Global Economic Press

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into a significant announcement from WeAreDevelopers, a leading platform for developers, artificial intelligence builders, and technology leaders. The episode highlights how J.P. Morgan is set to bring the hosts of the popular podcast Acquired to the main stage at the WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America. This event, scheduled for September 23–25, 2026, at the San José McEnery Convention Center, marks the first live appearance of J.P. Morgan and Acquired at a WeAreDevelopers event, as well as the inaugural edition of the World Congress in North America. The episode explores the implications of this collaboration for the tech community and the future of innovation.
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, Co-Founders and Co-Hosts of Acquired, will engage in live interviews in front of thousands of developers, artificial intelligence builders, and technology leaders from around the world. Sead Ahmetovic, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of WeAreDevelopers, emphasizes the importance of this event as a platform for serious technology leaders to engage in meaningful conversations. Sri Shivananda, Head of Technology for J.P. Morgan Payments, underscores the accelerating pace of change for developers and the need for speed, judgment, and leadership in this evolving landscape. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit WeAreDevelopers.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses the launch of ION8's innovative Primo Modular Water Bottle System. ION8, a company renowned for its practical everyday bottles, has introduced Primo, a modular stainless steel water bottle system that adapts to various hydration preferences and daily routines through interchangeable lid configurations. The product line features a single bottle platform compatible with three lid styles, allowing users to switch between straw sipping, quick-access drinking, and twist-top functionality without changing bottles. The launch has already exceeded crowdfunding expectations, attracting hundreds of backers and signaling a strong market demand for versatile hydration solutions.
Primo's design emphasizes flexibility and performance, offering a 100% leakproof construction, easy-to-clean design, and durable materials for long-term use. It is insulated to keep drinks hot or cold for extended periods, making it suitable for various activities, from commuting and training to travel and everyday use. Yusuf Okhai, Managing Director at ION8, highlights that Primo was designed to simplify hydration by providing one bottle that meets multiple needs. This launch marks a significant evolution for ION8, moving into a more design-led space while maintaining its commitment to practicality. For more information about ION8 and their products, visit their website at ION8.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into a groundbreaking global assessment of energy drinks conducted by Six Continents Index. The study highlights significant regional differences in energy drink formulations across the globe, examining markets from the United States to Germany, Japan to Kenya, and beyond. The assessment utilized a 36-criteria objective product quality index, focusing on verifiable product characteristics such as caffeine declaration, sugar type, vitamin content, pasteurization, packaging, and label transparency. The findings reveal stark contrasts in product quality and consumer choices, with Europe leading in pasteurization and vitamin content, while North America relies heavily on artificial sweeteners.
The Six Continents Index's comprehensive analysis shows that while energy drinks are a global category, their product logic varies sharply by region. For instance, 85.7% of European energy drinks are pasteurized, compared to just 12% in North America. Similarly, 78.9% of Asian energy drinks use real sugar, whereas only 8% in North America do. The study also identifies top-performing brands, with HELL Energy from Hungary achieving the highest overall score for objective product quality. Further findings and detailed methodology are available on the Six Continents Index website. For more information, visit Six Continents Index.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses an exciting new development in the realm of entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. Productized OS has launched the Productized MasterClass, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help corporate professionals transform their work experience into successful seven-figure startups. By leveraging artificial intelligence, this program aims to revolutionize how professionals can utilize their expertise in the digital age. The Productized MasterClass offers a comprehensive curriculum that guides participants through identifying their unique skills and experiences and converting them into viable business models.
The program integrates artificial intelligence technology to provide personalized insights and strategies, ensuring participants can maximize their potential and achieve significant financial success. According to Hossein Tootoonchy, Chief Executive Officer of Productized OS, the initiative marks a significant milestone in empowering professionals to create successful businesses and achieve financial independence. Participants will benefit from online learning modules, interactive workshops, and one-on-one coaching sessions, all tailored to meet the needs of busy professionals. For more information about the Productized MasterClass and how it can help transform your professional experience into a successful startup, visit Productized OS.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady explores the innovative strategies companies are employing to expand their global presence without the traditional hurdles of establishing a local entity. The focus is on Rivermate, a company recently recognized in Forbes México for its role as a leading Employer of Record solution in Spain. This model allows international companies to hire talent in Spain without the need to set up a local legal entity, thus bypassing the complexities and costs associated with establishing a subsidiary. The discussion highlights how Rivermate is enabling companies to navigate Spain's intricate labor environment efficiently, offering a seamless solution for international hiring.
Rivermate's Employer of Record model is particularly advantageous in Spain's dynamic labor market, known for its skilled workforce in technology, digital marketing, and engineering. By acting as the legal employer, Rivermate manages contracts, payroll, and compliance, allowing client companies to focus on their core business operations. This approach not only accelerates the hiring process but also mitigates legal risks associated with unfamiliar labor laws. The flexibility of this model is especially beneficial for startups and fast-growing companies, enabling them to scale operations quickly or adjust strategies as needed. With its expertise in local compliance, Rivermate positions itself as a strategic partner for companies entering the Spanish market. For more information, visit Rivermate's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the realm of addiction recovery and treatment, spotlighting the impressive achievements of Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana. Celebrating its first year of operation, this rehab center has reported patient outcomes that significantly exceed national benchmarks. Within the first six months, 88 percent of patients who completed the program maintained sobriety one month post-discharge, and 70 percent remained sober at the six-month mark. These figures are notably higher than the national average for addiction treatment programs. Additionally, between 84 percent and 86 percent of patients reported improvements in quality of life and overall health, underscoring the program's success in promoting sustainable recovery.
Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana, based in Greenwood, Indiana, offers comprehensive treatment programs for drug addiction, alcohol addiction, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions. The facility's approach is rooted in evidence-based therapies and individualized treatment plans, with same-day admissions available. As the demand for accessible addiction treatment in Indiana grows, Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana aims to bridge the gap for residents in need. To learn more about their services or to begin an intake assessment, visit Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the realm of Human Capital Management platforms, spotlighting the recent accolades received by HiBob, an award-winning Human Resources software vendor. The discussion centers on how HiBob is revolutionizing workforce management in the era of artificial intelligence and the implications of this transformation for businesses globally. The podcast highlights HiBob's recognition as an ISG Vendor of Excellence for 2026 in the Human Capital Management Platform category, a testament to the company's innovative approach and significant impact on the industry.
HiBob's platform, known as Bob, is celebrated for its robust architecture and ability to scale with fast-growing multinational organizations. The platform integrates core human resources, compensation, performance, and culture-building tools into a cohesive system, providing a unified source of truth for all people data. This recognition by Information Services Group, a leading global technology research and advisory firm, underscores HiBob's commitment to delivering a flexible, artificial intelligence-powered foundation that connects people, processes, and insights. For more information about HiBob and its offerings, visit HiBob's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses the latest developments from ASUS as they introduce their updated Chromebook models to Walmart. The new ASUS Chromebook CX15 and Chromebook Plus CX34 are designed to offer enhanced performance and durability, catering to a diverse range of users from students to professionals. The CX15 model features an Intel Processor N50, 128GB of storage, and a 15.6-inch Full High Definition display, making it ideal for everyday tasks. It also boasts a military-grade durability standard, ensuring reliability and protection. Meanwhile, the Chromebook Plus CX34 is equipped with an Intel Core 3 100U processor, 8GB of memory, and a 14-inch Full High Definition touchscreen, providing a more immersive experience for users seeking advanced productivity features.
Both models come with comprehensive connectivity options, including dual USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack, ensuring users are never short on connectivity. The CX34 also integrates Google's latest artificial intelligence experiences, enhancing everyday workflows with features like Gemini for planning and writing assistance. Security is a priority for both devices, with ChromeOS's built-in protection and the Titan C2 security chip safeguarding user data and privacy. The ASUS Chromebook CX15 is available in Pastel Purple, Forging Blue, and Pure Grey, starting at $199.00, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 is priced at $449.00. Both models will be available at Walmart starting May 18 in the United States. For more information, visit the ASUS website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the innovative world of hedge funds with a spotlight on Badass Capital, a new AI-first hedge fund. This firm is making significant strides by focusing on sports betting, trading, and prediction markets. Founded by serial entrepreneur Mark Thomas, Badass Capital leverages proprietary artificial intelligence models to navigate these high-growth, inefficiency-rich markets. The fund operates as BA Capital Fund I Limited Partnership, independently capitalized with the majority of the initial investment coming from the founder's own capital. The firm is also open to a limited amount of outside investment, targeting accredited investors in the United States and qualified non-U.S. investors abroad.
Badass Capital's systematic approach involves modeling, pricing, trading, and managing risk across three interconnected domains: sports betting, traditional finance and cryptocurrency trading, and prediction markets. The firm capitalizes on the convergence of platform proliferation and artificial intelligence to create opportunities that many traditional funds are not equipped to exploit. Mark Thomas, with his extensive background in technology, gaming, and trading, brings a wealth of experience to the fund's model development. Based in Miami, Florida, Badass Capital is poised to take advantage of the liquidity boom, platform explosion, and the capabilities unlocked by artificial intelligence. For more information, visit Badass Capital's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence with a focus on Zerion's latest innovation. Zerion has launched an open-source command-line interface that empowers artificial intelligence agents with the capability to manage cryptocurrency portfolios, perform swaps, and execute transactions across more than 40 Ethereum Virtual Machine chains and Solana. This development aims to streamline the fragmented nature of cryptocurrency portfolios, which are often spread across multiple chains and protocols, by allowing artificial intelligence agents to operate seamlessly in plain language. The Zerion Command-Line Interface provides a comprehensive view of a user's portfolio, enabling agents to access balances, decentralized finance positions, and transaction histories, while ensuring private keys remain secure on the user's device.
The Zerion Command-Line Interface is built on the Zerion Application Programming Interface, which supports over 2,000 on-chain products. It offers three authentication models and is extendable through Agent Skills, allowing developers to add new protocols and integrations. This toolkit facilitates various use cases, including portfolio tracking, market context integration, and multi-chain tax preparation. With contributions from partners like MoonPay, Uniswap, and Polymarket, the Zerion Command-Line Interface is poised to revolutionize how artificial intelligence agents interact with digital finance. For more information, visit Zerion's website at https://zerion.io.