It’s only a matter of time before blockchain technology becomes mainstream in edtech.

Experts believe that blockchain technology will also pave the path for decentralised learning models and trigger new ways of learning.

Blockchain Graph Of The Week: Blockchain Adoption LifecycleIn 2020, there is a massive disruption expected through blockchain technology in finance, supply chain and healthcare, but the technology is unlikely to hit mainstream till 2025.

Aramco Invests In Blockchain-Powered Oil Trading PlatformSaudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco recently acquired a stake in London-based Vakt, a blockchain-powered oil trading startup.

The solution has been developed in collaboration with internal IT and Accenture Technology blockchain organisations. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580324406.1773605/India’s-Natl-Blockchain-Strategy,-Aramco's-Blockchain-Investment-&-More?ref=audio_experience

“We’re trying to shift cryptocurrency from this speculative asset class to driving real world utility” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tells me.

Today the startup announces it’s hired away former Head Of Product for Indian ecommerce giant Flipkart and Google Shopping VP of Product Surojit Chatterjee to become Coinbase’s Chief Product Officer.

“I’ve always enjoyed being associated with technology that is on the brink of changing how we live” writes Chatterjee.

Chatterjee replaces Jeremy Henrickson, the former Coinbase CPO who departed in December 2018.

In developed countries, Armstrong sees a chance for Chatterjee to enable digital content creators to turn their passion into their profession. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580322611.411985/Coinbase-poaches-Google-Shopping-VP-as-CPO-for-cryptocommerce-–-TechCrunch?ref=audio_experience

TextNow, the Waterloo-based free text and phone service startup, announced this week that it is now able to offer a free nationwide talk and text plan in the United States (US).

TextNow’s talk and text services run through its free app that looks to use Wi-Fi as much as possible while limiting the use of data.

“When we talk to our customers, the number one thing they ask for is free cellular service,” said Derek Ting, CEO of TextNow.

“We can’t sell in the Canadian market because we essentially need [their] blessing,” the CEO told BetaKit at the time.

The CRTC has since updated its view that there should be more opportunities for MVNOs to operate in Canada. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580320808.927069/TextNow-inks-nationwide-talk-&-text-plan-deal-in-US,-as-CRTC-set-to-review-Canadian-MVNO-practices?ref=audio_experience

Have a business planWhether you are running a startup or expanding an existing business, a business plan is the most important component of a business.

Hire the right employeesHaving the right employees is one of the most essential components for the success of a company.

For startups and small to mid-sized business ventures, employees can make or break the business.

For entrepreneurs, knowing how to identify, train, and retain the right employees is a valuable skill.

Opening a business website is the first step in showing that your business is legitimate. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580319013.9325538/5-Things-Your-Business-Must-Have-to-Succeed?ref=audio_experience

Want the full post?

Become a CB Insights customer.

If you’re already a customer, log in here. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580317209.7653186/Client-Note:-Microsoft-Invests-In-Kid-Advertising-Platform,-A-New-Fintech-Unicorn,-Samsung-Backs-A-Chatbot-Startup,-And-More?ref=audio_experience

In addition to the new media platform, Bev is also planning to launch two new beverages into its boozy stable of canned wines.

Expect two white wines to join the company’s Rosé on store shelves within the year, according to company founder and chief executive, Alix Peabody.

Wine alone is expected to be a roughly $450.5 billion dollar business by 2024, according to Bev.

“Legacy brands tend to sexualize alcohol consumption, and objectify women on TV, billboards, and in print,” said Peabody, in a statement.

“I also knew by partnering with Bev that I wanted to assemble an unrivaled strategic group with expertise and business acumen in diverse sectors. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580315511.2168064/Looking-to-new-products,-Bev-adds-strategic-investors-and-redoubles-focus-on-women-entrepreneurs-–-TechCrunch?ref=audio_experience

“Our core function here at the Lab is to accelerate product development for Interac products and future initiatives.”That energy is what Interac hoped to generate with its innovation lab.

Launched in 2018 and based within the Kitchener-Waterloo tech hub, Communitech, the Interac Lab is focused on tackling market challenges to help develop propositions and features for Canadians.

Addressing feasibility and end-user needs is something Debbie Gamble, the Chief Officer of the Innovation Lab & New Ventures Team, constantly thinks about.

Interac took a different approach and leveraged Communitech’s ‘innovation-lab-as-a-service’ to build and house the Interac Lab.

As with any major initiative, stakeholder support can make or break an innovation lab project. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580313726.0032728/Why-Interac-partnered-with-Communitech-to-bring-its-innovation-lab-to-life?ref=audio_experience

Here are item’s that a professional employer organization will help your business with:Payroll.

PEOs help administrators organizing payroll payments for full and part-time employees, both salaried and hourly, vendors, and contractors.

A PEO company can help with benefit administration, from onboarding benefits, claims, and other benefits.

A PEO company supports businesses with employer-related compliances for items such as payroll taxes, employee tax forms, and reporting forms.

If you are a smaller business, PEO is something to consider for the handling of human resource responsibilities. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580292007.6979868/What-Is-A-Professional-Employer-Organization?---Young-Upstarts?ref=audio_experience

Perdoo, a Berlin-based OKR-focused software startup, has decided to make its basic service free, potentially shaking up its growing, and somewhat crowded, market.

To understand, we got on the phone with Perdoo co-founder Henrik-Jan van der Pol to dig in.

(Before offering a free tier, Perdoo only charged per user per month for its service, with sliding discounts for volume.)

Free Perdoo users can track as many goals as they’d like with as many users as they’d like.

The company is still selling a paid version of its product with more features, and the company must hope that free users convert to its paid service over time. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580290414.3115637/Perdoo-adds-free-tier-to-its-OKR-service,-adding-a-fresh-wrinkle-to-an-accelerating-market-–-TechCrunch?ref=audio_experience

Google said it would provide the grant to news literacy organisation Internews which will launch an initiative for the Indian market.

The funding support is part of Google.org’s broader $10 Mn commitment to media literacy, in collaboration with the Google News Initiative.

The organisation said that the NewsCheck: India Media Literacy Project will target adults in Tier 2 cities and beyond and focus on women and underserved communities.

Internews had partnered with Google, DataLEADS and other fact-checking partners to launch the Google News Initiative India Training Network in 2018, ahead of General Elections in India in 2019.

“To make journalism effective again, more than the improvements in media, what is needed is media literacy,” Google quoted The Logical Indian founding member Bharat Nayak as saying. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1580288409.338283/Google-Announces-$1-Mn-Google.org-Grant-To-Promote-News-Literacy-In-India?ref=audio_experience