The Slush startup conference —hosted annually amid Helsinki's winter — is a large gathering of nascent companies, investors and enthusiasts. Not only that, it functions as a significant engine behind Finland's own tech startup ecosystem.
Why it matters: Though a nation of less than 6 million, Finland punches above its weight when it comes to tech.
Why it matters: As the world meets in Dubai to try to get a grip on carbon emissions, the most obvious way of accelerating the shift from gas-powered to electric vehicles has run straight into a geopolitical brick wall.
The new in-season tournament, an idea I wrote off as being ridiculous, appears to be a massive success, Pete writes.
💭 And that's not just because I stayed up late Tuesday night screaming at the TV for the Knicks to run up the score in a 24-point game in November.
Apparently, New York's margin of victory was a tiebreaker to advance to the next round. Nobody really seemed to know on the broadcast, and I still don't know what this tournament even is.
But who cares? We're in!
The big picture: Regardless of who wins the new and (still weird) mid-season "NBA Cup," the league itself is the big winner here.
Pfizer capitalized on COVID-19, but obesity is proving to be a tougher animal.
Why it matters: For pharmaceutical companies, health crises are opportunities. And for those that can crack the code, weight-loss drugs are shaping up to be big business.
Prosek Partners hiredJon Schwartz as managing director, head of sports, to launch a sports business strategic communications practice; Ella Bruck joins as account supervisor.
Weber Shandwick alumMichael Byrnes joins Highwire PR as managing director of health.
Brunswick alum Errol Cockfield joins Weber Shandwick as its North America crisis lead.
Jamey Boike joins Mission North as executive vice president; Alexis-Brianna Felix was promoted to senior director, content strategy.
Taylor Shawver has been named senior vice president and co-founder of Integral.
Seven Letter alum Liza Joenler joins Zeno Group as vice president, crisis and issues.
Axios: Lauren Floyd is associate editor, breaking news; Moyo Adeolu is social host, Axios Local — Chicago; and Kyle Stokes is a reporter for Axios Local — Twin Cities.
BBC:Kevin Ponniahis head of digital news forNorth America.
CNN:Kyle Blaine has been promoted to managing editor for politics; Elizabeth Wagmeister is an entertainment correspondent; Barak Ravid is a politics and foreign policy analyst; and Julia Benbrook is a national correspondent.
The Financial Times: Michael Acton is a correspondent covering Apple.
Fox Business Network: Kelly Saberi is a Chicago-based correspondent.
Panera Bread, the quick-serve restaurant chain bought by JAB Holding for $7.5 billion in 2017, has filed confidential IPO papers, per the FT.
Why it matters: This is the latest in a recent spate of high-profile companies that are lining up for early 2024 IPOs, including Shein and Reddit, although none have shown enough conviction to flip their S-1 filings.
Why it matters: No one expected this.Back in the 2000s, the big worry — epitomized in a 2003 New York Times article called "The Opt-Out Revolution" — was that high-achieving women were having kids and leaving the workforce.
Get ready to eat more buckwheat, pickles, caramelized bananas, cinnamon sugar, dressed-up ramen, grilled halloumi cheese and Korean cuisine in 2024 — and to wash it down with a tall, cool glass of camel milk.
Why it matters: It's the time of year when everyone in the food business predicts what we'll be seeing on restaurant menus and store shelves — trends that can translate to serious bucks when a particular dish or ingredient catches on.
Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, nailed an Axios obsession in a blog post on being successful: "Focus is a force multiplier on work."
"Once you have figured out what to do, be unstoppable about getting your small handful of priorities accomplished quickly," Altman wrote. "I have yet to meet a slow-moving person who is very successful."
Why it matters: This is the era of speed, indeed. Technology is changing every job, company and industry. The winners will narrow their focus to the tasks that truly matter — and activate.
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