STARTUPS CENTRAL

A growing number of entrepreneurs say the path to mass adoption in emerging economies won’t run through app stores. Instead, integrating helpful services into everyday messaging platforms and using conversational, screen-free experiences can cut adoption barriers — a strategy proven by a pilot that combined agricultural advice and basic medical triage for rural communities in India. For years the default startup strategy has been predictable: spot a need, launch a smartphone

Surprise tax bills usually point to failures in planning, bookkeeping or the way owners and advisors work together — not some sudden change in the tax code. Business owners who want to avoid sticker shock need both steady guidance from a tax professional and dependable financial records, and they must plan throughout the year rather than only when returns are due. Most entrepreneurs expect tax season to be costly. But when the number arriving in April is significantly higher

Goldman Sachs accepted fewer than one in 100 people who applied to its 2026 summer internship, the bank confirmed, making this the third consecutive year the program’s admission rate has stayed below that threshold. The firm reported it drew hundreds of thousands of submissions worldwide, a dramatic tightening compared with about one in 20 a decade ago. Jacqueline Arthur, Goldman’s head of human capital, said the bank has shifted from broad recruiting to a more targeted appro

A short, targeted intake call can prevent the costliest mistake an agency makes: letting a poor-fit client onto the roster. Run well, that initial 20 to 30 minutes separates prospects who will collaborate from those who will consume time and margin. Doing the screening up front has improved my firm’s profitability more than any fee increase or scope clause ever did. Start the conversation with five sharp, practical checks. Ask what concrete result the project must produce and

Bootstrapping gives you control, but it also forces you to solve problems with limited cash and time. Here are three practical rules I learned while growing a video-editing and channel-management firm I launched in 2020, now staffed with more than 50 people and having supported upward of 1,000 creators on more than 25,000 videos. Running without outside investment means you can move fast, but only if your internal systems keep up. Early on we relied on email, shared forms and

A steady program of employee recognition — not occasional awards or year-end ceremonies — is one of the most effective tools managers can use to keep high-performing staff on the job, HR specialists and business leaders say. Companies that maintain frequent, specific recognition tend to lose fewer key people, research and practitioner surveys show. In many organizations, steady acknowledgment of contributions can reduce departures by roughly one-third compared with firms that

A well-chosen, high-value domain name can act as more than a web address — it can be a defensive asset that holds or gains value over time. For firms aiming to expand, a single, highly relevant .com can cut marketing costs, reduce customer confusion and even make fundraising easier. Some buyers have spent more than $1 million for that edge, and advisers say those purchases are best judged over years, not quarters. A key reason companies pay big for a name is simple: uniquenes

A mid-size franchise that pulls in more than $20 million a year has rebuilt its customer rewards system, and early internal data suggest the move is nudging more people back into stores. Company leaders say the changes — simpler tiers, a redesigned app and more tailored offers — are helping lift the frequency of visits and boost the average check, benefits that matter to both corporate and local owners. The new program replaces a point-heavy setup with a streamlined model tha