Randi Zuckerberg's Blog, page 29

Radio Show Recap: Mothers’ Day Tips from “Dot Complicated!”

With 4.3 babies born each second, and over 2 billion moms around the world, thankfully motherhood is another thing technology has successfully disrupted.

Here’s a few mommy facts: The average age of modern moms is now 25 whereas the age of new moms was 21 in 1970; Currently 72% of moms with children over 1 year old work versus the 39% of women who were working mothers in 1976; 55% of moms with a child under 1 year old work compared to 31% of women in 1976. That means moms with a full time job are spending an average of 13 hours working at the office and on family chores at home.

And, as a new mother, you’ll go through seven thousand three hundred diaper changers by baby’s second birthday. On average, most moms take 2 minutes 5 seconds to change a baby’s diaper, which adds up to three 40-hour work weeks a year. That’s like a freelance job!

But it doesn’t stop there. Once those babies are grown and become preschoolers they require mom’s attention once every 4 minutes or 210 times a day meaning preschooler moms spend two point seven hours a day on primary childcare. And what about all those chores? Women average two point two hours a day doing chores with 88 percent of laundry done by moms. That totals 330 loads and five thousand three hundred articles of clothing each year!  If anything needs a little tech support it’s definitely new moms.

It’s reported that 81% of kids under 2 already have an online presence. And that after birth, up to 5% of newborns have their own social media page while 7% even have an email address. Not to mention kids ages two to five can play video games and download apps better, and faster, than they can ride a bike or tie their shoelaces. And now that iPhones, iPods, and iPads are the top holiday wish-list items for kids ages 6 to 12, 95% of teens are online, logging in more hours surfing the web than they are doing homework. So how does a mom cope in this digital age?

Here are Randi’s top tips and comments from some of her past guests about the Dot Complicated world of motherhood:

“I had a group of moms who were disgruntled with the programs for kids. I brainstormed and created Tiny Treks. Every single mom signed up.”—Pam Worth of Tiny Treks.

“We’re focusing on families. 72% of 55 families studied, mostly mothers, took out their phones and ignored their kids the whole time.”— Tanya Schevitz of Reboot.

“Honor Your Mom is for Mother’s Day to donate in mom’s name.”—Leila Janah of Samahope.

“If you interact with your kids online it’s beneficial. Online worlds are an incredible place for play.”—Dr. Jodi Gold author of Screen Smart Parenting.

“Have very conscious time during the day for parents and kids to unplug.” —Pam Worth of Tiny Treks

“It’s important to prepare and be an exciting and interesting parent. Get creative instead of plugging kids in.” —Pam Worth of Tiny Treks.

“Being a parent is a very active thing. Being active is part of having fun. It’s natural.”—David Atchinson SVP Marketing at Zulily.

“The best thing to do as parents is communicate.”— Sarah Granger of The Digital Mystique.

“We did what moms do best—support each other.”—Sara Kloek of Moms with Apps

“When parents are able to make the choice, better decisions are made.”— Sarah Kloek of Moms with Apps

“The iPad has saved my life on so many flights I can’t even tell you.” — Sarah Granger of The Digital Mystique

There’s a big difference between good and bad diapers.”—Cara Delzer of Moxxly

“Our goal is to support women. We want to make the breastfeeding experience as comfortable as possible.” —Cara Delzer of Moxxly.

“These products are designed for transporting a baby and feeding a baby, so safety is crucial.”—Cara Delzer of Moxxly

“The carrying handle on our car seat we thought was going be great. It was a guy’s-centric view, like a briefcase. After talking to moms we made it a soft and padded structure.”—Joe Hei of Orbit Baby.

“Parenting in general matters more than anywhere.” —Joe Hei of Orbit Baby.

“I went back to work at 3 months and my breast pump was the most stressful part of that. I knew there had to be a better way.” —Cara Delzer of Moxxly.

“It’s perfect for the mom who wants to book at night and only wants to enter credit card info and their kids allergies once.” —Suzanne Felson on Reso.

“Moms are the strongest advocate and they love to share really good things with other moms.” —Suzanne Felson on Reso.

“A mom told us that she wanted a hands-free camera so she could show her daughter the recipes.”—Eddie Lee of Podo Labs.

“Mom would say, ‘Don’t sing it like that person, sing it like you’.”—Christina Bianco of Application Pending.

“Naptime is a silent buzzer that goes on the wrist of mom and on dad. It alternatively goes off when the baby cries so you take turns. These French guys who don’t have kids at all invented it.”

“We’ve spent little to nothing in marketing. I would equate customer feedback to our success. Moms loving telling others about a product they like.”—Nichole Montaya of Cheddar Up.

“A lot of group transactions ended up on the lap of the mom. School, sports, party planning.”—Nichole Montaya of Cheddar Up.

Join ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ every Wednesday at 9am PT/12 ET for all the newest in tech and trends. And Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms! Read a tribute to my mom HERE.

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Elizabeth & Clarke’s Unstainable White Shirts

There’s a long held rule that if you were a white shirt, you will spill something on it. That’s why we can’t wait to get our hands on an Elizabeth & Clarke blouse–a.k.a. the world’s first unstainable white shirt. The shirts are made using nanotechnology (teeny-tiny “whiskers” 100,000 times smaller than a grain of sand) that repels virtually any water- or oil-based liquid spill. Anything that gets on the material is suspended above the fabric and beads off rather than setting in.

We gave the shirts a test run and were pleasantly surprised: Coffee, eggs, and wine all glide off the fabric instead of sticking.  The blouses ($50) will officially launch in August. But the first 500 Kickstarter backers can get them for a cool $40. Learn more by watching this video. 

Bring on the Merlot.

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Radio Show Recap: How to Make it as an Entrepreneur

[image error]Whether you’re making a plan to go it alone or you’re already deep in the trenches of entrepreneurship, the odds of succeeding as a startup have been said to be one out of every 10. So if it really is a one in 10 chance of success, what are the 10% doing right that the other 90% aren’t, and what can entrepreneurs do about those odds being stacked against them?

Today Randi discussed the answers to these questions about entrepreneurship with Jon Nastor of Hack the Entrepreneur and Shea Tate-Di Donna of Silicon Valley entrepreneur incubator, Zana.

SHEA TATE DI-DONNA

“I had the really amazing job of finding out what could help build the best business possible.”

“It’s all about lessons learned and best practices and being able to facilitate an on-demand platform around the globe.”

“When you’re in it, it just feels so personal and specific to your situation. But when you come up for air you realize that everyone has the same experiences.”

“If you ask how someone else solved their problem, people are happy to share.”

“The next great Silicon Valley is going to be online.”

“When we first launched I thought we’d go from the US to international, but that’s not what happened. People overseas embraced Zana first.”

“We do entrepreneurship and startups different in Silicon Valley. It happens here first. We have to be on the cutting edge.”

“The hardest thing about being a VC is saying no to entrepreneurs about 99% of the time.”

“It was rare to see other female investors or women coming into pitch. Ultimately that’s one of the reasons I wanted to found Zana.”

“We have a huge priority to democratize entrepreneurship. Not just women, but racial minorities too.”

“I wanted to create an opportunity for women to share their stories, like Alicia Lu at coach.me.”

“If you’re at the idea stage, we have a section about how to brainstorm and get started into forming a company.”

“If you’re actively working on growth and distribution we have a section dedicated to that.”

“Hiring and attracting talent is a huge concern.”

“We’re not founder-centric we’re team-centric.”

“Great entrepreneurs don’t wait. They just solve the problem with the resources they have at the moment.”

“Extreme curiosity and deep conviction are traits of a successful entrepreneur.”

“Joining a startup as a recent college grad is a great way to get hands on training to becoming an entrepreneur.”

“Not one thing I learned getting my MBA at Duke helped me run my business today.”

“I find the academic culture to be antithetical to the business culture.”

“I see how people engage with how to get started and consume as much information as possible.”

“I’m working on meditation as an entrepreneur I need a daily guided meditation.”

JON NASTOR

“Entrepreneurs aren’t born that way, they decide to step up and become them.”

“Whether they made $1000 or $10,000,000, entrepreneurs all still have the same struggles.”

“Stepping up, taking the chances, and doing the work makes you an entrepreneur.”

“Have confidence in yourself, as in not always looking for what someone else did. What they did won’t always work for you.”

“Businesses, like humans, are kind of fluid.”

“Even the most successful entrepreneurs are still wrong on a daily basis.”

“You can’t have a business until you have an idea.”

“The fears of quitting their job and going at it alone is something most people want to hear about.”

*”It’s the idea of failure, not so much failure itself, is what holds people back.”

“I’ve become accustomed to the struggle of failure.”

*”Wayne Gretzky is the highest scorer in hockey history but he’s also missed the most shots.”

“Typically when you do something the first time you don’t get it right.”

“Education is beyond school and it should be for anyone who wants to be successful. You have to educate yourself after school is done.”

“Freelancing to me is creating yourself a job, entrepreneurship is building a business that is bigger than you.”

“Freelancing is a brilliant gateway to entrepreneurship. You can scale any freelancing work you do.”

“Once you get into intrapreneurship for too long you can work yourself out of a job. But it can lead to entrepreneurship.”

“Stubbornness is really just confidence. You’re going to do things people are going to tell you are crazy. You have to be confident enough to follow yourself.”

“I wanted the show for myself so I built it. I didn’t wait for someone else to do it for me.”

“Chris Brogin was my very first interview and he blew me away. It set me on the path to take this seriously.”

“Millennials will be great entrepreneurs but not until they’re 40 like the rest of us.”

“I don’t think you’re going to find any good entrepreneurs in a classroom teaching. They’ll be mentors, but you can only learn business by being in business.”

“Stay educated and keep reading books and listening to the podcasts and shows that talk about what’s working and not. Stay in the game and see what’s coming.”

“What’s in small business now won’t be the same in 5 years.”

Join Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg every Wednesday only on SiriusXM 111.

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nspHire, the Tinder for Job Searches

[image error]Tired of sifting through resumes and cover letters? We get it.

Avoid all the corporate back-and-forth and cut to the chase with nspHire (free for iOS and Android). The new job matching app for employers and job seekers makes it simple for employers to hire candidates for freelance, full-time, and part-time positions; internships; and virtual assistant jobs.

First, fill out your nspHire profile, which looks a lot like a LinkedIn page. Next, check off job criteria, such as location, industry, salary range and full-time, part-time or freelance. The app then combs through more than 4 million jobs worldwide, from companies like Deloitte, MedStar Health and Ogilvy & Mather.

You can avoid any awkwardness with your current employer by searching anonymously. Your photo, name and other identifying details can be kept hidden. There’s something in it for bosses, too. Instead of digging through stacks of resumes, employers can quickly find the right talent and get matched with a candidate that fits their needs. Simply upload job opportunities for free in the app. Once a match is made, employers can chat with candidates to learn more about their skills, experience, and personalities.

Once nspHire has filtered all the matches, use the Tinder-like interface to start networking–swipe left to pass, swipe right to apply. If you and the employer both “like” each other, a recruiter can start a conversation via the app’s chat feature.

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WomenOn20s

[image error]Move over, Andrew Jackson: a new national campaign is out to replace the former president with a fresh face on the $20 bill. The “Women on 20s” movement is going viral, with 80,000 people heading online to pick from potential candidates like suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, and abolitionist Sojourner Truth.

Here’s how it works: Over the next few weeks, everybody has the opportunity to vote for one of four women–Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks or Cherokee Nation leader Wilma Mankiller–and get her mug on the 20. Once a winner has been chosen, the WomenOn20s team will bring their nomination to President Obama, in the hopes that he will direct the secretary of the Treasury to make the swap.

Sound like a long shot? Maybe. Except Obama has already expressed interest in getting female representation on U.S. currency. Plus, with a woman in the running for the 2016 election, the time is nigh for social change.

Cast your vote on the WomenOn20s site.

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Radio Show Recap: The Business of Marijuana

Up from $1.5 billion dollars in 2013, legal cannabis grew 74% to $2.7 billion in 2014 making legal marijuana the fastest growing industry in the US. According to Greenwave Advisors, legal cannabis could be an industry with revenues of $35 billion by 2020 if legalized at a federal level. With those numbers legal weed would surpass the NFL’s annual revenue and would be on par with both the newspaper publishing and confectionary industries’ revenues.

Randi discussed the lucrative world of cannabusiness is Isaac Dietrich of social networking app MassRoots, Keith McCarty of medical marijuana delivery app Eaze, and High Times Senior Cultivation Editor Danny Danko.

Isaac Dietrich  of MassRoots

“The fundamental rule of technology is to make our lives easier and safer.”

“We got a call from Apple the same day marijuana was legalized in three states that they were dropping all cannabis apps.”

“We united the cannabis community to fight against Apple’s restriction of cannabis apps.”

“How can a private corporation going to tell me I can’t download a cannabis app to my phone?”

“We pitched Silicon Valley VCs who said they weren’t able to invest in anything illegal that might be seen as aiding and embedding.”

“We come across as genuine. We built this app for ourselves. This is what we love doing.”

“A cannabis social network couldn’t be run by a major corporation.”

“It’s a challenge everyday. People from the outside think we’re a bunch of potheads but in reality we have to work harder than most startups out there.”

“When we first started MassRoots we thought it’d be 80% guys but we were wrong it was totally equal.”

“Snoop, Wiz, B-Real built up empires on their love of cannabis.”

“Major brands are going to start paying attention to the power of the cannabis community.”

“Colorado is seeing 30-40% growth in concentrate sales.”

“We’re making it as easy as possible to know where, when, and how to vote.”

“We’re going to be sending our users push notifications of where their voting locations are.”

“Think different. Do something that hasn’t been done before.”

“Try not to be on national TV if you’re trying to secure a bank in the cannabis industry.”

Keith McCarty of EAZE

“We’re at an intersection of cannabis and tech means we’re making the operation seamless with a patient.”

“We look to automate the supply and demand process.”

“Within a matter of seconds you’ll be verified as a patient if you have all the necessary legal materials.”

“At the root of what makes tech companies similar, we at Yammer were data driven. Eaze is the same thing.”

“My background is not in cannabis but I got up to speed pretty quickly.”

“We have a close relationship with city officials and we partner with dispensaries who have vetted drivers.”

“In every territory we partner with the best dispensary. We look at what the public thinks and whether or not they’re well organized.”

“The dispensary Sparc is run like a business which is why we chose to partner with them.”

“Being first to market is a huge advantage.”

“Easy, quick, and accessible is our motto.”

“Celebrity endorsement is huge especially the ones that are prolific in the cannabis industry.”

“The more interesting trend we’re starting to see with females is the older female customer. The stay-at-home soccer mom wants something easy and discreet.”

“The transition toward a broader demographic is a huge movement that’s big for the entire industry.”

“We analyze the data and create a broader menu.”

“We’re really excited about this upcoming election. The biggest thing is to get people to vote.”

“There’s a lot of due diligence and getting behind the movement to building a cannabusiness.”

DANNY DANKO of HIGH TIMES

“All oppressed cultures find a way to communicate with each other. 420 is our code.”

“We have something like 600 vendors and more than 50,000 attendees at this year’s Cannabis Cup.”

“Concentrates are a whole subset of the marijuana world so new technology exists for ancillary items.”

“Any business that has great customer service and a great product we are looking to shine a light on. Companies that do the right thing.”

“There’s a thriving marketplace in Seattle, Alaska and Oregon. There’s so many ancillary businesses for different marketplaces.”

“Each state has varying restrictions and regulations. Our lawyers work with law enforcement to find a common ground.”

“You can’t stumble down the street in Colorado without running into a dispensary. We’re consumers and we’re ready to spend our money.”

“I’m ready for a pot infused beer. Marijuana and hops are actually cousins of the same family.”

“Snoop Dogg is amazing. He’s been waiting a long time to jump into the cannabis investor arena. Everything he touches turns to gold.”

“If someone’s bold enough to come out as a smoker in the magazine, we’re happy to be there with them.”

“Women growers are winning the Cannabis Cup.”

“20 years ago at the Cannabis Cup we’d have 1 female for every 10 men and she was usually dragged along by her boyfriend.”

“There’s so much marijuana being produced in America we’re now producing our own concentrates without having to import anymore.”

“People are rushing into the marketplace thinking they’re going to make millions of dollars. You have to have an idea that’s helpful to the ever-changing cannabis marketplace.”

“If you hire a grower for a warehouse that’s only grown in his basement you’re setting yourself up for failure.”

“We work with NORML to let people know what’s going on. We always put out a voter guide and what the issues are in their states and who to vote for.”

“Voting is the only way we can affect change.”

“You don’t have to consume cannabis to own a cannabusiness, but you should respect cannabis and cannabis users.”

“Focus on what makes your company better and leave the trash talking to the trolls.”

For more about what’s new in tech around the world, join Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg every Wednesday at 9am PT/12pm ET only on SiriusXM Business 111.

 

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Honk, AAA Roadside Assistance for the Modern Age

There’s nothing fun about needing a tow truck. From the frustration of waiting forever for it to arrive to the unshakable knowledge that you’re about to be gouged for a simple service, it’s a situation most drivers would gladly avoid. And like most industries, the experience of ordering a tow truck hasn’t changed in decades.

That’s why we’re so excited about Honk.

Honk is a new app for on-demand roadside assistance–no membership required. All you have to do is open Honk, say what you need (a jump start, tire change, tow, etc.) and they’ll come help. Unlike membership models like AAA and Roadside America, there are no upfront fees for access to the Honk network.

Honk partners with local mechanics and towing companies across the country and promises service in less than 30 minutes. (God bless ’em, but we once waited for AAA for four hours. No joke.)

With Honk, you’ll get an in-app quote before booking a service, and payments typically start around $50. (We got a $75 quote for a lockout and $100 for a tow.)

The best part? The app uses GPS to pinpoint your exact location, so you never have to explain to Mo from A&D Motors that you’re somewhere between exits 22 and 30 on I-84.

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Jon Ronson on Public Shaming

In the United States, public punishments have been banned since 1839. But nearly two centuries later, it seems like someone’s being flogged in a virtual town square on the Internet every day.

In his new book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, investigative journalist Jon Ronson examines why the digital space has become full of moral policing–and what happens once the Twitter dust settles.

Ronson is most taken by people whose lives are turned upside down by one seemingly harmless mistake: The PR rep who tweeted a tasteless AIDS joke before boarding an international flight. By the time the plane landed, she was jobless and fielding death threats. The two computer programmers fired for making dirty jokes at a tech convention–never meant for the Internet, they ended up there anyway. And a woman vilified for an insensitive Facebook photo who desperately wants to clean up her Google history.

Ronson is best known for The Psychopath Test and for his stories on the radio show This American Life, and he uses the same kind of conversational journalism here. Part researcher and part therapist, he presents an achingly empathetic portrait of these Internet pariahs, along with a stern warning that we’re not taking lightly: Think before you type.

Listen to a fascinating anecdote from the book on the podcast Reply All here.
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Vessyl, the World’s First Smart Cup

Between fitness bands, apps, and journals, there are a lot of ways to keep track of calories. But all those things require you to do work.

You might want to try the very first smart cup.

Unlike old standby methods, Vessyl, a 13-ounce thermos-like container, does all the nitty gritty for you. Just fill it with liquid (coffee, smoothie, wine) and a genius sensor will detect exactly what that liquid is and then display its nutritional content (calories, sugar, protein, etc.) on the side of the cup.

Can more transparency help you drink more water? We put the device to the test: Within 10 seconds of filling up our Vessyl, it recognized Diet Coke, Vitamin Water XXX, Mott’s apple juice, Gatorade Frost in Glacier Cherry, plain old water, and a few other beverages—all by name. It can even tell the difference between strong and weak coffee.

This thing will also tell you just how many eight-ounce glasses of water you’ve had each day. (You should be shooting for eight.) But beware: It knows how many glasses of wine you’ve had too.

Available for preorder ($119).

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Greetly is Changing the Office Game

From an employee quitting to a supplier changing the way they make deliveries,  small business owners are bombarded with challenges on a regular basis. Another very specific struggle: Who’s going to answer the door? (Because, let’s face it, receptionists are expensive.)

Greetly, a sleek new iPad app, is here to help small offices save money, increase productivity and create great impressions. It’s the receptionist of the modern era.

Here’s how it works: Mount an iPad to a stand and position it near the door. Visitors walk up to said iPad and use the Greetly app to check themselves in. Greetly instantly notifies host employees via their choice of text, email and/or voice call and maintains a cloud-based visitor log. In addition to checking in visitors, Greetly also accepts food and package deliveries.

After the cost of the iPad, the service ranges in price from $49 to $199 a month, depending on your headcount and the amount of visitor-log storage you need.

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