Score one for mobile convenience stores. Cargo, a New York City-based graduate of the Techstars Mobility accelerator, announced Monday it has raised more money from investors, reached its one millionth passenger, and will soon expand from test markets in New York, Chicago, and Boston to new cities . We caught up with Cargo founder and … Continue reading “Cargo Zooms Ahead with New Cash, Plans to Expand to 10 Cities”
Tag: Lyft
After Whirlwind 2017, May Mobility Plans to Expand Driverless Fleet
May Mobility, the autonomous vehicle startup based in Ann Arbor, MI, had an action-packed 2017. The company launched in January, completed a stint in the Y Combinator accelerator over the summer, put driverless shuttles on downtown Detroit streets through a small pilot program in October, and raised more than $11 million over the course of … Continue reading “After Whirlwind 2017, May Mobility Plans to Expand Driverless Fleet”
CircleCI Nabs $31M to Enhance DevOps Platform With Automation Tools
CircleCI, which offers tools for companies seeking to speed up the process of developing their own software, announced today that it has raised $31 million in a Series C fundraising round. The San Francisco-based company, founded in 2011, offers one of the software development platforms that provide frequent, automated tests of the interim versions of … Continue reading “CircleCI Nabs $31M to Enhance DevOps Platform With Automation Tools”
Boston’s Tech Agenda for 2018: 3 Questions, 3 Sectors to Watch
[Updated 1/11/18, 9:23 am. See below.] Ready or not, 2018 is upon us. The tech industry grappled with serious and difficult issues last year, from a series of sexual harassment and assault allegations; to fears about the effects of social media and other online platforms on our politics, public discourse, and minds; to more (and … Continue reading “Boston’s Tech Agenda for 2018: 3 Questions, 3 Sectors to Watch”
Toyota, Ford, Aptiv, Baidu Lead Crowd Pushing Mobility at CES
In the past, the tech conference CES has primarily highlighted consumer electronics and other cool gadgets, but as automakers continue their quest to be taken seriously by the tech industry, the Las Vegas show held every January has increasingly become the venue of choice for car companies that want to show off their latest autonomous … Continue reading “Toyota, Ford, Aptiv, Baidu Lead Crowd Pushing Mobility at CES”
Flipside Crypto’s Balter Talks Uber, #MeToo, Cryptocurrencies
The past year was a turbulent one for the tech industry. There was a new controversy seemingly every week, whether it was Uber’s myriad scandals; more personal data breaches; Russia’s use of social media and other online platforms to try and influence U.S. voters; growing concerns over tech giants’ power; and a series of sexual … Continue reading “Flipside Crypto’s Balter Talks Uber, #MeToo, Cryptocurrencies”
3 Lessons From NuTonomy & Lyft’s Self-Driving Car Rides in Boston
One of the biggest potential pitfalls for developers of autonomous vehicles is psychological: Will most people trust the cars enough to ride in them? It might not be easy to win people over, but it’s possible—if a Boston startup’s recent tests are any indication. On Tuesday, NuTonomy co-founder and president Karl Iagnemma shared early reactions … Continue reading “3 Lessons From NuTonomy & Lyft’s Self-Driving Car Rides in Boston”
Once Shunned, Regulated Industries Now a Lure for Some Investors
When Alex Niehenke started his business career at an investment bank in 2005 as an advisor to Internet companies, there was one strongly held consensus among investors. “You just didn’t touch regulated industries,” says Niehenke, who was recently promoted to partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Scale Venture Partners. Investors didn’t want the risks … Continue reading “Once Shunned, Regulated Industries Now a Lure for Some Investors”
What Are the Nation’s Top Cities and Regions for Driverless Tech?
Whether you think self-driving cars are the stuff of science fiction or a potentially paradigm-shifting new form of transportation, autonomous vehicles are coming—and the companies developing them are spending big money to make it happen. A few years ago, industry analysts seemed to think Silicon Valley would win the race to get self-driving cars on … Continue reading “What Are the Nation’s Top Cities and Regions for Driverless Tech?”
Boston Tech Watch: Apple, Lyft, BU, Astral Capital, Cengage & More
It’s time to catch up on the latest Boston-area tech headlines: —People can now ride around Boston’s Seaport neighborhood in a self-driving vehicle, thanks to a pilot program launched this week by ride-hailing company Lyft and NuTonomy, the autonomous vehicle software startup now owned by Aptiv. (Aptiv is the name of the autonomous vehicle business … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Apple, Lyft, BU, Astral Capital, Cengage & More”
As GM Gets Self-Driving Buzz, Autonomous Vehicles Navigate Niches
We still live in the early days of autonomous vehicles. We’re toddlers, technologically speaking, and our algorithms are still learning to walk, er, drive. That’s the impression you get from reading the various recaps of an autonomous car test run that General Motors hosted for journalists this week in San Francisco. Wired’s Aarian Marshall noted … Continue reading “As GM Gets Self-Driving Buzz, Autonomous Vehicles Navigate Niches”
Stratim CEO Sees Future with Costly Driverless Cars, but Low Ride Fares
Like many tech entrepreneurs, Sean Behr had a young business that was popular with consumers, but was also losing money. So in February of 2016, he decided to refocus his San Francisco startup on the small, but unexpectedly profitable aspect of his service that could operate in the black. That pivot put Behr in a … Continue reading “Stratim CEO Sees Future with Costly Driverless Cars, but Low Ride Fares”
Waymo, Global Firms Start Their Engines For Self-Driving Future
In a pile-up of news about self-driving vehicles early this week, Alphabet unit Waymo led the pack by announcing that its autonomous fleet, operating in an area of Phoenix, is now without humans in the driver’s seat. Soon, Waymo will be testing a business model for its driverless cars, while it continues to test its … Continue reading “Waymo, Global Firms Start Their Engines For Self-Driving Future”
As Self-Driving Car Partnerships Multiply, Ford and Lyft Join Forces
For most of its existence, the automotive industry has been secretive, siloed, and steeped in cut-throat competition. However, as autonomous vehicle collaborations proliferate, the old-school approach is quickly falling by the wayside. That was evident in a pair of blog posts published late Tuesday that spelled out a new partnership between Ford and San Francisco-based … Continue reading “As Self-Driving Car Partnerships Multiply, Ford and Lyft Join Forces”
Q&A: UW Prof on Whether Patient Portals Are Working as Designed
The percentage of U.S. hospitals that rely entirely on paper records to document information on their patients now stands at 1 percent, down from 69 percent in 2003, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. For more than two decades, hospitals and clinics have been working to digitize their … Continue reading “Q&A: UW Prof on Whether Patient Portals Are Working as Designed”
Rebuilding Houston: Tech Tools Connect a City to Shelter, Food, & More
Houston—The storm waters from Harvey have nearly receded. Now, the painstaking work of rebuilding lives is underway. As the storm made landfall, Houston’s tech community—anchored by civic tech group Sketch City and the Station Houston co-working space—jumped in quickly to build tech tools to help rescue people from flooded homes and connect them to shelter … Continue reading “Rebuilding Houston: Tech Tools Connect a City to Shelter, Food, & More”
GM, Ford, BAE Systems Up the Self-Driving Ante with New Advances
Things are moving quickly in the mobility sector as the race to develop autonomous vehicle technologies revs up. This week brought a spate of mobility news from GM and Cruise, Ford, BAE, and even the federal government. Read on for details. —The Detroit News published a detailed report this week regarding Ford’s Silicon Valley lab, … Continue reading “GM, Ford, BAE Systems Up the Self-Driving Ante with New Advances”
Seattle Week in Review: Amazon, Whole Foods, Salmon Spill, Beef Beef
The dog days of summer are here, but there’s plenty of tech news to catch up on. Here’s a look at what’s happening with Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods and its amazing impact on real estate in Seattle and elsewhere; a farmed salmon spill in Puget Sound; a careful look at Crowd Cow and the … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Amazon, Whole Foods, Salmon Spill, Beef Beef”
In a CEO Search Like Uber’s, Is There Haggling Room for Contenders?
Landing the top executive’s job at a prominent company is usually considered a career coup. But a CEO search can also be a troubled company’s hunt for a savior. A leader facing a turnaround challenge may well ask, “What am I getting myself into?” Current case in point: Uber, which ticks many boxes on the … Continue reading “In a CEO Search Like Uber’s, Is There Haggling Room for Contenders?”
Filestack, Maker of File Uploading API, Hires New CEO Sameer Kamat
San Antonio—Filestack, a startup offering software that aims to make uploading photos and other content to applications easier and more reliable, has hired a new CEO: Sameer Kamat, an executive and engineer who spent the last 15 years at data and application backup company Unitrends. Kamat started at Unitrends as a software engineer and worked … Continue reading “Filestack, Maker of File Uploading API, Hires New CEO Sameer Kamat”
Investors Pump $10.5M Into Circulation for Medical Transport Software
Technology companies are developing a wide array of healthcare products and services that get deployed in hospitals and homes. Few are focused on what happens in between—the ride to and from medical appointments. Circulation is one of the tech businesses trying to make non-emergency medical transportation more effective and efficient. The company’s software coordinates rides … Continue reading “Investors Pump $10.5M Into Circulation for Medical Transport Software”
Cargo Helps Rideshare Drivers Run Turnkey Mobile Convenience Stores
Last month, when Intel released its report detailing the emerging “passenger economy,” it estimated that the value of the associated goods and services would be a stunning $7 trillion by 2050. Intel defines the passenger economy as what will happen when self-driving vehicles and ridesharing services turn drivers into idle passengers. A captive audience with … Continue reading “Cargo Helps Rideshare Drivers Run Turnkey Mobile Convenience Stores”
VC “Self-Correction” Continues in Second Quarter, and Top 10 Deals
[Updated 7/12/17, 8:38 am, to add MoneyTree data. See below.] U.S. venture capital investments are showing more signs of returning to steady levels. Investors pumped $21.78 billion into 1,958 companies in the second quarter, according to data from the quarterly Venture Monitor report from Seattle-based PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). The number … Continue reading “VC “Self-Correction” Continues in Second Quarter, and Top 10 Deals”
A.I., Uber & What’s Next in Tech: Q&A With Kayak Founder Paul English
Technology can’t solve every problem. Sometimes engineers overlook human-driven solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. That was one of the takeaways from my chat with Paul English at Xconomy’s recent business conference, IMPACT, held at the Museum of Science in Boston. The serial entrepreneur is best known as the co-founder and former chief technology officer … Continue reading “A.I., Uber & What’s Next in Tech: Q&A With Kayak Founder Paul English”
Bill Gates Backs Fourth Metamaterials Spinout, Pivotal Commware
Pivotal Commware, a year-old metamaterials startup built inside patent licensing and invention business Intellectual Ventures, has raised $17 million from investors including Bill Gates. If that sounds familiar, it should. Pivotal is the fourth Gates-backed company to spin out of Intellectual Ventures armed with software-driven radio-wave bending metamaterials technology. Like its sister companies in satellite … Continue reading “Bill Gates Backs Fourth Metamaterials Spinout, Pivotal Commware”
Seattle Week in Review: The A.I. Driver/Psychiatrist Will See You Now
If the TV show Frasier, which aired from 1993 to 2004, were rebooted and set in Seattle of, say, 2037, Dr. Frasier Crane would be an artificial intelligence avatar that would pick you up in a driverless, all-electric luxury sedan, and, after confirming your destination, inform you in an approximation of Kelsey Grammer’s dulcet tone: … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: The A.I. Driver/Psychiatrist Will See You Now”
Lyft, NuTonomy Team Up on Self-Driving Cars as Alliances Proliferate
As companies rev up their work on self-driving vehicles, they’re increasingly forming alliances with each other to help deliver on the technology’s potential—and fend off competitors. The latest example is a partnership announced Tuesday between Lyft, the San Francisco-based ride-hailing app company, and NuTonomy, a Boston-based developer of software for driverless vehicles. The research and … Continue reading “Lyft, NuTonomy Team Up on Self-Driving Cars as Alliances Proliferate”
Citing Losses, Fare Quits Austin as Uber, Lyft Resume Service
Austin—The return of Uber and Lyft to Austin has claimed its first casualty. Fare began operating last summer, shortly after the ride-hailing giants quit the Texas capital following voters’ approval of stringent rules that the companies were against. Late on Monday, Fare announced in an e-mail to customers that “we are unable to endure the … Continue reading “Citing Losses, Fare Quits Austin as Uber, Lyft Resume Service”
Uber’s Week: Another Two Top Departures, But 1Q Loss Trimmed
It was a short work week due to the Monday holiday, but news about the ride-hailing behemoth Uber kept up its heavy pace as the company announced another two high-profile departures and revealed some financial results for the first quarter. The San Francisco-based unicorn, whose value is pegged at about $70 billion, said it had … Continue reading “Uber’s Week: Another Two Top Departures, But 1Q Loss Trimmed”
Gig Economy Growing in Wisconsin, Despite Early Pushback
Independent contractors, temporary employees, and other so-called “contingent” workers make up a growing share of the American workforce. According to a 2015 report from the Government Accountability Office, contingent workers accounted for 40.4 percent of employed workers in 2010, up from 35.3 percent in 2006. In Wisconsin—and elsewhere—companies that make up the “sharing” or “gig” economy … Continue reading “Gig Economy Growing in Wisconsin, Despite Early Pushback”
Uber, Lyft Return to Austin With Tech Edge, But Upstarts Grew Roots
Austin—[Updated 5/25/17, 4:42 p.m. See below.] A year after Uber and Lyft had a bad breakup with Austin, the software companies are returning to town Monday. That’s thanks to Texas state law makers who last week approved legislation that wiped out the city-imposed restrictions that caused Uber and Lyft to leave in the first place. … Continue reading “Uber, Lyft Return to Austin With Tech Edge, But Upstarts Grew Roots”
Boston Tech Watch: Uber Driver Appeals, NFL Wearables, Drone IPO
[Updated 4/26/17, 2:58 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking appeals by Uber and Lyft drivers who failed state background checks; a deal between a local wearable device startup and the National Football League Players Association; an Australian IPO by a Massachusetts underwater drone company; and much more. Read on for details. … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Uber Driver Appeals, NFL Wearables, Drone IPO”
Over 8,000 Uber & Lyft Drivers Fail New MA Background Checks
More than 8,200 Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts have failed a new and more stringent state background check, according to multiple media reports. Massachusetts officials said Wednesday that 8,206 of the 70,789 applicants—more than 11 percent—were rejected, according to media reports. The most common reasons included having a suspended driver’s license or being licensed … Continue reading “Over 8,000 Uber & Lyft Drivers Fail New MA Background Checks”
Tour of Texas: Austin Tech in Politics, Watershed, Scaleworks & More
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. Austin: —Ottobock, a German prosthetics company with North American headquarters in Austin, has acquired Boston-based BionX Medical Technologies. BionX makes a prosthetic foot and ankle product that uses robotic technology. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal that was announced earlier this … Continue reading “Tour of Texas: Austin Tech in Politics, Watershed, Scaleworks & More”
Inside the Growing Political Awakening of Austin’s Tech Community
Austin—Texas Rep. Lamar Smith has long said he doesn’t believe in man-made climate change. But it was only in this last year of “fake news” and “alternative facts” that that sentiment moved Joseph Kopser to take action. “He doesn’t believe in facts, and he doesn’t want them reported,” Kopser says of the Republican Congressman. That sort … Continue reading “Inside the Growing Political Awakening of Austin’s Tech Community”
Will Driverless Cars Ever Yield Profits for Uber and Lyft?
Uber has suffered a series of troubles early this year, from sexual harassment claims by a former staff engineer to an intellectual property theft lawsuit by Google unit Waymo. But Uber’s most longstanding, recurrent, and core problem stems from its relationship with its contract drivers. It’s not surprising that Uber is seeking an escape from … Continue reading “Will Driverless Cars Ever Yield Profits for Uber and Lyft?”
Rackspace Spinout Mailgun Raises $50M for API-Focused E-mail Service
San Antonio—For businesses sending out thousands or millions of receipts and marketing materials over e-mail to customers every year, there’s plenty to monitor. You have make sure those e-mails are delivered, that they stand out among the spam (or aren’t mistaken for it), that any customer replies go to the right employees, and that any … Continue reading “Rackspace Spinout Mailgun Raises $50M for API-Focused E-mail Service”
Connected Cars, Cheap Rides, Deadlines to Apply & More MI Tech News
Here’s a look at tech and innovation news from around Michigan: —A University of Michigan startup called Cart is piloting a new service that offers low-cost rides to Detroit residents who want to go grocery shopping. Shoppers that live within five miles of one of Meijer’s two Detroit locations can pay $10 for a round-trip ride … Continue reading “Connected Cars, Cheap Rides, Deadlines to Apply & More MI Tech News”
Texas Roundup: HTC, Indigo, DEC, Rakesh Agrawal, Piko, & Top of 2016
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Texas. —The Houston Technology Center has tapped Lori Vetters, a longtime commercial banker and civic leader, to become its next CEO. Vetters takes over the 17-year-old incubator from Walter Ulrich, a business consultant who led the center for nearly a decade. During that time, the innovation … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: HTC, Indigo, DEC, Rakesh Agrawal, Piko, & Top of 2016”
Titan Spine, Alfred, IoT, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
The year 2016 will soon be in the rear-view mirror. Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, and take a look ahead to 2017, with these recent headlines: —The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel profiled Titan Spine, a Mequon-based company that makes titanium cages of various shapes and sizes designed for spinal surgeons to use when … Continue reading “Titan Spine, Alfred, IoT, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
U-M Unveils Autonomous Shuttle as Snyder Signs Driverless Car Bills
Today, Michigan took another step toward its goal of being a global hub for the development of autonomous vehicles when the University of Michigan unveiled a 15-passenger driverless shuttle. Separately, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation easing regulations for testing autonomous technologies down the road at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn. U-M’s electric shuttle, … Continue reading “U-M Unveils Autonomous Shuttle as Snyder Signs Driverless Car Bills”
When Innovation Is Not Enough: How GreatCall Has Grown Its Market
In the 10 years since David Inns joined San Diego-based GreatCall as CEO, he has seen a proliferation of innovative healthtech startups that are targeting baby boomers who are in or nearing retirement. A lot of these digital health companies are trying to connect with senior living communities, typically at events like the annual Aging … Continue reading “When Innovation Is Not Enough: How GreatCall Has Grown Its Market”
Spark Nabs $1B, Uber Challenger Gets $10.5M, & More Boston VC News
November has been a busy month for venture funding news in the Boston area. Spark Capital has $1 billion more to make tech bets, investors pumped $10.5 million into a local Uber competitor, the much-hyped robot startup Jibo sucked in more money, and Web optimization firm Yottaa raised more funds and hired a new CEO. … Continue reading “Spark Nabs $1B, Uber Challenger Gets $10.5M, & More Boston VC News”
Lyft, IBM, & Others Discuss the Convergence of AI and Marketing
What do artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other innovations have in store for the future of marketing? That was a key question addressed by a panel that included the chief marketing officers from Lyft, IBM Watson, and CVS Health. They gathered last week in New York at 1 World Trade Center to discuss changes consumers … Continue reading “Lyft, IBM, & Others Discuss the Convergence of AI and Marketing”
Circulation, Uber Team Up to Get Patients to Doctor’s Appointments
Healthcare providers are starting to embrace consumer technologies, and Boston has emerged as one of the hubs of experimentation. The latest example is Circulation, a startup founded last year and partly incubated at Boston Children’s Hospital. The new venture makes software that manages non-emergency medical transportation for patients, primarily those who are elderly, disabled, or … Continue reading “Circulation, Uber Team Up to Get Patients to Doctor’s Appointments”
When Self-Driving Cars Turn Corner, Other Autos Become Irrelevant
Austin—Autonomous cars are coming. How quickly they take over the automobile market will largely depend on how soon consumers are willing to trust the cars, governments are able to manage the sector, and insurers are able to assess the risk, says Peter Stone, a professor who works in the artificial intelligence laboratory at the University … Continue reading “When Self-Driving Cars Turn Corner, Other Autos Become Irrelevant”
SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office
Detroit-based enterprise ridesharing and carpooling startup SPLT has been on a take-no-prisoners growth trajectory since CEO Anya Babbitt first set foot in the Motor City last year as part of Techstars Mobility’s inaugural cohort. So far in 2016, the two-year-old company has won a number of pitch competitions across the country, participated in Google Demo … Continue reading “SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office”
Ford Says It Will Have Self-Driving Cars Within Five Years
Ask five auto executives to predict when we can expect to see self-driving cars make their commercial debut, and you’ll likely hear five different answers. Even though it’s an exciting technology that has captivated car manufacturers across the world, the industry seemed to agree that there is still a fair amount of work to do … Continue reading “Ford Says It Will Have Self-Driving Cars Within Five Years”
Olympics Streaming, Uber Law, Exec Turnover & More Boston Tech News
In our latest recap of recent Boston tech headlines, we’ve got stats about Olympics online viewing, the latest development in local regulations of Uber and Lyft, a trio of acquisitions, and recent executive departures. Read on for details. —If you’re one of the more than 1 million people that have watched at least part of … Continue reading “Olympics Streaming, Uber Law, Exec Turnover & More Boston Tech News”
Massachusetts Passes Uber Bill; Noncompete & Airbnb Proposals Fail
In a frenetic end to the Massachusetts legislative session, state lawmakers worked throughout the weekend and past a midnight deadline Sunday to send several bills to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk. But for three proposals with implications for the state’s tech sector, inaction mostly ruled. House and Senate lawmakers couldn’t agree on a compromise to iron … Continue reading “Massachusetts Passes Uber Bill; Noncompete & Airbnb Proposals Fail”