GoPuff Buys BevMo! For $350 Million | How Bill Gates Handles A Job Interview

Plus: High Youth Voter Turnout In Georgia Creates Significant Biden Contingent In Deeply Divided State

Though it's hard to think of anything besides the United States election right now, the world has continued to spin. And in the world of business, that means that SPAC mergers continue to be the story of the day.

Silicon Valley startup Aeva, a maker of sensors for self-driving vehicles that blend capabilities of laser lidar, cameras and radar, is heading for the New York Stock Exchange in a deal that pushes its valuation to just over $2 billion. So far, Aeva has lined up commercial partnerships with Porsche and parts giant ZF, and may soon have additional deals to disclose, cofounder and Forbes Under 30 lister Soroush Salehian told Forbes. Revenue this year will be in the “single-digit million dollars” range but should rise to $800 million annually by 2025 as commercial supply deals kick in. Read more about the company from Forbes Senior Editor Alan Ohnsman.

Must Read Stories For Young Innovators

Only about half of businesses are familiar with the sales tax rules for online transactions with customers in other states. Here's what small business owners need to know about taxes and selling online in the Covid-19 era so you don't get stuck with a surprise tax bill.

140,000. That’s how many Georgia voters between 18 and 29 cast their ballots in favor of Biden. People between the ages of 18 and 29 made up 21% of Georgia voters, and these young people are giving Biden a significant bump in the tight race.

Atmos, a new startup that makes it easier to build custom homes, has raised $4 million at a $25 million valuation, in a round led by Khosla Ventures. A graduate of Y Combinator, the company’s roster of investors also includes Sam Altman, Adam Nash, JLL Spark, and a group of TikTok influencers.

Bill Gates has hired thousands of people at Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He knows what to look for in job candidates. But how would Gates handle a job interview if the tables were turned? 

Digital convenience store GoPuff is spending $350 million to buy liquor store chain BevMo!, a move that will quickly establish its presence in states like California. The company’s first major acquisition comes a month after Accel, Softbank Vision Fund and other investors piled $380 million into the Philadelphia-based company, valuing it at $3.9 billion.

The Pursuit

This week's collection of expert tips from Forbes contributors around the world for those building and running a business. Click to sign up instantly for The Pursuit, a biweekly essential briefing by Senior Entrepreneurs Editor Maneet Ahuja.

As business owners close up 2020, thoughts of purpose and adaptability are becoming north stars for 2021.

Forbes checked in with six business owners from around the country to find out how they’ve been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what they want from the outcome of the election. Here’s what they had to say.

In 2009, the Obama-Biden Administration elevated the startup entrepreneur as a key piece of America’s recovery from the Great Recession with broad Republican support for it. The Biden plan, entitled Made in All of America, could once again elevate the entrepreneur as a key piece of America’s economic recovery from Covid-19 depending on the election results.

Target, Walmart and Best Buy have finally figured out how to compete against Amazon and sell in the 21st century. Investors and consumers – and workers – are all winning.

Interest in side hustles continues to grow. Stephanie Burns, Forbes Contributor, tells her story of how much a “chic CEO” was needed and how so many are asking, “How do I start a business?”. Plus, the majority of freelancers want to stick with it long-term. This is why.

Dr. Michael Canic, president of Making Strategy Happen says to leaders ready to transform ambition into strategy and strategy into reality, “What leaders need to project is a ruthless consistency of purpose, one that is constantly reflected in their decisions and actions. Everything leaders do—as creative and innovative as that might be—should be consistently aligned with that purpose.”

Don’t forget, Darwin said that it was the most adaptable that thrive.

Across Forbes