If you're searching for the future of transportation, look up. Transportation startup Skyryse just completed an end-to-end autonomous helicopter flight, where the pilot never had to touch the controls.
"This is a really large step toward realizing a transportation system in the sky that can one day move us away from the cars and the crumbling infrastructure that is throughout our cities," explained Mark Groden, the company's founder and CEO.
While the helicopter, called Luna, isn't to be overlooked, it isn't the main attraction as far as Skyryse is concerned. That distinction belongs to the Skyryse Flight Stack technology, which the company hopes will revolutionize short-distance air travel. The sector is flooded right now, with as many as 130 companies looking for a piece of the pie, including big names like Uber involved. Skyryse isn't looking to beat them, but assist them.
"What we're focused on is building the technology that will lead to this transportation system," said Groden.
Reliable, widely-used short-distance air travel has seemed like something of a pipe dream until now, but Groden is quick to point out the first automated flight actually took place decades ago, when the Lockheed-1011 safely crossed the Atlantic. The idea of automated air travel isn't a new one, and the CEO believes it will expedite the process of making it a reality.
"The pragmatic approach we're taking, following existing paths that the FAA is already very keen to work with us on, will allow us to realize this in single-digit years, and far sooner than I think a lot of people expect," he said.
Proptech startup Juno recently raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. The company says the funds will be used to further its mission of building sustainable and affordable apartment buildings across the United States. Juno Co-Founder and CEO Jonathan Sherr joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
As President Joe Biden heads to Europe for the G20 and the United Nations COP26 climate meeting, he has announced a new $1.75 trillion spending framework. Senate Democrats are reportedly close to agreeing on passing the legislation, but it hangs in the balance as President Biden and other world leaders will meet at COP26 and Biden looks to proclaim the U.S. a leader on climate issues. Vox Senior Reporter Rebecca Leber joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the $555 billion worth of clean energy initiatives Biden included in the framework, and how Democrats' continuing negotiations undermine U.S. climate leadership.
Huntington Bancshares Inc. reported Q3 earnings today. The bank holding company delivered a record $1.7 billion in revenue, but saw some pressure on its bottom line. The company says results were driven by its recent acquisition of TCF bank, as well as positive trends in areas like wealth management, capital markets, and card and payments processing. Cheddar News welcomes the chairman, president and CEO of Huntington Bancshares, Steve Steinour, to discuss.
While the Q3 GDP report showed just 2 percent growth for the U.S. economy, the National Retail Federation said holiday shopping totals could shatter previous records, giving a much-needed boost. Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights for the National Retail Federation, joined Cheddar to discuss some of the potential drivers of a Q4 shopping boom, including a surge in holiday gatherings after the pandemic had forced people to stay away from family in 2020 and financial stability within American households.
Solo Brands ($DTC), maker of steel wood-burning stoves and other outdoor brands, made its NYSE debut on Thursday. CEO John Merris stopped by Cheddar's "Closing Bell" to talk about the decision behind the IPO and the company's experience in direct-to-consumer retail and e-commerce. Merris said that after going public the immediate goal for the company is to focus on overseas expansion. "Internationally, there's been a lot of demand and chatter from our customers of wanting us to launch there," he said.
Boxing Legend Mike Tyson, Chief Brand Officer, of Tyson 2.0 and Chad Bronstein, Chairman of Tyson 2.0, joined Cheddar News to discuss venturing into the cannabis industry.
The CEO at Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick apologized to employees after the company had been rocked by the public airing of sexual harassment claims that went unchecked. Kotick also asked that his compensation of more than $150 million be slashed to just over $62,000.
