*By Michael Teich*
Ethical issues could be the Achilles heel for Juul, the $15 billion company behind the vaping devices infiltrating college and high school campuses.
"The valuation is justified on the math," said Dan Primack, Business Editor at Axios. The real question, though, is, "Does it want to stop kids from getting these?"
The sleek and colorful design of the company's e-cigarettes, paired with appealing flavors such as mango and cool mint, has helped Juul emerge as a leader in the market with a 68 percent share, according to Wells Fargo. The company projects $940 million in revenue this year, but Primack said he's told that "they are blowing through those numbers." Those numbers helped Juul raise a fresh $1.2 billion in new funding last week.
But strong sales growth may not be enough to entice more traditional Silicon Valley investors to overlook the moral complexities of Juul's business, Primack said.
While the device was created as an alternative to cigarettes, he pointed out the product is falling into the hands of first-time smokers and serves as a "gateway smoke."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-ethical-issues-that-may-plague-juuls-future)
Steven Overly, Host of Politico Tech, talks to Dave Briggs about the key takeaways from Joe Rogan's interview with Mark Zuckerberg, all under 20 minutes. Watch!
Abrar Al-Heeti, Tech Reporter at CNET, explains what will happen if and when the TikTok app is banned in the United States. Plus, who may buy it? Watch!
Chris Lafakis, Director at Moody's Analytics, discusses how home insurance may change as a result of the devastation in California brought on by the LA fires.
Brian Rosen, Founder and CEO of InvestBev, discusses what the Surgeon General’s new Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk means for the adult beverage business.
Damage from the Los Angeles inferno is setting records—and it's not over. Plus, rate-cut drama, the battle over Greenland, and Zuckerberg bends the knee.
Watch Duty CEO, John Mills, talks to Cheddar about how the app works, how it helps people in real time and how people can donate to help those affected.
JP Richardson, CEO at Exodus, discusses bringing Exodus public, his thoughts on the future of crypto markets, and tips to take the first steps into the space.
