Dallas-Fort Worth Airlines leading the charge towards Inflight WiFi

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Soon, “Airplane Mode” on your laptops and mobile devices may become a thing of the past. More and more airlines are introducing inflight WiFi, according to the 2018 WiFi Report by Routehappy, a flight shopping platform. The Report found that 82 airlines worldwide now offer inflight WiFi. That’s 12 more airlines compared to last year. “Two years ago, there was only a one in three chance you would board a flight with Wi-Fi,” said Jonathan Savitch, Routehappy’s chief commercial officer. Now, it’s almost a 50% chance.

Not only is inflight WiFi becoming more common, it is also getting faster and more advanced. WiFi systems are categorized into three types: basic, better, and best.  Airlines are increasingly moving away from basic connectivity – with no streaming media capability – to the “better” category which allows for web browsing and limited media streaming.  57 percent of WiFi systems are using “better” connectivity. The “best” WiFi system consists of satellite-based broadband service that allows for video streaming and is comparable to your WiFi connection at home. While only 16 percent of inflight WiFi systems currently have “best” connectivity, it’s already a 129 percent increase from last year and the shift from “better” to “best” connectivity isn’t slowing down. Jason Rabinowitz, director of airline research at Routehappy, said, “It is now likely that Wi-Fi at 32,000 feet may be cheaper and faster than the WiFi at many airports.”

86% of carriers in the United States offer full or partial inflight WiFi, with Dallas-Fort Worth airlines leading the charge. Southwest Airlines, based in Dallas, is  one of only three carriers in the world that guarantees inflight WiFI on all of its flights. The other two are Icelandair and Virgin Atlantic. Routehappy also measured inflight WiFi availability by Available Seat Miles (ASM) which determines airline capacity. The Report found that Fort Worth-based American Airlines ranked second only to Delta in terms of most ASMs with inflight WiFi. Both American and Southwest have committed to upgrading its WiFi systems to become faster and more reliable.

The United States’ leadership in the inflight WiFi market isn’t guaranteed, however. Savitch said, “When we look at this from a long-haul perspective, we see where the next battleground is. Emirates has the lion’s share.” Last year, Emirates had included WiFi connectivity on its fleet rollout of Boeing 777s. Lufthansa is also catching up with its introduction of a hybrid satellite and LTE connectivity for its narrow-body fleet.

Inflight WiFi in the United States has come a long way but there is still room for improvement. Are you working on innovative ways to improve WiFi connectivity on American flight carriers and helping the United States maintain its position as a leader in aerospace travel? Your efforts could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you could receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

“We want to build Texas into a global brand” – F&R Distilling Co. opens Whiskey Ranch in Fort Worth

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“I think people don’t realize what it takes to make a great whiskey,” Leonard Firestone said. “It’s a little bit of art, it’s a little bit of science. It’s time, of course.” Firestone is one of the owners behind Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co. founded in 2010. The company is known for its TX Whiskey and TX Straight Bourbon. The owners recently opened a huge Whiskey Ranch five miles from downtown Fort Worth. The facility was four and a half years in the making and will offer Texans and tourists an immersive whiskey experience.

In explaining why they started the company, Robertson said, “An ah-ha moment when we were in the process of building the company and kind of putting all the pieces together was the fact that Texas is the second largest consuming state of whiskey in the country, but very little of it was made here.” To change that, F&R developed its own distillery. It first debuted its signature TX Blended Whiskey in 2013 which went onto win the Best American Craft Whiskey title as well as double gold at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco that same year. As the Robb Report described the whiskey, “With a luscious array of flavors—chocolate, orange, cinnamon, and clove—yet a surprising lightness on the palate, the 82-proof whiskey is ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks—though it also makes an excellent cocktail.”

Robertson explained, “It’s important to know the reason all of this was done. We have a vision to distribute our whiskey around the world. We want to build Texas into a global brand.” When F&R first started, there were only about 10 active distillery licenses. Now, there are over 100. With the Whiskey Ranch, F&R hopes to solidify its reputation as one of the pioneers in the Texan distillery scene. The ranch Is expansive, stretching 112 acres of land and comes complete with a bar, a store, event space, an 18-hole golf course, and even a secret entrance leading to a speak-easy style dining room. It is currently only open on Thursdays and Fridays until December. Public daily tours will commence in January 2018, allowing visitors to see how whiskey is made from fermentation to bottling. Of course, visitors will also be able to sample the whiskeys. The new facility is expected to increase the company’s production from three barrels to 40 a day.

Did you know that the experimentation involved in creating a whiskey recipe as well as building the Whiskey Ranch facility could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are also developing similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit, even if your whiskeys aren’t yet in production. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

 

Clean and Pristine: Fort Worth-based Clarus Glassboards Changing the Way We Write on Walls

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Ever been ready to brainstorm with your team but you end up spending more time cleaning the conference room’s filthy whiteboard that still has smudges from the past decade? Clarus Glassboards understands that frustrating feeling and created innovative dry-erase glass surfaces so that “Yesterday’s presentation will no longer be today’s distraction.”

What began as an idea born out of a Fort Worth garage in 2009 has since expanded across the country and the globe. Founded by Robby Whites and Jeremy Rincon, Clarus Glassboards’ major clients include AT&T, Macy’s, Apple, Texas Instruments, Tesla, Twitter, and Amazon. The founders, along with Clarus President Andrew Philipp, were recognized in 2015 as EY Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Whites and Rincon started the company after they lost their jobs in the financial services industry. Because of their experience during the Great Recession, they pursued manufacturing instead of high-tech because they wanted to build a product that was more hands-on. As Whites described, “When we lost our jobs, we want to make something tangible; if you dropped it on your foot it would hurt.”

Made from Vitro’s Starphire glass, Clarus Glassboards would not only hurt if you dropped it on your foot, it probably won’t break either. The Glassboards are anti-glare, durable, and as easy to clean as a bathroom mirror. Better yet, these surfaces come in customizable sizes and colors to fit clients’ diverse needs, whether it’s in the classroom, the office, or the hospital. The company even developed a limited edition ping pong table.

Part of the secret to the company’s success? It builds its product right here in the United States rather than outsource. Whites explained, “Clients appreciate our being able to make a product and ship it quick; they appreciate customization; they appreciate high quality. We have to own and control the manufacturing process.” When Amazon requested hundreds of Glassboards within a few days for its newly opened office in Romania, Clarus was able to respond immediately because it manufactured at home. “No one else in the world could have done that for [Amazon],”Philipp said.

Clarus Glassboards’ product and manufacturing process are a result of constant innovation. Did you know the company’s innovative experiments are considered R&D and could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are conducting similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Fort Worth Entrepreneur Making Things a Little Sweeter with Lisa’s Lemonade

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Lemonade was a family favorite in Lisa Freeney’s home. Yet, as a single mother of a son diagnosed with ADHD who cannot consume sugar and preservatives, Freeney understands the importance of a healthy diet for her family. She hoped to find a product suitable for her family’s needs but the market failed to provide one.  And so, Freeney decided to come up with her own recipe. The result? Lisa’s Lemonade.

Launched only just last month, Lisa’s Lemonade has already made quite the splash in the organic food market. With frozen lemonade mixes from carrot ginger to strawberry lemonade, the company offers a unique, organic, and sugar-free take on the American classic drink. Most of her products are sold out on the company’s website.

With her son as the first client, Freeney knew she had to come up with a beverage that was healthy without compromising on taste. It took years to develop the right balance. Freeney described the process as challenging: “My file with failed recipes is packed, dog-eared and now filled with so many great memories of ‘No, not that one!’ with puckered faces and half-finished glasses of lemonade down the drain.” After much trial and error, she discovered the right recipe. As she stated, “Eventually, the perfect recipe emerged and after an almost year’s search for just the right organic sweetener manufacturer, I found them as well. So I’ve done the work, you just sit back and enjoy the flavor. Deal?”

The company maintains that its products are made without pesticides and with organic ingredients, including the sweeteners such as Stevia, erythritol, and a dash of agave. Lisa’s Lemonade is on track to securing the USDA Organic Certification soon.

Speaking at the Entrepreneur Summit in Fort Worth earlier this week, Freeney said, “I had a real passion for this. It was not just to make a product but also to make a difference.”

Did you know Freeney’s trial and error process, even the failed recipes, is considered research and development, and is therefore eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are conducting similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

 

DFW-based Methodist Health System adopts Epic Electronic Health Record to integrate patient records

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The exchange of health information between patients and providers has come a long way in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region, especially with the adoption of the Epic Electronic Health Record, but it still has a long way to go.

Earlier this year, Pamela McNutt, senior vice president and Chief Information Officer of the DFW-based Methodist Health System, launched the Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) across the system’s 46 facilities, consisting of hospitals as well as teaching, specialty, and community practice clinics. The goal was to integrate patient records and allow patients to be on one portal. Prior to Epic’s implementation, the Methodist Health System used MEDITECH and NextGen but these did not always serve the system’s needs. McNutt explains, “[W]e really felt like we needed an integrated record. That was number one. Also, so many other people in the Dallas-Fort Worth region had Epic already, so physicians had experience using it.” With 190 million people on Epic worldwide and with most Texas providers already using Epic and its web-based service EpicCare Link, McNutt noted integration has become more accessible: “We are exchanging thousands of records every day. This exchange is happening with non-Epic providers, too.”

Of course, there are still improvements needed in the exchange of health information. Physicians are often burdened by the amount of documentation they need to do in addition to their regular practice. McNutt expressed hope that the Epic Electronic Health Record and other new technologies could assist with that burden on providers in the future, “whether it’s a tap-and-go-single sign-on with a badge, or using best practice templates.” She further added that IT systems need to be constantly upgraded to meet the changing needs of the healthcare market. Innovation is also key.

As the software company behind the Electronic Health Record, Epic is no stranger to innovation. For one, the company has introduced smartphone access to its software. It also offers programs to help patients know the risk of developing certain diseases, such as diabetes. As well, Sumit Rana, Epic’s senior vice president of research and development, imagines that tele-health will become an integral part of health care by 2018, allowing patients to participate in video appointments with their healthcare providers. Part of Epic’s success could be attributed to the fact that the company invests 50% of its operating expenses in R&D.

Did you know Epic’s R&D experiments are eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are doing similar product developments like Epic, you could be eligible as well and can receive up to 14% of your R&D expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

18 billionaires from Dallas-Fort Worth make Forbes’ 400 Richest Americans List in 2017

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Forbes released its annual 400 Richest Americans list on Tuesday, October 17 and the verdict is in: 18 of the 34 Texans who made the cut call Dallas-Fort Worth “home”.

The richest Texan is Alice Walton, 68, the Walmart heiress who resides in Dallas-Fort Worth and whose estimated net worth is at $38.2 billion. She ranks No. 13 on the Forbes 400. She is an active curator of art, serving as Chairman of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas and having supported the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

Texas’ economy is diverse but its main sources of wealth are oil, gas, and pipelines. The Forbes 400 reflected this with Robert Bass, Ray Lee Hunt, Trevor Rees-Jones, and Sid Bass among DFW residents in the Top 400 whose fortunes were built on oil. Others like Andrew Beal and H. Ross Perot Senior and Junior made their wealth through real estate. Sports also played a role, with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, worth an estimated $5.6 billion, rounding out the top three richest Texans and No. 95 in the country. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has an estimated $3.3 billion, making him the 21st richest Texan.  Cuban is also an investor on the television show, “Shark Tank.”

Bill Gates remains the richest American, with $89 billion. Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, claimed the No.2 spot with $81.5 billion, replacing Warren Buffett who previously held title for fifteen years and now sits at No. 3 with $78 billion. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg rounded the top four Richest Americans with a net worth of $71 billion.

2017 has proven a successful year for the country’s wealthiest Americans. Forbes’ 400 criteria jumped from 2016’s $1.7 billion net worth threshold to $2 billion. The Forbes 400’s total net worth is $2.7 trillion compared to last year’s $2.4 trillion.

Despite the minimum increase, 22 newcomers made the Forbes 400 list with 14 of them being self-made entrepreneurs. Notable innovators include Don Vultaggio, founder of Arizona ice tea and Tito Beveridge who created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Netflix founder Reed Hastings also notably landed a spot on the Forbes 400 with an estimated $2.2 billion.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur in Dallas-Fort Worth engaging in R&D to develop new products and maybe one day make the Forbes 400 Richest Americans List? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and can receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes.  

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative

Fort Worth plastic surgeon’s non-invasive CoolSculpting demonstrates R&D in cosmetic surgery industry

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Most people wouldn’t immediately think of research and development when they think of cosmetic surgery, but this Fort Worth-based plastic surgeon’s decision to introduce CoolSculpting in her practice demonstrates otherwise.

In a press release earlier today, Kirby Plastic Surgery in Fort Worth announced that it will offer CoolSculpting as a fat reduction treatment. Citing safety and efficacy for her clients, Dr. Emily Kirby asserts that CoolSculpting has improved in recent years and offers the product needed by clients. FDA-cleared, the procedure reduces fat by using cryolipolysis to freeze the skin and destroy fat cells without harming surrounding tissues. It reduces isolated fat bulges without the need for needles, incisions, anaesthesia, and there is no downtime for patients. From a process of research and development, CoolAdvantage was also developed. Building on the findings of CoolSculpting, CoolAdvantage treats more parts of the body, including thighs, chin, and arms, in addition to the abdomen and flanks. It is also faster than its predecessor, cutting down treatment duration from one hour to 35 minutes.

The procedure is non-invasive and more comfortable than traditional plastic surgery treatments. Dr. Kirby states, “A growing number of patients have expressed interest in minimally invasive alternatives to surgery to address effects of genetics, aging and childbearing on their bodies. My priority is to provide patients the results they want in a safe, predictable way.” Plastic surgery is on the rise, with over 11.6 million nonsurgical procedures conducted in 2016 in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. New technologies are constantly being developed.

Are you also developing new or improving existing body sculpting technologies? Did you know this constitutes R&D? If this sounds like you, you could be eligible for an R&D Tax Credit, even if your experiments and trials haven’t been successful. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

On the road in Texas and need a bathroom? Buc-ee’s High-Tech Tooshlights Got You Covered

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If you’ve ever driven along the North Freeway on the way to Fort Worth, you’ve probably stopped by Buc-ee’s, the famous roadside store with its quirky finds, tasty Beaver Bites, and world-renowned bathrooms. Now, the company is adding an even “smarter” upgrade: high-tech bathrooms with Tooshlights.

Jeff Nadalo, Buc-ee’s general counsel, announced that by next year, the company’s 33 stores across Texas will have a whole new system of high-tech bathrooms developed by Tooshlights, a Los Angeles startup. Providing relief for the tired traveler, Buc-ee’s bathrooms are known for their pristine cleanliness and spaciousness as well as its iconic Texas décor. Nadalo has emphasized that clean restrooms are truly “one of the most important pieces of our customer experience.”

With the new Tooshlights technology, Buc-ee’s will take the bathroom experience one step further. Tooshlights was founded in 2013 by Allen Klevens who came up with the idea while he was waiting for a bathroom stall at the Hollywood Bowl. Finding the wait time incredibly long and wearisome, Klevens came up with a system to manage bathroom traffic. Each stall in the Tooshlights system is equipped with a “smart latch” that connects to a colored light above each stall. These ceiling lights indicate whether a particular stall is occupied or vacant. Green indicates unlocked and empty while red signifies locked and in use. There is also a blue light for handicapped-accessible stalls. You don’t need to awkwardly knock on bathroom stalls anymore. Additionally, the Tooshlights software can monitor cleanliness of stalls and send notifications to staff about when it is time to clean a bathroom stall. It can also monitor when a stall has not been occupied in awhile and one that would require further attention.

Tooshlights’ ground-breaking approach to improving bathroom traffic makes it a perfect fit with Buc-ee’s reputation as a provider of extremely immaculate toilets. As one of Buc-ee’s billboards declares, “Your Throne Awaits. Fabulous Restrooms – 32 miles.” Who knows what new innovations are in store for Buc-ee’s next year?

Experimenting with high-tech ways to manage bathroom traffic like Tooshlights and Buc-ee’s? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes.  

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative

Living on the edge: How R&D helped DFW-based entrepreneur to build the Single Edge Razor 2.0

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After quitting his job selling fighter jets around the world, Patrick Coddou launched a new company based in Fort Worth called Supply and developed its signature product: the Single Edge Razor. Now, two years since the company’s inception, Coddou is back with the Single Edge Razor 2.0.

Coddou told D Magazine he came up with the idea for the Single Edge Razor because of his sensitive skin: “I used to hate shaving and using those five blade razors. So my search brought me to this old style of razor. I loved it so much that I thought, you know, I think I can make one of these and show more people what these are.”  With the Single Edge Razor 2.0’s release this summer, Supply offers a new razor that is more durable and comfortable than existing multi-blade razors on the market.

From extensive research, Supply found that multi-blade razors caused irritation when shaving because these are often built as a “one-size-fits-all” product and the blades cut below the skin’s surface and pull up the hair to cut which results in discomfort and ingrown hairs. The razors are also more difficult to wash thereby prompting bacterial buildup in the blade and the material is usually cheap plastic that does not last. Supply’s Single Edge Razor 2.0, in contrast, developed three blade designs to account for distinct skin types: mild, classic, and aggressive. Mild was built for sensitive skin and short beard growth, aggressive was made for long beard growth and wiry hair, and classic for everything in between.  The Single Edge Razor 2.0 is designed to shave just at the surface of the skin, ensuring a closer shave and comfort, and is cleaned easily to avoid bacterial buildup. As well, the blades are 100% stainless steel and twice as thick as the average multi-blade razor, guaranteeing it is rust-resistant and unbreakable.

Additionally, the Single Edge Razor 2.0 was designed at a closer distance and angle between the blade and the safety bar than its predecessors.  While single edge razors have existed for decades, they have often been difficult to use because the blade must be held at the same angle throughout the entire shaving process or else there is risk of cutting and nicks. With the Razor 2.0, the angle is built-in for the user to handle with ease.

Coddou’s company is still constantly finding ways to improve its product. Supply employed an entirely new manufacturing process for the Single Edge Razor 2.0 by adopting methods used in aerospace and medical device manufacturing.  In particular, the company used the Metal injection Moulding process which built products with extreme accuracy and ensures quality of the product. The company hopes to continue to invest in this type of manufacturing and to expand to create more razors and even an entire line of grooming products, from shaving cream after-shave to body wash. You can find the company’s product on Kickstarter.

Supply’s expenses incurred during the design stage of building a new razor and improving the manufacturing methods are all eligible for the R&D tax credit. If you are also engaging in R&D to develop new products or improve existing processes, you could be up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Fort Worth in Bidding War to Win Next Spot for $5 Billion Investment in New Amazon Headquarters

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Amazon is always coming up with something new, whether it is Amazon Prime, Amazon TV, or now a flying airship warehouse to deliver products to customers. This new invention is like something we have never seen before and is completely new technology. Amazon is able to claim research and development (R&D) tax credits due to the highly technological nature of this product. Companies who are experimenting and testing new products, procedures etc., are eligible for R&D tax credits.

Amazon will be investing $5 billion dollars into a new headquarter building that they are looking to build in the U.S., Fort Worth (FW) is on their list of top contenders. Brendan Gengelbach, the executive president at the FW Chamber of Commerce says he has already spoken with state officials and real estate reps about the possibility of Amazon opening up their new headquarters.

Amazon will bring billions of dollars in investments for FW if this is to happen. Amazon has already said that they are looking into the possibility of tax incentives for this project. If your company is experimenting with new products or technologies, contact a Swanson Reed R&D Tax Advisor today to check your eligibility.