Startups
VCs love insurance, even if you don’t
Most people hate shopping for insurance, and they don’t enjoy talking about it either. That’s probably why you’re unlikely to hear about the industry’s current transformation in conversation, even in startup circles.<p>But make no mistake, there are vast sums of venture dollars going into insurance …
Venture CapitalBig opportunities in drone software: $565 million and climbing
This year drones have turned from buzzword to a mature technology, bringing value across many industries (see the recent Economist long read on that) and representing an interesting investment opportunity. A number of VC firms have already jumped in, putting $454 million into 100 deals in 2016 …
Venture CapitalThe fabulous life of Airbnb's Brian Chesky, one of the youngest and richest tech founders in America
Brian Chesky didn't know much about tech before starting Airbnb.<p>The 35-year-old CEO majored in industrial design in college and dabbled in hockey and bodybuilding in his 20s. But now, he's grown an idea that stemmed from overbooked hotels into a multibillion-dollar startup — and has become one of …
EntrepreneurshipTwo Companies Compete to Become Our New Favorite Generics
As lovers of design, pretty packaging can sometimes be <i>the</i> thing that draws us to a product. But two new companies are betting they can forgo fancy …
ShoppingUnreasonable Group Galvanizes Social Entrepreneurs To Further Sustainable Development Goals
You know the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Those multiple objectives aimed at alleviating poverty, boosting equality and fighting climate change, all by 2030? It’s kind of a tall order and calls for an all-hands-on-deck response.<p>With that in mind, the Unreasonable Group, in …
Sustainable Development GoalsPeter Thiel's fund owned more shares than DeepMind's cofounders when the AI lab was sold to Google
Peter Thiel's investment company owned more shares in artificial intelligence (AI) lab DeepMind than all three of the startup's cofounders when it was acquired by Google for around $600 million (£463 million).<p>Analysis of an annual return document on UK company register Companies House showed that …
Artificial IntelligenceQuestions swirl as ‘advisers’ say they never worked for Chicago investment firm
Nin Desai, CEO of Chicago-based Nin Ventures, is on the defensive after two men she listed as advisers to her company have denied their involvement, leading to broader questions about the firm.<p>Dr. Sunil Patel and Gurbaksh Chahal say they aren’t involved in Nin Ventures. Both men have said they sent …
Venture CapitalThis Dutch startup turns plants into batteries
Imagine a lamp. Any lamp. Now imagine having to water it.<p>Dutch product designer Ermi van Oers created Living Light: plants that double as lights. Or lights that double as plants – whichever way you prefer looking at it. The lighst run on electricity generated by bacteria in the soil.<p>Here’s how it …
TechnologyEverything a Startup Founder Needs to Know About Equity
Don't go in blindly.<p><i>How is equity calculated for a startup? originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.</i><p><b>Answer by Alexandra Isenegger, CEO @Linkilaw | Entrepreneur | Advisor & Strategist, on Quora:</b><p>There …
EntrepreneurshipThese were the 10 biggest European tech stories this week
This week, Tech.eu tracked 3 technology M&A transactions and 76 tech funding deals totaling about €507 million (about $591 million) in Europe, Turkey and Israel.<p>Here’s an overview of the 10 biggest European tech news items for this week:<p><b>1)</b> French payments specialist Ingenico announced that it is to …
Series B RoundY Combinator Plans to Raise a $1 Billion Fund
Startup accelerators are so much more than the capital they provide. Between the mentorship, the network, and the general support, a good startup …
Venture CapitalThis startup is quite literally Airbnb for pets
In the digital world, there is one certainty: if there’s a need, sooner or later (and probably sooner) there will be an app for it. Digital technology has revolutionized, streamlined and enhanced just about every area of our lives. And now it’s time to do the same for our pets’ lives.<p>Now that …
PetsBetterment just landed an $800 million valuation
Betterment, the largest independent roboadviser, announced Friday morning a new round of funding that would bring the firm's valuation to $800 million.<p>The $70 million funding round was led by Kinnevik, a Swedish investment company. Other investors in this round included Menlo Ventures, a …
Venture CapitalAfter Raising $78 Million, Overpriced US Shipping Startup Can't Find Enough Lazy Customers
After raising millions from some of the most influential investors in Silicon Valley, Shyp — a startup that picks up your stuff and ships it for you …
Technology (Australia)Vinod Khosla: Venture capital has less sexual harassment than other industries
Still, he wasn’t “surprised” by the revelations.<p>To hear Vinod Khosla tell it, sexual harassment isn’t quite as common in venture capital as you might think.<p>As a spate of allegations rock the business, Khosla said he was “a little surprised” by the revelations, but is still arguing that venture …
Venture CapitalHow Authenticity, Honesty And Vulnerability Benefit Your Career
Allowing yourself to be honest, vulnerable and authentic takes bravery in every setting — especially the workplace. But, when expressed respectfully and appropriately, it can be a catalyst for a more successful career and company. Shanna Tellerman learned this firsthand as founder and CEO of Modsy, …
LeadershipPrivate Equity’s Big Bets on Financial Tech
Private equity firms are rushing to bet on financial technology.<p>Permira Capital Partners, Advent International and Bain Capital have all recently announced acquisitions of payment processors in the hope of capitalizing on the cashless zeitgeist. The Blackstone Group and CVC Capital Partners, which …
Venture CapitalGrowth Hacking for Testing Business Models
Being a tech startup means you’ve just started and most likely don’t know what your business model is yet! So that’s why you need to do growth …
MarketingKicking These Three Habits Made Me A Better CEO
One startup founder explains why he’s done asking his teams to give “110%.”<p>Pretty much nobody sets out to be an entrepreneur because they’re excited about becoming someone else’s manager. Usually, you start your own company because you’re passionate about an idea you have–and maybe also partly …
LeadershipAfter a Decade in Business, This Founder Became CEO. Here is How She Tackles New Challenges With Conviction.
Eventbrite's Julia Hartz shares her best problem solving and communication strategies.<p>Julia Hartz says she believes that bringing people together can be a catalyst for real change. It’s the philosophy that drives Eventbrite, the global ticketing platform that she co-founded with her husband Kevin …
LeadershipAn African Fashion Startup To Watch
Nigerian entrepreneur Chekwas Okafor is the founder and CEO of ONYCHEK.com, an e-commerce platform for luxury fashion from Africa.<p>The creation of ONYCHEK.com was inspired by a simple, yet magnificent idea: To showcase and promote the luxury African fashion to the rest of the world. ONYCHEK aims to …
EntrepreneurshipAutomakers Invest In Nauto's $159 Million Financing Round
GM, BMW and Toyota have participated in the latest financing round for driving technology company Nauto.<p>Nauto is developing assistive technologies …
Venture CapitalBlockchain Startup Billon Nets €2 Million From EU Research Fund
According to a statement from the startup, the grant seeks to formally recognize its capacity in developing corporate payment solutions based on …
FinTechShould You Launch a Startup Right Now? New Study Says Yes
Studies contradict each other but the future is brighter than the Internet thinks.<p>When it comes to entrepreneurship, the jury is hung.<p>The studies and statistics are split. You can find data to support that entrepreneurship is on the rise or on the decline.<p>The Atlantic explains entrepreneurship is …
EntrepreneurshipLook out Facebook, Snap just bought a startup that makes it harder to copy software
Snap has acquired the Swiss startup Strong.Codes, <i>Bloomberg</i> reports. <b>Strong.Codes made software tools that obscures code so competitors find it harder to reverse engineer it.</b> Snap's Snapchat app has seen strong competition from Facebook's Instagram, which has copied many of its most popular features …
SoftwarePebblePost Secures $47M To Conclude Series B Funding Round
Programmatic direct-mail platform PebblePost, announced this week that it has secured $47 million in a Series B round of equity and debt funding.<p>That …
Series B RoundThe 'Al Capone Theory' Shows How Sexual Harassment Hurts Your Bottom Line, Too
When you hire and partner, look for people whose values you can trust in all things.<p><i>Recode</i> reported yesterday that Vinod Khosla, the billionaire founder of Khosla Ventures, had this to say during a speaking engagement about sexual harassment in the world of venture capital: “I did not know that …
FeminismPrivate equity bid for Paysafe stokes payments M&A boom
(Reuters) - Private equity firms Blackstone and CVC Capital Partners [CVC.UL] joined a rush to snap up payments companies on Friday with a 2.9 billion pound ($3.7 billion) bid for Paysafe Group.<p>Britain's Paysafe, which offers pre-paid cashcards and online wallets, said separately it was also …
BusinessComcast And Liberty Global Invest In Integrate's Demand MarTech
Comcast and Liberty Global have invested in the latest financing round for Integrate.<p>Integrate has developed top of funnel marketing automation and …
Venture CapitalOnline lender Borrowell raises $12 million in latest funding round
Online lender Borrowell has raised $12 million in equity funding in its latest Series A round led by Power Corporation’s Portag3 Ventures LP, …
Venture Capital