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The Power of Stories

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Leveraging RapidAPI for Startup Growth: A Strategic Perspective for Founders

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Part VII: Machine Learning

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Part VI: Analytics and Insights

Kudos Lands $10M In Funding

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Table of Contents

Headquartered in Calgary, Kudos has grown significantly since their start in 2010. With the announcement of a $10 million dollar minority equity investment from the Canadian Business Growth Fund, they're poised to more than double their work force and continue expanding their market share.

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Robert Simmons

Operations, Lead Development

Robert is the co-founder of Paper Crane, having started the company alongside Tara McLaughlin in late 2019. He heads the online development arm of the company. During his tenure, he has overseen or directly built projects for EasyRedir, Tilt Five, Kudos, Virtual Gurus, and more.

His strengths lie in platform consolidation, speed optimization, and business automation, all under the umbrella of streamlining operations while providing the best possible experience to online visitors and consumers.

Having started his career as a digital nomad, he capitalizes on the ‘location-less’ aspects of his job by spending 2-4 months per year working abroad. When he’s not building out Paper Crane’s underlying infrastructure, he can be found aimlessly learning Spanish - only to forget it again in 3 months time - or playing one of the same 6 songs on guitar. His refusal to learn a 7th is astounding.

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The Power of Stories

In the world of non-profits, impact is everything. Whether you're feeding families, protecting wildlife, or advocating for social justice, the success of your mission depends on your ability to connect with people—and what better way to do that than through storytelling?

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Leveraging RapidAPI for Startup Growth: A Strategic Perspective for Founders

Developing utilizing Rapid API (and similar tools) can be helpful, but it may not always be the most ideal scenario. There are always tradeoffs - are you looking for quick go-to-market and low development costs, or long-term growth potential?

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Part VII: Machine Learning

Explore the journey of machine learning in baseball, from Billy Beane's OBP algorithm to modern MLOps, highlighting supervised and unsupervised learning, deployment, and monitoring.

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Part VI: Analytics and Insights

Netflix’s data strategy, using structured data and SQL, led to "House of Cards." Effective dashboards and feature engineering drive actionable insights for AI success.

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AI, Ethics, and the Importance of Diversity in Machine Learning

Discover the ethical implications of AI and the critical role of diversity in building unbiased algorithms. Learn from real-world examples where AI systems failed due to lack of representation and understand why diversity isn't just an option, but a requirement in AI.

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Part V: Data Exploration & Transformation

NASA's Kepler mission used innovative data strategies and AI frameworks to collect, process, and analyze vast amounts of astronomical data, leading to significant discoveries about planets and the universe.

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Part IV: Ensuring Reliable and Accessible Storage

Discover how Amazon Web Services (AWS) transformed from a strategic insight at Jeff Bezos' home into a pivotal cloud solution for businesses, enabling innovative digital infrastructure management and strategic growth.

Ai for management

AI implementation requires a new type of manager

Explore the evolving role of management in the AI era. Discover why traditional management strategies falter with AI implementation and the rise of the AI translator - a new kind of manager bridging the gap between tech and business

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Part III: Data Collection - The Essence of AI

Google's founders used camera tech and a van in 2007 to validate image stitching, evolving to Street View and enhancing Maps with AI-driven data insights, setting a foundation for data-centric AI strategies.

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Part II: Crafting a Compelling AI Product Vision and Narrative

Part II discusses crafting a compelling AI product vision, leveraging historical insights and modern management techniques for effective AI projects.

AI Investments

AI in Decision Making: Lessons from the Investment World

Explore how leading investment firms like Georgian Partners and Bridgewater Associates leverage AI and radical transparency to enhance decision-making. Discover the importance of combining AI insights with human expertise for optimal outcomes.

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Streamlining Website Management with Headless WordPress

Tired of endless CMS changes disrupting your marketing flow? Headless WordPress offers consistency, power, and ease of use.

Ai in PropTech

AI in PropTech: Transforming Real Estate with Intelligent Solutions

Explore how AI is revolutionizing the real estate industry with applications like property value estimation, AI-driven matchmaking, and conversational AI for customer profiling. Dive into the potential of PropTech and how managers can harness AI to boost profitability and enhance customer experiences.

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Part I: Introducing the AI Strategy Framework

Get a proven AI Strategy Framework to take your project from idea to value-driven AI implementation. Actionable steps included.

AI Transformations: The Value of Steady Progress Over Rapid Innovation

Discover the importance of pacing in AI transformations. Drawing from real-world examples, this article highlights the pitfalls of rushing into AI projects and the benefits of steady, incremental advancements in AI applications.

Can Someone Please Tell Me What AI Actually Is?

Dive deep into what AI truly means, beyond common misconceptions. Explore the fundamental differences between human cognition and machine problem-solving, and why certain tasks remain a challenge for AI

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Cutting Costs with Automation: A Small Business Guide

Discover effective strategies for leveraging automation to cut operational costs and boost profitability in small businesses. This guide provides insights into selecting and implementing the right automation tools to streamline processes, reduce manual labor, and enhance efficiency.

Crafting Data-Driven Strategies: The Power of Understanding Machine Learning

Discover how a deep understanding of machine learning can empower managers to craft effective strategies. Learn the difference between supervised and unsupervised machine learning and their real-world applications in business decision-making.

Data-Driven Decision Making: The Foundation of AI Innovation

Explore the significance of data in the AI era. Understand the challenges faced by legacy systems and the importance of strategic data collection. Learn from past mistakes and the wisdom of industry leaders to harness the power of data for future success.

Data Processing in AI: A Manager's Guide to Ensuring Quality and Effective Training

Delve into the crucial steps of data processing and model training in AI. Learn how managers can ensure data quality, handle outliers, and understand the significance of training and test sets for successful AI project outcomes.

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AI in Business: Revolutionizing the Corporate Landscape

How AI is reshaping various aspects of business operations, from decision-making processes to customer experiences.

Deep Learning Demystified: From Jigsaw Puzzles to AI Breakthroughs

Dive into the world of Deep Learning and its transformative impact on AI applications. Understand the layers of neural networks, the history of Deep Learning, and its real-world applications from voice assistants to medical diagnostics.

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Harnessing AI for Efficient Inspiration Curation

We streamlined our inspiration curation by using GPT-4.0 to transform a disorganized Slack thread into a well-structured, easily navigable database, saving hours and enhancing our creative workflow efficiency.

Demystifying AI in the Workplace: 6 Key Disciplines and Their Real-World Applications

Uncover the six major disciplines of AI and their practical examples. Learn how understanding these areas can help align employees with AI initiatives, dispel myths, and foster a positive outlook on AI-driven transformation.

Demystifying Robotic Process Automation: Impact on Workforce and Business Efficiency

Explore the transformative power of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in businesses. Understand its role in automating mundane tasks, its impact on jobs, and the surprising benefits it brings to employee engagement and operational efficiency

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Embracing Open-Source in Digital Transformation: Unlocking Collective Innovation

Discover the power of an open-source approach in digital transformations. Learn from Kaggle's success and historical examples to harness the collective intelligence of your organization and drive innovative AI solutions.

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Ethical Considerations in AI: The Singularity and Its Implications

Delving into the concept of the 'Singularity' by Ray Kurzweil, this article highlights the ethical challenges posed by AI technologies. Using Amazon's Echo Dot for kids as a case study, it underscores the importance of evaluating not just the feasibility but also the ethical implications of AI implementations.

Football and AI: Tackling the Challenges of Bad Algorithms

Using football as an analogy, delve into the pitfalls of bad algorithms in AI. Understand the concepts of overfitting, underfitting, and the importance of regularization in crafting effective machine learning models.

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From Toilet Paper to AI: Lessons from the Pandemic on Rational Decision Making

Drawing insights from the Covid-19 toilet paper frenzy, this article delves into human decision-making processes and how AI can be harnessed to elevate our cognitive abilities. By understanding our inherent biases and needs, we can design AI systems that empower humans to make more rational choices and focus on higher-order aspirations.

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Guarding Digital Gold: The Imperative of Data Security in the AI Era

Drawing parallels between money and data, this article emphasizes the urgency for companies to prioritize data security. As data becomes increasingly valuable, businesses must adopt stringent measures akin to banks, ensuring the safety and privacy of their users' information in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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Harnessing AI for Post-Series B Growth: A Guide for Canadian Enterprises

Unlock exponential growth for post-Series B Canadian enterprises with tailored AI strategies. Dive into a roadmap that bridges vision with implementation, ensuring your company harnesses the transformative power of AI effectively.

Implementing AI in Business: A 4-Step Guide for Managers

Discover a structured approach for managers to harness the power of AI in business. From challenging assumptions to choosing the right algorithm, ensure your AI projects align with customer needs and business goals.

Interpreting Machine Learning for Business Strategy: The Role of Managers

Discover the importance of managers in interpreting ML results for actionable business strategies. Dive into a real-world scenario to understand how industry expertise can transform raw data into actionable insights, driving business success with ML.

Marshmallows, Kindergartners, and Reinforcement Learning: A Tale of Strategy and AI

Discover the link between the Marshmallow Experiment and reinforcement machine learning. Learn how feedback-driven approaches, similar to kindergartners' strategies, can lead to optimal solutions in AI and business scenarios.

Measuring Success in Machine Learning: Beyond Accuracy

Explore the nuances of measuring success in ML models. Understand why accuracy isn't the only metric and how different scenarios demand varied evaluation criteria. Dive into real-world examples to grasp the importance of tailored metrics in ML projects

ModelOps: The Key to Accelerating AI Transformation and Maximizing ROI

Explore the challenges companies face in AI adoption and how ModelOps can streamline the process from data collection to deployment. Learn the importance of data structuring, empowering data science teams, and leveraging expert firms to establish a robust ModelOps framework.

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Strategic AI Implementation: Navy SEAL Principles in Business

Discover how Navy SEAL strategies can guide businesses in their AI transformation journey. Embrace a measured approach, from planning to scaling, to ensure successful AI integration and stay ahead of competitors.

Strategic AI Integration: A Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Innovation

Discover a structured approach to AI integration in businesses. From leveraging internal expertise to identifying key opportunities and setting up innovation labs, learn how to strategically wade into the world of AI without diving headfirst.

Understanding Data Biases in Machine Learning: Lessons from Politics

Explore the pitfalls of 'bad data' in ML strategies, drawing parallels from political missteps. Learn the importance of critical thinking in data collection and the role of managers in identifying and mitigating biases in ML models.

Black Swan concept in AI

Understanding the Black Swan in AI: Managing Risks in Big Data

Drawing from Nassem Taleb's concept of the Black Swan, this article emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations of big data in AI. By distinguishing between different types of datasets, managers can make informed decisions and mitigate unforeseen risks in their AI strategies.

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Unmasking Bias with AI: The Ethical Dilemma of Algorithmic Transparency

Exploring the ethical challenges of AI, this article delves into how algorithms can inadvertently expose inherent biases in decision-making. By examining Amazon's hiring algorithm case, we learn that confronting these biases head-on, rather than reverting to old practices, can pave the way for a more equitable future.

Venture Capital and AI: Navigating Investments in a Complex Landscape

Explore the surge in AI-related startup investments and the potential risks of a speculative bubble. Understand the importance of domain expertise in AI for making informed investment decisions and discover resources to gain insights into the technology.

Why AI and Machine Learning Aren’t the Same Thing

Dive into the differences between AI and machine learning. Discover how machine learning, a subset of AI, uses data patterns for predictions and the significance of quality data in driving real-time business insights.

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Ecommerce and how it has changed the retail market

The retail industry has changed dramatically over the past decade. From the rise of online shopping and increased competition, to evolving consumer priorities and automation in retail – ecommerce is reshaping how we shop. In this post we'll explore some of these changes, along with their impact on consumers and retailers alike.

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Project Launch: Ventec Website

Leading the charge in agricultural tech, Ventec needed a new site to better represent their industry. Today, we're proud to announce the launch of Ventec's new online platform!

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Start With Strategy: The Key To A Successful Project

Without a defining strategy, projects can fall apart at any point in the process. It's important to start on strong footing to ensure success as a result.

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How long does it take for SEO to start working?

The time factor of SEO is often longer than many companies expect. Here's what to expect when it comes to launching an SEO strategy.

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How to use automation to save you time and money

The key to success for many businesses today is automating tasks to ensure that costs are low, consistency is high, and less time is wasted overall.

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Top Growth Tools To Expand Your Business

With the world of software evolving at a breakneck pace, here are a few tools that we use to help our clients' businesses grow.

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How Is AI Going To Change Graphic Design?

Artificial intelligence is changing the way every business operates, even in the creative fields that may once have been deemed safe from machine intelligence.

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Cranes, Trains, & Automobiles: Evolving Work Culture In The Digital World

With the COVID-forced digital shift, we have created a new benefit initiative to help improve quality of life for team members .

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Company Trip Report: France 2022

A summary of our first official Cranes, Trains & Automobiles work away, and what's coming down the pipeline!

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A guide to creating a brand that works for your audience

It's time to step back and think about your brand in terms of what makes sense for your audience.

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Hybrid Work: The Future Of The Office

The days of the office-bound worker are numbered. Organizations that have been slow to adapt will struggle to compete with those that embrace hybrid work, as employees seek more flexibility in their careers.

Tilt Five Announcement

Congratulations to Tilt Five on partnering up with Asmodee to launch Catan in AR!

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Backlinks and Search Engine Optimization

When it comes to SEO, backlinks hold a lot of power. In fact, they’ve been shown to have a huge effect on how well your site performs in the search engines.

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How do you build a brand story?

If you're looking to build your company into something more than just another commodity offering among many others on the market, here are some steps to get started:

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How Owning A Great Website Impacts Your Business

Metrics on good websites vs. poor ones can be difficult to assess. With that being said, there are some important reasons to ensure your website is helping your company grow.

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How Travel Breeds Creativity And Happiness For Our Team

We've found that traveling with our team has made them happier and more creative in the process.

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On-Page SEO: Questions To Ask Your 'Expert'

SEO is a convoluted field that can be difficult to understand as a non-expert. We have some tips on things to ask your developer or SEO expert as they change your site.

Legitimizing Your Brand

Brand legitimacy is a powerful tool for businesses, but many small businesses don't think that way. In this article, we'll discuss the concept of brand legitimacy and how it can help your business grow.

How to speed up your Wordpress site

With recent search engine algorithm updates, page speed is more important than ever. Learn about how you can speed up a WordPress website!

Webflow: When To Use It

Webflow can be a powerful tool in the right hands and perfect situations. In others, it is used to lesser effect when better tools may fit the bill better.

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Vault 44.01 Lands $150M in Capital Commitment

With a significant fiscal investment, Grey Rock Investments showed their trust in Vault 44.01

Virtual Gurus Closes 8.4 Million

The Virtual Gurus were successful in closing 8.4 million dollars in funding after showing incredible year-over-year revenue growth on a consistent basis.

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Kudos Lands $10M In Funding

With employee engagement trending internationally, Kudos leads the way with their unique software.

Next.js and Headless CMS: Revolutionizing Enterprise Web Development