QoreNext Secures $1.5 million in Seed Funding Round

Singapore-based QoreNext has secured $1.5 million in seed funding from Wavemaker Partners. The Data-as-a-Service provider will use the funding to advance production of its main modules and to bring its first set of data products to the market.

The company was founded by a data scientist Rahul Sahgal. His business idea was based on IP specifically carved out of Annik, the data and analytics company Sahgal founded and sold to French IT services giant CapGemini. Annik was part of a private equity-driven roll-up under digital customer engagement firm LiquidHub, which was acquired for US$500 million in 2018.

QoreNext has previously raised funding from leaders in the insights, payments, and data spaces.

"We have already had many constructive discussions with corporates that show a genuine interest in our data offerings", said Rahul Sahgal, founder and CEO of QoreNext. "In Wavemaker, we are excited to have found the perfect partner to help us get the company to the next level."

The Qore platform changes the way foundational data is produced and consumed, while the virtual collaborative aspect brings the gig-economy model into the corporate data management world. This precludes the need for armies of data stewards or editors.

 

 

Payoneer, Coupang partner to Empower Sellers with Opportunities in South Korea

Payoneer and Coupang are teaming up in a new partnership to help sellers easily expand and sell into South Korea. Through this partnership, Coupang will gain from Payoneer's technology and expertise while sellers on Coupang will get to enjoy seamless payments for their cross-border businesses.

This partnership will allow sellers in Payoneer's ecosystem to access funds and greater flexibility in managing multi-currency payments when selling on Coupang. Payoneer's ecosystem spans countries including China, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US. The partnership will enable sellers also expand into new markets both within and outside of APAC region.

"Payoneer continues to cement its position as a market leader and innovator for digital commerce and partnering with the world’s fastest moving and growing companies is a key part of this. Coupang is at the forefront of the e-Commerce wave and has been able to capitalize on the new wealth of opportunities available to leading platforms. Payoneer’s technology and Green Channel service will help to supercharge Coupang’s global growth," Nagesh Devata, VP for APAC, Payoneer.

Through this partnership, sellers will also gain access to streamlined onboarding onto Coupang through Payoneer’s Green Channel program, which includes assistance from a specialised support team to tap new growth opportunities, leveraging Coupang’s position as Korea’s most popular online retail destination.

 

Why online casinos are better than the real thing

When you ask most people to picture a casino in their minds, they imagine a glamorous resort casino like those on the Vegas Strip or in Monte Carlo. These casinos are amazing entertainment palaces, with everything you could imagine in an invigorating and intense atmosphere. The reality in most casinos, though, isn’t quite as exciting. Your local casino just off the freeway isn’t likely to have Britney Spears performing or offer a five-star buffet; there probably won’t be enough space for more than a few different kinds of slot machines and the quality of the dealers can be variable.

In general, an online casino is much better than the real thing. Some online casinos, such as www.skycitycasino.com, actually have brick-and-mortar properties, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds depending on which parts of the casino experience you’re looking for. Most of the time, however, an online casino is better than its land-based counterpart and here’s why:

Comfort

Part of the fun of going to a casino is getting all dressed up but as everyone knows, our fanciest clothes are never the most comfortable. With an online casino, there’s no need to get dressed up (or even to get dressed at all!). You can play from the comfort of home, wearing whatever you like. You can even play in bed in your pajamas, if a few slot machine spins is your preferred way of waking up in the morning.

The laws that many states and countries have passed banning smoking indoors have been an important step in improving air quality and protecting the health of their citizens. They have, however, had an unexpected consequence. Nowadays, instead of just smelling smoke, patrons in casinos, music venues and bars are now often confronted with the smell of stale alcohol and body odor. Online casinos don’t have this stinky problem.

Accessibility

Very few people live near a world-class casino. For the majority of us, a trip to a resort casino has to be a weekend trip or during a long vacation. Even going to a local casino can involve a long drive. Playing at an online casino means that you can play anywhere, at any time. There’s no need to go somewhere to play. If you’re only looking to play a few games in your downtime, it isn’t practical to go all the way to a casino. With an online casino, you can play a game or two whenever you feel like it, without having to invest any other time.

Many casinos also have fairly limited space to move around between the various tables, slot machines and other patrons. This can make it very hard for people with limited mobility to maneuver. Additionally, the bright flashing lights and loud noises can be overwhelming for those with sensory issues. Online casinos make the casino experience accessible to everyone.

No distractions

Casinos are busy places with lots of activity. From all of the different tables with their games and dealers to the sounds of the slot machines and the chatter of other gamblers, there is a lot going on. Some of these distractions are fun, while others can be a bit annoying. Research has shown that being continuously distracted can lead to bad decision making. This might be good for the casino but isn’t great for the gambler. When playing at an online casino, you can control how many distractions there are. For example, you can mute other notifications if you’re playing on your phone, and if you’re playing during your commute, you can pop on some noise cancelling headphones and enjoy your playing time in peace.

Entertainment choice

The main resort casinos book some of the biggest names in entertainment for their shows, and on the floor, most casinos have music playing constantly. While it’s often unobtrusive and enjoyable, you still have no control over what’s playing or the volume. Being able to pick the music you want to listen to while you play is another one of the perks of online casinos. You could even play in total silence if Zen gambling is more your style.

No tipping required

We all know that gambling is most likely going to cost us money in the long run but that doesn’t mean we want to spend more than we have to. Besides paying for valet parking, you are also expected to tip your dealers and those who serve your food and drinks. Playing online casino games means there’s no tipping, which frees up your entire budget for playing the games you want to play.

 

 

How Direct Mail Marketing Can Support Your Business: Important Benefits to Consider

If you are looking to increase sales and brand awareness, then you may be considering a direct mail campaign. These campaigns have been proven to give a high return of investment (ROI) as your audience are likely to engage and respond with it. 

If you are unsure whether a direct mail campaign is right for your business, then we have put together a short guide of all the benefits that it can offer. After reading this you should be able to make an informed decision on whether a direct mail campaign is the way forward.

Personalization

Undoubtedly, one of the most valuable benefits you can enjoy from direct mail marketing is personalization. As well as giving you the ability to enhance your campaigns, it also gives your customers a one-to-one communication experience. This can help to strengthen relationships and loyalty between your customers and your brand. Your customers will feel like the piece was made specifically with them in mind.

It is recommended that you look into the importance of personalization in marketing. The main aim is to make each customer feel important. It will better help them feel connected to your company.

Targeting

If you asked companies who have already conducted a direct mail campaign what their top main benefit was. They are likely to mention how direct mail is a highly targeted method. Every direct mail campaign that you create can be tailored for a specific audience. This means your customers will receive information/offers that are relevant to their current stage in the buying process. For example, if you have a regular customer that buys the same product time and time again, you are able to send them direct mail that relates solely to their recent purchases.

Typically, your marketing team will segment your target market, so you know what campaigns should be sent to specific groups. If you are new to this, then it can certainly help to look at some online resources. There is plenty of advice out there which can help you segment your target market from demographics down to interests and activities.

Can Be Easily Executed

Some marketing efforts require a lot of time and skill. However, although direct mail does require skill, it is much easier to create a campaign than other forms of marketing. Now, technology has evolved there are an abundance of desktop publishing tools, which allow anyone to design a direct mail piece. If your marketing department is small, it can help to look into some different web-based direct mail programs.  

Allows You to Be Creative

It is also important to note that when it comes to designing your direct mail pieces, you should keep them in line with your brand. You should always include your brands logo and use your company color palette, so it gives your brand consistency throughout different channels. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the design of your pieces too. Your audience want something to grab their attention and not just information displayed in black and white. Give them a reason why they should read your message and respond. It can help to look for examples online to give you some well-needed inspiration.

Effectiveness

There is no denying that marketing mail is an effective technique. Just from conducting some quick research of your own, you will find plenty of research that supports that statement. Take a look at this blog post from Lob. They discuss marketing mail in its entirety and give you five statistics that prove direct mail is worth the investment. But what makes direct mail so effective? Many believe it is down to its tangibility. Instead of sending out an email that can easily get thrown into a junk folder, you are personally reaching out to your audience with a physical letter. The response rates are much higher than that of a paid ad or email, thus why many companies use this marketing method.

Easy To Measure Results

So, we already know that direct mail campaigns can be highly effective. However, some of your campaigns may be more successful than others. To identify which campaigns need improvement, you will need to measure the results. This is another great quality of direct mail; the results are significantly easier to measure than other marketing techniques.

To track the success of a campaign, you will only need to count the number of responses that you receive. Typically, direct mail can give companies a high response rate. However, you should always continue to track each campaigns success to help you make further improvements to your strategy in the future.

Cost-Effective

It can be easy to throw a lot of money at your marketing department. However, some companies do not have the luxury of a large budget. This is one of the great benefits of direct mail marketing. For years it has been praised for its cost-effective qualities. Although you need to spend a small amount of money on resources, you are targeting groups that are likely to buy from you. Your business is able to save funds because you are directing your resources towards viable targets, instead of anyone and everyone.

For most businesses, cutting costs is essential in helping them increase their profitability in the future. Direct mail campaigns are just one clever way that you can cut corners but there are also plenty of other cost-saving tips out there that businesses can follow. If your business is working on a tight budget, then it could benefit you to do some research of your own.

Ability To Re-Engage Past Customers

Due to characteristics like personalization, direct mail gives businesses an opportunity to re-engage with existing customers. All businesses will have several customers who have not made a purchase with them in a long time. Direct mail is the perfect opportunity for you to reach out to them and remind them that your company still exists. Your direct mail is an opportunity for your company to promote itself. Give your existing customers a reason why they should come back. You can remind them of previous purchases that they may need again and even recommend other products that they may like based on their purchase history.

Versatility

When it comes to marketing your business, it can be difficult to think outside the box. It is important that you switch up your content to grab your audience's attention whilst also helping you stand out amongst your competitors. What your marketing department needs is versatility, and this is something that direct mail can deliver. There are a wide variety of formats that you can choose from whether that’s brochures, magazines or even postcards. So, your direct mail campaigns can differ from one another, and you can benefit from each one of these subtle strategies.  

Marketing mail is just one of the ways that your business can enjoy more versatility. You can learn more about how your business can become more versatile through various blogs and resources. After the recent Coronavirus pandemic, many businesses had to quickly adapt and change their business processes in order to survive. It was the businesses who were versatile that had a greater chance of surviving. So, it can really help to do your research and ensure that your business can change direction in the event of a disaster.

 

 

FPT Software Announces Partnership with IGPI Singapore

 FPT Software has partnered with Industrial Growth Platform. Ltd. (IGPI Singapore), a subsidiary of IGPI. This partnership will look to accelerate digital transformation (DX) for corporates, institutions, governments and organizations in Southeast Asia.

IGPI Singapore is a subsidiary of IGPI, one of Japan's largest management consultancy firms. This partnership will help develop a DX platform for Japanese companies to invest and support industrial reform in ASEAN. This will provide investors a platform through which they can provide support to help member companies achieve growth and aid their expansion.

"We are excited to partner with the largest technology conglomerate in Vietnam. In Southeast Asia, there is a large variation in services for the middle class, and local industries are fragmented with too many players, which causes business inefficiencies and volatilities in products and services quality. We believe that together with FPT Software, we can create a unique and successful DX platform to solve these issues," said IGPI Singapore CEO Kohki Sakata.

FPT Software will lend valuable insights about Vietnam's market, local connections and digital transformation. IGPI on the other hand will use its knowledge of business revitalization and industry information for large companies in Japan and Southeast Asia.

 

Mesa Air in Partnership with Flirtey Launches First-Ever Drone Delivery Business in the Us

Mesa Air in a recent announcement has stated that it is partnering with Flirteyto primarily focus on the last-mile food delivery industry. Also, Mesa is planning to predominantly expand its services beyond the global airlines and food service market. The instant goal of this partnership is to conduct commercial drone deliveries, especially in the last-mile food and beverage market in the US. Both the companies are planning to expand the drone delivery service in countries like the US and New Zealand.

Flirtey, leader in designing and manufacturing aircraftwill provide Mesa withitscutting-edge technology including the Flirtey Eagle, which is an electric powered, advanced drone that will help in precision-based delivery to homes and businesses, and itsnext-generation autonomous software platform will help aircrafts to conduct autonomous flight operations, and will help Mesa to operate commercial drone delivery.

The partnership will mainly focus on operational excellence and data collection, which will enable the rapid expansion with Mesa’s leading regional air carrier with over 450 daily departures across the US. Till date Flirtey has conducted technical experiments on 6,000 drone delivery flights in the US and has recently expanded its delivery drone production to meet growing needs.

 

Hackers behind SolarWinds are back targeting retail resellers and tech providers: Microsoft reports

Recently, popular tech giant Microsoft has made an announcement that hackers behind SolarWinds are back. Activities were detected from Nobelium, a famous actor in Russia. Back in 2002, SolarWinds customers were attacked by Russian hackers who were part of an intelligence group known as SVR. Nobelium had since then been attempting to remake the approach used by the hackers to target organizations crucial for the global IT supply chain. This time around, the entity is focused on attacking different parts of the supply chain like techs related to the retail functions and resellers. Microsoft is almost certain that the hackers are trying to ride the direct access wave that resellers generally use to reach downstream customers.

According to Microsoft, a new campaign surfaced around May 2021, and since then, notification was sent to more than 140 retail technology service providers and resellers who Nobelium targeted. Microsoft has stated that more than 14 of these service providers and resellers have been exposed to cyber-attack until now. Fortunately for the community, Microsoft had discovered the attack in the early stage so that the developments could be saved with other cloud resellers, customers, and tech providers. The tech giant has assured the community that it will continue to put efforts into sorting this issue soon.

 

Everything You Need To Know About 3D Typographers

The initial point is to figure out what 3D typographer technology is wielded and why it was developed. With the current pandemic hitting the whole globe, hospitals pivoted to 3D typographers to provide as many supplies as defensive apparatus. 3D typographers use computer-aided layouts to come up with 3D equipment like molten plastic and powders.

This printer is very adaptable with what they print; they can even use polyester to tread rigorous paraphernalia such as sunglasses. They can also make wooden items such as mobile phone cases or bicycle epithets. Other 3D typographers can also be used to edit carbon fibre and metallic powders for durable industrial properties. 

3D automation is an excellent development aspect because it is adaptable and swift, making for forthcoming enterprises. For now, the 3D appliance is being utilised for abrupt prototyping. The other advantage of 3D printing services is that they can be used in any enterprise; for example, they can be utilised to generate completed commodities. They can also be used in health centres to repair damaged furnaces.

The edifice enterprise is also using 3D typographers to stamp extensive residences before they are constructed. Institutes are also using 3D typographers to print off three-dimensional dinosaur bones and automated slabs to make studying more available and more practical. That's why 3D typographers are said to be helpful in any enterprise. You can get more information about what 3D printers do for different enterprises via their 3D printing guide.

How 3D Compositor   Work

3D typographers usually employ the same technique as a standard inkjet printer- albeit in 3D. It seizes the assortment of top-of-the-line software, powder-like fabrics and exactitude devices to establish a three-dimensional item from scrape. We are going to talk about the phases that 3D typographers use to give rise to ideas.

●       The initial stride that 3D competitors take is called 3D prototyping. To maximise precision, you need to guide it on how it should work because it cannot know its duties just from anywhere. All layouts are required to be established in 3D prototyping software. Some designs are too comprehensive for being prototyped using the old manufacturing methods.

3D compositors are becoming instrumental pieces of technology in multiple enterprises, and one of the enterprises that benefit fully from this technology is the dentistry enterprise; this is because dentists require three-dimensional software for them to come up with a retainer that matches every individual.

The 3D dimensional software is also helpful in space enterprises because it can formulate some portions of the spaceship.

●       3D compositors usually need to be shredded into portions so that each piece can carry out its required duty. The moment you slice the software, it takes an examination of every prototype to establish the final commodity. Shredders also notify the 3D typographers on were to restore a prototype. The restoration gives a 3D typographic item inner lattices and sections that assist in moulding and enhancing the thing. This is why 3D compositors are becoming famous over the years. 

 

 

Virgin Media O2 Launches its First Official Product That Improve Data Speed

Virgin Media O2, a recently-formed telecoms giant, in a recent press meet has announced that it has launched a brand-new product. The official product is called ‘Volt’. It is exclusively meant for both Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile customers. Anyone who chooses Volt, Virgin Media O2 will boost their home broadband speed and mobile data allowance by as much as 100 percent.

Virgin media O2 has also stated that users will get double the amount of mobile data with Volt. That means if the user is using Virgin's M100 broadband connection with a 5GB O2 contract, and they opt for Volt service, the data speed will be doubled to 200Mbps and mobile data allowance to 10GB, without any additional cost. The same will apply to those who are already using the O2 mobile service.

Customers will get a free Virgin Media Wi-Fi pod with a Volt connection. The new Volt service will provide a robust wireless broadband connection without any interruption throughout the home. These pods will eliminate Wi-Fi ‘blackspots’ if placed in the right spot. With Volt, users can get a reliable internet connection in every room of their house.

 

Trends in the industry for the cannabis enthusiast to know

In recent years, cannabis has become very high in demand. The popularity of this product is constantly growing each day with more and more people learning about the benefits of using cannabis in their everyday lives. There are many cannabis strains available for users to choose from and it can be difficult for someone who has never consumed cannabis before to know exactly what they are looking for. If you are one of these individuals, this blog will help you get started on your cannabis journey and provide some insight into the different trends that are occurring in the cannabis industry.

More legalization

For the longest time, cannabis use and possession were illegal and people who were caught with this substance were criminalized. The FDA classed cannabis as a schedule 1 drug which put it in the same category as deadly and highly addictive drugs such as heroin and crack. Society, influenced by the mass media, started stigmatizing marijuana and the substance developed a nasty reputation. Today, we see a completely different reality and finally, that negative stigma attached to cannabis is being shed and people are starting to wake up to the truth about this drug. We now see the legalization of cannabis spread around the US and many other countries around the world. A lot of research is also being done on the health benefits which is further pushing for more legalization, especially for medical use. Cannabis is no longer criminalized in the US and many places around the world have legalized cannabis for medical use but not recreational use.

More sales

Cannabis has always been in demand before legalization, however, now that people can legally consume, there is more innovation in the industry. People are buying cannabis for recreational use as well as for medical use which has made cannabis sales skyrocket in recent years. On July 4^th of this year alone, more than $400 million worth of cannabis was sold and experts are predicting that the cannabis industry has the potential to grow as much as $130 million per year in the near future. More sales results in more investments and more innovation in this industry which will create a better experience for the consumer.

More consumption methods

Traditionally, people consumed cannabis via joints, blunts, bongs, and “space” cookies however in recent years, there has been massive innovation in the industry and many new consumption methods have hit the market. Now there are even online stores like Grasscity that sell products such as vaporizers like the terp pen, tinctures, topicals, pills, cannabis oil, dab rigs, and a wider variety of edibles that even includes alcoholic beverages. This is wonderful for the consumer who is now afforded more choices and can now experiment and find the right method of consumption to meet their needs and requirements.

Variety of pricing

The newly legal cannabis market has introduced a variety of prices as well as potency. The price of cannabis depends on the strain and particular grade however, cannabis has always managed to remain affordable. Once legalization started to become more widespread, we have seen the price of recreational cannabis decrease and medical cannabis, although still affordable, is more costly because of the processing that the cannabis undergoes to make a certain consumption product such as tinctures of CBD oil. The affordable price means that users are not negatively impacted by legalization and can afford to consume cannabis recreationally as well as medically to treat certain health conditions.

More medical marijuana products

The spotlight shines bright on medical marijuana and the positive results of research and studies have created a demand for medical marijuana among people who suffer from various health conditions that range from minor to more severe. There are so many medical marijuana products on the market including topicals, tinctures, tampons, gum, teas, coffee, and even cannabis skincare. This gives consumers options and freedom to choose a product that best suits them.

The future of cannabis in our world looks bright. The truth about this amazingly versatile plant is being exposed and people in society are embracing this substance for many reasons. The industry will continue to grow and as growth develops, so will technology and innovation in the industry.

 

If We Automate Trucks Who is Responsible When They Crash?

In 2018, the universal road accidents reports concluded that trucks remain responsible for 6.5% of total accidents because of their giant bodies, which are not easy to navigate. You can easily imagine the condition of a car after it has been struck by a truck weighing more than six thousand pounds. Now the talk is to put full-automated/self-driving 18 wheelers on the road. Its an 80,000 pound robot before you add the load.

Value of No Driver

There are some huge benefits to a company to have self-driving trucks.  No driver means that he cannot due grossly negligent things like drink and drive or use drugs and drive an 18-wheeler. A self-driving vehicle never gets fatigue. It doesn’t require off-duty hours to rest so it can run 24/7. Self-driving trucks are also cheaper for the company because they require no wages, no overtime and no benefits. The downside made be determining who is responsible when the crash.

Traditional Truck Accident Liability

Traditionally, the potentially responsible parties of accidents involving semi-trucks (when the truck was the cause) have included the driver, the truck owner or owner, the company responsible for shipping the load and sometimes a company that was responsible for maintenance. The driver and the trucking company were usually the primary liable parties that a truck accident lawyer would aim for.  First, you prove that the driver was negligent, then you hold the employer liable as the principal. This is because many states require that you prove negligence in an auto collision to hold a party liable. But what happens when there is no driver to be negligent?

Liability With No Driver

When a truck has no driver, obviously you cannot prove negligence on the part of the driver. This is problematic because negligence is the triggering factor for liability in most States. The error is likely a computer malfunction or programming oversight. This is effectively now a product-liability case that the vehicle manufacturer is responsible for. If they company has a maintenance company that maintains the truck and its software, then that company too may be liable. 

Ramifications

In liability insurance states, negligence of a driver triggers liability and coverage.  Your policy promises to defend the driver if sued and pay any judgment for which the driver is determined liable.  If there is no driver, do they have to pay?  Do you, the victim get stuck with the bill?  The reality is, we simply do not know how this is going to play out.  One thing is for sure though, insurance policies are going to have to be modified to cover a driverless situation. Laws may even have to be changed so that companies who operate these vehicles are held strictly liable for crashes. 

 

CRED's Valuation Jumps to $4 billion after Series E

India-based fintech has announced that it has raised $251 million in its latest round of funding. The round was co-led by Tiger Global and Falcon Edge. Rest of the investment came from Marshall Wace, Steadfast, DST Global, Insight Partners, Coatue, Sofina, RTP, and Dragoneer. The company is now valued at $4.01 billion.

The company had been valued at $2.2 billion after its previous round in April this year. The company is expected to use the funds to expand its range of existing products.

CRED is not looking to raise any more funds in recent future. “Cred is fortunate to have consistent inbound interest owing to the value created for investors and team. However, the information that Cred is looking to raise another round is wrong,” said the company to Mint.

The Kunal Shah-led company has closed three high-profile funding rounds within a year. Cred ‘Cash’ provides members an instant line of credit, with interest rates ranging from 12% to 15%, and partners with non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) to fund these loans.

A members-only credit card bill payment platform, CRED, has been growing at a fast pace. The company has over 1,300 brand partners and has a customer base of 7.5 million in India.

 

Guardforce AI Announces Launch of its Intelligent Cloud Platform

The Asian provider of integrated security solutions has launched its Intelligent Cloud Platform (ICP). The ICP is an intelligent robotics management platform, which will enable the company to remotely manage and monitor robots deployed with clients.

The new ICP from Guardforce AI will help the company integrate other solutions to further enhance its features and services. This will also help the company to work in collaboration with other AI tech providers.

The Guardcore AI's ICP will be improved to include advertising management, remote access control management and CCTV security surveillance.

"We launched the ICP to support cooperation and partnerships with other technology providers, especially AI specialists, to maintain our best-in-class solution for clients. It's part of our broader strategy to transform our business into a technologically integrated security service provider," said Terence Yap, Chairman of Guardforce AI. "The launch of the ICP raises our value proposition and service offerings to clients, while also positioning us as a leading RaaS provider in the region."

The new ICP services is being made available in Hong Kong and Thailand for now.

 How to Get a Power of Attorney in Georgia

A POA, or power of attorney, is an important document related to estate planning, and it appoints an agent or attorney the legal right to make a limited set of decisions on your behalf.

A power of attorney is usually used and created when the principal is suffering from a permanent or temporary disability, illness, or another type of medical condition and is unable to make decisions on their own.

Power of Attorney Requirements

If you are wondering how to get power of attorney in Georgia, the process is pretty straightforward. You have to contact an estate planning lawyer, and they will guide you through every step. The basic power of attorney requirements is pretty much the same in all the states. This includes requirements such as:

●     The POA document must be signed by the principal of the contract. If the principal     is unable to sign, it must be signed by someone in the presence and at the direction    of the principal.

●     It must be signed in the presence of one or multiple witnesses.

●     It must be signed by someone authorized to administer oaths, like a notary public.

●     The principal, the witness, the person who signs, and the notary must be present during the signing.

Aside from these basic requirements, some states may have a few other requirements or criteria. Let’s take a look at the POA requirements in Georgia.

Requirements Related to Execution

You have to follow Georgia's laws when setting up a POA form. If it does not, banks, financial institutions, law firms, and credit unions will not accept the form or acknowledge the attorney's authorization.

In Georgia, all POA forms created after July 1 2017, must follow the format established under the Georgia Code § 10-6B-70 (2017), or it must contain the same language as the statutory form.

Requirements Related to Granting Authority

A power of attorney is a powerful document, and in the right hands, it can be extremely beneficial. But in the wrong hands, it could have severe repercussions for both you and your family.

In total, there are 5 types of POA, and each gives the agent different types of authority. For instance, if you set up a financial POA, the agent can only make decisions related to your financial matters. They will not have any authority over your health care. If you want someone to take care of your health, you will have to set up a medical POA or advance directive for healthcare under Georgia Law.

Incapacitation Under Georgia Law

Under the laws of Georgia, a person is referred to as incapacitated if a person loses the ability to evaluate, analyze, and receive information and communicate to make an informed decision. The impairment has to be determined and recognized by a licensed psychologist or physician.

The principal may also be incapacitated if they are detained, incarcerated, or is unable to return to the United States for an uncertain period. This has to be determined and acknowledged by a judge, lawyer, or another government official.

Banks and POAs

Most of the banks were reluctant to accept the newly established format of POA created in 2017. However, the UPOAA, or the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, compelled banks to accept it.

Still, there are plenty of banks in Georgia that have their financial POA. The best way to deal with this would be to contact the banks or other financial institutions and ask whether they have their own POAs. If they do, complete their forms and submit them.

Social Security Administration and POAs

The social security administration and the veteran’s administration in Georgia do not recognize POAs. This is extremely frustrating, but their policies do not accept it yet. To receive transactions from the SSA, you have to apply and become a representative payee.

As for the VA or veterans administration, the VA has its way of selecting a financial agent on behalf of the principal to manage their finances. The VA will call for and appoint a financial fiduciary. But this process is often time-consuming since the VA runs background checks on potential fiduciaries and appoints the right one.

Types of Power of Attorney

There are five types of power of attorneys, and all of them appoint an agent and give them a limited set of rights to make decisions. However, each type has a specific purpose.

1. General Power of Attorney

This allows an agent or attorney to make decisions regarding your financials, health, business, and legal matters. It gives the agent authority on all situations under the local laws and regulations. However, a general POA has limitations regarding setting up wills and testaments.

2. Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney allows the agent to make a broader set of decisions, compared to a general POA, and it does not get terminated even if the principal becomes incapacitated.

3. Financial Power of Attorney

A financial POA gives the agent the right to make decisions only related to financial matters such as property and money. It allows your agent to pay your bills, manage your investments, make bank deposits, file your taxes, etc.

4. Medical Power of Attorney

A medical POA or a healthcare POA is also subject to a limited set of decisions. In this case, the agent can only make decisions related to your healthcare. Your agent can make decisions about your treatment, medication, surgery, end-of-life care, etc.

5. Springing Power of Attorney

A traditional POA is effective immediately. Meaning, the agent can start making decisions right away after being appointed, but a springing power of attorney is only activated when a specific condition is met. For instance, if you become incapacitated, only then will a springing POA become activated.

Final Thoughts

Power of attorneys can make important decisions on your behalf. It is extremely important to appoint the right attorney for you and your family’s physical, mental, and financial well-being.

Depending on the type of POA, their limitations vary. However, most of them become ineffective after the death of the principal.

 

6 Tips for Scaling Your Startup

If you’re a startup founder, it's important to look for opportunities for growing your enterprise in the long term. Scalability is a crucial factor for success. It indicates progress not just in revenue, but also in other factors like risk tolerance, productivity, and innovation.

Still, the challenge can be daunting. According to an article from Investopedia, startups had a failure rate of 90% in 2019. As a matter of fact, only a handful of startups can make it past their 10^th year of operation before going bust. 

From a lack of research to limited capital, there are various ways your startup can fail. This shouldn't discourage you from making the journey towards startup success. By focusing more on scalability, your startup is guaranteed to thrive past the 10-year mark. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind:

1. Review your business model

Before launching your startup, it's important that you spend time analyzing your business model and checking if it has the potential to support the sustained growth of your startup. The best way to approach this is to use a business model canvas or BMC. This allows you to visualize your startup's potential to scale and develop a unique identity.

Through a BMC, you get to identify key partnerships, revenue streams, cost structures, activities, resources, and other factors that will fuel future growth. Once you have completed your BMC, you can determine what works, plan for the long term, and minimize the risk of failure.

2. Find your key strengths

What does your startup have that other startups lack? Determining key strengths is crucial to know how your startup can compete against other enterprises in your market.

For this, don't just focus on filling up the gap between you and your competitors. Instead, concentrate on enhancing core products and activities. If there's anything you are doing right, look for ways to improve it. Don't rush into new projects just yet. Take time to build on the things that are gaining ground.

Understanding what makes your startup unique can help you focus on concepts that matter in terms of long-term growth. 

3. Make the most out of your workforce

Hiring more people doesn't necessarily accelerate the growth of your startup. It only makes core processes more complicated in addition to eating into the bottom line.

When recruiting people to your startup, don't focus too much on filling up empty seats and creating unnecessary positions. During the first months of launching your startup, you need to build a pioneering team that provides the skills and experience that coincide with your business's core activities.

You can reach out to business owners you know and ask for referrals. Also, consider posting job ads on social media platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. In any case, it's important that you provide a clear description of the kind of employees you will want to hire.

The future of your startup depends heavily on the quality of your human capital. Consider coming up with a detailed profile of an ideal employee for your startup. That way, you won't have to waste time and resources on candidates who won't deliver long-term value.

4. Consider outsourcing

In case you lack the resources to recruit an in-house team, outsourcing would be the best option. Especially if you are operating as a sole proprietorship, hiring a remote worker is a cost-effective way to support your business's growth during the first few months of launching.

You can find freelancers who can handle a range of tasks that in-house employees can handle but at a cheaper cost. If you want to build a marketing campaign, for instance, you can hire independent contractors that have the creative and technical skills you need. Another option is to partner with a marketing agency. There are a number of outsourcing firms that provide teams for a flat rate.

Whether it's a freelancer or an offshore company, outsourcing provides your startup with an affordable way to access skills that are locally unavailable. This also allows you to offload repetitive tasks so you can focus on finding other growth opportunities. Plus, you get to save more money from hiring costs. You can use these savings to strengthen other aspects of your startup and open up new income streams.

5. Channel your resources towards innovation

Your startup has a better chance of success if it's able to provide new concepts to the market. After all, the whole point of building a startup is to drive innovation. Spending less time, money, and effort on research and development will only make it difficult for your startup to scale amid a tech-driven landscape that's constantly changing.

Take the time to learn the issues and problems that are prevalent in your market. How will your startup solve these problems? How can you align your products or services with current trends?

One thing's for sure, you wouldn't want to rely too much on your core activities. As the bottomline grows, you should set aside a portion of your earnings for fueling innovation.

In case you are not sure  about starting an innovation program, consider getting a partner who can help you develop an innovation strategy and unlock your startup's potential as a leader for transformative disruption.

6. Forge strategic partnerships

In some cases, startup founders overlook one essential part in scaling their organizations: The need to form partnerships.

While you can relish in the idea that your startup is the product of your own toil, you will still need to find business partners who can be instrumental in helping you find growth opportunities in other areas and locations.

You just need to develop a desire to build alliances with potential growth partners. Look for mentors and industry leaders to connect with and find out how your business can fit into their agenda. From there, introduce your startup and what it is developing recently.

Once you have forged partnerships with important industry figures, you will be able to discover new growth opportunities to leverage.

The need to scale is becoming more important as more startups enter the arena. so put these tips to the test and let your startup thrive for more than a decade!