Author: nripn

As job seekers and prospective tenants express concerns about what may surface during background checks, many are turning to self-assessments of their online identities and personal records. Engaging in a background check can vary widely. Services offered by private companies allow individuals to access records on both themselves and others, typically for a fee. Alternatively, a self-background check may simply involve personal research into aspects such as address histories, contact details, and past criminal records. This article serves to provide readers with comprehensive guidance on conducting a self-background check. Key Considerations for Self-Background Checks If you are not facing a…

Unconventional Property Deal in Mill Valley A unique opportunity has emerged in Mill Valley, located just north of San Francisco, where an unusual exchange offer is on the table for a 13-acre property. Investment Banker Proposes Equity Swap Storm Duncan, a homeowner and investment banker, has launched a LinkedIn page dedicated to the property, expressing his desire to exchange the estate for equity in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company. Diversification Strategy for Investors According to a report from The San Francisco Standard, Duncan refers to this venture as a “diversification play.” He notes that he is “under-concentrated in AI investments…

Investing in precious metals through a gold individual retirement account (IRA) offers savers an opportunity to diversify their portfolios while benefiting from the inherent stability of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. This often-overlooked IRA option, commonly referred to as a self-directed IRA (SDIRA), caters to those with expertise in precious metals investing, allowing them to include alternative assets in their retirement accounts. Over the past two decades, gold has generated substantial returns for long-term investors. Recently, the price of gold has surged to record levels, enhancing the allure and demand for such accounts. Gold is a preferred asset in many…

Froda, an embedded finance company, has entered into a strategic partnership with SpareBank 1 Østlandet, a major Norwegian bank that serves over 433,000 customers. This collaboration marks one of the first instances in Europe of embedded SME lending facilitated by a bank and fintech alliance, allowing the bank to incorporate Froda’s automated loan application into its current customer experience. The partnership aims to address the persistent €400 billion funding shortfall for SMEs across Europe. Traditional banks have historically faced challenges in small-ticket lending due to high operational costs and low margins, rendering such loans unfeasible. By implementing “Froda Embedded,” SpareBank…

The Iraq fintech ecosystem in 2026 is a story of gradual reconstruction rather than overnight transformation. After years of conflict, institutional fragmentation, and dependence on oil revenues, the country is leaning on digital financial services to widen inclusion, improve transparency, and modernize its economy. The biggest near-term forcing function is the Central Bank of Iraq’s mandate that all government payments move to electronic channels by July 2026, a deadline already reshaping how every financial institution and fintech in the country plans for the year. This is the through-line that defines the country’s digital finance shift today: a state-led push, a…

The Bogle investment strategies pioneered by Vanguard founder Jack Bogle remain among the most reliable playbooks available to retirement savers, particularly those over 50 looking to make the most of their final working decades. The three-part framework of minimizing fees, staying invested, and maximizing contributions is straightforward enough to follow without an advisor, yet powerful enough to add tens of thousands to a portfolio over a working career. Bogle, who founded Vanguard in 1975 and passed away in 2019, built his legacy on the argument that costs and patience matter more than stock picking. The Bogle investment strategies that flowed…

The Buffett costly mistake at the top of his advice list is letting emotions drive investment decisions. Warren Buffett has built a 60-year track record at Berkshire Hathaway by treating that single discipline as the foundation under everything else, and the Buffett costly mistake warning carries extra weight in 2026 as markets sit at all-time highs and his cash pile hits records. Buffett stepped down as Berkshire’s CEO at the end of 2025, with Greg Abel taking the operational reins in January 2026. He remains chairman, and the investing principles that drove Berkshire’s compound annual growth of nearly 20 percent…

Snabbit Eyes New Funding to Boost Valuation to $400 Million Snabbit, a Bengaluru-based instant house-help startup, is reportedly nearing a new funding round that could elevate its valuation to approximately $400 million. This financing initiative, led by Susquehanna Venture Capital, could see the company raising around $50 million, although sources suggest the amount might reach $55 million or even higher due to robust investor interest. Participation from Leading Investors Highlights Growing Demand The upcoming funding round is expected to attract investments from several key players, including Mirae Asset, FJ Labs, and existing backers such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bertelsmann…

The Kiyosaki embrace failure mantra at the heart of Rich Dad Poor Dad has become the through-line of Robert Kiyosaki’s personal finance philosophy. The argument is straightforward: fear of failure stops most people from building wealth, and the Kiyosaki embrace failure framing reframes mistakes as the most valuable lessons available to entrepreneurs and investors. According to Money, Kiyosaki captures the view as “failing boldly and rising rich,” a position he has pushed for nearly three decades since the 1997 release of Rich Dad Poor Dad, which has now sold more than 32 million copies worldwide. How fear of failure blocks…

Unlike many tech conferences that often employ vague themes, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is focused on four well-defined technology domains. Each domain will feature live demonstrations, dedicated exhibit floors, and sessions led by key innovators and investors shaping these technologies around the world. TechCrunch is proud to be an official media partner for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. Our Startup Battlefield team will be present to identify a standout semifinalist from the SusHi Tech Challenge, who will then advance to the prestigious TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200—recognized as one of the top platforms for emerging tech startups. Here’s what attendees can…