Mark Cuban Wants to 'Put the Fear of God' in Elon Musk with this Business Investment
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban is out for a piece of fellow billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
And while it won’t (unfortunately?) be in a caged ring or some sort of bizarre Hunger Games-style blood ritual, the stakes are high and the money is significant. And the prize? It might just be saving the planet.
The Shark Tank pitch that could change the world
The tech-sports-entertainment mogul and host of ABC’s Shark Tank announced his intention to go big on the solar energy industry by investing half-a-million dollars into contestant Catlin Powers’ One Earth Designs.
Cuban, not one to shirk from a bit of controversy, bluntly asked Powers if she “could put the fear of God in Elon Musk and put them out of business?”
Yes, she could, she replied. So Cuban got in for $500,000 and 4 percent of the business, plus a seat on the board.
Powers was initially on the show to pitch a line of solar-powered electric stoves and grills that she claims can revolutionize the way people cook outdoors. The Harvard grad, who holds a master’s and doctorate degree in environmental health, came up with the idea after spending time with nomadic families in Nepal, and saw how damaging cooking indoors could be to their health.
Out of the frying pan, into the money
She since created SolSource, a system whereby a mirror-covered parabolic dish uses the sun’s rays to heat cookware up to 550F. That, she says, can boil a quart of water in 10 minutes. It’s cooking that’s entirely fossil-fuel free and, as Powers says, “As long as you can see your shadow, you can cook with SolSource.” The stove retails for $499, the Classic Grill Pan for $89.99.
But as nifty as that sounds, it was Powers’ next project that really got Cuban going. She told the sharks that she was working on a solar battery capable of collecting and storing energy for several days.
It stores energy in organic molecules over multiple days at a time, a lot like plants do. It's a natural biomimicry system, and that system will allow us to cook at night and also cook indoors.
The technology could theoretically be applied to cars as well.
While the others passed, Cuban jumped, calling it a “billion-dollar opportunity.”
If Cuban and Powers are serious about chasing and beating Musk in the solar industry, they have their work cut out for them. Musk’s electric car company Tesla bought solar energy services company SolarCity in 2016, and has since been busy building gigantic batteries in Australia and claiming floorspace for its solar battery Powerwalls and solar roof products at 800 Home Depot stores. There are reports of a similar deal involving Lowe’s.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.