Tag: Uber

GM Acquires Sidecar’s “Essential” Ridesharing IP, Key Employees

Bay Area ridesharing pioneer Sidecar was back in the news this morning, when it was announced that General Motors has acquired the recently shuttered startup’s technology and assets. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but a source close to the situation told Bloomberg that “it was less than the roughly $39 million that … Continue reading “GM Acquires Sidecar’s “Essential” Ridesharing IP, Key Employees”

Tech Startups Succeed With Top Talent, But Where Will They Park?

While companies are in the process of refining prototypes, hiring key employees, and nailing down investment, one overlooked area is where the business will be housed and, more specifically, where everyone will park. In Austin, it’s not just the new companies that are struggling with finding enough parking for their employees downtown. Established firms are … Continue reading “Tech Startups Succeed With Top Talent, But Where Will They Park?”

Mega Deals Push 2015 VC to 15-Year High, But Slowdown Looming?

U.S. venture capitalists poured more money into private companies last year than they had since the height of the dot-com boom, but an investing drop off late in 2015 could signal that the VC gravy train is slowing down. New data out today show that VCs invested $58.8 billion across 4,380 deals in 2015. The … Continue reading “Mega Deals Push 2015 VC to 15-Year High, But Slowdown Looming?”

FreshJets Brings Sharing Economy to Air Travel in Ski Country

Nearly 35,000 cars clog the Interstate 70 highway from Denver to the mountains on a typical Sunday. And taking the state’s new mountain toll express lane home only saves travelers about 30 minutes and costs $3 to $30, depending on traffic. Saving time on the roads for more time on the slopes is exactly what … Continue reading “FreshJets Brings Sharing Economy to Air Travel in Ski Country”

Surprises in Tech from 2015, and What to Do If A Downturn Hits

Two tech trends gained surprising momentum this year, which positions them to be key drivers in 2016. Both take aim at the heart of the economy. Recently the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) gave crowd finance a shot in the arm. First it passed Regulation A which provides an exemption to the registration requirements mandated … Continue reading “Surprises in Tech from 2015, and What to Do If A Downturn Hits”

Sidecar Puts It in Park Despite Hot Mobility Sector

Yesterday, news came across the transom that San Francisco ride-sharing service Sidecar would shutter its operation, effective tomorrow. The news wasn’t a complete shock—though Sidecar launched at roughly the same time as Uber and Lyft, it failed to inspire the billion-dollar valuations, user adoption rates, and investor backing that those two peer-to-peer ride-sharing startups did. … Continue reading “Sidecar Puts It in Park Despite Hot Mobility Sector”

EatStreet Grabs $15M To Bring Food Ordering To More Mid-Size Cities

Since launching in 2010, the online food ordering service EatStreet has seen significant growth in revenue, users, and participating restaurants, all while sticking to its small-town roots. Founded by three students in a college town—Madison, WI, where the startup continues to operate—EatStreet now serves 15,000 restaurants across 250 markets, many of them mid-size cities with … Continue reading “EatStreet Grabs $15M To Bring Food Ordering To More Mid-Size Cities”

More Folks Take Sides in Quarrel Over Ridesharing, Taxis, & NY Law

A group called the New Yorkers for Ridesharing coalition announced its presence to the world this week to advocate for companies such as Uber, and help them operate in upstate New York. The coalition spoke Monday on a conference call with the media—just as more opposition to Uber cruising the streets of Manhattan bubbled to the … Continue reading “More Folks Take Sides in Quarrel Over Ridesharing, Taxis, & NY Law”

With An Influx of Startups, CES Trying to Not Be the Same Old Show

Change is underway in the consumer gadget scene, thanks to new blood—and a rallying cry for support—from startups, as the organization that stumps for this industry gets a bit of a makeover. At last week’s CES Unveiled in New York, a preview hosted for the press of things to come at the January conference, Gary … Continue reading “With An Influx of Startups, CES Trying to Not Be the Same Old Show”

DraftKings, FanDuel Follow Uber’s Playbook As Legal Battles Loom

Like other immensely popular but controversial tech startups in recent years, DraftKings and FanDuel have reached the critical juncture where, having already won over millions of users, they must now do the same with regulators. The open question is which way the pendulum swings: Will fantasy-sports companies emerge mostly victorious, as sharing-economy stars Uber and … Continue reading “DraftKings, FanDuel Follow Uber’s Playbook As Legal Battles Loom”

GE, Gilt Groupe, Others Want to Advise NY Lawmakers on Tech Policies

An all-too-familiar refrain rings among certain politicians, who say they are not scientists or that they are neophytes when it comes to technology. The problem is the economy and future job growth are becoming inexorably tied to innovation—so if politicos don’t “get” tech, we may all be collectively screwed. Last week, business advocacy organization the … Continue reading “GE, Gilt Groupe, Others Want to Advise NY Lawmakers on Tech Policies”

Dallas’s Traxo Creates Digital Dashboards for Harried Travelers

We have a world with AirBnb, OpenTable, Uber, and TicketMaster. Andres Fabris wants to bring it all together. “It’s a smart agent in your pocket,” says Fabris, the founder and CEO of Dallas-based travel app Traxo. The app not only keeps track of itineraries for transportation and accommodation, it uses artificial intelligence to offer suggestions … Continue reading “Dallas’s Traxo Creates Digital Dashboards for Harried Travelers”

Cornell Tech to Train Lawyers to Tackle Startups’ Legal Kinks

The trouble with introducing new technology and ideas is they frequently can lead to lawsuits and other headaches. Whether it is fighting patent trolls, testing the boundaries of old laws, or just coping with new regulatory rules, tech companies may have to cross many legal minefields as they scale up. Expecting the landscape to continue … Continue reading “Cornell Tech to Train Lawyers to Tackle Startups’ Legal Kinks”

Fred Wilson, Others Discuss On-Demand Economy Growing Beyond Uber

Has the world irrevocably been changed by the on-demand and gig economy? Wednesday night at Work Market’s headquarters in New York, venture capitalist Fred Wilson, co-founder of Union Square Ventures, Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Holdings, and André Dua, director at McKinsey & Co., discussed how the workforce, business models, and drivers of the economy … Continue reading “Fred Wilson, Others Discuss On-Demand Economy Growing Beyond Uber”

Why Passion and Preparedness Matter to Urban-Focused Investors

Detroit is considered by many to be the ultimate proving ground for social entrepreneurs, a place where they can test solutions to homelessness, lack of functioning public transit, and other major problems. Capitalizing on that reputation, the Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium—held Friday at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and co-hosted by Michigan State University, Wayne State … Continue reading “Why Passion and Preparedness Matter to Urban-Focused Investors”

Verizon’s MapQuest Goes Mobile to Compete With Google, Apple Maps

MapQuest is still a thing? MapQuest is still a thing. The company that first introduced the world to turn-by-turn directions in the late ‘90s and early aughts is still around and getting people where they need to go, despite maintaining a quiet presence, well, just about everywhere. “’Is MapQuest still around?’ We hear that quite … Continue reading “Verizon’s MapQuest Goes Mobile to Compete With Google, Apple Maps”

Dining Payment App Reserve Tries to Book a Spot on More Phones

It is getting more crowded at the table for apps used to pay restaurant checks via mobile devices, but New York-based Reserve believes it provides a broader range of services than its rivals. I met up with Reserve’s CEO Greg Hong (pictured above) on Friday before he spoke at the tail end of the Techweek New … Continue reading “Dining Payment App Reserve Tries to Book a Spot on More Phones”

How Coworking Hub RocketSpace Took Off, And Changed Course

Ever since the spectacular dot-com bust of 2000, any new tech boom is eventually clouded by prophesies that another collapse is close at hand. A splashy Vanity Fair cover story this month, entitled “Is Silicon Valley In Another Tech Bubble?”, is just one recent speculation about the possible frailty of the current expansion. What’s certainly … Continue reading “How Coworking Hub RocketSpace Took Off, And Changed Course”

How to Succeed in the Second Digital Era

Blockbuster. Borders. The U.S. Postal Service. These once-dominant entities, and many more, have all been victims of disruptive tech. Although it’s too early to sound the death knell for taxis, it’s also too late to say that ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft are a flash in the pan. The disruptive change they represent is … Continue reading “How to Succeed in the Second Digital Era”

Uber Garners $1,200,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fb8d7f1e-3711-4a57-9c2a-dfebd45b5d62 Date 9/7/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,200,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Garners $1,200,000,000 New Funding”

Uber Receives New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=133ec8c3-9db5-49d8-9ab4-eadd6e9a471e Date 8/19/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Receives New Financing”

Instacart Extends Job Offers to Its CA Shoppers, But Labor Lawsuit Continues

Online grocery delivery service company Instacart said today it is expanding its offer of staff jobs—already made in nine other cities—to contract workers who now assemble food orders for its customers in San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. San Francisco-based Instacart had previously invited its in-store shoppers to apply for part-time jobs rather than … Continue reading “Instacart Extends Job Offers to Its CA Shoppers, But Labor Lawsuit Continues”

Uber Lands $1,000,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61913026-a9a3-46cf-b77e-0c8bcca608f8 Date 7/31/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Lands $1,000,000,000 New Funding”

Uber Obtains $100,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e82b0e0e-59ff-47a9-a346-40bc83694c31 Date 7/31/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $100,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Obtains $100,000,000 New Round”

Sharing Economy Companies Sharing the Heat In Contractor Controversy

[Corrected 7/31/15, 2:34 pm. See below.] For some time, Uber and other Silicon Valley tech companies have been fighting off lawsuits and other claims that their labor practices are unfair to on-demand workers they classify as independent contractors rather than as employees. The heat mounted this week on a number of fronts. The issue took … Continue reading “Sharing Economy Companies Sharing the Heat In Contractor Controversy”

Tech Bubble Talk Focuses on IPO Dearth, Overpriced Rounds, and China

The question is no longer whether we are in a tech bubble—we are—but rather what it all means for the future. And maybe the near future. Everyone seems to agree the market conditions are very different from 2000, but so what? Uber’s valuation is north of $40 billion, and the company is losing money as … Continue reading “Tech Bubble Talk Focuses on IPO Dearth, Overpriced Rounds, and China”

Quire Talks Equity Crowdfunding & Title III at New York Tech Meetup

For the folks who want to invest in startups, Quire wants to be the way they get a piece of the action. Erin Glenn, CEO, demoed Quire at last night’s New York Tech Meetup (see slideshow), and also discussed how her startup’s plans relate to the continuing evolution of regulations on equity crowdfunding. “The mission … Continue reading “Quire Talks Equity Crowdfunding & Title III at New York Tech Meetup”

In the Age of Uber, Lawn Guru Takes Yard Care Services Digital

The Uber-fication of modern life continues as service providers of all stripes realize they can capitalize on the peer-to-peer service model that has worked so well for the ride-sharing startup. Just in time for summer, there’s a new, locally based app called Lawn Guru that allows users to connect with lawn care professionals and order … Continue reading “In the Age of Uber, Lawn Guru Takes Yard Care Services Digital”

How Button Pushed Its Way Into the Midst of Uber and Foursquare

“There should be more connectivity in the app world,” says Button CEO and co-founder Michael Jaconi. “We’re trying to solve that.” On Monday, his New York-based startup announced its software was being used in a partnership that gives people the ability to book Uber cars through Foursquare. Just about a year old, Button’s software is … Continue reading “How Button Pushed Its Way Into the Midst of Uber and Foursquare”

List of ‘Unicorns’ With Billion-Dollar Valuations Climbs to 108

What’s worth $1 billion? Drones, HR benefits software, and the offerings of 106 other private companies worldwide who have “unicorn” valuations, according to a private business data provider CB Insights. The New York-based company has created a real-time unicorn tracker to keep record of the number of startups that received $1 billion or higher valuations … Continue reading “List of ‘Unicorns’ With Billion-Dollar Valuations Climbs to 108”

Battle to Regulate Uber, Lyft Moves From City Halls to State Capitols

[Updated 5/19/15, 10:40 a.m. See below.] The push to regulate increasingly popular ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft has shifted from city halls to state capitol buildings—with implications for the companies’ reputations and expansion plans, as well as the future of transportation systems worldwide. Last year saw passage of the first rules for ridesharing companies—or … Continue reading “Battle to Regulate Uber, Lyft Moves From City Halls to State Capitols”

Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare

How does today’s “sharing economy” look to a guy who grew up in a commune in Missouri, without any technology like phones or computers? It looks familiar—and also like good business. Willy Schlacks was raised in a community that he calls a “mix of theocracy and communism.” He was 27 when he and his brother, … Continue reading “Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare”

Wisconsin Roundup: Uber Bill, Angel Deals, Exact Sciences, & More

Here are some of the latest headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill late Friday night that enacts statewide regulation of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. The bill had bipartisan support in the Legislature, but has drawn opposition by some Democratic legislators and city officials in Milwaukee and … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber Bill, Angel Deals, Exact Sciences, & More”

Seed Sumo Announces Eight Tech Startups for new Accelerator Class

Perhaps it’s no surprise that at ground zero of Texas A&M University football madness, a tech accelerator would select its startups based on a methodology used for the gridiron. Bryan, TX-based Seed Sumo has announced its second class of eight startups for its three-month program. (Bryan is a neighbor to College Station, TX, Texas A&M’s … Continue reading “Seed Sumo Announces Eight Tech Startups for new Accelerator Class”

Innovation Hub: Which Companies Care About the Environment?

Transforming big businesses into green businesses might seem like a thorny process. But older, established companies like Ford have the potential to ignite a new generation of environmentally friendly products, according to Andrew Winston, author of The Big Pivot. By shifting their manufacturing process—like substituting aluminum for steel, as Ford has done—such companies are able … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Which Companies Care About the Environment?”

VC Funding Slows as Big Funds Crowd into Late-Stage Venture Deals

Following a December surge, when U.S. venture firms invested $7.2 billion in 342 deals nationwide, VC activity reset at a lower pace during the first quarter of 2015, according to data being released today by CB Insights. The New York venture capital tracker says VCs invested $11.3 billion in 805 startups over the three months … Continue reading “VC Funding Slows as Big Funds Crowd into Late-Stage Venture Deals”

Wisconsin Roundup: Ebola, Kiio, The Water Council, Uber, & More

Here’s a collection of the latest updates from Wisconsin’s technology and innovation community: —A new experimental vaccine to battle Ebola has shown early but promising results in protecting monkeys exposed to the virus. The vaccine, which is being co-developed by virus expert and University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, takes a different approach than some … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Ebola, Kiio, The Water Council, Uber, & More”

Vaynerchuk at NJTC Conference Warns of Flood of Fake Entrepreneurs

It is the best of times to be an entrepreneur now, with easy money to be had, but gloom lurks on the horizon, according to Gary Vaynerchuk. “This is not going to last,” he said. On Tuesday, the investor and entrepreneur had a few choice words about the startup and funding scene in his keynote … Continue reading “Vaynerchuk at NJTC Conference Warns of Flood of Fake Entrepreneurs”

Code for the Kingdom’s Hackathon Tackles Human Trafficking, Food Deserts

Hackers from last weekend’s Christian-oriented Code for the Kingdom in Dallas were called from as far as Toronto and Washington state. The assembled group of 100 programmers spent the weekend working on 22 projects, such as developing apps to better connect adults and kids with the Bible. For Chris Armas, who has organized the Code … Continue reading “Code for the Kingdom’s Hackathon Tackles Human Trafficking, Food Deserts”

Uber Receives New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=786c74b1-2662-473f-b822-b26585258652 Date 3/23/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Receives New Funding Round”

Alibaba, Rakuten Push Into U.S. Startups With Snapchat and Lyft

Major competitors from Asia are vying for a large stake in online car-booking and other tech markets. Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten announced today it is piling $300 million into San Francisco-based Lyft, the mobile-app car service that competes with Uber. Chinese retail giant Alibaba Group has had a stake in Lyft since April of last year, … Continue reading “Alibaba, Rakuten Push Into U.S. Startups With Snapchat and Lyft”

Seattle Roundup: Avalara, Alternative Capital, Car2Go, & More

Two companies providing financing alternatives to technology companies made news this week. Lighter Capital did a deal with Portland, OR-based Building Energy, and SaaS Capital raised a new fund and grew its presence in Seattle. Also, Avalara bought a company making tax software for vacation rentals; Car2Go and Uber announced Seattle expansions; Airbiquity landed a … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Avalara, Alternative Capital, Car2Go, & More”

My Best Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Tech Startups

What an incredible time to be a tech startup! The opportunities out there are just tremendous. Digital payments, wearable technology, mobile healthcare, virtual reality and gamification, predictive analytics, and green tech—these are just a few of the startup areas that are expected to be big this year, according to venture capitalists and industry experts. “Full … Continue reading “My Best Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Tech Startups”

As Uber Becomes a Publisher, Boston Taxi Trade Paper Stops Printing

Uber isn’t just changing the way taxi and black-car companies operate. As the multibillion-dollar car-for-hire juggernaut expands across the country, businesses that serve the old-school, heavily regulated taxi industry are suddenly feeling the effects of new competition. A prime example is Carriage News, a 45-year-old trade paper focusing on the taxi industry around Boston. Late last month, publisher Bob Keeley … Continue reading “As Uber Becomes a Publisher, Boston Taxi Trade Paper Stops Printing”

Fears Percolate as Billion-Dollar Private Company Valuations Climb

There are 73 private companies in the world with valuations of more than $1 billion, up from 40 just one year ago, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal yesterday. Some of those 40 companies are no longer on the list. Beats, valued in February 2014 at $1.1 billion, was sold to … Continue reading “Fears Percolate as Billion-Dollar Private Company Valuations Climb”

Uber Lands $1,000,000,000 Series E Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a32570d2-9c68-468a-9597-f67194a73823 Date 2/19/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Uber Lands $1,000,000,000 Series E Financing”

Howard Lerman, CEO of Yext, Talks Location Data, Big Data, & Beacons

With more businesses trying to connect to customers through their mobile phones, via apps and the Web, company information must not only be up to date, it needs to be localized. That is where Howard Lerman, CEO and co-founder of New York-based Yext, sees his company continuing to grow—even as the race to capture localized … Continue reading “Howard Lerman, CEO of Yext, Talks Location Data, Big Data, & Beacons”

Uber Lands $1,600,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=10b2d851-5db4-46f6-b71d-e67bf592e438 Date 1/22/2015 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 1455 Market St. 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 USA Company Description The company has created a mobile application that allows users to request car service to pick them up wherever they are located. Website http://www.uber.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $1,600,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Uber Lands $1,600,000,000 New Financing Round”