In our view there is already a ton of coverage of the trends that ivory tower professors and billionaire fund managers are seeing. What’s the edge in hearing the billionaire consensus view over and over again?

The edge comes from hearing new perspectives and new information like from the wedding planner who has worked with hundreds of couples during the pandemic and has noticed that couples are allocating significantly more of their wedding budgets on “small details” like personalized neon signs and eco-friendly customized digital invitations rather than paper invites. Or the accountant seeing how there’s a huge uptick in ecommerce clients generating revenue from in person popups.

Below, you’ll find some of the most thoughtful entrepreneurs and creatives in across various industries and markets sharing the trends they are seeing.

Shirley You

I believe virtual production is one of the most transformative trends shaping the future of the film industry. Technologies like LED volume and real-time rendering with green screen are not just affecting how we make a movie — they’re redefining how we think about designing space, light, and narrative. Read more>>

Matt Foster

One of the most significant trends we’re observing at Mafost Marketing, impacting both our Houston and New Bern offices, is the increasing accessibility of sophisticated SEO tools and techniques, largely fueled by AI advancements. It’s no longer solely the domain of large corporations with dedicated teams. Now, even smaller businesses are gaining access to insights previously exclusive to seasoned professionals. Read more>>

Ryan Wardell

I have some really interesting insights to share about how AI is affecting SaaS startups – both positively and negatively – and what SaaS businesses are doing to adapt.

Some examples:

1 – The Startup Accelerator model is dead and Venture Capital is dying, at least for SaaS

Traditionally, software startups needed to raise a lot of money from venture capitalists, and accelerator programs like Y-Combinator sprang up to help early stage founders raise capital and scale their business. Read more>>

Amber England

Maximalism seems to be one of the newest trends emerging for weddings. While I do incorporate some concepts, I tend to steer clients towards a more minimalistic approach which uses less materials and is one way to ease the environmental impact of floral design. I try to use designs that can decrease the stem count and instead use a single element arranged in a way that makes an elegant statement. Read more>>

Lisa Delane

Since the beginning of Covid, homeowners have realised the value of having usable outdoor space, and with the prices of homes still going up, making the most of what you have, or adding value to your home, has continued to be an important factor. At Shop Living Gardens, we assist our clients in finding usable, functional, and luxurious outdoor furniture and decor to spruce up their outdoor spaces and turn them into cozy, elegant, and enjoyable spaces to spend time with family and friends. Should your outside space need even more love, our design team at Living Gardens Landscape Design can meet with you to completely redesign your outdoor spaces. Read more>>

Ariana

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing in the events and media space—especially in the dating and social connection world—is the shift away from apps and back into real life. People are craving authentic connection and shared experiences more than ever, and frankly, we’re all a little burned out from endless swiping and algorithm fatigue (79% of Gen Z have dating app fatigue)! The pendulum is swinging back to IRL, and we’re here for it. Read more>>

Evan Besser
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Over the past few years there’s been this massive boom in indie animation— with project after project popping up. It’s been incredible to see a new era, I guess you could say, of animation that isn’t restricted to TV standards and creators can just make whatever they want to make. Read more>>

Jessica Monroy

One trend I’m loving is the return to analog photography—film, Polaroids, all of it. There’s something magical about slowing down, being intentional, and embracing imperfection. I recently photographed a couple on 35mm during golden hour—no retakes, just real moments. It felt like we were honoring the present. The opportunity? Deeper storytelling. The concern? Patience—it’s not instant, but that’s the beauty. Read more>>

LaTonya Washington

One of the biggest trends is the Rise of AI in Social Media

As a social media and customer journey strategist, one of the most evolutionary trends I’m witnessing is the rise of artificial intelligence.

Imagine this: you’re sipping your morning coffee when your phone buzzes with a notification. It’s your favorite online store, not just promoting a random sale but suggesting the perfect pair of shoes to match the outfit you recently liked on Instagram. This is AI at work, enhancing personalized experiences like never before. Read more>>

Ashley Coffey

One of the most compelling trends we’re seeing right now is the accelerated adoption of AI-powered tools by small and mid-sized businesses—and with that, a widening gap between access and understanding. The excitement around AI is real, but so is the overwhelm. Businesses are asking, “How do we actually use this?” and more importantly, “How do we trust it to enhance, not disrupt, what we’ve built?” Read more>>