For this week's keep reinventing segment brought to you by HP we are taking a look at a new bike share player in the space. Zagster recently closed a $15 million round of funding, which it plans to use to expand its dockless program to new cities. The company's CEO Timothy Ericson explains how he is taking a conservative approach to the expansion efforts.
"Right now we are really focusing on bring our bikeshare program Pace to communities who are willing to invest in bikesharing in the right way," says Ericson. "This allows riders to pick up and drop off bikes anywhere in the city."
Ericson says Zagster works directly with communities to roll out its program, and integrate it with the transit program. Zagster partners include Princeton University, City of Rochester, and Roanoke.
Joe Cecela, Dream Exchange CEO, explains how they are aiming to form the first minority-controlled company to operate an exchange in U.S. history. Watch!
A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase. A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024. The deal with Tesla was only in its planning phases but it was forecast to be the largest contract of the year. It shows how some of his wealth has come and was still expected to come from taxpayers.
