Now that it’s officially fall, the chilly days of autumn are creeping in, outdoor playtime is waning, and the push for the hottest holiday toys is starting to really heat up. Yep, nearly a full month before Halloween even. Sigh. Before the “I’ve been such a good kid this year,” even starts to go down, here’s the scoop on what to look for.
This year, the big buzz with tech toys is STEM — toys that disguise a smart spectrum of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as something’s that’s just really, really, really fun to play with. But STEM toys are not created equally, with some offering a whole lot more smart play than others. Here are a few of my favorites so far.
BoseBuild
Legendary audio company BOSE is encouraging students of all ages to go hands-on and actually construct their very own personal Bluetooth speaker.
BOSEbuild ($149) is an all-in one kit that will keep your kids’ hands and brains busy as they explore how a speaker makes sound. They’ll be learning about frequencies, electromagnets, and electricity as they customize and create the device. Then, when they build is done, the high-performance speaker syncs with their smartphone or tablet and will keep their music playing for a long, long time. 8+
Early users can feel like validation, but that doesn’t mean you’ve nailed product-market fit. At the Elevate Ventures Go-To-Market Summit, speakers warned founders not to confuse compliments or pilots with real demand. From buyer urgency to budget signals, this post outlines the mindset and metrics that separate momentum from mirage.
In the early-stage startup world, visibility is no longer the challenge—memorability is. At the Go-To-Market Summit, experts like Wade Breitzke, Michelle Kidd, and Pat Rodgers revealed how emotional clarity, tailored messaging, and consistent content can cut through the noise. If your brand isn’t sticking, it’s time to rethink your approach.
Many founders assume early sales wins can be passed off to a new hire—but that’s a fast track to stalled growth. In this post, we unpack insights from the Go-To-Market Summit with leaders like Ian Illig, Jeanette Renshaw, and Wade Breitzke. From defining your ICP to building repeatable sales systems and messaging frameworks, this is your guide to turning founder hustle into a scalable Go-To-Market strategy.
