Subservient chicken says what?

Gotcha. [The Hustle]( Thur, Apr 13 We’re having fast food for lunch Headlines were flame-broiled yesterday when Burger King teased a new 15-second [commercial on YouTube]( which, on the surface, looked fairly mundane: a burger flipper holding a 700-calorie sandwich. But, instead of going on about the sesame seed bun, the guy says, “Ok Google, what is the Whopper burger?” And those 2 little words, “Ok Google,” caused the [internet to explode]( over privacy concerns and accusations that the restaurant change was trying to hack their personal assistants through the TV. An overreaction? Sure, probably. But the commercial hit on a sensitivity to the newest wave of IoT technology -- even if it was just a weird looking speaker summoning a description from Wikipedia. But that’s pretty much Burger King’s MO Over the past 20 years, the King has made waves through controversial ad campaigns pushing the limits of technology. In 2004, 3 years before Justin Kan started livestreaming his life, BK’s ad agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, created [a simple website]( that let users order around a creepy “subservient chicken” via webcam. Five years later, they offered free Whopper coupons to anyone who “[sacrificed]( 10 of their Facebook friends. And let’s not forget when the [McWhopper]( collaboration for Peace Day in 2015 took over social media (even though the dream was shot down immediately). In their minds, any press is good press Even though Google made quick work of yesterday’s ad, blocking the functionality within a few hours, the campaign was still a massive success. Think about it. Every media outlet (including us) covered it and everyone with a Google Home within earshot [uploaded a video]( of them “breaking the fourth wall,” as BK president [José Cil]( put it. Props to them for pushing the envelope, props to the ad agencies who come up with the ideas… but also props to Google for working on [multi-user voice identification]( so we don’t have to suffer through any more brands treating our Homes like subservient chickens. [BRB, chicken fries]( That’s a strong blend In the ultimate techie fantasy, startup [Bext360]( is using robots to pay fair-trade farmers higher wages for delicious coffee… with blockchain technology. Now, excuse me while I sanitize myself with some Dunkin’ Donuts and a Bud Light... But actually, it’s really neat. Farmers load coffee cherries (the thing that holds the bean) into Coinstar-style kiosks, which inspect them for quality, then provide instant mobile payments -- cutting out all the greedy middle-men. “Ya lost me at ‘blockchain’” For the purposes of this story, let’s just say blockchain is a secure digital receipt, in this case processed by non-profit [stellar.org]( which has legit clients like Deloitte. The technology not only allows farmers to circumvent banks, but it also tags outgoing coffee beans, ensuring that the $10 coffee you bought from Blue Bottle actually comes from a family-owned farm in Peru. Cash is no longer king If Bext360 is successful, this model could revolutionize conscious consumerism. For example, blockchain could guarantee our tuna is [sustainably fished]( or automatically pay monthly loan debts to banks, meaning its implementation is attractive in places where credit histories are limited (AKA, the developing nations that produce a lot of our beans). Which pretty great -- *takes slow, satisfying sip of shade-grown arabica.* [Ahhhhhhh...]( Venture… environmentalist Patagonia’s VC fund (named [Tin Shed Ventures]( after the company’s humble beginnings), is looking to invest $75m in companies that can replicate their success. Now, they’re sticking with their roots. Not just in name, but by weighing a company’s environmental impact over short-term profit. Yes, those really are their roots It’s not just feel-good marketing. Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, started selling mountain climbing gear out of a tin shack. Then, right in the midst of a business boom, he changed his core product to be less damaging to the mountain, despite it costing him almost 70% in sales. And, 40 years later, it’s certainly paid off -- Patagonia’s currently doing $800m in annual revenue. And since it worked before… They’re betting it’ll work again. The VC fund is investing in companies with transparent supply chains, and tracking metrics like “toxins averted,” and CO2 reduced, not just returns. Tin Shed estimate their investments in things like buffalo ranches and textile companies saved the planet [13k tons of CO2]( just this year. But how about those returns? The rock hugging firm hasn’t released valuations for its investments, so there’s no way of knowing if it’s working out like they hoped. However, the fund’s managing director says their portfolio companies have a 100% survival rate, and have seen double-digit increases in valuations. [The earth is AAA rated]( Cool people doing things Here are a few people making magic happen with their entrepreneurial spirit, just trying to make the world a better place: The Pope’s got free soap It’s pretty dope. The Pope has opened [The Pope Francis Laundry]( which offers free washers and dryers to the homeless in Rome, to “restore dignity” to people in extreme poverty. Housed in a former hospital, the facility contains donated machines from Whirlpool and free detergent from Procter & Gamble, and soon will expand to include healthcare facilities, a barbershop, and showers -- because it’s a lot easier to start off on the right foot when your foot’s clean. Booster gases your cruiser This startup lets companies contract their [fleet of fueling trucks]( to fill up employees tanks while they’re at work. Apparently you just park, mark your location on the app, and leave your gas door open. Then, [Booster]( will roll up, top you off, then charge your account. Pretty nice perk for people with long commutes but it really kills your chances of getting a $0.99 AriZona iced tea. New Wheel makes a bike deal If you’re fed up with fossil fuels altogether, SF-based startup, [New Wheel]( lets you turn in your car for a brand spanking new e-bike. Seems like a fair trade, right? Bring your beater to one of their stores and [they’ll appraise it]( then offer you a check that you can use toward one of their bikes or pocket for a rainy day. They don’t care, as long as they’re getting cars off the road. [How much for a Ford Pinto?]( things you should... LISTEN TO: Radio Garden, an open mind Imagine a map where you can just point and listen to local radio stations. Now stop imagining because that’s what Radio Garden does except on a rotating globe. Switch up the soft rock and enjoy a “staycation” for your ears. [RADIO OSLO COMING IN HOT →]( FUND: Travelmate Kickstarter, $399 to pre-order Rolling suitcases make your shoulder hurt, get off-kilter when you take a sharp turn, and are a nightmare to navigate through crowded airports. Travelmate is a fully autonomous suitcase that integrates with your smartphone and follows you around. Sick. [GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD →]( PLAY WITH: Google Autodraw, Free Machine learning’s finally reached a point where they can help turn your Picasso into a Rembrandt. Draw on the screen, Google will guess what you’re going for, and offer suggestions on better drawings you can use. [IS IT A PONY?? →]( BUY: This bathrobe from Parachute, $99 Top 3 most relaxing things in the world: Falling asleep in a hammock, a bubble bath on a stormy night, and lounging around the house in a plush bathrobe. Seriously, it’s impossible to be stressed while wearing this robe. Shop Parachute’s ultimate relaxation wear – it’s your first-class ticket to cozytown. [THEY’RE SO FLUFFY →]( BUY: Beardbrand Utility Balm, $32 PSA to all beardholders: If your facial hair feels like steel wool, whomever you’re smooching doesn’t appreciate the extra exfoliation. Beardbrand’s Utility Balm is smoothing and soothing for all the hair on your face so you feel like a human, not a loofa. [SAVE FACE →]( This edition of The Hustle was brought to you by “Coffee’s for closers” That’s an Alec {NAME} quote from legendary sales movie [Glengarry Glen Ross](. But you already knew that – heck, you live and breathe sales. Since launching your business, you’ve been hammering the phones and cold emailing prospects day in and day out, which works a lot of the time. Problem is, a lot of the time it doesn’t... And those unanswered emails, rude responses, and clients abandoning their carts at the last second can make you question whether you deserve that cup o’ joe on your desk. Hubspot Academy helps you earn your ‘bucks Starbucks that is. Their [free Sales Certification course]( helps you improve your prospecting skills, send super engaging emails, and fine tune a pitch deck that would make Alec proud. By [signing up]( you’ll get the same training as HubSpot’s sales reps when they join the team, plus the same strategies they used to grow to their first $100m in sales. That includes the classes and their [HubSpot Sales tools]( that help you book meetings, schedule follow-ups, and send human-sounding sales emails, automatically. All this is 100% free, so if you want to learn how to start or grow a business, there’s zero downside to at least [checking it out](. Better hurry though, your coffee’s getting cold… [SUBSCRIBE]( [JOBS]( [ADVERTISE]( [EVENTS]( Lindsey Quinn WRITER Kamran Rosen WRITER Eureka Garlic BREATHALYZER ADMINISTRATOR John "McWhopper aficionado" Havel BACKSEAT EDITOR You opted in by [signing up]( entering a [giveaway]( or through [divine intervention](. [1381 9TH AVENUE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, UNITED STATES]( • [415.506.7210](tel:+1-415-506-7210) Never wanna hear from us again? Break our hearts and [unsubscribe](.