Tag: Uber

Buckle Up: Driverless Cars Going Full Speed Ahead at Mcity

From the outside, you wouldn’t expect the humble Ford Fusion to contain technology that could upend the global transportation paradigm—until you notice the LIDAR unit whirring on its roof. LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensor technology that uses pulses of light to produce a 3D picture of the surrounding … Continue reading “Buckle Up: Driverless Cars Going Full Speed Ahead at Mcity”

Uber’s Week: Kalanick Takes Leave As Board Tackles Ailing Workplace Culture

The chain of events set off in February when a former Uber engineer’s blog post about sexual harassment went viral reached a dramatic juncture this week as CEO Travis Kalanick agreed to take an indefinite leave of absence, and his board accepted sweeping recommendations to change the company’s frat house-style workplace culture. The company Kalanick … Continue reading “Uber’s Week: Kalanick Takes Leave As Board Tackles Ailing Workplace Culture”

Exact, WARF, Murfie, Microbes, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist

Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines. —Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]), whose flagship product is a stool-based screening test for colorectal cancer, issued a recall of 15 pieces of equipment used to mix stool samples in preparation for testing at the company’s lab. According to the FDA, … Continue reading “Exact, WARF, Murfie, Microbes, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”

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”

Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Causeway Media, Cure Forward, Tive & More

This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking a second fund for a venture capital firm co-led by the co-owner of the Boston Celtics, a high-profile hire for Uber, a new cybersecurity startup, and the end of the road for a digital health company. Read on for details. —Causeway Media Partners raised $207.3 million for its … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Causeway Media, Cure Forward, Tive & More”

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”

Analysis: Are Today’s Automobile Companies More Like Nokia or Apple?

As the CEO shake-up at Ford was unfolding this week—Mark Fields was ousted from the top spot in favor of Jim Hackett, who had been leading the automaker’s self-driving car and mobility efforts—Silicon Valley investor Marc Andreessen issued a sick burn: “Today’s car makers are like Nokia—right before it was crushed by Apple.” Ouch. Andreessen … Continue reading “Analysis: Are Today’s Automobile Companies More Like Nokia or Apple?”

Where Do WI And Milwaukee, Last In Startup Activity, Go From Here?

Call it a “three-peat,” a losing streak, or what you will. Just don’t call it a surprise. On Thursday, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation released its latest ranking of startup activity by state. For the third consecutive year, Wisconsin finished in last place. Many of the reactions from members of the state’s early-stage business and … Continue reading “Where Do WI And Milwaukee, Last In Startup Activity, Go From Here?”

Figuring It Out: Addressing Practices That Impact Women in Technology

The Women’s March, New Tech Northwest’s annual “Women in Tech” event, and International Women’s Day are just a few of the recent events prompting important conversations around inequality in the tech industry. These discussions, while breakthroughs in many regards, are still just the beginning of real change. I’ve gathered a number of ideas for what … Continue reading “Figuring It Out: Addressing Practices That Impact Women in Technology”

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”

TX Roundup: New Money for Austin Startups, TMC, Lean DNA, & More

Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. Even though venture investment in Austin dipped in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2016, this week brought news of several funding announcements for startups in enterprise software, data analytics, and other fields. —Austin blockchain software … Continue reading “TX Roundup: New Money for Austin Startups, TMC, Lean DNA, & More”

Roundup: GreenLight Winners, Develop the Mitten, WaitTime & More

Here’s a look at innovation news from across Michigan: —Thanks in part to a $450,000 performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, Huntington Bank announced it will invest $5.4 million in a downtown Flint expansion. The company plans to renovate its call center at the former regional headquarters of FirstMerit, which the bank acquired last year, and … Continue reading “Roundup: GreenLight Winners, Develop the Mitten, WaitTime & More”

Some Cause for Optimism in Hired’s Research on Gender Wage Gap

Amid the ongoing conversation about gender discrimination in the tech industry, and recent sexual harassment claims against some of its biggest names, here’s some sort-of good news about women in tech: When companies make job offers to both men and women, women receive lower salary offers 63 percent of the time for the same job, … Continue reading “Some Cause for Optimism in Hired’s Research on Gender Wage Gap”

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”

Under Spotlight, Uber Reveals Lack of Diversity And Pledges Change

In the latest step to patch up its reputation after a series of hits this year, Uber released a gender and ethnic diversity report on the company today and promised to make its predominantly white, male staff more inclusive. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant says men make up 63.9 percent of its total global employees, … Continue reading “Under Spotlight, Uber Reveals Lack of Diversity And Pledges Change”

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”

Gender at South By Southwest: Harassment, VC Jobs, & Hard Choices

[Angela Shah contributed to this report.] Austin—If there was a common theme among the gender-focused panels at South by Southwest, it might be the disbelief that we still need to discuss the importance of having women in tech. But considering the current occupant of the Oval Office, popular ride-sharing companies that back supervisors accused of … Continue reading “Gender at South By Southwest: Harassment, VC Jobs, & Hard Choices”

Uber Rides Can Expose Key Company Data, Appthority Says

Businesses may want to limit their employees’ use of Uber’s ride-hailing service to protect secrets such as merger discussions and the medical conditions of key executives, a Bay Area mobile cybersecurity firm says. In a review of Uber’s privacy and security measures, Appthority found that the newer version of Uber’s app is expanding its collection … Continue reading “Uber Rides Can Expose Key Company Data, Appthority Says”

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?”

Toyota and Others Enabling Self-Driving Cars to Talk to Each Other

Drivers have plenty of ways to communicate with their fellow drivers, beyond the basic turn signal. Some methods are nice, like a friendly wave to beckon a merging car into your lane. Others, not so much. We’ve all probably cursed or honked at another driver, or been given the finger. But if driverless cars become … Continue reading “Toyota and Others Enabling Self-Driving Cars to Talk to Each Other”

More Women, Minorities Join Angel Investor Group, Austin’s CTAN Says

Austin—The Central Texas Angel Network says it’s growing, and that the diversity of its membership is, too. The organization known as CTAN says its member base has increased to more than 160 individuals from about 120 two years ago, and that the group includes more women and minorities. Women now make up 25 percent of … Continue reading “More Women, Minorities Join Angel Investor Group, Austin’s CTAN Says”

Trump and Kalanick: Twin Chief Executives Face Similar Problems

In the rinse-repeat rhythm of Uber’s PR crises, it’s easy to miss that this particular cycle has been a long one. Uber’s latest wave of negative press began in January with a backlash against CEO Travis Kalanick’s role on President Donald Trump’s White House business advisory panel. There’s some irony here, because Trump and Kalanick … Continue reading “Trump and Kalanick: Twin Chief Executives Face Similar Problems”

Detroit, Silicon Valley Collaborate on Path to Self-Driving Cars

As the race to get autonomous vehicles on the road revs up, there has been much discussion in the auto industry about who will lead the charge. Because of the new technologies involved in the development of self-driving cars, many initially assumed that Silicon Valley would take the driver’s seat instead of Detroit. But it’s … Continue reading “Detroit, Silicon Valley Collaborate on Path to Self-Driving Cars”

Sexual Harassment Claims Add to Turbulent Times for Uber

For the second time in less than a month, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick found himself fending off critical questions from his own employees at a Tuesday company-wide meeting. The last time, Kalanick was trying to justify remaining on President Trump’s economic advisory council after Trump issued a sudden travel ban against refugees and people from … Continue reading “Sexual Harassment Claims Add to Turbulent Times for Uber”

Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot

As we gear up for Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real, our annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference at Google’s offices in Kendall Square, let’s connect a few dots around the topic of automation. In just the past day or two: —Uber has started testing self-driving cars in Tempe, AZ, after having its tests banned … Continue reading “Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot”

Gener8tor, ParqEx, 4490, RPRD, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist

Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Gener8tor, a startup accelerator that has held programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota, has named Eric Martell managing director of its Twin Cities programming, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported. Martell is a co-founder of EatStreet, a Madison-based food-ordering startup, and previously served as … Continue reading “Gener8tor, ParqEx, 4490, RPRD, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”

San Francisco Appeals Court Upholds Stay on Trump’s Travel Ban—For Now

The Trump administration’s travel ban will remain on a temporary hold under an order issued today by a federal appeals court in San Francisco, which held that the government had failed to make its case for lifting a stay won through a court challenge by the state of Washington. That means that for the time … Continue reading “San Francisco Appeals Court Upholds Stay on Trump’s Travel Ban—For Now”

Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Zipcar, MassChallenge, Adelphic, Lola & More

Here are some of the latest headlines in the Boston tech scene: Pink slips —We start this week’s roundup with some bad news: layoffs. Bedford, MA-based Progress Software (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PRGS]]) recently announced it would let 450 employees go, which is more than 20 percent of the company’s workforce. The move is part of a restructuring … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Zipcar, MassChallenge, Adelphic, Lola & More”

Degreed, CodeFights Ready Alternative Credentials To Rival Diplomas

Two San Francisco educational technology startups that don’t offer classes, MOOCs, or other online coursework are nevertheless preparing to issue credentials that, like a college degree, may help learners land a job. Degreed and CodeFights are among the companies adding new twists to the ecosystem of alternative credentials, which are proliferating as the edtech sector … Continue reading “Degreed, CodeFights Ready Alternative Credentials To Rival Diplomas”

Seeking Profitability, Favor Reverses Expansion to Focus on Texas

Austin—Favor, the startup with a mobile app that offers to deliver anything, is closing all of its operations outside of Texas, including in cities such as Boston and Denver. The move to work only in Texas, where Austin, TX-based Favor offers its app-based delivery service in 15 cities, is an attempt to push the company … Continue reading “Seeking Profitability, Favor Reverses Expansion to Focus on Texas”

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”

Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab

Uber is ratcheting up its efforts to advance artificial intelligence technologies as it pushes down the road toward self-driving vehicles. The ride-hailing app company has launched Uber AI Labs, a new division based in San Francisco focused on A.I. and machine learning research. The initial core team is made up of the 15 employees of … Continue reading “Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab”

Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups

Founder Collective has reloaded its stock of dry powder to fuel young startups. The venture firm today announced it has raised $75 million for its third fund, roughly the same aggregate size as its second. The firm was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2009, and launched with a $40 million seed-stage fund. Founder … Continue reading “Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups”

Sluggish Year for IPOs, But Signs Abound of Post-Election Surge

Uncertainty surrounding this year’s presidential election has kept U.S. IPO activity at a sluggish pace—so sluggish, in fact, that this year could end with the fewest IPOs and the lowest level of capital raised since 2009, according to PitchBook data for the first nine months of 2016. But this is no time to trash talk … Continue reading “Sluggish Year for IPOs, But Signs Abound of Post-Election Surge”

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”

Ashton Kutcher Funds Pillar at Forbes Summit, & More Boston Tech News

Boston was star struck this week, as the Forbes Under 30 Summit brought Michael Phelps, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Richard Branson, and other big names to town. Besides the usual speeches and panel discussions one would expect at a business conference, the summit also featured musical performances by nationally known artists such as Jason Derulo; … Continue reading “Ashton Kutcher Funds Pillar at Forbes Summit, & More Boston Tech News”

EatStreet Downloads Another $11M for Restaurant Ordering Software

EatStreet has raised nearly $11 million in equity financing, according to a regulatory filing that was made public on Thursday. The Madison, WI-based developer of online food-ordering software has now raised more than $40 million since launching in 2010, says Matt Howard, co-founder and CEO of EatStreet. Howard declined to provide specifics related to what … Continue reading “EatStreet Downloads Another $11M for Restaurant Ordering Software”

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”

Are Enterprise or Consumer Startups Best VC Bets? One VC’s View

When Shawn Carolan joined Menlo Ventures just after earning his MBA at Stanford in 2002, he found the venture capital firm “fairly enterprise focused.” But Carolan, a trained engineer who says he loves gadgets and gizmos, was most interested in tech products aimed at consumers. Over the next decade, the Stanford recruit managed to give … Continue reading “Are Enterprise or Consumer Startups Best VC Bets? One VC’s View”