This POV examines the anticipated consumer downcycle and shares what consumer-facing businesses can do to prepare.In 2022, the re-opening of economies created a consumer spending impetus that hit up against a high cost-of-living crisis. Consumers pushed through headwinds by drawing on savings accumulated during the pandemic, trading down to budget products, and cutting back spending on big-tick...

Like the idea of a foldable smartphone, but cannot commit to one because you are gravely engrossed in the Apple ecosystem? There is still time before Apple actually outs the much anticipated and excessively rumored foldable iPhone, until then, ADR Studio Design has unveiled a unique concept, meant to captivate the attention of Apple loyalists desirous of a dual-screen phone.Similar to the iPhon...

Vellum.ai said it had closed a $5 million seed round. The company declined to share who its lead investor was for the round apart from noting that it was a multistage firm, but it did tell TechCrunch that Rebel Fund, Eastlink Capital, Pioneer Fund, Y Combinator and several angels took part in the round.The startup first caught TechCrunch’s eye during Y Combinator’s most recent demo day (Winte...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary force with the potential to transform many aspects of our daily lives. So understanding how the average person feels about this technology is essential as it integrates further into society. In this graphic sponsored by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, we explore the findings of the World Risk Poll 2021: A Digital World. When we dug into the...

The KidneyIntelX.dkd test relies on an artificial intelligence algorithm to look for certain biomarkers in a patient’s blood sample and to analyze a handful of additional data points collected in their electronic health record. The AI’s findings are presented as a risk score that suggests whether an individual patient is at a low, moderate or high risk of experiencing a progressive decline in...

The share of older Americans who subscribe to live streaming services grew 60% over the past year.Will Baby Boomers be the next wave of binge-watchers? Following the path of younger consumers, older Americans are increasingly abandoning traditional paid TV services for streaming subscriptions. From 2022 to 2023, there was a 60% increase in US consumers over the age of 55 who subscribe to livest...

The Pact Lite kit is a trowel with integrated wipe and mycelium tab storage for fast, light backcountry pooping Pact Outdoors.Pact Outdoors launched the world's most convenient pooping kit in 2021, quickly taking home an Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award a few months later for its efforts. While technically compact enough for foot travel, its dutiful tool roll isn't quite as sleek and lightweig...

StayrAI performs automatic water-changes so aquarists don't have to.Regular water-changes are essential to the wellbeing of aquarium fish, but the task sometimes gets missed, plus it can be difficult to determine how much water should be replaced, and how often. That's where the automated StayrAI Rein system comes in.Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, StayrAI Rein (pronounced "sta...

Food brands have a major growth opportunity at hand. A recent BCG food survey found that consumers’ concerns about sustainability are quite strong. Yet only 10% of the respondents make sustainability a top priority when they are buying food, while 55% prioritize other attributes, such as healthfulness.Make products locally relevant. To win a larger share of the core 10%’s wallet, companies ne...