Uber has become an intensely admired, sometimes reviled, and fabulously wealthy company in just a few short years by sticking to an uncompromising playbook. When it wants to expand into a new city, the next-generation taxi company tends to move first and deal with regulatory and legal concerns second. Competitors and government officials who object can find themselves … Continue reading “Uber’s Data-Sharing Welcomed, But City Regulators Still Want More”
Tag: Uber
With New Apps, Bridj Gets Closer to Vision of Private Bus Network
Anyone who’s driven around Boston quickly confronts its twisting, colliding, narrow streets, an unapologetically old-world system that somehow embodies the city’s charmingly abrasive style. How people got around before GPS, I’ll never know. Transportation startup Bridj is hoping to tap into this generation’s biggest technology platform—mobile smartphone networks—to make commutes in the region a bit easier. … Continue reading “With New Apps, Bridj Gets Closer to Vision of Private Bus Network”
14 for ’14: Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Year
It has been quite a year for one-word headlines: Ebola, Sony, Uber, WhatsApp, to name a few. Behind those headlines are complex issues in business and technology that came to the fore in 2014. Things like impediments to vaccine development; mounting threats in cybersecurity and privacy; the regulatory and cultural struggles of high-flying startups; and … Continue reading “14 for ’14: Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Year”
Uber Secures New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=78339f2f-31b5-40bc-953b-23a38e8d9fdd Date 12/12/2014 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 Secures New Financing Round”
Ford, Magna, Verizon Help Launch Techstars Program in Detroit
If you’re looking for further validation that Detroit’s tech ecosystem is gaining respect in the eyes of the world, here it is: Ford, in partnership with global auto supplier Magna International and Verizon Telematics, will announce today that it is helping to bring the esteemed Techstars startup accelerator to the Motor City. Techstars Mobility will … Continue reading “Ford, Magna, Verizon Help Launch Techstars Program in Detroit”
Uber Lands $1,200,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6dbbdb22-ea88-4ba8-a49a-10bf6df62a9e Date 12/4/2014 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 182 Howard St. San Francisco, CA 94105 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 Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Uber Lands $1,200,000,000 New Funding Round”
Tripda Makes a Play for the Road Trip Ridesharing Market
Have we been looking at the ridesharing scene from the wrong angle? The team at Tripda thinks so. Rather than go after the for-hire car service market with aggressive players such as Uber, Tripda in New York focused their attention on simply connecting folks who want to share costs on road trips. Listing a planned … Continue reading “Tripda Makes a Play for the Road Trip Ridesharing Market”
Boston City Council Looks for Fees, Numbers from Uber & Lyft
Mobile-tech startups Uber and Lyft have been operating “ridesharing” services illegally in Boston since 2013. City officials say they’re ready to end that run, but they’re hoping to incorporate the popular car-for-hire apps into existing taxi regulations instead of simply shutting them down. It will probably come with a price, and more transparency about the … Continue reading “Boston City Council Looks for Fees, Numbers from Uber & Lyft”
With Uber Investor Driving, Cue Raises $7.5M for Personal Dx Device
The VC who placed a $26.5 million bet on Uber in 2011 is now leading a $7.5 million investment round in Cue, a San Diego startup developing a wireless diagnostic device that enables consumers to run clinical lab tests at home to measure their own health. In a statement from Cue yesterday, Sherpa Ventures managing … Continue reading “With Uber Investor Driving, Cue Raises $7.5M for Personal Dx Device”
Uber CEO Kalanick Takes a Victory Lap in Boston
Two years ago, smartphone car-hailing startup Uber ran into the kind of bruising regulatory battle in Boston that it seems to start just about everywhere. Faced with a statewide shutdown for using an unapproved taxi meter, the company rallied fans and media boosters to its cause and won a swift reprieve from Gov. Deval Patrick. … Continue reading “Uber CEO Kalanick Takes a Victory Lap in Boston”
Heidi Messer, Alan Patricof, Others on What It Takes to Grow in NYC
At a gathering of players from the New York innovation scene, there was blunt talk and optimism about the city’s future in technology. This week, AlwaysOn founder Tony Perkins hosted the annual OnMedia NYC summit at the NASDAQ Marketsite in Times Square. The event brought out the honchos of Collective[i], Greycroft Partners, First Round Capital, … Continue reading “Heidi Messer, Alan Patricof, Others on What It Takes to Grow in NYC”
Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lyft, Epic, BioTechnique
Here’s a quick rundown of recent news from Wisconsin’s technology and innovation community: —A federal judge rejected a request by Milwaukee taxi groups to halt a new city law that lifts the cap on taxi permits and provides a pathway to legalization for ride-booking apps like Uber and Lyft, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal. … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lyft, Epic, BioTechnique”
RideScout and Austin’s Growing Transportation Startup Ecosystem
Perhaps it makes sense that a hub of transportation innovation takes shape in car-crazy Texas. A booming economy has brought droves of new migrants seeking work and clogging the roads. And while Texas’s metro centers are attracting urban pioneers to revitalized inner-city communities close to work, most still make ever-longer commutes. And that’s prompting Texans … Continue reading “RideScout and Austin’s Growing Transportation Startup Ecosystem”
Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services
Until recently, 99 percent of government data around the world was shrouded in darkness. It was trapped in a vault, gathering mold, and never saw the light of day. But the vibrant open data movement, which is taking hold on just about every continent, has begun to radically change this. Now, government data is being … Continue reading “Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services”
Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic
Nine weeks ago, I lost my fancy hybrid street/trail bike to one of San Francisco’s plentiful bicycle thieves. Seven weeks ago, in preparation for a big move east, I sold my car. Now I’m settling into a new apartment in Cambridge, MA, and for the first time in my adult life, I don’t own a … Continue reading “Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic”
Austin’s Besomebody Finds Market in Individuals’ Passions
Kash Shaikh wants to help people make money by pursuing their passions. His vehicle for that mission is a startup called Besomebody. Shaikh spent 10 years at Procter & Gamble, working on social media campaigns for everyday household products sold by the multinational giant. But it was doing the same for GoPro where he says … Continue reading “Austin’s Besomebody Finds Market in Individuals’ Passions”
Funding Options Shrink for Early-Stage Cleantech Ventures
The term “cleantech” has gone through a rebranding. However it’s defined, though, investment in energy and natural resource-related startups continues. Just don’t expect venture capitalists to be writing all the checks. As a reporter, I chronicled the rush of venture capital in cleantech in the mid-to-late 2000s and the subsequent financial bust and politicization of … Continue reading “Funding Options Shrink for Early-Stage Cleantech Ventures”
Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lovell, BrightStar, Energy Incubator & More
Here are a few notable recent happenings in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Controversial startups Uber and Lyft have gone legit in Milwaukee, after Mayor Tom Barrett signed legislation last week that legalizes the on-demand transportation apps and lifts the cap on city taxi permits, the Milwaukee Business Journal reported. Uber and Lyft, which have … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lovell, BrightStar, Energy Incubator & More”
Mega Deals (Like Uber) Boost Venture Funding to $13B
Venture capital investors pumped almost $13 billion into 1,114 U.S. startups in the second quarter—marking the highest level of VC funding in 13 years, according to the MoneyTree Report being released today. While the number of deals is comparable with recent quarters, the $12.97 billion VCs deployed this spring was a third more than the … Continue reading “Mega Deals (Like Uber) Boost Venture Funding to $13B”
The Mid-Stage VC Funding Gap, By the Numbers
In recent years, we’ve heard a lot about the “Series A crunch” for tech startups—lots of companies get seed funding but can’t raise a first venture round. Now we’re hearing more about a mid-stage funding bottleneck, typically at the Series B and C venture stages. A recent tech funding deal in Boston highlighted the issue … Continue reading “The Mid-Stage VC Funding Gap, By the Numbers”
Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation
Let’s say you’re an ambitious, creative professional or entrepreneur working in the United States. You’re interested in technology, you have the luxury of mobility, and you want to be close to the center of things. Which city should you choose as your home? If you’re attracted to a specific sub-field, the answer may be obvious. … Continue reading “Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation”
Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of Q2 2014: Editor’s Picks
Here are my picks for our top local stories of the past quarter (April-June), and why. Not a ranked list, just in reverse chronological order: 1. MA Warns Ride-Sharing, Car-Sharing Drivers of Insurance Risks Could something as boring as insurance derail Uber? 2. Katrine Bosley, Former Avila CEO, Takes Helm at Editas Cutting-edge genomics company, … Continue reading “Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of Q2 2014: Editor’s Picks”
MA Warns Ride-Sharing, Car-Sharing Drivers of Insurance Risks
Changes in the transportation sector are happening pretty fast these days, spurred by the wide availability of smartphones and richly funded startups with a new take on old-school taxi and car rental services. That’s meant clashes with local regulators, established competitors, and even the startups’ own drivers. And lately, a seemingly dry topic has become … Continue reading “MA Warns Ride-Sharing, Car-Sharing Drivers of Insurance Risks”
Wisconsin Roundup: 100health, Harley Electric Motorcycles, & More
The past week’s Wisconsin innovation headlines featured a broad mix of companies in healthtech, mobile apps, life sciences, and traditional manufacturing. Read on for details. —Executives from five Madison startups are in Silicon Valley this week meeting with five venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Fishidy won a spot on the trip, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: 100health, Harley Electric Motorcycles, & More”
TaskRabbit CEO: Better Job Market Hasn’t Dampened Appeal
When Leah Busque founded TaskRabbit in Boston back in 2008 (under the name RunMyErrand), the terms “sharing economy” and “collaborative consumption” weren’t part of the tech lexicon, much less the national one. Home rental service Airbnb was founded around the same time, and car-for-hire king Uber wouldn’t even exist until the next year. Six years … Continue reading “TaskRabbit CEO: Better Job Market Hasn’t Dampened Appeal”
Galvanize Raises $13M, Looking for More Amid Major Expansion Push
Galvanize, the Denver-based startup incubator/co-working space, has raised $13.1 million in a recent funding round, according to documents filed with the SEC. The filing indicates the company is attempting to raise $18 million and has 23 investors so far, so that amount could grow. Galvanize representatives declined to comment about the news Friday morning. But … Continue reading “Galvanize Raises $13M, Looking for More Amid Major Expansion Push”
Uber Lands $1,200,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3fb9eeea-cd86-4e3c-bd62-ea7a01d19fae Date 6/6/2014 Company Name Uber Mailing Address 182 Howard St. San Francisco, CA 94105 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 Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Uber Lands $1,200,000,000 New Financing”
This Boston Lawyer Could Be Uber’s Nemesis as It Eyes Expansion
When a few taps on the smartphone screen can summon a real-life person to your door, it’s easy to feel like there’s a bit of magic in the air. That’s what makes on-demand services one of the most intriguing frontiers in business. Whether you want a ride to the airport, a bag full of groceries, … Continue reading “This Boston Lawyer Could Be Uber’s Nemesis as It Eyes Expansion”
Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY
Change. On Monday, there was plenty of change on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mind. Praising the merits of the city’s technology community—and talking disruption—he gave the opening speech for Internet Week New York. The first-term mayor took the opportunity to share some of his vision for New York’s future. It was the kickoff … Continue reading “Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY”
Will Paul English’s Blade Boost Consumer Tech in Boston?
Be careful how you e-mail Paul English. Or talk to him, for that matter. That’s one message I got from the Kayak co-founder when I met him at Blade, his new venture-creation outfit and startup workspace in South Boston. It was a few hours before Blade’s opening gala on Friday, and English (pictured) took time … Continue reading “Will Paul English’s Blade Boost Consumer Tech in Boston?”
Austin’s RideScout Picks Up Steam, Rolling Out to Dozens of Cities
The last time we met Joseph Kopser, he was pitching his newly hatched startup, RideScout, at a Start Houston pitch night. Nine months later, the RideScout app, which Kopser describes as “Kayak for ground transportation,” is preparing to roll out to 40 cities by the end of the summer. Currently, commuters in four cities—Austin, Boston, … Continue reading “Austin’s RideScout Picks Up Steam, Rolling Out to Dozens of Cities”
Restaurant Reservations App Table8 Snags $4.6 million, Plans NY Expansion
Table8, maker of an app that allows users to make last-minute reservations at sought-after restaurants for a fee, today announced a $4.6 million funding round led by angel investors and Concur, a business travel and expense management platform based in Bellevue, WA. Concur’s $150 million Perfect Trip Fund is dedicated to investing in companies in … Continue reading “Restaurant Reservations App Table8 Snags $4.6 million, Plans NY Expansion”
Wisconsin Roundup: BuySeasons, Uber, 96square, Nuclear Energy
Here’s a rundown of notable news items in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community this past week: —On Monday, I featured Milwaukee serial entrepreneur Jalem Getz’s latest startup, Wantable. Meanwhile, his former company, BuySeasons, continues the CEO carousel that began when Getz left in 2010. On Tuesday, BuySeasons announced that Dev Mukherjee had stepped down and … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: BuySeasons, Uber, 96square, Nuclear Energy”
Wearing Two Hats, Resnick Pushes Tech Issues on Madison Council
Scott Resnick’s appearance doesn’t exactly scream “politician.” On this particular afternoon, the 27-year-old is seated comfortably in the conference room of his software company’s office overlooking Lake Mendota in Madison, WI. He is wearing a collared shirt with blue, grey, and magenta stripes, along with tan pants. No suit, no tie, no problem. Anything above … Continue reading “Wearing Two Hats, Resnick Pushes Tech Issues on Madison Council”
In California Pilot Trial, AirPooler Offers Ride-Sharing in the Sky
How long are you willing to drive for a weekend getaway? Steve Lewis figures most folks are willing to drive two or three hours each way. If you live in the Bay Area, that means you might get as far as Mendocino. If you live in San Diego, sandwiched between the ocean and the desert, … Continue reading “In California Pilot Trial, AirPooler Offers Ride-Sharing in the Sky”
How Airports Became Ground Zero in the Rental Car Startup Wars
When Rujul Zaparde started running his company’s new peer-to-peer car rental service at San Francisco International Airport last year, it came with a heavy dose of entrepreneurial hustle. Glitz and glamour, not so much. “It was me, greeting you at the car in a terrible-looking green vest,” he says with a laugh. “It was pretty … Continue reading “How Airports Became Ground Zero in the Rental Car Startup Wars”
Wisconsin Roundup: Tech Transfer, Supercomputers, Stem Cells
Here are a few notable news items from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community over the past week: —Discovery to Product (D2P), the new University of Wisconsin-Madison initiative for accelerating commercialization of campus innovations, named Wisconsin entrepreneur John Biondi as its first director. In his career, Biondi has raised nearly $60 million for nine early-stage ventures … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Tech Transfer, Supercomputers, Stem Cells”
Tip-Skimming Lawsuits Against Uber Motor Along
As it battles established competitors and local regulators around the country, Uber is becoming known for its legal troubles almost as much as its slick car-for-hire smartphone app. Recently, the focus of those skirmishes has been local regulations in a handful of cities around the country. But Uber also continues to battle several lawsuits in … Continue reading “Tip-Skimming Lawsuits Against Uber Motor Along”
Seattle Roundup: Kickstarter, Kineta, Ride-Share Regs, Lively
In addition to funding news this week for Seattle-area outfits Seattle BioMed, Rover.com, Tipbit, Illumagear, and ComputeNext, we got word of a Kickstarter milestone, more funding for drug developer Kineta, and a potentially big week for Lively. Next week, we’re expecting a final decision on new city regulations on the likes of Uber, Sidecar, and … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Kickstarter, Kineta, Ride-Share Regs, Lively”
Growing Beyond Mobile Games, Kiip Wants to Own Your Daily Moments
The world of mobile games was not enough for Kiip. In 2012, when I last checked in with the San Francisco startup, it focused on helping developers of smartphone games earn extra money by building brand-based “reward moments” into their games. For example, successfully moving up a level in a game like Get Set Games’ … Continue reading “Growing Beyond Mobile Games, Kiip Wants to Own Your Daily Moments”
Aereo & the Rebel Startup Myth: Some Say “Not Where You Want to Be”
There is a certain mystique to playing the radical in an old, traditional industry. However, stirring things up almost guarantees the incumbents will push back—and push back hard. If that tension leads to a legal spat, most startups do not have a war chest ready for a lengthy battle. Nor do they have the time. … Continue reading “Aereo & the Rebel Startup Myth: Some Say “Not Where You Want to Be””
Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, New Seed Fund, ‘Aladdin’ Closing
Last week was a busy one for Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community. Here are some notable news items, in case you missed them: —Uber, the popular and (in some circles) notorious ride-sharing app, launched in Milwaukee. It’s the first Badger State location in which Uber has planted itself. It attempted to make a splash with … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, New Seed Fund, ‘Aladdin’ Closing”
3 Takeaways From Madison Startup Fair: More, Faster, Better
Usually it’s the job candidates who have to fight to stand out in discussions with potential employers at a job fair, not the other way around. But for tech startups operating with a lean staff and budget, trying to entice young talent when your booth is next to big names like Google and General Electric … Continue reading “3 Takeaways From Madison Startup Fair: More, Faster, Better”
Rideshare App Bandwagon Gets Around Legally in the NYC Battleground
Getting a taxi in a busy city is a problem plenty of startups have been trying to solve. There are potholes, though, that developers of ridesharing and car-hailing apps may run into, trouble that has nothing to do with technology. So far, New York’s Bandwagon has avoided much of the courtroom drama that has plagued Uber, … Continue reading “Rideshare App Bandwagon Gets Around Legally in the NYC Battleground”
Students Converge on Detroit for Record-Breaking Weekend Hackathon
After 36 feverish hours, the third MHacks event had finally reached its culmination late Sunday afternoon at the Qube in downtown Detroit, and this was the scene: Multi-colored towers of sleeping bags and pillows; plates of partially eaten chicken and broccoli casserole; a graveyard of empty water bottles and pop cans. Hundreds of bleary-eyed students … Continue reading “Students Converge on Detroit for Record-Breaking Weekend Hackathon”
Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund
The evolution of Techstars CEO David Cohen from an entrepreneur “vaguely dissatisfied with the way angel investing worked” to a full-fledged venture capitalist has taken another major step forward with his fresh efforts to raise a $150 million investment fund. While Cohen is best known as the head of the Techstars startup accelerator, which has … Continue reading “Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund”
Uber Launches Lower-Priced UberX Service in Detroit
Uber, the on-demand, app-based car service that established operations in Detroit last March, has now launched its lower-priced offering, UberX, in the Motor City. UberX is based on more of a ride-share model than Uber’s black car service, which aims to make drivers feel as if they have their own personal chauffeur. Riders summon UberX … Continue reading “Uber Launches Lower-Priced UberX Service in Detroit”
BuzzFeed, and 4 More Bad Startup Ideas that Look Like Good Ideas
Y Combinator staged its annual Startup School event last Saturday, attracting more than 1,700 young startup founders and would-be founders. Andreessen Horowitz partner (and Xconomist) Chris Dixon, the founder of Web startups SiteAdvisor (sold to McAfee) and Hunch (sold to eBay), gave one of the most interesting talks, under the title “Good Ideas That Look Like Bad … Continue reading “BuzzFeed, and 4 More Bad Startup Ideas that Look Like Good Ideas”
“60 Minutes” Missed Big Opportunity to Highlight Detroit’s Entrepreneurs
The venerable television news magazine 60 Minutes began Sunday’s broadcast with a piece called “Detroit On the Edge.” I’ve been a fan of 60 Minutes for decades, and I was looking forward to the segment even as its title made me wary. If there was one journalistic outlet I expected to present a fresh, balanced … Continue reading ““60 Minutes” Missed Big Opportunity to Highlight Detroit’s Entrepreneurs”
Cover Brings an Uber-Style Answer to Splitting Bills at Restaurants
Dining with friends at a restaurant can be a hassle when it comes time to sort out who ordered the shepherd’s pie, but an app from New York-based Cover lets people instantly split the bill, pay, and go. The app launched at the beginning of the month after a year-long private beta in the city, … Continue reading “Cover Brings an Uber-Style Answer to Splitting Bills at Restaurants”