Preparing for an initial public offering requires meticulous planning, particularly in equity plan management, write Kate Winglet and Michael Gaviser from Morgan Stanley. Companies must assess their readiness for public markets, implement scalable systems and prepare employees for the changes an IPO brings. Effective communication and education are crucial to help employees navigate new financial opportunities and regulatory requirements, they write.

To retain Generation Z employees, companies must offer flexible and financially accessible learning opportunities, writes Michelle Westfort, the chief product officer at InStride. "This generation expects their investment in education and skill development to translate into tangible opportunities, with employers who recognize these efforts as integral components of a defined career progression," Westfort notes.

A sophisticated ransomware attack completely locked founder Zainab Ghadiyali out of the company's AI-powered platform just two weeks before its planned public launch. Ghadiyali was determined not to pay the ransom and assembled a committed legal and technical team, leveraged law enforcement connections and executed a strategy based on patience, detailed evidence and technical expertise. By shifting operations offline, doubling engineering efforts and reinforcing security, the company regained complete control within weeks and resumed operations, ultimately emerging stronger.

Startup founders have a short window -- just two to three years -- to capitalize on the current AI boom, says Box CEO Aaron Levie, who emphasizes the urgency of launching ventures that harness AI, warning that such opportunities for market transformation are rare and may not return for another decade or two. Levie advised entrepreneurs to act ambitiously within this limited time-frame to maximize their chances of success.

Adopting an ownership mindset means taking initiative, being accountable for results, and thinking beyond one's job description. "The game-changer was when I started showing our cleaning crews exactly how client retention works," said Anna Szczurek, owner of SkyLine Commercial Cleaning. "When they understood that losing just one medical facility client costs us $3,200 monthly, our team began proactively reporting maintenance issues before clients even noticed them."

Geordie, a startup focused on helping organizations with the secure deployment of AI agents, has emerged from stealth with $6.5 million in funding. "Our platform, purpose-built for agents, ensures enterprises don't have to choose between innovation and security," said Geordie CEO Henry Comfort.

Rodatherm Energy has raised $38 million to advance a pilot geothermal project in Utah using refrigerants in a closed-loop system instead of water to potentially lower costs and water intensity. The technology is ideal for hot sedimentary rock, making it a good fit for basins in the Western US and the Gulf Coast. Federal tax credits and fast-track regulatory efforts under President Donald Trump bode well for the industry, said CEO Curtis Cook.