"Fate: The Winx Saga" topped "Bridgerton,"Netflix's biggest series ever, in the streamer's popularity rankings this week. 

Every week, the streaming search engine Reelgood compiles for Business Insider a list of which TV shows have been most prominent on Netflix's daily top 10 lists of its most popular titles that week.

SEE ALSO: The top 9 movies on Netflix this week, from 'Homefront' to 'The White Tiger'

9. "LA's Finest" (Spectrum, 2019-2020)

Description: "In this spinoff of the 'Bad Boys' franchise, two police detectives team up while trying to keep their stormy pasts — and differences — from interfering."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: N/A

What critics said: N/A

8. "Bling Empire" (Netflix original, 2021-present)

Description: "Follow LA's wildly wealthy Asian and Asian American fun seekers as they go all out with fabulous parties, glamour and drama in this reality series."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 100%

What critics said: "Mostly follows the tried-and-true reality formula, but with just enough new wrinkles to get fans of that genre excited to binge its first season in one or two sittings."— Decider (season one)

7. "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" (Adult Swim, 2019)

Description: "After a demon attack leaves his family slain and his sister cursed, Tanjiro embarks upon a perilous journey to find a cure and avenge those he's lost."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 100%

What critics said: "What's rare about Demon Slayer's adaptation is the consistency with which the animation and voice acting enhances the work, not just for specific important scenes, but every episode."— The Verge (season one)

6. "Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio" (Telemundo, 2017)

Description: "This drama follows Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera's unlikely rise from suicidal pregnant teen and abused wife to banda superstar."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: N/A

What critics said: N/A

5. "Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous" (Netflix original, 2020-present)

Description: "Six teens invited to attend a state-of-the-art adventure camp on Isla Nublar must band together to survive when the dinosaurs break out of captivity."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 75%

What critics said: "Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous shows that there's still plenty of excitement to be mined in good, old fashioned Jurassic Park chaos."— RogerEbert.com (season one)

4. "Henry Danger" (Nickelodeon, 2014-2020)

Description: "A new part-time job forces Henry Hart to balance two lives, one as a typical teenager and the other as secret superhero sidekick Kid Danger."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: N/A

What critics said: N/A

3. "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer" (Netflix original, 2021)

Description: "Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 LA lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won't rest until they catch him."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 69%

What critics said: "There is a story to be told about life in suburban Los Angeles, where the Night Stalker proved that the veneer of bucolic normalcy is so thin, so tenuous ... Maybe one day that story will get told. This is not it."— Indiewire

2. "Bridgerton" (Netflix original, 2020-present)

Description: "The eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family look for love and happiness in London high society. Inspired by Julia Quinn's bestselling novels."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%

What critics said: "It ultimately just feels hollow — but, unlike me, your mileage may vary."— BuzzFeed (season one)

1. "Fate: The Winx Saga" (Netflix original, 2021-present)

Description: "Determined to master their enchanting powers, a group of teens navigate rivalry, romance and supernatural studies at Alfea, a magical boarding school."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 31%

What critics said: "By rejecting the aesthetic and vibe of its source material entirely for a pale imitation of other YA properties, Fate: The Winx Saga might just end up slipping through the cracks."— Variety (season one)

Somebody had to pay for Bruce Springsteen to rock the Lincoln Memorial, Katy Perry to belt "Firework" as actual fireworks exploded over the Washington Monument, and Tom Hanks to narrate President Joe Biden's star-spangled inauguration festivities.

Insider interviews and an analysis of new congressional lobbying records revealed that Biden has the numerous corporations to thank — from defense contractors to health insurers to financial firms — that together spend tens of millions of dollars each year lobbying the federal government. 

The interviews and records provide a partial and early picture of how some of the nation's wealthiest and most politically connected entities lavished Biden's inaugural celebration with big money. 

Biden's inaugural committee chose to accept most corporate and union contributions — it excluded fossil fuel companies and executives — of up to $1 million.

Although it vowed to reject contributions from individual, registered federal lobbyists, Biden's inaugural committee accepted money from corporations who in turn hire lobbyists to influence federal policies, rules, and regulations on their behalf.

Biden treated top-dollar inauguration donors to a host of perks, including VIP treatment at inaugural events, access to a "virtual event" with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses, and tickets to a "future in-person event."

In early January, Biden's inaugural committee voluntarily posted on its website the names and states of inauguration contributors and stated it "is committed to transparency." 

But these online disclosures— a White House spokesperson declined to say why — disappeared from Biden's inaugural website after January 27. And Biden's inaugural committee never disclosed the dates and dollar amounts of any donation it received.

Federal law requires Biden's inauguration committee to reveal full information about its financial backers by filing details with the Federal Election Commission within 90 days after the January 20 inauguration. 

Federal law does not, however, require the Biden inauguration committee to reveal any information to the FEC about how it spent its money or who it paid to conduct various events and celebrations surrounding Biden's inauguration. 

Read more: Joe Biden touts transparency, but his presidential inauguration spending remains a money mystery as organizers won't disclose who's cashing in

The Biden inauguration committee has not voluntarily released information about its spending.

"The Inauguration Committee will comply with any financial disclosure requirements," the White House said in a statement to Insider. The White House did not answer several detailed questions from Insider about the inauguration's finances and accounting.

Here is who Insider has identified as a Biden inauguration donor and how much money they contributed. This list will be updated as new information is obtained:

Boeing Co.: $1 million

Aerospace giant Boeing, one of the nation's most prominent defense contractors, confirmed to Insider that it contributed $1 million to Biden's inaugural committee.

The contribution is "consistent with our past contributions over the last several inaugurals for Republicans and Democrats alike," Boeing spokesperson Bryan Watt said in an email. 

In January, Boeing paid $2.5 billion to settle federal charges that it tried to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration during the grounding of its 737 Max airplanes.

During 2020, Boeing spent $12.63 million on federal lobbying efforts, according to congressional lobbying disclosures. Its roster of more than 80 lobbyists includes Brian Ballard, who was a top political fundraiser for former President Donald Trump. 

Since 2008, Boeing has never spent less than $12 million on federal lobbying efforts during a calendar year, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Centene Corp.: $500,000

Centene Corp., a Fortune 500 health insurance and managed care company, gave Biden's inaugural committee $500,000 on December 15, according to a disclosure filed Friday with Congress.

The Biden campaign listed Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's CEO, as one of its top fundraising "bundlers" during the 2020 campaign.

Centene and its subsidiaries spent $5.46 million on federal lobbying efforts during 2020, according to congressional lobbying disclosures. 

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, lobbied on behalf of Centene last year.

Among Centene's ties to government: it's a major Obamacare insurer. A Centene subsidiary, Centurion, also provides contract health services to governments in 16 states — primarily for prisons, state hospitals, courts, and juvenile facilities. 

Centene did not immediately return requests for comment.

Anthem Inc.: $125,000

Anthem Inc., another Fortune 500 health insurance and managed care company — and the largest player in the Blue Cross Blue Shield federation — gave Biden's inaugural committee $125,000 on December 11, according to a disclosure filed Friday with Congress.

Anthem spent about $4.2 million on federal-level lobbying efforts in 2020, and has spent anywhere from $4 million to $6.5 million annually on federal lobbying since 2009, according to federal records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Representatives for Anthem did not immediately return requests for comment.

Coca-Cola Company: $110,000

Coca Cola Co. confirmed to Insider in early January that it contributed $110,000 to the Biden inauguration.

That includes $50,000 in cash and $60,000 worth of commemorative Coca-Cola bottles "donated in recognition of the historic election of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris," the company said in a statement.

The company did not appear on a voluntary donor disclosure list that the Biden inauguration released in early January.

Coca-Cola has also spent between $6 million and $10 million annually in recent years on federal-level lobbying efforts, ranking it among the more powerful lobbies of any sort in Washington, DC.

The Capital Group Companies Inc.: $50,000

The Capital Group Companies Inc.— a major financial services and investment management firm — contributed $50,000 on December 30, it reported to Congress.

In 2020, the Capital Group Companies spent $1.53 million on federal lobbying efforts. It spent between $1.5 million and $2 million each year on federal lobbying since 2015, according to federal data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Representatives for the Capital Group Companies did not immediately return requests for comment.

Enterprise Holdings: $25,000

The political action committee of Enterprise Holdings — the parent company of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent a Car — gave the Biden inauguration $25,000, per congressional records.

Enterprise Holdings spent $726,000 on federal lobbying efforts in 2020 and has spent at least half-a-million dollars lobbying the federa government each year since 2015, according to federal disclosure data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Other corporate and union donors

In early January, the Biden inauguration committee, which is organized as a 501(c)(4) "social welfare" nonprofit, voluntarily disclosed the names of more than two-dozen other corporations and labor unions that contributed money.

Many lobby the federal government or have government contracts. But the Biden inaugural committee did not say how much money these donors gave.

Among the corporations and unions the Biden inaugural committee listed as of January 27: Amalgamated Bank, Amazon, American Federation of Teachers, Area 1, Bravia Capital Partners, Cannae Holdings LLC, Charter Communications, Comcast, Fidelity National Financial Inc., Google, Higherschool Publishing Company, Holland & Knight, and Graff Real Estate Inc.

Also: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Irwin Hodson Group, Masimo Corporation, MedPoint Management, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Starling Chevy Buick GMC of Florida, The Jernigan Law Firm, United Airlines, United Association of Plumbers & Fitters, United Food and Commercial Workers, UPS, Verizon, and Yelp Inc. 

One company on that list — Holland & Knight — is a lobbying firm that last year earned nearly $28 million from its working lobbying the federal government on behalf of dozens of clients.

These clients include the American Chemistry Council, Bacardi Ltd., CrossFit Inc., the Financial Services Institute, Spirit Airlines, and Thomson Reuters, as well as the municipal governments of Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, and West Palm Beach, Florida — next door to where former President Donald Trump now lives at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Bank of America, Ford Motor Co., and Aflac, although not on Biden's disclosure list, previously indicated to Insider that they would make contributions to the president's inauguration.

During his presidential campaign, Biden took a hard line against lobbyists and offered several detailed proposals to tighten lobbying rules and increase transparency.

"As president, he'll enact legislation to bar lobbyists from making contributions to, and fundraising or bundling for, those who they lobby," Biden's campaign platform stated. "This legislation will be designed to ensure that the public knows as much as possible about the political spending of those who seek to influence officeholders and other government officials.  Any lobbyist contribution must be disclosed within 24-hours, and any lobbyist-hosted fundraising event must be disclosed before it occurs."

It added: "Disclosure requirements are riddled with loopholes, so lobbyists can coordinate a PR campaign without ever disclosing their work."

By law, the Biden inaugural committee must publicly disclose full information about its donors within 90 days after the January 20 inauguration.

Lobbyist donors?

Biden's inaugural committee expressly prohibited contributions from registered federal lobbyists.

But a new filing with the US Senate indicates that a registered lobbyist — Matt Ward of government relations firm Sustainable Strategies DC — made a token contribution of $25 on December 1. 

Ward, who declined to comment Thursday, represented 17 federal lobbying clients during 2020, including the municipal governments of Charlestown, West Virginia; Ithaca, New York; Frederick, Maryland; Frankfort, Kentucky; and Dubuque, Iowa, according to federal records compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. 

General Electric lobbyist Theresa Peterson also reported in a congressional filing that she contributed $217.35 to the Biden inauguration on December 12. In a statement Sunday to Insider, GE said: "We're aware of the donation and have already requested that it be returned."

A White House spokesperson told Insider that the inaugural committee would "return any contributions that do not comply with the Committee's rules."

A growing number of execs and investors are looking to cash in on media through special-purpose acquisition companies.

SPACs are blank-check companies set up to acquire and take companies public, often with less scrutiny, cost and time than a traditional initial public offering. SPACs have been viewed critically by some as riskier for investors, but they have boomed over the past year.

Some $82.8 billion was raised by 248 SPACs in 2020, up from the $13.6 billion raised by just 59 SPACs the prior year, according to J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Read more: A rush of media and advertising companies are going public via SPACs. Here's why Playboy, CuriosityStream, and Digital Media Solutions are betting on blank-check deals.

While the bulk of SPACs have focused on areas like technology or healthcare, media companies are getting into the space, too. Big names like Dish co-founder Charlie Ergen, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, Group Nine founder Ben Lerer and former Hearst chief content officer Joanna Coles are spearheading SPACs focused on acquiring media companies. And media companies like Playboy and CuriosityStream have recently gone public through SPACs.

"You have to be a big and credible name to be able to raise institutional capital to do it," said Chris Cunningham, founder of investment firm C2 Ventures. "A SPAC has to be tied to a healthy business."

Insider spoke to a handful of experts including executives, consultants, analysts, and bankers to identify 11 media-focused SPACs that are worth watching this year.

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $414 million

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp is led by longtime tech and entertainment executive Mark Gerhard, who is perhaps best known as the former CEO of UK games developer and publisher Jagex, owner of the free online multiplayer roleplay game RuneScape. He also previously ran AI firm PlayFusion and serves as vice chairman of the board at TIGA.org, a trade association for the games industry.

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp is looking for businesses that it considers part of the "attention economy," including digital entertainment, film and television, music and e-sports firms. The SPAC is specifically interested in companies with intellectual property that can potentially be used for franchises and companies that have strong customer retention.

"The attention economy ecosystem is highly fragmented with hundreds of content owners and creators, publishing and distribution platforms and other companies providing enabling technologies and services to other industry participants and consumers, many of which are privately owned," the SPAC says on its website.

Its leadership also includes Riaan Hodgson, another former Jagex exec; and David Gomberg, who cofounded Playfusion with Gerhard and Hodgson.

Conx Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $750 million

Conx Acquisition Corp was formed by wireless exec and billionaire Charlie Ergen, the cofounder and chairman of Dish. He stepped down as CEO of Dish in 2017 and oversees the company's long-term business development as chairman.

"[Ergen] really knows what he's doing with combining media, telecoms and technology ... the full stack," said Igor Shoifot, investment partner at TMT Investments, a publicly traded investment firm. "[Conx] can create a tremendous media conglomerate."

The SPAC is targeting tech, media and telecommunication companies that can tap into the group's expertise. In its S-1, Conx Acquisition Corp. cites the growth of 5G technology as an opportunity.

Longtime Dish employee Jason Kiser serves as the SPAC's CEO and director.

Falcon Capital Acquisition

IPO price: $345 million

Falcon Capital Acquisition is led by Alan Mnuchin, a longtime media banker who has worked at Ariliam Group, Bear Stearns, and Goldman Sachs. He formed the investment firm AGM Partners in 2003, which  handled $80 million in transactions.

Mnuchin is the brother of former US Treasury Secretary and hedge fund manager Steven Mnuchin. His father Robert Mnuchin is a former long-time Goldman Sachs exec.

Mnuchin's SPAC is focused on "media, digital media and consumer technology, interactive entertainment and related industries," according to its S-1.

Falcon Capital Acquisition's team also includes CFO Saif Rahman, who is managing director at Ariliam Group; and director Jeff Sagansky, a Hollywood executive who also heads the Flying Eagle Acquisition Corp. SPAC that took mobile gaming firm Skillz public in December 2020.

Forest Road Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $300 million

A group of top entertainment and media execs including former Elliott Management COO Keith Horn, former Disney COO Tom Staggs, former TikTok CEO and Disney exec Kevin Mayer are behind the Forest Road SPAC, which was formed through entertainment finance firm Forest Road last year.

The SPAC is hunting for media, tech, and telecom companies.

When the SPAC started trading in November, Zachary Tarica, Forest Road CEO and chairman and chief investment officer of the SPAC, told Deadline that it had been contacted by more than 50 companies. Forest Road Acquisition Corp's targets include companies with intellectual property and firms changing consumer behavior, according to its S-1.

"They have got a real shot," said Michael Kassan, CEO of strategic advisory and business development firm MediaLink. "People like Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs are brilliant operators and deal guys — Keith Horn, similarly, relative to his experience at Elliott."

The team's advisors and directors also include former NBA star-turned-investor Shaquille O'Neal, human rights advocate Martin Luther King Jr. III, and Salil Mehta, who has served as an executive at media companies including Fox, NBCUniversal and Disney.

Group Nine Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $230 million

Discovery-backed Group Nine Media formed a SPAC earlier in January to raise money and acquire other digital media companies. Group Nine Media's sites include Thrillist, NowThis, and the Dodo.

Group Nine Media CEO and chairman Ben Lerer is also leading Group Nine Acquisition Corp. Lerer is also a managing partner at venture capital firm Hippeau Ventures that he founded with his father Kenneth Lerer. Group Nine Media's president and director Brian Sugar and CFO Sean Macnew also are on the SPAC's management team.

Read more: 10 digital media companies that are hot acquisition targets, including TheSkimm and FuboTV

Group Nine Acquisition Corp. plans to buy Group Nine Media while acquiring another company in "the digital media and adjacent industries," according to its S-1 filing. That could include companies in social media, e-commerce, events, digital publishing, or marketing.

Ana Milicevic, principal and cofounder at Sparrow Advisers, said that Group Nine's SPAC could be a way for Group Nine to build a holding company that rivals legacy media brands and magazine publishers.

"I see SPACs as a new twist on what a holding company should be, with the ability to raise the right amount of money and fund the right operational strategy," she said.

With venture capital investors cooling on the digital media sector, SPACs can offer companies in the space an alternative access to funds to help them gain more scale, faster.

"The Group Nine SPAC is to say, 'We believe these digital publishers need far more scale to work, therefore we are going to look for merger partners'," said Terence Kawaja, CEO of investment bank LUMA Partners. "They already have the strategy and are using the SPAC as a vehicle to execute ... If I'm an investor, I get a lot more comfort out of knowing what that's likely to look like."

Northern Star Investment Corp II

IPO Price: $300 million

Northern Star Investment Corp II is, as the name would suggest, the second SPAC formed by media executive Joanna Coles and SPAC veteran Jonathan Ledecky. Their first, Northern Star Acquisition, went public in November. It announced a $1.6 billion deal to take pet subscription service Barbox public the following month.

Coles is a well-known media executive who previously served as chief content officer at Hearst. She's currently an executive producer on Freeform and Hulu TV series "The Bold Type" and sits on the boards of Snap, Sonos, Blue Mistral, and Density Software.

"I would make a bet where Joanna is involved," said MediaLink's Kassan.

Ledecky, meanwhile, is the co-owner of NHL franchise the New York Islanders and has also been involved with other SPACs including Pivotal Acquisition Corp and Endeavor Acquisition Corp.

Northern Star Investment II is on the hunt for businesses in the digital media space, according to the SPAC's S-1, which was filed earlier in January. It's also targeting businesses in the areas of beauty, self-care, wellness, fashion, e-commerce and subscriptions. 

Liberty Media Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $500 million

U.S. billionaire John Malone is known as the "cable cowboy" from being a frenetic dealmaker in media and telecoms. Now his Liberty empire has a SPAC to pursue even more deals (though Malone won't actually play a direct role).

Liberty Media's current portfolio includes The Formula One Group, Braves Group (owner of the MLB team the Atlanta Braves), and Liberty SiriusXM Group, which includes its holdings in Live Nation.

The SPAC, led by Liberty Media president and chief executive officer Greg Maffei, is searching for a company in the "media, digital media, music, entertainment, communications, telecommunications and technology industries," according to its S-1 filing.

Alongside Maffei, the SPAC will be led by other senior Liberty Media execs. 

"There are live events, in particular ones around motorsports, that could be attractive," Maffei said in April 2020, many months before the SPAC was announced, as reported by Motorsport.com. 

Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $200 million

Hedgefund exec turned newspaper baron Heath Freeman runs Alden Global Capital, the finance firm that has acquired around 200 newspapers including The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post, and The New York Daily News. Alden has been criticized by editorial staff at its newspapers for its sharp and painful cost-cutting. Columbia Journalism Review described Alden last year as "the most feared owner in American journalism."

Freeman's newest venture is the SPAC Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp., which aims to invest in technology, media, financial services, real estate, consumer products, industrials, hospitality and entertainment companies.

Eric Peckham, Techcrunch's former media critic who now runs the Monetizing Media newsletter, speculated that the SPAC is a way for Freeman to raise more money for newspaper acquisitions.

Reinvent Technology Partners

IPO Price: $600 million (and $200 million for Reinvent Z)

Famed Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus are the brains behind Reinvent Technology Partners.

Hoffman, the billionaire founder of LinkedIn, and Pincus, founder of social-gaming company Zynga, launched their $600 million SPAC in August 2020 with the aim of finding a unicorn tech startup to invest in.

"We believe this disconnect between the quantity of scaled technology companies and the number of those companies that actually go public each year has created an attractive backlog of potential targets for our blank-check company," the prospectus said.

The pair went on to form another SPAC, Reinvent Technology Partners Z, in November. The second, smaller SPAC similarly is targeting businesses in technology.

"Mark and the team know the inner workings of their industry on all levels and understand the roles played by different components of the ecosystem," said TMT Investment's investment partner Igor Shoifot. "They would have lots of fun, and not much trouble, identifying the missing — and most wanted — pieces of the puzzle."

Hoffman in particular, through his experience at LinkedIn and PayPal — and later at venture capital firm Greylock — understands both sides of the industry, Shoifot added.

"[Hoffman] will not only find the right fit, so important in SPAC business, but also knows how to scale up businesses at a dizzying pace," said Shoifot.

Spinning Eagle

IPO price: $1.5 billion

Spinning Eagle is the seventh SPAC set up by former CBS Entertainment president Jeff Sgansky and former MGM CEO Harry Sloan. Prior SPACs from the pair of Hollywood executives have taken companies including fantasy sports betting platform DraftKings and esports platform Skillz public.

"Harry [Sloan] and Jeff Sagansky ... wrote the book on this," said MediaLink's Kassan.

Spinning Eagle says in filings with the SEC that while its combination target "will not be limited to a particular industry, sector, or geographic region" it intends to capitalize on its management team's "established global relationships and operating experience," suggesting a media or entertainment-related merger would be the most obvious candidate.

Spinning Eagle also said that if it doesn't spend all the money it has raised on merger deals, it might use some of the funds to launch yet another new SPAC.

Supernova Partners Acquisition

IPO price: $402.5 million

Serial entrepreneur and investor Spencer Rascoff, the co-founder of tech companies Zillow and Hotwire.com, is behind Supernova Partners, which is seeking to acquire a company in the tech space. 

The SPAC is co-chaired by Alexander Klabin, Sotheby's Financial Services executive chairman and led by tech M&A expert Robert Reid, formerly a senior managing director at Blackstone, who is now Supernova's CEO.

Supernova says on its website it is looking to partner "with an advantaged growth company that benefits from thematic shifts and tech-enabled trends."

The Information reported earlier in January that Supernova had held discussions with BuzzFeed, citing people familiar with the situation.

Read more: After the BuzzFeed-HuffPost deal, more digital media tie-ups could be coming, and SPACs are circling

A spokeswoman for BuzzFeed declined to comment on The Information's report at the time.

"Billions of investment dollars are sitting on the sidelines now, aggressively chasing and competing for content-driven opportunities that can be presented to a frothy and liquid public market increasingly driven by new tech-driven platforms like Robinhood," Peter Csathy, founder of advisory Creatv Media, told Insider in December. "Robinhood feeds off young, inexperienced investors, and BuzzFeed is precisely the type of high profile youth-driven brand that logically could take advantage of these trends."  

The long-standing feud between Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook appears to be raging on.

The Information reported this week that Facebook is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging that Apple put a choke-hold on third-party app developers.

While a legal battle between two of the biggest tech companies on the planet is noteworthy, it's hardly the first time Facebook and Apple have been at odds. Cook and Zuckerberg have been feuding since at least 2014, trading barbs over each other's products and business models.

Here's when their grudge began, and everything that's happened since. 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk escalated his feud with Mark Zuckerberg following the riots at the Capitol. Here are 11 other rivalries that have formed between some of the world's most high-powered tech leaders.

The feud between Zuckerberg and Cook became public in 2014, when Cook lambasted Facebook's business model.

In September 2014, Cook gave an in-depth interview with Charlie Rose that touched on a range of topics, including privacy.

During the interview — which took place in the weeks following the infamous leaks of multiple female celebrities' nude photos stored on their iCloud accounts — Cook espoused Apple's commitment to privacy while denouncing the business models of companies like Google and Facebook. 

"I think everyone has to ask, how do companies make their money? Follow the money," Cook said. "And if they're making money mainly by collecting gobs of personal data, I think you have a right to be worried. And you should really understand what's happening to that data."  

Shortly after, Cook reiterated his stance in an open letter on Apple's dedicated privacy site. 

"A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product," Cook wrote. 

Cook's comments rankled Zuckerberg, who called the claims "ridiculous" and blasted Apple products as being expensive.

In an interview with Time later that year, Zuckerberg was reportedly visibly irritated by Cook's assertions. 

"A frustration I have is that a lot of people increasingly seem to equate an advertising business model with somehow being out of alignment with your customers," Zuckerberg told Time's Lev Grossman. "I think it's the most ridiculous concept. What, you think because you're paying Apple that you're somehow in alignment with them? If you were in alignment with them, then they'd make their products a lot cheaper!"

Their squabble came to a head following the Cambridge Analytica scandal when Cook criticized Facebook's actions.

In 2018, a whistleblower revealed that consulting firm Cambridge Analytica harvested user data without consent from 50 million users. 

During an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes in the months following, Cook was asked what he would do if he was in Zuckerberg's shoes

Cook responded: "What would I do? I wouldn't be in this situation."

Cook said that Facebook should have regulated itself when it came to user data, but that "I think we're beyond that here." He also doubled down on his stance that Facebook considers its users its product. 

"The truth is, we could make a ton of money if we monetized our customer — if our customer was our product," Cook said. "We've elected not to do that."

Zuckerberg hit back, calling Cook's comments "extremely glib."

"You know, I find that argument, that if you're not paying that somehow we can't care about you, to be extremely glib. And not at all aligned with the truth,"Zuckerberg said during an interview on The Ezra Klein Show podcast.

He refuted the idea that Facebook isn't focused on serving people and once again criticized the premium Apple places on its products. 

"I think it's important that we don't all get Stockholm Syndrome and let the companies that work hard to charge you more convince you that they actually care more about you," he said. "Because that sounds ridiculous to me."

Privately, Zuckerberg was reportedly outraged by Cook's remarks — so much so that he ordered his employees to switch to Android devices.

In November 2018, The New York Times published a blockbuster report detailing the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The Times reported that Cook's comments had "infuriated" Zuckerberg, who ordered employees on his management team who used iPhones to switch to Android. 

Soon after the report published, Facebook wrote a blog post refuting some of the reporting by The Times — but not the Zuckerberg-Cook feud. 

"Tim Cook has consistently criticized our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees. So there's been no need to employ anyone else to do this for us," Facebook wrote. "And we've long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world."

In August 2020, Zuckerberg jumped in the fray as Apple faced criticism over its App Store policies.

During a company-wide meeting, Zuckerberg openly criticized Apple, saying it has a "unique stranglehold as a gatekeeper on what gets on phones," according to a report from BuzzFeed News. 

Zuckerberg also said that the App Store blocks innovation and competition and "allows Apple to charge monopoly rents," BuzzFeed reported. 

Apple has been facing antitrust scrutiny from Congress and has been strongly criticized by developers — most notably "Fortnite" creator Epic Games— for the 30% fee it takes from App Store purchases. Apple recently blocked an update to Facebook's iOS app that would have informed users about the fee Apple charges.

Apple's latest software update has been angering Facebook since it was announced, as Facebook says the new privacy features could destroy part of its business.

In the latest version if Apple's smartphone operating system, iOS, iPhone app developers will need to ask permission from users in order to collect and track their data. While this will affect any company who makes iOS apps, it will have a direct impact on Facebook's advertising business: It uses data tracking to dictate which ads are served to users. 

In an August blog post, Facebook said it may be forced to shut down Audience Network for iOS, a tool that personalizes ads in third-party apps. 

"This is not a change we want to make, but unfortunately Apple's updates to iOS 14 have forced this decision," Facebook said. 

The complaints from Facebook and other developers led Apple to delay the new privacy tools until next year, saying it wanted to "give developers the time they need to make the necessary changes."

Most recently, Facebook escalated the feud to a full-page ad in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1339183289349918721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I'm pretty certain #Facebook is fighting #Apple to retain access to personal data. #PID#privacy. #fullpagead#wsjpic.twitter.com/029WwaGSs0

In the new ads, Facebook is arguing that the changes will hurt small businesses who advertise on Facebook's platform.

"Without personalized ads, Facebook data shows that the average small business advertiser stands to see a cut of over 60% in their sales for every dollar they spend," the ad reads, which was posted by Twitter user Dave Stangis. 

Apple hit back, telling Business Insider's Isobel Asher Hamilton that it was "standing up for our users." 

"Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites — and they should have the choice to allow that or not," an Apple spokesperson said.

Facebook said it would help Epic Games, the company behind "Fortnite," in its legal battle with Apple.

Epic Games is heading to trial with Apple next year over its suit claiming that Apple's engages in anti-competitive behavior.

While Facebook isn't joining the lawsuit, it is planning to help Epic with discovery for the trial. 

And Facebook is reportedly working on a lawsuit of its own that alleges Apple has abused its power in the app marketplace.

According to a report from The Information, Facebook is preparing a lawsuit claiming that Apple has forced app developers to follow a different set of rules than Apple-made apps, such as requiring developers to use an in-app payments system, of which Apple takes a cut.  

Facebook has reportedly been working on the case for several months and has considered inviting other companies to join the suit. 

Zuckerberg also lashed out at Apple during Facebook's fourth-quarter earnings call, saying the company frequently interferes with how Facebook's apps work.

When discussing Facebook's suite of messaging apps during the conference call, Zuckerberg made a clear dig at Apple, saying the iPhone-maker made "misleading" privacy claims. 

"Now Apple recently released so-called nutrition labels, which focused largely on metadata that apps collect rather than the privacy and security of people's actual messages, but iMessage stores non-end-to-end encrypted backups of your messages by default unless you disable iCloud," Zuckerberg said.

Zuckerberg went on to describe Apple as "one of our biggest competitors" and said that because Apple is increasingly relying on services to fuel its business, it "has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own."

"This impacts the growth of millions of businesses around the world," he added.

But Cook hasn't backed down from his view that Facebook's business model of harvesting user data and selling it to advertisers is harmful to consumers.

During a speech at the European Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference, Cook discussed business models that prioritize user engagement and rely on user data to make money. Though he didn't mention Facebook by name, Cook made several references that alluded to the platform.

"At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement — the longer the better — and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," Cook said.

Retired NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal just sold his lakeside mansion in Florida for $16.5 million, Sarah Paynter reported for The New York Post.

The 31,000-square-foot house sits on nearly four acres in the exclusive, gated golf community about a 30-minute drive from Orlando.

O'Neal, who retired in 2011 after making more than $286 million over the course of his basketball career, bought the house in 1993 for a little less than $4 million, according to Realtor. He first put it on the market in 2018 for $28 million, dropped the price to $21.9 million in 2019, and discounted it again to $16.5 million in 2020.

The 12-bedroom Florida home is in the exclusive Isleworth community, a 600-acre golf-club community bordering a lake that's full of grand cypress and oak trees, and lavish estates. A website for the house touted a message for potential buyers: "Live life large, live like Shaq."

Compass Florida's Atlas Team agents Tiffany Pantozzi, Jared Ringel, and Chris Franciosa held the listing.

Here's a look at the mansion O'Neal sold after nearly 28 years of ownership.

SEE ALSO: I went to Shaq's Fun House, a wild Super Bowl pre-party with carnival rides, performances by Diddy and Diplo, and emotional tributes to Kobe Bryant. Here's what it was like.

DON'T MISS: Billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn just listed his Beverly Hills estate for $110 million — more than double what he paid for it 6 years ago. Look inside.

Retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal just sold his lakeside estate in Windermere, Florida, for $16.5 million.

He first put it on the market in 2018 for $28 million and then dropped the price to $21.9 million in 2019. It was further discounted to $16.5 million in 2020.

Shaq owned the property for nearly 28 years.

Despite the price chops, he still turned a profit on the home. He paid a little less than $4 million for the property in 1993— the year after he was drafted by the Orlando Magic.

The house sits on the shores of Lake Butler in Isleworth, an exclusive, gated golf community about a 30-minute drive from Orlando.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

It features nearly 700 feet of prime lake frontage.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

A private pier with two covered boat slips and two boat lifts stretches out onto Lake Butler.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

Built in 1990, the 12-bedroom home spans more than 31,000 square feet.

Source: Realtor

The entryway of the home is marked by stately white columns.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

The grand foyer features a curved double grand staircase and polished marble floors.

Source: The Agency

It leads into the estate's two-story great room, which spans 1,170 square feet by itself.

Source: The Agency

The formal dining room can seat 14 people.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

The home's master bedroom has a mirrored wall, a gilded ceiling, and expansive views of the lake.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

The master bathroom suite is a bath lover's dream ...

Source: The Agency

... and it's bigger than many people's bedrooms.

Source: The Agency

The master suite also includes a spacious walk-in closet.

Source: The Agency

The home's 11 other bedrooms are similarly roomy and include either views of the lake or the lush Florida greenery. Most bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms.

Source: The Agency

The home has a chef's kitchen with professional appliances.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

The soundproof home theater can seat at least 10 people.

Source: The Agency

The house includes its own cigar lounge with a private balcony and bar ...

Source: The Agency

... complete with a walk-in cigar humidor and plenty of wine storage.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

An office on the ground floor provides a workspace with serene water views.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

There's also an "aquarium-style" room that features a triangular saltwater fish tank.

Source: The Agency

As you might expect from one of the most famous NBA players of all time, the house has its very own 6,000-square-foot indoor basketball court.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

The words "Shaq Center" are printed on the floor.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

There's also a garage with space for at least 17 cars.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

Previous listing photos show a room full of memorabilia from Shaq's basketball career.

Source: The Agency

The mansion also has its own recording studio and a game room.

Source: The Agency

Outside is a 95-foot-long swimming pool that gets up to 15 feet deep.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

A waterfall flows into the resort-style pool ...

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

... and an outdoor BBQ space includes a grill and sink, as well as underwater stools, which can make the space a poolside bar.

Source: Atlas Team, Compass Florida

Shaq's home is not short on security features.

According to the listing, the home comes with a safe room, and the property is double-gated with a 10-foot privacy wall.

• Amazon Kindles are lightweight and portable e-readers designed to go anywhere you go, but they are also fragile and prone to damage.  
• Because Kindles come in different shapes and sizes, make sure you choose the right case for the Kindle you own.
• Shopping for a new ereader? Check out our guide to the best Kindles and ereaders.

With many libraries and bookstores closed due to the pandemic, more readers are turning to e-books for their reading fix. The Amazon Kindle is the easiest to use and the most popular dedicated e-reader on the market. 

The Kindle comes in three flavors: the eponymous entry level model, the middle-tier Paperwhite – considered by most to be the best e-reader for your money – and the high-end Oasis. Any Kindle model will easily let you download books from the Kindle store or even borrow them from a library. 

After researching all the popular cases for Kindles — from both Amazon and third-party makers — we narrowed down our recommendations to three great options. All cases are folio-style, which means they have a hard-shell backing with a front that opens like a book cover. They don't add additional significant weight while providing protection, and even include useful features like auto on/off. We also have two honorable mentions that are worth considering.

For this guide we focused on cases for the current 10th-generation of Kindles. Whatever case you choose, make sure it's compatible with your particular Kindle, as Kindle shapes and sizes vary depending on the model and year it was released. Most of these recommended cases will not fit models from previous generations, despite them sharing the same name. 

In each of our recommendations, we note which Kindle the case is available for. In some instances, we may only recommend a case for a specific Kindle.

Here are the best Kindle cases:

• Best fabric Kindle case: Amazon Kindle Fabric Cover
• Best Kindle case for outdoor use: Ayotu Leather Case
• Best leather Kindle case: CoBak Leather Smart Cover

The best fabric Kindle case

The Amazon Kindle Fabric Cover offers the best balance of great design and protection.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

Pros: Great design, lightweight, magnetic closure, soft interior keeps screen safe

Cons: Few colors, one of the pricier options on our list, no kickstand for easy viewing

This case from Amazon comes with a hard shell and a fabric cover that's available in a variety of colors (varies by Kindle). While it would've been nice to choose from even more colors, its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to add to the Kindle without adding too much bulk in a bag or purse. For most people, the fabric Kindle case is the best, thanks to quality construction.

A magnetic closure and soft interior ensure the cover stays closed and the screen is protected at all times — great for when the case jostles around in a bag. We wish it had a kickstand on the back of the case, especially for the price. It's still easy to hold during use, which is how most Kindle owners use it anyway.

The case also has an auto-on/off feature when the cover is open or closed. However, some users who bought the version for the regular Kindle noted a quicker battery drain than usual, and suggest it may have something to do with the magnetic closure. If you encounter this, definitely get in touch with Amazon.

Because the Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, this case is likely designed for those in need of a case to complement their Kindle when bringing it to the beach or pool. Note that the fabric case for the Oasis or regular Kindle is not water resistant; if you own one of these Kindles and would like a water-resistant case, go with a leather product.

While it is one of the most expensive options in this list, it offers outstanding value and quality for the price.

The best Kindle case for outdoor use

The Ayotu Case is an outstanding option for anyone who plans to use the Kindle outside or anywhere it might get wet.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

Pros: Plenty of colors and designs, auto wake/sleep, rugged build

Cons: Some designs will not suit everyone's taste, a little bulky

With a seemingly endless supply of colors and designs — ranging from pastels to graphics — the Ayotu cases also have similar qualities like the Amazon Kindle Fabric Case. There's a magnetic closure that prevents the folio cover from opening, and it wakes-up the Kindle when the cover is opened.

But what makes the Ayotu cases our pick for outdoor use are the extra protective qualities. The cover is constructed of multiple layers of hard and soft materials that help resist water and drops. The hard backing also protects the Kindle on all sides, and the microfiber lining on the inside helps prevent scratches on the screen.

Due to the construction, the Ayotu cases are bulkier than others. But if extra protection is what you need, the Ayotu offerings are good options.

The best leather Kindle case

The CoBak Leather Smart Cover is designed for anyone who likes the look and feel of leather in a Kindle case.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

Pros: Nice faux-leather, variety of colors and designs, anti-scratch interior

Cons: Limited corner protection

CoBak's cases are made from quality artificial leather that comes in a variety of colors, ranging from rose gold, black, and blue, to graphic designs featuring butterflies, swans, and even Van Gogh's "Starry Night." The interior is made from a soft lining to reduce the chances of your Kindle being scratched when not in use. 

And, since the case is water-resistant, it can handle occasional rain or splash from the pool when outside; CoBak claims its cases are waterproof, but unless it's the Kindle Oasis or Paperwhite, it will not waterproof the actual device.

Some users said they wished the case had better protection around the corners of the Kindle, so be aware of that.

What else we considered

Amazon Kindle Leather Case: From Amazon, this is another option for those who like a case with a leather finish. It feels higher-end than other leather Kindle cases, and it is designed to be lightweight and thin enough to not add too much bulk to the Kindle.. Unlike previous models, the case no longer fully covers the top and bottom of the device. It protects the corners, but leaves a slight bit of the Kindle exposed. It looks nice, but not as protective as some of the Amazon-made cases of the past.

Amazon offers this case for the Paperwhite at $39.99 in five color options, including black, pink, and sage. Sadly, the Oasis version is only available in two colors – black and merlot – for $49.99. Neither color is particularly interesting and for this price, one would hope that there would be many more options. 

Fintie Slimshell: We like that this case comes in a variety of designs, and it's something to consider if you want to show-off some flair. The cover is made with synthetic leather on the outside and soft fiber on the inside. It's slim, but we don't like the bulky magnetic closure that sticks out. If you can overlook that, it's a good option if you want more design options than what Ayotu and CoBak offer.

The burgeoning US sports-betting industry has created a windfall of deal activity over the past two years, as casino companies rush to shore up their positions, daily-fantasy-sports sites dominate, and other sports-betting operators seek splashy media tie-ups to growth their audiences.

Ciesco, a global M&A advisory firm focused on tech and media, tracked a number of high-profile deals in sports betting over the last year, including William Hill's takeover by Caesars Entertainment, Flutter Entertainment taking full control of the Stars Group, and affiliate-marketing giant Better Collective acquiring online-gaming lead generation firm Atemi Group.

While Ciesco said the overall number deals across global tech and media fell year over year in 2020 because of the pandemic, the firm forecasted a rebound in 2021 that will include sports betting. 

"What we predict is that due to the growth of digital platforms, the rise in remote working, and COVID restrictions, as well as the easing of restrictions around online beating easing globally, there will be a surge in sports betting mergers and acquisitions this year," Ciesco CEO Chris Sahota told Insider.

Insider spoke with six sports-betting bankers, advisors, and analysts about how the talks in the US sports-gambling industry could play out.

The people said talks would be driven by the same three business goals:

• Growing audience— the common thread behind most of the media tie-ups so far, like Penn National Gaming's stake in Barstool Sports
• Market access, namely licenses to operate sportsbooks in states where gambling is legal — this was part of the reason streaming-TV company FuboTV bought startup Vigtory
• Access to tech— a factor in DraftKings' triple merger with the blank-check company Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp and tech supplier SBTech

But, new themes are emerging, too. 

US casino operators Bally's Corporation and Caesars Entertainment began the new year by buying stakes in daily-fantasy-sports startups, Monkey Knife Fight and SuperDraft respectively. They hope the startups will help them build followings in markets where sports betting is not yet legal, like California, Florida, and Texas. Other names among that breed of startups could be snapped up this year, too.

Any media company that overlaps with the sports world could be considered a takeover target. Radio broadcaster Entercom's stock popped after it acquired direct-to-consumer sports-betting data company BetQL and said it planned it launch a sports podcast network, which illustrates how media companies can get in on this trend.

And with concerts, conferences, and foot traffic stalled for casino companies used to making money on in-person events and activities, any US operator that hasn't planted its flag in online sports betting is expected to do so this year.

Industry watchers expect a range of deals, big and small, across the sector, but these are the ones most likely to make waves in 2021:

Digital-native sports brands: The Action Network and others get bought or rolled up

Nearly every media company that covers sports is fielding talks these days from gambling companies that want to monetize their audiences.

Casino companies are said to be eyeing deals with a flurry of digital natives, including the sports-media startup The Action Network. The Action Network, launched by The Chernin Group in 2018, is known by sports gamblers for the data and research its publishes, like bet tracking and live odds.

Regional casino operator Penn National Gaming bought a stake in Barstool Sports last year that valued the digital-media brand at a staggering $450 million and created a blueprint for how these deals could be structured. Penn took a large minority position in Barstool with the option to take a controlling stake, and then built its sportsbook around the Barstool brand. 

Another casino company like Bally's Corporation or one of the many special-purpose acquisition companies circling the sector could make a similar play for The Action Network. Two sources said the talks could value The Action Network in the $200 million range, a potential valuation one of the people said had risen in the last year.

The Action Network isn't the only digital-media brand in play. Publishers with sports content, including SB Nation, The Ringer, and The Athletic (which announced a new exclusive marketing partnership with BetMGM this week), are all being named as potential takeover targets in 2021, as are and smaller sites that are popular among bettors like NFLTradeRumors.co and Sports Betting Dime.

Minute Media, a startup that has snapped up a number of sports-media brands like The Big Lead and Fansided, could be in the market as both a buyer and a seller. It could pick up a few of the smaller aforementioned media brands, or get bought itself. 

888 Holdings: the next big European target

US casino operators are eyeing international online-gaming competitors after Caesars Entertainment paved the way for such deals with its bid to take over UK-based operator William Hill late last year. MGM Resorts International also recently attempted to buy the British gambling group Entain.

888 Holdings, a well-known online gambling company listed on the London Stock Exchange, is the next likely target, three sources said.

Two of the people said casino company Las Vegas Sands Corporation, whose new CEO Robert Goldstein has expressed his interest in pursuing the online-gambling business, could make a play for the Gibraltar-based company. 

Another traditional casino company that's pushing into online betting might also enter the running, such as Wynn Resorts, which is known for its relatively lean management structure and one source said is most likely to pursue a large, transformative merger, if at all.

Bally's Corporation: on the hunt for deals to help it take on DraftKings

Bally's Corporation is expected to make a steady stream of acquisitions through 2021 that aim to elevate its legacy casino brand among US sports bettors.

Regional casino owner Twin Rivers Worldwide Holdings bought the Bally's hotel and casino brand from Caesars Entertainment last fall, and took the name for the combined company.

Since then, Bally's has bought sports-betting platform Bet.Works for $125 million. It inked a 10-year deal with Sinclair Broadcasting Group that includes rebranding 21 of its regional sports-networks to bear the Bally's name. And it acquired this week daily-fantasy-sports startup Monkey Knife Fight. The startup, though significantly smaller than rivals DraftKings and FanDuel, could play a similar role in helping Bally's building a database of potential sports bettors in key areas where gambling on sports is not yet legal, like California, Florida, and Texas. 

Bet365: could expand its position in the US

Bet365 is the largest online-gambling company that hasn't yet made a splashy entry in the US. 

The 20-year-old British betting giant, cofounded and run by Denise Coates and her brother John, operates sportsbooks in three US states. But it has not expanded as aggressively in the market as international rivals like William Hill or PointsBet that have inked big tie ups with US media and casino companies. 

Bet365 is a staunchly British business. The private company is headquartered in the Coates family's hometown of Stoke-on-Tent where director Peter Coates, Denise and John's father, is also chairman of the local football club, Stoke City FC. 

The company could take a harder look at the US market this year.

Bet365 has a foothold in New York, a key state that could spur mainstream adoption and acceptance of sports betting, which US states only began legalizing after a federal ban was lifted in 2018. In January, NY regulators introduced legislation that would expand sports betting from casinos to mobile phones. The timing and details on the rollout are still being decided. But industry dealmakers are watching whether New York and the momentum around US sports betting will encourage Bet365 to broaden its position across the pond. 

Bleacher Report: the hottest sports-media asset that may or may not be on the market

Bleacher Report has arguably been the hottest sports-media asset on the market since Barstool Sports inked its $163 million deal with Penn National Gaming last year. 

The main issue is that Bleacher Report isn't exactly "on the market." Turner Broadcasting bought Bleacher Report in 2012, and was later bought itself by AT&T.

Bleacher Report has since been caught up in corporate restructurings and cultural issues that caused some senior staff to exit last year, including CEO Howard Mittman, content chief Sam Toles, and operating chief Alex Vargas.

AT&T hasn't publicly expressed interest in selling Bleacher Report to a casino or other sports-betting firm.

Front Office Sports reported in May that DraftKings was exploring an acquisition of Bleacher Report, and a Turner Sports spokesperson told the publication that Bleacher Report "is not for sale and there is no truth to this misguided speculation."

Still, Bleacher Report has expanded its content for gamblers in recent years, and gaming companies are still sizing up opportunities with the sports-media brand. 

A source close to AT&T told Insider early this year that the telecom has been more friendly to bankers who are presenting ideas to spin out Turner, which is tightly integrated with the rest of the company and would be tricky to separate. 

A spin-out of Turner could create an opening for a gaming group to get in on Bleacher Report.

"It's such an attractive asset that people will come with generous and creative offers," one sports-betting analyst and investor said.

Turner Sports does have existing partnerships both DraftKings and FanDuel that include some brand integrations and sharing betting and daily-fantasy-sports information with Bleacher Report. 

Caesars Entertainment: more to come after William Hill merger

Casino operator Caesars Entertainment, a staple on the Las Vegas strip, is one buyer to watch after its 2020 merger with Eldorado Resorts closed in July. 

Management, including new CEO Tom Reeg who came from Eldorado, has signaled it will move more aggressively to take on DraftKings and FanDuel and cement the company's standing as a US leader in gaming.

Two months after Caesars completed its merger with Eldorado, it announced a £2.9 billion ($3.96 billion) takeover of UK operator William Hill. The deal still faces regulatory hurdles but could create a US sports-betting behemoth. William Hill already has sportsbooks in most of the US states where sports betting is legal and Caesars' footprint could help it expand more swiftly as more states come online. 

If the deal goes through, Caesars plans to divest William Hill's non-US operations, which Reuters reported could sell to a private-equity firm like Apollo Global Management.

Caesars may also look to acquire smaller companies that can help it build audiences in major markets where sports betting isn't yet legal, or shore up other aspects of its position like its tech. Just this week, Caesars said it bought a minority stake with the option to take a controlling position in a a daily-fantasy-sports startup called SuperDraft. It offers Caesars access to a database of sports fans it could eventually try to monetize through betting.

DraftKings: actively exploring M&A opportunities

DraftKings is gearing up for a major deal, or series of deals, in 2021. 

After a strong third quarter, management said on the company's earnings call that the company would be exploring M&A opportunities.

"While we have no specific M&A targets at this time, we are always considering companies that may help us fuel our growth and bring more excitement to the skin-in-the-game fans," CEO Jason Robins said in his opening remarks, which he reiterated at the end of the call. 

CFO Jason Park also said the company had no debt and $1.1 billion of cash on its balance sheet that it could potentially put toward M&A.

Bankers are floating lots of targets by DraftKings, from a European operator, to a tech supplier, to an online-gambling company that could expand DraftKing's gaming purview, to a media company. Front Office Sports reported last year that DraftKings was eyeing Bleacher Report, though companies denied a deal was in the works. 

DraftKings, which went public last year through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company and tech supplier SBTech, has positioned itself as the only integrated sports-betting stock on the market and Wall Street has rewarded its pure play.

Shares are up 51% since its 2020 trading debut while the S&P 500 is up 9%. And the company is now worth $21 billion.

Whatever deal DraftKings makes, two sources familiar with the company's thinking said not to expect it to deviate from its market position. 

PointsBet: a buyer to watch after its big NBCUniversal deal

PointsBet is another buyer to watch in 2021. The Australia-based gambling operator set up shop in the US two years ago and has made some big strategic moves since. 

Most recently, it signed a $500 million deal with NBCUniversal. PointsBet isn't as well known in the US as it is internationally, but it hopes the deal can help change that by giving it a presence on the US media giant's sports networks, streaming service Peacock, and free-to-play app NBC Sports Predictor.

NBCU, meanwhile, is getting marketing payments, fees in exchange for customers referred to PointsBet, and a small stake in the company.

Several sources Insider spoke with said that PointsBet hasn't been as aggressive in pursuing acquisitions in the last year as the US casino companies. It's prioritized marketing and other partnerships with teams and leagues.

But the NBCU deal shows it has an appetite.

"PointsBet has shown a willingness and capacity to make big moves and NBC deal is a good example of that," one analyst said.

Hard Rock Digital: casino companies could spin off their digital arms

Wall Street has been rewarding sports-betting stocks and US casino companies may be looking for more ways to cash in.

Operators like Penn National Gaming, the Hard Rock International, and Wynn Resorts could spin out their digital arms this year through a special-purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) or other means.

Penn's sportsbook sits within its digital division, Penn Interactive Gaming. Hard Rock also launched a digital arm in December that's focused on its sportsbook and online gaming. And Wynn Resorts reorganized its sports-betting joint venture last year under a new unit, called Wynn Interactive. Spinning those businesses out wouldn't change much from an operational standpoint but would allow those companies to access more equity on the public markets. 

Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive went public in January through a merger with the SPAC dMY Technology Group, setting the stage for these kinds of deals. The stock started trading on January 5, and is up about 15% since. 

PrizePicks: DFS startups could be snapped up

Daily-fantasy-sports (DFS) startups are emerging as an early trend among takeover targets in 2021. 

In the first few weeks of the year, Bally's Corporation bought Monkey Knife Fight and Caesars Entertainment picked up shares of SuperDraft.

After DraftKings and FanDuel established and legitimized the category — which was not an easy thing to do — entrepreneurs launched rivals with unique styles or niches such as fantasy esports.

Now, casino companies that already have ins with gamblers are turning to these DFS sites to help them build databases of potential sports bettors in parts of the US where sports gambling is not yet legal, including major markets California, Florida, and Texas. 

Some professional teams are also working with DFS sites to boost fan engagement, since people still for the most part cannot attend sporting events due to the pandemic. PrizePicks, a DFS startup that describes itself as "the closest legal alternative to legal mobile sports betting" in most of the US, struck a partnership in September with the Atlanta Braves. (PrizePicks is also based in Atlanta.)

PrizePicks is one to watch as a potential takeover target, one sports-betting industry advisor said, as are Thrive Fantasy, Betcha, and Underdog Fantasy.

Sports Illustrated: reportedly shopping for a betting partners

Will 2021 be the year that Sports Illustrated lands a big sports-betting deal? 

Brand-management firm Authentic Brands Group, which bought the sports-magazine brand  for $110 million in 2019, had been shopping the license to the company's sports-gambling arm SI Bets to several companies as of last August, the NY Post reported. 

SI Bets might not be as attractive a deal to some partners as a sports media company like Bleacher Report because any deal would be for the brand only, and wouldn't allow the buyer to leverage content to attract audiences the Penn National Gaming has with Barstool Sports, let's say. Digital publisher Maven currently licenses SI's media operations. 

But SI Bets could appeal to a regional or international operator that wants a recognizable brand to bring its sportsbook to a larger stage, one sports-betting analyst said.

SPACs: eyeing sports-betting companies

Special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) are dominating dealmaking in nearly every industry, so it's no surprise that a string of blank-check companies have arisen that are circling the sports-betting sector. 

The industry completed one of the most successful SPACs to date when DraftKings went public last year through a merger with the blank-check company Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corporation and tech supplier SBTech. DraftKings stock is up 51% since that April trading debut.

Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corporation, founded by gaming-industry veterans Matt Davey, Eric Matejevich, and Robin Chhabra, raised $300 million to pursue companies around the digital media, sports, entertainment, leisure, and gaming sectors.

Banker Ken Moelis, who runs Moelis & Co, also has a blank-check company called Atlas Crest Investment Corp. II that aims to raise up to $250 million and said it may target the sports-betting field, among others.

Former WWE copresident Michelle Wilson and George Barrios are also launching a SPAC called Isos Acquisition that highlights growth projections for sports betting, among other industries, in its filings, which signals it could snap up a venture in the sector.

And dMY Technology II, run by the same folks who took Rush Street Interactive public, is buying UK-based Genius Sports in a $1.5 billion deal. Genius Sports is a competitor to Sportradar that gathers data from sporting events and supplies it to betting platforms and other companies.

• Teens are notoriously difficult to shop for. 
• To help ease your shopping stress, we put together a list of 54 cool gift ideas for teens — all available on Amazon.
• Need more ideas? Check out all of our gift guides.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals

Teens might be difficult to shop for, but you don't need to search far and wide for gift ideas — Amazon has options in most conceivable categories: tech, style, beauty, home, kitchen, etc. 

From a book that Netflix turned into a movie to a Sonos speaker or slime-making kit, we've rounded up the best 54 gifts for the teens in your life. They cover a range of prices and brands, including newer startups you didn't even know you could find on Amazon. 

Check out all 54 gifts for teens on Amazon:

The Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is one of the gifts that, with good reason, tend to elicit lots of excitement. This model has a battery life of up to nine hours and can be played with friends or solo, at home or on the go.

A multi-color alarm clock that doubles as a speaker

Beyond helping ensure they're up on time, this alarm clock doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and as a dimmable, multi-color bedside lamp.

A beanie with built-in headphones

Soundbot makes soft beanies that have built-in headphones for on-the-go listening. They have a rechargeable battery, built-in microphone, and wireless range of up to 33 feet. 

A gift box of bath bombs

If their favorite pastime is some version of decadent self-care, then a gift set of bath bombs will go over well. This set has an array of great scents: sandalwood, eucalyptus, lavender, vanilla, rose, ginger, cedar, lemon, and orange.

A GoPro

For travel and even in-depth school projects, a GoPro is one tech gift that's hard to oversell. There's a newer version, but it costs about $200 more.  

An Echo Dot with clock

The Amazon Echo Dot is the most popular Amazon device for a reason — it's compact and has all the capabilities of Alexa (weather updates, recipes, music, and news). 

An instant camera

Instax's cute instant camera is great for anyone who loves taking photos. All they need is some film to get started. It features a small selfie mirror to ensure proper framing, a macro lens attachment, and a variety of modes to account for different indoor and outdoor environments.

A necklace with their zodiac sign

Zodiac signs, and the unique personality traits tied to each one, have become extremely popular in recent years. Pick up their sign in a dainty, gold-dipped necklace they can wear every day.

PopSockets for the back of their phone

PopSockets have become their own cultural phenomenon. Besides being useful, they offer a bit of personalization to tech and come in a variety of colors and patterns.

A portable charger

Whether used for traveling or keeping in contact with friends or parents while on the go, this external battery is great for giving parents and teens convenience and peace of mind. We named this model by Elecjet the best portable charger iPhone users can buy. 

New video games: The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening

Ultimately, no gift may compare to a great new video game they can test out solo or with friends. 

New video games: Borderlands 3

New video games: Luigi's Mansion 3

New video games: FIFA 20 Standard Edition

A hair towel that cuts drying time in half

Aquis' cult-favorite hair towels can cut the amount of time it takes your hair to dry in half — a claim we're happy to report holds up. They also help keep hair protected from harmful friction in its most vulnerable state. If the teens in your life have ever complained about frizzy hair, this and a silk pillowcase are thoughtful gifts they'll actually use.

The new Fire HD 10 tablet for music, games, and media

Amazon's Fire 10 tablet now has its largest display screen and is 30% faster than older iterations. On it, they can stream movies and videos, play games, read the news, and access their social media accounts. It has up to 12 hours of battery life.

One of the best young adult books ever written

For the kind of gift they'll still mention 10 years later, give them one of the best young adult books you've ever read — or one of the 37 best young adult books Business Insider staff members recommend. Or, check out Amazon's list of the 100 books you should read in a lifetime.

A splashproof, portable Bluetooth speaker

This under-$100 Bluetooth speaker connects to smartphones to give their songs a stereo-sound treatment. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating, so they don't have to worry about rain or spills either. 

A set of Korean sheet masks

The best way to initiate a pampered staycation is a cult-favorite, 16-pack of Korean sheet masks — something any beauty- or skin-care-obsessed teen will likely already know about.

The book Netflix made into a movie

You've probably heard about this Netflix movie from teens and adults alike. A third movie is imminent, and they'll love getting to experience it all over again in a book. If they've already read the first book, pick up the sequel "P.S. I Still Love You" here.

Comfortable, high-quality sheets for their bed

We recommend Brooklinen often, and for good reason. Most of the Insider Reviews team sleeps with Brooklinen on their own beds; we think they're perfect for sleeping in on lazy Saturday mornings.

A surprisingly good projector that's the size of a soda can

Anker's Nebula Capsule is tiny but mighty. It's the size of a soda can, weighs only one pound, and has a quiet and continuous playtime of four hours. It'll take family or friend movie nights up a notch, and they can easily pack it on trips. Find a full review here.

Mario Badescu's cult-favorite facial mists with aloe

Mario Badescu's cult-favorite facial mists refresh and hydrate the skin for a dewy glow. They're available on Amazon individually or in a two-pack of the rose water and cucumber sprays.

A leather toiletry bag for grooming and beauty essentials

Leatherology's shave bag is a great purchase if you want to gift your teen a leather beauty bag that will age gracefully.

Comfortable headphones with long battery life and good sound

The Solo3 headphones are perfect for commuting, studying, or zoning out during family road trips. They offer good sound quality and up to 40 hours of battery life, but the best part? Five minutes of charging equals three hours of playback. 

A waterproof speaker to liven up their showers

Teens can use this waterproof wireless speaker in the pool or the shower to listen to their favorite music anytime.

A slime-making kit

One of the ongoing internet trends is a fascination with slime, and teens have run successful businesses by sharing videos of it. And what's better than vicariously living through TikTok slime-makers? Making your own. 

A gentle facial cleansing device

FOREO's cult-favorite Luna 2 cleansing device gently and effectively cleans with thin, antimicrobial silicone touchpoints, and claims to remove 99.5% of dirt and makeup residue without irritating the skin. Plus, it's waterproof, and the battery life lasts for a few months per charge. The Luna 2 is available in five varieties: men, normal, combination, sensitive, and oily skin. Find a full review from a female reporter and a male reporter here.

A mini cinema lightbox

Lightboxes are popular with teens. Inspired by cinema marquees, these come with 100 letters, numbers, symbols, and emoji tiles that can be combined to make customized messages.

A Fitbit

Fitbits track the wearer's health and fitness as well as offer insights into their sleep and physical activity trends. Teens can set personal goals and get real-time updates during workouts. It's water-resistant up to 50 meters, and its battery life can last up to seven days. 

A cult-favorite clay mask

The Aztec Clay Mask is one of those cult-favorite products that's been plucked from obscurity and gone straight to the limelight of YouTube testimonials with over 4 million views and widespread popularity. You can read a full review here.

The Sonos One

The Sonos One delivers great sound and convenience. The audio is rich and easily fills the room, and the device can be controlled by voice, the Sonos app, or Apple Airplay 2. It's also a great replacement for a traditional alarm clock. 

A waterproof e-reader with a no-glare screen

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, has double the storage of its previous model, and is Kindle's lightest and thinnest version yet. The glare-free display adjusts to accommodate the light you're in — even bright sunlight — and has a battery charge that lasts weeks. 

String lights with photo clips

Perfect for creating the archetypal teen room that's most often seen in Netflix movies and old Taylor Swift music videos, photo clip string lights add warm light to your teen's favorite Polaroids or memorabilia. 

Colorful reusable straws

Trying to adopt more eco-friendly habits is one of the great characteristics of younger generations, especially teens who grew up among videos of sea turtles being harmed by discarded plastic straws. These are colorful, bendable, and fun to use. 

Gift card for everything: Visa

For teens who often rely on part-time jobs to fund their hobbies and cravings, gift cards are one gift that's always appreciated. Here are some of Insider Reviews' top choices:

Gift cards for everything: Amazon

A gift card to Amazon is a gift card to pretty much anything they've got on their wish lists — tech, clothing, books, and more. 

Gift card for coffee: Starbucks

Whether they're ordering multi-hyphenate drinks at Starbucks or regular hot chocolates, they add up.

Gift card for food: Chipotle

One of the mainstays of teenage life is meeting up with friends at fast-casual restaurants — and Chipotle is a perennial favorite.

Gift card for gaming: Xbox

If you know they have an Xbox but don't know which games they already have or need, this is a great way to ensure they get exactly what they want.

Gift card for clothes: Nordstrom

No matter how spot-on your gifts are, your giftee is the best person for the job of dressing themselves. And even if you nail the latest trend they're excited about, there will be more in the future — this lets them pick things out for themselves, without having to dip into their allowance or savings.

Gift card for tech: Best Buy

Unsure of which tech they already have or which tech they'd want? A Best Buy gift card will save you the probing questions and help you give them a gift they're really excited about. 

A streaming media player

Bring your streaming services to their TV with the Roku Ultra. The set includes a pair of JBL headphones and the Roku media player that connects them to over 500,000 movies and TV episodes they can search for by voice. 

A music subscription that includes 50 million songs

If they don't already have a music subscription, give them access to 50 million songs with Amazon Music Unlimited. 

Colorful scrunchies

Scrunchies are having a moment. If you want to get something particularly on-trend, you may want to look into a few. This set comes with a whopping 46 colors.

An audiobook subscription

If they love to read, or you're trying to get them to love to read, a gift subscription to Audible is a great idea. They'll get three free titles for each month they're a member (one audiobook and two Audible Originals), and 30% off any additional audiobooks they buy. They can listen and read anywhere and anytime using the free app. 

A fidget toy

Speks makes one of our favorite fidget toys, perfect for relieving nervousness and boosting productivity and focus.

A popcorn machine for movie nights

Perfect for movie nights with family or friends, this popcorn maker can make as much as six quarts of popcorn for a night in. 

An eyeshadow palette

If they're getting into makeup, an eyeshadow palette is one of the coolest gifts you can probably give them. This option has 16 shades, almost 15,000 reviews, and a 4.4-star rating overall. 

A karaoke machine that allows duets

This system has more features than a really nice car. It has two mics, a sing-along and record function, and 300 songs ready for action.

A cool, holographic fanny pack

What's old is new and cool again — and that includes fanny packs!

A mini griddle for individual servings of food

This tiny griddle is perfect for making individual servings of breakfasts and pretty much any food — from eggs to cookies to grilled cheese.

Cool backpacks from a popular startup

State bags are a popular accessory thanks to both a laid-back, on-trend design and their give-back program. State's #GiveBackPack(s) mean that every State bag purchased translates into the company donating one backpack filled with supplies to a local child in need. The Lorimer and Bedford are two of the company's bestsellers.

A pack of smart plugs so they can control devices from a distance

Perfect for staying in that comfy position on the couch or that moment when they wonder if they turned their hot iron off, smart plugs let them control devices from a distance. All they need is the outlet, the Kasa app, and an iOS or Android device. 

As it did for so many, 2020 proved a challenging year for the auto industry. After COVID-19 forced American automakers to shut down factories and disrupted supply chains in the spring, US vehicle sales declined 15% from 2019.

Though the industry began to recover during the second half of the way, 2021 probably won't bring a rapid comeback, according to Bank of America, which predicted in a research note published on Monday that US vehicle sales will rise this year by just 2.5%, to 14.8 million units, from last year's 14.5 million units.

But as the auto industry slowly returns to its pre-2020 sales levels, now could be a good time to invest in automotive stocks, according to Bank of America, which said in a recent research note that auto "stocks may just be at the beginning of a multi-year bullish trade." The bank has a "buy" or "neutral" rating on 80% of the automotive companies it covers.

Though electric-vehicle companies have attracted soaring valuations over the past year, Bank of America sees more upside this year in some of the auto industry's established giants.

These are the five automotive stocks BofA recommends for 2021.

SEE ALSO: The Ford Mustang Mach-E was named SUV of the year in the latest signal the new crossover will give Tesla a run for its money

Ferrari

Stock ticker: RACE

Bank of America's price target: $307

Why Bank of America recommends it: "Ferrari is a unique high-end luxury automaker, focused on design/production of luxury performance cars, along with its Formula 1 team and adjacent businesses. The company is an iconic asset, with resilient financial performance, significant intangible brand value, and a true high-end luxury status. We believe its balanced strategy of volume growth, price increases, and model introductions over our forecast period should drive outsized revenue/earnings growth."

Read more:12 VC firms leading the $40 billion charge into self-driving-car startups like Zoox and TuSimple

General Motors

Stock ticker: GM

Bank of America's price target: $72

Why Bank of America recommends it: "We believe GM's Core business is being managed very well despite ongoing global cycle/macro pressure, driven by its proactive retrenching efforts to profitable markets/segments and investment in product. In addition, the efforts across its Future businesses are an unappreciated upside factor, including electrification (Ultium, etc.), autonomy (Cruise), and mobility services (Cruise Anywhere)."

Ford

Stock ticker: F

Bank of America's price target:  $12

Why Bank of America recommends it: "Our Buy rating is predicated on our view that Ford is just starting to hit a more sustainable inflection in earnings, driven by the combination of a very favorable product cadence in the all-important US/NA [North America] market and restructuring efforts with its Global Redesign. In the face of a tough cycle/macro, we believe this self-help story will start to get more credit among the investment community, while improved execution and communication may allow Ford's multiple to recover over time."

Read more:Tesla, GM, and Ford each have their own unique strategies for EV success — here's how they compare

Magna International

Stock ticker: MGA

Bank of America's price target: $105

Why Bank of America recommends it: "We view Magna as one of the highest-quality automotive suppliers, and believe its solid proprietary technology and customer relationships will allow it to grow via consolidation and takeover business over time. Despite a tough cycle/macro, we believe MGA's expertise of the complete vehicle/ components provides it with a unique competitive advantage amid the ongoing industry evolution and technological advancement."

Read more:Magna's CEO explains why he's joining with LG to make a $1 billion play for the electric car space

CarMax

Stock ticker: KMX

Bank of America's price target: $121

Why Bank of America recommends it: "Our Buy rating on CarMax is based on both a cyclical and secular view. First, we believe that the record levels of trade-in/off-lease vehicles returning to the market in 2021+ will increase supply into the used vehicle channel and drive vehicle churn, which should re-accelerate volume growth. Second, CarMax remains focused on new store openings and expanding its online presence, which should drive incremental growth."

• Read more:
• REVIEW: The $60,000 Polestar 2 luxury EV solves the worst part about driving a Tesla
• The CEO of the most important car company you've never heard of explains why he's joining with LG to make a $1 billion play for the electric car space
• Rivian execs reveal how to ace a job interview with the Amazon-backed startup
• GM announces new electric delivery van with its own motorized pallet as part of new move into logistics

Electric vehicles have not made much of a dent in the auto market yet, but a combination of tightening regulations, falling battery prices, and increased interest from consumers and fleet operators could help them take off in the coming decades. A new wave of startups is hoping the transition away from gas-powered vehicles will create opportunities in an automotive industry that's typically been hostile to new entrants.

Insider asked eight venture capitalists to pick the two EV startups they believe have the most promise, with the caveat that only one could be a company their firm has invested in. Their selections, whose areas of focus run the gamut from consumer vehicles and vans to charging stations and 3D printing, suggest a large-scale transformation is coming for the auto industry.

These are 11 startups that could lead the charge.

SEE ALSO: Prices for new and used cars are soaring as the COVID-19 pandemic skews supply and demand

Rivian

Picked by: New Enterprise Associates partner Aaron Jacobson (not an investor), Fontinalis Partners principal Dan Ratliff (not an investor), Autotech Ventures partner Jeff Peters (not an investor), Fraser McCombs Capital managing partner Mark Norman (not an investor)

Total funding raised: $8.7 billion

What the company does: Rivian is developing an electric pickup truck and SUV that will go on sale in 2021. The company also has an order from Amazon for 100,000 electric delivery trucks, and Ford will use its EV platform on a future vehicle.

Why it was chosen: Rivian was chosen by four of the eight VCs Insider spoke to, more than any other company. The VCs praised Rivian for landing Amazon as an investor and customer, building large financial reserves (no other private EV manufacturer has raised more money), targeting the lucrative pickup truck and SUV markets, and designing vehicles with impressive styling.

"I think that they will make a big impact in the years to come," Peters said.

ChargePoint

Picked by: Alsop Louie Partners partner Ernestine Fu (not an investor), Trucks Venture Capital partner Reilly Brennan (not an investor)

Total funding raised: $955.6 million

What the company does: ChargePoint provides hardware, software, and support services for EV charging stations.

Why it was chosen: The availability of charging stations will play a major role in the pace of EV adoption, and ChargePoint is one of the leading players in the charging industry, Fu and Brennan said.

"ChargePoint is a really important company that not a lot of people talk about enough," Brennan said.

Volta

Picked by: Autotech Ventures partner Jeff Peters (investor)

Total funding raised: $301.4 million

What the company does: Volta operates EV charging stations that are free to use, and makes money by selling digital ad space on each charging stall.

Why it was chosen: Peters thinks Volta has a better business model than other charging companies. Since building a charging station and providing electricity is relatively inexpensive, competition drives down profits for companies that make money per charge, Peters said. Volta is already profitable on a per-unit basis, Peters said, and since its stalls are located in areas, like grocery stores and shopping malls, that draw foot traffic whether or not someone is charging, its advertising revenue doesn't rely on the pace of EV adoption.

Ion Storage Systems

Picked by: Alsop Louie Partners partner Ernestine Fu (investor)

Total funding raised: $8 million

What the company does: Ion Storage Systems is developing solid-state batteries, which have the potential to outperform the lithium-ion batteries used in today's EVs in terms of safety, durability, and energy-density. So far, no company has developed a solid-state battery that's ready for use in consumer vehicles.

Why it was chosen: The company has a strong leadership team, Fu said. It includes "top-notch" scientists from the University of Maryland and CEO Ricky Hanna, who was Apple's executive director of battery operations from 2008 to 2014.

Chanje

Picked by: Autotech Ventures partner Jeff Peters (not an investor)

Total funding raised: $22 million

What the company does: Chanje is developing a medium-duty electric van, the V8100, and charging systems for fleet operators.

Why it was chosen: Peters sees delivery vans as a promising market for EVs.

"I think that's where the next foray into EVs will really come from," he said.

Outrider

Picked by: Fraser McCombs Capital managing partner Mark Norman (investor)

Total funding raised: $118.3 million

What the company does: Outrider is developing electric, autonomous trucks to move trailers within freight yards.

Why it was chosen: Outrider has landed seven-figure contracts for pilot projects with logistics and distribution companies, used its financial resources efficiently, and been smart about deciding which capabilities to build in-house and which to buy from suppliers, Norman said.

Zoomo

Picked by: Maniv Mobility partner Olaf Sakkers (investor)

Total funding raised: $2.5 million

What the company does: Formerly called Bolt Bikes, Zoomo rents and sells electric bikes to consumers, businesses, and couriers.

Why it was chosen: The size of the food- and package-delivery markets creates a large potential customer base for Zoomo, Sakkers said, and the startup helps delivery companies solve the major challenge of boosting profits by allowing their couriers to make more trips per hour.

"There's a huge market opportunity in each city," he said.

Stable

Picked by: Trucks Venture Capital partner Reilly Brennan (investor)

Total funding raised: $4.4 million

What the company does: Stable helps EV fleet operators choose the best locations for their charging stations. The startup also makes software that customers can use to optimize charging schedules for their vehicles, along with robotic arms that plug in and remove charging cables.

Why it was chosen: The logistics of charging will be more important for businesses whose vehicles receive heavy use than consumers, who may not have to charge their EV every day, Brennan said. Brennan believes the electrification of commercial vehicles will play a leading role in the development of charging infrastructure, and Stable is focused on that opportunity. 

"Even though we've been hearing a lot about electric vehicles from the passenger-car side, it's only the commercial-vehicle movement to battery electric that's going to really kick off a lot of this charging work," he said.

Desktop Metal

Picked by: Lux Capital partner Shahin Farshchi (investor)

Total funding raised: $457 million

What the company does: Desktop Metal makes 3D printers for metal and carbon-fiber objects.

Why it was chosen: Though Desktop Metal is not focused exclusively on EVs, Farshchi believes its technology will have a major impact on EV manufacturing by creating lighter and more durable parts.

"People talk a lot about batteries; they talk a lot about electric motors," Farshchi said. "What they don't talk as much about is the lightweight components that you need to be able to accomplish the specifications as far as cost and range and reliability are concerned so that electric vehicles can be competitive with conventional internal-combustion engines."

QuantumScape

Picked by: Lux Capital partner Shahin Farshchi (not an investor)

Total funding raised: $996.3 million

What the company does: QuantumScape is developing solid-state batteries.

Why it was chosen: Volkswagen is one of the startup's major investors, suggesting its technology has potential, Farshchi said.

CelLink

Picked by: Fontinalis Partners principal Dan Ratliff (investor)

Total funding raised: $33.2 million

What the company does: CelLink makes flexible wire harnesses and battery circuits for EVs and autonomous vehicles. The company says its wire harnesses are 75% lighter and take up 90% less volume than those used in a typical vehicle.

Why it was chosen: CelLink's wire harnesses are appealing to EV and  battery-pack manufacturers that need to reduce weight and improve thermal conductivity, Ratliff said. But CelLink isn't entirely dependent on an EV revolution that's still in its early stages, as its products can also be used in gas-powered vehicles.

"It's a company that straddles the electric-vehicle and combustion-engine markets," Ratliff said. "But some of the selling points, I think, get really ramped up when you think primarily about just EVs going forward — the need for lightweighting, the need for all these other attributes that their technology allows for."

Correction: An earlier version of this story cited Jeff Peters as saying Volta is profitable. After the story was published, Peters clarified that Volta is profitable on a per-unit basis, rather than a cumulative one.

• Read more:
• An Amazon and Rivian investor says the way CEO RJ Scaringe sees the future reminds him of Jeff Bezos in 1994
• REVEALED: How much Waymo, Cruise, and Zoox employees make, from engineers to managers
• Rivian investors explain why the startup's tech, Amazon deal, and management team make it a serious contender to become the next Tesla
• Investors like Amazon and BlackRock are betting these 10 EV startups have the best chance of becoming the next Tesla

The CW has had great success with its DC TV shows in recent years, from "Arrow" to "The Flash."

The latest entry into the universe is "Superman and Lois," which follows Clark Kent and Lois Lane as they raise a family.

Every month, Insider runs down the five most anticipated new shows using data from television-tracking app TV Time, derived from its users around the globe who use the app to track and react to what they're watching.

Below are the five most anticipated new shows of February:

SEE ALSO: Netflix's top 10 original TV show hits of all time, including 'Bridgerton' at No. 1

5. "Tribes of Europa"— Netflix, February 19

Description:"In 2074, three siblings set out to change the fate of Europe after a global catastrophe fractures it into countless microstates fighting for dominance."

4. "Firefly Lane"— Netflix, February 3

Description: "Best friends Tully and Kate support each other through good times and bad with an unbreakable bond that carries them from their teens to their 40s."

3. "The Equalizer"— CBS, February 7

Description: "Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background, uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall comes across to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is 'The Equalizer' — an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who's also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption."

2. "Clarice"— CBS, February 11

Description: "Clarice is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, one year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice's bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man's world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life."

1. "Superman and Lois"— The CW, February 23

Description:"The Man of Steel and Metropolis' famous journalist, Lois Lane, come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever — parenthood."

Apple is building new health sensors and algorithms.

With Fitbit, Google can help researchers study diseases and test the effects of new medicines.

Tech giants are pushing into remote care as phones, gadgets, and apps play a bigger role in the way companies and people manage health. Scientists are leaning on more iPhones and gadgets to collect data in clinical trials, for example. Startups using mobile apps to care for folks with chronic conditions are taking off.

And consumers are driving interest in health-tracking wearables, a market that's expected to reach $29 billion by 2022. 

Read more:How tech titans like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are taking on the $3.6 trillion healthcare industry

In 2020, big tech made huge strides into "wearables," telehealth, and other tech that facilitates virtual doctors' visits and manages patients' care while they're at home. What they're doing with the data varies from company to company, but it's commonplace to use consumer-generated health information to improve internal algorithms at the very least.

Read more:Here are dozens of open healthcare jobs at big tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Verily. They reveal expansion plans and new priorities as tech giants push into the industry.

Here are their biggest bets on devices and programs that track people's health. 

Amazon is standing up a primary care business and investing in devices like Halo that can share data with doctors and electronic medical records.

Amazon is going deep into the business of health devices. 

Alexa devices are HIPAA-compliant, serving health plans like Anthem, digital health companies like Livongo, and providers like the Mayo Clinic. They can read off post-operative instructions and blood sugar levels.

How much Alexa data shows up your Amazon shopping can depend on user consent. For example, customers can delete voice recordings or not have them saved in the first place. But other features, like product recommendations based on delivery orders through Alexa, are automated.

Read more:Amazon is going deeper into the prescription drug business. Here are the 7 ways the tech giant is taking on healthcare, and why two analysts think doctors visits are next.

Amazon's arrival to the wearables game, Halo, can measure exercise, sleep, and tone of voice. Users can opt to share their body fat data with doctors who use Cerner, an electronic medical records company. They can also link their Halo account with Cerner programs that reward exercise and sleep. In the future, the device could be used in clinical research or remote care, which is the case with Fitbit and the Apple Watch.

A review by The Washington Post called the device the most invasive it's ever tested, sending, for example, 360-degree photos of barely-clothed participants to Amazon's cloud for fat percentage analysis. It's an optional feature, and Amazon says that it doesn't sell Halo data or use it for marketing, product recommendations, or advertising. Tone speech samples and body scan images are automatically deleted after processing. But the tech giant can use other kinds of Halo data to improve the service's machine learning algorithms. 

Amazon also seems to be getting into the business of providing medical care more directly.

It's building out Amazon Care, as Insider reported, from an employee pilot to a national business. It works through mobile apps to give employees remote and in-person visits with doctors and nurses, and grew out of an internal desire to cut healthcare costs. Amazon hasn't confirmed its expansion plans, and it's not clear whether the service will incorporate continuous data monitoring. 

Read more:Amazon wants to provide medical care to workers at major companies. Here's an inside look at Amazon Care.

Amazon's also working through Crossover Health, a California-based healthcare startup, to roll out coronavirus vaccines and set up clinics for employees near fulfillment centers in five cities. The clinics do mental health services, physical therapy, vaccines, preventive care, and more. Crossover's approach includes telehealth, connecting physicians with people at home and tracking their progress towards health goals. 

Apple's more than 1 billion active devices act as health hubs, enabling third party apps and feeding data to doctors, health records, clinical research, and more.

With at least 1.4 billion active Apple devices, the $2.4 trillion tech giant has been making a move into healthcare for some time. 

Read more:A look back at Apple's most significant healthcare plays in 2020

The new watch tracks heart rhythm, blood oxygen levels, standing time, exercise, and sleep, among other things. Apple watches have become commonplace in clinical studies, like in the ongoing research between the University of California Irvine and Anthem. The two are using the Apple Watch to study how blood oxygen measurements can be used to better manage asthma.

Apple is looking for more developers to build out the watch's health capabilities by making new health sensors and algorithms, Business Insider found. One patent from 2018 hints at non-invasive glucose monitoring.

Watches, iPads, and iPhones are used by health plans and hospitals for clinical care and wellness programs. Third-party groups can also build health programs on the devices that can shepherd remote patient data to doctors, encourage healthy behavior, and perform ultrasounds.

Read more:Apple reached a market value of $2 trillion amid an aggressive expansion into digital health

Another effort concerns people's personal health records. The service allows people to store their records in the Health app, quickly pulling up a lab report from Quest Diagnostics, for example. While the service doesn't share data back to doctors, patients can track things like continuous blood pressure readings in the health app itself, and then relay that information to their providers verbally or otherwise. 

Apple for its part says it doesn't store health data unless it's backed up to the cloud. Even then, the health information is encrypted and de-identified so that Apple can't make sense of it. But third parties can collect health data depending on user settings under "data access & devices." 

Many of Apple's acquisitions concern home care as well. Just in the past few years, the company acquired Beddit, a group that monitors sleeping, and Tueo Health, which tracks asthma. 

With the Fitbit acquisition completed and a big telehealth partnership, Google is banking that the future of healthcare doesn't depend on in-person doctors' visits.

With the completed acquisition of Fitbit, Google is well positioned to get more involved in clinical trials and employee care for other companies, as Stat reported. Though Google has said that data from the devices won't feed its advertising business.

Nearly 30 million people use the smartwatches for general wellness, whereas employers, health plans, health systems, and research institutions use the tech to monitor certain types of chronic conditions, create incentives for exercising, and more.

Google's cloud division is working with Amwell, one of the world's biggest telehealth vendors. While they haven't said much about their work together, executives from both companies have described a vision for home-based care. 

Read more:Amwell's CEO isn't scared by big tech and sees potential partnerships with Google, Apple, Fitbit to push telehealth beyond video visits

In August, Chris Sakalosky, Google Cloud's top healthcare salesman, told Business Insider that the big opportunity for the partnership lies in crafting a more continuous relationship with patients, like using tech to monitor people's health outside of individual appointments. 

Alphabet's investment vehicles like Sidewalk Labs, GV, and CapitalG have all backed digital health companies that prioritize remote care. CapitalG is focused in part on the next generation of Livongos, or companies that help people manage complex conditions with mobile apps and similar technologies.

Read more:A top investor at Alphabet's growth fund says the soaring cost of chronic care is fueling a new crop of startups like Livongo and shares where he wants to place his bets in 2021

Verily has gadgets and tech systems that oversee patients with chronic conditions, assist parents in tracking infant routines, and monitor things like blood sugar.

For Verily, Alphabet's life sciences company, data collection and home care are a key part of its strategy. 

It's building a program for doctors and patients that works with tiny heart monitors and other gadgets to help with screening for atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heart rhythm, according to Verily's website. 

Verily also made a tech system for new parents in partnership with Pampers. Using a video monitor and activity sensor, info syncs to a mobile app that's meant to help people understand their babies' sleeping routines. Another program is looking for ways to improve sleep for people with sleep apnea. 

Read more:Verily's head of people operations is leaving after a huge reorganization and an exodus of senior talent. Here are the 20 top execs and managers who left in the past year.

The upstart also wants to use data broadly speaking, in tandem with its algorithms, to uncover new treatments, diagnose conditions sooner, and care for sick patients. 

Its Study Watch has been deployed in various studies about multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The watch aims to track patient data overtime to learn more about markers of disease progression. The upstart is also making a tiny glucose monitor and developed a temperature-measuring patch. 

Read more:2 top execs from Alphabet's life sciences moonshot arm just started a new company to address one of the most overlooked parts of healthcare

Project Baseline, an effort to collect comprehensive health information and enroll people in clinical trials, is used by pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, health systems, and biotechs, per Verily's site. Some of its projects involve data monitoring in the home and ask participants to link their electronic health records. 

Another one of Verily's key bets is Onduo, a chronic care platform that uses medical devices and a mobile app to help people with Type 2 diabetes and potentially other conditions. 

• You can buy a whole range of fresh flowers on Amazon, with free two-day shipping if you're a Prime member.
• The retailer offers classic bouquets like red roses, and more unique options like orange roses with yellow poms.
• Looking for more gift ideas? Check out some gift ideas for her, gifts for him, and everyone else in your life for even more inspiration.

The benefits of Amazon Prime go far beyond free two-day shipping, but the fast delivery times are extremely helpful for last-minute holiday shopping — and this Valentine's Day it can surely get you out of a jam.

Whether you completely forgot Valentine's Day was coming up or you've been putting it off like the procrastinator you are, there's still time to get a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to that special someone on Amazon.

With everything from classic red roses to colorful assortments with a variety of flowers, you'll save yourself the embarrassment of showing up with cheap, shriveled up flowers from a gas station or pharmacy.

Shop Prime-eligible flower arrangements on Amazon here.

Check out some of the best available bouquets, below:

Light pink roses and white lilies

Benchmark Bouquets Light Pink Roses and White Oriental Lilies with Vase, $40.10

A bouquet of orange roses, yellow poms, seasonal greens, and more

Benchmark Bouquets Life is Good Flowers Orange with Vase, $44.54

A mixed bouquet of rainbow roses and lilies

Benchmark Bouquets Big Blooms with Vase, $43.96

Orange roses and white lilies

Benchmark Bouquets Orange Roses and White Oriental Lilies with Vase, $40.51

A classic bouquet of white roses

Benchmark Bouquets Elegance Roses and Alstroemeria with Vase, $39.26

A bright and colorful bouquet of roses, lilies, thistles and more

Benchmark Bouquets Joyful Wishes with Vase, $46.98

A unique bouquet of light pink roses

Benchmark Bouquets 50 Light Pink Roses, $47.95

Classic red roses

Benchmark Bouquets Two-Dozen Red Roses with Vase, $46.33

An assortment of rainbow roses

Benchmark Bouquets Two Dozen Rainbow Roses, $49.29

A bouquet of red roses and alstroemeria

Benchmark Bouquets Roses and Alstroemeria with Vase, $43.40

How can you write the perfect email subject line?

It's an important question to ask yourself whenever you're preparing to send out an email. US workers send billions of emails every day. You need to make sure your message stands out.

This is even more important now, as workers across the US continue to log in from home because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. And for the millions of others Americans who continue to search for a job after being fired or furloughed in the pandemic's economic fallout, crafting the right subject line could help you land your next role. You want to make sure every email you're sending gets the attention, and response, it deserves. 

To make sure your message is viewed, crafting a good subject line is key. 

Read more:We asked recruiters who've helped candidates land dream roles in tech and finance how to job-search in 2021. Here are the 3 themes we heard over and over again.

Insider spoke with a number of career experts, like Amanda Augustine and Dmitri Leonov, to get their secrets on crafting the perfect email subject line. We also included a few examples of subject lines that recipients are sure to click on.

Here are several tips on how to write an excellent email subject line.

Jeann Goudreau and Rachel Gillett contributed to an earlier version of this article. 

SEE ALSO: 9 free apps college students can use to find a job or an internship

Always write a subject line.

Experts said that not including a subject line is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

The subject line often determines whether an email is opened and how the recipient responds.

An email with a blank subject line will likely get deleted, lost, or immediately irritate the recipient, who is forced to open the email to figure out what it's about.

Write the subject line first.

For many professionals, the subject line is an afterthought that you add just before you hit send. But Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopResume, told Business Insider that it can be the most important part of the email. 

Write the subject line first, so that it sets the tone and you don't forget.

Keep it short.

A typical inbox reveals about 60 characters of an email's subject line, while a mobile phone shows just 25 to 30 characters, said Augustine. Get right to the point in about six to eight words.

According to research from software company HubSpot, 46% of all emails are opened on mobile devices, which means your subject line shouldn't be much longer than a few words. Longer subject lines will get cut off. 

Place the most important words at the beginning.

Dmitri Leonov, a VP at email management service SaneBox, told Business Insider that a whopping 50% of emails are read on mobile phones. Since you don't know how much of the subject line will be viewable from a smartphone, it's important to put the most important information at the beginning. Otherwise, compelling details could get cut off.

Eliminate filler words.

With such precious space, don't waste it with unnecessary words like "hello,""nice to meet you," and "thanks," which can easily be included in the email's body, the experts said.

Be clear and specific about the topic of the email.

The subject line should communicate exactly what the email is about so that the recipient can prioritize the email's importance without having to open it, the experts said.

For example, writing "Do you have a sec?" is vague, said Augustine, since the reader will have to open the email or reply to figure out what you want.

If it's a job application, she suggests including your name and the position, and if it's to another coworker, you should identify the project that the email refers to. 

Keep it simple and focused.

Especially if you're sending a marketing email, Kipp Bodnar, a VP at marketing software platform HubSpot, told Business Insider that it should be focused on one action, which should be communicated in the subject line.

Offer one takeaway, indicate how the reader can make use of it, and specify how you will deliver it.

Use logical keywords for search and filtering.

Most professionals have filters and folders set up to manage their email and probably won't focus on your message when they first see it, said Leonov.

That's why it's important to include keywords related to the topic of the email that will make it searchable later.

Read more: A LinkedIn message took 2 minutes to write and got the sender a job at a successful startup — even though they weren't hiring

Indicate if you need a response.

"People want to know whether they really need to read this now and if they have to respond," said Augustine. If you need a response, make it clear in the subject line by saying "please reply" or "thoughts needed on X topic."

If not, simply start the line with "Please read," or tack on "no response needed" or "FYI" to the end.

Set a deadline in the subject line.

Especially if you have a lot of information to convey in the email itself, the experts said that including a deadline right in the subject line exponentially increases the odds that readers will respond.

For example, after the email's topic, you could say: "Please reply by EOD Friday."

Read more:MOLDING GREATNESS: Meet 23 career coaches who helped shape leaders into stars at the likes of Goldman Sachs and Google

If someone referred you, be sure to use their name.

If you've been referred by a mutual acquaintance, do not save that for the body of the email, said Augustine. Put it in the subject line to grab the reader's attention right away. Moreover, she suggests beginning the subject line with the full name of the person who referred you.

Highlight the value you have to offer.

If sending a cold email to someone you don't know, "you need a subject line that indicates value and communicates what they're going to get," said Bodnar. Pique the reader's interest by offering them something that's helpful.

Whether you're providing a speaking opportunity, a discount, or a service, make it clear in the subject line what's in it for them.

Personalize it with the recipient's name or company name.

You have to know who you're sending the email to, and they have to recognize that it's about them or a subject interesting to them, Bodnar said. Using their name or company name is one of the best ways to do that, he says, and makes the recipient much more likely to open the email.

For example, you might write, "Increase Company's sales by 25%," or "John, see how you compare to competitors."

Create urgency by limiting the timeframe.

To grab someone's attention and persuade them to reply, the experts suggested creating a deadline for your proposition. Common ways of creating urgency include "respond now,""register today," and "limited space available — reply soon."

Don't start a sentence that you finish in the email's body.

If you begin a thought or question that ends in the email, then the reader is forced to open the email. It's annoying, and since clarity and being respectful of the recipient's time is the goal, it's not very helpful, said Augustine.

Consider whether instant message, a call, or an in-person chat might be a better medium for your question. 

Read more: 32 books Bill Gates thinks everyone should read if they want to get smarter about business, philosophy, and science

Make sure you re-read the subject line.

Augustine also warned against copy-and-paste errors. Sometimes when people are sending a similar email to multiple people, they forget to tailor it to each reader and end up with the wrong name or title in the subject line. The easiest way to avoid this is to reread the subject line before you hit send. 

Spark the recipient's memory for an even better shot at getting your email opened.

If you've met the recipient, exchanged emails before, or had a phone call, mention that in your subject line. 

"In your follow-up email subject lines, be sure to reference your past meeting or conversation. This helps your recipient remember who you are, and what steps you had hoped to take next," writes Sujan Patel, a marketer and entrepreneur, in a blog post email outreach tool MailShake.  

Don't put words in ALL CAPS.

Using all caps may get someone's attention, but in the wrong way.

"This is email 101, but people still break this cardinal rule,"Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage,"previously told Business Insider. "Putting any phrase in all caps is the equivalent of shouting."

Your job is to make the email as easy as possible for the recipient to read rather than giving them anxiety, said Leonov.

Instead, use dashes or colons to separate thoughts, and avoid special characters like exclamation points.

Don't just type a string of punctuation.

A line of punctuation does not an email subject line make.

As Inc. contributor Amanda Pressner Kreuser wrote, "'?????' and its cousin '!!!!!' are unnecessarily aggressive, and — perhaps worse — don't actually communicate the problem (or anything)."

Here are some examples of excellent email subject lines.

For a job application:

Referred by Jane Brown for Technical Writer position

Human Resources Assistant Application — John Smith

For an interview follow up:

John Smith Following Up on Sales Position

Marketing Manager interview follow up

For a work request:

Requesting Project X idea submissions — Due Jan 15

Employee Survey: Please take by EOD Friday

For a meeting invitation:

Meet about social media strategy Tuesday?

Free to catch up over coffee next week?

For an introduction:

An Introduction: Ed Wingfield Meet John Smith

Potential collaboration on TV marketing plan

For a marketing pitch:

Mastering Digital Media Webinar — Register Today

John, see how you compare to competitors

For requesting information:

Inquiring about your design services

Request for information on NY venue

In sports, a franchise player not only represents the best player on the team but also an athlete who is expected to stay around for a long time for the team to build a franchise around. 

In investing, "franchise" stocks are hard to come by. While many stocks have come and gone as one-time phenomena, few are resilient and consistent enough to generate steady returns over the long term. 

Investment bank Jefferies keeps a list of such long-term opportunities.

The firm's "franchise picks" represent its best stock ideas based on themes that its analysts find attractive, their high conviction levels, and contrarian analyses of the market environment. 

The list has outperformed since inception, beating the S&P 500 index by about 9% on a total return basis as of the end of last year, as illustrated by the chart below. 

Heading into 2021, the team hit a refresh button on the list by adding 13 new ideas and removing eight existing ideas including Activision Blizzard (ATVI), BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN), Casey's General Stores (CASY), Caesars Entertainment (CZR), Hasbro (HAS), Motorola Solutions (MSI), Raytheon Technologies (RTX), and Texas Instruments (TXN).

New entrants to the group include pharmacy CVS, whose "outsized profits may help restore the buyback." It also includes amusement park operator Six Flag, which Jefferies believes that "the Street is not giving enough credit to management's execution of the business transformation" while it sees "more sustainable growth trends for the park operator."

Miner Freeport-McMoRan is also among the new additions because Jefferies believes that "the copper market is entering a multi-year period of growing deficits and higher prices" and the firm anticipates "substantial copper price upside, leading to strong free cash flow."

SEE ALSO: A veteran options trader breaks down the intricate strategy that Reddit traders used to outsmart Wall Street's bet against GameStop — and shares 2 ways the parabolic rally could permanently alter the stock market

1. Bright Horizons

Ticker: BFAM

Market cap: $9.58 billion

Price Target: $189

Commentary: "We think BFAM is undergoing not only a significant positive margin shift with back up (3x margin of core full service business (~70-80% of revenue) and ~13% of total portfolio) to being ~20%+ of the business post COVID-19 which was a structural tailwind in terms of brand awareness and advertising both in terms of employers/employees."

Source: Jefferies

2. Bio-Rad

Ticker: BIO

Market cap: $16.36 billion 

Price Target: $660

Commentary: "BIO has a fundamentally strong business that has proven to be resilient thru economic cycles with ~80% recurring revs and #1/2 share in ~85% of its underlying businesses. We expect demand conditions across its life science research & clinical diagnostics end-markets to improve moving into 2021, driven by higher scientific research spending & a recovery in routine medical procedures / physician office visits." 

Source: Jefferies

3. Blackstone

Ticker: BX

Market cap: $77.35 billion 

Price Target: $71

Commentary: "BX is a best in class alternative asset mgmt firm, managing over $600B in total AUM across all major segments (traditional private equity, real estate private equity, credit, and hedge fund of funds). With almost $150B of dry powder across asset classes, the multi-solution provider has the ability to deploy capital quickly, with flexibility, and without the need to relay on club deals or additional funding sources."

Source: Jefferies

4. Carvana

Ticker: CVNA

Market cap: $16.93 billion

Price Target: $350

Commentary: "We consider CVNA a rare opportunity to participate in the early stages of a secular shift to e-commerce (~1% penetration today) within a massive $550B market for used cars. In addition, we think CVNA's competitive advantage over traditional dealers will grow as it gains scale, as ~30K of centralized inventory allows it to offer significantly more selection than physical dealerships."

Source: Jefferies

5. CVS Health

Ticker: CVS

Market cap: $95.04 billion

Price Target: $90

Commentary: "With a clear NT catalyst in COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as the ongoing rollout of a coherent, Healthcare-centric LT strategy, we believe CVS is well-positioned to accelerate growth, beat investors' expectations, and outpace retail pharmacy peers over the next few years."

Source: Jefferies

6. Extra Space Storage

Ticker: EXR

Market cap: $15.16 billion

Price Target: $148

Commentary: "We expect the Self-Storage sector will deliver the strongest FFO/sh growth among REITs in 2021, driven by a strong growth in pricing in 2H20 that is continuing into 2021. We particularly like Extra Space Storage because the company has one of the strongest revenue management strategies that has allowed the company to keep rents high while also driving record-high occupancy."

Source: Jefferies

7. Freeport-McMoRan

Ticker: FCX

Market cap: $37.57 billion

Price Target: $36

Commentary: "We believe the copper market is entering a multi-year period of growing deficits and higher prices. We forecast a peak annual average price of at least $5/lb in 2026, which compares to current spot of $3.54/lb, but there is upside to our price forecasts if our supply/demand analysis proves to be correct. The $5/lb forecast is effectively a risk-adjusted number."

Source: Jefferies

8. Gentex

Ticker: GNTX

Market cap: $8.12 billion 

Price Target: $43

Commentary: "GNTX is likely positioned for top-tier outgrowth (among suppliers) and best-in-class '21 margin inflection following completed '20 cost actions ($35m in structural cost savings initiatives) with 50% to be realized through 1H'21 (est. 60% tied to COGS), supporting '21 gross margin guidance of 38.5-39.5% alongside improving leverage & favorable mix. Regarding the latter, ongoing Full Display Mirror rollout (8 OEMs, +50 nameplates) & increased penetration of advanced feature equipped mirrors suggests best-in-class product margin lift in '21 and potential for further margin upside, particularly if underlying recovery outpaces expectations."

Source: Jefferies

9. Gilead

Ticker: GILD

Market cap: $82.30 billion 

Price Target: $75

Commentary: "From a big picture risk/reward perspective, see current levels at $60-65 as an attractive entry point for GILD, which currently trades at a ~10x P/E (historical trough valuation) and offers a 4%+ yield. Bottom line, we get the sense: (1) Co is confident on 2021 financials and mgmt will likely guide to Y/Y growth in 2021 (ex-RemD), as well as provide guidance with RemD with wider bookends. We also think RemD sales will remain strong in 2021, given COVID is still at its peak, (2) GILD seems more confident on IMMU Phase III HR+ data in H2 hitting PFS ($3B indication and bigger than filgotinib ever was), and they recently affirmed the Phase II lung data will still happen in 2021 (competitor is Daiichi), (3) they are hopeful and/or positive on RCUS TIGIT and A2A, (4) they talk up CD47 in solid tumors more, (5) Co is confident they'll get a long-acting HIV combo with capsid (w/ or w/o a partner), and the biggest internal discovery work is in long-acting, which has time because the capsid has long patents."

Source: Jefferies

10. Alphabet

Ticker: GOOGL

Market cap: $1.23 trillion

Price Target: $2,150

Commentary: "We remain positive on GOOGL thanks to attractive valuation, secular growth trends in the digital advertising market, and call options such as YouTube, Cloud, hardware, and Waymo. Balance sheet is healthy with gross cash balance of $133bn and $25bn of share buyback authorization remaining. GOOGL remains well-positioned to monetize secular shifts to online content and commerce, which are being accelerated by Covid-19."

Source: Jefferies

11. Haemonetics

Ticker: HAE

Market cap: $5.81 billion

Price Target: $170

Commentary: "We continue to have conviction in our bull thesis for HAE despite COVID-19 and recessionary headwinds due to: 1) immunoglobulin (Ig) demand inelasticity; 2) plasma counter-cyclicality relative to unemployment; and 3) NexSys + Persona upside potential. Although COVID has pressured patient visits to infusion clinics for administration of IV therapy, the underlying illnesses being treated (i.e. PIDD, CIDP, TTP, coagulation factors, AAT etc) are all chronic conditions."

Source: Jefferies

12. Huntsman

Ticker: HUN

Market cap: $5.76 billion

Price Target: $35

Commentary: "Huntsman combines operating leverage to a recovery in construction and automotive markets, significant regional exposure in China with a strong balance sheet. Demand trends will likely remain solid after the Chinese New Year and a broader global restock cycle gives way to a pick-up in global growth in 2H21-2022, and we expect MDI's supply/demand balance to tighten into next year."

Source: Jefferies

13. Kennametal

Ticker: KMT

Market cap: $3.28 billion

Price Target: $48

Commentary: "Kennametal is a short cycle play levered to operations rather than capital spending at its manufacturing customers. The company operates in a benign global oligopoly where competitors consistently have higher margins, and KMT has implemented restructuring and modernization actions (in the final stages now) that will allow it to close the margin gap with peers."

Source: Jefferies

14. Microchip Technology

Ticker: MCHP

Market cap: $34.73 billion 

Price Target: $179

Commentary: "Over the past 9 years, MCHP has made acquisitions that cost over $15bn, which led them to issue debt and consequently the company recently reported a net leverage ratio of ~4x. Management indicated that it would focus its cash generation going forward to first pay down debt, and then return capital to shareholders. We forecast that MCHP's net leverage ratio will contract from the 4x recently reported, to around 2.5x, if not better, by 4Q21. After that, we think the company will increase its dividend to its historical dividend payout ratio of 50% of free cash flow, from 20%-25% today, effectively, doubling the dividend. We think that de-levering the balance sheet and increasing capital return will translate to a 3-to-4 turn improvement on MCHP's P/E ratio, at least relative to the group, if not on an absolute basis."

Source: Jefferies

15. Nice Systems Ltd.

Ticker: NICE

Market cap: $16.39 billion 

Price Target: $320

Commentary: "NICE is the global leader in contact center as a service (CCaaS) solutions with a significant growth runway ahead. Contact centers have historically been slow to adopt cloud solutions, but this migration is accelerating, partly spurred by coronavirus. CXone is advantageously positioned to capture an outsized portion of the on-prem to cloud migration as a full-stack provider (routing, WFO, and analytics). We believe NICE can leverage its legacy distribution channels, existing customer relationships, and brand name in the cloud."

Source: Jefferies

16. Owens Corning

Ticker: OC

Market cap: $8.35 billion

Price Target: $95

Commentary: "We see significant untapped earnings power being unleashed, with OC generating ~$6.60 of EPS by 2022, up +53% from LTM levels. Our thesis is anchored by our view that demand for housing will remain strong over the next few years due to record low rates, an uplift from urban flight, and favorable demographics. Additionally, we see solid R&R activity driven by an aging housing stock and increased home ownership from first-time home buyers and millennials."

Source: Jefferies

17. PennyMac Financial Services

Ticker: PFSI

Market cap: $4.17 billion

Price Target: $95

Commentary: "The company's recent transition to a cloud-based operating model allowed it to take strong advantage of record demand for mortgages in 2020, while also serving as a catalyst for the growing direct to consumer channel. PFSI's mortgage origination volumes were 2x the industry average last year, and it significantly expanded its higher-yielding D2C business, which is in the very early stages of growth."

Source: Jefferies

18. Proctor & Gamble

Ticker: PG

Market cap: $316.97 billion

Price Target: $167

Commentary: "Procter & Gamble is well-positioned to benefit from C-19 "megatrends" as we expect consumption in P&G's categories to remain "stronger for longer" while vaccinations are gradually rolled out and consumers overcome trepidation to the vaccines. Longer-term, we expect consumers to spend a greater amount of time at home than prior to the pandemic, with certain behaviors sustaining (cleaning, health and wellness, etc.), which will provide a tailwind to P&G's portfolio."

Source: Jefferies

19. RingCentral

Ticker: RNG

Market cap: $32.20 billion

Price Target: $450

Commentary: "RNG is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the migration from on-prem to cloud-based unified communications solutions. The company's products are best-in-class, which drove initial customer adoption. The competitive advantage that will allow RNG to grow at high rates for years to come is the carefully crafted partner-led go-to-market strategy. RNG's partnerships with AVYA, Alcatel, and Atos changed the industry landscape and structurally advantages RNG vs. other UCaaS providers."

Source: Jefferies

20. Six Flags

Ticker: SIX

Market cap: $2.70 billion

Price Target: $42

Commentary: "The business restructuring initiative led by the new management has refined focus towards domestic operations and a more sustainable growth trajectory. The incremental value opportunities through leveraging historically underutilized CRM, improving F&B offerings, and restructuring the season pass / add-on products to structurally align with the needs of both the single-day visitor and the active members present multiple ways to win over the next several years. Additionally, by focusing on a more analytical approach towards capital allocation, marketing spend and park ROIs are likely to improve considerably as these operations are optimized."

Source: Jefferies

21. TransDigm

Ticker: TDG

Market cap: $28.30 billion

Price Target: $710

Commentary: "TransDigm is a commercial aerospace supplier with 28% of sales generated from the commercial aftermarket and 29% from commercial OE. TDG is ~57% exposed to narrow-body platforms, which supports a quicker recovery in both AM and OE volumes as the global air traffic market shifts away from longer haul international travel in favor of domestic flights. Additionally, TDG could accumulate deployable cash of ~$7BB through 2023 from ~$4BB today, which could result in ~30% accretion from M&A."

Source: Jefferies

22. TJX Cos

Ticker: TJX

Market cap: $76.96 billion

Price Target: $83

Commentary: "In a post-COVID world, TJX is uniquely positioned as the beneficiary of both supply and demand benefits. On the supply side, TJX should be the beneficiary of unprecedented inventory supply, much of which will be released in the form of high-margin pack and hold in the coming quarters. Medium-term, we see the ongoing uncertainty driving frequent pockets of availability, allowing for advantageous buying opportunities for off-pricers, allowing access to better brands at better prices. On the demand side, TJX should benefit from the consumer trade-down towards its value offering in challenged environment, similar to its outperformance during the prior recession."

Source: Jefferies

23. Western Alliance

Ticker: WAL

Market cap: $6.95 billion

Price Target: $82

Commentary: "Western Alliance is one of a few regional banks that is capable of generating robust organic PPNR growth in the coming years. WAL outperformed peers significantly on loan/deposit growth in 2020 (19%/40%), which is poised to continue given strong loan/deposit pipelines across a full commercial loan product suite on a national scale. Given strong organic growth prospects, WAL will avoid bank M&A activity, which is likely to be significant and removes the threat of any tangible book value dilution."

Source: Jefferies

24. Walmart

Ticker: WMT

Market cap: $408.04 billion

Price Target: $177

Commentary: "Walmart's scale and proximity to customers (w/in 10mi of 90% of U.S. population) gives the company a distinct advantage as omni-channel, accessibility & convenience, and social services grow in importance. We believe WMT is strategically investing and partnering to build out a compelling ecosystem anchored in a robust digital infrastructure (WMT+, Walmart Media Group, Marketplace, Same-day Fulfillment) and amplified by leadership in Grocery and the co's EDLP philosophy. Core retail scale & performance powers the potential for adjacent opportunities (Healthcare, Fin Services, etc), enhancing the economic value of the system."

Source: Jefferies

In spring 2020, the influencer industry was flipped upside down. Events were canceled, budgets retreated, and even affiliate commissions took a brief hit. 

But within weeks, influencers pivoted to answer the question: How could they make money while staying at home?

In the age of Zoom meetings replacing in-person gatherings, hosting online classes and webinars became an obvious solution for many. 

"Right off the bat, influencers just started turning to other features and Instagram to host events," said Erin Cutler, the founder of the talent-management agency Neon Rose.

Cutler cohosts her own digital course called "The Influencer Secrets" with influencer Sophie Jaffee (216,000 Instagram followers). What started as Cutler and Jaffe hosting Zoom meetings later turned into a pre-recorded course hosted on the platform Thinkific.

Thinkific is one of many platforms designed to host digital courses and webinars. Unlike hosting a Zoom meeting, platforms like Thinkific streamline production and offer creators a way to directly monetize their content through paywalls.

Many categories of influencers have jumped into the market. Fitness influencers are launching at-home workouts, food bloggers are hosting their own cooking classes, and even plant influencers have found a flourishing market to teach their followers how to tend to an at-home garden.

Plant influencer Darryl Cheng, who has over 560,000 Instagram followers, launched a course in the summer of 2020 on houseplant care essentials. After being asked the same questions by his followers, he figured that designing a course that answered all of them in one place would be both helpful for his audience and a way to make money from his expertise.

He said that while some followers may want quick tips, others want a more immersive curriculum.

"If somebody's interested in the way that you teach something, then they're naturally going to want more, and hopefully, also they're willing to even buy something that's specifically from you," Cheng said. 

Cheng told Insider that he earns about $2,000 per month from his course hosted on Teachable. 

Read more:Houseplant sales are booming and so are 'plantfluencers,' the social-media creators sharing plant tips, products, and content

Podia, another platform, saw a spike in new creators using its services in 2020, chief marketing officer Len Markidan told Insider.

"We saw demand that we were projecting for 2024 by August of this last year," Markidan said. 

Many of these platforms encourage creators to make asynchronous material, or content that is published once and viewable at any time. That way, after the initial lift of creating the course materials, a creator can generate passive income.

On Kajabi, a platform that helps creators build and sell online courses, creators have made more than $1.5 billion, its CEO Kenny Rueter said.

"Online learning picked up so much throughout 2020," Reuter said. "Now we're on pace for over a billion a year annually."

As usage of these platforms spiked in quarantine, several trends emerged.

Multiple sources that spoke with Insider mentioned the rising popularity of home fitness, software fluency, and personal development courses.

Grace Woods, the vice president of marketing at Patreon, pointed to another encouraging trend for the market: that patrons were subscribing to multiple creators.

"It's not a zero-sum game," Woods said.

But with a market now ripe with competitors, which platforms are the top options for influencers?

In this power list, Insider is highlighting 10 top platforms that influencers are using to launch their own courses or digital events as a way to earn money. To form this list, we relied on a mix of our own reporting and nominations from influencers, and industry experts to narrow down the finalists. We chose these companies based on factors including ease of use, its monetization tools, and overall impact on the industry.

For more on the influencer industry, check out these power lists on Insider:

• The top 7 merchandise companies helping creators on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok earn money without relying on ads
• We built the first-ever interactive database of the top managers and agents for YouTube creators, Instagram influencers, and TikTok stars
• The top 9 beauty and fashion brand ambassador programs that provide influencers with perks like paid trips and free products

SEE ALSO: How teachers are making up to 6 figures using their expertise to tap the boom in subscriptions, podcasting, and content production

SEE ALSO: Leaked slides from a recent Instagram presentation reveal the advice it's giving to creators on what to post

ClickFunnels

Website:ClickFunnels

What it is: A tool that helps entrepreneurs and creators make websites to market and sell products, including digital services like courses, webinars, and digital products. It uses "sales funnels" as a way to drive purchases of multiple products. 

Price: Basic: $97/month; Premium: $297/month; Two Comma Club: $2,497/month

What sets it apart: Instead of solely focusing on education and courses, ClickFunnels is interested in sales. So if an influencer wanted to market a course, while also selling adjacent products (like slides from a presentation or workout equipment), ClickFunnels makes that easier to set up on a website and drive those sales. 

Example creator: SoheeLee, a fitness influencer who uses ClickFunnels to sell her at-home workout classes.

Hopin

Website: Hopin

What it is: A virtual events platform where creators can host large-scale expos or conferences, courses, and webinars. Hopin charges a 7% fee of any tickets sold and events can also have sponsors.

Price: Free version; Self Service: $99/month (which Hopin distinguished as best suited for content creators looking to launch their own courses); and premium plans for $18,000/year

What sets it apart: At the beginning of 2021, Hopin bought StreamYard, a live video streaming studio. Hopin hosts can then use this feature to livestream their class or webinar across their social-media platforms, but paywall exclusive content behind Hopin — reaching their broader audience, while also driving customers back to the paywalled content.

Example creator: EveryStylishGirl, a media startup, is using Hopin to host "Secrets to Black Success," a conference featuring creators like Jackie Aina (1.7 million Instagram followers) as speakers.

Kajabi

Website: Kajabi

What it is: An all-in-one platform that helps creators (or "heroes," as Kajabi calls them) build, market, and sell an online course, membership site, or coaching program.

Price: Basic: $149/month; Growth: $159/month; Pro: $319/month

What sets it apart: Kajabi is more expensive for creators than most platforms on this list, but its cost includes access to tools like business playbooks, website templates, unlimited hosting, a content management system, and detailed analytics that creators would otherwise have to pay for. This helps streamline production for creators, which has helped them net more than $1.5 billion in payouts.

Example creator: Kayse Morris, a teacher-influencer who helps coach other teachers.

Mighty Networks

Website: Mighty Networks

What it is: A community and online course platform that emphasizes interaction between creators and fans.

Price: Free; Community: $28/month; Business: $98/month

What sets it apart: Mighty Networks began as a tool for connecting creators and fans. It later added the ability to host courses, after creators on the platform requested the feature. As a result, Mighty Networks has more robust interaction tools than many of its competitors.

Example creator: Find What Feels Good Kula, a free private space for the Yoga with Adriene community.

Patreon

Website:Patreon

What it is: A membership platform that lets creators place content behind a paywall and charge fans a subscription price to access it.

Price: Lite: 5% of monthly revenue; Pro: 8% of monthly revenue; Premium: 12% of monthly revenue

What sets it apart: Patreon remains the jack-of-all-trades platform for creators, thanks to its flexible hosting capabilities: podcasters, illustrators, musicians, educators, and more all use it. Creators can also create different "tiers" with different prices, giving patrons more options based on what they want to support.

Example creator: Molly Baz, whose Recipe Club has 'thousands' of subscribers.

Podia

Website: Podia

What it is: A platform for content creators and entrepreneurs to package and sell various virtual services, from online courses to ebooks.  

Price: Mover: $39/month; Shaker: $79/month

What sets it apart: Podia offers an all-in-one platform to sell packaged courses, digital downloads (like ebooks), different membership levels, and the ability to host webinars. 

Example creator:Joy Cho, a Pinterest influencer with 14.6 million followers, uses Podia to sell PDFs, coaching sessions, and online business classes.  

Squarespace

Website:Squarespace

What it is: A website building and hosting platform that has recently expanded its membership offerings.

Price: Lite: Personal: $12/month; Business: $18/month; Commerce: $26/month; Commerce: $40/month

What sets it apart: Squarespace is primarily known as a tool for building websites, meaning tech-savvy creators will enjoy their ability to customize their site to fit their needs. On the other hand, because it lacks a marketplace to facilitate discovery, Squarespace caters more to creators with an established following.

Example creator: Kimberly Moller, a vocalist and educator offering vocal coaching.

Teachable

Website: Teachable

What it is: Teachable lets users create a website to host courses and coaching products, including ebooks. 

Price: Basic: $39/month; Professional: $119/month; Business: $299/month

What sets it apart: Teachable has its own affiliate program that allows participating creators to earn a commission on any new registrations they drive.

Example creator:Darryl Cheng teaches a course about the essentials of caring for indoor plants, which he launched in 2020. 

Thinkific

Website:Thinkific

What it is: A platform that allows entrepreneurs to create, market, sell, and deliver virtual courses. 

Price: Basic: $49/month; Pro: $99/month; Premier: $499/month

What sets it apart: Thinkific's platform has a highly customizable interface so that creators can design their websites as they wish. Thinkific also assigns experts to help creators build out their course content.

Example creator:The Influencer Secrets, taught by talent manager Erin Cutler and influencer Sophie Jaffe.

Udemy

Website:Udemy

What it is: An online teaching and learning marketplace.

Price: It depends on how customers find a course. If they use a referral code provided by the creator, Udemy takes a 3% cut of the revenue; if they discover the course organically, Udemy takes a 50% cut of the revenue; if they discover the course through a paid promotion, Udemy takes a 75% cut of the revenue.

What sets it apart: Udemy is exclusively built for facilitating teaching and learning, and it has massive reach: 35 million students, 110 million minutes of video, 57,000 instructors, 130,000 courses, and 65 languages. 

Example creator:Phil Ebiner, a photographer making more than $1 million selling photography courses.

• The Bouqs Co. delivers fresh, hand-cut flowers and plants from sustainable farms all over the world.
• If you need a unique gift for someone special, there are many floral arrangements starting at around $40.
• Currently, you can upgrade certain bouquets to a Deluxe for the price of an Original with the code '2XBLOOMS'.
• Find our recommended online flower delivery services here, and check out more Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Valentine's Day is coming up soon on Sunday, February 14, and if you haven't thought about what to get, now's the time to start brainstorming. Whatever you decide to gift or plan, an arrangement of fresh flowers is never a bad idea to include.

With more than 80 beautiful bouquets available, The Bouqs Co. is one online flower company we come back to time and time again. It has everything from classic red roses to mixed bouquets with flowers and succulents and even gift sets with flowers and candles, chocolates, and puzzles. To make shopping even easier, there's a handy "One-Click Valentine's Day Roses" feature at the top of the page for a traditional bouquet of roses. And if you're looking to save, currently you can get a Deluxe bouquet for the price of an Original with the code '2XBLOOMS'.

It partners with sustainable farmers all over the world and local florists alike to get you the best flowers as soon as the next day. You can read about how The Bouqs Co. wowed "Shark Tank" investor Robert Herjavec here.  

Since Valentine's Day is a busy time, you should order your flowers sooner rather than later to ensure you get the bouquet you want. Anyone with an account will pay $12 shipping, otherwise, it usually costs $18; making an account is free so we definitely suggest doing so.  

We picked out some of our favorite arrangements in case you need some inspiration. Each page features background information about the farmer involved, and you can add a vase to any bouquet for an additional fee. 

Shop all flowers at The Bouqs Co. here.

Classic red roses

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You can't go wrong with a bouquet of red roses — they're the epitome of classic romance. 

Available in three sizes: original (12 stems, $54), deluxe (24 stems, $69), and grand (36 stems, $84) 

A monochromatic bouquet of white flowers and greenery

Order them here >>

White flowers may be unconventional, but they're still every bit as beautiful. Use the code '2XBLOOMS' to upgrade to a Deluxe bouquet for the price of an Original.

Available in three sizes: original (12 stems, $49), deluxe (24 stems, $64), and grand (79 stems, $84) 

An assortment of succulents and flowers

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Less traditional but just as stunning, this arrangement includes succulents you can plant after the roses have turned. 

Available in three sizes: original (12 mixed stems, $54), deluxe (24 mixed stems, $69), and grand (36 mixed stems, $84) 

Tropical flowers that go toward a good cause

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Profits of this gorgeous tropical bouquet will go toward Campaign Zero, an organization that aims to combat police brutality through data-informed solutions. 

Available in one size: 14 stems, $64

A mix of romantic flowers and elegant alstroemeria

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If they're a bit wild at heart, they'll love this untraditional mix of roses, alstroemeria, and eucalyptus. It's equal parts romantic and unexpected, and right now, you can use the code '2XBLOOMS' to upgrade to a Deluxe bouquet for the price of an Original.

Available in three sizes: original (12 mixed stems, $49), deluxe (24 mixed stems, $64), and grand (36 mixed stems, $79) 

Two heart-shaped succulents

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If they're more of a plant person, they'll love this adorable set of Hoya hearts. These easy-to-care-for succulents come potted and ready for gifting.

Available in one size: deluxe ($44) 

A bundle of sunset-inspired roses

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Inspired by the sunset and guaranteed to last longer, these bi-color roses are every bit romantic and stunning. You can get a Deluxe bouquet for the price of an Original with the code '2XBLOOMS'.

Available in three sizes: original (12 stems, $49), deluxe (24 stems, $64), and grand (36 stems, $79) 

A bouquet of sunflowers and eucalyptus

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The Vibrance bouquet's bright sunflowers and aster accents will bring a smile to anyone's face. Add The Bouq's signature vase or mason vase to your purchase for $10. Use the code '2XBLOOMS' to upgrade to a Deluxe bouquet for the price of an Original.

Available in three sizes: original (12 mixed stems, $54), deluxe (24 mixed stems, $69), and grand (36 mixed stems, $84) 

A lighter take on the classic rose

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If they love roses, swap the bouquet of traditional red roses for something more light and airy to brighten up their day.

Available in three sizes: original (12 stems, $54), deluxe (24 stems, $69), and grand (36 stems, $84) 

A colorful display of mini calla lilies and roses

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Spice up the traditional rose bouquet with the added touch of mini calla lilies. Because the calla lilies' petals bloom upward instead of outward, a larger bouquet will give a fuller, more dramatic look.

Available in three sizes: original (15 mixed stems, $49), deluxe (30 mixed stems, $64), and grand (45 mixed stems, $79)

A desert-inspired bouquet

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This mixed arrangement is paired with trendy, eco-friendly succulents in the Never Desert You bouquet. Plant the succulents for a gift that keeps on giving.

Available in three sizes: original (12 mixed stems, $59), deluxe (24 mixed stems, $74), and grand (36 mixed stems, $89) 

A hint of spring

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The Knockout bouquet has a mixed array of tulips so the colors become more vibrant and gorgeous as the flowers bloom.

Available in three sizes: original (16 tulips, $54), deluxe (32 tulips, $69), and grand (48 tulips, $84) 

• Traversing snowy or icy roads and sidewalks requires more than just a standard pair of boots or GoreTex running shoes.
• Winter boots should protect from the elements (both cold and moisture), provide enough traction to navigate patches of ice, and be comfortable to wear all day. 
• For more general recommendations, take a look at our picks of the best winter boots for either women or men.

To say Lake Tahoe in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains is snowy during the winter is an understatement. With an average snowfall somewhere between 200 to 215 inches per year, it's a haven for skiers, snowboarders, or anyone yearning for several feet of soft powder.

For anyone who has to leave their front door around here, navigating the accumulated snow takes a careful approach — and the right collection of snow-specific attire and gear. As a resident of Lake Tahoe, I've learned that, in addition to a good snow shovel and warm gloves, one of the most important pieces of gear you can own in a mountain town is proper footwear. It's not unusual for me to walk out of my front door in the morning and find snow up to my knees. Even the snowbanks can easily be as tall as houses.

Over the years, I've tried various pairs of snow boots to find what works the best in conquering Lake Tahoe's cold, snowy, and icy conditions. Whether it's a pair of boots for everyday wear or something to relax in after a day on the slopes, there's a pair fit for anyone's snow-filled lifestyle. Along with Insider staff editor Rachael Schultz, who lives near Aspen, Colorado, we've put together seven of our favorite winter snow boots, including pairs from brands like Danner, Timberland, Cat, and Forsake. 

A note on fit

This guide includes boots with options for both men and women. We include options with this cisgender language since a "women's" design typically has a narrower heel and taller arch than a "men's" design, and often features more feminine colorways.

However, we think anyone should feel free to wear any type of boot, regardless of gender, sex, or how a product is labeled. We've included options for both listings, so if you have a wider foot overall or prefer more muted color options, check out what's labeled as "men's;" for narrower feet, more arch support, and/or brighter, lighter color options, check out what's labeled as "women's."

Here are the best boots to get you through the winter:

• For everyday winter wear: Danner Arctic 600 Chelsea
• For slushy, city snow: Timberland 6-inch Premium Waterproof Boots
• For deep snow and spring mud: LaCrosse Alpha Lite
• For wood stacking and snow shoveling: Cat Stormers
• For dinner or a night out: Forsake Alma
• For post-ski relief: Puff 'N' Chill
• For ski-town style: Holden Après Boots 

For everyday winter wear

Danner's Arctic 600 Chelsea is my everyday winter boot, perfect for running errands, walking the dog, or spending the morning working from a coffee shop.

Pros: Comfortable for everyday wear, completely waterproof, slip-on design makes it easy to put on, low-profile enough to work with a variety of pant styles, and incredibly grippy

Cons: Expensive, can be narrow for people with wide feet

There's plenty about Danner's Artic 600 Chelsea that makes it a worthy winter boot. They feature a slip-on style for easy on and off (along with a helpful finger loop on the front), and the lack of a tongue and laces prevents leakage in low snow and puddles. The boot's low-profile style (about ankle-height) means they pair well with most styles of pants, too.

Since the bottom of the shoe is made entirely of rubber, they have excellent grip on icy roads and sidewalks. Danner refers to it as its Arctic Grip, and while I haven't tested them on something as sheer as a glacier, they do make me feel stable in any icy conditions.

My favorite part of these boots is that they're insulated. I wear them snowshoeing in frigid conditions and never get cold as they're filled with 200g of PrimaLoft Gold insulation. PrimaLoft Gold insulation is a synthetic material that maintains heat even when wet — the whole boot is completely waterproof, anyway but this is still a great feature. My feet have never been wet wearing these. 

There are three downsides, however: The Arctic 600 Chelsea retails for around $200. While they're durable enough to last multiple seasons, it's still a hefty price tag for some consumers. Next, some people with wider feet or wider toe boxes find Danner's a bit uncomfortable. The final drawback is its style — it may not appeal to all wearers. A more traditional laced style is available, though the boot as a whole is a bit chunky, not entirely unlike a pair of Doc Martins.

For slushy, city snow

Insulated, outfitted with waterproof leather, and made in a ton of colors,  Timberland 6-inch Premium Waterproof Boots merge style and function for winter weather.

Pros: PrimaLoft insulation keeps feet warm, rubber outsole is grippy in a variety of conditions, comes in a variety of colorways

Cons: Ankle-length design doesn't protect well from snow getting inside

Timberland is an oft-overlooked brand when it comes to functional footwear, but they actually have a full line of quality winter boots, including calf-length and down options.

I bought the Timberland 6-inch Premium Waterproof Boots a few years ago when I lived in New York City and was looking for good-looking waterproof boots that could handle the city slush and vibe with an array of winter outfits. Now, I live in a small mountain town near Aspen, Colorado and these are still my go-to footwear after a solid snowstorm.

These boots have light PrimaLoft eco insulation to lightly retain warmth around your feet. The footbed is comfortable for hours of walking or standing, while the rubber lugged outsole has great traction on slippery surfaces. The shining feature is their responsibly-sourced and waterproof leather outer, which not only keeps your feet dry and warm but also only looks better with age and weathering.

The biggest downside to these is that the ankle-length sometimes lets snow inside and won't protect you if the snowbanks are too high. Overall, the boot is rather heavy, and a pair isn't cheap. 

But I love that these boots come in a ton of colorways for your own unique aesthetic, from the classic Timber tan-and-black to a chic all white and silver. (And for skeptics of the lighter palette, mine are a now-discontinued light grey that truly never showed four-years-worth of dirt and look better after years of weathering than when they were new). There's even an option to customize your own colors.

For deep snow and spring mud

LaCrosse Footwear's Alpha Boot is perfect for shoulder seasons when snow is melting and dirt turns to mud.

Pros: Great for slush and mud, fully waterproof, tall design helps avoid anything getting inside, easy, slip-on design with no laces

Cons: Might be too bulky for running errands around town

It's not unusual for me to wake up to a foot of fresh snow, but that doesn't mean I can put on hold the things I have to do that day. For heavy snow days, it's crucial to have a tall waterproof boot. While rain boots may occasionally work, the thin rubber leaves my toes freezing in minutes, especially when I'm walking through snow up to my shins.

Instead, I throw on a pair of Alpha Boots from LaCrosse Footwear. Thanks to the diamond pattern quilting and thick rubber base, I find them far more stylish than traditional rain boots — in addition to the fact they function better, too. Their combination of rubber and neoprene makes them as waterproof as can be, even when my foot is completely submerged in water. They're a good option for spring skiing days when warm temperatures and sunny skies mean roads and parking lots are muddy and slushy by early afternoon.

I find that tying and untying laces on tall boots is annoying, especially if they're covered in snow, so I appreciate that these boots are pull-on. It takes no time to get them on if my dog decides he wants to run through the snow at 6 a.m. or if I have to grab something out of my car late at night. 

The Alpha line is one of the brand's most popular offerings, so LaCrosse offers several styles and options within the category. I have the Alpha Lite, which is for warmer conditions, so I need to wear a thick ski sock with it in chilly weather. There's an insulated version available for freezing climates like Canada or North Dakota.

For wood stacking and snow shoveling

With an available steel-toe version and workwear in its DNA, the Cat Stormers are what you need for durability and protection. 

Pros: High durable and heavy-duty design perfect for a variety of conditions and uses, comes in a steel- or soft-toe option

Cons: Work-specific style won't be for everyone 

In winter, some tasks call for extremely durable and protective footwear. At my home, I have a wood-burning stove to heat the house, which means I'm always stacking and chopping wood — and I wear the Cat Stormer boots to protect my feet while doing so.

I also toss these shoes in my trunk when I'm driving in poor weather. If I slide off the road, end up in deep snow, or have to maneuver out of ice and mud with spinning wheels, it helps to have a shoe that I know protects my feet. Though it's never happened, these boots would also be ideal for if I needed to walk a bit to call for roadside assistance, which could easily happen if there's a snowy fender-bender in an area without cell service. 

These boots fall more on the workwear side, so style-wise, they won't appeal to everyone. But for the harder parts of mountain life, they're seriously handy. Some might recognize that "Cat" is short for Caterpillar, and yes, it's the same brand that makes that heavy-duty construction equipment.

They come in a steel- or soft-toe option, so you can even choose your level of protection. They're also completely vegan, making them an excellent choice for anyone trying to stay away from animal products. 

For dinner or a night out

Forsake's Alma Boot is the perfect footwear option when you need something dressy yet still want to feel confident trudging through ice and snow.

Pros: A reliable snow boot with a modern, stylish design, incredibly warm, moisture-wicking, interior foam liner keeps feet comfortable

Cons: Laces can be a little short

When I'm going out to a nice dinner or going to a more formal social event, I need a pair of boots that are more elegant and style-focused than the others on this list. But since I'm still walking through snow and ice, I can't put water resistance and warmth on the back burner. This rules out many boots from more style-focused brands.

Fortunately, outdoor companies realized the need to mesh a dressier style with protection from the elements. My current favorite is the Alma Boot from Forsake. They have a sophisticated, modern look, thanks to a tall wedge heel and a choice of three understated colors. I wear them most often with skinny jeans but they lend themselves to just about any winter outfit, and look great with a long wool jacket. 

Most importantly, they're warm, and the moisture-wicking fabric on the inside ensures my feet stay dry even if I start to overheat. It also has a comfortable inner foam liner that cradles my foot, making it comfortable when walking long distances. Despite the tall wedge, there's no pain on my heels or ball of my foot when walking on hard surfaces, either. The laces are a bit short but that's a slight annoyance that's easy to overcome. 

For post-ski relief

Sanuk's Puff N Chill gives your feet a comfortable break at the end of a long day of being shoved into ski or snowboard boots. 

Pros: Incredibly comfortable, easy to pack, grippy outsole, fits well on people with wide feet

Cons: Not waterproof

While living at a ski resort can have its challenges, there's one major perk: skiing and snowboarding every day. But as anyone will tell you, ski boots are incredibly uncomfortable on your toes. A tight fit is necessary but it can lead to sore spots, poor circulation, and tired feet — which is why I always throw Sanuk's Puff N Chill boot into my ski bag.

These slip-boots have a rubber outsole, so they're extra-grippy on snow and ice, plus a foam footbed that contours to your foot. Slipping into these after wearing ski boots all day feels like walking on clouds. Since they're insulated with fluffy foam fill, they're also quite warm in chilly conditions. They have a wide toe-box, so your toes can relax a bit after being shoved into narrow boots for hours. As someone who has wide feet, I feel like I have plenty of space to stretch. 

This is also the boot I wear on ski trips, either during long car rides or while flying. They're toasty enough to keep my feet warm on airplanes but comfortable enough to sleep on a red-eye flight. And if they get dirty during travel, I just toss them in the washing machine when I get home. On the off-chance I rip or destroy them, they're relatively affordable to replace. On sale, you can usually find them around $30-$40. 

The most obvious downside of these is that they aren't waterproof, so I can't wear them on really wet or rainy days. At resorts, it snows far more often than it rains, so this is rarely a problem but skiers who often contend with rain might want to check the forecast before packing these as their après-ski boot. 

For ski-town style

Holden Après Boots are down and ridiculously warm, have decent traction underfoot, and will earn you endless compliments, all making them great for après or a winter night out.

Pros: Incredibly warm, water-repellent, rugged outsole provides decent traction, available in a wide range of colorways and styles

Cons: Not always available, low stock

While I wouldn't wear these boots in an actual snowstorm, the Holden Après Boots are hands down the best mountain town booties if you're looking for warm, cozy, dry feet equally alongside serious style.

For starters, the Après Boots have PrimaLoft Insulation so they keep your feet warm — in fact, they can actually get too warm if you're going to be inside for hours (I wouldn't be able to wear these on a plane like the Sanuk Puff N' Chills). But that instant warmth, combined with how they feel like clouds on your feet, is angelic when your toes are cold from wearing ski boots for hours.

A one-up they have over the Sanuk down booties is that Holden's exterior is water-repellent, and has a laminated toe and heel cap for durability, so I never worry about how the boots will hold up walking through snow-covered town. (Though I will say, I often wear them without socks and it's pretty easy to kick snow down the low-cut ankles.)

The outsole has thick lugs and decent traction, making them great for walking around town, but they're not super reliable if it's especially icy out.

I particularly love that the boots are slip-on and snug enough to wear untied, but they have quick-tie drawstring laces for when I'm going on a longer walk and want a more secure fit.

I got these boots mid-way through winter last year and I wear them every single time I'm headed to the resort to ski, when I run to the grocery store, and on almost any chilly day where my toes would be cold in the office. I own the camo print and get a compliment almost every time I wear them, too.

The bad news: It looks like Holden has discontinued this boot for now, so they're harder to find and often only in limited sizes. A few are currently available on Moosejaw (and discounted!) and Amazon.

What we looked for in testing

All the boots in this guide have proved their worth in snowy, slushy winter conditions.

Our two testers are Suzie Dundas, who has lived in Lake Tahoe for years and trudges through knee-deep snow to chop wood and shovel snow as well as parking lot slush when pulling up to the ski resort; and Rachael Schultz, who used to walk miles in the frigid, slushy streets during New York winters and now traverses snowy, icy sidewalks and fields on dog walks or to and from skiing in the valley around Aspen, Colorado.

We decided which boots were worthy of including here based on a few factors, including:

• How well boots hold up in different depths of snow, from tread-deep to calf-high
• Whether they are able to stay dry when exposed to wet snow or full slush
• How warm your feet will stay when out in the elements
• How reliable the traction is on icy surfaces
• The aesthetics of a boot
• How well the boots weather over time

Together, these factors add up to not only if a boot is worthy of your consideration, but whether it's worthy of you spending your money on.

Consultants are still earning hefty salaries despite the losses the industry has suffered during the pandemic. 

The market for consultants shrunk from $160 billion to $132 billion in 2020 due to decreased client demand, according to research platform Statista. Giant advisory firms including Deloitte, KPMG, and Accenture have laid off thousands of workers, and some consultancies like Ernst & Young previously deferred promotions and performance bonuses for employees. 

But those who received job offers from top firms still make six-figure salaries. MBA candidates can expect to make $165,000 at McKinsey, for example, and that doesn't include potential bonuses. Smaller firms like Booz Allen Hamilton offer $130,000 as base pay, and business school graduates at professional services firm KPMG earns a salary of $145,000. 

Management Consulted, a careers-resource company that helps graduates land consulting jobs, released its 2021 salary report documenting the pay ranges, bonuses, and compensation packages at consultancies like McKinsey, Bain & Co., and Accenture. With 5,000 job-seeking clients and more than 4 million subscribers, Management Consulted's insights are based on the platform's users who have received offers. 

Insider compiled a ranking of the highest-paying firms for MBA grads based off of salaries. The "potential total compensation" listed includes the base salary, any signing and performance bonuses offered at the firms, and relocation reimbursements. You can read the full salary breakdown here. 

Here are the 17 highest-paying firms for MBA grads, ranked lowest to highest.  

SEE ALSO: EY's head of talent acquisition reveals 4 best practices for candidates to land a 6-figure job at the firm

17. KPMG

Potential total compensation: $202,400 

With over 650 offices in 147 countries, KPMG is one of the so-called "Big Four" firms that include PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and Deloitte.

Much like most leading consultancies, KPMG's workforce went entirely remote as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

While the firm extended full-time job positions to 2,300 summer virtual interns in July, KPMG laid off 1,400 US staffers in September, Insider's Samantha Stokes previously reported. The company spokeswoman shared the firm recently welcomed its winter interns for a 4-week internship. 

James Powell, national partner in charge of campus recruitment at KPMG, told Insider that online engagement with applicants will remain as a significant component of the recruiting process — even after the pandemic subsides. Better yet, applicants will be assessed on their ability to collaborate with others in a virtual environment, he added. 

"Your adaptability around new technologies is something that's more important going forward," Powell said. "And one way to showcase that digital adaptability is simply by being explicit in your résumé and calling it out during the interview." 

Management Consulted's salary report noted KPMG pays a base salary of $145,000 to business school graduates. Employees also receive 20 days of paid time off. 

Read more: A KPMG exec who is managing 14,000 remote consultants explains how leaders can overcome the anxiety of this pandemic to build resilient teams that can respond to any crisis

16. Altman Solon

Potential total compensation: $225,000

In 2020, Altman Vilandrie & Company and Solon Management Consulting — two strategy consultancies — merged and became Altman Solon.

With about 300 employees and a client footprint in over 100 countries, Altman Solon is a boutique consulting firm that focuses on the $3 trillion technology, media, and telecom (TMT) sector, according to the company website.

Employees with an MBA degree make a $160,000 base salary, and they can earn up to $40,000 in performance bonuses, the salary reported noted.

15. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

Potential total compensation: $227,000

Roland Berger, a business-management and strategic-planning consulting firm, started off as a small team in 1967 and has grown rapidly ever since. The firm is solely owned by 250 partners, and it has 2,400 employees working in 35 countries, according to the company's website. 

Consultants at Roland Berger work on a variety of client cases such as advising one of France's largest insurance brokers on an acquisition, a Swedish dermatology practice on merger and acquisition strategy, and e-bike companies on monitoring their market insights. 

MBA employees make a $160,000 base salary, a $32,000 performance bonus, and $35,000 in signing bonuses, according to Management Consulted's salary report. 

Read more:Consulting salaries revealed: How much employees make at 12 boutique firms including Booz Allen Hamilton, AlixPartners, and Mercer

14. Analysis Group

Potential total compensation: $230,000

With more than 1,000 employees, boutique firm Analysis Group is one of the largest consulting firms that specializes in economics and financial analysis, according to the career site Glassdoor.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the consultancy was also recognized for having one of the largest practices of 268 competition economists, 116 litigation cases, 40 merger reviews, and 24 government investigations, Markets Insider previously reported.

Most of the staffers at the firm also hold advanced degrees in law, accounting, finance, and business. The salary reported noted MBA graduates can make up to $190,000 when combining base salary and performance bonuses. 

13. Oliver Wyman

Potential total compensation: $237,000

Oliver Wyman is a $2 billion consulting business unit of Marsh & McLennan Cos., and it is most known for its client assistance in the financial-services sector. Additionally, the consulting firm is also the fastest-growing firm in the past five years, with 3,400 employees, according to Management Consulted. 

The firm seem to have cancelled its 2020 summer internship programs amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it extended full-time positions to student interns. 

MBA employees at Oliver Wyman receive 17 days of paid time off each year. They also get a $45,000 signing bonus and a $32,000 performance bonus, the salary report noted. 

Read more: Gaming app Trad3r lets users play a simulated stock market in real-time. We got a look at the pitch deck that convinced the founder of $2 billion consultancy Oliver Wyman to invest.

12. EY-Parthenon

Potential total compensation: $239,000

EY-Parthenon is a boutique strategy consulting division within EY, one of the "Big Four" firms. The giant accounting and auditing advisory acquired Parthenon, a smaller consulting company, to expand its global reach within a niche market. 

EY has other consulting divisions other than its client work within Parthenon. MBA consultants working in other departments can make earn up to $205,500 in total compensation, according to the salary report. 

In the midst of a global pandemic, the firm brought in 85,000 people worldwide and increased its global headcount by more than 5%. Dan Black, the firm's global leader in talent attraction and acquisition, further added that it has already brought in 45,000 new hires this fiscal year. 

Black recommended that candidates follow four best practices to increase their chances of landing a six-figure job: develop a routine, leverage your networks, prep for the interview, and reflect on your values.

Read more: EY's head of talent acquisition reveals 4 best practices for candidates to land a 6-figure job at the firm

11. Booz Allen Hamilton

Potential total compensation: $239,500

Booz Allen Hamilton is a government-focused consulting firm, and the company is in growth mode. With about 27,200 employees, the firm has clients in all the cabinet-level departments of the US government. Booz Allen's global-defense division supports the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, the company said.

The consultancy added 208 people in the three months ending June 30 and increased its head count by about 1,000 over the past year, Insider previously reported. 

In an interview with Insider, Patricia Porter, vice president of global talent acquisition at the firm, shared that Booz Allen is continuing to invest in the recruitment for tech-focused and cybersecurity roles. The firm is also looking to hire healthcare consultants, she added. 

Management Consulted's salary data noted MBA graduates receive a $130,000 base salary. Employees can receive up to $25,000 for relocation expenses, and they also get a $10,000 salary bump after their first year of employment at the firm (and another $10,000 after the second). 

Read more:Booz Allen Hamilton's HR chief reveals the question she asks job candidates to see if they're invested in their career. Here's what she wants to hear in response.

10. McKinsey & Company

Potential total compensation: $240,000

McKinsey & Company is one of the toughest firms to break into, as applicants' odds of getting hired are less than 1%. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, McKinsey welcomed more than 1,500 full-time employees and 1,000 summer interns for a virtual onboarding in 2020. 

The consulting firm is one of the so called "Big Three" firms that include Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Bain & Company. 

Danielle Bozarth, senior partner and the lead partner of North America recruitment at the firm, told Insider that hiring managers are interviewing for open positions in 2022. 

"We consistently look for folks with great problem-solving skills, the ability to work well with teams, and the ability to develop strong relationships with their peers and clients — we still look for those qualities and that aspect hasn't changed because of COVID-19," she said.

Consultants at McKinsey can make a $165,000 base salary, and returning interns can also receive a 50% business school reimbursement, according to the report. It's important to note that consultants based in McKinsey's Hong Kong office earn a $114,000 salary, and nearly $124,000 in the UK. 

Read more:MAKING IT AT MCKINSEY: Your guide to getting hired, promoted, and paid at consulting giant McKinsey & Company

9. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Potential total compensation: $244,250

BCG was named a premier employer for five years by Fortune's "100 Best Places to Work" ranking. Amid the pandemic, it revamped its summer internship program, changed new hires' start dates, and extended full-time offers to all interns.  

Joe Davis, North America CEO and chairman at BCG, previously told Insider that the firm will likely reach out to more schools — perhaps smaller and less "elite" universities — for prospects.

"We scan through every résumé anyways," he said. "Now that everything is turned virtual, it's really fair game. And that's going to make it even more attractive for the young folks who are interested, and they can find us more easily."

Business school graduates get 15 days of paid vacation days each year, as well as up to $8,000 in relocation reimbursement. While US employees earn a $165,000 base salary, consultants make about $127,000 in the UK, $123,000 in Australia, and nearly $100,000 in Spain, the report noted. 

Read more: A BCG executive who's consulted on 3 presidential transitions explains the key leadership strategies Biden will need to set his team up for success in his first 100 days

8. L.E.K. Consulting

Potential total compensation: $245,000

L.E.K is a global management consulting firm that specializes in advising clients from private equity firms, entrepreneurs, and corporate businesses from both the private and public sectors. This year, the company announced 18 global partner promotions.

Apart from making a $165,000 base salary and up to $25,000 in performance bonuses, L.E.K. employees who are returning interns also receive up to $25,000 in tuition reimbursement, the report noted.

Read more: Meet 10 recruiters and career coaches that can help you nab a 6-figure job at consulting firms like McKinsey and Bain

7. AlixPartners

Potential total compensation: $250,000 

AlixPartners is a global advisory firm that's known to help struggling companies out of business crises and administer corporate turnarounds. And right now, AlixPartners alongside turnaround consultancies are on a hiring spree.

The boutique firm said turnaround projects accounted for 30% of its work in 2020, up from 20% in all of 2019. It just hired 50 new employees, Insider's Samantha Stokes previously reported.

Lisa Donahue and Joff Mitchell, managing directors and joint global heads of restructuring at AlixPartners, told Insider that the firm's consultants handle a wide range of tasks, from negotiating with lenders, helping managers preserve liquidity, to working hand-in-hand with teams to develop robust business plans for the new normal. The firm is also advising clients on how to take care of their workforce, as the health and well-being of employees remain top priority amid the pandemic, they added. 

"This is the time when our operational turnaround skills really come into play as we're working with companies way ahead of any court process to help them plan for a range of potential outcomes,"Donahue said previously.

Employees receive a base salary range of $150,000 to $165,000. They also get 22 days of paid vacation days each year, according to Management Consulted's report. 

Read more: Consulting salaries revealed: How much employees make at 12 boutique firms including Booz Allen Hamilton, AlixPartners, and Mercer

6. Bain & Company

Potential total compensation: $252,250 

In 2021, management consulting firm Bain & Company was named the best place to work by Glassdoor's annual employee choice ranking for the fifth time in a row. 

The consultancy has more than doubled its anticipated summer internship class during the pandemic, and it also extended full-time offers to more than 450 MBA and undergraduate students. 

During a live webinar event with Insider, Keith Bevans, the firm's global head of consultant recruitment, advised applicants to have clarity of their own career vision. In other words, you should know how Bain differentiates from other consulting firms that you might have applied to, and how a full-time position would help accelerate your own goals. 

MBA graduates at Bain make a $165,000 base salary in the US, about $320,000 in Switzerland, and more than $123,000 in the UK, the report noted. 

Read more: The 3 recruitment heads from Bain, PwC, and McKinsey share how you can make your application stand out and land a 6-figure consulting job at the firms

5. Kearney

Potential total compensation: $255,000

Kearney was originally a part of McKinsey & Co. before splitting off and becoming its own firm in 1937. Since then, it has built up a reputation as one of the best operations consulting firms. 

Management Consulted's salary report pointed out that employees make a $168,000 in the US, nearly $120,000 in Canada, about $102,000 in Germany, and more than $155,000 in Dubai. Relocation reimbursements for staffers can range from $6,000 to $10,000. 

4. OC&C Strategy Consultants

Potential total compensation: $255,250 

OC&C Strategy Consultants is a London-based firm founded by Chris Outram and Geoff Cullinan, two former partners at Booz Allen Hamilton. With more than 500 employees, OC&C's consultants advise their clients through corporate strategies and mergers and acquisitions. 

Employees with a business school degree earn a $165,000 base salary, according to the salary reported. On top of a $57,750 performance bonuses, and a $25,000 signing bonus, consultants can receive $7,500 for relocation expenses. 

3. PwC Strategy&

Potential total compensation: $256,400

Also known as one of the "Big Four" firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a global professional services firm with more than $42 billion in revenue.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the firm welcomed 3,500 summer interns for a virtual 10-week long program and offered them full-time offers. A company spokeswoman recently told Insider that PwC typically brings in 13,000 entry-level and experienced hires each year, and its hiring volume will be similar in 2021. 

Rod Adams, US talent acquisition leader at PwC, explained that consulting positions have become increasingly tech-focused. Candidates should mention digital skills in their résumé and cover letter, he said previously.

"The way that we work now is very different from how we worked five years ago," he said. "It was already very different prior to the pandemic. Showing that you have a flexible mindset is really important to us as a firm." 

PwC employees make a $150,000 base salary in the US, nearly $117,000 in the UK, and more than $72,000 in Amsterdam. Consultants working specifically for the firm's strategy consulting division can earn up to $168,000 in base pay. 

Read more: PwC's recruitment head reveals what the firm's virtual internship will look like this summer, and how future interns can stand out and land a 6-figure job with the company

2. Deloitte Strategy & Operations (S&O)

Potential total compensation: $260,000

Deloitte is also one of the "Big Four" firms, and it's organized into three main service areas that offer different salaries. These areas include the human capital division, the strategy and operations division, and the technology division.

Though being one of the highest-paying firms, it's important to note that Deloitte has slowed down some of its recruitment and HR efforts in response to the pandemic.

It delayed many of its full-time hires' start dates, shortened internship programs for students, and laid off 5,000 US workers and 200 people in Canada. 

Management Consulted's salary report noted that employees working for Deloitte's strategy and operations division have the highest potential compensation of $260,000. Other employees can earn $192,200 working at Deloitte Human Capital, $175,700 at Deloitte Consulting, and $159,230 at Deloitte Government & Public Services. 

Read more:The CEO of Deloitte Consulting reveals the 4 biggest misconceptions leaders need to leave behind if they want to develop a winning business strategy in 2021

1. Accenture Strategy

Potential total compensation: $262,500 

Accenture is a leading consultancy with a footprint in over 40 industries and more than 500,000 employees worldwide. The firm pays its strategy consultants the highest salaries, according to Management Consulted's report. 

Accenture made job cuts, reduced promotions, and put hiring on pause in response to the pandemic. Last August, the firm told employees that 5% of Accenture's workforce could be cut. 

While MBA graduates make a $105,000 base salary at Accenture's consulting practice, employees working within the firm's strategy division earn up to $155,000. 

Read more:Accenture salary data reveals how much it pays for jobs in consulting, data science, engineering, and computer programming

Mark Wahlberg, the movie star and owner of burger chain Wahlburgers, wanted to be able to talk to all the employees and customers at his restaurants at once — to "go live" from one of the chain's locations and communicate with everyone in the store at once.

Video-conferencing tools were tricky, and a massive conference would have been impossible. The burger chain, which has video screens for menus and social media in every location, found a solution through Raydiant, an internet-of-things startup that runs an operating system for businesses to sync their technology. It's been used at Wahlburgers locations for years, and the young company ended up creating a tool so Wahlberg could broadcast to everyone at once. 

Now he's an investor in their latest fundraising round.

Raydiant just raised $13 million in their Series A, which was led by venture capital firms 8VC and Atomic, and included money from Wahlberg. The goal of the company is to be Square is to point-of-sale transactions or what Roku is streaming but for technology at store locations, said Bobby Marhamat, the firm's CEO. 

"You need things to work," he said. "There's no platform that does what ours does." 

Below is the 13-page pitchdeck that raised $13 million for the San Francisco-based company. 

SEE ALSO: PITCH-DECK LIBRARY: Search over 300 pitch decks that startups including Uber, Postmates, and Airbnb used to raise millions

SEE ALSO: Bankruptcy court just approved the largest restaurant franchise sale in history. Here's how franchisor Greg Flynn plans to expand his empire with a $550 million bet on Pizza Hut and Wendy's.

Slide 1

Raydiant began as a purely digital signage company in 2017, and when Marhamat joined the company roughly a year and a half ago, he saw the opportunity was bigger to be the connector for all technology a store or location uses. 

Slide 2

The platform was the result of the strategy shift brought on by Marhamat, who is trying to coin the phrase "experience platform" to describe what the company does. 

Slide 3

Raydiant believes businesses haven't enjoyed the same advances in technology synchronization that consumers have.

While Roku, Google, Amazon, and more have introduced solutions to sync up different streaming services under one place, restaurants often have different systems for point-of-sale technology, digital signage, in-store music, and more. 

Slide 4

The biggest headache Raydiant has been hearing from clients is that it is difficult to build and manage a huge operating system. 

For small companies, Marhamat said, it's stressful to add that on-top of running a small business. For large chains, it can be expensive and unwieldy, forcing the company to basically create a new wing to handle it. 

Slide 5

The example Marhamat uses is McDonald's, which had to spend billions to get technology uniformity across its thousands of locations. 

Slide 6

This slide shows the different technology points a customer might interact with at a store, underscoring the importance that they are all on the same page. 

Slide 7

The big reason Marhamat wanted to expand beyond just digital signage is the market opportunity for Raydiant's operating system. While the young company is a ways away from being the go-to provider for every chain in the country, Marhamat believes the market is worth more than $1 trillion.

Slide 8

The firm certainly has big ambitions — hoping to become the Roku or Square of in-store technology. 

Slide 9

The client list is diverse as well. Financial giants like Bank of America use the system in branches, while Harvard uses it for on-campus brick-and-mortar locations. Planet Fitness, with its thousands of locations, is a client along with Wahlburgers and Pizza Ranch. 

According to a press release on the Series A raise, Raydiant has more than 2,500 customers.

Slide 10

Testimonials from an investor like Wahlberg should be expected — he's also on the firm's website touting the technology — but First Bank and Treasure Island also offer their public support.

The release from Raydiant notes that clients see an average revenue increase of 12% once implementing the system with more repeat customers. 

Slide 11

More and more businesses are using more screens, and Raydiant has found those companies to be the most profitable and also most loyal, which is why they are targeting this segment of the market.

Through August of last year, more than half of subscriptions to their operating system have come from screen-heavy companies.

Slide 12

Raydiant has worked to partner with leading point-of-sale and video-conferencing technology providers, such as Zoom and BlueJeans, which has helped bolster Marhamat's belief that no company offers a similar platform.

"The magic is the simplicity of it," he said. "We connect everything for you in a matter of weeks, if not days." 

Slide 13

The presentation ends with one more reference to the company's most famous advisor and investor. Atomic founder Jack Abraham is also an advisor for the start-up.