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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Google to Store and Analyze Millions of Health Records - The New York Times

Google to Store and Analyze Millions of Health Records - The New York Times
Google hires former Disney and Star executive to head its India business - TechCrunch
Danville business recognized by Google for being Veteran-led, highly-rated - WSET
Inside Google and Ascension cloud and AI partnership: details - Business Insider

Google to Store and Analyze Millions of Health Records - The New York Times

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 04:34 PM PST

In a sign of Google's major ambitions in the health care industry, the search giant is working with the country's second-largest hospital system to store and analyze the data of millions of patients in an effort to improve medical services, the two organizations announced on Monday.

The partnership between Google and the medical system, Ascension, could have huge reach. Ascension operates 150 hospitals in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Under the arrangement, the data of all Ascension patients could eventually be uploaded to Google's cloud computing platform.

It is legal for health systems to share patients' medical information with business partners like electronic medical record companies. Even so, many patients may not trust Google, which has paid multiple fines for violating privacy laws, with their personal medical details.

Google mentioned the arrangement in an earnings call in July, but provided few details. More about the arrangement was announced on Monday, after The Wall Street Journal published an article about it.

Already, the two organizations are testing software that allows medical providers to search a patient's electronic health record by specific data categories and create graphs of the information, like blood test results over time, according to internal documents obtained by The New York Times. The aim is to give medical professionals better access to patient data, to improve patient care and, ultimately, to try to glean insights from the data to help treatment.

Google is teaming up with Ascension, a nonprofit, as American consumer tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft jockey to gain a bigger share of the huge health care market. Apple has expanded into virtual medical research using its iPhone and Apple Watch. Microsoft has introduced cloud-based tools to help health systems share medical data. Last year, Amazon joined JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway in a venture to try to improve care and reduce costs for their employees in the United States.

Google's health efforts include a push to use artificial intelligence to read electronic health records and then try to predict or more quickly identify medical conditions.

The company's efforts require machines to learn by analyzing a vast array of health records collected by hospitals and other medical institutions. Under the Ascension partnership, dozens of Google employees may have access to patient data like name, birth date, race, illnesses and treatments, according to the internal documents. These include employees who work on Medical Brain, the company's health A.I. team.

At least a few Ascension employees in the project have raised concerns that Google employees downloaded patient data, according to the internal documents. They have also raised concerns about whether all of the Google software involved in processing Ascension patient data complies with a federal privacy law. That law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, restricts how doctors, health systems and their business associations may handle identifiable patient data.

In its announcement on Monday, Ascension said the deal complied with the law and followed the organization's "strict requirements for data handling." In a follow-up email, the health system said that its patient data was stored in a private space within Google's cloud platform and that Google could not use it for any purpose other than providing tools for Ascension medical providers.

Tariq Shaukat, the president of Google Cloud, said in the statement that by working with groups like Ascension, "we hope to transform the delivery of health care."

Ascension did not respond to questions about how many patient records had already been transferred to Google Cloud.

Google's handling of health care data is a touchy subject. Through its advertising business, Google already knows a vast amount about consumers — including what people are interested in, where they are located, and what they watch on YouTube or search for on Google.

When Google announced plans this month to acquire Fitbit, a maker of activity tracking devices, for $2.1 billion, the company pre-emptively said it would not use health data gleaned from the trackers in its advertising business.

In 2017, a British government watchdog agency ruled that the Royal Free National Health Service Foundation Trust, a major health provider, had violated a data protection law when it transferred medical records to DeepMind, an A.I. lab in London owned by Google's parent company, without sufficiently informing patients.

DeepMind further outraged privacy groups in 2018 when it announced plans to transfer the unit that processed the medical records to Google, after saying that it would not link patient data to Google accounts. DeepMind's health team officially joined Google in September. In absorbing DeepMind's health unit, Google said, it was building "an A.I.-powered assistant for nurses and doctors."

In June, Google, the University of Chicago Medical Center and the University of Chicago were sued in a potential class-action lawsuit accusing the hospital of sharing hundreds of thousands of patients' records with the technology giant without properly stripping the records of identifiable date stamps or doctors' notes.

In a research paper published last year, the company said it had used electronic health record data of patients — including diagnoses, procedures and medications at the University of Chicago Medical Center — from 2009 to 2016. The paper states that the records were "de-identified," except that "dates of service were maintained."

The lawsuit said the inclusion of dates was a violation of HIPAA, in part because Google could combine them with other information it already knew, like location data from smartphones, to establish the identity of the patients in the medical records.

A Google spokesman said in a statement that it complied with the law, which allows medical institutions to disclose patients' personal health information for research purposes as long as the records have been stripped of identifying details like names, Social Security numbers and contact information.

A Google spokesman said at the time that it had followed HIPAA. Google has filed to have the lawsuit dismissed.

The University of Chicago and the medical center have denied the accusations.

Reed Abelson and Aaron Krolik contributed reporting.

Google hires former Disney and Star executive to head its India business - TechCrunch

Posted: 08 Nov 2019 12:29 AM PST

Google said on Friday it has appointed Sanjay Gupta, a former top executive with Disney India and Star, as the manager and vice president of sales and operations for its India business.

Gupta will be replacing Rajan Anandan, who left the company in April this year to serve VC fund Sequoia Capital India as a managing director.

Gupta served as a managing director at Disney India and Star (which Disney now owns) before joining the Android-maker. (Not to be confused with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who hosts a popular medical show on CNN.) He helped Star make a major push in the digital consumers business through video streaming service Hotstar, where he aggressively worked on partnerships and licensing for cricket rights and other content.

Hotstar has cashed in on the popularity of cricket — during a major cricket season earlier this year, Hotstar claimed that more than 100 million users were enjoying its service each day and more than 300 million were doing so each month. (Facebook roped in Ajit Mohan, the former chief executive of Hotstar, to head its India operations late last year.) Gupta also held top executive roles at other companies, including Bharti Airtel telecom network.

Sanjay Gupta, a former top executive at Disney and Star, is now the head of Google's India business

In a statement, Gupta said, "it's an exciting opportunity to leverage the power of technology to solve some of India's unique challenges and make Internet an engine of economic growth for people and communities. I am happy to join the passionate teams across Google and look forward to contributing to India's digital journey as it becomes an innovation hub for the world."

When Anandan, a long-time influential and widely respected Google executive, left the company earlier this year, Google said Vikas Agnihotri, who is the director of sales for the firm's India operations, would be temporarily taking over the role. For Google, this was the latest in a series of high-profile departures in Asia. Karim Temsamani, head of Asia Pacific (APAC) at Google, also left the company earlier this year.

Even as India contributes little to Google's bottom line, the company has grown increasingly focused on India and other Asian markets to develop products and services that solve local problems and address barriers that are hindering growth in these markets.

In a statement, Scott Beaumont, president of Google APAC, said the company's operation in India "is important and strategic for its own sake but also for the innovation which then feeds breakthroughs elsewhere in Google."

Gupta will also have to oversee some major challenges, including the fast growth of Facebook's advertisement business in India and an antitrust issue with the local regulator.

Danville business recognized by Google for being Veteran-led, highly-rated - WSET

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 12:39 PM PST

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Danville business recognized by Google for being Veteran-led, highly-rated WSET

Inside Google and Ascension cloud and AI partnership: details - Business Insider

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 05:58 PM PST

Google has been quietly working with the second-largest health system in the US on a healthcare data project.
Titled "Project Nightingale," the endeavor includes employees from Ascension and Google. Ascension and Google acknowledged the program in statements on Monday and said it complied with US healthcare privacy laws.
According to internal documents reviewed by Business Insider, Project Nightingale is a plan to move Ascension data onto Google's cloud services, add collaboration and G-Suite tools, and then build an electronic search tool for health records. The ultimate goal is to improve the healthcare experience for patients, Ascension said.
The partnership has attracted controversy. Ascension patients weren't notified of the Google partnership, a source told Business Insider. About 2,000 doctors and nurses in Ascension's network knew about the partnership, the source added.
Data on 20 million patients has been uploaded to the cloud as of this month, with data on another 30 million scheduled to be transferred by February, the source said.
Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Google and the massive Ascension health system have been secretly working together on a project to store and analyze millions of patient medical records.

Ascension is transferring the personal and medical information of 50 million Ascension patients onto Google's cloud network. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the project Monday.

In return, Google gains access to the data, a source with knowledge of the matter told Business Insider. The source asked not to be identified because the information isn't public.

The partnership — titled "Project Nightingale" — involves Google helping Ascension move its data onto Google's Cloud services and adding collaboration and G-Suite tools followed by plans to build an electronic search tool for patient records, according to internal documents reviewed by Business Insider.

The project is controversial, as patients weren't notified that their health information would be made available to Google, the person said. Both Google and Ascension said the program followed US health privacy laws.

Google's Tariq Shaukat said the partnership was "a business arrangement to help a provider with the latest technology, similar to the work we do with dozens of other healthcare providers."

"These organizations, like Ascension, use Google to securely manage their patient data, under strict privacy and security standards," added Shaukat, who's president of industry products and solutions at Google Cloud.

The Ascension-Google partnership began late last year

Ascension is the second-largest health system in the US, spanning 21 states and 150 hospitals. In the year that ended June 30, it brought in about $25 billion in revenue.

The partnership between Ascension and Google began late last year and ramped up this past summer and fall, according to the documents.

As of this month, about 20 million patients' information has been uploaded to Google's Cloud services, with the remaining 30 million to be completed by February, the source said.

About 2,000 out of the roughly 40,000 doctors and nurses in Ascension's hospital network were aware of the partnership, as they had been asked to test the electronic search system, the source added.

google hq — Google's Mountain View, California, headquarters.

The patient data that Ascension and Google are collecting

The project involves employees from different segments of Google and Ascension. Close to 150 Google employees from different organizations are able to access the data, internal documents show. Among those are employees from the Google Health, research, and Cloud teams.

The data collected in the Google-Ascension partnership contains name, contact information, diagnoses, and medication orders, according to internal documents. The Ascension data that Google employees have access to includes patients' names and other personal information, according to the documents.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the law, known as HIPAA, that is meant to protect the privacy of patients' health information, health systems can share patient information with business partners.

That includes everything from the software companies providing the electronic health records to billing vendors. Patients are typically asked when they join a health system to sign papers acknowledging a health system's privacy practices covering the third parties the information would be shared with, Roger Cohen, a lawyer in Goodwin Partner's life-sciences practice, told Business Insider.

"What's different is it's Google," Cohen said.

When it comes to big tech players rather than traditional health IT companies, there are broader public perceptions about how the data will be used, he said. "It goes to in this area where you have to think not just about the law but public perception as well."

Ascension said in a release Monday that "all work related to Ascension's engagement with Google is HIPAA compliant and underpinned by a robust data security and protection effort and adherence to Ascension's strict requirements for data handling."

As part of the business associates agreement, Google employees do have access to identified patient data, a Google representative clarified. Ascension employees have raised concerns about how Google might use its access to patients' personal data on the EHR system, the source told Business Insider.

Google's patient search

At the core of the project is a patient search tool. According to a user guide for testers of the tool that was provided by a source, users can type in patient names to find matches, get an overview of a patient's information, view notes and lab reports, and get a view of patient results over time. The information in the user guide does not contain Ascension patient information, the document noted.

Here's what it looks like:

The search gives users the ability to search through patients within Ascension, pulling up an overview of their health record with the ability to get a closer look at vitals or labs.

Much like Google Search, the forms are meant to correct for what medical providers are searching for.

The reports can also provide a view of a patient's lab results over time.

Over the past year, Google has gotten deeper into healthcare, hiring Dr. David Feinberg to head up the Google Health division.

Feinberg's team is now responsible for coordinating health initiatives across Google, ranging from the company's search engine and map products, to its Android smartphone operating system, to more futuristic offerings in areas like artificial intelligence.

In his speech at a conference in October, Feinberg said one of his first main goals for the team would be to oversee how health-related web searches come up and work to improve that with the Google Search team.

Big tech's move into healthcare

Healthcare costs are rising for consumers, and numerous players all wanting control over the dollars flowing in and out. From the perspective of the fast-moving technology industry, change is slow going, leaving entrepreneurs and companies alike thinking, "There has to be an easier way."

Tech powerhouses like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are increasingly focused on expanding in US healthcare. They've pursued strategies like selling software and computing services and offering hardware and have even shown some signs they'll get into the business of providing healthcare.

And as health systems have been amassing more information, there's an emerging race to see which company might benefit from storing that data on their respective clouds and what other platforms or tools might sway healthcare companies to work with them.

According to Business Insider Intelligence, healthcare companies were projected to spend $11.4 billion on cloud computing this year. Amazon as of 2017 had about 46% of the cloud infrastructure market, while Microsoft had about 11%.

Amazon and Google have been landing major deals as well. In July, the health information technology giant Cerner said it had made Amazon Web Services its preferred cloud provider as it moved its business from being hosted on its own data centers to the cloud. The Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic in September signed Google as its cloud and artificial-intelligence partner.

An Online Guide Aspires to Smooth the Complex Process of Opening a Business in WeHo - WEHOville

An Online Guide Aspires to Smooth the Complex Process of Opening a Business in WeHo - WEHOville
Katabat Speeds Digital Debt Collection with Powerful EasyCollect Mobile Payment Portal - Business Wire
Ezzo Sausage Company Recalls Meat Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination - USDA.gov

An Online Guide Aspires to Smooth the Complex Process of Opening a Business in WeHo - WEHOville

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 07:12 PM PST

Opening a business in West Hollywood isn't easy. Steve Witkoff, a partner in the firm that developed the Marriott Edition on Sunset, which is officially opening Tuesday night, described West Hollywood "as maybe the toughest barrier to entry market in the country. It's very difficult to get approvals and entitlements there. I think it's even tougher than San Francisco." And Shawn Buckley, the founder of Just Food for Dogs, told WEHOvile that, as much as he loves West Hollywood, dealing with City Hall to get his business opened was a nightmare.

But now it might get a little easier for small business owners with the launch of the City of West Hollywood's "Open My Business portal," an online tool powered by OpenCounter. A city announcement of the launch says it "has been developed to guide small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs through the process of site selection and to help them understand the costs and requirements of opening or expanding a business in West Hollywood." The Open My Business portal is accessible on the city's website at www.weho.org/openmybusiness.

"Open My Business is built around the City of West Hollywood's zoning and land use regulations and provides users with a customized 'roadmap' of requirements, which is helpful

when assessing how to open or expand a business. Intuitive zoning maps reveal where a project is permitted, conditionally permitted, and prohibited in the city.

"Automatic permit scoping quickly reveals permit requirements based on site selection. Estimated fees are calculated in real-time as applicants enter project details. On summary pages, required permits are listed by department, with links to relevant permit application material. The project summary can also be downloaded as a PDF and shared with other members of the business team."

The Open My Business portal includes a Zoning Check tool, which will allow users to explore where different business types are permitted throughout the city. The Permit + Fees Check tool provides information about specific fees and permit requirements.

The city's Economic Development Department assists companies and business owners with business planning processes. For additional information, visit www.weho.org/business.

Katabat Speeds Digital Debt Collection with Powerful EasyCollect Mobile Payment Portal - Business Wire

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 06:05 AM PST

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Katabat, a leading global supplier of debt management software solutions, has launched EasyCollect, a powerful, yet easy to deploy, mobile payment portal for lenders and debt collection agencies. EasyCollect is the industry's simplest, fastest digital payments solution, allowing lenders and agencies to reach borrowers via integrated email and SMS messaging and creating a hassle-free payment experience that helps increase collections.

"Our clients were looking for an easy-to-use, secure portal for online digital collections from initial outreach messaging through payment capture," said Katabat CEO Ray Peloso. "We developed EasyCollect as a stand-alone, digital-first product to help our clients increase collections and recoveries while providing a streamlined customer experience."

A digital-first communications approach, like that enabled by EasyCollect, can improve response rates by up to 30% according to a recent McKinsey report. The product allows clients with a payment merchant account to easily set up and begin receiving payments by:

Uploading a file of accounts and logo(s);
Specifying basic details like minimum payment amount, links or content for state and other disclosures;
Selecting compliant email templates to use for customer engagement;
Sending campaign messages and allowing customers to make or schedule payments immediately via a mobile device.

EasyCollect is PCI-compliant and does not require IT support for deployment. It delivers enterprise-scale functionality with a price point attractive for small to medium-sized debt collection agencies. Introductory pricing ranges from $249 to $499 per month.

Katabat's full suite of debt management solutions helps lenders, financial institutions and debt collectors streamline communications and optimize engagement throughout the entire customer lifecycle. By applying machine learning to the debt management and collections process, Katabat's solutions help improve collections and recovery through a better customer experience, all while reducing costs and compliance risk.

For more information on EasyCollect or to set up a demo, contact us at info@katabat.com.

About Katabat

With more than a decade of experience delivering debt collection solutions to global banks and debt collection agencies, Katabat combines collections and machine learning expertise to help clients engage with customers and increase collections. Katabat partners with lenders and collectors across multiple industries to stay at the cutting edge of debt management, machine learning, automation, regulatory compliance, and data security. To learn more about our full range of debt management products, contact Katabat at info@katabat.com.

Ezzo Sausage Company Recalls Meat Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination - USDA.gov

Posted: 09 Nov 2019 08:54 PM PST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2019 – Ezzo Sausage Company, a Columbus, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 25,115 pounds of sausage products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat sausage products were produced on Oct. 29, 2019, Oct. 30, 2019 and Nov. 5, 2019. This spreadsheet contains a list of the products subject to the recall. [View labels (PDF only)

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 1838A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution centers in Indiana and Ohio.

The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS of a positive sample result for Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in distribution centers, restaurants, or institutional refrigerators or freezers. Restaurants and institutions that have purchased these products are urged not to serve them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Darryl Thompson, V.P Business Development, Ezzo Sausage Company, at (614) 445-8841.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

10 Businesses with Strong Early Cash Flow - Small Business Trends

Posted: 23 Oct 2019 12:00 AM PDT

Cash is what fuels your business, so mastering cash flow is a key challenge for all businesses. In any business venture cash flow is among the most important pillars for the success of your enterprise.

Early cash flow can come in handy as it helps cover things that allow your business to operate. From stocking up your inventory, paying salaries, utilities, rent and other expenses – cash flow literally runs your business.

Positive cash flow or boosting your cash flow early on in your business is critical for your success. It is a key driver towards meeting longer-term business goals.

Cash Flow vs Profitability

Positive cash flow means that you have more money going into your business at any given time than you do coming out. Having more money coming gives you operating expenses and allows your business to pay off debts. Positive cash flow also lets you know where you stand if you are planning to expand.

Profitability, on the other hand, looks at a bigger picture. Simply put, profit is what you have left after all of your expenses are paid for. Your business can be profitable without being cash flow-positive—and you can have positive cash flow without actually making a profit.

Many businesses make the mistake of spending without consideration for the future. Negative cash flow such as buying excess inventory can tie up cash in inventory and hamper short and long term business goals.

Maintaining a healthy cash flow can be elusive for small businesses. A solid cash flow will not only help you pay for everything on time but also allows you the ease to focus more on your business than paying debts. To avoid a cycle of debt and boost cash earnings some businesses rake in more money sooner than others.

Best Business Ideas to Make Money Sooner Than the Rest

It can take a while for your small business to make money, but some businesses can make money sooner. Here are the best business ideas to make money faster.

Franchise

Franchising is a longer-term form of licensing. It is popular among service firms, such as restaurants and hotels to sell the rights to their brand and business model to third parties.

Franchising is seen as among the best business ideas to make money right from the beginning. The secret to franchising is that the businesses come with readymade operational models as well as brand awareness. This cuts through the process and time businesses spend developing and refining their operations.

A franchise also comes with a 'playbook' which is handy in driving sales while controlling costs as you have a business template to follow. This has allowed many franchisees to make an average of $60,000 dollars per year.

Photography Business

If you have an eye for composition, lighting or simply great shots, then photography might be your cup of tea. You can turn your creative outlet into a money-making business from your home.

Photography is a popular profession and hobby right now because camera gear is more affordable and consumer-friendly. Additionally, the availability of easy to use editing software is pushing more people to enter the industry. Photo editing software are plenty, ranging from decently priced ones to free options to give your pics a professional look.

Whether you have a passion for social events or corporate functions, photography provides many options. You can start your photography business by taking on your friends and family as your clients first.

To increase your visibility, post your work on social media such as Instagram and Facebook. You can also create your own website to help you increase your reach and grow your customer base. The perks include having your own studio at home as well as becoming the sole employee of your enterprise.

You can earn upwards of $34,000 per year depending on your workload, clientele and type of pictures you take.

However, people skills come in handy here as you need to get the trust of your clients by making them happy. This will eventually lead to more referrals and customers.

Makeup Artist

If you have a flair for enhancing the appearance of people, why not explore being a makeup artist. All you need is a high school diploma or a GED to get your certificate in cosmetology.

As a makeup artist, your creative imagination can bring out the best in your clients. You can accentuate their positive features while smoothing out any flaws they might have.

This is a great way to earn some good cash (averaging $46,311 per year) as well as increasing your business network.

With images now a key tool for communicating online, more people are looking to makeup artists to get a professional quality photograph. Makeup artists are also used in photoshoots, weddings, fashion shows and performances.

Event Planner

If your forte is creativity, organizing and communications skills, then event planning might be the best business idea to make money. Event planning does not require any strict education or training.

The key here is your ability to make connections with people and make sure your plan is executed seamlessly. If you need help in this department, a course on project management can help give you the edge you need.

The special events industry continues to grow and there's a lucrative market awaiting you on many fronts. Individuals and companies often find they lack the expertise and time to plan events themselves. This is when planners can step in and give these special events the attention they deserve.

As an event planner, you have your pick on whether to work for either corporate or social functions. Corporate includes not only companies but also charities where you host gala fundraisers, receptions and other events. These events are used by these organizations to help them gain public support and raise funds.

Thousands of these events are held each year. Some might require specialized event planning experience but you can find smaller local events to start out with. You can start by first working from home and gradually scale up. This will come in handy if you are on a shoestring budget.

Errand Service

Providing errand services like picking up dry cleaning or groceries is an easy way to start a business. An errand running business solves problems for people or businesses who are too busy to carryout these tasks. This can be as simple as picking up or delivering items and go on from there.

Your services can literally be anything from picking up dry cleaning, shopping, delivery taking mail to the post office or even filling cars with fuel. Armed with a valid driver's license and an insured, licensed vehicle, your errand services can be an easy path into entrepreneurship. However, in some states, you will be required to have a general business license to conduct business.

As entry to this business is relatively easy, you will, however, have to watch out for the competition. First, you will need to assess the market to see whether you have room to operate a profitable business. You will also need to devise a special offer for your clients to allow your business to grow in demand. Timeliness, dependability and trustworthiness are the hallmarks of a good errand service provider.

Child Care Service

Child care, also known as day care entails providing care and supervision of a child or multiple children. If you love kids, perhaps a child care venture might be the best business idea to make money.

As more and more Americans are taking on a second job, they are finding it ever more difficult to look after their children while they are at work. Child care offers parents the ease of mind that their children are well taken care of in their absence.

Child-care services can start from the comfort of your home offering opportunities for people to earn a median income of $9.81 per hour. Child-care services offer flexibility when it comes to the services you choose to offer and improve your cash flow.

You can start a child-care business easily in your home with just a few weeks of planning and a modest amount of startup cash. You can start a one-person operation with yourself at home and generate a comfortable income. If you have your own children, then you have the bonus of spending quality time with your children as well.

You may limit your clientele to children in certain age groups or tailor your operating hours to meet the needs of a particular market segment. Provide additional perks such as transportation between your center and the children's homes and/or schools.

You need to be a people person, have a high tolerance for stress, have good insurance, and some management skills.

Freelance Writer

If you have mad writing skills, then a handy laptop is all you will need to venture into freelance writing.

With your writing business, you can offer your services to companies on a freelance basis. By producing content on demand from clients you can test the waters by first looking at side gigs.

Though seasoned freelance writers admit they make a good living out of it, it still requires a lot more hustle than working a typical job. With many freelance writers earning 17 cents per word, the volume of work coming your way however will not always be consistent.

House Painter

House painting offers minimal financing to start up. However, a good painting job requires practice, precision, and patience. You can start your paint job as a part time gig and gradually build it up offering your services to homeowners, builders, landlords or interior designers.

Your work might be seasonal and fluctuate with the health of the economy. You can acquire the tools of your trade such as paints, cleaning solutions and brushes from any hardware store. The average pay for a Painting Contractor is $40,976 per year.

Landscaper

If you have a green thumb perhaps landscaping is your thing. You can offer services that include mowing the lawn; weed trimming; planting flowers, and trimming hedges and trees.

With experience, you can expand to designing lighting, patios, decks and walkways. Landscaping business owners earned anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 in their first year and as much as $160,000 to $250,000 once they were in business a few years.

Food Truck Business

If you love to cook, you should consider opening a food truck. Food trucks can help you earn a decent amount of money with steady cash flow.

However, this can take up a huge chunk of your time because you will have to work six to seven days a week. The success of your mobile business relates directly to the amount of time and effort you put into running it.

Owners of food truck businesses often earn an average monthly revenue between $5,000 – $20,000.

Cash flow is important, as it shows the financial state of your business. But not all businesses are able to generate this cash flow immediately.

If you want to start bringing cash in right away, the opportunities mentioned above are some of the best business ideas to make money.

Image: Depositphotos.com More in: Business Ideas 1 Comment ▼

The first 5 steps entrepreneurs should take to start a small business - Business Insider

Posted: 07 Nov 2019 02:07 PM PST

You have a great idea for a business — now you just need to launch it.
Business Insider spoke with four business owners and experts to learn the best steps to take to build your company from the ground up.
These include figuring out how to structure your business — whether it's a partnership or LLC, for example — as well as registering your business' name and obtaining an employer identification number.
Next, you should open up a bank account specifically for your business and implement a cloud-based bookkeeping system.
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You've come up with a brilliant idea for a product or service. You've done your research and identified your audience as well as your competition. Perhaps you've created a business plan, which is a smart move if you're hoping to secure financial backing.

If you're ready to take the leap and launch your business, you may be wondering where to begin. We asked four entrepreneurial experts to share the first five steps necessary to start a business, any business, from freelancing and photography to tax preparation and interior design. Here's their advice.

You can choose to operate your business as a:

Sole proprietor: The simplest of business structures, this unincorporated entity is owned solely by one individual, who retains the profits but also has unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the business. It's easy to set up and just as easy to dissolve.
Partnership: This common form of business is established when partners agree to set up and run a business together. In doing so, partners share in the assets and profits, as well as the financial and legal liabilities of this entity, and are subject to unlimited liability.
Limited liability company (LLC): As its name implies, this entity limits the personal responsibility of owners. But some states require that the LLC dissolves after a set number of years or if a member dies or quits.
Corporation: This structure is more complicated and, thus, expensive to establish. Owners are protected from liability but they're often less autonomous because they may report to shareholders.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, and you may even decide to change from one form to another as your business evolves over time. The structure you select, however, will impact your personal liability as well how much you pay in taxes.

For these reasons, it's fiscally prudent to get personalized advice from a qualified business attorney or certified public accountant (CPA), who can help you determine which is your best option. According to the online marketplace for legal services Upcounsel, the cost of hiring a small business lawyer can range from $150 per hour for a junior associate to $1,000 per hour to retain the services of a senior partner at a prestigious firm. Depending on an accountant's level of experience and location, expect to pay between $150 and $400 per hour.

"Believe it or not, not every small business needs to set up a business entity such as an LLC or a corporation, especially when they're just starting out," said Logan Allec, CPA and owner of personal finance site Money Done Right, which has over 30,000 email subscribers and garners more than 100,000 visitors per month.

In some cases, he noted, jumping the gun on forming a business entity could eat into your profits.

"Forming an LLC in California, for example, will cost you a franchise tax payment of $800 per year, whether or not you need or even use the LLC," Allec explained. "That being said, given your industry and personal wealth situation, it may very well be advisable to set up a business entity for your business right from the get-go for asset and legal protection purposes."

By forming an LLC, owners limit their personal liability. In the event that a lawsuit is brought against the business, only its assets can be claimed by creditors — the owners' personal assets can't be touched.

To find trusted professionals who can offer their insight for the best business structure, Allec suggested visiting local entrepreneur groups and getting word-of-mouth recommendations from those who've had positive experiences.

Allec shared that based on his expertise as a CPA, he chose to form an LLC.

"For me, the choice was between forming an LLC or a corporation," he said. "In my state, the LLC is less expensive to set up and easier to maintain than a corporation, so I opted to form an LLC."

Deciding what to name your business seems like it should be one of the easier and more fun aspects of starting your endeavor. But if you're struggling to come up with a name that either conveys what your business is all about or makes a positive first impression, you may want to consult with a branding expert or visit a site like Squad Help, which harnesses the brainpower of over 100,000 talented professionals to help create your entire brand.

If you have your heart set on a name for your business, first you'll need to make sure it isn't already in use or trademarked. You can check this for free at LegalZoom.com. If it's available, you'll need to register it, as this makes your business a distinct legal entity. How and where you need to register depends on your business structure and location.

Simply by creating an LLC or corporation, you've registered your business name, as filing articles of organization (for an LLC) or articles of incorporation (for a corporation) registers the name with your state.

But if you're starting a sole proprietorship or partnership, you'll want to conduct a Doing Business As (DBA) search with your local county clerk's office to make sure the name you want is available, said Kyle Odom, owner of Bar Cop, a software company that helps restaurant and bar owners track inventory and whose customer count has grown approximately 20% year over year since it was founded in 1998, to include roughly 32,000 individual establishments worldwide.

"You will need a DBA to open a bank account in your business name," he explained.

You can file DBA online, and pricing starts at a flat fee of $99, plus state filing fees. The application will ask you what you'd like to call your business, if you're registering it for the first time, and in which state you want to do business.

If you're using your own legal name as your business' name, you don't need to register it. Once your business name is good to go, experts recommend registering your domain name (also known as your website URL) so customers can easily find you on the internet — and so that it doesn't get scooped up by the next small business that launches with a similar name. You can do this by visiting a domain name registrar, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.

The cost of a domain name varies depending on several factors:

the domain extension, for example ".com" vs ".shop";
the length of time you select to retain the name; and
where you purchase it. For instance, it's cheaper to purchase a new name through a registrar than through a private seller.

Typically, a domain name can cost as little as between $2 and $20 per year.

Next, you'll want to get an employer identification number (EIN), which is a nine-digit number assigned to your business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You'll use this number when you file your taxes and open a business bank account. Think of it as your business' social security number.

"You may need to obtain one if your business meets certain criteria," noted Allec. "For example, if there are multiple owners in your business, you need an EIN. If you set up a corporation for your business or elected to be taxed as one (either an S corporation or a C corporation), you need to get an EIN."

The IRS website outlines which business entities are required to get an EIN. But even if you're not required to get an EIN, it still may be a good idea to do so.

"If you will be working with clients who will be issuing you 1099 forms, you will have to provide them with your social security number if you don't have an EIN to give them," said Allec.

And, added Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.com, an online leader in business formations, trademarks and copyrights, and more, "if you plan to hire and pay employees, open a business bank account, or establish a retirement plan, you'll need an EIN."

How do you obtain an EIN?

"In the old days, obtaining an EIN meant filing a form with the IRS and waiting for them to get back to you," said Allec. "Now, you can do it online and have your EIN within 15 minutes."

You need to complete the application in one session and have a valid taxpayer identification number. The application is free when you use the IRS website, so beware of other sites that attempt to charge for this service.

If you have a business, you need a business bank account.

"Keeping your business inflows and outflows separate from your personal accounts will not only make bookkeeping and taxes a lot easier, but it will also get the conversation [started] with business bankers who could potentially help you with funding down the line," said Allec. "Keep in mind that every bank has slightly different rules when it comes to opening a business bank account, so be sure to call ahead so you understand exactly what information and documents the banker will need to open up your account."

Allec suggested looking for sign-up bonuses when opening your business bank account, as both national and local banks routinely offer new businesses cash incentives simply for opening a new business bank account. Additionally, you want to make sure the bank is a good fit for your needs.

"For example, a business owner whose company routinely invests in equipment purchases and other large capital expenditures will likely want a bank nearby where he or she can communicate their financing needs in person and develop face-to-face rapport with business bankers," said Allec. "My needs, however, as the owner of an online service-based business are far more simple: I just needed an account where cash can come in and out and didn't want any fancy bells and whistles. I also wanted an account where I could easily check my balance on the go. So, the most important things to me were a low fee structure and a top-notch mobile banking app."

For Allec, finding the right bank account didn't take much work.

"The bank at which my wife and I bank personally sent me a mailer with a sign-up bonus offer for opening a new business bank account," he said. "I researched the fee structure and found that the monthly fee would be waived if I maintained a relatively low balance each month, and I was already familiar with this bank's mobile banking app and was very pleased with it."

Ask your banker about services that are not only important to you now but those that may be of value down the line. For example:

Are there minimum balance requirements? (No one wants to get hit with unexpected fees if the balance dips below a certain level.)
Does the bank charge overdraft or electronic transfer fees?
Will the bank extend a line of credit if needed? If so, what are the interest rates?
Is mobile check deposit available?
Will your account earn interest?

While you don't necessarily need to hire a bookkeeper on day one, you should have some kind of automated bookkeeping system in place.

"Obviously, you need a set of books to do your taxes, but beyond that, knowing exactly how much your business is making every month is essential to making good business decisions," said Allec. "Technology makes bookkeeping so easy these days, so there's really no excuse to not have a system in place."

Robert Gauvreau, CPA, CA, LPA — Robert Gauvreau.

Robert Gauvreau, CPA and founder of Venture North, a 38,000-square-foot entrepreneurial incubator business hub and program, recommended purchasing a cloud-based bookkeeping solution.

"If you implement this system right out of the gates, it is as simple as one or two minutes per day to review transactions, and you will never get behind again," he said. "A few options for a cloud-based bookkeeping solution would be QuickBooks Online, Sage 50, Xero, and Wave. As a bonus, if you enter your budgeted figures into your cloud-based bookkeeping software, you can continue to monitor your progress and determine if you are on track to realizing your vision and financial results in your business."

Which system does the entrepreneur use for his own business?

"The cloud-based bookkeeping system we use is QuickBooks Online, which is an incredibly powerful platform," he said. "A few of the reasons it won us over was its ease of use, its ability to customize reporting, and its integration with other third-party solutions that provide for even greater financial analytics."

Launching a business is an exciting time. Taking the right steps can help set you on the path for success.

The Big Tech in Transportation Report - Business Insider Intelligence - Business Insider

The Big Tech in Transportation Report - Business Insider Intelligence - Business Insider
Josh Elman has left Robinhood after less than 2 years - Business Insider
Disney Plus already has nearly 2 million subscribers in the US before launch, according to data firm Jumpshot - INSIDER
15 people who became billionaires in 2019 — and 14 who lost their status in the three-comma club - Business Insider
Google, Ascension collecting private health data: Wall Street Journal - Business Insider

The Big Tech in Transportation Report - Business Insider Intelligence - Business Insider

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 01:58 PM PST

Big tech companies — specifically Google-parent Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon — have their eyes set on the transportation space, which is undergoing a rapid transformation. Across the globe, legacy transportation firms are contending with forces that are reducing the appeal of traditional gas-powered vehicles, including the rise of mobility companies like Uber and Lime, regulatory pushes for cleaner vehicles, and consumer demands for a more streamlined, digital in-car experience. These forces have made traditional transportation companies both more vulnerable to challengers and more willing to work with nontraditional players.

Having already shown an ability to disrupt traditional industries by rapidly innovating, creating best-in-class user experiences, and earning the loyalty of consumers across the globe, big tech now appears poised to propel the transportation industry into a new era. This includes launching mobility services of their own, backing some of the world's most successful transportation startups, supporting alternative energy sources for vehicles, and bringing their popular tech products into vehicles.

In the Big Tech in Transportation report, Business Insider Intelligence examines the moves that Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon are making to gain a larger foothold in the transportation industry. We outline potential next steps each may take based on those moves. Finally, we highlight the different strategies legacy auto firms will use to better compete as big tech companies raise their profiles in transportation.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Aurora, Automobile, Ford, GM, Google, Fiat Chrysler, Rivian, Volkswagen, Waymo.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

Within big tech, Google-parent Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon have been the most active firms to push into the transportation space.
Alphabet has quickly ramped up its transportation efforts, becoming the most formidable big tech firm in the space. The company has focused its efforts in three core areas: autonomous driving technology, vehicle operating systems (OSs), and alternative mobility.
Despite Apple being quite secretive in its efforts, we know that the iPhone maker is working on self-driving technology and is using its OS to enter the auto space.
Amazon, renowned for disrupting countless industries, is deploying an early strategy that appears to be focused on capturing control of the in-car experience with its voice assistant and leveraging new transportation technologies to improve operations.

In full, the report:

Details the different avenues big tech firms are taking to build out a presence in the lucrative transportation space.
Highlights how big tech will look to build out their transportation offerings going forward.
Discusses the different strategies automakers can take to ensure they hold onto their respective market positions as big tech becomes a potential competitor.

Interested in getting the full report? Here's how to get access:

Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now
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Current subscribers can read the report here.

Josh Elman has left Robinhood after less than 2 years - Business Insider

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 05:18 PM PST

Josh Elman, Robinhood's vice president of product, has left the buzzy stock-trading startup after less than two years in the role, Business Insider has learned.
Elman joined Robinhood in May 2018 from Greylock Investors, where he had most recently served as general partner at the well-known venture capital firm.
Elman's time at Robinhood coincided with well-publicized missteps by the firm, including its failed announcement of a checking and savings product and the exposure of a glitch that allowed users access to infinite leverage. A source familiar with the matter said management did not tie the departure to the past events.
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Josh Elman, the vice president of product at Robinhood, has left the buzzy stock-trading startup after less than two years on the job, Business Insider has learned.

Elman joined Robinhood in March 2018 after over eight years at Greylock Investors, where he had most recently served as a general partner at the venture capital firm. He remained on as a venture partner at Greylock, according to his LinkedIn, where he supported the investments he had made.

The announcement was made internally via an email Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter. No replacement was named, the source said, and those reporting directly to Elman will manage their respective teams for now.

"After 20+ years of building and working with startups, it is time for a break," Elman told Business Insider in an emailed statement. "As Robinhood has just launched Cash Management and is well set up to build into 2020 and beyond, now is a perfect time to start that break."

"Under Josh's leadership, our product teams helped expand our offerings to include a revamped Robinhood Gold, global stocks, Newsfeed, Snacks, and most recently, cash managementt," a Robinhood spokesperson told Business Insider in an emailed statement. "We are incredibly grateful for his many contributions to our mission."

Elman's time at Robinhood coincided with two major missteps by the startup. However, management did not tie the departure to the events of the past 12 months, according to the source.

In December, Robinhood announced plans for a checking and savings product, only to backtrack a few days later after it was revealed the company hadn't checked that customers' money would be insured, despite saying it would be.

Still, that didn't stop the company from attracting interest from investors, announcing in July it had raised a $323 million Series E round at a $7.6 billion valuation.

However, Robinhood once again drew the spotlight this month when a glitch was discovered that allowed users to access "infinite leverage," with one user growing $4,000 into $1 million.

A Robinhood spokesperson had said on Thursday the company closed the loophole and implemented a "permanent update" intended to "prevent anyone from engaging in this pattern of trades."

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ddefrancesco@businessinsider.com, Signal (646-768-1650) or direct message on Twitter @dandefrancesco.

Disney Plus already has nearly 2 million subscribers in the US before launch, according to data firm Jumpshot - INSIDER

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 07:21 PM PST

Disney Plus already has 1.9 million US subscribers ahead of its launch on Tuesday, according to data from analytics company Jumpshot.
34% of those subscribers use at least one other streaming service, according to Jumpshot.
Disney has offered multiple deals to entice people to preorder the service. For instance, Verizon is offering a free year to Verizon Wireless Unlimited customers, new Fios Home Internet customers, and new 5G Home Internet customers.
Disney did not respond to a request for comment.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney Plus already has a substantial subscriber base ahead of its launch on Tuesday.

The streaming service has 1.9 million subscribers in the US from preorders, according to data provided to Business Insider by analytics company Jumpshot. The data is based on desktop and mobile web subscriptions in the US.

Disney did not immediately return a request for comment.

Prelaunch subscriptions have reached their peak in recent days, as the chart below shows, with the service nabbing nearly 100,000 subscriptions on Sunday.

disney plus jumpshot preorders — This chart shows the number of Disney Plus subscribers by day in the months leading up to the service's launch.

34% of people who have already subscribed to Disney Plus have at least one other streaming service, according to Jumpshot.

Disney has offered multiple preorder deals to entice potential subscribers.

In August, the company offered a three-year subscription to Disney Plus for members of D23, its official fan club. The deal allowed members to sign up for three years of the service for $141, which amounted to less than $4 a month. Disney Plus is normally $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

As the chart shows, subscriptions spiked at the time of the offer, from late August to early September.

Last month, Verizon announced it was offering a free year of Disney Plus to new and existing Verizon Wireless Unlimited customers, new Fios Home Internet customers, and new 5G Home Internet customers. Anyone who had already preordered the service could still get the free year, and their initial preorder would be paused.

Disney executives are projecting Disney Plus to reach "between 60 million and 90 million global subscribers by 2024," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Netflix currently has 158 million global subscribers.

15 people who became billionaires in 2019 — and 14 who lost their status in the three-comma club - Business Insider

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 11:58 AM PST

Proactiv founders Katie Ronan and Kathy Fields were also declared billionaires by Forbes in March.

Net worths: $1.5 billion each as of March 2019

Ronan and Fields, 64 and 61 respectively, met when they were young dermatology residents, fresh out of medical school, according to their website. They may be best known for inventing acne treatment line Proactiv, but it's their multi-level marketing skincare line Ronan + Fields that made the duo of dermatologists ultrawealthy — Rodan + Fields' 300,000 independent consultants have sold $1.5 billion of cosmetics in 2017, Forbes reported in March.

Jay-Z became "hip-hop's first billionaire" in June, according to Forbes.

Net worth: $1 billion as of June 2019

The rapper has earned millions from sellout tours and chart-topping albums over the course of his nearly 30-year career, Business Insider's Mark Abadi previously reported. But music is far from his only money-making venture.

Over the years, Jay-Z has parlayed his success in the hip-hop world into a fortune earned as an entrepreneur. His business ventures include entertainment labels, a clothing line, upscale alcohol brands, and the music-streaming service Tidal.

Slack founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield was also declared a billionaire in June, after the workplace messaging app's direct listing.

Net worth: $1.6 billion as of June 2019

Slack's market debut may have been what made Butterfield, 46, a billionaire, but it wasn't the first successful company he founded, Business Insider's Megan Hernbroth and Rebecca Aydin previously reported. Butterfield also founded photo-sharing site Flickr, which he sold to Yahoo for more than $20 million in 2013.

Both Slack and Flickr grew out of failed attempts to create an online video game.

The launch of a new tech-focused stock market in China minted three billionaires in a single day in July.

Net worths: Between $1.3 billion and $2.4 billion as of July 2o19

Launched on July 22, the STAR market was designed to compete with Nasdaq to trade China's largest tech companies, Business Insider previously reported. By the end of the first day of trading, the market's 25 stocks were up an average of 140%, according to CNN Business. The highest performer, semi-conductor part maker Anji Microelectronics Technology, closed up 400%.

Three new Chinese billionaires were minted on July 22:

The founder of circuit maker Suzhou HYC Technology Chen Wenyuan was the biggest beneficiary of the market's success, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg estimates Wenyuan's net worth to be $2.4 billion.
Cao Ji, the chairman of lithium battery producer Zhejiang Hangke Technology, now has a net worth of $2.2 billion, according to Bloomberg.
The founder and chairman of Arcsoft Corp, Hui Deng, is worth $1.3 billion, according to Bloomberg.

SmileDirectClub founders Jordan Katzman and Alex Fenkell became two of the youngest billionaires in the US in September after the company's IPO.

Katzman's net worth: $1.2 billion as of September 2019

Fenkell's net worth: $1 billion as of September 2019

Shares of Katzman's and Fenkell's direct-to-consumer dental-product company SmileDirectClub closed down 28% after its first day of trading, but its market cap of $6.4 billion made Katzman and Fenkell — each of whom owns close to a quarter of the company's class B shares — billionaires.

The two, who both wore metal braces, became close friends. They came up with the idea for SmileDirectClub while reminiscing about their childhood years and wondering whether they could find a less embarrassing and cheaper way to straighten teeth, according to SmileDirectClub's website.

A 24-year-old Wharton graduate who has posted photos of himself partying with Rihanna and Bella Hadid became a billionaire on October 23, thanks to a generous "gift" from his parents.

Net worth: $3.8 billion as of October 2019

Eric Tse now owns 2.7 billion shares, or 21.45%, of Sino Biopharmaceutical, the company founded by his father, the company said in a statement October 23.

The company said Tse's parents told the board they transferred the shares to Tse to "refine the management and inheritance of family wealth" and planned for Tse to "hold the relevant shares in long-term." But Sino Biopharmaceutical said Tse's new status would "not have any material impact on the business operations of the Company."

Despite having famous friends, Tse has said he doesn't want to be recognized for his wealth.

Tse "indicated that in response to nomination for Billionaire List or wealth ranking organized by media or other organizations, he will endeavor not to participate in such rankings in his own name, and would recommend participating in such nominations in the name of the Tse Ping family," Sino Biopharmaceutical said.

Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz is one of only a few people to become a billionaire from a company she did not found.

Net worth: $1.1 billion as of November 2019

Catz, 57, took over as co-CEO of software developer Oracle after the retirement of fellow billionaire Larry Ellison in 2014, according to Forbes. Catz is now one of the highest-paid women in the world, making $135 million in 2017, Forbes reported.

Juul cofounders Adam Bowen and James Monsees had short-lived tenures as billionaires.

juul Adam Bowen James Monsees billionaires

Net worths: $900 million each

One of the company's biggest investors, hedge fund Darsana Capital Partners, reportedly cut the company's valuation by more than a third on October 3 following increased attention from regulators. As a result, Juul cofounders Adam Bowen and James Monsees lost their billionaire status just ten months after attaining it, Business Insider previously reported.

Bowen and Monsees founded Juul after meeting on smoke breaks while studying product design at Stanford University in 2004, Business Insider previously reported. Ploom, a precursor to Juul, was launched in 2007 and first released Juul products in 2015. The company's Juul line was spun into a separate firm in 2017. The majority of the pair's respective net worths are tied to their 1.75% stakes in the e-cigarette maker, Forbes' Sergei Klebnikov reported.

Forever 21's cofounders lost their billionaire status in July — just three months before the fast-fashion retailer filed for bankruptcy in September.

Net worths: $800 million each

At the company's peak in 2015, Jin Sook and Do Won Chang had a combined net worth of $5.9 billion, Business Insider previously reported. Their combined fortune has fallen to $1.6 billion as the fast fashion chain enters bankruptcy proceedings. Forever 21 will close 350 stores across the globe, but will continue to operate in select locations and online.

The married couple founded Forever 21 in Los Angeles in 1984 after emigrating from South Korea three years prior. Their first location, originally called Fashion 21, was 900 square feet and stocked merchandise the Changs purchased at wholesale close-out sales, according to Forbes.

RyanAir's falling stock price knocked CEO Michael O'Leary off Forbes' Billionaires List in March.

Net worth: $1.1 billion in 2018

O'Leary, 58, has served as the CEO of the cut-rate airline since 1994, according to Forbes. O'Leary once compared RyanAir's business model to that of Wal-Mart, according to Forbes, saying the airline aims to "pile it high and sell it cheap."

The airline struggled with falling profits, Brexit concerns, the Boeing 737 Max grounding, and pilot strikes throughout 2018, sinking the company's shares. RyanAir's declining stock price brought O'Leary's net worth below $1 billion, The Independent's Samantha McCaughren reported in January, though his current net worth is unknown.

Four heirs to the Barilla pasta fortune also dropped off Forbes' Billionaires List in March.

Guido Barilla Luca Barilla Paolo Barilla — Barilla leaders, from left, Chairman Guido Barilla, Vice Chairman Luca Barilla and Vice Chairman Paolo Barilla pose for a photo while celebrating the grand opening of their new Region Americas Headquarters.

Net worth: $1.1 billion each in 2018

Siblings Emanuella, Guido, Luca, and Paolo Barilla share an 85% stake in the largest company in the world, Forbes reported in 2016. At the time, Forbes estimated that the siblings were worth about $1.5 billion each.

Guido Barilla serves as the Barilla's chairman, while Luca Barilla and Paolo Barilla are both vice-chairmen.

Isaac Larian, the CEO of Little Tikes and Bratz dolls maker MGA Entertainment, was also kicked off of Forbes' list.

Net worth: $1.1 billion in 2018

Larian, 65, immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1971 before founding MGA Entertainment in 1979 after seeing a talking doll that Mattel rejected, according to Forbes.

An heiress to Krispy Kreme-owner JAB Holdings may no longer be a billionaire, but she's still the richest person in New Hampshire, according to Forbes.

Net worth: $720 million as of June 2019

Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli, 62, relocated from Germany to Hanover, New Hampshire, Forbes reported. Reimann-Ciardelli inherited a stake in her family's investment firm JAB Holdings, which she sold to relatives in 2003, according to Forbes. JAB also owns Peet's Coffee and Panera Bread.

Money manager Charles Brandes fell off Forbes' Billionaires list in March.

Net worth: $1.2 billion in 2018

Brandes, 76, built his fortune running Brandes Investment Partners, the San Diego-based investment management firm he founded in 1974. according to Forbes. At its peak, Brandes had over $100 billion under management, but now has only $31 billion, Forbes reported. Brandes left the firm in February 2018.

Google, Ascension collecting private health data: Wall Street Journal - Business Insider

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 11:37 AM PST

Google has teamed up with the hospital system Ascension to collect personal health information on millions of Americans, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Data such as lab results and hospital records was compiled for millions of people, The Journal reported.
The initiative by Google and Ascension is called "Project Nightingale," the newspaper said.
Neither patients nor doctors were notified, and at least 150 Google employees have access to the patients' data, the report said.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google has teamed up with the massive Ascension hospital system to collect detailed personal health information from millions of Americans without their knowledge, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The data-collection initiative is called "Project Nightingale," The Journal's Rob Copeland reported, citing internal documents and people familiar with the matter.

According to The Journal's report, neither patients nor doctors were notified, and at least 150 Google employees have access to the data, which includes lab results, diagnoses, and hospital records and provides detailed information on people's health histories.

Google is using the patient data to tune artificial-intelligence software that may help improve patient care, according to the report. Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are all working to expand in the $3.5 trillion US healthcare industry, with offerings ranging from cloud services and AI to hardware and even patient care.

Google told The Journal that the project complied with federal laws and that patient privacy was protected.

Ascension said in a statement that "all work related to Ascension's engagement with Google is HIPAA compliant and underpinned by a robust data security and protection effort and adherence to Ascension's strict requirements for data handling."

Google referred Business Insider to Ascension's release. Ascension didn't respond to a request for further comment.

Ascension is one of the biggest health systems in the US, with about 150 hospitals. The health system generated about $25 billion in operating revenue last year.

Want to tell us about your experience with Google in healthcare? Email lramsey@businessinsider.com.