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アメリカ企業に従業員向け福利厚生サービスを提供するAnyPerk、シリーズAに続くフォローオンで1,150万ドルを調達
AnyPerk のチーム（2015年4月撮影、AnyPerk の Facebook ページから）
<ピックアップ>This startup just got $11.5 million to make employees everywhere as happy as they are at Google
Salesforce、Virgin America など、アメリカの大企業やテクノロジーベンチャーに福利厚生サービスを提供する AnyPerkは、先ごろシリーズAラウンドのフォローオンで1,150万ドルを調達した。このラウンドに参加したのは、Andreessen Horowitz、DCM Ventures、ニッセイキャピタル、起業家で投資家の Gary Vaynerchuk 氏。これは2015年2月に同社が実施した、DCM Ventures…
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AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding
In the tech industry at least, it seems like the pressure for companies to provide “perks” to their employees has never been higher. But oftentimes, startups don’t have the ability to provide the same level of perks as larger established corporations do. That’s where AnyPerk, a startup itself, wants to help. AnyPerk, which makes a platform aimed at letting companies of… Read More
The post AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding appeared first on BluGry8MiDawg.
from AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding
AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding
In the tech industry at least, it seems like the pressure for companies to provide “perks” to their employees has never been higher. But oftentimes, startups don’t have the ability to provide the same level of perks as larger established corporations do. That’s where AnyPerk, a startup itself, wants to help. AnyPerk, which makes a platform aimed at letting companies of… Read More
The post AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding appeared first on BluGry8MiDawg.
from AnyPerk, A Platform For Delivering Perks To Employees, Raises $8.5M In Series A Funding
Having Yuki around makes my day 100x better #dog #officedog #anyperk (at AnyPerk)
Generating a Random Permutation in Excel
Excel...for what?
The other day, I was modeling something in Excel ("data scientists" out there: laugh all you want, but you too might find this post interesting) and needed to generate a random permutation.
Casual Googling resulted in pretty disappointing information: many suggested to generate a bunch of random integers in [1, N], possibly with repeats, until you cover all N integers. Then, pick the previously unseen unique numbers to extract a subsequence.
The above method actually generates a uniformly random permutation within a reasonable time: the standard coupon collector argument shows that you need ~N*logN random numbers.
Enter Fisher/Yates/Knuth
But you can actually do this with N random numbers. It's called Fisher-Yates/Knuth shuffling.
Starting with the ordered sequence 1, 2, 3...N, the shuffling algorithm goes like this:
for k = 1 to N-1 pick a random integer m from [k, N] (inclusive) swap the k-th and m-th number endfor
This is easy to verify for N = 2: You are just flipping a coin to decide if you swap 1 with 2. For N > 2, you just need to show that each of 1 through N has an equal chance of getting the k-th slot for 1 through N. In the first step, every number has a 1/N probability of getting into the first slot. For all other slots: the number has (1-1/N) chance of getting/staying there, then by induction, all slots are equally likely, hence (1-1/N)*(1/N-1) = 1/N. This completes the proof.
Implementation in Excel
Anyway, we can use Knuth's shuffle to generate random permutations in Excel.
The issue is, Excel is barely a programming language, and there is no "for loop". But that doesn't mean you can't do iterations! (Ok, we will end up using N^2 space, which kind of defeats the purpose of the algorithm...)
In the rest of this post, I will show you how to implement Knuth's shuffling in Excel. For simplicity, we assume N = 5, but this methodology works with any N (as long as Excel can hold it!)
First, you need to set up k's and m's. The trick here is we pre-generate the random m's. We are using Excel's RANDBETWEEN functions for Column B here.
Also, notice that in C1:G1, we have the sequence 1,2,3,4,5 initialized.
The next step is a bit tricky. Here is what the formula looks like:
For each row, we swap the k-th (Column A) and m-th (Column B) numbers in the previous row. This is what the gigantic IF statement is doing. Furthermore, since we want to run this calculation more than once, I have an extra condition: If the value of k is 1, then instead of the previous row, we use 1,2,3,4,5 to re-initialize the permutation (EDIT: on second thought, you actually do not have to re-initialize this and can keep running against different seed sequences without skewing the overall distribution since it's a 120-state Markov-chain with equal-probability transitions).
(Aside: INDEX function is very useful, but not that many people seem to know about its existence.)
Finally, we drag and expand the formula to populate the rest of the cells. I personally find this step most satisfying when I program in Excel.
C5:G5 is the random permutation.
Running it over and over and over
Now, let's verify this is indeed working. This step is very easy in Excel. We just keep populating Column A through G for subsequent rows. The only thing to watch out for is Column A should repeat 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4...This can be achieved by using relative reference.
When everything is said and done, here is the distribution of 5! = 120 different permutations of [1,2,3,4,5] with 2,500 samples.
As you can see, it's fairly evenly distributed! The intercept for the line is 21, which is close to 2,500/5! = 20.833...
You can get the spreadsheet here
Obligatory promotions
My employer Treasure Data is also hiring. Most pertinent to the reader: we are looking for a data scientist to help our customers discover more value from their data. Email me at kiyoto-at-treasuredata-dot-com.
Meet our new team member, Noah Kotlove!
Noah is joining us all the way from Philly, and will be helping you create a rewarding work environment!
Q: What is the most surprising thing about working at AnyPerk?
A: The most surprising thing about working at AnyPerk has to be the complete openness of communication. Since I began working here, I’ve been amazed at how the whole team is always on the same page, and how everyone’s input, no matter his or her position is highly valued. Everyone is 100% committed to the same goal; growing AnyPerk and giving employees worldwide awesome perks!
Q: What keeps you busy outside of AnyPerk?
A: Outside of AnyPerk, I’m an avid sports fan and a big movie buff. At any given point, if I’m not watching football or basketball, I’m probably heading off to the movies. I’m also a big reader. I’m constantly consuming articles about anything and everything, ranging from the highbrow topics, like business and politics, to the lowbrow, like sports and reality TV. If it’s published, chances are I’ve read it!
Q: Where will you be in 5 years?
A: Besides celebrating the 5-year anniversary of answering this question? In all seriousness, I see myself building an awesome company, be it as a member of a super talented team or, hopefully, as a founder. Since working for my first startup, I’ve been totally addicted, and I can’t see myself doing anything else.
Q: What is your favorite perk?
A: With so many great perks, this is a really tough choice, but I’m definitely going to have to go with the AT&T perk. I find myself using my iPhone more and more every day; so being able to save on my monthly bill is crucial. The AMC and Regal movie ticket perks are also amazing!
Welcome to the team, Noah!
Up To 50% Off Sports, Concert, and Theater Tickets!
Spend some time with your loved ones during the holidays, and enjoy savings on sports, concert, and theater tickets. What better way to bond with your spouse, kids, friends, and colleagues? Save on tickets from SeatGeek, BestFanTickets, and more by signing in to AnyPerk, or clicking on your favorite perk below.
40% off a registration for a team of two in Great Urban Race
Save 26% off two adult Six Flags Magic Mountain e-tickets
Save 18% off adult Six Flags Discovery Kingdom e-tickets
Get 10% off your entire Homejoy professional cleaning
15% off standard rental rates at Zipcar
Save 10% on any order made on Shoptiques.com
Enjoy 25% off on FTD beautiful floral arrangements
Save 15% on school and office supplies from Chalkfly
15% off Massage Corporation's on-site chair or table massages
15% off all Exhale Mind Body Spa therapies
Save 30% on Namaste Here yoga in the workplace in San Francisco
15% off all single fitness classes by Exhale Mind Body Fitness
Happy Perking!
AnyPerk Team
Sign up to AnyPerk to receive our new and improved newsletter featuring the best perks on the market.
What Perks Are Keeping Your Employees Happy
Your employees may enjoy their job, but it’s the perks that keep them happy. Companies who wish to increase productivity and ensure their employees remain dedicated, should consider offering competitive benefits. After reviewing our customers' activity and feedback, we’ve discovered that the most popular perks include reduced cell phone bills, discounts on movie tickets, and waived gym fees.
Here’s how you can tell your employees aren’t going to leave anytime soon.
They Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Companies are increasingly adopting BYOD programs, and are opting to use secure enterprise apps. As the line blurs between work and personal cell phone use, employers can offer waived activation fees and discounts on monthly plans on major national carriers. Employees won’t have to sweat the small stuff by stressing out about overage charges. Instead of saving up their minutes, they will be at ease when telecommuting or handing out their number to potential business partners at events.
They Play Hard So They Can Work Even Harder (And Smarter)
When employees aren’t happy at the office, their work suffers, and this is increasingly true for employees feeling overworked. It is easy to get burnt out with the shift to longer hours and the mentality of “do more with less”. Companies can boost productivity by offering their employees access to entertainment perks such as deals on movie tickets. Sometimes a relaxing break at the movies can be the best way to solve a tough problem or spark your employee’s creativity.
They Receive VIP Treatment
While the treadmill and standing desk trend is gaining momentum, most companies still have a traditional office environment. After sitting at a desk for 7+ hours, employees are at the risk of developing health problems and mental strain. In order to promote wellness in the workplace, employers can offer waived gym enrolment fees as well as low gym membership rates. Receiving at the VIP treatment at your neighbourhood’s local gym, will help employees relieve stress their stress as well as encourage them to take care of their body.
At the end of the day, employees prefer working for a company that respects and cares about their well-being. You’re willing to go the extra mile for your customers, so why not treat your employees the same. They will appreciate it, and you’ll be sure to notice a difference!
How do you keep your employees happy? If you'd like to offer your employees the best perks on the market, sign up to AnyPerk!
[Image via Highways Agency]
