Highlights of the Week (May 6, 2022)

It might be a symptom of late-stage pandemic malaise, but I just tested positive for a travel bug. I’m tired of the doom and gloom news cycle, a continuous trail of friends catching mild-Covid, and the general Groundhog Day vibe of 2022. Surveys show I’m not alone. Nearly 90% of Americans have planned leisure trips, despite inflation, higher gas prices (flight costs are up 40%, according to Hopper), and a looming recession. As a remote worker, I’m looking at flights using Kiwi.com to find airfare across multiple destinations. To save a few bucks on Airbnbs, there’s Trusted House Sitters, a site for pairing homeowners with pets and trustworthy travelers.

Meanwhile, here are the week’s top stories from PrivCo, in case you missed them:

• Monday, we looked at the current housing market and the rise of renting. What factors contribute to this trend, and who’s out to give renters a boost? Find out.

• Spent any time scrolling on TikTok lately? It turns out the average user is spending more than a full day on the platform each month (25.7 hours). Learn about the features driving this addiction and how influencer marketers are taking advantage of the winning app of the attention economy. Check it out.

• If you’re still sitting out crypto investing, you’re not alone. Beyond the hype, there’s a surge in skeptics unmasking the contradictions and foibles of decentralized finance and Web3. Find out more.

• With the unprecedented leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, we checked in on women’s healthcare startups looking to fill the gap. See who they are.