Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
AAA is planning for a future where we don’t own cars, starting with a car-share
To use AAA’s newest service–a one-way car-sharing startup in the Bay Area called Gig–you don’t have to own a car. The nonprofit, which is best known for its roadside assistance, is piloting the service as one step toward a future where self-driving cars, and dropping rates of car ownership, Read More...
Blockchain technology could bring fair-trade to the coffee industry
A startup called Bext360 wants to bring blockchain technology, which serves as the basis for Bitcoin trading, into the coffee industry of developing countries in order to create more transparency between farmers and buyers. The startup’s first “product” will be a kiosk, similar to a Coinstar Read More...
The collaborative and sharing economy in Amsterdam
Two years ago, I wrote in US News & World Report that Amsterdam is a hub of startup innovation, and interviewed Deputy Mayor Kajsa Ollongren after The Next Web conference in the Netherlands. I also spoke with Patrick de Zeeuw, CEO of Startupbootcamp Amsterdam and Co Founder of Startupbootcamp Read More...
These 8 big corporations are role models when it comes to animal welfare
As more and more customers demand that animals be treated humanely, a remarkable number of big corporations are changing their habits for the better. One of those companies is McDonald’s. The fast-food giant switched to 100 percent sustainable fish in 2013, and is now sourcing their beef as Read More...
Making a living with Airbnb
The so-called sharing economy of Airbnb has nothing to do with actual sharing, as in a traditional house swap in which money is not exchanged. Travelers pay hosts for accommodation, and Airbnb matches supply with demand, collecting fees from both guests and hosts that range from 3 to 12 percent on Read More...
Dog-sharing is the new hot thing in the sharing economy
The latest trend in the sharing economy is dog-sharing. No, dogs aren’t being passed around for free, but there is a flurry of startups offering dog-walking, dog-sitting, and other dog-related services. These apps give people the opportunity to become pet owners despite the challenges of modern Read More...
Female-friendly Uber alternative Safr lauches with mission to empower women
Positioning itself as a female-friendly alternative to Uber, Safr, a new Boston ride-hailing service that launched last month, faces an uphill climb to take market share from an industry leader. But with Uber’s seemingly unending stream of bad news this year, and a new report revealing that Read More...
Nobel prize winner, microloan pioneer Muhammad Yunus: 'We are all entrepreneurs'
Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi economist, microfinance pioneer, founder of the grassroots Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace prize laureate tirelessly travels the world with one message: We are all entrepreneurs. We have talents that we can use to generate income. Recently, Yunus has begun taking his Read More...
How Airbnb is spurring innovation in luxury travel
There is now a cottage industry of short-term-rental start-ups, whether started before or after Airbnb. The category includes dozens of other companies: Roomorama, Love Home Swap, Stay Alfred, and many more. Some were scooped up by Read More...
Main street is alive: The revenge of the independent hardware stores
Amidst the daily news about artificial intelligence and the online (sharing) economy, it would seem that the old-fashioned Main Street store is a thing of the past. Economic trends show a clear downward trend for traditional retail. But there’s one industry that’s challenging this trend. Read More...