Claims?
Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) is back in focus after a proposed securities fraud class action accused the telehealth provider of misleading investors about data sharing practices and prescription billing workflows. Recent price action for Hims & Hers Health has been choppy, with the share price slipping about 1% over the past day and week, climbing 4.7% over the past month, yet falling 24.2% across 90 days. The 1-year total shareholder return is down 44.8%, despite a very large 3-year gain that...
A $28B hemp THC industry is fighting to save itself from a looming federal ban
America’s multibillion-dollar market for impairing hemp products faces potential elimination before the end of the year.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says he "did his best" to fight for a full disc release
Naoki Hamaguchi says he fought for a disc release of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, as the industry heads towards an all-digital future.
Federal Changes Will Put Hemp Industry Operators Out Of Business, Oregon Retailers And Suppliers Say
“The CBD products that people are expecting to be available to give to their dogs for arthritis or to give to their parents because they’re aging and have aches…they’re not going to have access to them anymore.” By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle Pet tinctures and topicals are the most popular products sold at Oregon […]
'I Did My Best' — Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Responds to Fans Asking for Full Disc Version
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Naoki Hamaguchi said he did his best to fight for a disc release as the industry heads toward a "future where physical media is essentially disc-less."
Seattle and San Francisco: Big tech, political backlash and the AI boom
In a live joint recording of the GeekWire and Blue City Blues podcasts, GeekWire's John Cook, historian Margaret O'Mara and journalist Jonathan Weber join Blue City Blues hosts David Hyde and Sandeep Kaushik to discuss the tech industry's tensions with Seattle and San Francisco, and what the AI boom means for the future of both cities.
AI Could Turn U.S. Media And Entertainment Into A $48 Billion Market
Scripts, storyboards, trailers, thumbnails, voiceovers and rough cuts are all becoming part of AI’s entertainment-industry résumé. A Research and Markets report projects the U.S. AI media and entertainment market will grow from $9.70 billion in 2025 to $47.95 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.43 per cent from 2026 through 2034. […]
$28B hemp THC industry fighting to save itself from looming federal ban
A government-funding bill last month delayed the effective date of a hemp THC ban to Dec. 11 to give Congress time to consider regulations.
A $28B hemp THC industry is fighting to save itself from a looming federal ban
America’s multibillion-dollar market for impairing hemp products faces potential elimination before the end of the year.
$28B hemp THC industry fights to save itself from looming federal ban
America’s multibillion-dollar market for impairing hemp products faces potential elimination before the end of the year
What happens when a brand story moves beyond advertising and into entertainment? Industry leaders explore the future of branded storytelling on OTT, from new formats and shoppable content to live…
Publisher’s Platform: Put Me Out of the Lettuce Business. Please.
The largest Cyclospora outbreak in American history is over, and the next crop is going in the ground. Washington dismantled the system that would have caught it, Congress wrote letters instead of holding a hearing, and the produce industry pointed at the water.
ABS-CBN News
The entertainment, creative, and lifestyle industry mourn the passing of Monchet Diokno Olives or more commonly known as the “Fanman.” Full story link in the comments section.
South Korean official says Trump announcement on Alaska LNG went ‘far beyond what was agreed’
The governor and Republican incumbents in competitive U.S. Senate and House races said they expect South Korea to ultimately invest $54 billion. Some industry observers cast doubt on that prospect.
Will Brazil Betting Ban Change Flutter Entertainment's (FLUT) Narrative
Flutter Entertainment reported that Don Liu resigned as Chief Legal Officer effective September 30, 2026, with Group Company Secretary Edward Traynor stepping in as interim Chief Legal Officer from October 1, 2026. Brazil's recent ban on online betting removes a previously important market opportunity for Flutter Entertainment, placing greater emphasis on execution in existing regulated regions and any remaining expansion plans. We will now look at how Flutter Entertainment's investment...
Small Business Administration Update on New Rules for Small Business Size Standards - Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer
By Brett W. Johnson, Carrie Schaffer, and Hannah Wolf1 Recently, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provided notice of a proposed rule, Small Business Size Standards, that would fundamentally restructure how the federal government defines a “small business.” The rule proposes new size standards for 338 industry groups and industries.2 On that same day, the […]
STC: Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow
What does the future of transportation mean for the Rio Grande Valley workforce? South Texas College President Ricardo Solis sees opportunities in logistics, international trade, and emerging technology. Through industry partnerships, STC is connecting workforce training with employers’ needs and preparing for electric trucks, automation, and artificial intelligence.
Irish Sea Moss Is Making Waves. The Science is Actually Pretty Murky.
Irish Sea moss supplements are all the rage with a billion-dollar industry that expects consumer demand to continue rising. While the superfood is packed with different nutrients, there is a high risk of ingesting heavy metals.
TRANCASA: A First Look at Electric Trucking
TRANCASA is preparing to test its first Tesla Semi, taking another step toward innovation in South Texas transportation. At the Pharr Truck Expo, Carlos Canales and his team showcased the company’s focus on technology and the future of cross-border logistics. How do you see electric trucks changing the industry?
European Leaders Mostly Optimistic About Paramount-WB's Future
European industry leaders are cautiously optimistic now that Paramount is about to complete its takeover of Warner Bros., but there are many unknowns.
Scientists Thought Mars’s North Polar Ice Was 25% Dust. They Were Way Off
Previous research pointed to copious amounts of dust atop the arctic Martian wasteland, but a clearer picture is coming into focus.
2026 HFA European Congress Spotlights New Industry Research
Health & Fitness Association submitted comments to the Office of the US Trade Representative on two trade policy dockets that could have significant implications for exercise equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and fitness facility operators.
Mars’ North Polar Ice Is Much Cleaner Than Scientists Thought
Beneath the dusty surface of Mars’ north pole, scientists have uncovered surprisingly clean layers of ice that may preserve a hidden record of the planet’s dramatic climate history. Earth maintains a relatively steady posture in space thanks to the gravitational anchor of a massive moon. Mars lacks that stability. Tugged only by two tiny moons,
Solo law firm owner shares advice on running your own business
It offers general legal services but also has niches in representing other attorneys as well as designers, artists and publishers in the board gaming industry.
Experience Intelligence: 3 Insights on Measuring Business Impact
A new methodology is helping brands like IBM design for what matters most. When an industry standard doesn’t exist, create one. It’s the mentality of a
Detroit to host inaugural leadership academy for museum executives amid industry upheaval
Some 40 leaders from across North America will gather to address increasingly complex demands.
Paris fashion defies a bruised luxury industry with J.Lo, golden glamour and skimpy outfits
Saint Laurent dazzles with a river of gold at Paris Fashion Week, featuring a glossy black runway and a shimmering Eiffel Tower in the background | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM
Beyond AXS Opens Doors to Music and Live Entertainment for Denver Youth
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / October 2, 2026 / For young people interested in music and live entertainment, understanding where their creativity can take them often begins with access: to artists, industry professionals, creative tools and the spaces where live experiences come to life. 's, AXS, a trusted leader in advanced ticketing and live event technology, is helping create those connections in Denver through Beyond AXS, a new community initiative.
Parker-Hannifin Benefits From Business Strength Amid Headwinds
PH's aerospace and industrial growth, acquisitions and portfolio shift support momentum as rising costs and debt weigh on results.
Susan Collins turning mundane part of job into a reelection pitch
Susan Collins is relentless in promoting money she's steered to Maine — for community colleges and hospital expansions or hyperlocal examples like a program to control the spruce budworm, a threat to the state's forests and timber industry.
Where every US governor stands on AI and data centers
Some governors see their states as the next powerhouse for the growing AI industry. Others are exploring a "kill switch" for rogue AI.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) Shifts To Hong Kong In Global Index Tracking
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) was added to the FTSE All-World Index through its SEHK listing while its NYSE line was removed. The index action shifts Tencent Music Entertainment Group’s inclusion from the US listing to its Hong Kong traded shares for benchmark purposes. This FTSE All-World rotation from NYSE to SEHK for Tencent Music Entertainment Group is one factor to weigh against the rest of our work. Check out 3 other big wins that Tencent Music Entertainment Group...
Venus' mysterious haze is actually cosmic dust
A physical model show that iron dust and sulfuric acid create the right properties.
Iowa employers report stability in ABI quarterly survey
Iowa employers reported stable financial health and a neutral outlook on the economy for the fourth quarter in the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s latest quarterly business survey. ABI surveys its board of directors each quarter to track business sentiment, identify common concerns and inform advocacy and programming priorities. Key survey findings include: Employers…
NASA SmallSats Launch to Advance Science, Technology, Orbital Operations
Three NASA-supported small spacecraft launched at 11:22 a.m. PDT Thursday to demonstrate new propulsion technologies, study how galactic dust and high-energy radiation move through galaxies, and advance capabilities for inspecting inactive satellites.
Victor Wembanyama takes strong stand against promoting sports betting
San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has spoken out about a number of cultural issues. His latest was about the sports gambling industry.
Erik Bright Joins PMK Entertainment in Executive VP Role
"Erik brings an exceptional combination of creative vision, deep industry relationships and strategic communications expertise to PMK," said company CEO Cindi Berger.
Henrico Business Watch: Business license filings Sept. 24-30, 2026
Henrico County reported the following business license filings with start dates during the week. The filings are listed alphabetically by business or trade name, followed by a registered address and business industry classification. Better Health Psychiatry PLLC, 8206 Reinland Drive, Henrico – Nurse and personal care. C Squared Creations LLC, 5407
Can VR glasses save VR?
These aren’t the glasses the industry promised. They might be even better.
Science on Repeat, Peat, Peat
Scientists and Knowledge Keepers, industries, and communities are all seeking answers—and finding even more questions—buried in carbon-rich wetlands.
90% of Life Sciences Manufacturers Say Digital Transformation Is Now Business-Critical, According to New Rockwell Automation Report
/PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, today released "The New Operating...
90% of Life Sciences Manufacturers Say Digital Transformation Is Now Business-Critical, According to New Rockwell Automation Report
/PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, today released "The New Operating...
Innovative Industrial Properties Commits $245 Million to Cambridge Life Science Campus
Innovative Industrial Properties has committed $245 million in mezzanine financing for Alewife Park, a 27-acre life science campus in Cambridge,... Read More
The Journalism, Publicity, and PR Masterclass Shines A New Light On Careers In the Entertainment Industry
Nafissatou Yattassaye
Corgi launches sports and entertainment platform Golden
Corgi Insurance has launched a dedicated sports and entertainment platform providing coverage for organisations, events, facilities and businesses that power the sports industry, the insurtech announced on Wednesday.
Bono Said Ed Sheeran Wanted to Avoid Politics While Working on U2 Collab
Bono avoided weighing in on the Ed Sheeran-Macklemore dust-up, noting Sheeran told U2 he preferred to avoid politics on their "Yours Eternally" collab.
Xtalks Announces its Life Science Webinar Calendar for October 2026
Stay on top of current hot topics through free webinars presented by leading experts in the pharma, biotech, medical device and food industries. Access to all webinars is free, so be sure to register today to save your place! Participate in the discussion and stay relevant in your field!
Xtalks Announces its Life Science Webinar Calendar for October 2026
/PRNewswire/ -- Stay on top of current hot topics through free webinars presented by leading experts in the pharma, biotech, medical device and food industries....
Could Mavs Rookie Force His Way Into Dusty May's Rotation?
The Athletic believes Sergio de Larrea could crack Dallas' rotation immediately and become one of the NBA's most entertaining rookies.
Rice experts available to discuss human spaceflight, safety and space policy
Leveraging Rice’s deep ties to U.S. space exploration, faculty can analyze the technical, political and physiological implications of recent developments across the space industry.
ISU leader: Regions need an AI plan
It’s a good idea for regions to develop an AI plan, as the disruptive technology is changing the local economy and how businesses operate, said Mike Howard, director of the Iowa State University Murray G. Bacon Center for AI Ethics in Business. “It’s really hitting pretty much every industry that you can imagine,” Howard said.…
Sports industry salutes 16th class of SBJ’s Game Changers
SBJ honors the 16th class of Game Changers: Women in Sports Business, celebrating 60 leaders in New York City.
Scientists, Regulators and Industry Convene at PCPC’s 2026 Science Symposium
This annual event offers two days of presentations from experts in their fields, coupled with insight from US regulatory bodies like the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
I went to America’s largest gathering of astrologers. It was a battle over how to read the stars
Now a $15bn industry, astrology is more mainstream in the US than ever. But its practitioners are still debating: who gets to have authority on the celestial bodies?
Talarico Talks Personal History, Policy at U.S. Hispanic Business Council Event
The Democratic U.S. Senate discussed the oil and gas industry, healthcare, and rural Texas.
Man killed in shooting at southeast Atlanta business
A 26-year-old man died after a shooting at a food services business on Zip Industrial Boulevard.
What The PENN Entertainment Bears Got Right, And Where It Is Playing Out Again
If you backed PENN Entertainment on the promise of ESPN integration and riverboat-to-land projects transforming the business, the ride since last autumn has been rough. For PENN Entertainment shareholders, the loss over the past year was 23.5%, including dividends. If you were weighing a purchase in late September 2025, with analysts split between upbeat ESPN-led growth and caution over regulation, debt and weak Interactive economics, which of those specific assumptions most clearly missed...
‘Mega-Industrial’ Trawlers Threaten Europe’s Ocean Health
Europe’s floating factories make up just one percent of the fleet but catch more than half the fish—and they cause the majority of environmental damage.
Gunvor publicly condemned Russia’s war but continued to do business with Russian energy firms, records show
Even as the trading giant publicly claimed to be winding down its Russia business, Gunvor privately acknowledged the deals to its bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, saying they complied with sanctions laws.
2026 Trademark Cases Impacting The Entertainment Industry
This article summarizes 2026 trademark cases that impact the entertainment industry.
September Monthly Review: Health MCP Guy?
For all the time I spend talking about APIs and data exchange, this newsletter has had embarrassingly little interoperability of its own. It’s old-school SaaS, baby - UI or bust. Not all of that is my fault! Substack, for all its popularity, is (as mentioned before) really frustrating as my system of record. The primary user it optimizes towards is the reader, whose attention feeds the app, the Notes feed, and the recommendation network that Substack is actually selling. Health API Guy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe They’re falling into the same trap that Medium once sprinted into, albeit at a much more glacial speed. Younger generations may not remember (or never knew) it, but Medium once lured publications like The Ringer and Signal v. Noise onto its platform, only to lose them as it rebuilt itself around a paywall and an algorithmic feed. Substack’s original pitch circa 2020 was the antidote (you own your list), but every new feed feature chips away at it. I get it: writers are generic supply in the eyes of the Substack product team. Generic supply follows demand, so the consistent pressure on the PMs is to generate demand, which leads to every product cycle going toward discovery (Notes, recommendations, the app, live video). The end result lackluster author tools (laggy and broken analytics are truly crippling) all despite the premium price point. The archive is where it crosses from authorial gripes to actual reader impact, though. Across Substack and LinkedIn, I’ve published 1,218 posts and nearly 900,000 words since 2018. Substack’s native search can see only the 464 posts that live on Substack, and even there it’s woefully inadequate at surfacing relevant content (even for the guy who wrote it)! Readers have the same problem, writ large. Ask the Archive Fixing search (for both my readers and my own use) turned out to be extremely non-trivial, unfortunately: There’s no public API for readers to access content RSS exists for new content notification, but it only carries the 20 most recent posts and cuts paid ones off at the preview The only Substack MCP is an admin tool for analytics The export exists for authors, but it’s painfully awkward and slow. So I built something to work around that: the Health API Guy MCP. It’s a private MCP server holding the full text of everything I’ve written across Substack and LinkedIn. Add it to Claude or ChatGPT as a connector and you can ask things like: It pairs keyword search (for acronyms and case names, of which we have many) with semantic search. Every post is also labeled by topic, form, and court case, so you can pull a lawsuit’s (or multiple cases’) entire docket across Substack and LinkedIn in one query: Hail, Healthapiguyhydra This is also a bit of me eating my own cooking. I’ve spent the year arguing that headless healthcare is arriving and that developers want primitives over abstractions. Last week in Hail, Benihydra, I watched Salesforce plug its platform into Claude and bet that the records underneath outlive whatever interface sits on top: Salesforce must believe that the Hydra’s immortal head is the records, permissions, and business logic (in that they will survive whatever happens to the interface). It felt a bit hypocritical to keep my own archive behind a Substack search bar. The archive is the body. Substack is one head, and now whatever tool you might use is another. Will the EHRs follow my lead? Probably not imminently, but one can hope! Why Founding Members Only The MCP is available to Founding Member subscribers. A few reasons: It costs money and time to run. Hosting, the database, Clerk usage and AI compute for search and labeling are significant operational costs (that increase with usage). Substack gives me no way to automate access. There’s no API to check whether someone is a paid subscriber, so every user is manual operations for now. It’s a beta. We’ll need to improve things and parts will break. I’d rather they break for a small group of dedicated readers who will tell me about it. The Founding tier deserved a real benefit. Until now it was mostly a generous tip. Now it comes with something. If you’re already a Founding Member, reply to this email with the address you’d like provisioned. If you’re not and want in, upgrade here. Larger teams (such as companies) can get access too: group subscriptions at the Founding tier come with the group discount. The admin for the subscription can reply with the list of addresses to provision. Get 20% off a group subscription Pricing Founding membership is now a flat $200 a year, replacing the old suggested $150 that readers could adjust. Existing Founding Members will have access grandfathered in at their previous rate. Month in Review Articles Published Make Networks Dumb Again (Sep 11): AI is making old analog networks cheaper to use and flooding them with machine traffic in the process. A plea for agent-native rails with the intelligence at the endpoints, and for Washington to drag them to ubiquity. Interoperability, Unbuttoned (Sep 29): Interoperability is a series of workflows in a trenchcoat, and this post finally takes the trenchcoat off. A color-coded map shows which provider workflows went digital, which are fragmented, and which still run on fax. Video Content Antitrust’s System of Record Problem (Sep 3): The FTC’s investigation into Epic prompted a ninety-minute webinar, now posted with chapters and a smoothed transcript. We get into why market definition, missing B2B share data, and the SSNIP test leave antitrust poorly suited to systems of record, plus why information blocking may be doing more than any pending lawsuit. The Information Exchange: Cerner Milking Edition (Sep 18): This was so fucking fun. Ryan Tucker, Ryan Brickner, Brad Thorson, and I try an Around the Horn format, complete with points, penalties, and a mute button. We debate whether Oracle Health is dead, who would actually buy Cerner (IBM enters the chat), p(Doom), and why the front desk still hands you a clipboard. Regulatory Ask Not What Your Network Can Do (Sep 23): CDC’s RFI on public health data intermediaries lists use cases already served, unevenly, by eCR, lab reporting, IZ Gateway, and syndromic surveillance. The real opportunity sits in one question about AI: a network that can handle the next emergency without another interface project. Court cases Particle v. Epic: The Naughty Schoolteacher (Sep 4): After a summer-long vigil, the answer on Epic’s early summary judgment bid is two paragraphs and a remedial assignment. Particle advances to the next grade, and market definition gets another year of discovery. The Epic Discovery Files (Sep 8): Texas’s motions to compel arrive with a 251-page appendix of requests, objections, and meet-and-confer letters with Cravath. Inside: Epic using generative AI for document review, denied interoperability requests in scope, and Noerr-Pennington raised against lobbying discovery. Epic v. Health Gorilla: “Working as Designed” (Sep 9): Epic wants nothing to do with the data breach MDL, and explaining why puts fresh discovery on the public docket. The spiciest allegation: Health Gorilla told GuardDog to scrub its law firm business from its website instead of cutting off access. Veeva v. Epic: Legal Bypass Surgery (Sep 15): Veeva asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to skip the Court of Appeals, while law professors and three policy groups line up as amici. Meanwhile, Epic’s lawyers apologize for another round of citation errors, including a quote that never existed. Texas v. Epic: Behind the Black Bars (Sep 17): The court portal served up Epic’s unredacted filings, revealing a $5 million document review budget and the AI workflow behind it. Also inside: the 200-plus company names Texas wants searched, and one very expensive Zoom invitation. OpenEvidence v. Doximity: Consequences Will Follow (Sep 25): OpenEvidence tells the court it will not comply with a discovery order, and its own lawyers at Quinn Emanuel say they won’t defend the choice. Add years of Slack reported unrecoverable, and Rule 37 sanctions come into view. Health Tech Keeps Choosing Violence (Sep 28): Doximity moves to end OpenEvidence’s case, Epic asks Texas to show its work, and a sleepy Audacious Inquiry patent fight sprouts antitrust and information blocking counterclaims. The main event is a long-sealed Cognizant v. Infosys ruling that hints where system of record antitrust claims can survive. EHRs One Verb for Oracle Health (Sep 14): Oracle’s earnings call quantifies every data center to the decimal point, while Oracle Health gets a single verb: “accelerate.” Panning the few healthcare mentions turns up an agentic care management system, a research-to-care ledger play, and the question of whether healthcare gets Larry’s patience. Epic’s Forretress Under Siege (Sep 30): Judy Faulkner tells a panel Epic paused hundreds of projects to harden its software and calls it a “shame,” while a spokesperson insists the roadmap hasn’t changed. Project Glasswing, a Pokémon-branded QAN sprint, and a trove of Jodel grievances reconcile the two Epics and preview the Jevons paradox coming for all software. Industry Analysis Scanning for a Network (Sep 1): Scan.com raises $220M to build the imaging network labs never got, speedrunning Zocdoc’s consumer-to-B2B pivot. Its wedge to network density may be the most American one available: personal injury litigation. The Front Desk Wants the Damn Whole Building (Sep 16): Hello Patient buys Converse Health, pushing its AI front desk into referrals, chart work, and prior auth. The copilot categories keep blurring, and your distribution partner is still your final boss. Cross-industry Comparisons A Different Patchwork Quilt (Sep 10): Healthcare loves to envy open banking, but the US version has no mandate, a toll booth at Chase, and data quality problems of its own. The grass isn’t greener; it’s another American patchwork quilt, and perhaps a worse one. Hail, Benihydra (Sep 21): Salesforce brings its platform into Claude, Slack, and its own agent, inviting the interfaces that might replace it. Cut off one head and more grow back, so long as the records underneath stay put. Living on A Trade Secret Prayer (Sep 22): Six credit unions are suing Fiserv, the Epic of core banking, by claiming their own member records as trade secrets. Banking has no Cures Act, so its lawyers reach for legal alchemy that healthcare has already tried. Other News None this month External Media Nabla Accelerate NYC: I kicked off fall conference season at Nabla’s Accelerate event in New York, where Delphine Groll opened by asking the room to picture the company it wants to become and the one it doesn’t. I liked her framework of bureaucracy, fear, and ego as the blockers. I also love vendor conferences/events in general - different vibe than industry biggies. Healthcare 101 with Nikhil Krishnan: I briefly guest lectured Out-Of-Pocket’s Healthcare 101 class. Appreciated Nikhil’s takeaways cover whether AI doctors can query HIEs, why healthcare’s data-liberation rules beat most industries’, and the hi-res graphic is in the comments. HCN: Epic Probed by the FTC: I joined the HCN guys to talk through the FTC’s investigation into Epic. Cedric’s new hairdo was an unexpected plot twist. The episode also covers MFN drug pricing, healthcare M&A and Eli Lilly’s acquisition streak. Fall Conferences: At eHealth Exchange’s Annual Meeting in Austin on Oct 27, I’ll moderate a panel on the tensions between AI, HIEs, and timely patient access with Jean Ross (Primary Record), Therasa Bell (Kno2), Byron Crowe (Doctronic), and Michael Marchant (Freenome). Here’s the rest of my schedule if you want to meet up: CommonWell (Redwood Shores, CA): Oct 13-14 Will be participating in a fun Jeopardy event Open@Epic (Madison, WI): Oct 20-23 Will be enjoying Verona, Willy Street, and other local adventures eHealth Exchange and Sequoia Project (Austin, TX): Oct 27-29 Yeehaw HLTH (Vegas): Nov 15-18 Groundhog Day, Venetian Edition RSNA (Chicago): Nov 30-Dec 2 See me at “Governing AI in Breast Imaging: What Health Systems Are Actually Doing” Digital Health Counsel 2026 AI Summit (Seattle): December 2-3 Will likely be speaking to a bunch of lawyers about information blocking Posts I Liked ChatGPT’s Epic integration: game changer or nothing burger?: Joshua Liu, MD offers five thoughts on OpenAI’s Epic launch, starting from the point that it rides the same open APIs available to anyone. He argues read-only access leaves ordering to Art and the ambient startups, and asks why HCA is piloting it alongside Commure. He’s sorta a must-follow at this point - consistently excellent, thought-provoking takes. Epic, Lilly, and the Discovery pass: Seth Chaney reads Epic’s first major Discovery deal (with Eli Lilly), as well as its revised developer terms on commercial displays, as the pipe finally opening between EHRs and pharma. Life sciences and health continue to collide. Scott Rossignol on EHR payer platforms and ePA fees: Scott argues the top ambulatory EHR vendors are turning the prior auth mandate into a per-member-per-year toll on payers, for an API whose operating cost has nothing to do with covered lives. His fix is two lines of regulatory text: put the CRD/DTR/PAS certification criteria in the Base EHR definition, and bring payer-facing ePA connectivity under § 170.404’s cost-based fee rules. It’s a good solution. Health API Guy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
AAPS PharmSci 360 Offers Fresh Insights for Industry Scientists
Drug Discovery and Development covers strategies and technologies related to pharmaceutical research and development and drug formulation.
Banijay Entertainment’s Scripted Secret: Find the Talent, Then Back the Ideas
With 170 labels across 25 territories, Banijay Entertainment has plenty of scale. But at Iberseries & Platino Industria, Steve Matthews, head of scripted, creative, made clear that the company’s globa...
Business sentiment surges in Germany's electrical industry
Business sentiment in Germany's electrical industry has surged to its highest level in years, the Munich-based ifo Institute said on Thursday. The sector's business climate index rose by 8.
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Disney, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, People and Reservoir Media
For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – October 1, 2026 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Disney DIS, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. MSGE, People Inc. PPLI and Reservoir Media RSVR.Industry: Media ConglomeratesLink: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2998250/4-media-stocks-that-are-worth…
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Disney, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, People and Reservoir Media
DIS, MSGE, PPLI and RSVR pursue content and technology strategies as media faces cord-cutting and weaker broadcast TV demand.
Business center opening in spring | Nassau County Record, Callahan, Florida
Britney Fletcher West NCR Reporter A new industrial development along U.S. 1 will focus on small business and is expected to open in spring 2027. The Callahan Business Center, being developed by Doors and Spaces Industrial and Jacksonville-based Valentino Properties, will include 15 small-bay industrial spaces designed to accommodate businesses that have outgrown homes, garages, storage units or other smaller workspaces.
What You Can Learn From WEBTOON Entertainment's 39% Drop
WEBTOON Entertainment’s Q1 2026 report looked mixed on the surface, with revenue slightly weaker than expected but earnings per share comfortably ahead of forecasts. Investors who held WEBTOON Entertainment over the past year are down 39.3%, including dividends. If you had invested just after analysts set out sharply different fair values and earnings paths in late 2025, how should you now interpret that decline in light of WEBTOON’s push into Disney-backed content, AI tools, and a growing IP...
GFCB to invite John Taft for business lecture series
The Gordon Ford College of Business will welcome a vice chairman for financial services firm Baird to the Experiencing Business Speaker Series. John Taft will share career insights on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in Chandler Hall’s Houchens Industries Auditorium, Room 1001. Taft’s 40 years of experience in the finance industry include serving as CEO for...
Working Ports | Episode 5: Charting the Course - Connecting the Port, Business and Opportunity
Galveston's port does more than move ships, cargo and passengers. Its economic impact reaches into businesses, infrastructure, jobs and industries throughout the community.
Business and Industry Association Ranks Lawmakers for the 2026 Session; Political Winds Shifting
The Business and Industry Association's annual legislative report and legislative rankings is an indication of how much the political landscape has changed in Concord.
Business and Industry Association Ranks Lawmakers for the 2026 Session; Political Winds Shifting
The Business and Industry Association's annual legislative report and legislative rankings is an indication of how much the political landscape has changed in Concord.
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Disney, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, People and Reservoir Media
DIS, MSGE, PPLI and RSVR pursue content and technology strategies as media faces cord-cutting and weaker broadcast TV demand.
West Branch FFA members attend Farm Science Review
BELOIT — On Sept. 23, members of the West Branch FFA Chapter traveled to London, Ohio, to attend the 2026 Farm Science Review. Students, along with their FFA advisors, spent the day exploring exhibits and learning more about the many different parts of the agriculture industry. Throughout the day, members had the opportunity to see […]
Looking at the Ugly Side of the Paramount-Skydance Merger...And How I’d Fix It
A Message from Our Sponsor Certified Fresh with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, FX’s Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Don’t sleep on “The Sitcom of the Moment” - Awards Buzz All Episodes now streaming on Hulu on Disney+. Watch The Teaser Trailer... (Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industr(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Before we dive in, I wanted to congratulate Broadcast Now for being the first to report that Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast has been cancelled. (I saw this in a write-up by Kasey Moore of Whats-On-Netflix.) More importantly, I wanted to note that, as of yesterday, none of the other trades had reported the news yet. I have half a guess that eventually one of them will report this. Anyways, it’s time to take a break from my deluge of streaming ratings reports to continue my analysis of the Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery (PSWbD) saga. As I noted last week, a lot of times when folks use the (sometimes cliched) “the good, the bad and the ugly” framing for an article, “the ugly” section is just more bad. Or very, very bad. In this case, yeah, I do think it’s ugly. In more than one way. Unfortunately, we’re only going to have time to tackle one of those ways today: the ugly pile of debt to finance this deal. (In a future article, I may cover the entire process for how it went down, which was very, very ugly.) Last issue, I explained why I liked this deal in a vacuum. Unfortunately, “vacuums” don’t exist outside of space. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - The Ugliness of the Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger More than one person sent me a note speculating that the big problem with Paramount Skydance buying Warner Bros. Discovery is the “Warner Bros.” portion of the deal. In fact, that’s a take I read a lot about Warner Bros., ever since they caught Netflix’s, and then Paramount-Skydance’s, eye. In short, multiple companies (Time, AOL, AT&T, Discovery) have bought and then regretted buying Warner Bros. Since it’s nearing Halloween, you could almost say it’s like the folks think WB is cursed! It’s a haunted studio—like the town of Derry in movie studio form—and whoever takes possession of it will fall into misery! Yet...I just don’t like that story, because it doesn’t explain the “why” behind why those deals fell through. Especially when Warner Bros. has continued to succeed as a TV and film studio in the intervening two decades. Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter? Game of Thrones? Everything HBO? Considering it never fully owned a broadcast TV channel, this media company has done pretty well. So what went wrong? Well, in recent years, companies bought Warner Bros. instead of the other, smarter option. Explaining POCD (And Applying It to Mergers & Acquisitions) As I explained last issue, one of my favorite frameworks is the POCD tool for evaluating venture capital investments: People Opportunity Context Deal The bar to invest as a VC is high. (Or I might say “was” since cheap interest rates made life easier last decade.) You review a thousand prospectuses, get pitched by a hundred, and invest in the ten best, with the hopes that one of those ten would pay for the rest. That means every element of a deal needed to pay off: you needed the right people running the companies, who could capitalize on the right opportunity, in the context of an industry that was ripe for disruption. If you could then not overpay, you could make some money in a smart deal. The analogy isn’t perfect here, but close enough. For a merger or acquisition to work, you need the combined company (which is the opportunity) to make more than the price you need to pay (which is the deal). Note: the people and context still matter, but with M&A, it’s a little more straightforward: does the opportunity exceed the cost? And usually with Warner Bros., it hasn’t. If you want to find out the single biggest mistake made by the Warner Bros. suitors over the last few years (and my simple fix) become a paid subscriber. I’ll also touch on who I think Paramount-Skydance could (shockingly) consider buying next, TBD, and more. Sign up here.
Help Overlap Zoo Reveal Cosmic Dust
Galaxies, vast collections of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity, are scattered across the immensity of space. But every so often, a
Over 85 Percent Of Japanese Game Developers Are Using AI
A survey by a Japanese industry body suggests developers primarily use it for debugging, but that its usage extends to in-game assets as well
Private equity firm buys Chesterfield industrial campus for $108M
A Boston real estate private equity firm bought a five-building industrial campus in Chesterfield County for $108 million.
Seyfarth Brings On Glaser Weil RE, Entertainment Pro In LA
Seyfarth Shaw LLP has added an attorney specializing in the intersection of real estate and the entertainment industry to its downtown Los Angeles office from Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro LLP.
LA County will begin mailing ballots to registered voters Thursday
Ballots may be returned in one of three ways
Sandhills Community College Small Business Center expands to Moore and Hoke Counties
Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. Photo provided by: SCCSandhills Community College (SCC) is launching a redesigned Small Business Center model that expands no-cost entrepreneurial support across Moore and Hoke Counties. Rooted in the College’s commitment to strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth, the enhanced model is led by recently appointed Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. The model also includes two new Senior Business Advisors who will provide trusted expertise, stronger community connections, and individualized guidance to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the region.Kinsman brings a unique perspective to the director’s role as both a local business owner, operating in downtown Southern Pines, and a former Moore County educator. “Her combination of education, business ownership, leadership, and community involvement make her a great fit for the Small Business Center and the work we are continuing to build across Moore and Hoke counties,” said Taylor L. McCaskill, senior director of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships in a press release.Kinsman is an active member of the Southern Pines Business Association and has been connected to the Sandhills Small Business Center since the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. She looks forward to building on that experience by strengthening the Center’s partnerships and expanding its connections throughout the community.She will lead the Center's efforts to support entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Moore and Hoke County and be the connector to the North Carolina Community College System Small Business Center Network operations. The Center offers no-cost, confidential one-on-one counseling, practical workshops, and connections to the resources and partners that help local businesses start, grow, and create jobs.A key part of this new approach, only offered at SCC, is a network of Senior Business Advisors, experienced professionals who will provide individualized guidance in areas such as business planning, finance, marketing, operations, growth strategy, and problem-solving. These advisors will serve as trusted partners to entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them turn ideas into action, overcome barriers, strengthen existing businesses, and pursue new opportunities. This one-on-one counseling is available at no cost, ensuring that high-quality business support is accessible to entrepreneurs at every stage.Senior Business Advisor for Hoke County, Kenna Parks. Photo provided by: SCCKenna Parks has been named the senior business advisor for Hoke County. She is a business professional, entrepreneur, and educator who brings a unique combination of academic training and real-world business experience. She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2017 and has built her career around entrepreneurship, marketing, business development, and helping others turn ideas into sustainable opportunities.Senior Business Advisor for Moore County, Katrin Henderson. Photo provided by: SCCAs a military spouse, she has successfully launched and operated businesses across five states, giving her firsthand experience in adapting to diverse markets, building new customer bases and understanding the importance of global reach in today’s business environment. Over the last decade, her areas of focus include business planning, marketing strategy, branding, customer development, financial preparedness, operational planning and connecting entrepreneurs with educational programs and community resources.Parks brings an especially valuable perspective to business advising because she is an entrepreneur herself. She is the owner of Glamo Society Bridal & Formal Wear in Raeford, N.C., giving her firsthand experience with the realities of launching, operating, marketing and growing a small business. She understands that entrepreneurship extends far beyond developing a great idea; it requires strategy, financial awareness, adaptability, strong customer relationships, and consistent execution.Katrin Henderson will serve as the senior business advisor for Moore County. Thriving in hospitality and retail, Henderson has enjoyed positions in Food & Beverage Management and Retail Management in various fine dining and retail establishments in the area, before opening her own children's shop in 2015, in the Village of Pinehurst. She is a native of Moore County.Quickly immersing herself in this new world of small business ownership, Henderson joined various boards and committees, including President Elect of Pinehurst Business Partners and Event Chair for the Holly Arts & Crafts Festival. She also partnered with local organizations such as Moore County Economic Development and Moore County Chamber of Commerce and Sandhills Community College Small Business Center in events and educational opportunities. In 2026, Henderson sold her shop and now offers full-time support to both new and seasoned entrepreneurs through freelance consulting mentorship and the SCC Small Business Center program.The Small Business Center team is passionate about making business resources more accessible, and ensuring entrepreneurs know they do not have to navigate business ownership alone. Through their work with SCC, they are committed to building meaningful relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and industry partners while helping entrepreneurs move from idea to strategy, strategy to action, and action to sustainable growth.“Sandhills Community College believes deeply in the power of small business and entrepreneurship because strong local businesses create jobs, spark innovation, generate investment, and strengthen the communities we serve,” said McCaskill in press release. “Through this new Small Business Center model, Sandhills is building a stronger ecosystem where entrepreneurs can connect, grow, and thrive, while helping drive long-term economic vitality throughout our region.”To learn more about the Center's services or to schedule a consultation, please contact Kinsman directly at kinsmanl@sandhills.edu or 910-695-3938.