Hundreds of investing and finance newsletters hit my (and maybe your) inbox every week. This is the best of the best.
This week, we bring you
- Snap Unveils AI-Powered Spectacles
- AST SpaceMobile Launches First Commercial Satellites
- Genetically Engineered “Golden Lettuce”
- YouTube: Netflix’s Real Streaming Rival
- Dating App Bets Users Will Pay to Meet IRL
- Godmother of AI Launches World Labs
- 3 Stocks To Consider
Thanks for reading.
Wyatt
Table of Contents
Snap Unveils AI-Powered Spectacles
Snap’s fifth-generation Spectacles are standalone AR glasses powered by the new Snap OS, integrating AI capabilities and enhancing social interactions through augmented reality.
The glasses feature cameras, sensors, and a lightweight design, while Snap OS allows interaction with My AI, immersive Lenses, and extended Snapchat experiences in 3D.
Despite the impressive tech, the 45-minute battery life and limited field of view leave room for improvement.
AST SpaceMobile Launches First Commercial Satellites
AST SpaceMobile has successfully launched their first five commercial satellites, known as BlueBirds, into orbit from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
These satellites are capable of delivering wireless connectivity from low Earth orbit directly to standard smartphones, even in areas with no existing coverage. With the goal of building the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network, AST SpaceMobile’s technology has the potential to drastically expand global connectivity.
Genetically Engineered “Golden Lettuce”
Scientists in Spain have engineered a new “Golden Lettuce” that contains 30 times more beta-carotene, an antioxidant your body uses to make vitamin A, than regular lettuce.
By moving beta-carotene production out of the chloroplasts and into other parts of the plant cells, they were able to drastically increase nutrient levels without impacting the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.
This breakthrough could make it easier for people to get more essential nutrients from their food.
YouTube: Netflix’s Real Streaming Rival
Netflix is riding high in 2024, with a surging stock price, growing subscriber base, and critical acclaim. However, when it comes to capturing viewers’ attention on TV screens, YouTube is actually outperforming the streaming giant.
Americans are spending more time watching YouTube on their televisions than any other streaming service, including Netflix. While both platforms dwarf their competitors in revenue, YouTube’s ad-supported model means it doesn’t have to invest in content upfront like Netflix does.
Is YouTube the dark horse of the streaming race?
Dating App Bets Users Will Pay to Meet IRL
The League, a popular dating app in New York, is shifting gears from digital swiping to real-life encounters. By organizing events like happy hours and gatherings, they aim to facilitate in-person connections among users.
This move comes as many young adults report frustration and burnout with traditional dating apps, with 46% citing negative experiences. The League’s premium memberships, ranging from $300 to $2,500 monthly, offer access to these exclusive events.
Godmother of AI Launches World Labs
Fei-Fei Li, the “Godmother of AI,” has unveiled World Labs, a startup aiming to develop AI models capable of understanding and generating 3D environments.
With $230 million in funding, the company is pioneering “Large World Models” (LWMs) to bridge the gap between AI’s current text-based understanding and complex spatial relationships.
This breakthrough could revolutionize AR/VR, robotics, and more by pushing AI beyond language models into spatial intelligence.
What I’m reading
I get a lot of mail asking where I find all this good stuff. Here are a few of my favorite newsletters, all of which are free to subscribe to:
Learn to build beautiful businesses. Weekly strategies, insights, and lessons from SMB expert Michael Girdley.
Crypto made simple. Actionable alpha 3x a week.
An easy, fast, and simple-to-read breakdown of complex financial topics for the financially curious investor.
Weekly insights about private credit and case studies about making hard money loans directly to real estate investors.
Stock ideas
Here are three of my favorites from this past week.
Analysis provided by public.com.
Remember to always DYOR.
ZipRecruiter ($ZIP)
Bullish Case
- Market Share Gains: Despite a 10% industry decline since 2019, ZipRecruiter’s revenue has grown 12%.
- Flexible Cost Structure: ZipRecruiter maintained margins despite revenue dropping post-Covid.
- Growth Potential: With just 5-10% of staffing services online, ZipRecruiter has significant growth opportunities.
Bearish Case
- Cyclical Nature: As an employment-focused company, ZipRecruiter is highly susceptible to economic cycles and labor market fluctuations.
- Competitive Landscape: ZipRecruiter faces stiff competition from larger, well-established players in the job search market.
Remitly Global, Inc. ($RELY)
Bullish Case
- Market Share Growth: Despite the stock decline, Remitly is still expanding its market share in remittance.
- Flexible Payment Options: Remitly’s payment methods, from mobile wallets to cash pick-up, meet country-specific needs.
- Effective Marketing Strategy: Local campaigns, like billboards and sports team partnerships, target large Hispanic communities.
Bearish Case
- Significant Stock Decline: Remitly’s stock has dropped 72% since its 2021 IPO.
- Competitive Pricing Pressure: While Remitly offers lower costs than legacy providers, it’s not the absolute lowest-cost option.
Trupanion ($TRUP)
Bullish Case
- Differentiated Value Proposition: Trupanion delivers top value with a 71% payout ratio versus the 50-60% industry average.
- Unique Distribution Model: Trupanion’s independent Territory Partners offer the most cost-effective, hard-to-replicate distribution channel in the industry.
- Long Growth Runway: With only 3% of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada, Trupanion has a long path to expand its pet coverage.
Bearish Case
- Lack of Profitability: Despite strong revenue growth, Trupanion has yet to demonstrate consistent profitability.
- Competitive Landscape: Trupanion’s unique model faces rising competition from new and established pet insurers.
That’s it for this week.
If you write amazing content and want to be featured, please send it through for consideration.
Cheers,
Wyatt
Disclosures
- There are affiliate links above; we’ll get a couple of bucks if you take action after you click.
- Nothing above is financial advice. DYOR, you filthy animal.
