Important Innovations

  Orlando, Florida Will be Germany's Lilium's 1st US Vertiport                                                       Source:  Lilium Lilium's US Air Taxi Operations Start in 2025 from Florida Germany's Lilium air-taxi is one of the most promising, successfully tested and well funded air mobility startups in the world.  I've been blogging about the company's achievements for some time. It now has $375 million in investor funding.  It is establishing a Dusseldorf, Germany Vertiport planned for its eVTOLs - electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  And now, it announced its first US Vertiport at Lake Nona, a smart city being built near Orlando International Airport.  5 year old Lilium is racing ahead in the eVTOL field to revolutionize short haul transit. Lilium is an electric, green, air taxi service, gearing up to take-off. Green Revolutionary Tech Lilium is a fixed wing air craft that seats five and requires an experienced pilot.  It's a green flying

  UK based Hopin - Fastest Growth Startup                                                  Source:  Hopin Started in 2019, Now Valued at $2.1 Billion London-based virtual events startup Hopin has just raised $125 million in funding at a valuation of more than $2 billion.  Hopin is fascinating case of what may be the world's fastest growing startup that was created during the founder's struggles with illness. Founder Johnny Boufarhat became so ill that he had to stay at home for two years.  During those two years of being housebound, he created a very hot company that's an all-in-one, live, online events platform.  The platform connects people in different locations and is a perfect fit in the COVID world. Large Menu of Services Hopin carries virtual events, recreating just about every aspect of an in-person event.  What differentiates the startup from videoconferencing services is the support that it provides for conferences from the ground-up.  The services include stage m

Apple's New Computer Products                                                        Source:  Apple                                    New Microprocessor Tying Apple Macs & iPhones Together Apple just launched its MacBook Air notebook and several more new computers.  They contain the first Apple in-house designed microprocessor - the M1.  This technology is designed to closely tie together Apple's Macs and iPhones.  This is a radical change in the core, silicon chip technology for Apple.  Apple has used Intel technology for the past fifteen years as the brains of its computers. This is an apparent parting of the ways. Families of Apps For New Families of Computers Apple hopes that developers will now create a slew of apps that work on both Apple computers and phones.  The Apple MacBook Air starts at $999.00.  That's the same price as its predecessor but the new Air has twice the battery life. The two other new computers are also priced about the same or less than their

  German Biotech BioNTech's & Pfizer's New COVID Vaccine                                                  Source:  BioNTech 1st Vaccine Against COVID that Appears Effective COVID-19 has caused more than 1 million deaths and infected 52 million people worldwide.  Finding a vaccine to protect the world against this unrelenting disease is the Holy Grail of medical research. Frankfurt, Germany based BioNTech appears to be the first to have produced a vaccine that is effective against COVID.  The company is co-developing the vaccine with Pfizer. Below Market Rate Vaccine Pricing BioNTech plans to price the vaccine, which requires two shots, at below "typical market rates".  It will also differentiate the price among countries and regions.  The company is doing so to ensure broad-based access around the world.  It is important to note that the vaccine has not yet won regulatory approvals. Efficacy Rates Based on preliminary trial data, the vaccine is 90% effective.  Wit

  First Successful Test With Passenger Onboard                                          Source:   Virgin Hyperloop Travel at 620 to 700 MPH In Las Vegas yesterday, Virgin Hyperloop made its first successful run with two passengers onboard.  The high speed travel technology travelled 500 meters in just 15 seconds at the Virgin test site. Speeds hit 107.5 mph. The two passengers, Virgin Hyperloop Cofounder/CTO Josh Giegel and Virgin Hyperloop Director of Passenger Experience Sara Luchian sat in a single pod. They said they enjoyed the very high speed ride. They are the first in the world to take a hyperloop ride. The hyperloop carries passengers in small pods that levitate above the track in a vacuum tube.  It is capable of speeds up to 700 mph.  Some experts believe it will revolutionize travel. An expert in Sweden calls it "the barf ride" because of the potential impact of the very high speeds on passengers. No Carbon Emissions This high speed travel "revolutionary"

  Nissan's  Sales Innovation in Face of Pandemic                                                       Source:  Nissan "Complete, End to End Digital Journey" to the Purchase COVID-19 has radically changed the world and global commerce.  Here's a new example.  Because of the pandemic, global auto customers are shying away from car showrooms.  Nissan is on to a new digital approach.  What the company is calling "a complete, end to end digital journey" to  buying your next Nissan car. Nissan COO Ashwari Gupta's Digital System The Chief Operating Officer of Nissan Ashwari Gupta was tasked by a senior Nissan Board member to determine how to sell cars to customers in a COVID weary world.  Gupta came up with a digital journey.  The journey starts with the customer researching cars on line. Car models come to the customer's house for a test drive.  Purchase agreements are finalized with no trips at all to the dealership.  It is socially distanced, online car

  European Union May Vastly Expand Wind Power Capacity                                  Source:  German Offshore Wind Farm 2030 and 2050 Green Goals For the European Union, energy produced by wind power generation is now cheaper than that produced by fossil fuels.  As a result, the EU is considering a huge investment in offshore wind power technology and infrastructure. The nearly $Trillion investment is aimed at creating five-times or 60 gigawatts of offshore wind generated energy by 2030.  The current level is 12 gigawatts.  By 2050 the EU is targeting 300 gigawatts.  They are also targeting 60 gigawatts of wave and tidal energy by 2050. Massive Renewable Energy Agenda These renewable energy goals are unprecedented and would require a major change of scale for the energy sectors of the 27 nation European Union.  The cost is estimated at $937 billion.  The EU plan is still being worked on and should be finalized by mid-November.  If put into action, it will result in a five-fold incre