Twitter Shareholders Sued Elon Musk – Delay Over Disclosing Stakes
Elon Reeve Musk CEO of SpaceX and Tesla recently went wildfire over headlines after acquiring twitter’s 9.2% stakes. Now, once again Musk is trending over headlines and the internet for being sued by twitter’s shareholders. What happens regarding the news? Elon Musk get sued on April 12 by former Twitter.Inc shareholders led by Marc Rasella. The delayed disclosure let Musk buy more Twitter shares at lower prices while defrauding them into selling at “artificially deflated” charges. They overlooked the latest run-up in its inventory rate due to the fact he waited too long to reveal a 9.2% stake withinside the social media enterprise. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In a proposed magnificence movement filed in Manhattan federal court, the shareholders stated Musk, the CEO of the electric vehicle enterprise Tesla Inc made “materially fake and deceptive statements and omissions” by failing to show he had invested in Twitter through March 24 as required beneath neath federal law. Rasella stated he offered 35 Twitter stocks for $1,373, or a median rate of $39.23, between March 25 and 29. After Musk disclosed his stake, Twitter stocks rose 27% on April 4, from $39.31 to $ 49.97, which buyers regarded as a vote of self-belief from the world’s richest character in San Francisco-primarily based totally on Twitter. What are the technicalities? U.S. securities law requires disclosure within 10 days of acquiring 5% of a company, and in Musk’s case, the 10-day closing date turned into March 24. A past-due document should cause a per-violation civil penalty of up to $207,183, according to Urska Velikonja, a law regulation professor at Georgetown University Law Center. That is a financial rock band on the wrist for Musk, the world’s richest person with a net worth of $302 billion. But the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could look into market manipulation allegations. Moreover, regarding the Twitter stock purchase and seeking harsher sanctions in an ongoing investigation regarding his Tesla stock sales, experts say. “This is not really a gray area. He acquired it and didn’t file it within 10 days. It’s a violation. And so this is a slam-dunk case from the SEC perspective,” said, Adam C. Pritchard, a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School. By now not being a member of the board, Musk, a prolific Twitter user, can hold shopping for stocks without being certain via way of means of his settlement with the corporation to restrict his stake to 14.9%. Some analysts have cautioned Musk should push Twitter to make adjustments or maybe pursue an unsolicited bid for the corporation. Read More: Elon Musk Wants To Convert Twitter HQ To Homeless Shelter – Bezos Likes The Idea
How China Leads the Quantum Computing Race?
In 2008, the world-renowned quantum scientist Pan Jianwei returned to China and was allocated a lab at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) to kickstart China’s quantum program. Fast forward a decade and China is the leading power in quantum communications and making consistent leaps in other areas of quantum technology. What is quantum computing? Quantum computing works on the principle of “qubits”, also known as quantum bits, which can store values between 0 and 1, leading to increased computing power. To make these qubits work, several different technologies have been developed. Each has its own benefits and dependencies on which the government or private sector bases the investment decision. Due to the use of the superposition principle (multiple states simultaneously), quantum computers are very adept at solving certain optimization and programming problems when dealing with huge data sets, making them invaluable in areas such as cybersecurity, cryptography, and blockchain. Rapid growth in China The last decade has seen exciting technological advances in the field of quantum computing, driven by huge investments from both the public and private sectors. A wide range of sectors has benefited from quantum computing to create simulation models (aerospace), large-scale data analysis (space and cosmology programs), forecasting (weather and climate), and the construction of encryption systems (military and defense). While establishing itself as a leader in quantum communications technology, China soon began devoting its resources to developing alternative quantum computing technologies. Once lagging behind the West in the development of quantum computers, China now houses two of the world’s fastest quantum computers “Jiuzhang” on its soil. The catalysts for the rise In China, the state and government have played an important role in promoting scientific and technological advances. The synergy between the state and the national private sector is exemplary in various fields, and quantum technology is no exception. The government has provided funding for academic institutions to set up laboratories for quantum computing research. Financial support for domestic technology companies dedicated to developing real-world applications for quantum computing. In a way, the state acts as a bridge and facilitator, helping to translate academic research in quantum computing to build real quantum computers and develop applications. But Chinese researchers have eventually developed breakthroughs in an alternative area of quantum computing technology, such as Photonic computing that does not require intensive cooling. The Shanghai-based researchers managed to create a device that can produce the extremely low temperatures at which quantum computers normally operate. It took China just 15 years to go from an emerging quantum power to one of the world leaders in quantum computing technology. Read More: Meta Announces Horizon Worlds – A Marketplace for Virtual Creators
Mastercard Files For Fifteen Metaverses, NFT Trademark
American multinational financial services corporation Mastercard, throughout the world, its principal business is to process payments between the banks of merchants and issuing cards banks or credit unions of the purchasers. The payment giant Mastercard is exploring ways to process payments in the metaverse. And also filed 15 non-fungible-token (NFT) and metaverse related trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Mastercard’s future planning According to Cointelegraph, the organization is also considering establishing a marketplace for NFT trading, where customers can sell or buy virtual assets, and propose events, concerts, festivals, and awards within the metaverse and others. Additionally, the brand highlights the use of cryptocurrencies, virtual MasterCard, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) within the metaverse. The Mastercard emblem for the Metaverse, like the alternate utility, suggests circles, one purple and the other yellow, each overlapping to give shape. Mastercard hasn’t officially revealed any plans for a debut in the Metaverse world. In early February, Mastercard hired 500 new employees to advise banks and merchants on crypto and NFT technology adoption. In December, Mastercard launched cryptocurrency-linked payment cards in Asia-Pacific, allowing users to convert their digital assets into fiat currency. The cards try to remove all barriers between merchants who do not accept cryptocurrencies as payment and customers who want to pay with digital assets. Recently, in a public statement, Rama Sridhar Mastercard’s executive vice president for digital and emerging partnerships and new payment flows for AsiaPacific said, “Cryptocurrencies are many things to people an investment, a disruptive technology, or a unique financial tool. As interest and attention surge from all quarters, their real-world applications are now emerging beyond the speculative.” Meanwhile, other big names such as Visa and American Express have also filed several applications related to payment cards and services in the metaverse and using its cards at NFT marketplaces. Now it’s time to enjoy the show and see who could conquer the top of this virtual world initiative. Read More: World’s First NFT War History Museum Raised $600,000 to Rebuild Destroyed Ukraine
Meta Announces Horizon Worlds – A Marketplace for Virtual Creators
Facebook has confirmed its future in virtual reality and the metaverse by rebranding its name to Meta and spending billions to build hardware and software. But the company has, at least so far, shared little with the public about how well its early bets are performing. On April 12, Meta announced they are testing new features in Horizon Worlds, its social virtual reality (VR) app, which will help creators sell virtual items and earn money. Meta CEO Mark Zukarburg confirmed creator monetization and metaverse economy are really going to be important, in a conversation with Vidyuu Studios. “There are two new things that I wanted to talk about. One is in-world purchases – basically the ability to sell virtual items and access things inside Horizon Worlds which is part of the commerce equation,” said Zuckerberg in a video posted by Vidyuu Studios. What is Horizon World? In early December, Horizon Worlds launched on Oculus Quest VR headsets in the US and Canada; after that, in a very short time, it reached 300,000 monthly users. According to Zuckerberg, all users with access to Horizon Worlds will be able to buy and sell globally. VR and Quest are key parts of the company’s metaverse vision, but it seems that the metaverse is an interconnected digital world that bridges VR and AR. In addition to more familiar platforms like phones and computers, the company recently announced ‘Personal Boundary’ for Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues. Personal Boundary will be set by default to make it look like there is a distance of almost 4 feet between your avatar and others. What are the achievement and specialties? One of the big draws to Worlds is the ability to create custom rooms using in-app tools, to which Meta says its users have now created over 10,000 worlds like Rec Room. Prior to securing a $145 million funding round, valuing Rec Room at $3.5 billion, the kid-friendly platform announced in 2020 that it was hosting over three million user-created levels. Eventually, Meta also hopes to fuse all of its Horizon apps to make them more accessible, which could even include the ability to connect with non-VR users too. That would put Meta much closer to its goal of running its own metaverse which you might define as an interconnected, immersive experience that allows for persistent identity, items, avatar, etc. Read More: Pig Butchering Scam, A New Way to Fraud People Via Dating Apps
Elon Musk Wants To Convert Twitter HQ To Homeless Shelter – Bezos Likes The Idea
What was the scenario? What makes it more promising is when the world’s two most rich people pitch ideas to tackle homelessness. Elon Reeve Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and Blueorigin recently found tweeting to tackle homelessness. After acquiring twitter’s 9.2% stake, Elon musk also asked for an edit button that was been the talk of the internet for the last 2 years. Elon Musk who recently bought the largest share of Twitter now wants to convert its HQ into a homeless shelter. With that idea keep in mind he tweeted a poll asking users to vote for converting twitter’s San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter. The idea came to light because a few employees were working during the pandemic, and this will make it easy for employees who wish to volunteer. Musk has more than 81 million followers on Twitter which helped him gain over a million votes over his poll in less than a day, with more than 90% saying ‘yes.’ In May 2020, Bezos also made Amazon’s eight-floor family homeless shelter attached to its Seattle headquarters and tweeted an article technology-focused blog GeekWire. After tweeting Musk, Bezos gave a suggestion by saying “at least a portion of Twitter’s headquarters, if not all of it, into a homeless shelter.” Later Musk admired his suggestion saying it’s a “Great idea.” Elon Musk’s other ideas After becoming the largest shareholder of Twitter, Musk posted a poll asking to vote for the edit button. Afterward Twitter CEO Parag Agarwal also retweeted by confirming it followed by Twitter’s official account a thread confirming that they are working on the edit button now. Musk also proposed some other changes such as changes to the Twitter Blue premium subscription service, banning advertising, giving an option to pay in the cryptocurrency dogecoin, and the name Twitter to Titter by removing “W”. Moreover, news has spread that Musk may not participate in twitter’s board of members however, it’s not been confirmed yet. Read More: Google Giving Its Employees Free E-Scooters To Bring Back Them To Workplaces
Pig Butchering Scam, A New Way to Fraud People Via Dating Apps
In the age of Web 3.0 and cryptocurrencies, there are many ways to exploit its features. A new way that became viral is according to news recently broke calling the scam “Pig Butchering Scam”. The scam was first reported in China and happened via a dating app. What is a Pig Butchering Scam? The scam combines romance scams with crypto scams as victims are promised “happily ever after” and huge crypto profits. Cybercriminals running this long-running scam spend months earning the trust of online daters by exploiting the romance and lure of quick crypto returns for scam victims. This can lead to irreparable financial damage as well as lasting emotional and psychological trauma. scammers meet victims on popular dating apps before moving the conversation to WhatsApp and bombarding the victim with flirtatious messages. After the conversation is converted to crypto, a scammer posing as a successful crypto trader offers to show the victim how to invest their money quickly. What are other ways of crypto scams? While cryptocurrency has plenty of legitimate uses, the currencies themselves are a favored payment method by cybercriminals looking for fast money whilst also maintaining their anonymity. Jane Lee, a researcher at Sift, an online fraud prevention firm said, “Most recently, we’ve noticed fraudsters on messaging app forums posing as legitimate charities seeking cryptocurrency donations for Ukraine. However, because crypto payments are confirmed by both parties on the blockchain, the donors have no recourse and the fraudster can walk away with the money.” What are the ways to stay safe? Increasing digital literacy is more important than ever as our daily lives continue to transform online. People should do their research before investing in crypto and always make sure the platform they are using is official and legit. Presence in reputable search engines and app stores. is a good start. Read More: Google Giving Its Employees Free E-Scooters To Bring Back Them To Workplaces
10 Slice of Life Movies That Will Change Your Views
Slice of life describes the depiction of mundane experiences exceedingly in art and entertainment. In 10 slice of life movies that will change your views list, a slice of life refers to naturalism, whereas in the literary formulation it’s a narrative technique. Within which an ostensibly absolute sequence of events in a character’s life is presented, typically lacking plot development, conflict, and exposition, furthermore as often having an open ending. In theatrical parlance, the term slice of life refers to a realistic illustration of real-life, generally used as an adjective, as in “a play with ‘slice of life’ dialogues”. The term originated by French writer Jean Jullien between 1890 and 1895 as an expression of the French phrase “tranche de vie”. However, that’s been said we refer you to watch our favorite slice of life movies that you may like, 10 slice of life movies that will change your views mentioned here… House of Hummingbird (2018) The movie is set in 1994, and South Korea’s capital Seoul is facing massive, fast changes. The unrest is mirrored by tons of its residents, together with Eun-hee, a malcontent immature with a less-than-stellar home and faculty life. She manages to induce by with the assistance of her friends and lovers, that’s till they alter too, and Eun-hee is forced to grapple with the volatility of it all. Sensitively told and genuinely captivating on the 10 slice of life movies that will change your views list, House of Hummingbird could be a stellar debut by writer-director Kim Bo-ra. Her command shines in however young player Park Ji-hoo dynamically portrays Eun-hee, in how the story meanders however ne’er loses footing, and in how every frame displays a quiet gorgeousness because the primary colour of her youth pop against the light scenery of urbanized Seoul. the fragile balance of these parts is bound to evoke a sincere, profound feeling in each viewer. Poetry (2011) Granny Mi Ja works part-time as a caretaker and struggles to lift a teenager grandchild by herself. Despite her powerful situation, she speaks softly, dresses fashionably, and approaches the globe with child-like curiosity. Enrolling in an exceeding poetry class, she endeavors to capture life in verse form, however, her straightforward dream of finishing a verse form is stalled by the first signs of Alzheimer’s unwellness and therefore the significant money and emotional burden of her grandson’s surprising wrongdoing. Poetry could be a masterpiece in the 10 slice of life movies that will change your views list, from one of South Korea’s most cherished motion-picture show directors, Lee Chang-dong. the easy story follows the lifestyle of a grandmother, Mija, who works as a caretaker for a living. To fill her inner emptiness, she decides to affix a poetry club with different grandmothers in her neighborhood. Meanwhile, as Mija deals with her own money and health problems, she struggles to attach to her young grandchild — solely to search out that he’s keeping a dark secret. If you’re accustomed to Lee Chang-dong’s works, then you recognize that the movie can tug at your heartstrings. however, if you aren’t, prepare to be moved. A Hero (2021) Celebrated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s latest motion-picture show could be about Rahim, a person who is in jail as a result of he was unable to repay a debt. He gets a short-lived unharness from prison, and with a giant smile on his face, he leaves his confinement with the concept of not come back back. His secret girlfriend hands him a pack of gold coins, that they conceive to sell to repay the creditor. But, as is custom with Farhadi’s movies, the middle of the story is an ethical quandary that comes from one of the characters attempting to be a decent person. The gold coins aren’t Rahim’s or his girlfriend’s, however, it’s life-changing for each of them. elite as Iran’s official submission to the Oscars. Rahim is in jail attributable to a debt he was unable to repay. throughout a two-day leave, he tries to persuade somebody to withdraw his criticism against the payment of a part of the sum. however, things don’t go as planned. Is he a hero? Tune In For Love (2019) This slow romance is about in an exceedingly national capital store during the 1990s. A boy recently out of juvenile detention and a part-time worker fall for every different whereas operating there. For a while, their existence is joyful and quiet because they sell bread and bond. However, the Asian money crisis of 1997 forces the store to close. This makes them request different jobs removed from each other. As a romance, a tune-up for Love isn’t original however it doesn’t get to be. It’s simply simple and enjoyable. There are very few movies like this among the 10 slice of life movies that will change your views list. In 1994, on the primary day that Yoo Yeul went on air as the new DJ of the favored radio show ‘Music Album,’ a school woman Mi-su meets Hyun-woo who happens to visit the store she works at. just like the music streaming from the radio, their frequencies slowly are available in sync; even once they’re apart, the show brings them along through ebbs and flows of events arising from each pure coincidence and inevitability, till the bitter reality sets in and drives them apart… A Silent Voice (2016) For the next movie, on the 10 slice of life movies that will change your views list, This animated movie supported the short manga series of an equivalent name. Additionally packs a punch with its drama tho’ there’s some humor in it too. This time, the themes revolve around forgiveness and redemption. In sixth grade, Shoya Ishida was a cruel bully to his deaf class fellow Shoko, however now, in high school, Shoya is decided to form things right with Shoko before it’s too late. can he notice love, too?. This story is thus easy however terribly deep to know its being but
Google Giving Its Employees Free E-Scooters To Bring Back Them To Workplaces
Two years after the pandemic fully changes the work patterns, employers are doubling down on office real estate, and are not very comfortable with transporting them to workplaces on the contrary they are more familiar with functioning at home. To solve this kind of issue, Google has taken its option to pay billions on increasing its footprint over the course of the pandemic, a symbol that staff eventually come to workplaces. And simply just in case, it runs into any friction, Google has shown a temperament to spend cash on perks to entice employees back. “People got really accustomed to working from home. And they’re just trying to do everything they can to improve the experience of coming back,” added Unagi founder and chief operating officer David Hyman. What’s The state of affairs? The tech-giant Google is teaming up with e-scooter maker Unagi to launch a program referred to as “Ride Scoot.” Google’s US-based workers can get Liquidatet for the total price of a monthly subscription to Unagi’s fashionable Model One scooter. The Model One, which retails for $990, may be a lightweight dual-motor scooter with a high speed of 20mph and a range of 15.5 miles. Additionally, last year to boost over $10 million in working capital funding, the Oakland-based company conjointly launched a subscription as another possession for $49 a month. There’s also a $50 sign-up fee, maintenance, and insurance from scooter thieving or harm are enclosed within the monthly fee. What’s Unagi about to do? Unagi won’t simply be handing out free scooters to each Google employee. Unagi plans to line up booths at numerous Google offices locations. And planning to sign in staff for a monthly scooter subscription at the discounted rate of $44.10 per month, and the $50 enrollment fee, the full of which can be totally reimbursable by Google. Read More: Twitter is Working on its Edit Button. What are the Pros and Cons of it?
Hypothetical and Suppressed Inventions, If Existed, Would Have Changed the World
Technology is very essential for today’s world and its effects are very versatile these days. Tech could do impossibly great work and unbelievably bad too. From the first discovery of wheels, modern-day technology had grown great, neither the first human nor the elderly era could imagine how we got to achieve in this tech field. However, we are not at the peak, some revolutionary but lost techs could have an exceptional effect on our world. Before discussing the suppressed inventions, let’s know about some hypothetical techs that would have changed the world. Hypothetical Techs • The Perpetual Motion Perpetual Motion is a hypothetical machine that operates infinitely without an external force applied. With this type of nature, technically that’s impossible to exist but if it exists that will violate the first and second laws of thermodynamics. New states of matter, time crystals, were discovered in 2016 thus at the quantum level the components of atoms are in a continual repetitive motion. But that does not prove a Perpetual Motion machine could exist or break the laws of thermodynamics. • Torus In geometry, a torus is a surface of the revolution created by rotating a circle in three-dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle. When the axis of rotation does not touch the circumference, the surface has an annular shape and is called a torus of revolution. If the axis of rotation is tangent to the circle, the surface is a horned torus through the circle twice, the surface is a fusiform torus. In topology, an annular torus is homeomorphic to the Cartesian product of two circles: S1 × S1, and the latter is used as a definition in this context of Mobius Strip. • Cold Fusion Generators Cold fusion is a hypothetical nuclear reaction that would occur at or near room temperature. This would contrast sharply with “hot” fusion that occurs naturally inside stars and artificially in hydrogen bombs and prototype fusion reactors. In 1989, two electrochemists, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons reported that their device had produced anomalous heat of a magnitude that would have defied explanation except in terms of nuclear energy. They also reported measuring small amounts of nuclear reaction byproducts, including neutrons and tritium. The small tabletop experiment involved the electrolysis of heavy water on the surface of a palladium electrode. The reported results received widespread media attention. Further, many scientists have tried to reproduce the experiment with the few details available. Antigravity Antigravity, also known as a non-gravitational field, is a hypothetical phenomenon of creating a place or object free from the force of gravity. It does not refer to the lack of weight under gravity experienced in free fall or orbit, or the balancing of the force of gravity with another force, such as electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift. Antigravity is a recurring concept in science fiction, especially in the context of the propulsion of spacecraft. “Antigravity” is often used to refer to devices that appear to reverse gravity even though they work by other means, such as elevators, which fly through the air by moving air with electromagnetic fields. Gravity Shield: In 1948, businessman Roger Babson established the Gravity Research Foundation to study ways to reduce the effects of gravity. Their efforts were a bit “mean” at first, but they sometimes gave talks that attracted the likes of Clarence Birdseye, known for his frozen foods, and helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky. Over time, the Foundation shifted its focus away from trying to control gravity, simply to understand it better. Gyroscopic Devices: Gyroscopes produce a force when twisted that operates “out of plane” and may appear to lift against gravity. Although this force is well regarded as illusory, even under Newtonian models, it has nevertheless generated numerous claims for antigravity devices and a number of patented devices. None of these devices have ever been shown to work under controlled conditions and have often been the subject of conspiracy theories. Suppressed Inventions That Would Have Solved the Energy Crisis • Wardenclyffe Tower Project “Electric power is everywhere, present in unlimited quantities and can drive the world’s machinery without the need of coal, oil, gas or any other fuels.” – Nikola Tesla Multi-gifted Tesla reduces many disciplinary boundaries. His genius gave an upward push to some of the world-converting innovations. One of his most well-known innovations turned into the Wardenclyffe Tower Project. It turned into Tesla’s attempt to offer everybody around the globe unfastened strength with the aid of harnessing power from the Earth’s ionosphere. Without wires, the towers should transmit the harnessed power to ground-degree areas. However, His gadget and lab had been burned down collectively with the associated belongings due to the fact it can motivate a hazard to undercut the price of the traditional power grid system. If Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower Project has been allowed to flourish then nowadays we can be residing in a utopia. • Cloudbusting and Weather Control Wilhelm Reich constructed a device known as the cloudbuster which effectively triggered climate change. This possible mechanism for making rain clouds for crop irrigation in drought regions changed stopped through the ever-watchful lackeys of the ruling elite. Allowing something like this will result in meals abundance and significantly make contributions to finishing international starvation. However, the controllers don’t need international starvation to end. If this befell it’d make it extra tough to govern human beings in what could now not be third-international countries. Don’t forget their hidden enslavement agenda. Consequently, Wilhelm Reich changed into hounded by the likes of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) having accused him of fraud and deception together with his cloudbuster device. His gadget was seized and destroyed. His ultimate days have been spent in jail where it changed to claiming that he died of a coronary heart attack. • Stanley Meyer And The Car That Runs On Water Meyer invented the automobile that ran on water rather than the traditional fossil gasoline. The vehicle turned capable of the tour from New York to Los Angeles
Jordan Meinster: Stretching and Kicking Basketball Franchise Performance into High Gear
They say there’s a time and place for everything – Jordan Meinster says the time to start a basketball franchise is right now. There are many things that mark PickUp USA Fitness out from other franchises, but Jordan starts with two. ‘First, we offer new franchisees a turn-key business complete in every detail, including training and mentorship programs. And second, our whole environment is based upon allocating substantial resources to our training programs, whether it’s complete training or 365 day/year support. We at Fortunes Crown got into conversation with Jordan Meinster, Founder & CEO, PickUp USA Fitness, to know more about the company and how it is helping the businesses as a whole. Below are the highlights of the interview: Please brief us in detail about the current scenario of the franchise business. How have the customer preferences changed over the years? PickUp USA has awarded 43 franchises for our basketball-focused concept. We have a nationwide presence and are considered the industry leader in basketball facilities. We stay in tune with our customer preferences and continuously adjust our services to ensure we are providing a world-class basketball experience. Some recent examples include a members-only adult basketball tournament each week and a new Youth Development league for kids in grades 3rd – 8th. Could you please walk us through your educational/professional journey? What was the moment that triggered you to step into the franchise business? I went to college in Durango, CO and always played PickUp basketball at parks and rec centers there while I earned my Bachelor’s in Business Economics. I put myself through school managing a restaurant. When I wasn’t in school or working, I was playing basketball! I worked for several years in banking and finance and eventually enrolled in night classes at USC where I completed my MBA. I always dreamed of opening a basketball gym and one day I got the courage to quit my job and start PickUp USA! When was PickUp USA established? What are the prominent services/solutions offered by the company? The first PickUp USA was established in Irwindale, CA (just outside of Los Angeles) in June 2012. PickUp USA is a basketball paradise for youth and adults. We do group and private basketball training, PickUp basketball with referees, tournaments, Youth Basketball Leagues, and a lot more. All of our clubs also have full fitness centers with weights and cardio equipment. What measures do you incorporate to ensure motivation and productivity within the workspace? How do you respond to criticism and disagreements? I take a very hands-off approach with my team. We collectively determine goals and then I let them figure out how to get there. It is a very entrepreneurial workplace. We encourage risk-taking and making mistakes. That has helped us become one of the fastest-growing fitness franchises in the US. Criticism and disagreements are a natural and productive part of any business. Criticism provides great feedback and insight from customers, employees, and franchise owners. Disagreements show that everyone cares. Friction is a part of growth and we welcome it as long as everyone remains respectful and professional of all team members. What measures do you undertake to ensure optimum customer satisfaction? How much impact does the customer feedback have on the company’s strategies? Customer feedback is a huge part of how we shape our programs and services at PickUp USA. We continuously run member surveys and connect with our customers at our gyms. Our corporate team is consistently onsite at corporate-owned and franchised locations and we actively solicit feedback from customers so we can know how to best serve them. Our franchise owners also perform self-audits on their stores to ensure that we are living up to the high expectations that our members and guests have for our clubs. As a leader, how do you ensure hiring the ideal franchising candidate with the ideal qualities? How do you ensure providing effective training and mentorship to the team? When analyzing franchising candidates for PickUp USA, our development team completes a comprehensive discovery process to get to know the individuals looking to franchise our basketball concept. Our Franchise Development Manager sends e-Brochures and conducts initial phone calls to answer initial questions and determine if there is a fit. From there, she sends them an application to complete. Upon receiving the application, she determines if the candidate qualifies to start our discovery process. If qualified, our VP of Franchise Development conducts a series of interviews and webinars to build the candidates understanding of our program. After this process, the VP determines if we will award a franchise to the candidate. It’s a very thorough vetting process that ensures we have top-tier franchisees to deliver our services to the public. After signing on as franchisees, our training and mentorship programs are widely recognized as the best in the industry. We allocate substantial resources to our training programs and all franchisees complete a comprehensive curriculum through PickUp USA University. Franchisees work directly with our VP of Operations, our VP of Marketing, and our Franchise Support Associate to complete their training, and they are assigned dedicated reps at the corporate office for ongoing 365 day/year support. We also have a platform for franchisees to communicate with one another, either one-on-one or in a community forum. We all support one another. When one of us wins, we all win. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your company? What was your response to the unprecedented situation? COVID shut down all of our gyms for a brief period in 2020. We banded together as a company and weathered the storm. We quickly recovered and were back to pre-pandemic levels of business by Q3 of 2020. 2020 wound up being a record year for the company and 2021 far surpassed 2020’s numbers. Things have not slowed down in 2022. Q1 was our best quarter ever. COVID was scary, but we have an amazing group of franchise owners and a dedicated corporate office. We didn’t close a single location