Halima Kiani

How Colonel Sanders Franchised a Recipe Before Fast Food

In 1952 Harland Sanders licensed his fried chicken to a Utah restaurant for four cents a bird. Here's how the deal worked and what service firms packaging their know-how can learn from it.

Sam Walton's Data Habit: Lessons for Service Businesses

Sam Walton read store sales figures from his hospital bed. The habit behind that began on lunch breaks in Des Moines, and it holds a lesson for growing service firms in 2026.

How Phil Knight Sold Shoes From a Car Trunk to Build Nike

In 1964 Phil Knight sold Onitsuka Tigers from his car at Pacific Northwest track meets. Here is what that trunk did for Nike, and which parts still apply now that outreach is cheap.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: A Plan If You're Not Raising

Going to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 without a pitch deck? Use this working plan to turn one week in San Francisco into customers, partners, hires and market intel.

How a Failed Snowboard Shop Led to Shopify

Shopify began as the software behind Snowdevil, an Ottawa snowboard shop that didn't last. What happened, why the software outgrew the store, and what operators can take from it.

What to Automate First When AI Agents Join Your Team

AI agents are arriving inside everyday business software. Here's the order that tends to work: reading first, approved drafts second, judgment calls kept with people.

How AI Search Is Reshaping B2B Lead Funnels

B2B buyers now compare vendors in AI chat answers before contacting anyone. Here's what that changes about your traffic, your website, your first sales call and how you measure leads.