It can be hard to separate truth from fiction in the rhetoric surrounding U.S. small businesses, but recent data suggests there may be more reason for optimism than negativity. As it turns out, things aren’t quite as bad on Main Street as some might expect. With growth of establishments rising by 0.3 percent between Q1 and Q2 in 2016, there’s plenty in the sector about which to feel good going forward. And, some industries — especially fitness — are turning out to be particularly strong.  Read More...

With in-game purchases accounting for 41.1 percent of total sales at some studios, microtransactions have become big business for games developers. As companies look for ways to extend the financial lifecycles of major releases, publishers are researching methods to tune experiences to raise engagement and increase consumer spend. One patent, granted earlier this month, illustrates how development studios are looking to tinker with their matchmaking algorithms and use machine learning to grow transaction volume.  Read More...

When restaurateurs need extra help, a warm body on the floor isn’t always enough. They need someone with the right skill set to keep things running smoothly. A few entrepreneurs are building software platforms to help them find those people — and to help gig economy workers find gig after gig, delivering wins on both sides of the marketplace. The competition for market share heats up as these three platforms and others try to carve out their niche, taking on the likes of Snagajob and even professional social network LinkedIn along the way.  Read More...