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EUR/GBP gains ground to around 0.8665 in Monday’s early European session.  Potential meeting between the US and Russia underpins the Euro.  The BoE signaled a cautious easing path, which might help limit the GBP’s losses.  The EUR/GBP cross edges higher to near 0.8665 during the early European session on Monday. The Euro (EUR) gains ground against the Pound Sterling (GBP) amid optimism surrounding a possible meeting between the US and Russia. However, the upside for the cross might be capped due to a hawkish rate cut by the Bank of England (BoE).  The EUR’s appeal has risen from expectations an increase in regional defense spending will support the Eurozone economy. Additionally, potential talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to end sanctions contributes to the EUR’s upside. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday that Trump and Putin would meet in the coming days in what would be the first summit between leaders of the two countries since 2021. The BoE decided to cut the interest rates from 4.25% to 4.0% at its August meeting on Thursday as the UK central bank resumed what it describes as a “gradual and careful” approach to monetary easing. Four of its nine policymakers sought to keep borrowing costs steady, suggesting the BoE’s run of rate cuts might be nearing an end.  Hawkish rate cuts from the BoE could underpin the GBP and act as a headwind for the cross in the near term. Traders trimmed their bets on the chance of another BoE rate reduction by the end of 2025 and were only fully pricing in a cut to 3.75% in February next year, according to data from LSEG. Euro FAQs The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%). The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde. Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money. Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy. Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price advances on Monday, early in the European session. WTI trades at $62.81 per barrel, up from Friday’s close at $62.72.Brent Oil Exchange Rate (Brent crude) is stable, hovering around its previous daily close at $65.86. WTI Oil FAQs WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media. Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa. The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Editors’ Picks EUR/USD strengthens to above 1.1650 on ECB’s cautious stance The EUR/USD pair climbs to near 1.1675 during the early European session on Monday. The Euro strengthens against the US Dollar due to a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to end sanctions. Traders await the US Consumer Price Index data for July, which is due later on Tuesday.  GBP/USD consolidates just below mid-1.3400s; bullish potential seems intact The GBP/USD pair kicks off the new week on a subdued note and consolidates its recent goodish recovery gains from the 1.3140 area, or the lowest level since April 14, touched earlier this month. Spot prices trade just below mid-1.3400s during the Asian session, nearly unchanged for the day, though the fundamental backdrop seems tilted in favor of bullish traders. Gold price declines amid risk-on sentiment despite Fed rate cut expectations Gold price kicks off the new week on a weaker note, while a positive risk tone undermines safe-haven assets. Rising Fed rate cut bets prompt fresh USD selling and offer some support to the non-yielding yellow metal. Traders now look forward to the release of US inflation figures this week to determine the near-term trajectory. Bank of England cuts rates in dramatic meeting The Bank of England has cut rates by a further 25 basis points to 4% but the statement hints that officials think the easing cycle is nearing its end. Policymakers are visibly worried about a more persistent bout of inflation as the headline number is way higher than target. Best Brokers for EUR/USD Trading SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, find

FX option expiries for Aug 11 NY cut at 10:00 Eastern Time via DTCC can be found below. EUR/USD: EUR amounts 1.1550 1.6b 1.1600 1.1b 1.1690 1.2b 1.1700 1.4b 1.1750 1.3b 1.1800 2.7b USD/JPY: USD amounts                                  145.00 620m 147.00 571m USD/CAD: USD amounts        1.3605 661m NZD/USD: NZD amounts 0.5920 583m 0.5930 1b Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Kids who are taught about money during their childhood are three times more likely to earn an income of $75,000 or higher as adults, according to data from personal finance company Quicken. As a busy entrepreneur without the benefits typically available to large corporate employees, it’s even more important to prepare for your children’s future. Fortunately, there’s now an app for that. FutureMoney Pro is an investing platform that helps you reach goals for your kids’ future. Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription for just $100 (reg. $580), plus a $100 bonus investment. Let this app help you invest for your children’s future Parents lead by example, so your children will see you hard at work as a busy entrepreneur. If you want to set them up for success and inspire future entrepreneurship, let FutureMoney help them see how easy it can be to invest. This app was made with parents in mind, so you can plan ahead and start saving for your child’s education, first home, or long-term goals. With FutureMoney, you can invest wiser with tax-advantaged tools such as Junior Roth IRAs and 529 plans so your money can grow smarter. The app also lets you invest with others — so parents, grandparents, and other family members can all contribute together and track the growth of their contributions. It simplifies the process so your children can start learning about saving and investing, too. FutureMoney was designed by fintech veterans, and this lifetime subscription gives you permanent access without annoying subscription fees. It offers one of the lowest fees available for a fully managed portfolio, just .25%, and gives you options like automated contributions that make saving for your children’s future as easy as setting it and forgetting it. All funds are held at BNY Mellon, with up to $500,000 in SIPC protection. When you sign up now and fund the account with a qualifying contribution, you’ll receive a $100 bonus, allowing your lifetime subscription to essentially pay for itself. Teach your children financial literary while setting them up for a bright future with FutureMoney Pro, now $100 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $580), with a $100 bonus investment. StackSocial prices subject to change. Read More

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Stay productive wherever work takes you with a versatile 2‑in‑1 Chromebook, on sale for $169.99 (MSRP $329.99), that switches seamlessly between laptop and tablet mode, keeps you connected with Wi‑Fi 6, and powers through the day on a single charge. Powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor and 8GB RAM, it handles multitasking with ease whether you’re working in Google Workspace, running web apps, or streaming content. The 10.5‑inch WUXGA touchscreen delivers sharp visuals at 1920×1200 resolution, while the included push‑pop stylus charges quickly and stores securely inside the device. Switch between tablet and laptop modes instantly with the detachable full‑size keyboard and magnetic stand, making it just as effective for presentations as it is for note‑taking. Connectivity is built for speed and reliability, with Wi‑Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 ensuring smooth video calls and fast file transfers. Dual 5MP cameras make it simple to capture documents or join meetings with clear image quality. The Chromebook also includes a USB‑C port and 3.5mm audio jack for flexible expansion. Durability is a core feature — the CM30 meets military‑grade MIL‑STD 810H standards, and its aluminum chassis incorporates 30% recycled materials. At just 0.61 kg, it’s lightweight enough for daily commuting yet built to handle life on the go. And with up to 12 hours of battery life, you can work through a full day without needing a charge. As an open-box product, the CM30 comes from excess retail inventory and may show minor packaging wear or store handling marks. It’s verified to be in new condition, repackaged cleanly, and backed by a 1‑year warranty. Upgrade your mobile setup with this open-box ASUS Chromebook CM30 for $169.99 and get touchscreen versatility, stylus support, and all‑day productivity in one device. StackSocial prices subject to change. Read More

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When it comes to raising capital, too many startup founders chase investors before building something worth investing in. I’ve been on both sides of the conversation, as an entrepreneur raising funds and as an advisor helping founders position themselves for growth. The venture capital world doesn’t reward effort. It rewards traction, clarity and risk mitigation. The good news? Making your startup attractive to VCs isn’t about smoke and mirrors. It’s about being strategic from day one. Related: 4 Ways to Prepare to Raise Venture Capital 1. VCs don’t buy ideas — they buy momentum Every founder thinks their idea is brilliant. But VCs don’t fund ideas. They fund execution. If you haven’t tested the market, generated early traction or proven demand, you’re not building a startup — you’re writing a thesis. Momentum could look like early revenue, an active waitlist, a successful beta rollout or even partnerships that validate the product’s relevance. You don’t need millions in the bank to show movement. You need signals that your idea works in the real world. Too often, I see founders spending months on pitch decks and branding before speaking to a single customer. Flip that. Build, test, refine, then pitch. 2. Get obsessively clear on the problem you’re solving VCs invest in problems, not just products. The bigger and more urgent the problem, the more compelling the opportunity. One of the biggest red flags I see in startup decks is vague problem statements. “Our app makes life easier” isn’t compelling. “We reduce failed deliveries for ecommerce businesses by 30%” is. I tell founders regularly that if a 10-second elevator pitch doesn’t make the investor’s eyebrows lift, you’re not close enough to the pain point. Drill deep. Use data. Use emotion. Use lived experience. And then show how your product offers measurable relief. 3. Your team is half the pitch At the early stage, VCs are betting more on people than products. That means your team, or at least your founding story, matters deeply. I often ask, “Would I want to work for these people?” If the answer is no, why would someone want to back them? What makes your team uniquely positioned to solve this problem? Is it domain expertise? Insider experience? Past success? If your team looks like four college friends who thought up an app on a Friday night, that’s fine, but you need to prove you can execute like a seasoned unit. Highlight your operational discipline, your learning velocity and how you handle uncertainty together. Related: What Venture Capitalists Look For When Investing In A Startup 4. Brand signals matter more than you think This might sound odd coming from a founder of a digital PR company, but the truth is: Brand matters to VCs. A clean narrative, strong digital presence and earned media coverage all contribute to perceived credibility. I’ve seen term sheets land faster for founders who looked investable online, even when the numbers were similar. Investors are human. They Google you. They skim your LinkedIn. They check if you’ve been mentioned in relevant media or podcasts. Make sure what they find builds confidence, not confusion. Invest early in your digital footprint. It doesn’t need to be perfect — it needs to be intentional. 5. Make it easy to say yes VCs don’t just invest based on potential. They invest based on pattern recognition and risk management. Your job is to remove friction from the decision. That means being transparent with your numbers, your roadmap and your current gaps. It means having your data room in order. It also means speaking the investor’s language. I warn early-stage founders, “If your pitch sounds like an ad, not a strategy, you’re in trouble.” Make it easy to see the opportunity, the upside and the plan for deploying capital wisely. The best founders don’t oversell. They clarify, document and invite collaboration. 6. VCs want to back founders, not fix them One of the simplest and hardest truths in venture capital is this: VCs want to invest in people they trust to make good decisions without hand-holding. That doesn’t mean you need to have all the answers. It means you need to have a learning mindset, the humility to take feedback and the strength to lead anyway. I often look for founders who can be both teacher and student, confident in their vision, but curious enough to keep evolving. In your pitch, show how you’ve adapted, improved and bounced back. VCs love grit, and they respect reflection. Related: Seeking VC Funding? Make Sure You Have the Answers to These 5 Questions Final thought: Think like an investor before you pitch one The most investable founders are the ones who understand capital as a tool, not a trophy. They don’t pitch out of desperation. They pitch because they’ve done the work, built the momentum and are now ready to scale what already works. Before you chase funding, build what a smart investor would want to buy into: clarity, traction, a credible team and a repeatable growth engine. “A VC isn’t looking to rescue you — they’re looking to join you,” I remind every founder I mentor. At the end of the day, you’re not just pitching a company. You’re inviting someone to help build it with you. Make sure it’s a story worth joining. Read More

“The first big mistake that people make is thinking that happiness is a feeling,” Arthur Brooks, professor at Harvard Business School and author of the forthcoming book The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life, says. Image Credit: Jenny Sherman Photography. Arthur Brooks. On the first day of class, Brooks asks his students to define “happiness.” Many of those students have a relatively sophisticated understanding of startups and business, but they tend to misunderstand “the startup of their life,” Brooks finds. “If you want to become a billionaire in the business of life, it’s not about money or power,” Brooks says. “It’s about love and happiness, and they don’t even know what the currency is. They talk about their feelings, and I say, ‘That’s wrong. Feelings are relevant, but they’re nothing more than evidence of your happiness.’” Related: ‘Finances Fuel Life Goals.’ These Top Money Secrets Can Make You Happier and More Successful, According to an Expert. Brooks points to Thanksgiving dinner as an example: The smell of turkey is evidence of Thanksgiving dinner, but if you want to improve your nutritional profile and stay healthy, you need to be familiar with the ingredients and macronutrients on your plate. “Chasing feelings [of happiness], which is like chasing the smell and trying to get healthy, is not going to work,” Brooks says. “You need to become good at understanding the science of enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning. Those are the macronutrients of happiness.” Entrepreneur sat down with Brooks to learn more about how people can build happier careers and lives. How do you find a satisfying job or career? Ambitious twenty-somethings often ask Brooks what they should look for if they want to find satisfaction in their job or career. The answer is a “very big, ethereal term,” according to Brooks: “Calling.” “ Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to be Mother Teresa,” Brooks says. “It doesn’t mean that at all. Being a roofer can be your calling. Raising your children at home can be your calling. There are a lot of things that can be your calling, but you’re trying to find the thing that you were meant to do, which is to say that you’re trying to find something that will bring you a lot of meaning.” Related: How to Find the Right Career Calling and Reduce Stress Finding your calling doesn’t mean you’re going to have fun all the time or be satisfied every day of the week, but paying attention to two metrics can help you figure out if you’re doing what you’re meant to do, Brooks says. “ If you’re earning your success, [meaning] your hard work and merit and personal responsibility are acknowledged and rewarded, and [you’re] serving other people, then you’ll feel like you’re meant to do what you’re doing, and that will be your calling,” Brooks explains. Why don’t promotions and raises actually make you happy? Think securing that title change or salary bump at work will make you happy? Think again. Mother Nature doesn’t design people to be happy — Mother Nature designs people to be successful, Brooks says. “Success 250,000 years ago didn’t mean getting to IPO with your startup, because there was no such thing,” Brooks says. “The equivalent was survival and mates. Sufficient calories, being safe for the night, getting through the winter and finding as many mates as you could. Propagating the species was the equivalent of ‘I made my first billion’ back in the day.” Related: Why Aren’t You Happy, Even When You Get What You Want? This Founder Teamed Up With the Dalai Lama Himself to Cure Your ‘Insatiable’ Desire. People who follow the impulse for professional success, thinking it will make them happy, often find themselves in an endless cycle that never brings the desired result, Brooks notes. “If money, power and the admiration of other people are an intermediate goal to get to something more valuable — love and happiness — then great,” Brooks says. “But if it’s the end goal, it’s like drinking seawater. The more you drink, the thirstier you get.” So, how much money do you really need to be happy? In 2010, Princeton University professors Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton published a paper that showed that an increase in income improved people’s well-being — until they hit $75,000. After that, happiness plateaued. Ten years later, research from a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, Matthew Killingsworth, found that well-being does increase beyond the $75,000 threshold. However, a collaborative project from Kahneman and Killingsworth, along with the University of Pennsylvania’s Barbara Mellers, in 2023 revealed that money can continue to buy happiness for people who are already happy, but it can only curb unhappiness to a point for those who are not. “The suffering of the unhappy group diminishes as income increases up to [$100,000] but very little beyond that,” the report stated. “This income threshold may represent the point beyond which the miseries that remain are not alleviated by high income.” Happiness and sadness activate overlapping and distinct areas of the brain. “When you’re poor and become less poor, you have less of those negative emotions because you’re able to eliminate the things that are bothering you a lot, like making rent, paying your light bill, [raising your kid] in a safe neighborhood,” Brooks says. “But once you get past a very low threshold, you’re no longer eliminating those sources of unhappiness.” Related: Science Says Money Does Buy Happiness If You Spend It the Right Way Brooks suggests people try to reach an income level that eliminates their sources of unhappiness, then focus on the other areas of their life — like family, friendship, love and faith — that actually make them happy. “Along the way, if you create a great business, and you love doing that, and it’s really fun and you bless a lot of people, [then go] to IPO and become a billionaire — more power to you,” Brooks says. “But it’s not the billion that’s going

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Women have always faced pressure to meet narrow and often conflicting societal expectations. For female athletes, that pressure presents a paradox — being strong on the court while still being seen as “feminine” off of it. “Growing up, I felt like if you were good at sports, people would label you a tomboy or say you weren’t girly enough,” says UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd. Now, Fudd is helping change that narrative. She’s at the center of a bold partnership between UConn Athletics and prestige beauty brand Madison Reed that challenges outdated expectations and redefines what confidence can look like. Founded by UConn alum and seasoned entrepreneur Amy Errett, Madison Reed is deepening its investment in women’s basketball through its Team ColorWonder campaign, expanding its roster for the 2025–26 season, and launching new initiatives with brand ambassadors like Fudd and Paige Bueckers. “This movement of athletes being celebrated for their confidence and beauty is still new,” Errett says. “When people think of Madison Reed, I want them to think of the aspiration to feel confident — on their terms.” Related: ‘Consumers Deserve Better’: How Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes Is Brewing a Better Future for Coffee Drinkers Highlighting what matters Madison Reed was born out of a personal problem waiting to be solved. Founder Amy Errett saw her friends struggling with greying hair and frustrated by the harsh ingredients in traditional dyes. She set out to create a better alternative — one that delivered salon-quality results with cleaner formulas and greater accessibility. Her first focus was the at-home market, which makes up roughly half of the women’s hair dye industry. “It never works if somebody buys one thing from you and doesn’t come back,” Errett explains. “It’s like men and shaving. Women usually have a regular cadence for coloring their hair.” After finding early traction, she expanded Madison Reed’s reach through partnerships with Ulta, Walmart and Amazon. Eventually, Errett set her sights on the other half of the market: salons. After hundreds of stylists reached out asking to buy Madison Reed’s color tubes, she had a realization — why not hire their own cosmetologists? What began as a product-focused business evolved into one that also offers services, with Madison Reed now operating almost 100 stores. While the service is cosmetic, the brand’s success is rooted in what’s behind it: high-quality ingredients and a deep commitment to care, from providing access to employee medical benefits to offering customers a 100% money-back guarantee. “Customer service is a lost art,” Errett says. “When you show up for your customers, they stay loyal. And we’ve seen that.” Equally important is how the company treats its employees — something Errett believes is often overlooked in the industry. “We don’t just hire based on whether someone’s a great stylist, controller, marketer or data analyst,” she explains. “We also hire for the ‘how,’ which is culture.” Madison Reed is grounded in five core values — Love, Joy, Courage, Trust and Responsibility — displayed in every hair color bar. “As long as our cosmetologists are happy, and we give them career paths, we have an army,” Errett says. Related: This Small Gesture from a Stranger Changed How I Handle Stress in a High-Pressure Career Athletes and aesthetics As women’s sports exploded, Errett saw an opportunity for Madison Reed to be one of the first beauty brands to enter the space. “Female athletes embody everything we stand for,” she says. A UConn alum and member of the UConn Foundation’s Board of Directors, Errett saw the university as a natural fit for the brand’s first partnership, especially with its powerhouse women’s basketball program, featuring stars like Azzi Fudd and WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers. “Partnering with a brand like Madison Reed is incredible,” says Fudd. “It was founded by a woman, and its mission to promote confidence in women aligns with the values of women’s sports.” The partnership goes beyond photo ops and Instagram collabs. Madison Reed has secured naming rights for UConn’s Gampel Pavilion and XL Center, becoming the first female-founded and alumni-founded brand to do so. “One thing about NIL partnerships is that a lot of them don’t have aligned goals,” Errett says. “The only way this works is if both the athletes and the university benefit.” In this arrangement, Madison Reed can host photoshoots on the UConn court, offering the school added publicity while simplifying logistics for everyone involved. Related: ‘Nobody’s Ever Seen This Before’: How These 2 NYC Sports Icons Are Infusing Swagger into Next-Gen Eyewear Equity helps create empowerment For the athletes, the deal is split 50/50 between cash and equity, with franchising rights included for players who may want to open their own store in the future. “Talking with Amy about equity and potential franchise opportunities got me excited,” says Fudd. “It showed she’s not interested in just a transactional deal. She genuinely wants to empower women in sports, and she’s willing to share her knowledge and be a mentor however she can.” Bueckers’ partnership extended beyond her time at UConn and into the WNBA, including her color line, “Uconnic Blonde,” while Fudd is exploring a for-credit internship with the company to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and marketing while pursuing her MBA. Fudd may be young, but she’s already earned a seat at the table with some of the most elite athletes and entrepreneurs in sports. One of them is Steph Curry, whom she first met as one of the inaugural female attendees at his camp in 2018. He later invited her to a business summit, where she saw a completely different side of the NBA star. “I only knew him as a basketball player, so that experience opened my eyes,” Fudd says. “Watching him played a role in why I decided to pursue my MBA. I want to understand my business and not just rely on people I hire for help.” Conclusion Madison Reed kicked off the second year of its partnership at

Here’s where you can hail a robotaxi in the U.S. Companies are scrambling to create driverless taxis, but riders can still only hail them in a few cities across the U.S. After years of promises, pilot programs, and cautious test drives, autonomous ride-hailing services — better known as robotaxis — are beginning to enter the mainstream. These self-driving cars, hailed via app and operating without human drivers, represent a huge shift in transportation. And while the race to deploy them has drawn in tech giants, automakers, and startups alike, just one company is actually providing rides. Alphabet-owned Waymo is currently the only company operating a fully driverless robotaxi service at scale in the U.S. Customers can request rides with no human driver on board, and in some cities, Waymo partnered with Uber to expand access. Other companies are actively trying to catch up. Amazon-backed Zoox has built its own futuristic-looking vehicles without a driver’s seat. It’s conducting internal employee testing currently and plans to launch soon in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tesla, meanwhile, recently launched a limited robotaxi pilot with safety drivers still on board. Numerous other players, including international firms like Baidu and startups like Cruise, WeRide, and Motional, are in various stages of development to put robotaxis on U.S. streets. But when they’ll succeed is unclear, as the path to widespread robotaxi adoption remains difficult, with regulations varying from state to state, and continued public skepticism of driverless vehicles. We’ve compiled a list of everywhere you can an the autonomous vehicles. Continue reading to see which cities have the technology. 2 / 7 San Francisco, California Waymo is operating in San Francisco’s winding streets, already providing more than a million rides in the Bay Area. While a Waymo vehicle can’t cross into the East Bay, it does drive to Daly City, and parts of San Bruno, Milbrae, and Burlingame. 3 / 7 Los Angeles, California Waymo operates 24/7 service in parts of Los Angeles, but not the whole city. Still, you can take a robotaxi from areas like Downtown LA to Santa Monica, head to Beverly Hills, or go to West Hollywood. 4 / 7 Phoenix, Arizona JannHuizenga / Getty Images Waymo serves 315 square miles of Metro Phoenix, including the city’s downtown, Scottsdale, and the East Valley. Riders can also hail robotaxis to or from the airport. 5 / 7 Atlanta, Georgia Tetra Images / Getty Images Uber and Waymo have partnered to offer robotaxi ride shares between South Atlanta, Downtown, and Buckhead. Users have to call a Waymo through the Uber app, and can set their preference to ask for a better chance at scoring a driverless vehicle. 6 / 7 Austin, Texas Austin riders have two options: they can call a Waymo through the Uber app or test our Tesla’s still limited service robotaxis, which currently have an employee riding in the passenger seat as it tests the rollout. 7 / 7 Coming soon Smith Collection/Gado / Contributor / Getty Images Amazon-backed robotaxi Zoox plans to launch to the public in Las Vegas soon, although it hasn’t set an official launch date. Waymo also says it will be expanding to Miami, Florida and Washington, D.C. next year. It’s also starting to map the roads in other cities, including Dallas, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read More

Despite their name, rare earth elements are relatively abundant. However, economically viable deposits exist in just a few countries, making it difficult to source large quantities for manufacturing. Extraction is also expensive, so only a limited number of mining companies have the resources needed to launch full-scale operations. Suggested Reading Rare earth elements are critical for the technology, defense, and energy industries, as they’re used to manufacture a variety of products. They also play important roles in health care, oil refining, and mining industries.  Related Content Learn more about rare earth elements, including what they are, where they’re produced, and how the country-level control of these substances can affect geopolitical relations and economic development. What are rare earth elements? Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic substances buried in the Earth’s crust. This group includes all 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. These elements have atomic numbers ranging from 57 to 71. REEs are sometimes broken into light and heavy groups. Light ones have lower atomic numbers, and they’re more abundant in the Earth’s crust. Heavy REEs are less abundant and more challenging to extract, which is why they are more valuable and used for specialized applications. Rare earth elements are essential for making these products: Electric vehicles (EVs): EV motors rely on high-performance magnets to work properly. Manufacturers use the REEs dysprosium and neodymium to produce these magnets for high efficiency and heat resistance. Wind turbines: In the energy industry, rare earth elements are essential for maximizing the power output of wind turbines. Manufacturers use terbium, dysprosium, praseodymium, and neodymium in their production processes. Smartphones: Rare earth elements are critical for making the magnets and displays used in smartphones. For example, dysprosium and terbium are found in backlighting systems, while yttrium is used to produce screen colors. Smartphone speakers use magnets made from gadolinium, neodymium, and praseodymium. Defense applications: The defense industry relies on REEs for the production of weapons, vehicles, and aircraft, and advanced defense technologies, including missile-guidance systems, radar, sonar, fighter jets, and submarines. They all contain at least one REE with indispensable magnetic and electronic properties. Top producers of rare earths While China and the United States lead global production of REEs, several other countries also have sizeable deposits. Mining occurs in multiple regions, but China continues to dominate the refining stage — accounting for an estimated 99% of global refining capacity as of 2023.  Refining, the process of separating rare earth elements from other mined materials, is a critical and resource-intensive step that determines the global supply chain. Below is a brief overview of REE production and reserves in seven major producing countries, based on the latest data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summary.  China Annual production: 270,000 metric tons Known reserves: 44 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. China’s government views REEs as a critical resource, so it uses state-controlled enterprises for all production and refining activities. Due to the environmental effects of rare earth operations, the Chinese government has also taken steps to shut down illegal mining operations and punish refining companies that don’t comply with environmental regulations. United States Annual production: 45,000 metric tons Known reserves: 1.8 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. The United States is heavily dependent on China for rare-earth refining, as China controls almost all global refining capacity. Due to the importance of rare-earth materials for defense, the U.S. government offers incentives to domestic producers. However, U.S. companies have to contend with environmental regulations. Australia Annual production: 18,000 metric tons Known reserves: 5.7 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. Australia has a Critical Minerals Facility, giving private companies access to funding and other resources for rare-earth mineral projects. The Australian government has also partnered with the United States, Japan, and the European Union to reduce reliance on China. Australia has strict environmental laws, so the national government is investing in green chemistry techniques and other methods for reducing the pollution associated with rare earth mining and processing. Thailand Annual production: 7,100 metric tons Known reserves: 4,500 metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. Thailand has limited reserves, but it’s located near several countries known for their electronics and EV production, enhancing its strategic importance. From an environmental perspective, mining and processing companies need to know that rare-earth deposits are often found in areas with sensitive ecosystems. Vietnam  Annual production: 600 metric tons Known reserves: 22 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. The Vietnamese government has finalized memoranda of understanding with Australia and other countries, opening up new opportunities for trade and investment. Government officials are also working on updating the country’s laws to align with the current demand for rare-earth mining and refining. Like Thailand, Vietnam has some ecologically sensitive regions, so government agencies and private companies must be aware of the increased risk of deforestation, soil erosion, and other types of environmental damage. Brazil Annual production: 80 metric tons Known reserves: 21 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. Although its annual production is quite low, Brazil has some of the largest untapped reserves in the world. With proper investment, it could offer other countries a valuable opportunity to diversify away from China. However, Brazil doesn’t have much refining capacity, and its permitting process is rather complicated. Many mining operations are also located near the Amazon rainforest and other sensitive areas. Russia Annual production: 2,600 metric tons Known reserves: 10 million metric tons Geopolitical and environmental factors. Like China, Russia uses several state-controlled firms to mine for rare-earth elements. However, due to sanctions from multiple countries, Russia isn’t well-integrated into the global supply chain, limiting export opportunities. Minerals mined in Russia are also likely to contain radioactive materials, increasing the risk of harm. Why country-level rare earth control matters Control over rare earth elements gives countries significant economic, technological, and geopolitical power. Nations with large deposits can use this advantage to gain leverage in trade disputes and other political matters. For example, China uses export controls to ensure domestic companies have enough REEs to meet their production