Extra Crunch’s Top 10 stories of 2020

I edited hundreds of stories in 2020, so choosing my favorites would be an exercise in futility.

Instead, I’ve tried to gather a sample of Extra Crunch stories that taught me something new. (Which means this top 10 list betrays my ignorance, a humbling admission for a know-it-all like myself.)

While narrowing down the field of candidates, I realized that we’re covering each of the topics on this list in greater depth next year. We already have stories in the works about no-code software, the emergence of edtech, proptech and B2B marketplaces, to name just a few.

Some readers are skeptical about paywalls, but without being boastful, Extra Crunch is a premium product, just like Netflix or Disney+. I know: We’re not as entertaining as a historical drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II or a space western about a bounty hunter.

But, speaking as someone who’s worked at several startups, Extra Crunch stories contain actionable information you can use to build a company and/or look smart in meetings — and that’s worth something. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a very happy new year.

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1. The VCs who founders love the most

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Managing Editor Danny Crichton spearheaded the development of The TechCrunch List earlier this year to help seed-stage founders connect with VCs who write first checks.

The TechCrunch List has no paywall and contains details and recommendations about more than 400 investors across 22 verticals. Once it launched, Danny crunched the data to pick out 11 investors for which “founders were particularly effusive in their praise.”

The VCs who founders love the most

2. API startups are so hot right now

Image Credits: Juana Mari Moya(opens in a new window)/Getty Images (Image has been modified)

Alex Wilhelm uses his weekday column The Exchange to keep a close eye on “private companies, public markets and the gray space in between,” but one effort stood out: An overview of six API-based startups that were “raising capital in rapid-fire fashion” when many companies were trying to find their COVID-19 footing.

For me, this was particularly interesting because it helped me better understand that an optimal pricing structure can be key to a SaaS company’s initial success.

API startups are so hot right now

3. ‘No code’ will define the next generation of software
4. Tracking the growth of low-code/no-code startups

Image Credits: Richard Drury(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

Two stories about the advent of no-code/low-code software that we ran in July take the third and fourth position on this list.

I have been a no-code user for some time: Using Zapier to send automated invitations via Slack for group lunches was a real time-saver in the pre-pandemic days.

“Enterprise expenditure on custom software is on track to double from $250 billion in 2015 to $500 billion in 2020,” so we’ll definitely be diving deeper into this topic in the coming months.

‘No code’ will define the next generation of software

Tracking the growth of low-code, no-code startups

5. ‘Edtech is no longer optional’: Investors’ deep dive into the future of the market

Image Credits: PM Images(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

Natasha Mascarenhas picked up TechCrunch’s edtech beat when she joined us just before the pandemic. Twelve months later, she’s an expert on the topic.

In July, she surveyed six edtech investors to “get into the macro-impact of rapid change on edtech as a whole.”

• Ian Chiu, Owl Ventures
• Shauntel Garvey and Jennifer Carolan, Reach Capital
• Jan Lynn-Matern, Emerge Education
• David Eichler, TCV
• Jomayra Hererra, Cowboy Ventures

‘Edtech is no longer optional’: Investors’ deep dive into the future of the market

6. B2B marketplaces will be the next billion-dollar e-commerce startups

Image Credits: Kmatta(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

In 2018, B2B marketplaces saw an estimated $680 billion in sales, but that figure is expected to reach $3.6 trillion by 2024.

As companies shifted their purchasing online, these platforms are adding a range of complementary services like payment management, targeted advertising and logistics while also hardening their infrastructure.

B2B marketplaces will be the next billion-dollar e-commerce startups

7. Facebook’s former PR chief explains why no one is paying attention to your startup

Caryn Marooney, right, vice president of technology communications at Facebook, poses for a picture on the red carpet for the 6th annual 2018 Breakthrough Prizes at Moffett Federal Airfield, Hangar One in Mountain View, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Image Credits: Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group

Reporter Lucas Matney spoke to Caryn Marooney in August at TechCrunch Early Stage about how startup founders who hope to expand their reach need to do a better job of connecting with journalists.

“People just fundamentally aren’t walking around caring about this new startup,” she said. “Actually, nobody does.”

Speaking as someone who’s been on both sides of this equation, I most appreciated her advice about focusing on “simplicity and staying consistent” when it comes to messaging.

“Don’t let the complexity of your intellect cloud what needs to be simple,” she said.

Facebook’s former PR chief explains why no one is paying attention to your startup

8. You need a minimum viable company, not a minimum viable product

Image Credits: alvarez(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

In a guest post for Extra Crunch, seed-stage VC Ann Miura-Ko shared some of what she’s learned about “the magic of product-market fit,” which she termed “the defining quality of an early-stage startup.”

According to Miura-Ko, a co-founding partner at Floodgate, startups can only reach this stage when their business model, value propositions and ecosystem are in balance.

Using lessons learned from her portfolio companies like Lyft, Refinery29 and Twitch, this article should be required reading for every founder. As one commenter posted, “I read this thinking, ‘I need to add some slides to my deck!’”

You need a minimum viable company, not a minimum viable product

9. 6 investment trends that could emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic

10 January 2020, Berlin: Doctor Olaf Göing, chief physician of the clinic for internal medicine at the Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, tests mixed-reality 3D glasses for use in cardiology. They can thus access their patients’ medical data and visualize the finest structures for diagnostics and operation planning by hand and speech. The Sana Clinic is, according to its own statements, the first hospital in the world to use this novel technology in cardiology. Image Credits: Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images

During “the early innings of this period of uncertainty,” an article we published offered several predictions about investor behavior in the U.S.

Although we posted this in April, each of these forecasts seem spot-on:

1. Future of work: promoting intimacy and trust.
2. Healthcare IT: telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.
3. Robotics and supply chain.
4. Cybersecurity.
5. Education = knowledge transfer + social + signaling.
6. Fintech.

6 investment trends that could emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic

10. Construction tech startups are poised to shake up a $1.3-trillion-dollar industry

Image Credits: Steve Proehl(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

I’ve always found the concept of total addressable market (TAM) hard to embrace fully — the arrival of a single disruptive company could change an industry’s TAM in a week.

However, several factors are combining to transform the construction industry: high fragmentation, poor communication, a skilled labor shortage and a lack of data transparency.

Startups that help builders manage aspects like pre-construction, workflow and site visualization are making huge strides, but because “construction firms spend less than 2% of annual sales volume on IT,” the size of this TAM is not at all speculative.

Construction tech startups are poised to shake up a $1.3-trillion-dollar industry

11. Don’t let VCs be the gatekeepers of your success

Image Credits: PM Images(opens in a new window)/Getty Images

As a bonus, I’m including a TechCrunch op-ed written by insurtech founder Kevin Henderson that describes the myriad challenges he has faced as a Black entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.

Some of the discussions about the lack of diversity in tech can feel abstract, but his post describes its concrete consequences. For starters: he’s never had an opportunity to pitch at a VC firm where there was another Black person in the room.

“Black founders have a better chance playing pro sports than they do landing venture investments,” says Henderson.

Don’t let VCs be the gatekeepers of your success

The Equity crew predicts what’s to come in 2021

What could go wrong?

Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture-capital-focused podcast (now on Twitter!), where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. As you can see, this is our yearly predictions episode. Our behind-the-scenes guru Chris Gates joins us on the mic, we take shots at our prior prognostications, and nosh on what we feel is positively persaged.

As always, this episode is in good fun. If you don’t agree with we think is up ahead, that’s fine. You’re probably right. But we’re nothing if not up for a challenge, so we kept the tradition alive this year.

This is the last Equity episode of 2020. While we can’t tell you yet what our plans are for 2021, we can say — nay, project — that there are a lot of fun and big things coming for Equity. We’re planning our busiest year ever, by far.

And with that, we’re out of here. Thanks for several million downloads this year, our biggest annum to date.

Equity drops every Monday at 7:00 a.m. PST and Thursday afternoon as fast as we can get it out, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts.

Wireless Internet Connecting More Americans to Broadband in 2020

More Americans are using wireless technology to connect to the internet at broadband speeds. However, most home internet connections still rely on buried cables. But moving forward, wireless seems to be the technology service providers and consumers are most excited about. This according to The State of the Internet in 2020 report from HighSpeedInternet.com. And more broadband access means more opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country.

The pandemic showed just how important internet connectivity is. Not for a single group, business, or industry, but for everyone. And for small businesses with limited resources, it is even more important. Wireless broadband access means a small business can allow its workers to work remotely, take orders for pickup or delivery online easily, chat on video to answer customer requests and much more.

The key is making reliable broadband technology available to all regions of the country so individuals and businesses can thrive together. The fact that people and businesses within a couple of miles of each other have disparate technologies is no longer a working model moving forward. Think of what you’d be able to do with improved internet service that you couldn’t do at slower speeds.

Wireless Technology Connecting More Americans to Broadband

Broadband is a catalyst for small business growth because it drives innovation and job creation. According to the SBA, it is essential for:

• Achieving strategic goals
• Improving competitiveness
• Improve efficiency
• Reach more customers
• Interact with vendors

Beyond these capabilities the one other thing broadband provides is opportunities. As a small business, you can operate a global enterprise using your broadband connection in your home office or small business in a small town. And the good news is wireless technology is connecting more Americans to broadband.

The report says there are gaps in availability and affordability across the US. But it goes on to say, improvements in technology and internet infrastructure can help bridge the gap. And wireless appears to be the technology companies are experimenting with to deliver broadband.

The technologies:

• 5G – The fifth generation of cellular data service
• LEO satellite – Low Earth Orbit satellite internet (Elon Musk’s Starlink)
• 4G – The fourth generation of cellular data service
• Fixed-wireless – Uses close by cell towers with a home transceiver to provide connectivity

The good news is these are technologies that are deployed, and they are already in service or running in tests. The technology already running and offering great promise is 5G, which is delivering blazing speeds in locations with the right infrastructure. The 4G infrastructure has been deployed and it is a proven wireless platform for delivering broadband speeds.

Fixed wireless also uses cell towers to provide broadband services in rural areas or places without cable services. This service requires a line of site to the cell tower to work. But with a range of up to 10 miles, there are great opportunities.

Starlink has great ambitions. But once all the LEO satellites are launched (30K or more), broadband internet service will be ubiquitous globally. As of right now, Starlink is running its “Better than Nothing Beta” test in Maine, Montana, North Dakota, and Washington with the more than 835 satellites it has in orbit.

What are Customers Willing to Pay?

The average cost for new internet plans in the U.S. is $48.25 per month, but people are reporting they spend an average of $80 per month. Yet, they consider $20–$50 per month for internet to be a reasonable amount. So, it is not surprising when 61% of Americans think their internet service is overpriced.

And the price is not going to go down anytime soon. As more people rely on internet service and providers are aware of this fact, expect to pay more with each passing year. But then again, once the technology Elon Musk is deploying goes fully online, it can keep the price from going out of control or even lower it for the industry.

Image: highspeedinternet.com

This article, "Wireless Internet Connecting More Americans to Broadband in 2020" was first published on Small Business Trends

Minimum Wages Increase in 25 States in 2021

According to a study by Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory 25 states will raise their minimum wage in 2021, with 21 of those states enacting the increases on New Year’s day.

By the beginning of the New Year, New York and Oregon, which both have regional minimum wage rates, will see the highest wages reaching $15.00 in New York City and $14.00 in the Portland Metro Area effective July 1, 2021. 

At the end of the spectrum, the lowest minimum wage rates of $5.15 are in Georgia and Wyoming. However, most employers and employees are subject to the higher federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.

Increasing the minimum wage is expected to pose more challenges for small businesses already grappling with the effects of the pandemic. According to Small Business Index issued by the Chamber of Commerce, half (50%) of small businesses see their operations continuing for a year or less before having to permanently close. In some extreme cases businesses already hard hit by the pandemic will have to choose between raising wages or terminating staff.

During this quarter more small businesses plan to reduce staff in this quarter (14%) up from 9% last quarter reaching levels not seen since the beginning of the pandemic in late April (13%). Only 27% of businesses plan to increase their number of employees in the next year.

 

Additional Findings

• To support the healthcare industry, New Jersey has established a minimum wage for direct-care workers employed by long-term health-care facilities. As of September 16, 2020, the minimum wage for these workers is $3.00 higher than the state minimum wage.
• The city of Emeryville, California will have the highest minimum wage in the country, at $16.84 per hour. 
• Seattle is the city with the second highest with a minimum wage of $16.69, while the highest state rate will be California’s at $14.00 per hour.
• Some of the new rates in states such as California, Colorado, Maine, Washington are the result of previously approved incremental increases to reach a specific amount that is considered to be a ‘living wage’. 
• While other States’ increases reflect an annual cost-of-living adjustment, which accounts for the changes in states like Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, and Montana.

The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since July of 2009, its longest time without an increase since its inception in 1938. However states are free to raise the price floor.

 

Minimum Wage 2021

To keep up with the rules in terms of your staff, here’s a rundown of where the 25 states currently stand. 

Alaska

$10.34 per hour, up fifteen cents from $10.19 per hour, based on a 1.4% increase in the cost of living. Wage rates are adjusted annually based on inflation. School bus drivers are to be paid two times the minimum wage.

Arizona

$12.15 per hour, up from $12.00 per hour. In addition, employees are entitled to paid sick leave, at the rate of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, but with limits based on the size of the employer.

Arkansas

$11.00, up from $10.00 per hour.

California

$14.00 per hour, for businesses with 26 or more employees; $13.00 for smaller employers.

Colorado

$12.32 per hour, up from $12.00 per hour.

Connecticut

$12 per hour, scheduled to increase to $13.00 on August 1, 2021.

Florida

$8.65 per hour, up 9 cents, based on a 1.07% increase in the cost of living. Tipped employees must be paid $5.63 per hour, also up 9 cents from the 2020 rate.

Illinois

$11.00 per hour, up from $10.00.

Maine

$12.15 per hour, up from $12.00.

Maryland

In 2021, the minimum wage is $11.75 for large employers and $11.60 for small employers.

Massachusetts

$13.50 per hour, an increase of 75 cents.

Michigan

$9.87, up from $9.65 per hour.

Minnesota

$10.08 per hour (up from $10.00) for employees of large employers with an annual gross volume of sales not less than $500,000. Small employers must pay employees a minimum wage of at least $8.21 per hour (up from $8.15).

Missouri

$10.30, up from $9.45 per hour.

Montana

$8.75 per hour, up 10 cents, based on a 1.31% change in the cost of living and rounded to the nearest 5 cents.

New Jersey

$12.00 per hour for most employees, up from $11.00 per hour. $11.10 per hour for those in seasonal employment, who work on a farm for an hourly or piece-rate wage, or who work for an employer with fewer than six employees.

New Mexico

$10.50 per hour, up from $9.00.

New York

Tiered/Rates vary by region: $15.00 per hour in New York City; $14.00 per hour in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties (then $1.00 each year after, reaching $15.00 on December 31, 2021); $11.80 per hour in remainder of the state.

Nevada

$9.00 per hour for employees who do not receive health benefits, to increase to $9.75 on July 1, 2021. $8.00 per hour for employees who do receive health benefits applies, to increase to $8.75 on July 1, 2020.

Ohio

$8.80 per hour, up 10 cents from $8.70 per hour, based on a 1.4% increase in the cost of living. Wage rates are adjusted annually based on inflation.

Oregon

The state minimum wage is tiered, with the highest rate in the Metro Portland area at $13.25 per hour ($14.00 effective July 1, 2021), the lowest in rural (non-Urban) areas at $11.50 per hour ($12.00 effective July 1, 2021), and a minimum wage of $12.00 per hour ($12.75 effective July 1, 2021) in the rest of the state. Scheduled increases per S.B. 1532, L. 2016.

Pennsylvania

$7.25 per hour, but $13.50 for employees under Governor’s jurisdiction, up from $13.00.

South Dakota

$9.45 per hour, up 15 cents from $9.30 per hour. Wage rates are adjusted annually based on inflation.

Vermont

$11.75 per hour. This is a 79-cent scheduled increase over the $10.96 per hour 2020 rate.

Washington

$13.69 per hour, for employees who have reached the age of 18, based on a 1.39% increase in the cost of living.

Workers under 16 years old can be paid 85% of the adult minimum wage, or $11.64 per hour, in 2021.

Image: wolterskluwer.com

This article, "Minimum Wages Increase in 25 States in 2021" was first published on Small Business Trends

3 Essential Principles of Business Outsourcing

Outsourcing non-essential tasks enables you to focus on core competency. However, you should ensure to follow these principles to get the most out of outsourcing.

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Amazon acquires podcast network Wondery

Amazon just announced that it’s acquiring Wondery, the network behind podcasts including “Dirty John” and “Dr. Death.”

Wondery will become part of Amazon Music, which added support for podcasts (including its own original shows) in September. At the same time, the announcement claims that “nothing will change for listeners” and that the network’s podcasts will continue to be available from “a variety of providers.”

Media companies and streaming audio platforms are all making big bets on podcasting, with Spotify making a series of acquisitions including podcast network Gimlet, SiriusXM acquiring Stitcher and The New York Times acquiring Serial Productions. Amazon is coming relatively late to this market, but it will now have the support of a popular podcast maker as it works to catch up.

“With Amazon Music, Wondery will be able to provide even more high-quality, innovative content and continue their mission of bringing a world of entertainment and knowledge to their audiences, wherever they listen,” Amazon wrote.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that acquisition talks were in the works, and that those talks valued Wondery at around $300 million.

The startup was founded in 2016 by former Fox executive Hernan Lopez (who’s currently fighting federal corruption charges tied to his time at Fox). Numbers from Podtrac rank it as the fourth largest podcast publisher in November, with an audience in the U.S. of more than 9 million unique listeners.

Wondery has raised a total of $15 million in funding from Advancit Capital, BDMI, Greycroft, Lerer Hippeau and others, according to Crunchbase.

Amazon Music adds podcasts, including its own original shows

 

Dear Sophie: Tips for getting a National Interest green card by myself?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor

Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives.

More posts by this contributor

• Dear Sophie: What’s ahead for US immigration in 2021?
• Dear Sophie: How did immigration change for startup founders in 2020?

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.”

Extra Crunch members receive access to weekly “Dear Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.

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Dear Sophie:

I’m working in the Bay Area on an H-1B visa and my employer won’t sponsor my green card.

I really want permanent residence, but I never won a Nobel prize; I’m single; and I don’t have a million dollars yet. However, I think I might qualify for an EB-2 NIW green card.

What can you share?

— National in Napa

Dear National:

Wonderful that you’re taking matters into your own hands! This is a complicated process, so the most important advice I can give you is to retain an experienced business immigration attorney to represent you and prepare and file your green card case.

For additional do’s and don’ts in U.S. immigration, please check out the recent podcast that my law firm partner, Anita Koumriqian, and I posted on the commandments of immigration (and especially what to not do when it comes to visas and green cards).

This particular episode focuses on family-based green cards, but these recommendations are timeless and apply to individuals who are self-petitioning for employment-based green cards, such as the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) for exceptional ability and the EB-1A for extraordinary ability. Our top recommendation in that podcast episode is to avoid DIY immigration, so definitely retain legal counsel!

Filing for an EB-2 NIW or any green card requires more than just filling out the appropriate forms. The process needs to be understood, as the law and legal requirements, and the analysis of whether and how you can best qualify is complicated.

With any immigration matter, one needs to have the resources to fully understand the process, the steps for applying, and the timing and deadlines. We want to always make sure that you always maintain legal status (never falling out of status) so that you can remain in the U.S. (and don’t have to leave).

Student-founded Develop for Good surpasses 25,000 volunteer hours connecting students with nonprofits

This has been the year of the social organization. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world and the United States, governments and a patchwork of nonprofits and volunteer organizations sprang into action, offering everything from food and medical supplies to children’s books and clothing to individuals and families struggling in the virus’s wake.

Perhaps the biggest divide though to getting people help has been digital — non-profits need to connect with their beneficiaries over the internet just as much as any retailer today. Unfortunately, tech talent is expensive and hard to find, particularly for often cash-strapped nonprofits.

That was part of the impetus for two Stanford seniors, Mary Zhu and Amay Aggarwal, to co-found Develop for Good, a matching service designed to connect motivated and ambitious undergrads in computer science, design and economics to nonprofits with specific projects that require expertise. They launched the network in March as the pandemic started spreading rapidly, and since then, the organization has itself started growing exponentially as well.

Develop for Good “was in response to [the pandemic], but at the same time, a lot of our peers were having their internships canceled, [and] a lot of companies were having hiring freezes,” Zhu explained. “People were also seeking opportunities to be able to develop their professional skills and develop their project experience.” This coincidence of needs among both students and nonprofits helped accelerate the matching that Develop for Good offers.

So far, the 501(c)(3) non-profit has coordinated more than 25,000 volunteer hours across groups like the Ronald McDonald House, UNICEF, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), Easterseals, The Nature Conservancy, Save the Children, AARP and more. The program, which in its first batch focused on Zhu and Aggarwal’s network at Stanford, has since expanded to more than a dozen schools across the United States. The two first reached out to nonprofits through Stanford’s alumni network, although as the program’s reputation has grown, they have started getting inbound interest as well.

Volunteers take on a project for 5-10 hours per week for 10 weeks, typically in teams. Each team meets their nonprofit client at least weekly to ensure the project matches expectations. Typical projects include application development, data visualization, and web design. Most projects conclude at the end of the batch, although the founders note that some in-depth projects like product development can cross over into future batches. As the program has expanded, Zhu and Aggarwal have added a more formal mentorship component to the program to help guide students through their work.

Applications for the next batch starting in January are currently open for students (they’re due January 2nd, so get them in quick!). The founders told me that they are expecting 800 applications, and are likely going to be able to match about 200 volunteers to 32 projects. Applications are mostly about matching interests with potential programs for the best fit, rather than a purely competitive exercise. So far, the program has worked on 50 projects to date.

For this next batch, Amazon Web Services will sponsor a stipend for first-generation and low-income students to help defray the financial impact of volunteer work for some students. “Over the past cycle, a few people had to drop out because they said, ‘they’re unable to work for free because they’re having a lot of financial stress for their families’,” Aggrawal said. The new stipend is meant to help these students continue to volunteer while alleviating some of that financial burden.

Aggrawal said that two-thirds of the program’s volunteer developers and designers are female, and one-third are first-generation or low-income.

On the diversity front, 2020 may prove a tipping point

Since Minneapolis police officers killed George Floyd in May and kicked off months of nationwide protests, the corporate world — including venture capitalists — have attempted to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Indeed, many quickly took to social media to voice their support, broadcast their new diversity-focused networking groups and pledge to do better, particularly when it comes to finding and funding more Black founders and other underrepresented entrepreneurs.

As of 2018, 81% of venture firms still lacked a single Black investor.

It was tempting to dismiss it as so much hot air, given that VCs have talked about diversity for eons without doing much about it.

As of February 2020, according to a report by All Raise, an organization that promotes female founders, 65% of VC firms still had no female partners. As of 2018, 81% of venture firms still lacked a single Black investor, per an analysis by Equal Ventures partner Richard Kerby.

Those numbers are comparatively rosy when considering the percentage of women and Black investors in senior decision-making roles. According to recent PitchBook data, at the start of this year, just 12.4% of decision-makers at U.S. venture firms were women (up slightly from the 9.65% at the start of 2019). As for for the number of Black investors in senior positions, it has long hovered around just 2%.

But here’s the good news: While it remains an ongoing challenge to get these numbers in sync with other industries, there were two developments specifically in 2020 that may beget more action in 2021.

We’d first point to the decision this fall by Yale’s endowment to require its asset managers to do better when it comes to diversity. Specifically, the school’s $32 billion endowment — led since 1985 by investor David Swensen — told its 70 U.S. money managers that from here on out, they will be measured annually on their progress in increasing the diversity of their investment staff, from hiring to training to mentoring to their retention of women and minorities.

Best Baby Changing Station for the Wall

Besides providing quality products and services businesses have to make sure they accommodate the needs of their customers. Equally important is how your business is viewed by the public. This goes hand in hand with how you invest in the comfort of your customers. One of the best ways to do this is to provide a clean environment and full bathroom amenities such as baby changing stations.

It means not only accommodating your clients but also their children and possibly your staff’s children. This is where baby changing stations come in to play. Especially for public restrooms in restaurants, businesses, and shops.

Whether you need to install a baby changing station in your customer’s restroom or for employees who bring children to work, find the best ones here.

Best Baby Changing Stations for the Wall 

• Top Pick: Koala Kare Horizontal Baby Changing Station
• Runner Up: ECR4Kids Wall-Mounted Baby Changing Station
• Best Value: Rubbermaid Commercial Horizontal Baby Changing Station

Koala Kare Horizontal Baby Changing Station

Top Pick: The body of this horizontal diaper changing station is made from injection-molded polypropylene. And the bed surface contains microban antimicrobial that helps in reducing odor-causing bacteria. It complies with ADA standards for accessible design and the 2009 ICC A117.1 standards.

It is 23.5 x 35.18 x 22 inches and weighs 27.5 pounds. The steel chassis and steel hinges offer greater resistance and wear, and it can support up to 200 pounds.

Koala Kare KB20000 Horizontal Baby Changing Station

Buy on Amazon

ECR4Kids Wall-Mounted Baby Changing Station

Runner Up: The ECR4Kids is made from antibacterial high-density polyethylene providing both strength and durability. Built to accommodate infants and toddlers of up to 3.5 years it has a concave shape and concave adjustable child-safety strap to keep kids comfortable and safe.

It is 35.5 x 19 x 4 inches and weighs around 21 pounds, with a weight capacity of 250 lbs. The space-saving design comes with a concealed pneumatic cylinder that ensures slow, safe, controlled opening and closing. It comes with two diaper bag/purse hooks that hold up to 25 lbs. each, two built-in sanitary paper liner dispensers and 500-count disposable liners.

ECR4Kids Wall-Mounted Baby Changing Station with 500 Disposable Liners

Buy on Amazon

Rubbermaid Commercial Horizontal Baby Changing Station

Best Value: The Rubbermaid baby changing table is made with polypropylene. It is designed to not absorb moisture and prevent the spread of germs with antimicrobial protection. And it meets the EN, ADA, and ASTM safety standards.

The changing station comes with easy-to-reach hooks, a built-in shelf and liner storage, and is available in horizontal and vertical orientations. It features a concealed pneumatic cylinder and oversized hinge and shock absorbers for one-handed opening. It is33.25 x 21.5 inches and weighs 19.75 lbs.

Rubbermaid Commercial Horizontal Baby Changing Station

Buy on Amazon

Alpine Industries Baby Changing Diaper Station

This is a fold-down diaper station made with antimicrobial coated polypropylene. It features dual liner holders to accommodate up to 100 film liners and it is outfitted with two side hooks, allowing users to hang a diaper bag and another item.

It is 19.68 x 34.25 x 20.31 inches, weighs 24 lbs., supports up to 220lbs, and meets ADA, FDA, and ASTM global safety standards.

Alpine Industries Wall Mounted Baby Changing Station – Horizontal Fold Down Diaper Changing Table

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Continental Baby Changing Station

Continental’s baby changing station features a contemporary, easy to clean, concave surface to comfortably accommodate infants with adjustable safety straps. Made with polyethylene that inhibits bacterial growth it comes with dual liner dispensers that can hold approximately 50 liners for protection. And pneumatic shocks enable one-hand opening and closing.

When open, the station measures x 34-1/4 x 18 inches (Height x Width x Depth) and it measures 4” (Depth) when closed. It weighs 16.2 lbs. and it can hold up to 250 lbs.

Continental 8252-H White Horizontal Baby Changing Station

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TCBunny Wall-Mounted Baby Changing Station

TCBunny is made from polypropylene with a horizontal changing station designed for infants and toddlers up to 3.5 years old. For added convenience, the unit comes with a built-in shelf and two accessory holders to keep all necessary items safely out of a child’s reach.

Furthermore, the one-hand open and close design allows for easy access to the changing platform, while the concealed pneumatic cylinder and hinge structure provide controlled, smooth opening and closing of the table. It is 33.25 x 21.5 x 4 inches, weighs 24.6 lbs., and meets ASTM, ADA, FDA, and EN safety standards.

TCBunny Wall-Mounted Baby Changing Station Horizontal Diaper Changing Table with Safety Straps White

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Modundry Fold Down Baby Changing Station

Modundry’s wall-mounted baby changing station comes with a smooth and comfortable concave surface and an adjustable safety strap to keep children safely in place. The 90⁰ design helps save space and coupled with a concealed pneumatic cylinder ensures slow, safe, controlled opening and closing.

It is 32.76 x 23.15 x 5.43 inches, weighs 24 lbs., has weight capacity of 250 lbs, and has two diaper bag hooks that can hold up to 25 pounds.

Modundry Fold-Down Baby Changing Diaper Station – Horizontal Wall Mounted, Sturdy & Durable with Safety Straps for Commercial Bathrooms

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Important Features to Look Out for in Your Next Baby Changing Stations

• Easy to Clean Options: Diaper changes can get messy. Look for units that are easy to clean and maintain. Look for materials that are waterproof, either plastic or silicone allowing you to easily wipe away messes.
• Storage: A good changing table not only affords comfort and privacy but also functionality. Look for those that allow you to hang your bag, storage for essential supplies and have safety straps or harnesses.
• Ease of Installation: Walls made from tiles, concrete or metal all have different mounting requirements. Look for changing tables that come with a full set of installation instructions. Also, beware of suppliers that do not offer mounting accessories.
• Mount type: You have the option of a mounted or countertop mounted stations. Wall-mounted changing tables are more common because these units are usually a little easier to fit into a space and come with additional features, such as storage compartments.
• Dimensions: Depending on the available space you may opt for horizontal or vertical changing stations. Some units come in both positions, and which to choose very much depends on the dimensions and needs of the space you want it to go in.
• Material: The material should be one that is strong and sturdy, so parents do not have to worry about their baby rolling off of the table and getting injured. It can be either made from plastic or metal but make sure that there is sufficient cushioning for the toddlers’ comfort. It should have antibacterial components and can be easily washable. Also look for stations that are vandal proof.
• Price: Baby changing stations can cost as little as under $100 to as much as $2,000. Investing on quality for this product is advisable.

 Safety and Space

There are quite a few types of baby changing units you can put in public locations, that come with a range of features. Before you start buying a changing station, consider these two very important factors, safety and space.

Safety

The safety of toddlers during diaper changes is of utmost importance. And the baby station you install must reflect that. Make sure that your changing station is as safe as possible. And it all starts by buying a strong baby station made with solid materials and has safety certifications on par with industry standards.

After you purchase it, the next safety measure you should take is proper installation. If you are not a handy person, have a professional install it for you. This will help you avoid many complications later.

Space

The first step is to see if your baby changing station you choose fits in your bathroom. Baby changing stations come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can range in complexity in terms of their design (vertical Vs. horizontal), do they fold down or not.

Your changing station will need to provide enough room in front for users to comfortably change their baby. Equally important is to locate your baby changing station in a place where it will not obstruct traffic, get in the way of or damage other washroom equipment.

Having a baby changing station is one more way to better serve the needs of your customers. If you are going to make the station available, buy the best one your budget allows so your customers feel secure with the most important thing in their life, their child.

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Images: Amazon

This article, "Best Baby Changing Station for the Wall" was first published on Small Business Trends

Spotlight: Vitality Beyond 50 Targets a Specific Niche in the Wellness Industry

People’s health needs can change with age. But many wellness brands today focus mainly on young adults. Luckily, Vitality Beyond 50 is there to provide guidance specifically geared toward women in a different age group. Read more about the company below in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Provides nutritional guidance for women over 50.

Founder Kristine Bahr told Small Business Trends, “I am an Integrative Functional Medicine nutritionist. I help women over 50 regain their energy and vitality with a personalized treatment plan including nutritional services and supplements.”

Business Niche

Bringing scientific testing and experience to clients.

Bahr says, “I have 20 years of experience as an Integrative Functional Medicine Nutritionist. I do scientific testing to determine the root cause of any illness.”

How the Business Got Started

By niching down another venture.

Bahr explains, “Vitality Beyond 50 is an offshoot of my present business, Cutting Edge Wellness.”

Biggest Win

Seeing results with clients.

Bahr says, “In my business history, I have helped thousands of clients, all ages achieve optimal health.”

She adds, “The best gifts I have received are women having babies after being they were infertile. It is a joy to my heart.”

Biggest Risk

Setting up in a new area.

Bahr says, “The biggest risk is when I moved from the Berkshires to Boston. I had to develop my business in a new location.”

How They’d Spend an Extra $100,000

Exploring new areas and continuing to serve clients, just in new ways.

Bahr explains, “I would travel more (excluding COVID restrictions) and write a book.”

Favorite Quote

“It is a time of Great Awakening. A time for waking up to who you are, not who others think you are.” Abraham Hicks

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Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program

Image: Vitality Beyond 50, Kristine Bahr

This article, "Spotlight: Vitality Beyond 50 Targets a Specific Niche in the Wellness Industry" was first published on Small Business Trends