Welcome, this industry newsletter shares key market changes, in a twice-monthly publication, curated by Jeremiah Owyang, Founder of Catalyst Companies™, you can subscribe to the email newsletter on the footer of the homepage.

Dollar Shave Club Acquisition Is a Win for Subscription Economy
The $1 billion price tag allegedly being paid by Unilever to acquire Dollar Shave Club illustrates just how much clout innovative business models now have since the advent of the on-demand subscription economy. Dollar Shave Club’s direct-to-consumer razor blade strategy just paid incredible dividends for the $160 million investment in it, and the leverage of Unilever’s global presence and distribution networks bode well for its future prospects. See the breaking news coverage on Fortune.

Ride Sharing Service FlightCar Collapses
In a sudden and stunning collapse, airport ride-sharing service FlightCar shut down this month and sold its technology to Mercedes-Benz R&D. Rounds of investment totaling $5.5 million weren’t enough to fend off festering customer service issues, and the abruptness of the closure spoiled relationships with numerous staff and customers. FlightCar’s newly revamped app suite will contribute to Mercedes-Benz’s mobility services innovation lab. Read more about the collapse on Digital Trends.

Gen X Turns 50
Seemingly always caught in the middle, Generation Xers have always forged their own way through life, and now as they start to turn 50, they find themselves with power, with entrepreneurial businesses, and with influence. A surprising 55 percent of startup owners come from Gen X, and many are driven to possess careers that have meaning. How Gen Xers survived, what they’ve been left to deal with, and what the future looks like at 50 for these undetected influencers are the subjects of a new research report from Sparks & Honey. Take a look at the SlideShare report summary.

We want to hear from you! What are the market impacts of this week’s news stories? Email Catalyst Companies™ Founder Jeremiah Owyang directly to share your thoughts.

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