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Roll call. Who’s going to Sundance? It seems to be shaping up to be a good season with some stellar movies. We’re working on some things, and we want to hear from you if you’ll be out there. Just give us a shout.
In other news… 2024 could be the year of the delivery drone, EVs have transformed the US, and startup founders deal with their mental health.
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TECHNOLOGY
This job doesn’t come with a driver’s seat // Illustration by Kait Cunniff with Midjourney
2024 could be the year of the delivery drone
The Future. Delivery drones might finally be going mainstream in 2024. While the technology has been decades in the making, medical centers and logistics platforms cleared some key regulatory hurdles, potentially paving the way for drones to become a more ubiquitous delivery system.
Taking off
2024 might be the year of the delivery drone.
Until recently, commercial drone operators were prohibited from flying their aircraft long distance without visual spotters.
But last fall, the Federal Aviation administration began authorizing some drone operators to fly their aircraft “beyond the visual line of sight” (BVLOS).
This marks a key breakthrough for companies like Zipline, Wing, and Amazon to begin more widespread drone delivery this year.
Pie in the sky
One of the top contenders to take a slice of the delivery drone pie is Amazon, which has had its eye on the tech for years. The company plans to add a third delivery drone site in the US and two more in Europe.
There’s also Zipline, which counts Mendocino Farms, Sweetgreen, and GNC as customers and will begin deploying delivery drones in 2024.
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TECHNOLOGY
The EV is king // Illustration by Kait Cunniff with Midjourney
Electric cars are revolutionizing America
The Future. 2023 was a massive year for electric cars — experts say it was the year that EVs went from experiments to mature vehicles. Now, with a boom in sales and a variety of new models across manufacturers, the rise of electric cars could transform the very meaning of a car itself.
Vroom boom
Electric cars are upending the American landscape.
The story of American EVs has long been led and defined by Tesla, but this year, EVs untethered themselves from Elon Musk’s brand.
Since the start of 2022, nearly 40 new EVs have debuted, and they have rapidly evolved in quality and capacity.
For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 can drive 360 miles on a single charge — just five years ago, a Nissan Leaf couldn’t go half that distance.
More than just a car
Beyond being a more sustainable option, EVs are also redefining how we look at cars, similar to how the smartphone redefined the cell phone. These vehicles are becoming bonafide computers, like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class that comes with TikTok integration and a selfie stick.
And if cars are now indistinguishable from gadgets, then automakers are now tech companies… in other words, the line between the tech and automotive industries is blurring more than ever.
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Slacking on sleep?
Up your sleep game (for free) — just download the guide.
Are you tossing and turning with anxious thoughts about student loan repayments, the dumb thing you said at work, and rising sea levels? Does your alarm go off and leave you no more rested than when you went to bed (after doomscrolling for an hour and a half)?
So many Americans aren’t getting enough sleep — and the percentage of people using sleeping pills has doubled in the last 15 years.
That’s a big problem because good sleep is essential to our physical and mental health. When we sacrifice sleep, everything from our personal life to our sense of wonder is diminished.
Want to get more Zzzs and reclaim the rest you need? Experience Life put together a sleep guide with 12 simple strategies.
CULTURE
Help, we feel like we’re under water
The founder mental health crisis is real
The Future. Starting a company is hard enough — but with the recent turbulence in the startup space, investors are predicting an even tougher environment in 2024. From the struggle to find funding to a silent IPO market, investors are predicting that this year will see an unprecedented founder mental health crisis.
Taking a toll
It’s hard being an entrepreneur, and it’s about to get harder.
Many founders are under an immense amount of stress, following rampant layoffs, two turbulent years of economic uncertainty, and four years of largely remote work.
While the stigma around mental health has improved in the wider culture, many founders worry that talking openly about mental health could hurt their credibility with their team or board.
As a result, most entrepreneurs suffer in silence, and many VCs follow an unspoken “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it comes to burnout and mental illness.
Building resilience
But some founders are beginning to speak out and even create their own ventures in this space. Humans Anonymous is a live audio platform that facilitates safe spaces for communities of people with similar life experiences, starting with entrepreneurs. Elsewhere, Felicis Ventures and Seven Seven Six commit 1% on top of new investments to subsidize services like coaching and therapy for founders.
So, now we want to hear from you…
YOUR DAILY POLL
We ask the hard-hitting questions.
52.1% of you voted for Series in yesterday’s poll: What will dominate your TV screens this year?
“Mostly series ‘til election time.”
“Good streaming series will draw us in.”
“Sitcoms, reality, and docuseries like Josh Gates.”
“Like most millennials, I get my election coverage on my phone lol.”
“NFL, WNBA, and the Olympics with a few series thrown in to fill the gaps.”
“NFL playoffs, the return of NASCAR, and the opening of the baseball season will be my focus, while I avoid as many political ads as I can.”
“Pro wrestling is a sport, right?”
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Highlights
The best curated daily stories from around the web
Media, Music, & Entertainment
Taylor Swift has now surpassed Elvis for the most weeks a solo artist has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart. Read More → deadline
Coca Cola’s newest campaign marks the first time the company has put a spotlight on its wider product line versus a single drink. Read More → variety
The Royal Caribbean’s 9-month cruise has become TikTok’s latest “reality show,” turning passengers into unwitting cast members. Read More → nytimes
Fashion & E-Commerce
Easy fashion will dominate wardrobes in 2024, with consumers wary of fast fashion and cost-per-wear. Read More → fastcompany
Levi’s had an incredible year in 2023, from collabs with Stussy and NIGO to selling out Crocs and New Balance. Read More → highsnobiety
Abercrombie & Fitch was the top-performing stock in the S&P 1500 Index last year, surging nearly 300%. Read More → bof
Tech, Web3, & AI
Tesla has officially lost its crown as the world’s top seller of electric cars — to China. Read More → insider
Trauma-informed urban development can help cities handle traumatic events, from extreme weather to mass shootings. Read More → fastcompany
Crypto is back? Bitcoin has hit $45,000 for the first time since April 2022. Read More → axios
Creator Economy
Snapchat has likely lost its chance to become an advertising giant against Apple and TikTok. Read More → insider
Speaking of… TikTok became a kingmaker of brands for Gen Z, from Clinique to Kraft. Read More → fastcompany
MrBeast’s response to Elon Musk’s request to post his content on X shows just how low monetization on X really is. Read More → insider
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Today’s email was written by Melody Song.
Edited by Boye Akolade. Copy edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.