The Biz Model Club Newsletter

Hello, Biz Enthusiasts!
Welcome to this week’s roundup of market shifts, product launches, and emerging tech highlights! With earnings season in full swing, we’re seeing the "Magnificent Seven" tech giants set the stage for market directions, while climate change’s effects are felt across diverse industries—from the Canadian ski rental market to vineyard automation.

New Business Models Spotted!

Freelance Lawyer Revolution: Lawyers Are Going Solo, but Not Alone
The legal world is getting a shake-up as more lawyers embrace freelancing, thanks to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s 2019 reforms. This new model lets qualified solicitors practice independently without the hassle of traditional law firm overheads. Arbor Law, co-founded by Daniel Adams, is one of the frontrunners in this shift, providing a flexible platform for solo corporate lawyers while offering essential back-office support. From enhanced work-life balance to cost-effective legal services, freelance lawyers are seeing growing demand, especially from startups and small businesses looking for more affordable, agile solutions. Could this be the future of legal services? Read more here

Decathlon’s New Ride: Betting Big on Second-Hand E-Bikes
Global sports retailer Decathlon just made a smart investment in Munich-based Rebike Mobility, Central Europe’s top second-hand e-bike platform. Through Decathlon Pulse, their innovation hub, Decathlon is helping Rebike scale its unique business model, which includes refurbished premium e-bikes with a 2-year warranty, a subscription model, and B2B fleet rentals. With Europe’s e-bike market expected to reach 100 million units by 2030, Rebike’s circular economy model is riding a strong wave, making both financial and environmental sense. Discover the full story

Audi’s Direct-to-Consumer Drive: Disrupting Dealerships
Audi’s ready to disrupt the car dealership model by selling directly to consumers in Singapore starting 2025. This bold move offers buyers a digital-first experience, allowing them to configure, finance, and trade in cars from the comfort of their homes. For those who prefer the in-person touch, Audi’s new showroom concept, “House of Progress,” will provide a luxury experience complete with driving simulators and a Michelin-starred restaurant partnership. With dealerships still managing after-sales services, Audi’s DTC approach could set a trend in the auto industry. Catch the details

New Startups to Keep an Eye on!

Qnovia: Changing the Game for Smoking Cessation
Qnovia’s new device, RespiRx, could be a breakthrough for the 28 million American smokers trying to quit. With FDA approval on the horizon, RespiRx uses a unique vibrating mesh nebulizer to deliver nicotine without harmful combustion, a first in nicotine replacement. With over-the-counter patches and gums showing low success rates, Qnovia aims to disrupt the $3 billion nicotine therapy market. Learn more here

Metablify: Digging Deeper into Metabolomics
Backed by the Danforth Technology Company, Metablify is pioneering tech that detects elusive metabolites, potentially unlocking new biomarkers for personalized medicine and innovative plant-based compounds. Led by seasoned biotech entrepreneurs, Metablify’s algorithms process vast data, making it a game-changer in medicine and agriculture. This startup could redefine biomarker research and precision nutrition. Read more here

Sneex: High Heels That Feel Like Sneakers
Spanx founder Sara Blakely is back with Sneex, a startup combining style with comfort in her “hy-heels”—a sneaker-stiletto hybrid aimed at solving the pain of high heels. After nine years in development, these shoes have features like arch support and weight distribution for all-day wear. Starting at $395, Blakely’s ready to disrupt the footwear market, one comfortable heel at a time. Explore Sneex

Pharos: Making Hospital Reporting a Breeze
Healthcare startup Pharos has secured $5 million to automate the labor-intensive task of quality reporting in hospitals. With AI tech that simplifies data collection from electronic records, Pharos frees up clinical staff to focus on patient care, while ensuring compliance and reporting precision. Founded by healthcare and AI experts, Pharos is set to make hospital admin easier and more efficient. Discover Pharos

Stacklok: Securing the Open Source Supply Chain
Craig McLuckie, a Kubernetes co-founder, is now focused on open source security with Stacklok. After VMware’s acquisition by Broadcom, McLuckie launched Stacklok to secure software supply chains, with products like Minder and Trusty to vet open-source packages and prevent malicious code. This startup’s mission? To keep the code ecosystem safe in an increasingly risky digital world. More about Stacklok

Newly Released!

Meta’s NotebookLlama: Open-Source Podcast Creation Tool
Meta has rolled out NotebookLlama, an “open” version of Google’s NotebookLM podcast feature. Using Meta’s own Llama models, NotebookLlama turns text files into podcast-style discussions with dramatized interruptions and synthesized voices. While still a bit robotic, the tool is being fine-tuned to improve naturalness. Check it out here

Google Calendar’s Dark Mode Finally Arrives
Google Calendar is getting a long-awaited refresh, adding dark mode and updated Material Design 3 icons. Expect a cleaner, more accessible interface rolling out over the next few weeks. Great news for all night-mode fans!

OpenAI’s Orion: The Next AI Frontier Coming in December
OpenAI is set to launch its newest model, Orion, by December. Early reports suggest it’s up to 100 times more powerful than GPT-4, with initial access reserved for partners like Microsoft on Azure. Orion could be a major step toward artificial general intelligence. Find out more here

Stable Diffusion 3.5: Stability AI’s Comeback Model
Stability AI has launched Stable Diffusion 3.5, a much-needed upgrade after the lukewarm reception of SD3. The new version promises better realism, prompt adherence, and text rendering, pushing the boundaries of AI image generation once again. Learn more here

Samsung’s New Memory Technology on the Horizon
Samsung has accelerated development of Selector-Only Memory (SOM), a hybrid memory technology with the potential to combine the best of RAM and SSD properties. Using simulations to streamline material selection, Samsung’s approach could make SOM a true contender in next-gen memory tech. Read the details

McDonald’s ‘McDonnell’s’ Pop-Up Launches Chicken Big Mac
In a clever marketing twist, McDonald’s opened “McDonnell’s” in LA, a dupe pop-up to introduce its Chicken Big Mac. With menu classics served in a “familiar but different” vibe, the stunt teased a limited-time release of this new sandwich, sparking curiosity and cravings alike. Catch the full scoop

Notion Expands with Forms, Layouts, and Upcoming Email Integration
At its Make With Notion conference, Notion unveiled Forms and Layouts, plus an email client planned for release as a Gmail alternative in 2025. With these updates, Notion is stepping up as a comprehensive productivity platform, including native AI tools for easier project management. Explore the updates

Google DeepMind Open-Sources AI Text Watermarking
To tackle plagiarism and misinformation, Google DeepMind has released SynthID-Text, an open-source tool that “watermarks” AI-generated text. The goal? To make identifying AI-generated content easier while preserving meaning and quality—crucial for transparency in the AI era. Learn more about SynthID-Text

Growing or Shrinking? (Market Movements)

What’s Growing:

• Pfizer Earnings Expectations Surge
  Pfizer’s projected Q3 2024 earnings of $0.62 per share mark a 464.7% year-over-year growth. Revenues are also expected to rise by 15.8%, driven by strong pharmaceutical sales. Investors are watching closely for a potential EPS surprise.
  Full report

• UK Economy
  The IMF recently revised the UK’s 2024 growth forecast up to 1.1%, from 0.7%, placing the country third among G7 nations in economic growth this year. More here

• Floating Solar Market
  The global floating solar market is projected to grow at 1.4% annually, hitting $8.6 billion by 2032. With floating PV systems offering cooling benefits and efficient land use, this niche solar sector is becoming a vital clean energy solution. Details

• Wearable Devices Market
  Wearable device shipments are set to grow 6.1% in 2024, driven largely by hearables and growing adoption in emerging markets. Smartwatches may see a temporary dip but are expected to recover by 2025. Read more

• Kenya’s Construction Industry
  Kenya’s construction market is forecasted to expand by 5.5% this year, thanks to major investments in transport, energy, and industrial facilities. Growth is expected to reach 6% annually from 2025 to 2028. Full insights

What's Buzzing (Headlines)

AI as a National Security Imperative – U.S. Fast-Tracking Defense AI Development
The Biden administration declared AI a critical component of national security, urging the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to speed up AI deployment to maintain a technological edge over adversaries. With national security adviser Jake Sullivan comparing it to Cold War-level importance, we can expect a wave of defense-focused AI innovations soon.
What’s Next? A surge of investments in military AI applications to keep the U.S. on the front lines of innovation.
Go deeper

Anthropic’s New Tool ‘Computer Use’ Gives AI ‘Superpowers’
Anthropic’s Claude can now independently navigate and interact with computers, performing tasks from complex coding to managing browser tabs autonomously. Early users are comparing it to having a virtual research assistant—one that doesn’t need coffee breaks.
What’s Next? Watch out for more AI-driven workflows and autonomous task capabilities to reshape productivity.
Read more

Apple’s AirPods Pro Can Now Double as Hearing Aids
With a new at-home hearing test, Apple is turning its AirPods Pro 2 into accessible, clinical-grade hearing aids. This feature could be a breakthrough for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, providing convenience at a fraction of traditional costs.
What’s Next? Expect new health tech possibilities as consumer electronics start bridging the gap with medical devices.
Learn more

Food ‘Made from Thin Air’ – The Rise of Microbial Protein
Startups like Air Protein and Solar Foods are harnessing bacteria to convert CO₂ into edible proteins, opening up a new front in sustainable food. From “Air Chicken” to nutrient-dense powders, these biotech innovators aim to redefine agriculture by producing food in labs instead of fields.
What’s Next? Scaling production to make these eco-friendly foods a staple at your local grocery store.
Full story

Face Recognition Glasses: Harvard Students Make Privacy a Hot Topic
In a real-life experiment, two students used Meta smart glasses and widely available AI tools to identify and retrieve personal information about strangers in real time. The implications for privacy are staggering as they demonstrated how easy—and unsettling—it is to combine face recognition with data search engines.
What’s Next? This project has privacy advocates raising alarms and calling for stricter regulation on facial recognition tech.
Read more

J&J’s Ketamine-Based Depression Drug Surges in Popularity
J&J’s nasal spray, Spravato, derived from ketamine, is quickly becoming a go-to treatment for hard-to-treat depression. Its impact on the mental health sector is expanding as more clinics open, meeting the rising demand for psychedelic-based therapies in clinical settings.
What’s Next? Experts predict Spravato could top $1 billion in annual sales as it becomes a mainstay in depression treatment.
Full article

Quick Takes

• Tech Titans Brace for Earnings Week
  The “Magnificent Seven” tech companies—Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla—will reveal earnings amid a highly valued stock market. With these giants expected to account for most S&P 500 growth, investors are keenly watching if AI bets pay off or become a costly balancing act.

• Virtual Wargames Move into the Real World
  Digitally-driven wargames from gaming company Slitherine, initially inspired by Tom Clancy novels, are now essential in Pentagon strategy sessions. The Command software allows military leaders to test scenarios rapidly with AI assistance, blending traditional methods with digital agility.

• Canada’s Ski Rental Market Slumps Amid Warmer Winters
  With dwindling snow, rental demand in Canadian ski towns is cooling. Resorts like Collingwood’s Blue Mountain see occupancy down to record lows, as unpredictable winters force rental strategies to pivot toward short-term, snow-dependent bookings.

• Tesla Stock Soars, Musk Gains $26 Billion
  Tesla’s latest earnings report led to a 22% stock surge, boosting CEO Elon Musk’s fortune by $26 billion and reinforcing his status as the world's richest person with a net worth near $270 billion.

• Music Festivals as Cultural Anchors
  Big-name artists like Morgan Wallen and Karol G are launching branded festivals, creating immersive experiences for fans. This strategy extends artist reach and opens new revenue streams beyond traditional concert tours.

• Boeing’s Strike Costs Skyrocket
  Boeing’s strike shows no signs of easing, with workers rejecting a revised contract. With losses approaching $100 million per day, the potential for a credit rating downgrade looms.

• Stripe’s M&A Strategy Unveiled
  Stripe’s $900M acquisition of TaxJar in 2021 reveals its bold M&A strategy, positioning it to expand tax solutions for U.S. and global markets even as founders depart.

• Roblox Adds Parental Controls
  Following scrutiny over user safety, Roblox will restrict chat features for younger users and introduce new parental accounts, offering more control over children’s in-game activities.

• Grape-Picking Robots on the Horizon
  The wine industry is testing robotic grape pickers as it seeks to automate labor-intensive harvesting. These bots navigate vineyards with surprising dexterity—though mastering this delicate task remains challenging.

• Job Market Opens Up for Migrants
  In the UK, job postings that state "English not required" are rising, particularly in cleaning, driving, and beauty roles, while visa sponsorships are increasing for professional positions, making the job market more accessible to migrants.

That's a wrap! Stay tuned for more insights and updates as we track these changes together in the weeks ahead!

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