Reuben's Blog: September 2020

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Prosus Ventures leads $13 million investment in Pakistan’s ride-hailing giant Bykea

Bykea, which leads the ride-hailing market in Pakistan, has raised $13 million in a new financing round as the five-year-old startup looks to deepen its penetration in the South Asian country and become a “super app.”

The startup’s new financing round, a Series B, was led by storied investment firm Prosus Ventures. It’s the first time Prosus Ventures has invested in a Pakistani startup. Bykea’s existing investors Middle East Venture Partners and Sarmayacar also invested in the round, which brings its total to-date raise to $22 million.

Bykea leads the two-wheeler ride-hailing market in Pakistan, and also operates a logistics delivery business and a financial services business. The startup has partnered with banks to allow customers to pay phone bills and get cash delivered to them, Muneeb Maayr, founder and chief executive of Bykea, told TechCrunch in an interview.

Fahd Beg, chief investment officer at Prosus, said firms like Bykea are helping transform big societal needs like transportation, logistics and payments through a technology-enabled platform in Pakistan. “Bykea has already seen impressive traction in the country and with our investment will be able to execute further on their vision to become Pakistan’s ‘super app,’ ” he said in a statement.

How Bykea is winning Pakistan’s ride-hailing and delivery market

Bykea works with more than 30,000 drivers who operate in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. (Two-wheelers are more popular in Pakistan. There are about 17 million two-wheeler vehicles on the road in the country today, compared to fewer than 4 million cars.)

The new investment comes at a time when Bykea restores the losses incurred by the coronavirus outbreak. Like several nations, Pakistan enforced a months-long lockdown to curtail the spread of the virus in March.

As with most other startups in travel business globally, this meant bad news for Bykea. Maayr said the startup did not eliminate jobs and instead cut several other expenses to navigate the tough time.

One of those cuts was curtailing the startup’s reliance on Google Maps. Maayr said during the lockdown Bykea built its own mapping navigation system with the help of its drivers. The startup, which was paying Google about $60,000 a month for using Maps, now pays less than a tenth of it, he said.

Starting in August, the startup’s operations have largely recovered, and it is looking to further expand its financial services business, said Maayr, who previously worked for Rocket Internet, helping the giant run fashion e-commerce platform Daraz in the country.

The startup has been able to out-compete firms like Careem and Uber in Pakistan by offering localized solutions. It remains one of the few internet businesses in the country that supports the Urdu language in its app, for instance.

“Our brand is now widely used as a verb for bike taxi and 30-minute deliveries, and the fresh capital allows us to expand our network to solidify our leading position,” he said.

YC-backed Tajir raises $1.8M to help mom-and-pop stores source inventory in Pakistan

I asked Maayr what he thinks of the opportunities in the three-wheelers category. Auto-rickshaws are some of the most popular mode of transportation in South Asian nations. Maayr said on-boarding those drivers and figuring out unit-economics that works for all the stakeholders remains a challenge in all South Asian nations, so the startup is still figuring it out.

Would he want to take Bykea to neighboring nations? Not anytime soon. Maayr said the opportunity within Pakistan and Bykea’s traction in the nation have convinced him to win the entire local market first.

Golden raises $14.5M to build a wiki-style database of tech knowledge

Golden is announcing that it has raised $14.5 million in Series A funding. The round was led by previous investor Andreessen Horowitz, with the firm’s co-founder Marc Andreessen joining the startup’s board of directors.

When Golden launched last year, founder and CEO Jude Gomila told me that his goal was to create a knowledge base focused on areas where Wikipedia’s coverage is often spotty, particularly emerging technology and startups.

Gomila told me this week that “companies, technologies and the people involved in them” remain Golden’s strength. In that sense, you could see it as a competitor to Crunchbase, but with a much bigger emphasis on explaining and “clustering” information on big topics like quantum computing and COVID-19, rather than just aggregating key data about companies and people. (By the way, both TechCrunch and the author of this post have their own profile pages, though the latter is woefully empty.)

In contrast to Wikipedia, which relies on community editors, Gomila said most of the data in Golden is gathered using artificial intelligence and natural language processing: “We’re using AI to extract information from the news from websites, from public databases.

This is supplemented by Golden staff (former TechCrunch copy editor Holden Page leads the startup’s research team), while the larger community also pitch in by flagging things that are incorrect or need to be updated. (As one example of this “human in the loop” editing process, Gomila showed me a tool where someone could paste in an article link and Golden would automatically summarize it.)

“The ultimate aim is to try and automate as much of this as possible,” Gomila said. “[For now,] this hybrid is the most effective method.”

Golden has also started working with paying customers including private equity firms, hedge funds, VCs, biotechnology companies, corporate innovation offices and government agencies — in fact, it says it signed a $1 million contract with the U.S. Air Force this year. These customers are paying for access to Golden’s research engine, which includes the company’s Query Tool and the ability to request that the startup prepare research on a particular topic.

Golden has now raised a total of $19.5 million. Other investors in the new funding include DCVC, Harpoon Ventures and Gigafund.

“Golden’s knowledge base and research engine aggregates information about emerging technologies and the companies, investors, and the builders behind them,” Andreessen said in a statement. “Human and machine intelligence, working together on Golden’s platform, results in knowledge which gives people the edge in making decisions and navigating uncertainty.”

Golden unveils a Wikipedia alternative focused on emerging tech and startups

The roadmap to startup consolidation in Southeast Asia is becoming clearer

While Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystems are still young compared to those in China or India, it has matured over the last five years. Unicorns like Grab, Gojek and Garena are continuing to grow, and more competitive startups are emerging in sectors like fintech, e-commerce and logistics. That leads to the question: Will consolidation start to pick up?

The consensus by investors interviewed by Extra Crunch is: Yes, but slowly at first. In the meantime, there are still roadblocks to mergers and acquisitions, including few buyers and the size of markets like Indonesia, which means startups there have a lot of room to grow on their own, even alongside competitors. But many Southeast Asian startup ecosystems are rapidly evolving, and consolidations may speed up in the next few years.

During a Disrupt session, East Ventures partner Melisa Irene spoke about consolidation as a strategy, especially when larger companies, like Grab, decide to expand into new services by acquiring smaller players. In an interview with Extra Crunch, Irene elaborated on the idea.

“Companies that want to get more value out of their customers by expanding into other services can do it internally by developing it, or do it externally by buying existing companies that have been operating in the same or adjacent sectors,” she said.

For many years, companies opted not to do that because of the cost, she added, but that mindset started to shift a few years ago.

In 2018, Grab acquired Uber’s Southeast Asia operations, still one of the highest-profile examples of consolidation in the region. The “superapp” also built out its financial services business by acquiring fintech startups Kudo, iKaaz, Bento and OVO.

Grab rival Gojek has been an even busier buyer, acquiring 13 startups so far according to Crunchbase, including Vietnamese payments startup WePay and Indonesian point-of-sale platform Moka earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Traveloka acquired three competing online travel agencies in 2018, while e-commerce platform Tokopedia bought Bridestory, its first publicly known acquisition, last year to expand into the Indonesian bridal industry.

Still in its early stages

Golden Gate Ventures partner Justin Hall said he has seen attitudes toward consolidation in Southeast Asia gradually shift since the investment firm was founded in 2011.

“I would say over the next two to three years, we’re definitely going to start seeing much more M&A occurring than versus the last eight to 10 years. It’s the confluence of different factors. One, I think corporate VC is starting to pour a little bit more money into the space. You have a lot of international tech companies, e.g., from China, or regional unicorns that are being much more acquisitive in their strategy,” Hall said.

He added that an often overlooked factor is that a lot of regional early-stage and institutional funds launched about a decade ago, building a foundation for Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystems. Many of these funds started out with a 10-year mandate and as a result, general partners may start examining how they can orchestrate sales, for example by talking to corporate acquirers, financiers or other sources of capital for an exit.

“A lot of activity that you’re starting to see right now is under the table. We have funds coming up on that 10-year mark, saying, ‘Let’s see where we can derive value within our portfolio, within specific companies that we can sell.’ That is going to start happening en masse over the next two years once we hit that 10-year mark for a lot of these funds.”

Roadblocks

Juno Bio launches a vaginal microbiome test kit — targeting the women’s health data gap

Entrepreneur First-backed Juno Bio has launched a home test kit for women wanting to get a better understanding of their vaginal microbiome while also contributing data to further research into women’s health.

The vaginal microbiome refers to the community of microbes and bacteria that naturally live in the vagina. Variances in the vaginal microbiome are thought to have implications for women’s health conditions — such as recurrent bacterial-vaginosis or a higher risk of contracting an STI, and even preterm birth and infertility. But a historical lack of research into women’s health issues means there’s still a long way to go to fully understand what’s going on. (Or indeed how to intervene to correct an unhealthy imbalance.)

That’s where Juno Bio wants to come in.

Last year the 2018-founded U.K. startup ran a study in the U.S. that gathered samples from more than 1,000 women to build up a repository of data on the vaginal microbiome. That initial data set underpins the commercial Vaginal Microbiome Test kit it’s launching today — at a cost of $149 (which includes free shipping).

Women who pay to be screened will receive a test kit in the post. They then carry out a sample gathering procedure at home, passing a Q-tip-like swab across the walls of their vagina for around 20 seconds and sealing the sample in the tube provided (with stabilizing agents) to return it by post to Juno Bio for analysis.

Once the sample has been processed the user will be invited to log in online and view her results, with the option to book a one-on-one call with a Juno Bio “vaginal coach” to discuss the data.

It’s worth emphasizing that the startup is being careful to caveat what kind of service it’s offering.

A disclaimer on its website states the tests are “currently exclusively intended to be used for wellness purposes” — and it further adds: “The tests we offer are not intended to diagnose or treat disease, or to substitute for a physician’s consultation.”

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Juno Bio confirms the test is purely a commercial offer for now — although it says it’s working on “a regulated version” so it will be able to inform clinical decision making in this area in the future, starting with the U.S., which is its initial market focus (though test kits are also available in the U.K.).

“For sure we’re not replacing a doctor here,” says CEO and co-founder Hana Janebdar, in a call with TechCrunch. “There’s really two buckets of women, if you like, that tend to join the Juno Study or pre-order a test. And the first woman is someone who wants to be very proactive about her general wellness and wants to know more about her body — and this is one of the best ways that you can learn about your microbes and what that means for your vaginal wellness and your pH etc.

“The other women are women who may have had recurrent bacterial vaginosis or recurrent infections and want to know more about what it is that’s causing it potentially — and so she wants a comprehensive picture of her vaginal microbiome. Because if you go and try and figure out, right now, what is causing your bacterial vaginosis using existing methods of diagnosis they’re not always the most helpful. So while that should always be the first port of call, and women should always go to their doctor when they think they have an issue, this is an incredibly important resource when it comes to wellness for a lot of women.”

“There are 10% of women in America, for instance, who have recurrent bacterial vaginosis — which is just one condition of the vaginal microbiome. And it’s one of the highest recurrent rates in medicine,” she adds. “And partly because the diagnostics are terrible in this space.”

Another of the startup’s investors is life sciences giant Illumina, which is providing the DNA sequencing technology it’s using to analyse the samples, per Janebdar.

“This is the first comprehensive vaginal microbiome test kit that’s available that’s next-generation sequencing-based,” she says of the test kit. “Obviously vaginal testing has existed for a while but no one has really used next-generation sequencing — which is the technology that enables a really comprehensive picture of what all the microbes that are in the vagina are. And that’s what’s needed to A) unravel the vaginal microbiome and its impact on women’s lives and fertility and health, and then B) to give women actually the full picture of what those microbes are.”

Expanding its women’s health benefits offerings for employers, Maven raises $45 million

“The conditions that have been associated with the vaginal microbiome — like BV, or recurrent yeast infections or even the downstream conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease — they’ve historically been poorly characterized. So the diagnosis that have existed to date have been [poor at determining] when and what women have these conditions and therefore what the best treatments should be,” she adds.

Janebdar says the prevailing scientific understanding has been that a Lactobacillus dominant vaginal microbiome is healthy — but more recent studies suggest a more nuanced understanding is needed.

“What’s become clear in the literature is that maybe that’s not always the case. And also the type of Lactobacilli is important. And also there’s really important differences between the vaginal microbiomes and what healthy might look like for Caucasian women versus African American women, for instance,” she notes.

Her background includes a degree in biology and a masters in biochemical engineering — including specific work on microbiome science. It was via her experience of the research field that she says she realized there was a huge gap in women’s health research.

Juno Bio CEO and co-founder, Hana Janebdar (Photo credit: Juno Bio)

“What really shocked me was that while there was this explosion of research and work and commercialization of the gut microbiome and the soil microbiome and every microbiome under the earth that you could think of, the vaginal microbiome had been relatively ignored,” she says, going back to 2017-18 and her inspiration for the startup.

“It really shocked me because of all the microbiomes the vaginal microbiome was the most readily accessible, the most readily associated with the conditions that could improve women’s lives and there were so many women that have these conditions — it was really a sense of hang on, what is going on? And why is this just so incredibly ignored?” she adds. “This needs to be fixed.

“As an Afghan woman — women’s rights and the fact that women are ignored, and medical health research has been sidelined when it comes to women — it’s a very core part of my actual experience as well.”

Juno Bio’s ultimate goal is to gather enough data and understanding to be able to offer “microbial interventions” that can be used to correct problematic imbalances, per Janebdar.

“One of the saddest things… is the fact that microbial interventions could work but having it in this wishy-washy, probiotic, kombucha land has meant that people haven’t fully realized its real potential — and it’s really exciting that in the gut microbiome space, which is analogous to us, first the first time this year you’re seeing sort of phase three approved microbial interventions for the gut. So I see the vaginal space as analogous to that. And this is the kind of stuff that the Juno data-sets will unlock.”

Those shelling out to donate their vaginal microbiome data to Juno Bio’s repository are promised it will be “anonymized” — though clearly links will be retained to some individual data points, such as age and ethnicity.

The startup’s privacy policy can be found here — where it writes: “The information we use in Research is often summarised, aggregated, or combined across a group of subjects to minimize the chance of identification.”

“In the event we require use of individual-level Personally Identifiable Information in Research or for other purposes, we will reach out to you and obtain specific consents applicable to such other use,” it adds.

Tia gets over $24 million to build a network of holistic health clinics and virtual services for women

Juno Bio is being advised by Dr Gregory Buck, Ph.D., who was the principal investigator on the Vaginal Human Microbiome Project (VaHMP) and the Multi Omic Microbiome Study Pregnancy Initiative (MOMS PI) — two studies that were part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Human Microbiome Project.

Commenting in a statement about the launch of the test kit, Buck said: “While previous studies have worked to characterize the vaginal microbiome, these studies have often been limited in population size, utilize limited gene sequences and lack metadata. As a result, present studies now lack data and a comprehensive strain bank of vaginally associated microbes. Having dedicated much of my career to researching microbiomes of the female reproductive tract, I am confident that the Vaginal Microbiome Test will create one of the richest research repositories of data for future research into vaginal health and related issues. Not only that, but it will help change the stigma around vaginal wellness for the better.”

Best Commercial Laundry Carts

If you run a small hotel, uniformed-based business, a restaurant, or any other business where you do a lot of laundry, a commercial-grade laundry cart is essential.

A quality laundry cart will help move large amounts of dry and wet garments thus saving you and your employees valuable time and effort. This means they do not have to lug around dirty laundry, which makes it hygienic. And when it is wet, they will not have to carry the heavy load.

When you have the right tool, the job you are doing becomes that much easier. And if you happen to do a lot of laundry in your business, a commercial-grade laundry cart will make this possible. Here are some of the best commercial laundry carts for your business.

Best Commercial Laundry Carts

Top Pick: Rubbermaid Commercial Collapsible X-Cart, Steel, 8 Bushel Cart
Runner Up: CART&SUPPLY Coin Laundry Cart, Heavy Duty
Best Value: Whitmor Commercial Removable Liner Laundry Hamper

Rubbermaid Collapsible X-Cart

Top Pick: With the load capacity of up to 220 pounds, this collapsible cart will haul a lot of laundry. And when you are not using it, the collapsed size is 75% smaller. It is made with a solid stainless-steel powder coated frame that will not rust along with the premium swivel caster wheels with bumper guards for easy maneuverability. You can also get a cart cover and replacement bags as needed.

Rubbermaid Commercial Collapsible X-Cart, Steel, 8 Bushel Cart

Buy on Amazon

CART&SUPPLY Coin Laundry Cart

Runner Up: This cart has a premium steel construction with a dual support valet bar for loading and unloading the laundry. The wheels (patent pending) are covered to protect against threads and other fabric from getting tangled. And impact-resistant covers protect corners and rims from run-ins with machines, walls, and other objects.

CART&SUPPLY Coin Laundry Cart, Heavy Duty, Rolling Cart

Buy on Amazon

Seville Classics Commercial Canvas Laundry Hamper

Best Value: With a capacity of 100 pounds, this is a small form factor laundry cart for heavy-duty commercial use. It has a tubular steel frame and polyester canvas laundry bag with reinforced opening and thick canvas handles. A tapered square feet design keeps the four wheels within the body to avoid damaging them.

Seville Classics Commercial Heavy-Duty Canvas Laundry Hamper with Wheels

Buy on Amazon

Cart&Supply Commercial Cart with U-Handle

Coming from the same company as the runner up, this cart has the same premium construction. This includes the steel construction and the patent-pending axel-guard wheels. The difference is, this unit has a large U- handle to push the cart around easily.

Cart&Supply Heavy Duty Household & Commercial Cart with U-Handle

Buy on Amazon

Whitmor Commercial Removable Liner

The design of this round laundry cart is ideal for small hotels, B&Bs and salons. It has a strong chromed metal frame with commercial grade swivel wheels. The bag has fabric tab fasteners instead of Velcro for added security. And it comes with a warranty from the manufacturer, which has been in business for 70 years.

Whitmor Round Commercial Removable Liner and Heavy Duty Wheels

Buy on Amazon

8 Bushel Capacity Laundry Truck

This is yet another heavy-duty cart. It is made with a powder-coated steel frame and welded construction. The bag is a durable vinyl/nylon laminate liner with fire retardant and steel grommets to attach it to the cart. The swivel casters include two fixed and two swivel wheels.

8 Bushel Capacity Laundry Basket Truck

Buy on Amazon

Rubbermaid Commercial Laundry Cube Truck

The medium-density polyethylene material of this cart sits on a diamond caster pattern so you can easily move it around. At 50 pounds it is heavy, but it is designed for long-lasting heavy-duty use. This design will ensure nothing leaks out of the laundry cart. It also protects what is inside from getting wet.

Rubbermaid Commercial MDPE 102.9-Gallon Laundry and Waste Collection Cube Truck

Buy on Amazon

Choosing Your Commercial Laundry Cart

As a small business, value is a must with each purchase. Whether it is a laundry cart or another product, it must work well and last a long time. When buying a laundry cart, look at these features to ensure you are making a well-informed purchase.

Size: How much laundry is your business handling? Based on this you should look at carts that can cope with the workload. You should do this considering you need a place to store and move the dirty and clean laundry around.
Durability: Quality construction with steel frames is a must. Make sure to also look for replacement options for the bag and other parts.
Mobility: Look for good quality wheels that are covered so they do not get any cloth, lint or thread tangled in them.
Style: Laundry carts come in all shapes and sizes. If the cart is going to be part of your customer-facing equipment choose a nice-looking cart. If on the other hand, it is going to remain in the laundry room, it can be utilitarian, which means you will probably pay less.
Cost and Warranty: Depending on how much you spend on your laundry cart, the warranty will become an issue. Look for a reputable brand that provides a warranty if you spend a lot of money on your cart.

When you are ready to buy a laundry cart lookout for these features and suggestions so you will end up with the best equipment for your business.

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This article, "Best Commercial Laundry Carts" was first published on Small Business Trends

30 Best Candle Business Stores on Etsy

Americans spend more than $3 billion on candles each year. This means that candle making can be a profitable endeavor for those interested in starting a business.

In fact, some entrepreneurs can earn a decent living by making them right in their own homes. You can then sell them at local craft fairs or retail stores. Or you can get started quickly using marketplace sites like Etsy.

Candle Businesses on Etsy

If you want to start a business around candle making, from home or elsewhere, it’s time to gather some inspiration from other sellers. These candle businesses have made a name for themselves on Etsy.

1. Frostbeard

Frostbeard is full of soy candles made for book lovers. Scents include unique options like Sherlock Study and Oxford Library. Owners Roxie and Tom Lubanovic started the business selling ceramics back in 2012. But they eventually shifted to candles after Roxie was unable to find bookish products elsewhere online.

2. 2 Sisters Candle Co.

The 2 Sisters Candle Co is a business that sells soy candles in various scents, like pumpkin black raspberry vanilla, ocean, and cinnamon stick. And the company is run by — you guessed it: two sisters.

Lynda Holden and her twin sister Laura started and run the business together while also babysitting their grandkids.

Holden told Small Business Trends, “We started making candles for ourselves and to give as gifts. When our local animal shelter (in Texas) had an auction, we made a bunch of candles to sell to profit the animal shelter. We sold all the candles and kept getting requests to make more. Whaala!”

3. Grand Candles

Grand Candles keeps their shop relatively simple. The candle making business features soy wax in a single sized jar. Scents include combinations like coconut + lime and lilac + rose.

4. Baum Designs

Baum Designs sells candles along with other gift items like signs and coasters. The candle you buy can be personalized. And many offer a dose of humor. For example, one reads “light when [name] farts.”

5. OUU Shop

OUU Shop offers soy candles and other personalized favors like honey jars and wax melts. Products include a minimalist design. But some sets can also be personalized, like adding a couple’s names and wedding date to use as favors for guests.

6. New Moon Beginnings

New Moon Beginnings offers candles, crystals, incense, jewelry, and similar items in its business. The candles are infused with crystals to provide a beautiful look and unique energy.

7. Name of Candle Business

The Canary’s Nest offers soy candles and wax melts made in South Georgia. The candle making business offers classic scents as well as seasonal options. For example, in the fall, the shop features products like apple cider donuts and pecan pumpkin.

8. Modern Forestry

Modern Forestry specializes in mason jar candles and wax melts. The business has a generally rustic feel with cedar wicks and designs inspired by the forest. Scents include things like maple bourbon and honeysuckle.

9. Sandy Land Studio

Sandy Land Studio offers soy candles, soaps, and bath salts. The candles in this business are sold in glass jars and tealights. They include scents like magnolia and sandalwood and come in a variety of colors.

10. Mia’s Co.

Mia’s Co. shop features the tagline, “a candle for every memory.” Scents include classics like grapefruit and lavender. And each jar is numbered and comes with a modern design.

11. Mind Your Own Beeswax LLC

Mind Your Own Beeswax sells — you guessed it: beeswax candles. The candle making business sells candles in sets like their self-care package. They also offer wholesale orders if you want to start selling candles in your business.

12. Anchored Northwest

Anchored Northwest sells rustic candles with wood wicks and unique containers. The business doesn’t just sell candles on Etsy. They also have wholesale accounts with various retailers, selling candles in more than 300 locations around the U.S. and Canada.

Owners Brian and Megan offered the following tips to prospective candle sellers, “We have worked countless hours over the past 2 years, but found that photography is key. Never be afraid to give away a product for free or in exchange for exposure. And finally…develop a wholesale business that will get you in front of many different boutiques, gift shops, et. Abound and Faire are great places to start.

They added, “Be sure your product is different from everyone else’s. For us, wood wicks and our fun, unique candle names have set us apart. Not to mention our widely popular and rarely seen Rustic Vintage container.”

13. Get a Whiff Co.

Get a Whiff Co. offers wood wick candles that come with a rustic design. Many include fairly masculine or woodsy fragrances like tobacco & honey and leather & smoke.

14. Cesarah’s Creations

Cesarah’s Creations offers soy candles with a unique twist. Each comes in a glass jar. But in addition to the soy and wick, they include extras accents. For example, the pumpkin spice candle includes small pieces of cinnamon stick, herbs, and crystals.

15. Mainely Candles

Mainely Candles specializes in soy wax candles from Maine. The candle making business is mainly full of seasonal scents like Maine Maple Sunday and Autumn Harvest.

16. Bluewine Studio

Bluewine Studio’s candles go beyond the simple glass jars or containers. Some are shaped into molds like seashells. Others contain little decorations like cereal pieces in the shop’s cereal scented candles.

17. Embers and Roots

Embers and Roots offers ethical soy candles in amber glass jars. Each one can come with a personalized message, like those for birthdays or weddings.

18. Bees Light Candles

Bees Light Candles offers beeswax candles. The product line includes pillar candles, tealights, and those shaped into unique items like pinecones.

19. Alder and Loam

Alder and Loam offers soy candles with minimalist designs. Scents include simple options like rose, woods, and lavender.

20. Cosmic Moon Sisters

Cosmic Moon Sisters specializes in candles with a magical twist. Some include galaxy colors. Others come in apothecary jars. And some are even infused with flowers.

21. Always Rich Creations

Always Rich Creations offers soy candles in various collections, from Key West delight to fresh linen. The candles are colorful as well as scented.

22. Wax on Fire

Wax on Fire offers soy wax candles with a humorous twist. Some also include messages for special occasions, like weddings and birthdays. For example, some include “will you be my bridesmaid?” messages.

23. Wildflower By Anna

Wildflower By Anna includes an array of sustainable products, including candles, skincare products, and soap. The candle making business owner simply creates products she’d like to see on store shelves.

She told Small Business Trends, “I have always been on the lookout for sustainable products but they were often too expensive so I took upon myself to research and create the types of products I love, that are sustainable, beautiful and affordable and I’ve been overwhelmed by how they’ve been received by customers.”

24. Craft Aromas

Craft Aromas offers soy candles inspired by nature. They include wood wicks and frosted glass jars. The product line includes scents like lavender nightshade and heirloom pumpkin.

25. Ordinary Day Studio

Ordinary Day Studio has candles inspired by mood and art. The product line includes options like amber sandalwood tobacco and Kentucky bourbon. Products can also be personalized. And the shop also sells DIY kits.

26. Bubble Yum Candles

Bubble Yum Candles offers candles, lip balm, wax melts, and room sprays. Some products include lifelike shapes like cinnamon buns. Others are infused with extras like bubblegum.

27. Wax Farm Candles

Wax Farm Candles offers jar candles made with essential oils. Each jar is wrapped with a printed design to make them stand out visually.

28. Sixth Spice

Sixth Spice sells eco-friendly natural products, including candles and skincare. The product line includes scents like lavender and lemon and roses in the woods.

29. Green Earth Stones

Green Earth Stones offers handcrafted candles and crystals. The scents include options like dragon’s blood and raven to go with the theme of the shop.

30. Peace Organics

Peace Organics provides soy candle and gift boxes with a magical twist. The jars include visuals like skulls and birds rather than simple labels that include the scent of each candle.

How do I start a candle business?

Before starting a business, you need to choose a niche and name that will help you stand out. For example, some companies specialize in making them eco-friendly. Others want to make decorative candles for wedding centerpieces. You can even make candles with funny names. Start by finding a name that describes your offerings. Once you do that, you need to reserve a website, Etsy page, and social media accounts for your candle business.

You also need to source material when you start manufacturing candles. This may include soy, beeswax, gel, wicks, scents, dyes, glass jars, labels, and packaging supplies. After you get started, practice and perfect your techniques as you develop a line of scents or specific products. Many candle makers simply run their business from their own kitchen or home office. Home candlemaking generally requires a stovetop to heat soy or wax. Then you can set up everything you need for manufacturing on your countertops.

Then it’s time to set up your Etsy shop, website, or decide where else to sell your candles. For example, you can research local gift shops to form wholesale relationships with or craft fairs throughout the year. You can sell products using multiple methods. Then make sure you market your business on social media, online ads, or promoted product listings. Branding candles with logos and other design elements are also essential.

As you run your shop, you’ll need to make systems for managing finances and continually updating your product listings. You also have to keep making more to support your inventory. And make sure to invest in shipping supplies to get your products safely to your customers.

Business owners can learn even more about starting a candle business at the links below:

How much does it cost to make a candle?

The exact cost of candle making depends on the supplies you choose and the amount you’re making at once. It is generally cheaper to produce them in bulk than to make a single candle. For example, making one candle may cost around $5 to $6. This means you need to start buying your supplies in bulk. If you purchase enough products to create a batch of 12 or more candles, each one may only cost around $0.50 to produce. Additionally, home candle making helps business owners keep overhead costs down.

Can you make good money selling candles?

Yes, you can make a profit selling candles if you work hard and price products correctly. Generally, a reasonable profit margin falls between 25 and 50 percent. However, you need to find places to sell them to consumers who are willing to pay your prices. If you do, you can start bringing in between $25,000 and $50,000 in profits.

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This article, "30 Best Candle Business Stores on Etsy" was first published on Small Business Trends

Dear Sophie: Will October 2020 Visa Bulletin changes expedite my immigration case?

Here’s another edition of “Dear Sophie,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies.

“Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder or seeking a job in Silicon Valley, I would love to answer your questions in my next column.”

“Dear Sophie” columns are accessible for Extra Crunch subscribers; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.

Dear Sophie:

I’ve been waiting for years for my green card. Is there any way to expedite my case? What does the October shift in Visa Bulletin priority dates mean for me?

—Waiting in Woodside

Dear Waiting:

Thanks! There are a lot of ways to speed up the immigration process. Great news — last week the State Department released the October 2020 Visa Bulletin, which significantly reduces the waiting time for many folks from around the world seeking green cards. Basically final action dates progressed for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 and are all current now if you can use categories besides being born in India or China! Feel free to check out my recent podcast on seven ways to expedite an immigration case and check out our upcoming free educational webinar on October 8 for the latest on H-1Bs and other immigration updates.

If you were born in India or China, dates for filing for Adjustment of Status and the National Visa Center also sped up significantly for individuals in these categories. Here’s a typical question I receive: “I’m currently in the U.S. in valid nonimmigrant status. If I was born in India or China, can I file my I-485 in October 2020?” See below to check your priority date and talk to an immigration attorney to see what you can file in October 2020!

Is my China/India priority date current in October?

Here’s an overview of how to figure out whether you can file your I-485 this month if you need to use the categories of being born in India or China:

Step 1. Double-check your I-140 I-797C approval notice to determine your category and priority date:
- Sec. 203 (b)(1) → EB-1 Category
- Sec. 203 (b)(2) → EB-2 Category
- Sec. 203 (b)(3) → EB-3 Category
Step 2. Check out the October Visa Bulletin. To understand the Visa Bulletin in more detail:
- The number of green cards the U.S. issues each year is capped based on the type of green card and the green card candidate’s country of birth
- As my podcast on priority dates explains, it is the date your green card petition was submitted or the date your employer submitted your PERM labor certification application.
Step 3. Find the date in the cell at the intersection of your category and country.

Lee Fixel’s Addition leads $35 million investment in India’s Inshorts

Inshorts, which operates a popular news aggregator app in India, has raised $35 million in a new financing round led by Lee Fixel’s Addition as the Indian startup looks to scale its adjacent, social network platform.

For Fixel, who wrote several high-profile checks to Indian firms while running Tiger Global, InShorts is the first Indian startup he is backing from his new VC firm. Fixel, who also invested in InShorts when he was at Tiger Global, has backed about six startups through Addition, including New York Area-headquartered Odeko, which offers ordering and supply chain tools to cafes; Synk, which develops tools used to identify vulnerabilities; and dLocal, which operates a cross-border payment processor to connect global merchants to emerging markets.

SIG Global and Tanglin Venture Partners also participated in Inshorts’ new round, which values the startup at about $125 million, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.

Azhar Iqubal, founder and chief executive of Inshorts, told TechCrunch in an interview that the startup raised the capital to further scale Public, a social network it launched in April 2019.

Lee Fixel is leaving Tiger Global

Public is a location-based social network that connects individuals to people in their vicinity. Think about people living in the same society, or people in a mall or within a few miles from each other.

Public, which is available in several major Indian languages (including Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Assamese, Gujarati and Marathi), is allowing shop owners to drive e-commerce, serving as a classified platform and allowing recruiters to hire people from the neighborhood, said Iqubal.

The app, which also provides entertainment and news services, has amassed more than 50 million monthly active users, he said. More than 1 million videos are being created on the platform each month.

“There are more than 10,000 urban centres in India, and existing social networking apps that are aimed at connecting friends leave room for a location-based play,” said Iqubal.

In the next few months, Iqubal said Public will attempt to deepen its penetration across India. In the future, he wants to expand Public outside of India as well, he said.

Inshorts, which is profitable, competes with a handful of players in the country, including DailyHunt. Interestingly, both DailyHunt, co-run by Umang Bedi (former head of Facebook India) and Inshorts have expanded to explore opportunities in the space of social networks.

TikTok’s rivals in India struggle to cash in on its ban

See what’s new from Chargepoint, Wejo, Waymo and Planet M at TechCrunch’s mobility event next week

We’re in the final run up to TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 on October 6-7, and the great stuff just keeps on coming. We’ve stacked the two-day agenda with plenty of programming to keep you engaged, informed and on track to build a stronger business. You’ll always find amazing speakers — some of the most innovative minds out there — on the main stage, but don’t forget about the breakout sessions.

Dramatic pause for a pro tip: Don’t have a pass yet? Buy one here now, before prices go up on October 5. TIP: You can check out the some of the breakout sessions, q&a sessions, startup mobility pitches and the expo when you get the Expo Ticket for just $25.

The smaller breakout sessions, led by top experts in their field, let you dig into specific topics, ask questions and make connections. A lot of excitement and startup magic can happen at the breakout sessions.

“I enjoyed the big marquee speakers from companies like Uber, but it was the individual presentations where you really started to get into the meat of the conversation and see how these mobile partnerships come to life.” — Karin Maake, senior director of communications at FlashParking.

Before we share the breakout session topics, we have another exciting bit of news. We’re hosting pitch sessions for early stage startup founders who exhibit in the expo at TC Sessions: Mobility. Each startup gets five minutes to pitch to attendees in a breakout session. Remember, this conference has a global reach — talk about visibility! Want to pitch? Buy an Early Stage Startup Exhibitor Package before sales close on Friday.

Alrighty then…let’s look at some of the breakout sessions waiting for you at TC Sessions Mobility 2020.

Tuesday, October 6

10:00 am -10:50 am PDT

Software is Revolutionizing the Driver Experience and Driving Mass Electrification – Software in EVs enables a shift from buying a car to investing in an experience. Hear how it’s driving adoption, revolutionizing behavior & keeping up w/demand. Brought to you by Chargepoint

10:25 am -10:45 am PDT

Main Stage: Driving the Mobility revolution with Connected Car Data – Learn from Wejo’s VP of Partnerships about the future of mobility and how connected car data impacts the world of autonomous, electric and shared. Brought to you by Wejo

10:55 am – 11:15am PDT

Main Stage: Designing Driverless: A look into the Waymo One experience – Waymo’s head of ux research and design gives an inside look look into their fully driverless service experience and its design. Brought to you by Waymo

11:00 am – 11:15am PDT

Q&A Session w/Reilly Brenna, Amy Gu, Olaf Sakkers

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm PDT

Q&A Session w/Danielle Harris, Avra van der Zee and Dmitry Shevelenko

12:30 pm -1:20 pm PDT

Mobility Startup Demo Pitch Session – Part 1

Wednesday, October 7

9:00 am – 9:50 am PDT

Mobility Startup Demo Pitch Session – Part 2

10:00 am – 10:50 am PDT

Mobility Startup Demo Pitch Session – Part 3

10:55 am – 11:15 am PDT

Main Stage: Public-Private Partnerships: Advancing the Future of Mobility – Join us to learn how the public and private entities partner together to shape the future of mobility with the next generation of transportation solutions. Brought to you by Planet M

11:00 am – 11:20 am PDT

Q&A Session w/ David Estrada, Melissa Froelich, Jody Kelman, Prashanthi Raman

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm PDT

Q&A Session w/ Ben Bear, Fredrik Hjelm

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

Brands building for scale should look to hypercultural Latinx consumers

Ilse Calderon Contributor

Ilse Calderon is an investor at OVO Fund where she specializes in pre-seed investments across capital-efficient markets. Prior to OVO, Ilse spent a year at Silicon Valley Bank rotating across consumer and software teams.