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GoJek motorbike riders in Djakarta. Photo by AP

Go-Jek in Talks to Raise $1.5B to Challenge Grab in Southeast Asia

By Juro Osawa · Jun 26, 2018 11:00am PDT

Three months after Uber’s exit from Southeast Asia, the region’s ride-hailing war is far from over as local startups backed by global tech giants are raising more money to fight against each other.Indonesia’s Go-Jek, whose investors include Tencent and Google, is in talks to raise around $1.5 billion in a new funding round,... Three months after Uber’s exit from Southeast Asia, the region’s ride-hailing war is...

A woman riding a Bird scooter in San Francisco in April. Photo by Bloomberg.

How Segway-Ninebot Became the Go-To Scooter Maker for Rental Startups

By Yunan Zhang · Jun 25, 2018 7:01am PDT

As electric scooter-rental startups like Bird and Lime battle for market share on American streets, one company is already a winner: Segway-Ninebot, the Beijing-based firm that makes the scooters both companies use.The tech industry’s go-to scooter maker, which first made headlines when it acquired the self-balancing vehicle pioneer Segway... As electric scooter-rental startups like Bird and Lime battle for market share on American...

Daily Show host Trevor Noah, whose Comedy Central show airs on Philo. Photo by AP.

Sports-Free Streaming Service Philo Raises Money as Competition Heats Up

By Jessica Toonkel and Tom Dotan · Jun 22, 2018 3:10pm PDT

Philo, which launched the first sports-free streaming TV service late last year, is raising a new funding round of between $40 million and $50 million, people familiar with the situation said. The fundraising comes as competition intensifies in the low-price end of the streaming TV market, including from a similar service unveiled this week by... Philo, which launched the first sports-free streaming TV service late last year, is raising a new...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg

Uber’s Quandary: Attracting Top Talent Without Breaking Equal Pay

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg

Uber’s Quandary: Attracting Top Talent Without Breaking Equal Pay

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Uber last year changed how it pays people to try to eliminate the pay gap between men and women. Now some executives are complaining the new system makes it harder to recruit top talent.That has pitted human resources chief Liane Hornsey against many other executives who want to offer some sought-after candidates more money, say people familiar... Uber last year changed how it pays people to try to eliminate the pay gap between men and women....

A Google Home speaker. Photo: AP

Behind JD Deal, a Google Plan to Crack China Through Hardware

By Juro Osawa · Jun 21, 2018 1:28pm PDT · 3 comments

When Google unveiled its $550 million investment in Chinese online retail giant JD.com, the companies described the deal as a global alliance to expand their e-commerce businesses. But behind the scenes, according to a person familiar with the conversations, Google discussed how the link-up would help it launch its sales of consumer gadgets in... When Google unveiled its $550 million investment in Chinese online retail giant JD.com, the...

Viacom CEO Bob Bakish. Photo by AP

Left on Merger Sidelines, Viacom Strikes Netflix Deal

By Jessica Toonkel · Jun 21, 2018 7:01am PDT

A frenzy of merger activity has taken over the media sector in the past week, but one company, MTV’s owner Viacom, has been left on the sidelines. Even CBS, which like Viacom is controlled by the Redstone family, rebuffed a merger proposal from Viacom. So Viacom CEO Bob Bakish is trying to revive Viacom’s business by making shows for... A frenzy of merger activity has taken over the media sector in the past week, but one company,...

Matt Zeiler, CEO of Clarifai. Photo: Bloomberg

As Walmart Eyes AI for Stores, Privacy Concerns Rise

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jun 20, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

Late last year, the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, struck a deal with a small tech startup, Clarifai, to use its artificial intelligence software, a technology that promises to shake up the experience of shopping in stores. Under their agreement, which hasn’t previously been reported, Walmart planned to use Clarifai’s... Late last year, the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, struck a deal with a small tech...

Investigators examined a self-driving Uber vehicle that fatally struck a woman in Tempe, Ariz., in March. Photo: AP

Uber Neglected Simulation Testing on Self-Driving Cars, Insiders Say

By Amir Efrati · Jun 19, 2018 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

Investigators examined a self-driving Uber vehicle that fatally struck a woman in Tempe, Ariz., in March. Photo: AP

Uber Neglected Simulation Testing on Self-Driving Cars, Insiders Say

By Amir Efrati · Jun 19, 2018 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

When a self-driving car prototype operated by Uber fatally struck a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz., in March, Uber quickly identified the likely cause in software that caused the vehicle to ignore certain objects that its sensors detected. But a further realization dawned on some executives and members of the team: The rush to develop a commercial... When a self-driving car prototype operated by Uber fatally struck a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz.,...

George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike. Photo: Bloomberg

As Attacks Rise, Cybersecurity Firms Court Public, Private Markets

By Sarah Kuranda · Jun 18, 2018 12:26pm PDT

There are few sectors as exciting to investors these days as cybersecurity, thanks to the never-ending barrage of online attacks on governments, companies and individuals. Now two of the best known cybersecurity startups are seeking to capitalize on that interest with new fundraising moves aimed at the public and private markets.... There are few sectors as exciting to investors these days as cybersecurity, thanks to the...

A Juul e-cigarette device. Photo: AP

Juul Soars Despite Investor Discomfort With E-Cigarettes

By Alfred Lee and Cory Weinberg · Jun 18, 2018 7:01am PDT

One of the most valuable consumer products startups in the U.S.—Juul Labs—is a company some investors won’t even touch. Still, enough institutional investors have been impressed by its growth that they agreed to buy shares in the electronic cigarette maker from early shareholders on the secondary market, propelling its... One of the most valuable consumer products startups in the U.S.—Juul Labs—is a...

A bird scooter in San Francisco. Photo by Bloomberg

One Year in, Bird Founder Sells Some Shares

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Jun 17, 2018 9:13am PDT · 3 comments

The founder of Bird, a year-old scooter rental service that has attracted $450 million from investors, including Sequoia Capital, already has sold some of his shares, according to people who were briefed on the unusual move. A regulatory filing suggests that the founder, Travis VanderZanden, might have received at least several tens of millions... The founder of Bird, a year-old scooter rental service that has attracted $450 million from...

A Waymo car on a test drive. Photo: AP

Apple Ramps Up Self-Driving Car Program With Waymo Hire

By Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 15, 2018 11:20am PDT · 6 comments

A Waymo car on a test drive. Photo: AP

Apple Ramps Up Self-Driving Car Program With Waymo Hire

By Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 15, 2018 11:20am PDT · 6 comments

Apple has hired a high-profile senior engineer of Alphabet’s Waymo self-driving vehicle unit, Jaime Waydo, to join the iPhone maker’s own self-driving vehicle project, known as Titan, according to a person briefed about the move.Ms. Waydo’s hiring could elevate the stature of Apple’s self-driving car efforts. It also... Apple has hired a high-profile senior engineer of Alphabet’s Waymo self-driving vehicle...

Airbnb’s China Rival in Talks to Raise $100 Million

By Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jun 15, 2018 10:02am PDT

One of Airbnb’s major Chinese rivals is in talks with investors to raise about $100 million in a new funding round, people familiar with the matter said. Beijing-based Xiaozhu was valued at $1 billion in its previous round in November when it raised $120 million from investors including Yunfeng Capital, a private equity fund backed by... One of Airbnb’s major Chinese rivals is in talks with investors to raise about $100 million...

Screenshot of Supercell game “Clash Royale.” Photo by throttlelwp44/ Flickr

Tencent’s Deal-Making Image Clouded by Supercell’s Slowdown

By Juro Osawa · Jun 13, 2018 7:00am PDT

Tencent’s 2016 megadeal to buy Supercell cemented the Chinese tech giant’s stature as a global powerhouse in the $100 billion-plus videogame industry. The roughly $8 billion transaction by a Tencent-led group of Chinese investors was a huge bet that the Finnish mobile game maker behind worldwide hit “Clash of Clans” would... Tencent’s 2016 megadeal to buy Supercell cemented the Chinese tech giant’s stature as...

Riders use scooters in San Francisco in April. Photo: Bloomberg

Scooter Mania Continues as ‘Skip’ Nabs $25 Million, ‘Bird’ Goes to China

By Amir Efrati, Cory Weinberg and Yunan Zhang · Jun 12, 2018 6:08pm PDT

Electric scooter startups are aggressively seeking to raise money, telling potential investors that restrictions cities have placed on their operations won't impede their long-term growth. So far, Silicon Valley venture capital firms are all in.Skip, a shared electric scooter operator that was founded by the co-creator of “Boosted... Electric scooter startups are aggressively seeking to raise money, telling potential investors...

Tenable CEO Amit Yoran testifying on Capitol Hill in April 2016, when he was president of RSA Security. Photo: AP

Security Firm Tenable Plans IPO in July

By Sarah Kuranda · Jun 12, 2018 4:24pm PDT · 1 comment

Tenable CEO Amit Yoran testifying on Capitol Hill in April 2016, when he was president of RSA Security. Photo: AP

Security Firm Tenable Plans IPO in July

By Sarah Kuranda · Jun 12, 2018 4:24pm PDT · 1 comment

Tenable Network Security has filed confidentially for an initial public offering, according to two people with direct knowledge of the filing. Tenable is planning to go public in late July, the people said.The filing, made on Monday, would make Tenable the third major cybersecurity company to go public this year, on the heels of Carbon Black and... Tenable Network Security has filed confidentially for an initial public offering, according to...

A Tesla Model S sedan in Autopilot mode crashed into a fire department mechanic truck in South Jordan, Utah, last month. Photo: AP

When High-Tech Cars Crash, Software Clues Are Elusive

By Reed Albergotti · Jun 7, 2018 7:01am PDT

Many new cars on the roads nowadays have sophisticated safety features that allow cars to steer and accelerate on their own. But when the cars crash, only the automakers know how those safety features performed. Crash investigators are often left guessing.That’s because the information isn’t recorded in most cars’ event data... Many new cars on the roads nowadays have sophisticated safety features that allow cars to steer...

Houses under construction in Florida. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon Considers Offering Home Insurance

By Priya Anand · Jun 6, 2018 7:00am PDT

Amazon.com has contemplated offering home insurance as an offshoot of its development work on robots and other connected devices for the home, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The idea is that robots and other smart devices can be used to monitor for threats such as fires and burglaries, making it possible to offer cheaper... Amazon.com has contemplated offering home insurance as an offshoot of its development work on...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, appearing in one of the company's new ads.

Uber to Spend Up to $500 Million on Ad Campaign

By Priya Anand · Jun 5, 2018 3:18pm PDT · 4 comments

Uber plans to spend up to $500 million on a global marketing effort this year, according to a person familiar with the matter. It marks Uber’s first large-scale brand campaign and is part of an effort to repair the company’s image after last year’s scandals.The branding campaign, which kicked off in the U.S. last month with... Uber plans to spend up to $500 million on a global marketing effort this year, according to a...

Citibike bicycles, which are operated by Motivate. Photo by Bloomberg.

Lyft Nears Acquisition of Motivate, U.S. Bike-Share Leader

By Amir Efrati and Cory Weinberg · Jun 1, 2018 8:48am PDT · 4 comments

Citibike bicycles, which are operated by Motivate. Photo by Bloomberg.

Lyft Nears Acquisition of Motivate, U.S. Bike-Share Leader

By Amir Efrati and Cory Weinberg · Jun 1, 2018 8:48am PDT · 4 comments

Lyft has agreed to buy Motivate, which runs some of the biggest U.S. bike-share programs, according to two people briefed about the deal. The acquisition, which is likely to be worth $250 million or more, will quickly insert Lyft into the small but fast-growing U.S. bike-sharing market.The two companies have agreed on the terms of the deal,... Lyft has agreed to buy Motivate, which runs some of the biggest U.S. bike-share programs,...