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Advocates of housing development in the Bay Area often run up against zoning laws and local objections to development. Photo: Bloomberg

Tech Leaders Seek Bigger Political Role With Housing Push

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 10, 2017 10:00am PDT · 5 comments

A small group of executives at tech companies like Microsoft, Stripe and Yelp are organizing and funding a new effort to sway policy that would make way for more housing development in California—a political debate that industry leaders have largely avoided until now. Led by Microsoft executive Nat Friedman, Pantheon CEO Zack Rosen and San... A small group of executives at tech companies like Microsoft, Stripe and Yelp are organizing and...

Jawbone co-founder Hosain Rahman. Photo by Bloomberg

Jawbone to Be Liquidated as Rahman Moves to Health Startup

By Reed Albergotti · Jul 6, 2017 1:45pm PDT · 5 comments

Jawbone, the consumer electronics firm once valued at $3 billion, is going out of business. The company has begun liquidation proceedings, after years of financial pressures, according to a person close to Jawbone. Jawbone co-founder and CEO Hosain Rahman has founded a new company called Jawbone Health Hub that will make health-related... Jawbone, the consumer electronics firm once valued at $3 billion, is going out of business. The...

Joe Zadeh, Airbnb’s vice president of product. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Airbnb Restructures to Grow Business Beyond Home Rentals

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 6, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

As Airbnb has diversified into new businesses like luxury home rentals and travel tours, the company’s organizational structure has begun to show the strain, say current and former employees. Reporting chains seemed muddled while information flowed slowly across product teams. CEO Brian Chesky turned to executives from Apple, Facebook,... As Airbnb has diversified into new businesses like luxury home rentals and travel tours, the...

Kate Mitchell, co-chair of the NVCA diversity task force. Photo by Bloomberg.

VCs Draft Code of Conduct to Battle Sexual Harassment

By Hannah Natanson · Jul 5, 2017 10:01am PDT · 12 comments

Kate Mitchell, co-chair of the NVCA diversity task force. Photo by Bloomberg.

VCs Draft Code of Conduct to Battle Sexual Harassment

By Hannah Natanson · Jul 5, 2017 10:01am PDT · 12 comments

A group of roughly 30 venture capitalists are drafting a “code of conduct” for members of the industry that will set clear standards for unacceptable behavior—such as sexual harassment of founders—and will outline penalties for violators.The proposed code will demand that venture capital firms establish... A group of roughly 30 venture capitalists are drafting a “code of conduct” for...

Uber co-founder Garrett Camp. Photo by Bloomberg.

Conflicts Simmer on Uber’s Board

By Amir Efrati · Jul 5, 2017 7:01am PDT

Uber’s board of directors has never been more important. Eight of the company’s top 13 executives have departed, including CEO Travis Kalanick. That puts the onus on the board to steer the ship. But to do that, directors will have to overcome differences in agendas and loyalties. And they will have to get to know each other. Three of... Uber’s board of directors has never been more important. Eight of the company’s top...

Jason Mudrick, founder of Mudrick Capital Management, a director and part owner of Dex Media. Photo by Bloomberg.

Dex Media to Combine With YP

By Amir Efrati · Jun 29, 2017 5:29pm PDT · 4 comments

Dex Media and YP, two giants of the phone book era that have moved into local-business marketing online, are finalizing a deal to combine, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The combination would position the company to better compete with a slew of companies selling digital marketing tools to small businesses, such as Web.com,... Dex Media and YP, two giants of the phone book era that have moved into local-business marketing...

Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma. Photo by Bloomberg.

Alibaba Plans Echo-Like Device for China

By Juro Osawa · Jun 29, 2017 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce and cloud-computing company, plans to unveil a Chinese voice-controlled speaker similar to Amazon’s Echo as early as next week, people familiar with the matter said. Alibaba’s new product could create more competition for Apple in China if the U.S. company releases its HomePod there.While... Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce and cloud-computing company, plans to unveil a Chinese...

Wilmington, Delaware. Photo by Getty Images.

Tech Startups Find Ways to Shield Key Information

By Alfred Lee · Jun 27, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

Wilmington, Delaware. Photo by Getty Images.

Tech Startups Find Ways to Shield Key Information

By Alfred Lee · Jun 27, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

Here is the latest innovation being pursued by some Silicon Valley startups: finding ways to disclose less information in their publicly filed company charters.A small but growing number of private tech companies are asking lawyers to find ways to move information out of their founding documents, and away from the eyes of journalists and other... Here is the latest innovation being pursued by some Silicon Valley startups: finding ways to...

Binary's former partner Justin Caldbeck with the remaining partner, Jonathan Teo. Photo by Peter DaSilva.

Investors Moving to Pull Out of Binary

By Reed Albergotti · Jun 26, 2017 7:01pm PDT · 2 comments

A group of major investors behind Binary Capital were pushing late Monday to withdraw funding commitments for the venture firm, which has been caught up in a controversy over unwanted and inappropriate advances made to seven Silicon Valley women by Binary co-founder Justin Caldbeck. Cancellation of funding commitments would prevent Binary from... A group of major investors behind Binary Capital were pushing late Monday to withdraw funding...

Uber's Chief Technology Officer Thuan Pham, center, with fellow engineers.

How Uber’s Top Engineer Saved His Job

By Amir Efrati · Jun 23, 2017 5:41pm PDT · 2 comments

As Uber struggles to rebuild its management team and board, its leaders are snuffing out internal fires too. One of the biggest: turmoil within its 2,000-person engineering team, the center of Susan Fowler’s now famous sexual harassment and bullying allegations.In the hotseat is CTO Thuan Pham, who Ms. Fowler said failed to act on her... As Uber struggles to rebuild its management team and board, its leaders are snuffing out internal...

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

Travis Kalanick’s Power Dented but Not Gone

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2017 7:39pm PDT

Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, who quit as CEO on Tuesday, has told at least one person close to Uber’s board that he is planning to be directly involved in the search for his replacement. His prerequisites for the job, not surprisingly, resemble an executive in Mr. Kalanick’s own image. That could complicate the board’s CEO... Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, who quit as CEO on Tuesday, has told at least one person close...

Binary Capital partner Justin Caldbeck. Photo by Peter DaSilva.

Silicon Valley Women Tell of VC’s Unwanted Advances

By Reed Albergotti · Jun 22, 2017 7:01am PDT · 9 comments

Binary Capital partner Justin Caldbeck. Photo by Peter DaSilva.

Silicon Valley Women Tell of VC’s Unwanted Advances

By Reed Albergotti · Jun 22, 2017 7:01am PDT · 9 comments

Half a dozen women working in the tech industry say they have faced unwanted and inappropriate advances from a well-connected Silicon Valley venture capitalist while discussing business. The allegations have come to light as the technology industry grapples with criticism over long-standing gender inequality and bias.The women say they faced... Half a dozen women working in the tech industry say they have faced unwanted and inappropriate...

Uber board director and shareholder Bill Gurley. Photo by Bloomberg.

Why Uber’s Investors Ousted Travis Kalanick

By Alfred Lee and Amir Efrati · Jun 21, 2017 10:54am PDT · 8 comments

The Uber power struggle that culminated in the resignation of CEO Travis Kalanick on Tuesday night was largely motivated by shareholders’ concerns that Mr. Kalanick wouldn’t be able to hire a “CEO-caliber” executive as chief operating officer who would stabilize the company and keep Mr. Kalanick in check, according to a... The Uber power struggle that culminated in the resignation of CEO Travis Kalanick on Tuesday...

Los Angeles Chargers first-round draft pick Mike Williams records video for Snapchat in April. Photo by AP.

Snap Eyeing Maps in Battle for Location

By Tom Dotan · Jun 19, 2017 3:25pm PDT · 1 comment

The latest mission in social media isn’t just about connecting you to your friends. It’s about connecting you to people nearby, showing you what they are seeing.Snap is expected to release a feature along those lines in the coming weeks, said a person familiar with the matter. The company has been working on a function that lets... The latest mission in social media isn’t just about connecting you to your friends....

Angry Birds toys in display in Finland. Photo by Bloomberg

Tencent Explores Acquisition of Angry Birds Maker Rovio

By Serena Saitto and Juro Osawa · Jun 15, 2017 10:53am PDT · 1 comment

China’s Tencent is pursuing an acquisition of Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish maker of the Angry Birds game, according to people briefed on the situation. Such a deal would consolidate Tencent’s stranglehold on the gaming business.Tencent is among several companies to approach Rovio about a possible purchase, one of the people said.... China’s Tencent is pursuing an acquisition of Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish maker of the...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at an Economic Club of New York luncheon in March. Photo by Bloomberg.

How Airbnb Put a Lid on Customer Service Costs

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 15, 2017 7:01am PDT · 11 comments

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at an Economic Club of New York luncheon in March. Photo by Bloomberg.

How Airbnb Put a Lid on Customer Service Costs

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 15, 2017 7:01am PDT · 11 comments

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky got some advice from Bill Gates two years ago. To be “truly great,” Mr. Gates told the Airbnb chief during a walk at the annual Sun Valley conference, the vacation rental site needed to improve its customer service, Mr. Chesky told employees in an email later.“What struck me was how simple and obvious... Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky got some advice from Bill Gates two years ago. To be “truly...

A SpaceX launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 3. Photo by Associated Press (Bill Ingalls/NASA via CNP).

Private Tech Prices Jump in Secondary Market

By Alfred Lee · Jun 13, 2017 7:02am PDT · 5 comments

Shares of many large private technology companies have seen a run-up in prices and trading activity this year on the secondary markets, brokers say, rebounding from a sluggish 2016.Fueling the surge in the secondary markets, in which employees and early investors of a private company sell their shares, is growing interest from institutional and... Shares of many large private technology companies have seen a run-up in prices and trading...

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Art by Jeff Greco.

At Snap’s New York Clubhouse: Views, No Photos

By Tom Dotan · Jun 8, 2017 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

Last December, high above Times Square, the who’s who of the New York media world gathered for an exclusive holiday party. Betwixt an atrium-like foyer abutting a well-appointed private library, NBC “Late Night” host Seth Meyers and “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski mingled among top cable... Last December, high above Times Square, the who’s who of the New York media world gathered...

Jana CEO Nathan Eagle in 2016. Photo: Collision Conf

Verizon-Backed Jana Lays Off 19% of Staff

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 7, 2017 2:17pm PDT · 1 comment

Jana, a mobile advertising startup focused on providing internet access to people in developing countries, laid off 13 employees this week, as the company planned to shut down what had been its flagship product.The cuts, confirmed by CEO Nathan Eagle, underline Jana’s ups and downs, as it fired sales and marketing employees that had worked... Jana, a mobile advertising startup focused on providing internet access to people in developing...

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Credit: LeWeb Conference via Flickr

After Revolt, Uber Changes Employee Compensation

By Amir Efrati · Jun 7, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Credit: LeWeb Conference via Flickr

After Revolt, Uber Changes Employee Compensation

By Amir Efrati · Jun 7, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

In mid-2015, Uber Chairman Garrett Camp and Uber investor Bill Gurley, who were part of the board of directors’ compensation committee, expressed concern to company leaders that Uber was doling out so much equity compensation to new hires that it was quickly diluting existing shareholders.So CEO Travis Kalanick, who owned more than 30% of... In mid-2015, Uber Chairman Garrett Camp and Uber investor Bill Gurley, who were part of the board...