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In this day and age, people are not confined to traditional job titles and career options. With changing landscapes, youth is getting inclined more towards <keyword id="4160532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="quirky-career-options">quirky career options</keyword>.<br />
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The millennials are ditching the conventional job options and leaning towards cooler and unconventional careers.<br />
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“The year 2017 is going to witness radical changes because of three broad trends – growing dependence on technology, ever-changing dynamics in the field of careers, and a rise of unconventional and quirky careers,” said Prateek Bhargava, CEO, Mindler.<br />
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There are many options in the new-age careers which also fetch attractive salaries.<br />
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“A general presumption is that offbeat and exciting careers do not pay well, but if you hit it off right, and are adept at what you do, then you are in for a highly rewarding, fun and exhilarating career,” he said.<br />
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The entry-level salaries are at par, and in some cases even better, than those in conventional careers. Average salaries, say for UX design from a top college rake at Rs 80,000 a month, which is a tad bit higher than the average salaries for an engineering program.<br />
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This holds true for programs such as big data analytics, and content design, where professionals can start anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, and go up to Rs 3,00,000 a month depending upon their expertise, and domain experience.<br />
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“Forensic accounting, and rural management are again careers that see high demand, and professionals that possess domain experience, and expertise have the potential to earn up to Rs 2,00,000 a month. The entry-level salaries are between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 though,” said Bhargava.<br />
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So, if you are planning to take the road less travelled, here are 10 quirky new-age careers students should watch out for in 2017

10 quirky career options with starting salaries as high as Rs 3 lakh

Do you dream of quitting your job and hopping on a plane to see the world? You don't have to leave the workforce — or even drain your bank account — to spend your days traveling.<br />
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With the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/7-ways-you-can-get-people-to-take-you-seriously/articleshow/51524481.cms">right skill sets</a>, you could put yourself on a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Top-7-highest-paying-jobs-in-India-that-dont-require-a-college-degree/articleshow/51491684.cms">career path</a> that allows you to frequently visit different locations as part of your job requirements. If you want to get paid to travel, consider one of these <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/9-ways-women-can-take-charge-of-their-careers/articleshow/51452734.cms">career options</a>:<br />
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Do you love travelling? Consider one of these career options, and you can get paid to travel

Gone are the days when all you could think was being a doctor, engineer, or at the most a lawyer. Along with a massive increase in the scale of options available, the return such<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Highest-pay-packages-ever-won-by-Indian-students/articleshow/51409356.cms"> jobs offer</a> is also at par or even more than the routine professions or services.<br />
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<strong>ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/9-Online-Courses-Young-India-is-droolingover/articleshow/51438538.cms">9 Online Courses Young India is drooling over</a></strong><br />
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In the section that follows, we give you a checklist of the 9 most popular non-conventional <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/5-easy-ways-to-exude-confidence-in-your-next-job-interview/articleshow/51425836.cms">career choices</a> you can make, provided they suit your ability as well as level of interest:<br />

The 9 most offbeat and interesting courses offered by Indian universities

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">The Lexus UX 250h.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2019 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/lexus">Lexus</a> UX 250h is a new subcompact luxury hybrid.</li><li>Lexus now offers hybrid versions of three crossovers in different segments, providing alternatives to sedans.</li><li>The Lexus UX 250h is offbeat, but I liked the small crossover quite a lot. A fuel-economy rating of nearly 40 mpg combined certainly helps.</li></ul><p><br />In the world of departed luxury hybrid oddities, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lexus-ct200h-review-2017-1">Lexus CT200h wagonette seemed to have exactly one fan</a>, and that fan was me. Understandable, as the CT200h was a slicked-up version of my own Toyota Prius.</p><p>That car is now gone, but Lexus hasn't given up on offering customers a downsized hybrid. Enter the UX 250h, a subcompact premium crossover that I recently sampled with an available F Sport package. Combined with a fully loaded infotainment system and some driver assist tech, this added over $5,000 to the base price of $36,000.</p><p>Toyota's luxury brand now offers a hybrid version of three crossovers: the midsize RX, the compact NX, and the subcompact UX. Each can achieve a combined city-highway fuel-economy rating of at least 30 mpg, with the UX naturally posting the best number, an impressive 39 mpg. </p><h2>Some quick math of the hybrid proposition</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">A hybrid set of wheels.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>In each case, the hybrid technology adds about $2,000 to the price tag. So you have to do a little math to determine how long it will take you to make back the money on gas savings. Let's say we round up to 40 mpg; with a gas tank that holds about 11 gallons, the UX 250h delivers a range of 440 miles on a fill-up. </p><p>That's 34 trips to the gas station a year, assuming a 15,000-mile total. According to AAA, the average price per gallon in the US right now is $2.30, so you're looking at spending $860 annually (Lexus estimates $1,000), and you don't need to use premium fuel. </p><p>The non-hybrid UX has a 12.50-gallon tank and has a combined mpg rating of 33 - so about 412 miles on a tank, about three more fillups: $1,020 in yearly fuel costs. The difference is $160.</p><p>So, yeah, 12 years to make up the additional cost. But - and it's a big but - emissions could be 30% lower for the hybrid, and really more given that the UX has to burn about two fewer gallons of gas to cover a longer overall distance. (And of course, you could always compare the UX 250h's gas costs to a less fuel-efficient luxury choice and make back your $2,000 faster.)</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">Nicely designed.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Would you pay two grand to lower your carbon footprint and drop an entire month of gas-ups during a year? And don't forget, if you buy the UX 250h new, you don't have to own it for 12 years - but if you keep it for five, then traded it in or sell it, it will remain on the road for at least ten and probably more, given Toyota's reputation for reliability. </p><p>Boy! That was a lot of thinking, wasn't it? But such is the world of hybrids. In many ways, their higher costs represent an investment in two things: long-term emission reductions and fewer trips to the gas station. The overt, what-will-I get-back economics are more challenging.</p><p>Personally, I think if you would like to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, then buying a hybrid is a good way to go, especially because you're probably going to finance the purchase and can somewhat mitigate the extra cost that way, assuming you have the means. (And by "mitigate," I don't mean "pay less" - I mean that you'll submerge that extra $2,000 in a five-year loan.)</p><h2>A nicer, beefier, crossover Prius</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">All all-black interior, save for some red topstitching.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>All right, back the car-review portion of the program. You can think of the Lexus UX 250h as a nicer, beefier, crossover Prius (although the drivetrain technology is different). The Prius is a good car, but Lexus adds the luxury touches that make for a more upscale experience. The brand is also one of the Big Four luxury marques in the US, alongside Mercedes, BMW, and Audi.</p><p>In that company, Lexus isn't exactly thrilling, although it makes some snazzy rides, such as the 471-horsepower, V8-engined LC. Rather, Lexus deals in exceptionally quality - it's cars aren't supposed to give you any trouble.</p><p>Trouble-free carbon-footprint reduction, in a sharp, subcompact luxury crossover livery. Sound like what you're in the market for?</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">Our tester had the F Sport treatment.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>If so, you're gonna love the UX 250h. I certainly did. Bottom line: splendid car. I'd take it over the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 (if the hybrid option were unavailable, I'd think about the UX200). I'm not a big fan of the name, but you can't have everything, and Lexus has never really done old-school monikers.</p><p>Lexuses are simply stupid easy to live with. All of them. The whole point of the brand is unconscious luxury, the type that allows you to get on with the rest of your life. Lexus has slightly threatened that legacy of late with some flamboyant exterior styling, notably a controversial "spindle" grille. But under the skin, Lexuses and Lexuses. And to be honest, both Toyota and Lexus' more attention-craving designs have productively ended the era of the Japanese automaker's cars resembling <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> appliances.</p><p>Outside, the UX 250h presents a dynamic package, a shapely wedge with expressive contours that, with the F Sport setup, adds an integrated spoiler the rear roofline. As wee crossovers go, it looks downright awesome, and my tester really popped on a snowy day in "Redline" paint job. A set of 18-inch F Sport wheels added to the effect.</p><p>Under the hood, the UX 250h has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that, when yoked to an electric battery mounted over the rear axle, serves up 181 total horsepower. That mill, matched to a smooth continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a sport-manual mode, can propel the crossover from 0-60 mph in a respectable if not exhilarating eight-and-a-half seconds. CVTs have their critics, but they do help with the MPG, and the UX 250h is so solidly assembled with pride in Miyawaka, Japan that when it's time to pass a semi on the highway, the dreaded CVT buzz is quite subdued.</p><h2>The infotainment system is not a strong point</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">The infotainment screen is nice.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The seats lean sporty, so if that mushy Lexus saddlery is what you're expecting, look elsewhere. On my tester, the fronts were heated and cooled, and the steering wheel, wrapped in perforated leather, was also heated. The rear seats are cozy, so bear that in mind if you intend to transport grownups. Cargo capacity is meh, but this is, after all, a subcompact SUV. The fact that a battery lives beneath the cargo area doesn't help.</p><p>A genuine weak spot is Lexus's flatly awful infotainment system, which uses an attractive, centrally located landscape screen that is 10.3 inches, operated using a maddening trackpad plus some knobs and buttons located near the shifter, between the front seats. It's the most difficult system to use of any that we've tested from luxury brands. Once you learn it's many quirks, however, navigation, Bluetooth pairing, and device integration work as they're supposed to.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">But using the infotainment system is difficult.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The driving dynamics are middle-of-the-road. An EV mode can be activated to creep along on battery power alone. Normal mode is for highway cruising, and Eco mode maxes out the MPGs at the expense of performance. Sport mode transforms the instrument cluster to a red-tinged display, and it peps up acceleration while tightening the steering. The suspension is firm without being stiff.</p><p>And the UX 250h, thanks to the electric motor, can provide all-wheel-drive, which I assessed on a snowy, slushy, icy day. I wouldn't say it filled me with confidence. But the vehicle wasn't struggling, either. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">Cargo capacity is a mere 17 cubic feet.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>My time with this new Lexus hybrid was, for the most part, pleasant. As with pretty much every Lexus we've tested at Business Insider, the brand's manifold competencies add up in a subtle, cumulative manner. The end result is that even if we can isolate some issues, nothing is ever major enough for us to not wholeheartedly recommend the vehicle. "Really good car," is a typical verdict. </p><p>The Lexus UX 250h is no exception. And, as Lexuses go, it's reasonably priced, even in with the hybrid drivetrain. Crossovers are the hottest vehicle segment in the US, so Lexus was wise to bring the UX to market. And if you're shopping for a modest luxury SUV, you'd be wise to check it out.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lexus-hoverboard-explainer-video-how-science-behind-2015-8">Lexus just revealed exactly how they made the hoverboard everyone is talking about</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

I drove a $42,000 Lexus UX hybrid SUV to see if this offbeat, entry-level crossover is worthy of its luxury nameplate. Here's the verdict.

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<br /> School exams have just come to an end and just like every year, <keyword id="6360099" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-University">Delhi University</keyword> is going to top the priority list of students hailing from various parts of India. Regarded as one of the best Indian universities, Delhi University (DU) not only prepares its students for exams and makes them job-ready, but also prepares them for life’s tough challenges that may turn up sooner or later. The alma mater of some of the best minds in the country, DU offers the best courses in conventional fields like Science, Arts and Commerce. However, it also offers some unconventional courses for people who prefer to shine in those offbeat fields. Business Insider India has come up with a list of 5 offbeat courses offered by Delhi University.<br />
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<strong>1. Diploma In Business Journalism &amp; Corporate Communication</strong><br />
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Different from other communication and journalism courses offered by the university, this course prepares you for business journalism and corporate communication, a business-specific branch of journalism. Communication and business communication, Indian business environment, print and electronic media, financial system and analysis, information technology and cyber journalism, global information scenario, PR and corporate communication, and advertising and marketing are some of the key topics that are taken care of in this diploma course spanning two semesters. As of now, only Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce offers this course.<br />
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<strong>2. B.Sc. (Hons) in Instrumentation</strong><br />
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If you are the one with a deep interest in instrumentation, this graduation degree will be the perfect course for you. Network analysis, applied physics, digital and analog electronics, industrial instrumentation, statistical methods and reliability, circuit analysis and other related topics are taught in this degree course spanning three years and six semesters.<br />
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<strong>3. B.Sc. in Physical Education, Health Education &amp; Sports</strong><br />
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A degree in Physical Education, Health Education and Sports is an all-new specialisation offered by Delhi University and it enables you to study everything under the scope of sports science. Students who want to teach physical education or want to work in the fitness industry or seek to do research in sport- and health-related areas can take up this course for a detailed study of sports science.<br />
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<strong>4. Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences</strong><br />
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The main objective of this course is to educate you in the basic principles, laws and ethics of librarianship. This course is gaining in popularity because of the attractive career scope in this field. People who love books and have it in them to lead the disciplined life of a librarian, may opt for this course.<br />
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<strong>5. Master of Human Resource and Organisational Development (MHROD)</strong><br />
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An MBA in HR is not the only option if you want to study an insightful and intricate subject like Human Resources. MHROD also offers the same course, spanning a number of areas including management, human resources, business values, industrial relations, organisational behaviour &amp; development, business environment and cross-cultural management.

5 Offbeat Courses You Can Study In Delhi University

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Seven years ago, I left my full-time job and pursued a few side-hustles. One was figure modeling.</li><li>I pose nude for art studios and schools for $20 to $25 an hour. It's been great for my body image.</li></ul><p>Seven years ago, I left my full-time job at a major university to focus more on writing and performing. (I'd eventually return to the 9-to-5 world on my own terms, but at the time, I desperately needed a break from the endless cycle of commute-desk-sleep-repeat.) I amped up my side gigs, while also working part-time at the front desk of a barre studio and exploring my options for earning money on a flexible schedule. </p><p>Then I started figure modeling and found an offbeat, perfect way to make extra cash.</p><h2><strong>What is figure modeling?</strong></h2><p>In general, art modeling entails posing for structured classes and open studios — the latter is when artists can come in during a specific period of time and draw, paint or sculpt. </p><p>There are two types of art modeling. "Portrait" modeling is usually done in a seated position with clothes on, so artists can render the model's head and shoulders. "Figure" modeling, more often than not, is done fully nude in a variety of positions. (Think of all the nude paintings and sculptures you see at an art museum!) </p><p>Some models only do portrait jobs. But I found that being a nude, or figure, model meant more gigs and thus, more money.</p><h2><strong>How it started and how it's going</strong></h2><p>I was friends with working nude models, some part-time and others full-time, at local art schools. One of them gave me the email address for a studio in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood that mainly catered to adult artists. I sent in two clothed photos and booked my first job the very next week.</p><div type="image" title="A painting of Lauren lying nude on her side with a blue background." height="2167" width="3024" msid="94207101" hostid="261" sizebytes="761558"></div><p>Seven years later, I've modeled both portrait (clothed) and figure (nude) — mostly the latter! — for everyone from high school students to retirees. I mostly model in studios and art schools, but I've also posed after-hours in a tattoo parlor and in an artist's living room.</p><p>It's still strictly a side hustle for me, but a lucrative and interesting one, where I've met all kinds of people and pocketed a healthy amount of cash (my rate is now between $20 to $25 per hour, plus tips if someone takes a photograph in an open studio setting). In my city, art modeling is very much about word of mouth — I usually leave a job with at least one to three new bookings.</p><h2><strong>Nude Modeling 101</strong></h2><p>In my experience, an art modeling session usually runs three to five hours (I've modeled as long as seven or eight, with a long break about halfway through), and the model is paid by the hour. </p><p>The model poses for anywhere between one minute (warm-ups when students are quickly sketching) and 25 to 30 minutes at a time (often referred to as "long pose"). Sometimes I'll strike the same long pose the entire time, or I'll switch up long poses every time I sit (or lay down). I'll get a break every 25 to 30 minutes, usually for about five minutes or so. </p><p>Sometimes the session monitor or instructor will time me, and other times I'll time myself. (Thank goodness for phone alarms.) The monitor or instructor may play music or the radio, and I've started listening to podcasts on my earbuds to make the time go faster. After all, I can't move for anywhere between one minute and half an hour!</p><h2><strong>More about posing</strong></h2><p>When I said nude modeling requires a very specific skill set, I wasn't lying. While instructors may suggest poses, for the most part, poses are entirely up to the model. For "quick poses" — usually between one and five minutes — I often use variations on ballet and yoga positions. I make sure not to pose with my arms above my head for more than one to two minutes.</p><p>For longer poses, I sit or recline. If I stand in a long pose, it's with both feet flat on the floor with both arms supported or resting on my body. Art schools usually have their models pose on a platform for easier visibility, and offer chairs, stools, pillows and/or yoga mats for the model's comfort. </p><p>There are two main aspects of a good pose. First, a good pose should be interesting for the artist to draw, no matter where they're situated in the room. Ideally, I want my body to be situated at some sort of angle, not only for visibility, but also so the artists can use techniques like foreshortening. Second, and most important, I have to be able to hold the pose — whether that's for 30 seconds or 30 minutes at a time.</p><h2><strong>What I've learned as a nude model</strong></h2><p>Spending part of my working life in front of strangers, without my clothes on and holding completely still, has definitely taught me a lot. I've learned that first and foremost, an art model should be on time. (Artists will forgive a lot if the model is punctual.) I bring a robe and flip-flops to hang around in on my breaks, as well as coffee, water, and snacks. I also try to stretch before and after a session — modeling is <em>very </em>physical work.</p><p>Nude modeling has also made me appreciate my own body more. When I'm feeling good about myself, I like to see different renderings of my body and the pose. I'll even take photos of my favorites and share them. (I once posed one morning a week for an eight-week session, and an artist gave me her finished oil painting! I have it hanging in my apartment.) </p><p>Nude modeling has definitely been great for my body image, as well as my wallet.</p>

I'm a nude model for artists as a side gig. It's great for extra cash and requires oddly specific skills.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Samantha Shea had never been outside the US before she started college in 2014.</li><li>After graduating in 2019, she visited India and Pakistan while developing her travel writing.</li></ul><p>When I tell people from back home that I live in Northern Pakistan, I'm usually met with shock.</p><p>Their disbelief escalates when I show them pictures of the snow-capped Karakoram mountain range that surround the village where I live.</p><p>"I thought Pakistan was a desert" is the most common response. As wrong as they are, I don't blame them. I didn't know much about Pakistan before traveling there after college.  </p><p>I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad.</p><p>When I first came to Pakistan in 2019, I was a recent University of Miami grad who'd never lived outside the US. </p><div type="image" title="A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May." height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102321" hostid="261"></div><p>In Hunza, electricity comes on for only a few hours a day, you walk to the local market if you need anything – Amazon doesn't deliver to the mountainous valley region – and running hot water isn't guaranteed. </p><p>The valley has, despite these elements, become my home. Here, I don't lock up my bike or my front door, I can walk everywhere, and my recent major home renovation cost me only $3,000. </p><h2>Current guidance around traveling to Pakistan </h2><p>The US travel advice for Pakistan is to avoid traveling to Balochistan province, many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Indian-Pakistan border because of the potential for terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and armed conflict at the border.</p><p>The US government warns that the assistance it can provide citizens traveling in Pakistan is limited because of these security issues. However, I have personally traveled to some of these areas and did not feel unsafe at the time.</p><p>Although this doesn't mean these threats aren't real and something to consider, many foreign nationals and local Pakistani people travel to the Hunza Valley without incident. Forbes recently named Pakistan an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2020/01/02/the-not-hot-list-10-best-under-the-radar-trips-for-2020/?sh=acd0ba222647" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up-and-coming adventure vacation</a>. CN Traveller also awarded Pakistan as their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d18T5ypYzgM&amp;t=16s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top holiday destination in 2020</a>.</p><h2><strong>My journey to a remote village in Northern Pakistan </strong></h2><p>My love of travel began at college. From 2014 to 2019, I was a student at the University of Miami in Florida. While I loved my school, being by the beach, and Florida's eternal summer, I never felt settled in Miami. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, young woman stood in front of the Miami beach shoreline." height="2688" width="3583" msid="100102323" hostid="261"></div><p>Because I grew up in suburban Connecticut, the move to a busy city was a big adjustment. It was noisy and fast-paced, and the proximity to crime, common in urban areas, put me on edge. </p><p>I had never traveled outside the US growing up, but I fell in love with backpacking at college. My trips became more and more offbeat. I was traveling through India the summer before my senior year in 2018 when I decided to pursue a career in travel. </p><h2><strong>I wanted to become a freelance travel blogger after graduation</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea graduating from the university of Miami sat on the college's sign." height="2179" width="2906" msid="100102325" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>I worked three part-time jobs while finishing my degree to save up for my indefinite adventure.</p><p>After graduating in 2019, I set off for India again, traveling around the country and into neighboring Pakistan. </p><p>Despite media negativity and concerns from family and friends, I didn't feel nervous crossing the border from India. I traveled from the historical city of Lahore to the Hindu Kush mountains of Upper Chitral — a region that directly borders Afghanistan — and felt comfortable everywhere I went. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea in Swat Valley Pakistan" height="2316" width="3088" msid="100102329" hostid="261"></div><p>I found it easier and more fun to travel here than in India, a much more "mainstream" backpacking destination. I encountered fewer scammers traveling in Pakistan. I also found Pakistan had less trash on the streets, and the roads were in better condition.</p><h2><strong>I worked for DoorDash and learned Urdu while waiting out COVID-19 limitations</strong></h2><p>In December 2019, I returned to my family home with the plan to move to Pakistan full time in the spring as a digital nomad.</p><p>My plans were halted by COVID-19. I spent the next year learning Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and delivering for DoorDash. I also finally saw some freelance traction. </p><p>I got my first paid byline, increased my blog traffic, and freelanced in content writing and social-media management. I wanted to have established myself as a digital nomad before I left home.</p><p>In April 2021, I traveled alone to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. I hadn't arranged a guide and had no plan beyond my first few nights at a hostel. To many, my trip seemed insane, but I was committed. </p><h2><div type="image" title="The vistas on a multi-day hike to the Shimshal Pass, not far from the Chinese border." height="2614" width="3486" msid="100102331" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>Why Hunza Valley? </strong></h2><p>My 2021 journey brought me to Hunza Valley for a reason. I'd head it was well known as the safest destination for <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Hunza-Valley-women-challenge-Pakistani-patriarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solo female travelers</a>, largely due to its <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/high-up-on-a-pakistani-mountain-a-success-story-for-moderate-islam/2015/07/22/f0b878d2-2572-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">liberal culture toward women</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Woman walking Hunza Valley" height="4854" width="6472" msid="100102550" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza Valley is a remote area in Northern Pakistan. The Gatorade-blue rivers and snow-capped mountains make Hunza a popular tourist destination. The local community is known for its hospitality, and I immediately felt at home – something I'd never felt in big-city America.</p><p>The community is welcoming of outsiders — respecting and taking care of guests is a core value here. Before 9/11, there were droves of foreign travelers coming to Hunza, and many locals and their families worked in tourism, so I was welcomed readily. </p><div type="image" title="The Karakoram highway that cuts through Hunza" height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102551" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza is home to a <a href="https://www.thejuggernaut.com/ismaili-muslims-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority Ismaili community</a>, a liberal sect of Islam. Teens hang out in mixed groups, women own restaurants and shops, and it's common for girls to receive higher education.</p><p>I settled in Hunza and have lived here for nearly two years.</p><h2><strong>Many Westerners I've spoken with have trepidations about Pakistan</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Shea sits with locals in a small seaside village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan in the far south of Pakistan." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102553" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>Hunza itself could not be safer. I don't worry about locking my bike, or even my doors. I've never witnessed a crime of any kind, nor any of the terrorist incidents the US State Department warns travelers of.</p><p>Barely a day after I'd arrived, I found myself lost on a 5-mile trek I set out on alone. Wandering, I ran into a young male shepherd. He insisted on showing me the route back and carrying my bag.</p><p>I kept waiting for "that moment" for which all solo female travelers are on high alert — but it never came. The shepherd was polite and helped me safely find the trail.</p><div type="image" title="Hunza valley in Northern Pakistan" height="1066" width="1422" msid="100102555" hostid="261"></div><p>I think I felt more comfortable in Hunza than I did in Miami for several reasons: The local cuisine shared many similarities with my Polish grandma's recipes, I experienced daily peace, and being surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks made me feel like I positively was on another planet.</p><div type="image" title="Traditional spread of Hunza foods." height="1405" width="1874" msid="100102558" hostid="261"></div><p>I didn't have great WiFi for the first few months of living in Hunza, which was stressful at times. I've since found work-arounds, but it's not simple. </p><h2><strong>The biggest issue is that electricity comes on for </strong><strong>only </strong><strong>around 5 or 6 hours a day, primarily at night</strong></h2><p>I knew Northern Pakistan didn't have great electricity from my 2019 trip to other mountain valleys. Regardless, I always travel with a power bank.</p><p>I remember times when the electricity wouldn't come on as planned and I'd forgotten to charge my devices properly. I found it incredibly stressful, especially if I had a lot of work.</p><div type="image" title="Cycling in the Hunza Valley" height="1410" width="1884" msid="100102560" hostid="261"></div><p>Once, while on a road trip through Upper Chitral, another mountainous region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, my power bank fell in water and wouldn't turn on.</p><p>I was in an area even more remote than Hunza and knew the power bank likely wasn't sold anywhere in Pakistan. The bank amazingly came back to life, but I did end up breaking another one a year later.</p><p>When these things happen, it makes me miss conveniences like Amazon, but a company called Daraz does manage to deliver plenty of items to Hunza within two or three days. </p><p>Power banks and other electronics can also be sourced from other countries via Packr, an app I've used several times to receive items from the US.</p><p>Now I have a permanent home, I've arranged more long-term solutions. </p><p>I bought a $35 UPS car battery at a local market, which keeps my WiFi router and basic lights working 24/7. I also have two 26,800-mAh Anker power banks as backups, the 2nd of which I purchased after that road-trip scare.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Car battery for back up electricity." height="5304" width="7072" msid="100102562" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>How I live and work in Hunza Valley</strong></h2><p>One month of accommodation costs between $150 and $250 on average — a far cry from the $1,300 I paid in Miami to share an apartment with roommates.</p><p>My life in Hunza began in Gojal, the local name for the northern portion of the region. When I arrived, I stayed in hotels. Nowhere I stayed cost more than $15 a night, and if I got a long-stay rate, they averaged closer to $8 a night.</p><div type="image" title="Gate to a house in Hunza Valley" height="7477" width="4987" msid="100102564" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza was slightly more expensive than I thought, especially before I found permanent accommodation. </p><p>I was shocked by how expensive some hotels were. Budget options are available, but a large portion of Hunza's tourism caters to the wealthy sector of the domestic market.</p><p>This experience has positively influenced my career as a freelancer. I've had my stories published in major media outlets. I also run an Instagram account and a YouTube channel focusing on life here and helping travelers plan their trips.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Shea speaking at a tourism event in Hunza" height="2274" width="3024" msid="100102569" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>I now live in Aliabad in central Hunza, the largest town in the district </strong></h2><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea and her boyfriend sat outside their house." height="1737" width="2316" msid="100102572" hostid="261"></div>I met my now partner, Fareed, in a local coworking space a few months after I arrived in Hunza. He was born and raised in Hunza and now works in trekking tourism.<p>We're happily settled in Aliabad in central Hunza, close to my partner's family, who have become a second family to me. </p><p>I've started learning Burushaski, one of the two major languages spoken in the valley. My partner speaks perfect English, so there's no language barrier.</p><p>Aliabad has high-speed fiber-cable WiFi, which makes uploading content or taking Zoom calls easy, and it's where you'll find amenities like ATMs, stores, small hospitals, and a few restaurants and shops.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley drone" height="3156" width="4208" msid="100102574" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Even so, Aliabad is still a village in many ways</strong></h2><p>The main roads are paved, but many residential areas have dirt roads. Everything from the doctor to my cellphone provider is within a 15-minute walking radius. </p><p>My partner and I moved into a house his parents owned. It had no electricity, flooring, or running water. We recently renovated two rooms and added a bathroom with running water and a Western toilet. It ended up costing about $3,000.</p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, a digital nomad stands with her boyfriends' mother and grandmother." height="2264" width="3019" msid="100102577" hostid="261"></div><p>If we were renting, it would cost around 20,000 Pakistani rupees a month, or about $50. Renting might have been cheaper in the short term, but I love having a space all our own.</p><p>A meal at a restaurant is usually between $2 for local spots and $7 for Western fare, but cooking at home is much less expensive and often tastier. WiFi costs around $8 for unlimited data each month, and I pay $4 for 10 gigabytes of data for my SIM card.</p><div type="image" title="Woman eating Yak burger in Hunza Valley, Pakistan" height="5301" width="7068" msid="100102579" hostid="261"></div><p>Hot water is also not a given in Hunza — but an $80 gas-powered water heater solved that, with refills totaling about $20 a month. The electricity that does come is only about $2 a month, and the cold running water, sourced from a glacier, is free.</p><div type="image" title="2000-gallon water tank in Hunza Valley" height="5203" width="6937" msid="100102582" hostid="261"></div><p>Aliabad has a cold desert climate.</p><div type="image" title="Yak burger on traditional stove." height="2073" width="2764" msid="100102587" hostid="261"></div><p>The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently frozen pipes and a lack of central heating mean winter can be difficult.</p><p>Having spent most of my life in Connecticut, I was used to cold, long winters, and I find Hunza's to be shorter. </p><p>Winter limits my daily activities, but it almost feels like a cozy hibernation period.</p><p>I spend lazy days working by my bukhari — a traditional fireplace.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley local drying apricots." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102590" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>The benefits of living in Hunza Valley far outweigh any negatives</strong></h2><p>I save thousands each month compared with living in a US city, and my quality of life is infinitely better.</p><p>I avoid the American hustle culture, which I find toxic. The people I meet in Hunza are generally quiet, polite, and respectful. I breathe clean air and eat organic, home-cooked food for every meal. </p><p>Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home. I've even obtained the equivalent of permanent residency. With the money I've saved, I hope to travel to other countries, with Hunza as my base.</p>

I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity &mdash; but my quality of life here is infinitely better.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live">US News &amp; World Report</a> named <keyword id="14138452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="huntsville" source="Orion">Huntsville</keyword>, <keyword id="11910053" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alabama" source="Orion">Alabama</keyword>, as the best US city to live in its annual ranking.</li><li>I've lived there for over 50 years and have watched the city grow before my eyes. </li></ul><p>My family has lived in Huntsville, Alabama, for six generations, setting down roots back when it was just a small rural farm town in the 1840s. </p><p>As a native of what's now <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alabama/articles/2021-08-13/huntsville-now-alabamas-largest-city-overtakes-birmingham#:~:text=(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Huntsville%20has%20overtaken,has%20a%20population%20of%20215%2C006.">Alabama's largest city</a>, I've watched my hometown evolve before my eyes.</p><p>Now, the secret is officially out. </p><p>This year, Huntsville took home the top honors in <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live">US News &amp; World Report's annual list </a>of the best places to live in the US. The ranking is determined by an analysis of both public data and user opinions of the following <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/methodology">five criteria</a>: job market, housing affordability, quality of life, desirability, and migration patterns.</p><p>Here's what Huntsville is like, from someone born and raised there. </p><h2><strong>Huntsville has a rich history that's shaped it into the city it is today </strong></h2><div type="image" title="welcome to huntsville sign" height="2620" width="3494" msid="92064305" hostid="261"></div><p>Situated in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-mountains-in-the-world-2018-4">foothills of the Appalachian Mountains</a> and nestled in the Tennessee Valley, Huntsville is the location of many of Alabama's <a href="https://www.insider.com/civil-rights-moments-historic-past-150-years-2019-1">historic firsts and brightest achievements</a>.</p><p>It was the state's first city to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/09/the-firsts-desegregating-alabamas-public-schools/616449/">integrate its public schools in 1963</a> and where scientists and engineers <a href="https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2019/06/alabama-and-its-rocket-put-apollo-11-first-man-on-the-moon.html">helped put the first man on the moon in 1969</a>.</p><p>Eventually, decades of innovation in <keyword id="11945697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="space-exploration" source="Orion">space exploration</keyword> and rocket science in Huntsville led it to be coined "The Rocket City," a nickname many people know the city by today. </p><h2><strong>The cost of living is relatively low compared to some similarly sized cities, but home prices are still climbing</strong></h2><p>Huntsville has a metro population of 464,607 people, according to the report.</p><p>In comparison to similarly sized cities like <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/colorado/boulder">Boulder, Colorado</a>, which is ranked fourth on <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/alabama/huntsville">US News &amp; World Report</a>'s list, and <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/maine/portland">Portland, Maine</a>, which is ranked eighth, the <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/huntsville-al-vs-portland-me">cost of living in Huntsville is relatively low</a>.</p><p>Even so, it's been shocking to watch the <a href="https://www.reckonsouth.com/family/2021/07/a-lot-of-wealth-and-rocket-scientists-why-huntsville-is-now-unaffordable-for-so-many.html">meteoric rise</a> in our city's home prices over the past few months.</p><p>My daughter was fortunate enough to <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-2018-6">purchase her first house</a> in Huntsville in December 2021. The previous owners beat the Huntsville housing boom and paid $74 per square foot in 2017, per Zillow. As of June 2022, the home's value has increased to $188 per square foot. </p><div type="image" title="stovehouse outdoor area in huntsville alabama, swinging seat on left with shops in the background" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064308" hostid="261"></div><p>According to <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/alabama/huntsville">US News &amp; World Report</a>, Huntsville's median home price is $192,667. And although I've seen the city's housing market take off firsthand, it's still considerably less than Boulder's $528,833 and Portland's $310,300, which makes me appreciate what Huntsville real estate has to offer.</p><h2><strong>Huntsville is known for being a hub for space exploration</strong></h2><p>Huntsville's <a href="https://www.huntsville.org/blog/list/post/why-huntsville-doesnt-have-skyline/">tallest structure</a> is a 363-foot tall Saturn V rocket for a reason: The city is a hub for space exploration. </p><p>The US Army selected Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal, a former World War II-era chemical munitions facility, to be the <a href="https://history.redstone.army.mil/ihist-1950.html">home of the Ordnance Guided Missile Center</a> in 1950. These <a href="https://www.insider.com/places-people-think-aliens-built-2018-7">scientists and engineers</a> marked the beginnings of the US space program and eventually NASA, which officially formed in 1958.</p><div type="image" title="Saturn V rocket outside of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064310" hostid="261"></div><p>Huntsville teams went on to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/explorer1/explorer-1.html">develop the technology</a> for the Explorer 1, America's first satellite; the Saturn V for the Apollo Lunar Lander Program; the Space Shuttle; and the International Space Station.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html">Marshall Spaceflight Center</a> in Huntsville still plays a critical role in missions, some of which include developing the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html">Space Launch System</a> and the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/more-about-the-human-landing-system-program">Human Landing System Program</a>, which aims to send people to the moon and Mars.</p><h2><strong>It has several tourist attractions that appeal to locals, too </strong></h2><div type="image" title="exterior shot of space camp in huntsville alabama, white building on left with space camp logo" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064314" hostid="261"></div><p>Lest you think Huntsville is all work and no play, let's talk about the fun side of all this space history:<a href="https://www.spacecamp.com/"> Space Camp</a>, a hands-on learning experience for all things space <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword>. Participants can simulate missions, launch model rockets, and learn what it's like to live in the International Space Station.</p><p>The camp's been open since 1982 and, over the years, almost one million people have graduated from the program. Among its alumni are several individuals who have gone on to <a href="https://www.huntsville.org/blog/list/post/space-camp-alumni-who-left-their-mark-on-the-world/#:~:text=As%20one%20would%20anticipate%2C%20there,aboard%20the%20International%20Space%20Station.">become professional astronauts</a>. </p><div type="image" title="Saturn V Rocket inside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, shot from below" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064316" hostid="261"></div><p>Many <a href="https://www.insider.com/tourist-attractions-no-longer-popular-2019-11">visitors and locals alike</a> also enjoy visiting the adjoining <a href="https://www.rocketcenter.com/">US Space &amp; Rocket Center</a> museum, the home of the aforementioned Saturn V. </p><p>The famous rocket, which serves as the beacon of The Rocket City skyline, is actually a replica.</p><p>The real article, which is one of only three in the world and holds the title of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/nasa-nhls.htm">National Historic Landmark</a>, is located inside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration on the grounds of the US Space &amp; Rocket Center.</p><p>Many people hold <keyword id="12722729" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="local" source="Orion">local</keyword> conferences, awards dinners, and weddings by the iconic rocket.</p><h2><strong>Many of our entertainment venues are housed in repurposed old buildings</strong></h2><p>Huntsville has way more to offer than rockets. Adaptive reuse of historic or abandoned properties has led to some unique entertainment opportunities over the past few years. </p><p>Take, for instance, <a href="https://lowemill.art/">Lowe Mill ARTS &amp; Entertainment</a>, which originally opened as a cotton mill in 1901 and later served as a <a href="https://www.insider.com/tour-lisa-franks-abandoned-factory-today-2018-11">jungle-boot factory</a> during the Vietnam War. </p><div type="image" title="lowe mill entertainment space in huntsville alabama. brown brick building in left corner and water tower on the right" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064319" hostid="261"></div><p>My father likes to say that as a young man he worked at Lowe Mill making boots and, six months later, he was wearing them. </p><p>Even more change has happened, as it's now the US's <a href="https://lowemill.art/history/">largest privately owned arts facility</a>.</p><p>The beautiful building is home to over 150 studios and features pottery, painting, photography, <a href="https://www.dannydavisguitars.com/">a luthier</a>, a <a href="https://piperandleaf.com/">local tea company</a>, <a href="https://ironsone.com/">a small batch single-hand crafted whiskey distiller</a>, and even <a href="https://www.pizzellesconfections.com/">an artisan chocolatier</a>. </p><div type="image" title="barrels up close to camera in huntsville bar" height="2939" width="3918" msid="92064321" hostid="261"></div><p>Just down the road, you'll find<a href="https://campus805.com/"> Campus No. 805</a>, a former middle school with visible remnants of its past, like burnt-orange lockers and a former principal's office.</p><p>Now, this reimagined landmark houses an event space,<a href="http://straighttoale.com/"> Straight to Ale</a> brewery and<a href="https://www.yellowhammerbrewery.com/"> Yellowhammer Brewing</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ronnie-Rayguns-1568541326782872/"> Ronnie Raygun's</a> arcade,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/offbeatcoffeestudio/"> Offbeat Coffee Studio</a>,<a href="https://earthandstonepizza.com/"> Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza</a>, and more.</p><div type="image" title="exterior of stovehouse in huntsville alabama" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064323" hostid="261"></div><p>There's also Stovehouse, a former stove factory that's been converted into a destination for date nights, family dinners, and lunch breaks.</p><p>As a mixed-use development, there are also a lot of offices there too. Stovehouse, for its part, describes itself as a space for "horsejackery," or "the act of slowing productivity and/or causing a commotion." </p><p>And there are plenty of opportunities for "horsejackery." <a href="https://www.kamadoramen.com/">Kamado Ramen</a>,<a href="https://www.stovehouse.com/tenant/taqueria-el-cazador/"> Taqueria El Cazador</a>,<a href="https://charliefosters.com/"> Charlie Foster's</a> coffee, and<a href="https://www.stovehouse.com/tenant/bark-barrel-bbq/"> Bark &amp; Barrel BBQ</a> are just a few of the delicious dining options you can find there along with live music, a bar, event spaces, and shopping. </p><div type="image" title="sign from stovehouse in huntsville alabama, listing &quot;yes&quot; and &quot;no&quot; behavior for guests" height="4032" width="3024" msid="92064327" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>We also have wonderfully mild weather and direct access to tons of outdoor adventures </strong></h2><p>With an <a href="https://www.weather.gov/hun/huntsvillenormalsandextremesdatabase">annual average high temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit and an annual average low temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit</a>, Huntsville residents can enjoy outdoor activities pretty much year-round.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.landtrustnal.org/">Land Trust of North Alabama</a> encompasses 9,000 acres of beautifully preserved land, with <a href="https://www.insider.com/hikes-around-the-world-2019-3">73 miles of trails to explore</a>, all of which are accessible within Huntsville and its surrounding area.<a href="https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park"> </a></p><div type="image" title="a brown sign for Land Trust of North Alabama at a trailhead" height="2891" width="3854" msid="92064328" hostid="261"></div><p>Also just minutes from downtown is <a href="https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park">Monte Sano State Park</a>, which has its own 2,100 acres of preserved lands, 20 miles of hiking trails, and 14 miles of <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-bike-trails-in-every-state-2018-11">bike trails</a>. </p><p>The southern edge of Huntsville, bordered by the Tennessee River, is where you'll find<a href="https://www.dittolanding.org/"> Ditto Landing Marina</a>, equipped with not only boating, but also hiking, camping, cycling, and ample space for picnicking. </p><div type="image" title="North Alabama Japanese Garden at Monte Sano State Park, wooded area with a small brown building/cottage in the right corner" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064329" hostid="261"></div><p>But in my opinion, Huntsville's most iconic outdoor space is Big Spring Park, located in the downtown area. </p><p>As a young adult, I remember downtown being a mostly quiet place with a smattering of bars and empty storefronts. In the evenings, the park primarily played host to local teenagers looking for something to do.</p><p>More recently, Tommy Battle, the mayor of Huntsville, <a href="https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2017/04/big_spring_park_is_open_again.html">referred</a> to this special place as the city's "living room," and with good reason. </p><p>On sunny days, you'll find it full of folks feeding the ducks, grabbing a bite for lunch, or getting in their steps. At night and on weekends, Big Spring Park is often the location of <a href="https://www.crushwinefestival.com/">festivals</a> and <a href="https://www.artshuntsville.org/concerts-in-the-park/">concerts</a>.</p><div type="image" title="big spring park in huntsville alabama, water and red bridge with trees to the left and a building in the background" height="2747" width="3926" msid="92064330" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Huntsville's community has grown and evolved with the city</strong></h2><p>Huntsville's space program has drawn people from all over the world, creating a truly unique community through the decades. </p><p>According to the data from the <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/huntsville-area-adds-3200-people-each-year-from-migration-fueling-rapid-growth-in-north-alabama.html">US Census Bureau</a>, Madison County, where Huntsville is located, had a population increase of <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/huntsville-area-adds-3200-people-each-year-from-migration-fueling-rapid-growth-in-north-alabama.html">50,000 new residents</a> between 2010 and 2020.</p><p>Some people come to support the space program, defense programs, and emerging biotechnology endeavors. Others are involved in industries like manufacturing or the arts.  </p><div type="image" title="Blue Origin Human Lander Building in Cummings Research Park exterior" height="2732" width="4032" msid="92064331" hostid="261"></div><p>According to the <a href="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/business/city-of-huntsville/the-history-of-huntsville/">City of Huntsville</a>, over 10% of its residents are natives of other countries<strong style="background-color: #ffffff;">,</strong> and more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken in the city.</p><p>This broad range of cultures and experiences is my favorite thing about living in this community. Huntsville is a place where ideas come to grow, and the ground here is fertile for innovation and creativity. </p><p>Having personally experienced more than 50 years of life in Huntsville, I would argue that the people are what make this city so special. </p><p>Individuals from all over the globe come together in Huntsville to develop new technologies, take on challenges never accomplished before, and leave their own legacy.</p>

Huntsville, Alabama, was named the best place to live in the US. Here's what it's like to live there.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">The Lincoln Navigator.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/lincoln">Lincoln</a> is the luxury brand of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/ford">Ford</a>, which has been struggling amid a restructuring.</strong></li><li><strong>After nearly being killed off after the financial crisis, Lincoln has recovered - and has scored a big sales hit with its new full-size <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/driving-2018-lincoln-navigator-review-photos-2018-1">Navigator</a> SUV.</strong></li><li><strong>Lincoln is led by Joy Falotico, one of the few women running any aspect of the major auto luxury brand.</strong></li></ul><p>Ford's problems have been mounting. </p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The auto giant has struggled over the past two years, as CEO Mark Fields was ousted in 2017 and replaced by Jim Hackett, who is now <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-to-cut-jobs-as-part-of-global-restructuring-effort-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mired in an $11-billion restructuring </a>of the 119-year-old automaker. The stock has declined 30% in 2018, even as Ford has enjoyed a sales boom for profitable pickup trucks.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite its struggles, though, Ford has some bright spots. And its Lincoln brand is one of them.</span></p><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lincoln's comeback </span></h2><p>Joy Falotico, the group vice president of Lincoln Motor Company and chief marketing officer, is one of just two women who preside over aspects of a major automotive luxury brand, with the other being Aston Martin America's head <span style="font-weight: 400;">Laura Schwab.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Falotico got the job, and the official title of vice-president, in March of 2018. Previously, she had been CEO of Ford's captive financing arm, Ford Motor Company Credit. (She remains the chairperson of Ford Credit's board.)</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under former boss Kumar Galhotra - he took over Ford's critical North American operations earlier this year - Lincoln had undergone a huge brand reinvention after the longstanding luxury marque had been threatened with demise in the wake of the financial crisis.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ford survived and re-established itself as a competitor to General Motors' Cadillac. The brand still trailed German luxury nameplates such as BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, but with an appealing lineup of crossover SUVs and an offbeat advertising campaign starring Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey expressing esoteric profundities, Lincoln was back on the map.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Falotico's arrival coincided with a brilliant bit of strategic good fortune. After debuting a dramatic new Lincoln Navigator concept vehicle at the New York Auto Show in 2016, Lincoln followed up with a production reveal of the redesigned full-size SUV at the same venue in 2017. The SUV went on sales shortly thereafter.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Navigator has now doubled its 2017 sales figures every month in 2018 and is on track to sell 6,000-7,000 more vehicles this year than it did last. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-navigator-suv-25-million-investment-2018-2">Ford can't build them fast enough</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Lincoln</span></p><p class="caption">Falotico took over Lincoln in early 2018.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lincoln dealers can't get enough Navigators</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Give me more!" Falotico said of the dealer reaction, in an interview with Business Insider. She added that inventory has dropped below a 20-days supply, meaning that demand for the SUV is off the charts. On top of all that, she said that the sales mix is "really rich," with 80% of sales consisting of the Black Label and Reserve trim level, starting at $94,000 and $82,000, respectively, before options.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Falotico said that Lincoln was pleased with the new Navigator's market performance, but she noted that the latest generation of the vehicle came after a decade committed to the third-iteration of the first true luxury full-size SUV (Navigator dates to the late 1990s).</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We stopped our investment and were passed by the Cadillac Escalade," she said. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Falotico's next challenge is to build on Navigator's success and, as she put it, "sell the whole lineup." </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Lincoln, that means pressing forward a pair of smaller crossovers, the midsize Nautilus, and the compact Aviator. Both will replace older SUVs in Lincoln's portfolio and carry substantial sales burdens as the luxury market moves away from sedans.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For now, Navigator is leading the charge - and according to Falotico, helping Lincoln to bolster the brand in a touch new region, China, whose auto market is already bigger than that in the US.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Falotico conceded that the full-size hauler occupies a smaller segment in China than it does in the US. But she pointed out that the SUV functions as a "halo" vehicle for the brand there, and that Chinese customers have responded favorably to it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Lincoln, that's welcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"China is going to be the largest market, for certain," she said.</span></p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Ford stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/f-Quote"> <strong>here.</strong></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-ford-replacing-ceo-mark-fields-short-termism-on-wall-street-2017-5">Ford replacing its CEO points to the short-termism on Wall Street</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Ford may be taking a hit, but a Lincoln exec reveals a bright spot in the company's future

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mercedes-Benz</span></p><p class="caption">Very, very sweet.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>The E400 is a beautifully composed luxury two-door.</strong></li><li><strong>It isn't cheap, but it's mostly worth it.</strong></li><li><strong>This is a premium coupé for discerning students of the genre.</strong></li></ul><p><br />Here's the biggest problem with Mercedes-Benz: we take it for granted. It's the Rolex of cars. If you just can't make up your mind about which luxury vehicle to buy, Mercedes will always be a safe bet.</p><p>True, you have to overcome some at-times blingy, negative associations. But the same applies to other brands. Lexuses are supposed to be sort of soft and unexciting. BMWs are driven by new money. Acuras and Infinitis are for people who just don't get that you're supposed to be driving a Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes. Audis are a little too youthful.</p><p>But the thing about Mercedes is that it tends to deliver, and aside from the fact that the tristar badges have gotten oversized and the cars themselves are slicker than they were back in the heyday of the no-nonsense, tanklike 300D sedan, the Germans stalwart basically makes outstanding automobiles.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mercedes-Benz</span></p><p class="caption">The cabin is gorgeous.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>We were reminded of this recently when we got our hands on a 2018 E400 4Matic coupé ("4Matic," FYI, is just Mercedes' odd term for all-wheel-drive). The base car was an appealing $61,400, but our tester was massively optioned up - the "Premium Package" alone added a whopping $9,350 to the price tag - bringing the sticker up to almost $90,000. </p><p>The E400 two-door is kind of an offbeat ride in the Mercedes firmament. It's the newest E-Class, with an E400 sedan on the way. The luxe-coupé market is somewhat moribund, so one wants to give M-B props for going this route, not to mention putting in the effort to make the E400 coupé so reassuringly excellent if not exactly breathtakingly sporty. My colleague Ben Zhang and I were both captivated by the car, which didn't thrill so much as demonstrate that if you have $90,000 to spend and want a gorgeous two-door that can cruise in comfort and signal tastefulness, Mercedes has the vehicle for you.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mercedes-Benz</span></p><p class="caption">The twin-turbo V6 isn't on paper all that hot, but it gets the job done.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Our tester arrived in an Emerald Green Metallic color scheme, a $720 extra that's entirely worth it. This was easily one of the most hypnotically beautiful paint jobs I've ever seen on a car: shimmery racing green in full sunlight, inky and deep in shadow. The word for this is "panache," something the E400 coupé has in abundance.</p><p>Perhaps the coolest things about the E400 interior is the "multicolor ambient lighting" feature, which actually comes standard. It allows you to adjust the interior lighting by sliding through the color spectrum, rather than choosing a preset color. We settled on a luminous purple as our favorite, calling it an homage to Prince, RIP. Otherwise, the insides are what you'd expect from Mercedes: comfortable, well-appointed, premium. As Ben said, it makes you feel special - the E400 puts on a show.</p><p>The powerplant is a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V6 making a not-terribly-impressive 329-horsepower. Not terribly impressive on paper, anyway. On the road is another story, as the nine-speed automatic in the E400 gets the power to the pavement quite effectively, smooth and sweet, and the car itself has a thoroughly composed demeanor that pure Mercedes. This is a solid, solid car. And you get 26 mpg on the highway, 20 mpg city, and 22 mpg combined. The 0-60 mph time comes in around five seconds, which is impressive.</p><p>A particularly notable feature is the active steering assist, which when yoked up with all the other semi-self-driving technology - adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic braking, active lane-changing, and so on - you get a Mercedes that does a passable imitation of a Tesla running Autopilot or a Cadillac CT6 running Super Cruise. I'd go so far to say that the autonomous suite on the E400 is the best I've used on any vehicle, on the highway, that wasn't a Caddy with Super Cruise.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mercedes-Benz</span></p><p class="caption">Luxury has a name: Mercedes-Benz.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>We found not much to complain about with the E400 Coupé, a car that really comes into its own on a sunny day when you open the moonroof and drop the windows, taking advantage of the absence of rear pillars that, as many reviewers have remarked, make the car something of a cabrio that just doesn't really drop its top.</p><p>If there were any sticking points with this premium machine, it's the <em>premium</em> you have to pay to get the Mercedes goodies. The Burmester 3D surround audio system is stunning, among the best I've ever heard in a car - and it'd better be, for $5,400 extra. We also raised an eyebrow at the engine; you can get a twin-turbo V6 of similar displacement in an upscale Infiniti Q60 that churns out 400 horsepower. And the price tag is 20 grand lower.</p><p>But it's not a Mercedes-Benz. What the E400 coupé demonstrates is that when it comes to putting it all together, Mercedes is hard to top or undercut, at any price.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-mercedes-bosch-automated-parking-garage-ai-2017-7">Automated valet parking is coming sooner than you think</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

We drove a $90,000 Mercedes E400 Coupe and were completely blown away

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Honda</span></p><p class="caption">A heckuva truck.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The United States of America is a pickup-truck nation.</p><p>No people on Earth adore their bed-in-the-back vehicles more than Americans, who will purchase something on the order 2.5 million pickups by the end of 2016.</p><p>Many of these trucks will be built by the major players: Ford, Chevy, GMC, and Ram (part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles).</p><p>A few more will come from Toyota and Nissan.</p><p>Then there's Honda.</p><p>Yes, Honda. The company that brings us the Odyssey minivan, the Civic sedan, and the CR-V crossover - as well as Business Insider's 2016 Car of the Year, the Acura NSX supercar - has been selling a pickup since 2005, when the first Ridgeline was introduced.</p><p>The Ridgeline has always been an offbeat pickup. It uses unibody construction, more akin to a car or crossover SUV than the industry-standard body-of-frame approach favored by the big truckmakers. Honda has typically marketed it to the youthful outdoors enthusiast, the person who wants to use his Ridgeline to haul around mountain bikes or whitewater kayaks, not someone who needs a serious work truck. Towing capacity has never been mega-high - it maxes out at around 5,000 lbs. - so you could pull a modest trailer, but forget about anything more hulking.</p><p>Sales have never been stunning, and they peaked in the first few years after the truck rolled out; my theory is that as the truck-and-SUV market recovered after the financial crisis, a lot of pickup buyers went for the full-size stuff and passed on the compact/mid-size Ridgeline, or decided to go for a crossover SUV instead.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>NHTSA</span></p><p class="caption">The first-gen Ridgeline.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>A new beginning</h2><p>Honda dropped the first-generation Ridgeline from the lineup in 2014, but the most unusual pickup on the market is back with a second-generation for the 2017 model year. The carmaker let us borrow a very well-equipped Ridgeline, priced at $41,370, and we tested it for a week in the suburbs of New Jersey, just as winter was getting chilly in the Northeast.</p><p>The car-like, unibody, front-wheel-drive platform has been retained, but our tester had all-wheel-drive. Pickups are typically based on rear-wheel-drive platforms, and why you notice right away about the Ridgeline is how much it <em>doesn't</em> drive like a truck. It drives <em>exactly </em>like a Honda car or crossover and was eerily reminiscent of my Odyssey minivan, from when I lived on the West Coast.</p><p>This is a good thing. You can whip the Ridgeline around like nobody's business. It's the easiest pickup I've ever driven by a long, long shot. In fact, in spirit this truck suggest to me a modern-day El Camino, the half-car, half-pickup that Chevy sold mainly from the early 1960s through the late 1980s, and that has achieved cultlike status. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Chevrolet</span></p><p class="caption">Half car, half truck, all El Camino.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Car lovers have been bugging General Motors to bring back the El Camino - and Ford, too, because that automaker had its own version, the Ranchero - to no avail. I always thought the pestering of Chevy was pointless precisely because the Ridgeline was around. </p><p>The first-generation had an unusual design that featured a short bed with relatively high side buttressing that appeared to join the front and back of the vehicle. It wasn't for everyone - or really anyone. With the second-gen Ridgeline, Honda has gone with a more proper pickup-truck bed, lengthened a bit. The front of the vehicle looks a lot like a Honda Pilot, as my colleague Ben Zhang immediately noted when he saw the truck. </p><p>The overall effect is a car-like/crossover-y prow mated to real honest-to-god pickup stern. Because there's only a four-door, crew-car option available, I immediately dubbed the new Ridgeline a "Honda King Cab-amino." </p><h2>This is the compact pickup truck you're looking for</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Honda</span></p><p class="caption">The bed is now more conventionally truck-like.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>I also loved the new Ridgeline absolutely to pieces. We haven't tested out very many mid-size/compact pickups at BI - our last victim was the excellent Chevy Colorado - but these are tremendously useful vehicles for life in the 'burbs. I took our test car to pick up a Christmas tree, for example. Last year, the tree wound up being tied to a roof. This year, the helpful chap at the sales lot simply heaved the tree into the roughly five-and-half-foot lined bed and we were good to go (the tree was a seven footer, but it fit neatly into the Ridgeline's bed diagonally). </p><p>You can always extend the bed, as well, simply by lowering the dual-action tailgate (it also opens to the side like long door) and tying stuff in place using the pickup's anchor points. The bed also had a concealed storage compartment in the floor that Honda calls a trunk, plus a power hookup and audio capability. You will be the envy of everybody in the parking lot at that next football game.</p><p>Hop back into the front and you're in a perfectly comfortable and - in the RTL-E trim level that I had - well-appointed Honda. The interior was all leather, with tri-zone climate control, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a perfectly good infotainment and audio system featuring an eight-inch touchscreen, eight speakers, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto capability, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth and AUX/USB connectivity, and a reasonably good hands-free voice interface.</p><p>The back seats are a bench design that can be folded to carry additional cargo, and although they aren't as luxurious as what you'll find in some full-size pickups these days, they get the job done. The rear window has the classic sliding window, but it operated remotely from the front.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Honda</span></p><p class="caption">Comfortable interior.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>May the Ridgeline be with you</h2><p>Perhaps the best thing about the new Ridgeline is Honda's 3.5-liter, 280-horsepower V6 engine under the hood. This is one of the world's great motors, perhaps the best V6 anywhere, and in Honda's case, the core of its technology. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine is more or less perfect and provides 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The power is fluid, the motor never gives even the slightest indication of strain, and long highway cruises are as pleasant as jaunts around town. </p><p>The Ridgeline, however, isn't an inexpensive pickup. In fact, for the 41 grand out tester tipped the scales at, you can obtain a nicely optioned full-size Ford F-150. That said, Honda reliability and quality is legendary, so you're unlikely to have much to complain about, and safety for the Ridgeline is excellent - and enhanced on upper trim levels by a suite of driver-assist features, including collision mitigating braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. With the Ridgeline, you get what you pay for.</p><p>Now for the obvious question: as good as the Ridgeline is, will the revamped design woo anyone away from the more "accepted" truck brands?</p><p>I doubt it. The Ridgeline is still the pickup for the rest of us, and the new aesthetics aren't likely to convince hardcore Toyota Tacoma fans that they should look elsewhere. </p><p>But if you have an active lifestyle, like to engage in weekend home-improvement or gardening projects, or just love the idea of a Japanese-branded neo-El Camino that's built with pride in Alabama, the Ridegline makes a lot of sense.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/martin-shkreli-twitter-students-recreate-daraprim-drug-2016-12">Martin Shkreli goes on a raging tweetstorm in response to high school students recreating his $750 drug for $2</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="dxcWMwODE6FE8iQECd1zMjLLo9Zq2px_" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The Honda Ridgeline is still the best pickup truck for people who don't like pickup trucks

<br /> Come Valentine’s Day and people (read men) are in a tearing hurry to buy the most offbeat and perfect gifts for their loved ones at the very last moment. But most of us fail to think out of the box and the outcome is a pile of all-too-predictable <keyword id="464407" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="gift-items">gift items</keyword> that tend to infest our homes on each and every occasion – be it Valentine’s Day or Christmas, Holi or Diwali. If you want to find the most suitable gifts without the least hassle, try <keyword id="2059416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wishpicker">Wishpicker</keyword>, a 9-month-old, Noida-based start-up that curates and aggregates gift items &amp; gift ideas from reputed merchants and helps you find the most relevant gifts as per your choice/preference – so that you won’t have to hunt for another shop – online or offline. But unlike other gift sites, this one does not sell gifts. Once you find something suitable and decide to buy it, you will be redirected to the merchant site for making the purchase.<br />
 <br /> Wishpicker uses an <keyword id="2059433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Automated-machine-learning-system">automated machine learning system</keyword> for its <keyword id="2059417" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gift-recommendation-engine">gift recommendation engine</keyword> – so that it can identify usage patterns and come up with most <keyword id="2059425" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Relevant-gift-ideas">relevant gift ideas</keyword> based on age, relationship, occasion and other parameters. As a result, the start-up is able to maintain a conversion rate that is much higher than plain vanilla e-commerce stores. And the gift suggestions can be really exotic at times – right from buying a piece of land on the moon to getting your sweetheart’s face printed on a flower petal. Want to know more about Wishpicker and its offerings? Here is a snapshot that captures the start-up’s vision and viability.<br />
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<strong>Who runs Wishpicker (www.wishpicker.com):</strong> A team of nine young enthusiasts led by co-founders Prateek Rathore and Apurv Bansal. While Prateek is a <keyword id="163598" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="computer-engineer">computer engineer</keyword> from IIT Delhi, Apurv is a <keyword id="6405797" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="civil-engineer">civil engineer</keyword> from the same institution and was Prateek’s batchmate. Prateek also holds a post-graduate degree in Management from the <keyword id="2059415" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="IE-Business-School-in-Spain">IE Business School in Spain</keyword>. The duo later roped in Tejendra Singh, a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Patna, as a core technology member.<br />
 <br /> Earlier, Apurv had worked as a consultant but finally left his high-paying corporate job at <keyword id="122749" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bain-Company">Bain &amp; Company</keyword> in Mumbai to start Wishpicker when Prateek returned to India after finishing his management studies. The duo started working on the concept in early 2013 and Wishpicker.com went live in June last year. “Initially, we were operating from the terrace of Prateek’s parents’ flat in Delhi. But we shifted to Noida when the team grew,” recalls Apurv.<br />
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<strong>What inspired the venture: </strong>Personal misadventures. Both Apurv and Prateek faced great difficulties when it came to finding the right kind of gifts for friends and families. “We were at a loss about what to buy and searching for gifts online simply stumped us. We were overwhelmed by the number of options available across the sites. Also, each site claimed it was selling the ‘best gift’ but that personal touch was somewhat missing,” reflects Apurv. “That’s when we realised that a lot of people face the same problem and we should do something about it. Wishpicker is here so that buying gifts turns out to be a happy experience instead of a harrowing one,” he adds.<br />
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<strong>What’s the pitch: </strong>The name reveals the business pitch, according to the co-founders. As the site is helping people ‘pick’ the right gifts for their loved ones (that’s what you wish, don’t you?), Wishpicker is just the right name for it. And the ‘intelligent’ gift recommendation engine offers a never-before curated experience of gift-buying, helping you become a better gift giver who is both thoughtful and creative. “At Wishpicker, you will find a <keyword id="2059442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Readymade-gifting-inventory">readymade gifting inventory</keyword> from across the Internet and you can customise your search for best-ever recommendations. That’s our USP for driving business,” explains Apurv.<br />
 <br />
<strong>How it works:</strong> What we like about this site is the all-too-simple user interface in spite of a complex backend. For one, you need not register or log in and can start gift hunting right away, from a wide range of gift items, <keyword id="858869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="gift-vouchers">gift vouchers</keyword>, <keyword id="2059445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Experiential-gifts">experiential gifts</keyword>, etc., provided by some of the best companies and brands. Gifts can be broadly searched based on age, occasion and recipient’s relationship with the giver. You can further fine-tune the search by setting up various other parameters such as personality, budget, type of gift, product category and so on. Gift recommendations are also made based on the likes and interests of the recipient on Facebook. This is a real-life reflection of his/her personality and helps you select gifts that the recipient will actually ‘like’ and cherish. Wishpicker has already tied up with 20 or so merchants/e-commerce partners, including <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword>, <keyword id="2059448" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="HappilyUnmarried">HappilyUnmarried</keyword> and <keyword id="640104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ferns-n-Petals">Ferns N Petals</keyword>, among others. It is now planning to increase the number of tie-ups.<br />
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As gifts are curated from some of the best brands, users can access the very best that is available across the Web. What’s more, you get all at one place, essentially making Wishpicker a one-stop shop for the best gift ideas. The recommendation engine, based on automated machine learning, has been internally developed by the Wishpicker team and is constantly worked upon to ensure a never-before user experience.<br />
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<strong>Claim to fame:</strong> Stickiness, traction and conversion. Wishpicker wishes to be a Google for gifts and seems to be making decent progress in these three key areas, as per the numbers divulged by the company.<br />
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<strong>Show me the money: </strong><keyword id="6399165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenue-generation">Revenue generation</keyword> happens through commission per sale. According to the co-founders, the site sees more than 150,000 unique visitors per month and it is growing at 80% month on month. The annual <keyword id="2059458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GMV-run-rate">GMV run rate</keyword> is now Rs 1.5 crore and this is expected to double in the next 2-3 months, given the current growth rate.<br />
 <br /> Wishpicker is self-funded till date but will be raising its first round of <keyword id="6364511" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="angel-funding">angel funding</keyword> by the second quarter of CY2014. “We put together a <keyword id="572926" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="seed-capital">seed capital</keyword> of Rs 15 lakh and we are now looking to raise under a million dollar for the next round of development,” says Apurv. The money raised will be mostly used for enhancing the technology platform and venturing further into the global market.<br />
 <br /> “The problem we are trying to solve – deciding what to gift and how to find it easily – is globally relevant. Moreover, we have an extremely scalable model as our platform is totally Cloud-based. So we are planning to go global in a big way soon after cracking the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword>,” details Apurv. Even now, Wishpicker has a significant presence in the US, the UK and the Middle East as people from these countries send gifts to India. But in the next phase of global expansion in the third quarter of this calendar year, the UK market will be the primary focus of the start-up.<br />
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<strong>Biggest challenge: </strong>There are loads of gifting sites in India but most of them work like normal e-commerce sites, instead of aggregating and curating gift information, powered by an intelligent recommendation engine. “For gifting sites, the <keyword id="5189" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="competition">competition</keyword> evolves around stickiness – it is essential to ensure that one finds the right gift for the right occasion and comes back often. But a site with a limited inventory cannot assure that and that’s where we are ahead,” affirms Apurv.<br />
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He, however, thinks the biggest challenge is to build the right team. “Without a great team, your business is bound to fail. When running a start-up, you will never be short of work, and will constantly feel the need for more people. But the key is not to hire in a hurry and make sure that the candidate is not only talented and hardworking, but also gels well with the culture of the company. Because a wrong hire will push you two steps behind,” he reflects.<br />
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<strong>Tips for budding entrepreneurs:</strong> There is no perfect time to start your own business. If you believe that you are solving a problem that’s affecting a large number of people and have the confidence that you can execute it with perfection, you should just go for it. Age, capital and experience are more of psychological constraints. Once you begin, everything else will fall in place.

You Searched For "offbeat job options" and got 12 results

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