iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

I got to write a profile of Dan Ni, the founder of the wildly popular TLDR tech newsletter! Dan's career was derailed by a rare medical condition that sent him home to Missouri. He started TLDR in 2018, but along the way, he started and sold a SaaS biz and even went to culinary school. In @inc.com

inc.com

Not Too Long, Must Read: How Dan Ni Founded TLDR, the Definitive Silicon Valley Tech Newsletter

After a rare medical syndrome sidelined Ni's career, he created a popular suite of tech newsletters that boasts 7 million subscribers.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

I think that what Infinite Machine is doing with their scooter design is pretty cool. Not too long ago, I got to drive the electric P1 in the rain and was impressed with the ride. Here's my look at the company—and why they made such striking design choices. In @inc.com www.inc.com/rob-verger/i...

inc.com

How 2 Brothers With No Automotive Experience Created a Scooter That Looks Like a Cybertruck

Infinite Machine's P1 has a $10,000 price tag. Can it compete with the likes of Vespa?

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

This is a fascinating story. The document that Sam obtained provides a window into the kinds of fraught decisions that humans have to make when deciding what a chatbot can, and cannot, say. Via @inc.com

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

This story about an indie movie theater that needed a new 4K projector to stay competitive is just so wonderful. The projector and other equipment cost over $100,000, and you know how they got the money? From a grant—and donations from the community. In @inc.com www.inc.com/jacob-kleinm...

inc.com

How This 105-Year-Old Movie Palace Got Film Fans to Fund an Extreme Tech Makeover

The North Park Theatre in Buffalo, New York, needed a $100,000 upgrade and developed a clever strategy to pull it off.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

A great exclusive story by @chloeaiello.bsky.social about Beyond Meat. Their next product will (tentatively) be called Beyond Ground, and it won't seek to imitate anything. “It’s not trying to be beef, pork, or poultry," CEO Ethan Brown tells @inc.com Dig in: www.inc.com/chloe-aiello...

inc.com

Beyond Meat's Next Dish Won't Imitate Beef, Pork, or Chicken

As the fake meat industry struggles, Beyond Meat's CEO is planting the seeds of a comeback. It starts with a new food designed to just be itself.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

This story by @bensherry.bsky.social about what happened when @anthropic.com let AI run a vending machine is just so funny. Some truly weird stuff went down. At one point, the AI even started talking about what clothes it was going to wear (blazer, tie). In @inc.com www.inc.com/ben-sherry/a...

inc.com

An AI Ran a Vending Machine for a Month and Proved It Couldn't Even Handle Passive Income

Anthropic tried testing Claude’s ability to run a passive-income business. Then came the weird existential crisis.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Back in 2001, Mr. Rogers was my college graduation speaker. And I got to give the student address! Here's the coolest part: Mr. Rogers mentioned me, talking about how "silence and solitude" were important to him. In other words, take the solo time you need to recharge. It’s Mr. Rogers approved.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Have you been using Chat-GPT a lot lately? I sure have. And have you felt confused about all the models, and their weird names, like o4-mini-high? The naming scheme is baffling. Luckily, @bensherry.bsky.social is here to explain them all to you. Check it out, via @inc.com www.inc.com/ben-sherry/a...

inc.com

An Entrepreneur's Guide to Every ChatGPT AI Model

The number of ChatGPT models can feel dizzying. Let's break down which model is best for which tasks.

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Reposted by Rob Verger

BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 02/05/2025

We've been tracking this REGENT 'Seaglider' project closely for some time. It's intriguing. Now the story has made it all the way to the pages of @inc.com, penned by the able hand of @verger.bsky.social. We didn't know it was funded in part by @mcuban.bsky.social. That's also intriguing. | 🛩️ ⚡️ 🦆 🪙

inc.com

It’s a Boat! It’s a Plane! It’s a Flying Boat!

Certifying a new kind of aircraft is expensive and time consuming. This Mark Cuban-backed company is floating something new.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I'm super excited about my latest in @inc.com -- it's all about an innovative company called Regent that's bringing a flying boat to market. Bonus: It's electric! @mcuban.bsky.social calls it "a revolutionary product that can change transportation for so many cities." www.inc.com/rob-verger/r...

inc.com

It’s a Boat! It’s a Plane! It’s a Flying Boat!

Certifying a new kind of aircraft is expensive and time consuming. These entrepreneurs decided to float something totally different.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

A nice exclusive story in @inc.com this morning by @chloeaiello.bsky.social about Electra and their latest funding round, which is $115 million. Their plan is to bring a small hybrid-electric aircraft to market that's quiet and can take off and land in a very short distance—like 150 feet.

inc.com

How This Ultra-Quiet Electric Aircraft Could Change Air Travel

Exclusive: Electra just raised $115 million to bring its ambitious new hybrid aircraft to market. Here's what sets it apart.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

In 2001, I was an AmeriCorps volunteer w/ Red Cross. Part of our mission was disaster response. Not long after 9/11, I went to NYC to work in the Ground Zero area. I was not working on the pile, but I was helping affected residents nearby. This is to say: AmeriCorps volunteers do important things.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

This story by @bensherry.bsky.social for @inc.com is just so much fun. OpenAI and Tinder are doing a lighthearted collaboration in which you practice your skills with an AI in different meet-cute situations. Ben tried it out. The results? Not so great! But definitely worth reading about.

inc.com

I Struck Out With Tinder and OpenAI’s New Dating Game

Tinder and OpenAI have partnered up to help you practice 'cringeworthy moments.' For us, it was an exercise in rejection.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

This seems like a great time to talk about some best practices when communicating sensitive information with others! For @inc.com, @bensherry.bsky.social provides a quick guide on what apps like Signal, which offer end-to-end encryption, actually do—and how to use them the smart way.

inc.com

Are Your Messages Really Secure? How to Use Encrypted Apps Safely

Encrypted apps like Signal offer privacy, but simple mistakes can put your data at risk. Follow these best practices to stay protected.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

You've heard of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. But what about a cookie that aims to do something similar? @chloeaiello.bsky.social has the tasty story for @inc.com Plus, the company making the cookie has a great name: ChipMonk Baking.

inc.com

This Company Has a Sweet Pitch: A Healthier Cookie That May Help You Lose Weight

With GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic all the rage, ChipMonk Baking has created a cookie it says works a bit the same way.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

If you've been seeing terms like "AI agent" or "agentic AI" around and wondered what they mean, you're in luck— @bensherry.bsky.social wrote you an explainer in @inc.com Is an AI agent like a secret agent? A travel agent perhaps? Give it a read for all the answers.

inc.com

What Are AI Agents? Here's How They Can Help You Get Stuff Done

Agentic AI is a buzzy and powerful technology. Let's break down what AI agents are, and how they can be useful.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

What's the best polling tracker/aggregator for variables like Trump's approval/disapproval ratings? I used to use 538 for that but it has been 86'd.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

I really want to visit this ice cream truck. And I hate how dirty, in terms of pollution, traditional ice cream trucks are. More EV ice cream trucks, please! By @chloeaiello.bsky.social on @inc.com

inc.com

Inside the Coolest New Ice Cream Truck to Hit the Market

Rivian outfitted two electric delivery vans for use as Ben & Jerry's ice cream trucks. They're pretty sweet.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Do you have trouble keeping track of all the AI news these days? All the companies doing all the things? Luckily for you, @bensherry.bsky.social wrote you a primer on nine companies to know about right now in the artificial intelligence space. On @inc.com this morning. www.inc.com/ben-sherry/9...

inc.com

9 AI Companies to Watch in 2025

From Anthropic to xAI, here’s a look at the companies moving the needle.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I've been curious about JSX for a while now—it's a unique airline that aims to provide an experience somewhere between a regular commercial flight and a private jet. For @inc.com, Tom Vanderbilt does a deep dive on the company. Recline your seat, put your tray table down, and give it a read. ✈️

inc.com

Is It a Private Jet? A Regional Airline? Why JSX Is Possibly the Future of Flying

To bring a luxury experience to the masses, co-founder and CEO Alex Wilcox has to stay one leg ahead of federal regulations.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Read this piece and try not to drool over the idea of owning a small electric truck clad with solar panels, I dare you! Great read by Kristin Shaw in @inc.com about the partnership between TELO Trucks and @aptera.bsky.social. I love how these two EV startups decided to collaborate, not compete.

inc.com

These Two EV Startups Joined Forces, and the Result Is Energizing for Both

Telo Trucks and Aptera combined their core competencies to put solar panels on small electric pickup trucks.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

If you've been following the drama between Elon Musk and Sam Altman and wondered about the roots of their rivalry, @bensherry.bsky.social has an excellent overview in @inc.com about their history. It's worth a read! www.inc.com/ben-sherry/e...

inc.com

What’s Behind Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s Beef? A Handy Explainer on Their Falling Out

The relationship between Elon Musk and Sam Altman progressed from an initial friendship to a bitter rivalry. Here's why.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

If you've been on the NYC subway at all over the past few months, you've probably seen a million ads encouraging you to "Downgrade now." The Paris-based company behind them, Back Market, wants to sell you older tech (gasp! yes, it's totally ok to have an older phone, don't worry). Story in @inc.com

inc.com

Back Market’s Plan to Get America to ‘Downgrade’ Starts in NYC’s Subway System

Buying refurbished devices is popular among Europeans. Can this company persuade Americans to get on board with old stuff?

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Are you looking to get a job in AI? Good news: @bensherry.bsky.social did the hard work of talking to a zillion (ok, around 10) tech company leaders for @inc.com to find out what they're looking for in a job candidate. As it turns out, there's a pretty simple answer. 🤖 www.inc.com/ben-sherry/s...

inc.com

Searching for a Job in AI? Industry Leaders Are Looking for 1 Specific Trait

We spoke with executives at a range of companies from Accenture to Zoom about what they're looking for. A clear theme emerged.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Something I keep thinking about: In reporting a story about Whisper, one of the founders mentioned to me that when he was at NASA, he got the $ he needed for a drone called the GL-10 from the CIA! (At the time, he says, NASA wasn't too interested in electric aircraft.) www.inc.com/rob-verger/w...

inc.com

Why Your Product Roadmap Needs a Hero. For This Disruptive Startup, It’s a Leaf Blower

The Founders of Whisper Left Uber’s Flying Taxi Division to Build Ultra-Quiet Fans. Behind Their Plans for Disruption

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I'm super interested in what @ianvilla.bsky.social & Mark Moore are up to at Whisper Aero — their quiet next-gen fans have applications in space, the sky, and on the ground. But their most compelling short-term plans involve a quieter electric leaf blower. For @inc.com www.inc.com/rob-verger/w...

inc.com

Why Your Product Roadmap Needs a Hero. For This Disruptive Startup, It’s a Leaf Blower

The Founders of Whisper Left Uber’s Flying Taxi Division to Build Ultra-Quiet Fans. Behind Their Plans for Disruption

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I just talked on my desk landline to a colleague who is in another part of the same office and it went great! That's my Gen X training at work. 💪

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Free story idea: a feature headlined "Everyone Has Too Many Tote Bags"

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Today is a great day to shift + escape your Slack notifications. It kept telling me I had one unread notification but I couldn't, for the life of me, find it or make that notification go away. Shift escape, boom.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

In the final installment of a deeply-reported three-part series on PFAS for @inc.com, reporter @chloeaiello.bsky.social explores how brands have labored diligently to either purge their products of these toxic forever chemicals or create household wares from the ground up that are PFAS-free.

inc.com

The Quest to Purge PFAS: How Brands Are Taking Up Arms Against the Invisible Toxins

Forever chemicals are as pervasive as they are insidious, and some brands have found opportunity in their elimination.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

It’s the winter solstice, and this weekend I’m driving an Equinox EV. It’s my first time behind the wheel of a Chevy EV, or a GM EV for that matter. The bright color on this whip is officially called Riptide Blue Metallic, and the MSRP is about $35K. Also, check out the gull that bombed this photo!!

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Above the Axe, Dove, and Crest, my local bodega sells drones

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Reposted by Rob Verger

Mike Hofman @mikehofman.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

New unicorn alert: Speak, the language learning app founded by Connor Zwick and Andrew Hsu, raised a new round from investors including the OpenAI Startup Fund. @chloeaiello.bsky.social spoke to them for @inc.com www.inc.com/chloe-aiello...

inc.com

How This AI Language Learning Platform Translated Their Tech Into Unicorn Status

Speak raised $78 million in a Series C round of funding that values the app at $1 billion.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This exclusive story from @bensherry.bsky.social on @inc.com about a new offering from MasterClass is super neat. The platform is releasing AI versions of its famous instructors that you can speak with in a conversational way. What would you like to ask Mark Cuban? www.inc.com/ben-sherry/e...

inc.com

EXCLUSIVE: MasterClass Is Introducing AI Mentors, Including a Mark Cuban Chatbot. Any Questions?

Exclusive: MasterClass is offering direct access to AI voice clones of its famous instructors, such as Gordon Ramsay and Mark Cuban.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

OpenAI has released Sora, the magic-seeming service that will create an AI-generated video for you. Here's a quick report from @bensherry.bsky.social in @inc.com You can try it out today. www.inc.com/ben-sherry/o...

inc.com

OpenAI Just Released Its AI Video Generator, Sora

The feature has been called 'horrifying and inspiring.' Users in the U.S. can try it out today.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I got to (briefly) visit the White House press briefing room today. Briefly, get it? Thanks @outrider.org for everything.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

One thing I learned about nuclear security today: US ICBMs aren’t pointed at specific targets. They’re aimed at spots (I’m assuming spots plural) in the ocean. The specific targeting would happen later. This is per a former head of US Stratcom / retired general. Thanks @outrider.org

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Fascinating conversation on AI & national security today at @outrider.org conference: @nicoletisdale.bsky.social & Leah Walker discussing “prepositioning”—that’s Russia & China digitally knocking on the doors of critical US infrastructure like water. Threats may be more to less-prepped rural areas.

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Rob Verger @verger.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I'm at an @outrider.org conference and a highlight has been hearing @nukestrat.bsky.social summarize the estimated status of nuclear weapons globally: US: 5044 Russia: 5580 China: 500 France & UK: in the 200s Pakistan & India: in the 100s Israel: 90 North Korea: 50 fas.org/initiative/s...

fas.org

Status of World Nuclear Forces - Federation of American Scientists

Despite progress in reducing nuclear weapon arsenals since the Cold War, the world’s combined inventory of nuclear warheads remains at a very high level.

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