Startup Stash - Tirelessly Yours and Degree Shmegree 🎓

Who Are Your Teammates Again?

A startup’s recent controversial new ad campaign outrightly suggests companies replace human workers with bots. Artisan is a San Francisco-based software startup that offers AI-powered business development representatives (called Artisans). The ad campaign, deployed across SF, includes huge posters of one of its chatbot avatars named Ava. The lines on the posters read:

“Stop hiring humans”
“Artisans won’t complain about work-life balance”
“Artisan’s Zoom cameras will never ‘not be working’ today”

What’s the matter with these ads? For one, they’re not meant to be ironic or sarcastic. The company actually stands by them. Artisan CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack claimed that they have increased brand awareness and sales leads.

While the marketing stunt did work somewhat in favour of the company, many viewers have mocked the billboards, joking that we could also replace partners and children with bots.

PS. Is it just us or do the laser eyes in the billboard give a Homelander from The Boys vibe.

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Degree Shmegree

The November jobs report might paint a rosy picture of the labor market, but for many fresh college grads, the reality is far less upbeat. That shiny new diploma? It doesn’t seem to hold the same weight it used to.

Here’s the kicker: recent grads (ages 22–27) with bachelor’s degrees or higher faced an unemployment rate of 5.3% in September, according to the New York Fed. That’s the highest in over two years—up 90 basis points from last year—and more than double the 2.5% rate for all degree holders aged 22–65. To top it off, recent grads now have higher unemployment rates than the general workforce, breaking a decades-long trend.

So, what’s going on?

First, employers don’t seem as impressed with degrees anymore. A report from Indeed found that only 17.6% of job postings in October required a bachelor’s degree—down from about 20% pre-pandemic. Instead, companies are more focused on hiring candidates with hands-on skills.

Second, there’s the slump in industries like tech, finance, media, and management—fields that once snapped up new grads. These sectors have been cutting back on hiring or rolling out layoffs since 2023.

Lastly, the college experience itself is losing its charm. This fall, freshman enrollment for 18-year-olds in the U.S. dropped over 6% compared to last year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Inspiring Business Lessons From a Low-Cost Food Truck Startup

For starters, a food truck helps you minimize the upfront risk of investing on interiors of the restaurant without knowing the expected sales. And it gives you a freedom of changing your locations.

Headliners of the Year

Here’s a list of the top 5 major events and unprecedented events of 2024 that dominated the news.

5. Diddy Faces Sexual Assault Allegations 👊

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faced multiple sexual assault allegations in 2024. The high-profile case brought an old Justin Bieber video into the limelight and sent ripples through the entertainment industry.

4. Neuralink’s First Brain-Reading Implant 🧠

Neuralink made history by implanting a brain-reading device in a human for the first time. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize treatments for neurological conditions and redefine human interaction with technology.

3. Catherine, Princess of Wales, Cancer Diagnosis 👑

The world was deeply moved when Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced her cancer diagnosis. Her bravery in sharing her journey brought global attention to cancer awareness and early detection.

2. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Billionaire Status 🎤

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became one of the highest-grossing tours in history, captivating millions with its scale and artistry. Alongside this, the singer officially joined the billionaire club, cementing her legacy as a global cultural phenomenon.

1. Elections in the UK, India, and the US 🗳️

Three of the world’s largest democracies—UK, India, and the US—held crucial elections in 2024. These elections shaped new political directions and emphasized the evolving challenges of governance in a changing world.