Programmatic Manager / Digital Marketing Specialist / AdOps Specialist

NEWME Raises $18 Million to Expand Omnichannel Presence

- NEWME, a fashion brand for Gen Z women, has secured $18 million in a funding round led by Accel, with participation from Fireside Ventures and AUM Ventures. - The capital will be used to enhance the company's omnichannel presence and improve its supply-chain technology, according to CEO Sumit Jasoria. - NEWME plans to open 40-50 stores in 20 key cities, including Guwahati, Shillong, and Imphal, over the next 12-18 months. - The funding comes as more companies focus on the Gen Z market, with competitors like Lyskraft and major players like Flipkart and Myntra also targeting this demographic. - Accel's Anand Daniel highlighted the potential of D2C brands in India's retail sector, which is projected to reach $2.2 trillion by 2030. Source: Moneycontrol - tinyurl.com/29nkuujy

Newer studies on social media & mental health

Not actually very conclusive scientifically, but I feel this makes a lot of sense. Mental health deterioration and social media usage seem to be increasingly linked. - In Australia, spikes in psychological distress (a general indicator of mental ill-health) are driven by "millennials" and "Gen-Zs". - The most recent Australian data shows that 40 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds (Gen Z) experienced a mental disorder in the preceding 12 months, an increase from 26 per cent in 2007. - In 2013, 97 per cent of Australian adolescents were already using social media (on any device). A 2017 study found teens averaged more than three hours of social media use a day across at least four different social media platforms. - When looking at these two trends side-by-side, it might appear we have found our solution to youth mental health: restrict screen time. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/etmarkets-emerging-investment-opportunities-2024/articleshow/108590758.cms

tl;dr: Gen-Z with pedigree have zero work ethics

I’m not trying to romanticize burnout or act like overworking is the goal - no one’s asking for 80-hour weeks or to be glued to a desk. It’s just about showing up and really putting in the work during the hours you're actually there. Get through the day, put in the grind for the 8-9 hours, instead of always finding little workarounds or boundaries like work’s this huge burden. With some folks, especially Gen-Z? It’s like they’re expecting applause just for clocking in. Honestly, the entitlement sometimes is hard to understand. Wanting work-life balance? Totally fair, makes sense. But there’s still a basic commitment that comes with a job. Every time there’s a project with a bit of grit, it feels like there’s this immediate instinct to push back, sidestep the tough parts, and look for the smoothest route. Nobody’s above rolling up their sleeves, you know? But some of these guys, they treat working hard like it’s an outdated concept, like giving full effort is optional. And for those with the big names on their degrees? Sometimes it feels like they think that alone should mean they’re past the heavy lifting. They want the titles and perks, but without really showing the effort. On the other hand, working with folks who didn’t have all those privileges? Whole different story. They’re here ready to prove something, fully leaning into whatever task’s in front of them. They don’t get caught up in endless boundary-setting or second-guessing feedback - they’re putting in the work, seeing it as a chance, not a chore. And they don’t expect shortcuts; they’re in for the real effort. It’s not about glorifying long hours - it’s about being fully present for the hours you’re on the clock. Seeing some of this avoidance around commitment, it’s like somewhere along the line, the understanding got lost that success is built in the small, daily grind - the stuff that doesn’t come with instant validation.