Latest news with #PlusAI
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Save The Best For Last In Your Presentation Narrative
Businesswoman giving a presentation in front of a bored distracted colleagues, EPS 8 vector ... More illustration getty McKinsey is a prestigious management consulting companies with a well-deserved sterling reputation for helping corporations deal with complex business problems. They also offer their clients advice on presentations, which is where they fall short, particularly with their recommendations for the composition of slide titles. 'Most McKinsey slides follow this simple but effective format: Action title: The title is written as a sentence that tells the viewer the conclusion of the slide,' explains PlusAI, a U.S. company offering to 'Supercharge your slides.' And Slideworks, a Danish-U.S. presentation design company started and run by former employees of McKinsey and other management consulting companies, recommends that 'the title of a slide should always be an 'action title' that articulates the key takeaway or 'so-what' of the slide.' Inexperienced boxers, in an effort to create momentum and force, wind up or rear back before throwing a punch. This is known as 'telegraphing.' The phrase, meaning a premature revelation of intentions, has taken on wider application in other sports and even in other contexts such as business, politics, and even writing. In all cases, the impact of the revelation is diffused or lost—an unwise strategy. Instead, as in boxing, the best advice is to withhold rather than signal intentions. This advice is also a perfect metaphor for the title of a slide. If a company called Acme Widget were to show a bar or a pie chart of their competitive landscape with their figures being the greatest, an action title would be 'Acme Widget Leads the Market.' If instead, the title were to be 'Acme Widget Competitive Landscape' with all the same information, the presenter could discuss the landscape, comparing and contrasting all the players and their offerings, and then conclude, 'Acme Widget's superior solution makes it the market leader' either verbally or as an animated text box—at the bottom of the slide. Furthermore, if the presentation were to be given to a customer, using the identical chart, the presenter could go beyond the conclusion to add, 'That's why the Acme Widget is the perfect solution for you.' And if the presentation were to be given to an investor, still with the identical chart, the presenter could go on to add, 'Acme Widget's superior performance makes it an attractive investment opportunity.' There are four important benefits of the above approach: Benefit One Logic: 'Action titles' jump to a conclusion before presenting the evidence. Only when the evidence is presented has the presenter earned to right to make a conclusion. Efficiency: No need to reinvent the wheel. Slides can be repurposed and used for diverse audiences, delegating the message to the presenter's narrative. Benefit Three Customization: Every audience has its unique requirements and benefits. One size does not fit all. Tailor every presentation to every audience. Benefit Four Focus: The presenter—and not the slide—delivers the message and provides the value. It can be no other way. 'Action titles' are actually quite passive. They assume that the audience will read the message and get the point on their own. Instead, the presenter actively leads the audience to a conclusion. That's called persuasion. To conclude, we turn to another metaphor: comedians save the punch line until the end of the joke.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Self-Driving Truck Startup Plus Goes Public In $1.2B SPAC Merger, Backed By Wall Street Titan Michael Klein And Hyundai
Plus Automation last week it would merge with special purpose acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp IX (NASDAQ:CCIX) that values the startup at $1.2 billion and brings $300 million in fresh capital for its push into autonomous trucking by 2027. According to Plus Automation, the merger provides the resources needed to scale its factory-integrated autonomous trucking model. After closing, the combined company will operate as PlusAI and prioritize deployment through its global original equipment manufacturer partnerships. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Plus Automation is led by a founding team of Stanford-trained PhD engineers and seasoned tech entrepreneurs, each with a history of building and scaling innovation-focused companies. CEO David Liu, now on his fourth startup, brings a consistent track record of growth across prior ventures, reinforcing investor confidence in the company's ability to execute, Plus Automation says. Launched in 2016 from Silicon Valley, Plus Automation designed SuperDrive as an AI-based virtual driver for heavy-duty trucks. The company says that its system has already accumulated more than 5 million miles across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, forming a robust real-world dataset that underpins its neural-network engine. In April, SuperDrive hit a crucial driver-out safety milestone, signaling readiness for commercial deployment. According to Plus Automation, public road trials are active in Texas and Sweden, with broader fleet testing slated for fall. Trending: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Plus Automation's strategy leans heavily on factory integration rather than retrofitting existing trucks. That original equipment manufacturer-first model involves close collaboration with Hyundai, TRATON Group, and Iveco to produce SuperDrive-enabled trucks at scale, Plus Automation says. Churchill Capital Corp IX, led by veteran financier Michael Klein, will provide up to $300 million from its trust account to finance Plus Automation's next growth phase. Plus Automation says that this injection is expected to fully fund the startup through its 2027 commercial launch without requiring additional equity raises. The merger maintains a clean balance sheet for the combined entity and locks up existing Plus Automation shareholders for 180 to 360 days to reinforce long-term commitment. Plus Automation and its and Churchill IX's shareholders will hold one-vote shares to ensure governance European and U.S. trucking markets are valued at nearly $2 trillion, facing persistent shortages of around 300,000 drivers annually, the company says. Plus Automation plans to monetize via a per-mile "driver-as-a-service" model to generate high-margin recurring revenue. Physical AI solutions are gaining traction due to lighter regulations and growing demand for logistical efficiency. Dealer interest is rising as governments across the U.S. consider easing safety rules for heavy autonomous vehicles. California's Department of Motor Vehicles recently proposed testing heavy-duty self-driving trucks on public roads, marking an important regulatory shift. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter, pending shareholder approvals, Plus Automation says. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Self-Driving Truck Startup Plus Goes Public In $1.2B SPAC Merger, Backed By Wall Street Titan Michael Klein And Hyundai originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
PlusAI seals $1.2bn autonomous truck deal
Plus Automation, an AI-based virtual driver software for autonomous trucks and Churchill Capital Corp IX has announced a definitive business combination agreement, paving the way for the company to go public. The transaction values Plus at a pre-money equity value of $1.2bn and is expected to provide $300m in gross proceeds. Upon completion, the combined entity will be known as PlusAI. Churchill IX chairman and CEO Michael Klein said, 'Physical AI will be transformative across industries, and Churchill IX is excited to give public investors access to a leading company in the sector primed for AI-driven innovation. After evaluating many opportunities, we knew Plus was the right partner. 'Trucking is the backbone of the global economy but the industry faces a persistent driver shortage that autonomous trucking has the potential to solve. Broad adoption depends on confidence in vehicle performance and safety and Plus stands out with its advanced virtual driver platform and a customer-centric commercialization model led by OEM partners." The commercial rollout of SuperDrive trucks is anticipated by 2027. Klein added: "With a software-focused, capital-efficient model, Plus is well positioned to scale and we're excited to partner with their talented team to support the company's next phase of growth.' Founded in 2016 by Stanford University classmates David Liu and Shawn Kerrigan, Plus is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, US. The company specialises in developing AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks. Plus has made strides in deploying its autonomous driving technology across the US, Europe, and Asia, logging over five million miles of driving. It supplies this software to Traton Group, Hyundai, and Iveco for heavy trucks. Its system, SuperDrive, has recently passed a crucial safety test and is undergoing trials in Texas and Sweden, with more planned for fall. SuperDrive will first cater to US manufacturers before moving to Europe, and Plus plans to offer it through a driver-as-a-service model for a steady revenue stream. "PlusAI seals $1.2bn autonomous truck deal" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Self-driving startup Plus to go public through $1.2 billion SPAC deal
(Reuters) -Self-driving truck startup Plus Automation will go public in the U.S. through a merger with blank-check firm Churchill Capital Corp IX in a $1.2 billion deal, the companies said on Thursday. The transaction will provide the company with $300 million in gross proceeds, which it plans to use to achieve the commercial launch of its autonomous trucks in 2027. The combined company will operate as PlusAI, after the transaction closes. Citigroup advised Churchill IX on the deal, while Northland Capital Markets served as the financial adviser to Plus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
