#Software Development for Equity

[tawhidislam]

Sweat Equity in Software Development: A Guide for Startups and Developers

What is Sweat Equity?

Sweat equity refers to the non-monetary contribution of work, skills, or time in exchange for ownership or shares in a company. In software development, this means developers, designers, or engineers contribute their expertise instead of financial investment, typically in a startup or early-stage business.

Why Use sweat equity software development?

For startups, hiring a development team can be expensive. Sweat equity offers a way to build a product without immediate cash flow while giving contributors a stake in the company’s success. For developers, it’s an opportunity to gain equity in a promising venture rather than just earning a salary.

Key Considerations for Sweat Equity in Software Development

Clear Agreements – Define roles, responsibilities, and equity distribution in a legally binding contract (such as a vesting agreement).

Vesting Schedules – Typically, equity is earned over time (e.g., 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff) to ensure long-term commitment.

Valuation & Equity Share – Determine the percentage of ownership based on the estimated value of the developer’s contributions.

Exit Strategy – Establish what happens if a developer leaves the project early or if the company is acquired.

Legal & Tax Implications – Consider consulting a lawyer to navigate equity agreements, taxes, and intellectual property rights.

Benefits & Risks

✅ Pros:

Enables startups to build software without immediate funding.

Gives developers long-term financial potential.

Strengthens commitment and alignment of interests.

❌ Cons:

Uncertain financial return for developers.

Potential disputes over equity distribution.

Risk if the startup fails or pivots.

Conclusion

Sweat equity in sweat equity software development is a powerful tool for startups and developers looking to create innovative products with minimal upfront costs. However, it requires clear agreements, structured vesting, and legal safeguards to ensure a fair and successful collaboration. 🚀

[mariacallous]

Following a White House edict effectively banning federal employees from disclosing their personal pronouns in email signatures, sources within multiple federal agencies say pronouns are now being systemically blocked across multiple email clients and other software.

WIRED confirmed various automated efforts with employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the General Services Administration (GSA), the US Department of Agriculture, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The employees spoke to WIRED on condition of anonymity, citing fears of retaliation.

Multiple agency directors sent emails over the weekend telling staff that, due to President Donald Trump’s executive order, their offices would be removing the pronoun capability from Office 365. Employees were told they’d also need to remove pronouns from their email signatures in order to comply with the directive.

A staffer at USAID says the formal deactivation of their ability to list pronouns occurred last week, in response to executive orders defining sexes issued by President Trump on his first day in office. A GSA staffer says pronouns were wiped from employees’ email signatures after hours on Friday and were also no longer visible in Slack, the workplace messaging app. At the CDC, there used to be a section for employees to share their pronouns on their Teams profiles, another workplace app. That field no longer exists.

Reached for comment, the White House transferred WIRED to OPM communications director McLaurine Pinover, who pointed to January 29 memorandum ordering agencies to disable all features “that prompt users for their pronouns.”

The ban on personal pronouns follows sweeping efforts by the White House to eliminate programs that encourage diversity and social justice within the federal government, as well as other references to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in federal employees’ discourse.

In a striking example of the policy in action, an image surfaced last week of a wall being painted over at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Quantico, Virginia, academy due to it listing "diversity" among the bureau's core values. (According to an email from the FBI’s Office of Integrity and Compliance obtained by Mother Jones, the bureau no longer counts "diversity" among its core values.)

The Trump administration began a radical campaign last week aimed at inducing members of the federal workforce to leave their jobs ahead of threatened reductions. The effort is spearheaded by Elon Musk, leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force that has effectively seized control of several federal agencies and sensitive government systems with apparent clearance from the White House.

WIRED reported last week that Musk’s outfit had effectively taken over the Office of Personnel Management, the US government’s human resources department. In this and other efforts, it is employing inexperienced young engineers whose ages range from 19 to 24—many of whom, public records show, are former interns or have been affiliated with Musk-aligned companies.

OPM emailed federal workers on January 28 with a “deferred resignation offer,” sparking widespread confusion among federal workers. (DOGE’s own new HR chief was unable to answer basic questions about the offer in a contentious staff meeting last week, WIRED reported.) In an email to staff Sunday evening, OPM clarified whether the deferred resignation program complied with existing privacy laws. “Yes,” read the answer. “The deferred resignation program uses only basic contact information about federal employees, like name and government address, along with short, voluntary email responses. The information is stored on government systems. To the extent that the Privacy Act applies, all information relevant to the program is covered by existing OPM System Records Notices.”

Multiple agency sources told WIRED last week that several of Musk's lieutenants had been granted access to key computer systems controlled by the GSA, an independent agency tasked by Congress with overseeing federal buildings and providing equipment, supplies, and IT support across the government.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 18, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Jan 19, 2025

Shortly before midnight last night, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published its initial findings from a study it undertook last July when it asked eight large companies to turn over information about the data they collect about consumers, product sales, and how the surveillance the companies used affected consumer prices. The FTC focused on the middlemen hired by retailers. Those middlemen use algorithms to tweak and target prices to different markets.

The initial findings of the FTC using data from six of the eight companies show that those prices are not static. Middlemen can target prices to individuals using their location, browsing patterns, shopping history, and even the way they move a mouse over a webpage. They can also use that information to show higher-priced products first in web searches. The FTC found that the intermediaries—the middlemen—worked with at least 250 retailers.

“Initial staff findings show that retailers frequently use people’s personal information to set targeted, tailored prices for goods and services—from a person's location and demographics, down to their mouse movements on a webpage,” said FTC chair Lina Khan. “The FTC should continue to investigate surveillance pricing practices because Americans deserve to know how their private data is being used to set the prices they pay and whether firms are charging different people different prices for the same good or service.”

The FTC has asked for public comment on consumers’ experience with surveillance pricing.

FTC commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson, whom Trump has tapped to chair the commission in his incoming administration, dissented from the report.

Matt Stoller of the nonprofit American Economic Liberties Project, which is working “to address today’s crisis of concentrated economic power,” wrote that “[t]he antitrust enforcers (Lina Khan et al) went full Tony Montana on big business this week before Trump people took over.”

Stoller made a list. The FTC sued John Deere “for generating $6 billion by prohibiting farmers from being able to repair their own equipment,” released a report showing that pharmacy benefit managers had “inflated prices for specialty pharmaceuticals by more than $7 billion,” “sued corporate landlord Greystar, which owns 800,000 apartments, for misleading renters on junk fees,” and “forced health care private equity powerhouse Welsh Carson to stop monopolization of the anesthesia market.”

It sued Pepsi for conspiring to give Walmart exclusive discounts that made prices higher at smaller stores, “​​[l]eft a roadmap for parties who are worried about consolidation in AI by big tech by revealing a host of interlinked relationships among Google, Amazon and Microsoft and Anthropic and OpenAI,” said gig workers can’t be sued for antitrust violations when they try to organize, and forced game developer Cognosphere to pay a $20 million fine for marketing loot boxes to teens under 16 that hid the real costs and misled the teens.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “sued Capital One for cheating consumers out of $2 billion by misleading consumers over savings accounts,” Stoller continued. It “forced Cash App purveyor Block…to give $120 million in refunds for fostering fraud on its platform and then refusing to offer customer support to affected consumers,” “sued Experian for refusing to give consumers a way to correct errors in credit reports,” ordered Equifax to pay $15 million to a victims’ fund for “failing to properly investigate errors on credit reports,” and ordered “Honda Finance to pay $12.8 million for reporting inaccurate information that smeared the credit reports of Honda and Acura drivers.”

The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice sued “seven giant corporate landlords for rent-fixing, using the software and consulting firm RealPage,” Stoller went on. It “sued $600 billion private equity titan KKR for systemically misleading the government on more than a dozen acquisitions.”

“Honorary mention goes to [Secretary Pete Buttigieg] at the Department of Transportation for suing Southwest and fining Frontier for ‘chronically delayed flights,’” Stoller concluded. He added more results to the list in his newsletter BIG.

Meanwhile, last night, while the leaders in the cryptocurrency industry were at a ball in honor of President-elect Trump’s inauguration, Trump launched his own cryptocurrency. By morning he appeared to have made more than $25 billion, at least on paper. According to Eric Lipton at the New York Times, “ethics experts assailed [the business] as a blatant effort to cash in on the office he is about to occupy again.”

Adav Noti, executive director of the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, told Lipton: “It is literally cashing in on the presidency—creating a financial instrument so people can transfer money to the president’s family in connection with his office. It is beyond unprecedented.” Cryptocurrency leaders worried that just as their industry seems on the verge of becoming mainstream, Trump’s obvious cashing-in would hurt its reputation. Venture capitalist Nick Tomaino posted: “Trump owning 80 percent and timing launch hours before inauguration is predatory and many will likely get hurt by it.”

Yesterday the European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, asked X, the social media company owned by Trump-adjacent billionaire Elon Musk, to hand over internal documents about the company’s algorithms that give far-right posts and politicians more visibility than other political groups. The European Union has been investigating X since December 2023 out of concerns about how it deals with the spread of disinformation and illegal content. The European Union’s Digital Services Act regulates online platforms to prevent illegal and harmful activities, as well as the spread of disinformation.

Today in Washington, D.C., the National Mall was filled with thousands of people voicing their opposition to President-elect Trump and his policies. Online speculation has been rampant that Trump moved his inauguration indoors to avoid visual comparisons between today’s protesters and inaugural attendees. Brutally cold weather also descended on President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, but a sea of attendees nonetheless filled the National Mall.

Trump has always understood the importance of visuals and has worked hard to project an image of an invincible leader. Moving the inauguration indoors takes away that image, though, and people who have spent thousands of dollars to travel to the capital to see his inauguration are now unhappy to discover they will be limited to watching his motorcade drive by them. On social media, one user posted: “MAGA doesn’t realize the symbolism of [Trump] moving the inauguration inside: The billionaires, millionaires and oligarchs will be at his side, while his loyal followers are left outside in the cold. Welcome to the next 4+ years.”

Trump is not as good at governing as he is at performance: his approach to crises is to blame Democrats for them. But he is about to take office with majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, putting responsibility for governance firmly into his hands.

Right off the bat, he has at least two major problems at hand.

Last night, Commissioner Tyler Harper of the Georgia Department of Agriculture suspended all “poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales” until further notice after officials found Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, in a commercial flock. As birds die from the disease or are culled to prevent its spread, the cost of eggs is rising—just as Trump, who vowed to reduce grocery prices, takes office.

There have been 67 confirmed cases of the bird flu in the U.S. among humans who have caught the disease from birds. Most cases in humans are mild, but public health officials are watching the virus with concern because bird flu variants are unpredictable. On Friday, outgoing Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra announced $590 million in funding to Moderna to help speed up production of a vaccine that covers the bird flu. Juliana Kim of NPR explained that this funding comes on top of $176 million that Health and Human Services awarded to Moderna last July.

The second major problem is financial. On Friday, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen wrote to congressional leaders to warn them that the Treasury would hit the debt ceiling on January 21 and be forced to begin using extraordinary measures in order to pay outstanding obligations and prevent defaulting on the national debt. Those measures mean the Treasury will stop paying into certain federal retirement accounts as required by law, expecting to make up that difference later.

Yellen reminded congressional leaders: “The debt limit does not authorize new spending, but it creates a risk that the federal government might not be able to finance its existing legal obligations that Congresses and Presidents of both parties have made in the past.” She added, “I respectfully urge Congress to act promptly to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.”

Both the avian flu and the limits of the debt ceiling must be managed, and managed quickly, and solutions will require expertise and political skill.

Rather than offering their solutions to these problems, the Trump team leaked that it intended to begin mass deportations on Tuesday morning in Chicago, choosing that city because it has large numbers of immigrants and because Trump’s people have been fighting with Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat. Michelle Hackman, Joe Barrett, and Paul Kiernan of the Wall Street Journal, who broke the story, reported that Trump’s people had prepared to amplify their efforts with the help of right-wing media.

But once the news leaked of the plan and undermined the “shock and awe” the administration wanted, Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan said the team was reconsidering it.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[cyberstudious]

Hey! This is very random, but I saw that you work in cyber security right now. I work in data science, but I'm really interested in cyber security and considering making a switch. I was wondering what kind of cybersecurity work you do, and what has been the most helpful for you to learn what you need for your job!

Hi! Cybersecurity is a really broad field, and you can do a lot of different things depending on what your interests are.

My work is mostly focused around automating things for security, since my background is in programming. Automation is really helpful for speeding up boring, monotonous tasks that need to get done, but don't necessarily need a human involved. A good example is automated phishing analysis, since phishing reports are a big chunk of the cases that security analysts have to deal with, and an analyst usually follows the same few steps at the beginning. Rather than someone having to manually check the reputation of the sender domain, check the reputation of any links, and all of that every single time, we can build tools to automatically scan for things like that and then present the info to the analyst. The whole idea here is to automate the boring data retrieval stuff, since computers are good at that, and give the analyst more time for decision-making and analysis, since humans are good at that.

If you're coming from data science, you might be interested in detection engineering. Cybersecurity is essentially a data problem - we have a ton of logs from a ton of different sources (internal logs, threat intelligence feeds, etc.) - how do we sort through that data to highlight things that we want to pay attention to, and how can we correlate events from different sources? If you're into software development or want to stay more on the data science side, maybe you could also look into roles for software development at companies that have SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) products - these are essentially the big log repositories that organizations rely on for correlation and alerting.

As for starting to learn security, my general go-to recommendation is to start looking through the material for the Security+ certification. For better or worse, certifications are pretty big in security, much more so than other tech fields (to my knowledge). I'm a bit more hesitant to recommend the Security+ now, since CompTIA (the company that offers it) was bought by a private equity company last year. Everyone is kind of expecting the prices to go up and the quality to go down. (The Security+ exam costs $404 USD as of writing this, and I think I took mine for like $135ish with a student discount in 2022). However, the Security+ is still the most well-known and comprehensive entry-level certification that I'm aware of. You can (and should) study for it completely for free - check out Professor Messer's training videos on YouTube. There are also plenty of books out there if that's more of your thing. I'd say to treat the Security+ as a way to get a broad overview of security and figure out what you don't know. (It's certainly not a magic ticket to a job, no matter what those expensive bootcamps will tell you.)

If you aren't familiar with networking, it's worth checking out Professor Messer's Network+ training videos as well. You don't need to know everything on there, but having an understanding of ports, protocols, and network components and design is super useful. I hear a lot that the best security folks are often the ones who come from IT or networking or similar and have a really solid understanding of the fundamentals and then get into security. Don't neglect the basics!

One thing that I'll also add, based on conversations I've had with folks in my network… getting a job in cybersecurity is harder now than it used to be, at least in the US (where I am). There are a ton of very well-qualified people who have been laid off who are now competing with people trying to get into the field in the first place, and with the wrecking ball that Elon is taking to the federal government (and by extension, government contractors) right now… it's hard. There's still a need for skilled folks in cyber, but you're going to run into a lot of those "5 years of experience required for this entry-level job" kind of job postings.

On a slightly happier note, another thing you should do if you want to get into cyber is to stay up to date with what's happening in the industry! I have a masterpost that has a section with some of my favorite news sources. The SANS Stormcast is a good place to start - it's a 5 minute podcast every weekday morning that covers most of the big things. Black Hills Infosec also does a weekly news livestream on YouTube that's similar (but longer and with more banter). Also, a lot of infosec folks hang out on Mastodon & in the wider fediverse. Let me know if you want some recs for folks to follow over there.

The nice thing about cybersecurity (and computer-related fields in general, I find) is that there are a ton of free resources out there to help you learn. Sometimes it's harder to find the higher-quality ones, but let me know if there are any topics you're interested in & I'll see what I can find. I have a few posts in my cybersecurity tag on here that might help.

Thank you for your patience, I know you sent this in over a week ago lol but life has been busy. Feel free to send any follow-up questions if you have any!

[kristynguyen7]

Blog Post #2 - Week 3 (due 2/6)

Cyberfeminism, Technology, and Digital Inequality

Does cyberfeminism help fight gender and racial inequality online, or does it sometimes reinforce these inequalities? 

Cyberfeminism aims to create online spaces for gender equality, but it can also overlook racial differences. Some cyberfeminist ideas assume a white, middle class perspective, leaving out the voices of women of color. Fernandez and Wildling note that much of cyberfeminist writing is targeted toward an “educated, white, upper-middle-class, English-speaking” audience, which can unintentionally exclude others (Daniels, 2009, p. 104). This highlights the need for a more inclusive approach that considers race, class, and access to technology. Additionally, digital activism led by women of color often operates outside mainstream cyberfeminist discourse, reflecting a broader need for intersectionality. While some platforms provide opportunities for marginalized voices, others replicate offline hierarchies, limiting real progress. By expanding cyberfeminism to actively address these exclusion, the movement can become more effective in advocating for digital equity. 

Can people truly escape gender and racial identity online, or do digital spaces still reflect real-world inequalities? 

Some early cyberfeminists believed that the internet allowed people to leave behind gender and racial identities. However, research shows that digital spaces often reflect real world inequalities. Daniels explains that instead of changing identities online, people “actively seek out online spaces that affirm and solidify social identities along with axes of race, gender, and sexuality” (Daniels, 2009, p. 110). Additionally, many online platforms use algorithms that reinforce existing biases, making marginalized identities more visible and subject to scrutiny. While some individuals may feel a sense of anonymity, structural inequalities persist in the ways people interact, build networks, and gain access to digital resources. 

How do cyberfeminist practices differ in the Global North and Global South, and what challenges do women in developing nations face when engaging with digital technologies? 

Cyberfeminist practices vary significantly between the Global North and Global South due to differences in economic resources, access to technology, and sociopolitical contexts. In industrialized nations, cyberfeminism often focuses on online activism, digital art, and gender representation in media. In contrast, women in developing nations frequently use digital technology as a tool for survival, resistance, and economic empowerment. Daniels highlights that “while it is true that many affluent women in the global North have ‘depressingly familiar’ practices when it comes to the Internet, this sort of sweeping generalization suggest a lack of awareness about the innovative ways women are using digital technologies to re-engineer their lives” (Daniels, 2009, p. 103). However, barriers such as limited internet access, censorship, and economic inequality continue to restrict their engagement. Addressing these disparities requires cyberfeminist movements to integrate global perspectives and advocate for digital inclusivity on a broader scale. 

How do race and technology intersect to perpetuate systemic biases in digital spaces, and what can be done to address these issues? 

Nicole Brown discusses how racial biases are embedded in technology, from facial recognition software to algorithmic decision making. These technologies often reinforce systemic inequalities rather than eliminate them. Brown highlights that “facial recognition software has been proven to misidentify Black and Brown individuals at significantly higher rates than white individuals, leading to real world consequences such as wrongful arrests and surveillance” (Brown, 2023). Addressing these issues requires greater accountability in tech development, including diverse representation in AI design, policy changes to regulate biased technologies, and increased advocacy for ethical digital practices. By critically examining the intersection of race and technology, we can work toward creating digital spaces that are equitable for all users. 

How does automation in public services contribute to inequality, and what are its impacts on marginalized communities? 

Virginia Eubanks argues that automation in public services disproportionately harms low-income and marginalized communities by making access to essential resources more difficult. Automated decision-making systems in welfare programs, housing assistance, and healthcare often reinforce pre-existing biases, leading to further exclusion. Eubanks notes that “they are shaped by our nation’s fear of economic insecurity and hatred of the poor; they in turn shape the politics and experience of poverty” (Eubanks, 2018, p.7). These technologies strip people of their autonomy and create barriers rather than solutions. To address this issue, we must push for transparency in algorithmic decision-making and ensure that automated systems are designed with fairness and social justice in mind. 

Word Count: 603

Daniels , J. (2009). Rethinking cyberfeminism(s): Race, gender, and embodiment | request PDF. Project Muse . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236786509_Rethinking_Cyberfeminisms_Race_Gender_and_Embodiment 

Eubanks, V. (2018). (PDF) Virginia Eubanks (2018) automating inequality: How high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor. New York: Picador, St Martin’s press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337578410_Virginia_Eubanks_2018_Automating_Inequality_How_High-Tech_Tools_Profile_Police_and_Punish_the_Poor_New_York_Picador_St_Martin’s_Press 

[Nicole Brown]. (2020, September 18). Race and Technology [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8

[iww-gnv]

The Unity Technologies’ downward spiral continues as the company intends to cut 25% of its workforce — or roughly 1,800 people — in a move it called a “company reset.” It’s the game engine maker’s largest layoff, bigger than all three of last year’s cuts combined. More than 1,100 people were laid off in 2023, preceded by at least 200 layoffs in June 2022. Unity said in a United States Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure that the layoffs come as Unity “restructures and refocuses on its core business, and to position itself for long-term and profitable growth.” The layoffs will be completed by March, according to a Reuters report. Unity is known for its game engine software, which is used across the industry on games of all sizes — from indie games to AAA blockbusters. It serves as the foundation for games like Hearthstone, Marvel Snap, Apex Legends, and Among Us. Beyond video games, it’s also used in film and animation, among other industries. Despite it’s ubiquity in the industry, the company is not profitable: It earned more than $1.3 billion in revenue in 2022, but did not make a profit. The company’s large-scale layoffs began in 2022, but Unity’s problems became larger in 2023 when it announced a controversial new pricing model that was universally panned by game developers. The new runtime pricing was announced in September, with Unity proposing a fee collected per game install after a certain revenue threshold was met. Unity eventually pulled back on those plans after widespread backlash, including a boycott and a “credible death threat.” But the damage was done. Unity CEO John Riccitiello stepped down in October. James M. Whitehurst, an advisor at the Silver Lake equity investment firm and former IBM president, was named interim CEO.

[lboogie1906]

Robert Frederick Smith (December 1, 1962) is a businessman, philanthropist, chemical engineer, and investor. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners.

In high school, he applied for an internship at Bell Labs but was told the program was intended for college students. He persisted, calling each Monday for five months. When a student from M.I.T. did not show up, he got the position, and that summer he developed a reliability test for semiconductors. He earned a BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University. He became a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha. He received his MBA from Columbia University with concentrations in finance and marketing.

He worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Air Products & Chemicals, and Kraft General Foods as a chemical engineer, where he registered two US and two European patents. He worked for Goldman Sachs in technology investment banking, first in New York City and then in Silicon Valley. He advised on mergers and acquisition activity with companies such as Apple and Microsoft. He was included in Vanity Fair’s New Establishment List, which is an annual ranking of individuals who have made impactful business innovations.

He founded Vista Equity Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm of which he is the principal founder, chairman, and chief executive. He is credited with generating a 30 percent rate of return for his investors from the company’s inception to 2020. Vista Equity Partners was the fourth largest enterprise software company after Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP, including all their holdings. Vista has invested in companies such as STATS, Ping Identity, and Jio. Vista Equity Partners had closed more than $46 billion of funding.

He was named Private Equity International’s Game Changer of the Year for his work with Vista.

The 2019 PitchBook Private Equity Awards named Vista Equity Partners “Dealmaker of the Year”. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #alphaphialpha

[adarkrainbow]

Lost media quest: H&G Epic Tales (part 3)

Last time I ended my post while exploring the defunct epictales.com website. There was one page of this website (preserved in the Wayback Machine) that I did not add in this post: the About page.

The About page not only describes the Epic Tales line, but also lists the full staff that worked on this project. Here is what the website contains:

EPIC TALES™ is a developer and publisher of interactive storybooks for the iOS platform. EPIC TALES presents its own unique interactive adaptation of the imaginative and magical stories found in fairytales, folklore and world mythology.

All of our tales are narrated by our central storyteller, a most likeable dwarf named Silvertongue who used his magic to let our books and stories come to life. Each storybook offers stunning hand-drawn animations, a revamped storyline, original music scores, and spellbinding interactive environments that are sure to draw readers deep into the story.

EPIC TALES allows you to not only enjoy magical worlds and enchanting tales, but to experience them more closely than ever before.

We, the people at EPIC TALES, are always inspired by stories that fuel our ideas and imagination. We are storytellers, animators, and composers that gladly indulge ourselves in folklore, mythology, and the many tales and stories that have captured our imagination for generations. The result is a talented team of people driven to create original storybooks that are filled with whimsical characters, spellbinding environments, and interactive surprises. By combining creativity with technology, and talent with expertise, we hope to constantly produce exciting tales that bring every page to life. EPIC TALES is a joint venture between Cloud Castle Interactive and Anikey studios.

EPIC TALES Paul Hanraets, Founder of EPIC TALES and producer

Albert ‘t Hooft, Partner and creative director

Paco Vink, Partner and lead artist, animator

TEAM MEMBERS Lou Attia, Narrator and voice actor

Martin van Spanje, Software engineer

Joost van den Broek, Music composer

Arjen Schut, Sound designer

Sjan Weijers, Background clean-up artist

David Muchtar, Animator

Jelle Brunt, Animator

Ruben Zaalberg, Animator

The website also briefly offers descriptions/curriculum of the staff members:

Paul Hanraets Paul Hanraets has been a creative entrepreneur since 2002 when he co-founded Red Road Media, a media agency specialized in video games. Successful projects undertaken by Red Road include: Benelux largest annual game event Gamexpo, the tv show GAME FACTS broadcasted by TMF/MTV and the freely distributed game magazine Games Guide. In 2008 Paul founded Cloud Castle Interactive and was involved in the development of smaller game projects which further awakened his passion for the creative industry. As an immediate result Paul founded EPIC TALES, a developer of interactive storybooks for IOS and GAMBITIOUS an equity based crowdfunding platform dedicated to the games industry.

Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Albert 't Hooft and Paco Vink both studied traditional animation at the Willem de Kooning Art Academy in Rotterdam before they founded Anikey Studios in 2007. Anikey is an award winning animation studio which specialises in hand drawn 2D digital animation. Anikey creates independent and commissioned animations for television, films and games which have an emphasis on story, characters and fun. Anikey's first two independent films 'Paul & the Dragon' and 'Little Quentin' won several awards at international film festivals. In addition on working on the new EPIC TALES titles, Anikey is developing the first hand drawn animated feature film in the Netherlands since 30 years.

Lou Attia Working with the likes of Disney and Sesame Street, Lou Attia has been a professional voice-over artist for over 15 years. After studying professional vocals in London, England, Lou landed a radio host position at 104.2 Nile FM in Cairo, Egypt where he became Creative Director and then Program Director of the station. Throughout his seven years on the air, during which his morning show went on to be the No.1 listened to radio show in a city of 16 million, Lou continued to do voice-overs for numerous commercials, shows and features. In 2010 Lou moved to Toronto, Canada where he is currently a full time voice-over artist, writer and TV show host.

Martin van Spanje Currently co-owner of LayerGloss Digital Publishing, Martin used to program and design on 8-bit Sinclair machines in the eighties. Then came Macs, digital audio, ten years of IT-projects and finally, iOS. Nowadays he lives his life surrounded by Objective-C code, and he sometimes thinks cornflakes look a bit like people. Oh, and he doesn't do Twitter.

Joost van den Broek Joost van den Broek is a producer, composer, arranger and keyboardplayer based in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Starting out as a keyboardplayer for several metalbands like After Forever touring all over the world, he finished his conservatory with honour in musicproduction, keyboards and classical arrangement. Since then he been working as a freelancer in his own studio on several productions, compositions and arrangements, for acts/events like: Ellen ten Damme, Symphonica in Rosso, Wende Snijders, Games in Concert, Ben Saunders, Qlimax. Epic moviescores and/or/in combination with (pop/alternative)rock is what defines his style the most.

Arjen Schut Arjen Schut is a sound designer based in Hilversum, The Netherlands. As a freelancer Arjen has worked on numerous projects, both on location and in his own studio. Arjen is involved in sound effect creation for all sorts of media, but has a strong focus on interactive and animation projects. International blockbuster Killzone 3 being one of the larger projects.

I have taken upon myself to contact some of these artists, just in case they were open about talking or sharing information about the animation they worked onto. Is it a bad idea, or a good one? I don't know but that's the most straightforward direction one can take. I will warn you if I ever receive any response, positive or negative.

I forgot to link before the official page, on the Anikey Animation website, for their work on Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales. Not only does it contain large, high-quality screenshots of the artwork, but their "Production" page also has one concept art for the storybook. They also list the credits of the app as such:

Title: Epic Tales - Hansel & Gretel

Release: 2012

Directed by: Albert 't Hooft & Paco Vink

Animation by: Jelle Brunt, David Muchtar & Ruben Zaalberg

Backgrounds by: Paco Vink & Sjan Weijers

Music by: Joost van den Broek

Sounddesign by: Arjen van der Schut

Producer(s): Paul Hanraets for Cloud Castle Interactive

AppAdvice still has a page dedicated to the application. There is also a review by the MacTrast website that is quite interesting because, while today the pictures contained within it are "dead files", in the Wayback Machine you can fetch them back, and they are pretty rare screenshots of the game! Here's an additional Dutch article I forgot to add earlier. Again, not much to add since they all basically just announce the game's release and rephrase the storybook's commercial description.

I also don't think I have added this to my previous posts, but Cartoon Brew also had a page for the app's launching, which contained this text:

The Hague, the Netherlands — April 24, 2012 — Hansel and Gretel – Epic Tales animated storybook is the first in a series of tales as told by Silvertongue, the likeable dwarf and storyteller, and is now available on the Appstore for IPad and IPhone.

Hansel and Gretel – Epic Tales animated storybook offers a world filled with whimsical characters ranging from pesky gnomes to witty dwarfs; from brave children to wicked stepmothers and cunning witches.

“But we are not just another fairytale App,” says Paul Hanraets, founder and producer. “What sets Epic Tales apart from other storybooks are the incredible production values. Each of Epic Tales storybooks are digitally hand-drawn by our award winning animators, and offer stunning 2d animations, professional voice acting, original music scores and ambient sounds by game industry veterans. These elements combined offer spellbinding interactive environments that are sure to draw readers even deeper into the story.”

“Of course, our alternating witty and wacky humour and the high quality of our animations are amongst the things that separates Hansel and Gretel from other storybooks,” says creative director Albert ‘t Hooft.”However, what ultimately distinguishes Epic Tales is the implementation of our central storyteller, Silvertongue the dwarf.” Using the magic of pesky gnomes, Silvertongue brings the stories to life and narrates them.”Silvertongue used to be quite the adventurer, travelling the world in search of the most intriguing tales and stories, and now looks after your storybook collection in his humble bookstore. He is a truly gifted storyteller who can take an audience from a gasp of fright to a roar of laughter in just the twist of a phrase.”

Epic Tales is a series of high quality, interactive fairytales that allows you to not only enjoy enchanting tales, but to experience their magical worlds more closely than ever before. Children will love the sense of wonder and discovery,while adults will certainly appreciate the clever and wacky humor.

A final piece to add to the dossier so far is Muchtar Productions' page for Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales. Muchtar Production is the WordPress website of David Muchtar, a 2D animator and illustrator who worked on the Epic Tales animation as a (I quote) "Rough and Clean-up animator". He notably put within his portfolio an important number of concept art for the game's character designs. But, as with last time, I will keep it for the NEXT post!

Or... an almost final piece. I wanted to keep this for a much later post, but I ultimately decided to share it here. I vaguely described before one unofficial source for content about "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales". And that is an online review, a Youtube video, by a Youtuber named "Crazy Mike" specializing in app reviews. Here is the video, and the reason why this video is important (beyond it being the last remaining video review - unless I manage to get back the one from the defunct website) is because so far it is the only visual recording we have of the app outside of the trailers. Not only that, but at one point Crazy Mike opens the list of chapters within the app - which gives us a full glimpse of the story's main episodes, with thumbnails of each "tableau". Mind you, it is tiny details at the bottom of the screen so we can't get much of it... But with all the additional material I gathered, it will be a key element in my reconstruction of what the storybook looked like and was about.

[rajasthan-political-leader]

New Policies of Rajasthan Government Unveiled: Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

Rajasthan, known for its cultural heritage and historic prominence, is making waves with forward-thinking policies designed to usher in a new era of growth and development. Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, a dynamic leader and advocate of progress, has been instrumental in shaping and supporting these initiatives. These policies aim to address critical areas such as economic development, environmental sustainability, social equity, and digital transformation, marking a significant step forward for the state.

A Vision for Progress

The new policies reflect the Rajasthan government’s commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. By targeting various sectors, from education and infrastructure to technology and rural development, these initiatives promise a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

Key Policies Unveiled

1. Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of Rajasthan’s economy. This policy aims to:

Provide financial assistance and subsidies to MSMEs.

Simplify regulatory processes to encourage entrepreneurship.

Create employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.

2. One District, One Product (ODOP) Scheme

To boost local businesses and crafts, the ODOP scheme promotes:

Identifying unique products in each district for focused development.

Establishing market linkages and export support.

Providing branding and marketing assistance to artisans and producers.

3. Rajasthan Startup Policy 2024

The state’s focus on fostering innovation is evident through its startup-friendly policies, which include:

Seed funding and incubation support for startups.

Incentives for women-led and rural-based startups.

Establishing innovation hubs across districts.

4. Integrated Cluster Development Scheme

This policy aims to modernize and empower traditional industries by:

Developing common facilities for industrial clusters.

Providing training programs for workers in emerging technologies.

Enhancing infrastructure to attract investments.

5. Rajasthan AVGC-XR Policy 2024

Focusing on the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sectors, this policy includes:

Setting up AVGC-XR training institutes.

Providing subsidies for software and hardware procurement.

Promoting Rajasthan as a hub for creative industries.

Environmental Sustainability Policies

6. Rajasthan Green Energy Initiative

To combat climate change and boost renewable energy production, the policy emphasizes:

Developing large-scale solar and wind energy projects.

Offering incentives for businesses to adopt green energy solutions.

Encouraging electric vehicle adoption through subsidies.

7. Water Conservation Policy

Addressing water scarcity in Rajasthan, this policy includes:

Promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.

Modernizing irrigation systems to improve efficiency.

Encouraging community-driven water conservation efforts.

Social Development Policies

8. Rajasthan Women Empowerment Scheme

Aimed at promoting gender equality, this policy focuses on:

Providing skill training and entrepreneurship opportunities for women.

Ensuring safety and security through improved law enforcement.

Offering financial incentives for girls’ education.

9. Antyodaya Seva Camp Initiative

Launched to mark the successful completion of the BJP government’s first year, this program:

Provides direct access to government schemes and services.

Ensures welfare benefits reach the most marginalized communities.

Organizes awareness drives about social and economic rights.

Education and Digital Transformation

10. Rajasthan DigiSkill Program

To prepare the workforce for a digital future, this program includes:

Training in digital tools, AI, and coding for youth.

Setting up digital labs in schools and colleges.

Offering certifications in high-demand IT skills.

11. Rajasthan Education Excellence Policy

Focused on improving education quality across the state, the policy entails:

Modernizing school infrastructure and integrating digital tools.

Recruiting highly qualified teachers for rural and underserved areas.

Enhancing vocational training opportunities.

Economic Growth and Investment Policies

12. Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit

This annual event highlights the government’s commitment to attracting global investments by:

Showcasing Rajasthan’s potential in IT, manufacturing, and tourism.

Facilitating investor-friendly policies and incentives.

Establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for key industries.

13. Rajasthan Export Promotion Policy

Aimed at boosting exports, this policy provides:

Support for exporters through subsidies and infrastructure.

Promotion of Rajasthan’s traditional handicrafts and textiles globally.

Setting up export training centers for budding entrepreneurs.

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore: A Champion of Progress

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has been a driving force behind these transformative policies. His efforts include:

Advocating for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Encouraging public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure and investment.

Ensuring that government initiatives are accessible and impactful at the grassroots level.

Impact of the New Policies

Economic Growth

Increased investments in key sectors like IT, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

Growth in MSMEs and startups, creating job opportunities.

Social Development

Enhanced opportunities for women and marginalized communities.

Improved access to education and healthcare.

Sustainability

Progress in renewable energy adoption and water conservation.

Reduced carbon footprint through green energy initiatives.

The Road Ahead

With these policies, Rajasthan is poised to become a leading state in innovation, sustainability, and social equity. The government’s commitment, supported by leaders like Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, ensures that this vision translates into reality. As the state charts its path forward, it sets a benchmark for holistic and inclusive development in India.

[empxtrack]

Creating a Truly Inclusive Workplace in 2025

In 2025, building a truly inclusive workplace is not just a goal but a necessity for companies that want to thrive in the ever-evolving business environment. As organizations adapt to changing employee expectations and global shifts, inclusivity is becoming a core value that drives innovation, engagement, and success. Recent HR trends for 2025 show a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reflecting the growing awareness of creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

In this blog, we’ll explore recent HR trends in 2025 that are transforming how companies approach inclusivity, the strategies they are implementing to foster diverse and inclusive environments, and how HR software is playing a crucial role in this process.

1. Shifting DEI from Policy to Practice

In 2024, we saw a heightened focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a fundamental aspect of workplace culture. Many companies introduced DEI policies and hired diversity officers to ensure their organizations were reflecting societal values. However, in 2025, the emphasis is on shifting DEI from policy to practice. It’s no longer enough to have policies in place—organizations must ensure that these principles are fully integrated into everyday business operations.

Creating a truly inclusive workplace means going beyond compliance. Organizations are focusing on inclusivity in recruitment, onboarding, career development, and leadership representation. Companies are taking a data-driven approach, using HR software to track key metrics such as the representation of underrepresented groups, pay equity, and promotion rates. By turning these insights into action, businesses can ensure that inclusivity is not just a buzzword but a lived experience for all employees.

2. The Role of HR Software in Advancing Inclusivity

HR software is playing a critical role in advancing inclusivity in the workplace. Recent HR trends for 2025 highlight the increasing use of technology to create equitable systems that eliminate bias in various HR processes.

For example, AI-powered HR software can help companies create more inclusive recruitment processes by reducing human bias in candidate selection. These platforms can anonymize resumes, ensuring that hiring decisions are based solely on skills and qualifications rather than unconscious biases related to gender, race, or ethnicity. Additionally, HR software can automatically screen candidates for diversity goals, helping companies create balanced teams from the outset.

Performance management is another area where HR software is making a difference. With continuous performance tracking tools, businesses can evaluate employees based on real-time data, helping to eliminate biases that can occur in annual reviews. Moreover, feedback loops and employee sentiment analysis help HR teams identify issues related to inclusivity and address them proactively.

3. Recent HR Trends in 2025

As the workplace continues to evolve, hybrid work models have become a permanent fixture in the landscape of work, following trends seen in 2024. However, inclusivity within hybrid and remote work environments presents unique challenges. In 2025, HR leaders are focused on ensuring that all employees—whether they work remotely, in-office, or a combination of both—feel equally included in company culture and have access to the same opportunities for growth and development.

One way organizations are achieving this is through the strategic use of HR software designed for hybrid work management. These platforms facilitate seamless collaboration and communication between remote and in-office teams, ensuring that all employees stay connected and engaged. By providing virtual spaces for team collaboration and feedback, HR software ensures that employees who may not be physically present in the office are not overlooked when it comes to promotions, professional development, or participation in key projects.

Another major trend is the use of virtual DEI initiatives, such as online inclusion training programs and virtual mentorships, to ensure all employees, regardless of location, can actively participate in diversity and inclusion efforts.

4. Personalization and Belonging: Key Elements of Inclusivity

One of the HR trends in 2024 that is continuing into 2025 is the focus on personalized employee experiences. A truly inclusive workplace must cater to the individual needs of its employees, recognizing that everyone has different preferences, challenges, and goals. Companies are increasingly offering personalized benefits packages, flexible work schedules, and tailored development programs to ensure that all employees feel supported and valued.

HR software plays a vital role in personalizing the employee experience. These platforms can collect data on employee preferences, work habits, and career goals, allowing companies to offer personalized recommendations for development opportunities, wellness programs, and work-life balance initiatives. Additionally, AI-driven learning management systems can create individualized learning paths for employees, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to grow and succeed.

Creating a sense of belonging is also key to an inclusive workplace. Employees need to feel that they are part of a community where their contributions are recognized and valued. In 2025, companies are using employee engagement tools within HR software to foster community-building and ensure that employees feel connected to their teams, regardless of their location.

5. Addressing Bias and Ensuring Equity

One of the most challenging aspects of creating an inclusive workplace is addressing unconscious bias and ensuring equity across all HR processes. In 2025, organizations are using HR software to tackle these issues head-on. AI and automation are particularly useful in eliminating bias from critical HR functions, such as recruitment, promotions, and performance evaluations.

For example, AI-driven recruitment tools can help ensure that job descriptions are gender-neutral and inclusive, attracting a diverse pool of candidates. These tools can also analyze data from previous hiring processes to identify patterns of bias and recommend corrective actions. Similarly, pay equity analysis tools within HR software help organizations track compensation trends and ensure that employees are being paid fairly, regardless of their background or demographics.

6. Mental Health and Well-Being as Part of Inclusivity

Recent HR trends in 2025 emphasize the growing importance of mental health and well-being as part of creating an inclusive workplace. Inclusivity goes beyond ensuring diversity in hiring—it also involves creating a supportive environment where all employees feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. Companies are expanding their well-being programs to include mental health support, flexible working hours, and access to counseling services.

HR software helps organizations manage these programs by offering wellness tracking tools, mental health resources, and feedback mechanisms to monitor employee well-being. By collecting data on employee stress levels, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction, HR teams can make informed decisions on how to improve their well-being initiatives and create a more inclusive environment for all.

Conclusion

Creating a truly inclusive workplace in 2025 is about more than just hiring a diverse workforce—it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. As the recent HR trends in 2025 highlight, inclusivity is now deeply integrated into the core of business strategy, and HR software is playing a pivotal role in making this transformation possible.

By leveraging HR software to track diversity metrics, eliminate bias, personalize employee experiences, and support well-being, companies can create environments where every employee feels like they belong. In this evolving landscape, organizations that prioritize inclusivity will not only attract top talent but also foster innovation and drive long-term success.

[jasmin-d55]

10/10 Blog Post Week #6

What are some of the ways Senft and Noble feel social media channels support racial inequality?

Senft and Noble demonstrate via biased algorithms and user behavior on social media platforms how racial disparity is exacerbated. Algorithms often highlight data that would help the platform economically, which usually results in marginalized voices—especially those of people of color—being ignored. People also extend their offline racial prejudices into online spaces, where anonymity lets bigotry linger free from consequences.

 How does Ruha Benjamin in Race After Technology describe the impact of algorithmic bias on marginalized communities, and what solutions does she suggest for addressing this issue?

Ruha Benjamin addresses in Race After Technology how, especially for underprivileged populations, algorithmic prejudice sometimes supports systematic inequality.She gives instances of algorithms created without consideration for societal prejudices inadvertently discriminating against people based on race. For example, facial recognition systems sometimes misidentify persons of color, resulting in erroneous arrests or denied services. According to Benjamin, one way to solve this is to create technologies with equity in mind—that is, developers have to aggressively question their prejudices and create inclusive and fair design processes. In tech creation, accountability is also essential, as diverse teams produce algorithms that are more equitable.

3.How does Jessie Daniels describe the role of algorithms in perpetuating racial bias in digital spaces in White Supremacy in the Digital Era?

According to Jessie Daniels, algorithms used by platforms such as Google and social media sites are not neutral, but rather reflect the biases of those who create them. For instance, search engine results and recommendations frequently amplify harmful stereotypes by displaying racist content more prominently. Daniels contends that because these platforms rely on user data to make predictions, they

4. How do racial biases become incorporated in technology, and what are the repercussions for real-world applications?

In Race After Technology, Ruha Benjamin argues how racial biases are frequently accidentally incorporated into technologies, particularly algorithms. Between pages 41 and 88, she discusses how these biases develop from existing cultural structures and preconceptions, and how they manifest in digital instruments that appear "neutral." For example, face recognition software has been shown to misidentify individuals of color more often than white persons, potentially leading to discriminatory surveillance and law enforcement. This section emphasizes the importance of understanding how human prejudices shape technology, as well as more critical engagement and reform to prevent further marginalization of racial minorities in the digital age.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

WORK ETHIC AND DIFFERENCE

If you don't know that number, they're successful for that week. Founders understand their companies better than investors, and it also tends to make startups more pliable in negotiations, since they're usually short of money. Third, Pantel and Lin do, but I haven't tried that yet. By obstructing that process, Apple is making them do bad work, and indignant readers will send you references to all the papers you should have cited. If you write software to teach English to Chinese speakers, however, tell A who B is. You have to decide what to do next. Seeing a painting they recognize from reproductions is so overwhelming that their response to it as a way to generate deal flow for series A rounds, the investors won't take as much equity as VCs do now. The second will be easier.

Would it make the painting better if I changed that part? I heard about after the Slashdot article was Bill Yerazunis' CRM114. It would be a crapshoot. If good art is that it makes you more confident, and an investors' opinion of you is the opinion of other investors. They could grow the company on its own revenues, but the extra money and help supplied by VCs will let them grow even faster. It makes a better story that a company won because its founders were so smart. Why should anyone care about a startup making $3000 a month? There are four main reasons: Moore's law has made hardware cheap; open source has made software free; the web has made marketing and distribution free; and more powerful programming languages mean development teams can be smaller.

Would it make the painting better if I changed that part? 9999 free! So this alternative device probably couldn't win on general appeal. Well, not quite. But ultimately the reason these delays exist is that they're more prestigious. I think he really wishes he'd listened. Instead everyone is just supposed to explore their own personal vision. At least one startup from the most recent summer cycle may not even be an accurate measure of the bugs in my implementation than some intrinsic false positive rate of Bayesian filtering. Once you start talking about audiences, you don't have x.

Here are the alternatives considered if the filter sees FREE! When one investor wants to invest in startups, and in those the first word is a verb. That difference is why there's a distinct word, startup, for companies designed to grow fast, I mean it in two senses. In fact, one of the reasons taste is subjective found such a receptive audience is that, historically, the things people have said about good taste have generally been such nonsense. When I was in art school, we were looking one day at a slide of some great fifteenth century painting, and one of the reasons artists in fifteenth century Florence to explain in person to Leonardo & Co. Is the future of venture funding will be like, just ask: how would founders like it to be? They're so attracted to the iPhone that they can't leave. Which is of course a recipe for deadlock, and delay is the thing a startup can least afford. The investors who invested when you had no money were taking more risk, and are entitled to higher returns. It would feel unnatural to him to behave any other way. Another wrote: I believe that they think their approval process helps users by ensuring quality.

In a traditional series A round. Startups are increasingly raising money on convertible notes, and convertible notes have not valuations but at most valuation caps: caps on what the effective valuation will be when the debt converts to equity in a later round, or upon acquisition if that happens first. When the economy bounces back in a few unusual cases. One of the mistakes novice pilots make is overcontrolling the aircraft: applying corrections too vigorously, so the aircraft oscillates about the desired configuration instead of approaching it asymptotically. Worse for Apple, these apps work just fine on other platforms that have immediate approval processes. If they decide to grow at 7% a week and they hit that number, they're successful for that week. And open and good is what Macs are again, finally. One way to deal with this is to treat some as more interesting than others. Now the good news: investors may actually make more money as a result. One is the type that pretends to be an old and buggy one. When you notice a whiff of dishonesty coming from some kind of art, stop and figure out what it's doing.

One of our axioms at Y Combinator is not to compile a complete list, just to show that there's some solid ground here. Startups hate this as well, partly because there was a widespread feeling among potential founders. If we assume the average startup runs for 6 years and a partner can bear to be on the board to help a startup. In this case the super-angel, who operates like an angel, but using other people's money, like a VC. There will continue to be lead investors in the attitudes of existing startups we've funded. Roughly, it's something done with contempt for the audience. Now for the really shocking news: during that same one-month period I got three false positives. Millions of companies are started every year in the US. I'm optimistic about are ones that calculate probabilities based on each individual user's mail.

I called a huge, unexploited opportunity in startup funding: the growing disconnect between VCs, whose current business model requires them to invest large amounts, and a party reminder from Evite. In a sufficiently connected and unpredictable world, you can't seem good without actually being good. How could they go ahead with the deal? VCs who try to compete with angels by doing more, smaller deals will probably find they have to take less equity to do it is to get the best deals, the way to do it is to get the first commitment, because much of the company they do now. Maybe the only answer is a central list of domains advertised in spams. Apple is trying to be with the App Store? This pattern is repeated over and over. If you had, surely you'd be just as attached to that name as you are to your current one. 03% false positives. And someone has to argue with you except yourself. But that might not be necessary.

A rapidly growing company is not merely valuable but dangerous too. If you start to get far along the track toward an offer with one firm, it will make the spammers' optimization loop, what programmers would call their edit-compile-test cycle, appallingly slow. That isn't happening this time, and part of the money. Or to put it more prosaically, they're the people who are genuinely good. It comes with a lot of time trying to learn how to predict which startups will succeed. This is the fourth way in which offers beget offers. Most people don't know how ambitious to be, especially when they're young. If you cared about design, you could buy a Thinkpad, which was still then a quasi-government entity. I just mentioned.

[beardedmrbean]

Oct. 30 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday that slaps new requirements on tech developers to mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence and establishes new safety standards that aim to protect privacy and national security.

Biden's directive is the most sweeping action yet to regulate AI, and entails several strategies to limit safety and security risks to the nation, including a trust-but-verify arrangement between the government and the private sector.

The order requires AI system developers to share safety test results and other critical information with the administration as they become available, especially in cases where an AI model poses a serious risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety, the White House announced in a statement.

Under the order, Biden also calls on the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish rigorous safety testing for the technology before it's made available to the public.

Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security to establish the AI Safety and Security Board, which will apply the standards to critical infrastructure in an effort to limit chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity threats.

The president told agencies that fund scientific research to attach specific conditions to federal funding for companies responsible for mitigating risks associated with AI-engineered biological materials.

"These measures will ensure AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy before companies make them public," the White House said.

Biden also ordered the Department of Commerce to develop public guidance for content authentication and watermarking to clearly label AI-generated content.

"Federal agencies will use these tools to make it easy for Americans to know that the communications they receive from their government are authentic -- and set an example for the private sector and governments around the world," the statement said.

Biden ordered White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and the National Security Council to develop further AI security actions to protect the military and intelligence communities.

The order also creates an advanced cybersecurity program to develop tools that would fix vulnerabilities in AI software.

Biden's order builds on several previous actions by the president to ensure safe and transparent development of the emerging technology, while he was also preparing to deliver legislation to Congress that seeks to protect the nation from AI's harmful potential.

The administration has secured commitments from more than a dozen tech companies to take a responsible approach to developing artificial intelligence for ethical purposes.

The order also contains priorities to protect individual privacy through stronger cryptographic tools and other protective technologies.

Biden called for government agencies to evaluate how they collect and use commercially available information to account for any AI risks.

The executive order builds on the administration's Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, which was released earlier this year to promote responsible innovation in the field.

In February, Biden ordered all federal agencies to uproot bias in their technological action plans and to protect the public from algorithmic racial discrimination, which is also one of the primary capabilities of AI technology.

Biden's executive order reiterates these commitments, emphasizing the importance of countering bias and other forms of discrimination in AI to maintain equity in areas such as justice, healthcare, and housing.

Previously, the administration said it would continue working with the companies over time to keep controls on pace with AI's future development.

Biden's order also addresses AI's potential impact on the labor market, education, and consumer spending.

[strategicfinance]

Mastering Strategic Finance: A Guide to Success

In today's dynamic business landscape, financial acumen is not just a desirable trait but a crucial necessity for professionals aiming to navigate the complexities of the corporate world. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, or a finance enthusiast looking to elevate your skills, a comprehensive course in strategic finance can be the catalyst for your success. In this blog post, we delve into the significance of strategic finance and explore what makes a great course in this field.

Understanding Strategic Finance: Strategic finance goes beyond mere number crunching; it involves analyzing financial data to make informed decisions that drive long-term growth and profitability. From budgeting and forecasting to risk management and investment analysis, strategic finance encompasses a wide array of disciplines aimed at optimizing financial performance and maximizing shareholder value.

Key Components of a Strategic Finance Course:

Financial Analysis Techniques: A solid grasp of financial analysis tools and techniques is fundamental to strategic decision-making. A good course should cover topics such as ratio analysis, trend analysis, and variance analysis to help participants interpret financial statements and assess a company's financial health accurately.

Strategic Planning and Budgeting: Effective strategic planning is at the core of successful businesses. A course in strategic finance should equip learners with the skills to develop strategic financial plans, set realistic budgets, and align financial goals with overall business objectives.

Capital Budgeting and Investment Appraisal: Evaluating investment opportunities and allocating capital efficiently is critical for sustainable growth. Participants should learn how to assess the viability of projects using techniques like Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period analysis.

Risk Management and Mitigation: In today's volatile market environment, understanding and managing financial risks are imperative. A comprehensive course should cover topics such as risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies, including hedging techniques and insurance mechanisms.

Financial Modeling and Forecasting: Building accurate financial models and making reliable forecasts are essential skills for finance professionals. Participants should learn how to create robust financial models using spreadsheet software and leverage forecasting techniques to support strategic decision-making.

Corporate Finance and Capital Structure: An understanding of corporate finance principles, including capital structure optimization, debt vs. equity financing, and dividend policy, is crucial for optimizing a company's cost of capital and maximizing shareholder value.

Choosing the Right Course: When selecting a course in strategic finance, consider factors such as the reputation of the institution or provider, the expertise of the instructors, the comprehensiveness of the curriculum, and the flexibility of delivery (online vs. in-person). Look for courses that offer practical, real-world case studies and opportunities for hands-on learning to reinforce theoretical concepts.

Conclusion: Investing in a strategic finance course is not just an investment in your career; it's an investment in your future success. By mastering the principles of strategic finance, you'll gain the confidence and expertise needed to excel in today's competitive business environment. Whether you're aiming for a C-suite position, launching your own venture, or simply looking to enhance your financial literacy, a strategic finance course can provide you with the knowledge and skills to thrive in any professional setting. So why wait? Start your journey to mastering strategic finance today!