DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ FTX plans to give customers their money back — with one painful caveat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

FTX will pay back 98% of creditors at least 118% of what they're owed, its bankruptcy lawyers said. But payments will be based on crypto values in 2022, not what its worth now as the prices surge. FTX predicts it will have between $14.5 and $16.3 billion available for distribution — mostly from previous Alameda and FTX Ventures investments, bankruptcy lawyers said. FTX founder Sam Bankman-fried was arrested in January 2023 and convicted last fall of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. The jury was not allowed to consider any bankruptcy activities in rendering its verdict — though the judge factored into his sentencing that FTX lawyers said victims would recover their losses.

Persons: FTX, they're, —, Jacob Shamsian, Sam Bankman Organizations: Service, FTX Ventures, Bloomberg Locations: Alameda

☆ Definely, a London legal tech startup founded by a blind lawyer, just raised $7 million with this 10-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewDefinely, a London-based legal tech startup, has raised $7 million in Series A funding, the company said Wednesday. Founded in 2020 by former colleagues at a Magic Circle law firm, Definely is a subscription product that helps lawyers read, edit, and draft legal documents through a plug-in. Currently available through Microsoft Word, Definely uses artificial intelligence, including natural language processing, to make cross-referencing documents easier for legal professionals. Reading legal documents can be a lengthy and complex task with phrases and terminology often scattered between different sections of contracts.

Persons: —, Nnamdi Emelifeonwu, MacDaeid, Emelifeonwu, Definely Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Business, Octopus Ventures, Cornerstone VC, Zrosk Investment, Google, Atlantic Locations: London

☆ Exclusive: Biodiversity startup Dendra Systems has secured a $15.7 million Series B
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

British biodiversity startup Dendra Systems announced Wednesday it has raised a $15.76 million Series B, as investors continue to pour capital into climate tech. The $15.76 million Series B round was led by Zouk Capital, a London-based private equity firm that has previously backed climate-tech companies such as Green Hedge and Orb Energy. Dendra Systems previously raised $10 million Series A in 2020 from At One Ventures, Airbus Ventures, Future Positive Capital, Chris Sacca's Lowercarbon Capital, and others. Climate tech proved to be more resilient than other sectors in a cool market in 2023, with European climate tech startups bucking the trend in declining investment and raising a collective $20 billion. Dendra Systems is among the first batch of European climate startups to get VC backing.

Persons: Susan Graham, Graham, Chris Sacca's Organizations: Systems, Zouk, Orb Energy, Aramco Ventures, Airbus Ventures, Understorey, Business, Tech News, Dendra, One Ventures, Positive, Natural Capital Research Locations: London, Rio Tinto, North America

☆ This entrepreneur was actually the best-dressed person on the 2024 Met Gala red carpet
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe 2024 Met Gala came and went in a flash of glamorous red-carpet fashion. AdvertisementBut one of the best takes came from Mona Patel, a philanthropist and entrepreneur who made her Met Gala debut. Related storiesHer work in the fashion world led her to the 2024 Met Gala, where she arrived in a custom Iris van Herpen couture gown. AdvertisementMona Patel on the 2024 Met Gala red carpet. Mona Patel walks up the steps at the Met Gala 2024.

Persons: —, J.G . Ballard, Mona Patel, Patel, Iris van Herpen, Iris, Dimitrios Kambouris, Casey Curran, Cindy Ord, MG24, Roach, Law Roach, Zendaya's, he's, Chris Martin, Edgar Martin Organizations: Service, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vogue, Business, Haute Mona, Forbes, The Met Museum, Vogue India, Vogue Fashion, Zendaya's Locations: India, Mumbai

☆ How Shruti Gandhi, a solo venture capitalist with 15 exits in 5 years, went from underestimated to unstoppable
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Shruti Gandhi has a simple rule for meeting founders: She only takes the meeting if she wants to invest. Being the solo general partner of her firm, the early-stage outfit Array Ventures, also means she can get deals done quickly. Over the past five years, she's returned most of her maiden $7 million fund to limited partners at a net multiple of almost four. For founders, by foundersThe founders Gandhi has backed like working with her because of her technical chops and hands-on approach. We will back you if you raise a fund,'" Gandhi said.

Persons: Shruti Gandhi, Gandhi, Nikhil Teja Kolli, Kolli, she's, wasn't, Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Champ Bennett, Zimperium's Zuk Avraham, Mehul Nariyawala, Google —, Doktor Gurson, Gurson Organizations: Ventures, Business, PayPal, IBM, Columbia University, True Ventures, Samsung, Google, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Rad Locations: India, Poughkeepsie , New York, She's

☆ How former Slack and Twitter executive April Underwood used angel investing to create a career in venture capital
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Leena Rao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That entrepreneurial, technology-focused spirit has driven Underwood to an illustrious career at some of the industry's biggest companies, including Google, X, Slack, and Intel. As she built products at these tech giants, Underwood quietly invested in over 50 startups, including the genetics-testing unicorn Color and the cap-table giant Carta. Underwood began investing while at X, then called Twitter, where she was the company's director of product. Shortly after, #Angels was born, the investment collective cofounded by Underwood, Verrilli, Jana Messerschmidt, Chloe Sladden, Katie Stanton, and Vijaya Gadde. Since 2015, the group has backed over 100 startups, including Forward, Clubhouse, Instacart, Material Security, and Airtable.

Persons: Underwood, she'd, Slack, Jessica Verrilli, who'd, Stewart Butterfield, Cal Henderson, Ev Williams, Jack Dorsey, Verrilli, Jana Messerschmidt, Chloe Sladden, Katie Stanton, Vijaya Gadde, you've, I've, they've Organizations: Amarillo College, Business, Google, Intel, GV, Cue, Twitter, Health, Security, Slack Locations: Amarillo , Texas, Amarillo, Termina, San Francisco

☆ U.S. automakers like GM are rapidly losing ground in China, once an engine for growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

China was once a profit engine for GM, and its top sales market from 2010 to 2023. GM revealed several vehicles last week in China, including plug-in hybrid versions of its Buick GL8 minivan, a best-seller in China, and the Chevrolet Equinox crossover. "We think clearly that market has shifted and the landscape has shifted … with the capability of the Chinese [automakers]," Barra said. But it has had to aggressively cut prices to compete against Chinese automakers such ay BYD, Nio and others. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares earlier this year called Chinese automakers his company's "No.

Persons: Mary Barra, Jeff Kowalsky, we're, Barra, Paul Jacobson, GM wasn't, John Murphy, Michael Dunne, Dunne, Mark Fulthorpe, They'll, they've, Tesla, lockdowns, Elon Musk, Tingshu Wang, Reuters Tesla, Morgan Stanley, Adam Jonas, Musk, Junheng Li, Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Zhu Jiangming, We've, We're, Ford, John Lawler, Lawler Organizations: General Motors Co, Bloomberg, Getty, General, GM, U.S, Chevrolet, SAIC, GM Pan, Asia Automotive Technology Center, Nurphoto, PSA Groupe, Chrysler, EVs, GM's, Buick, Wuling Motors, Motors, Bank of America Securities, China, Hummer, Durant Guild, America's, Detroit, P Global Mobility, Ford Motor, Tesla, Reuters, EV, Baidu, Warren Capital, Ford, Guangzhou Automobile Group, India & Asia, Lincoln, Lincoln Nautilus Locations: Detroit , Michigan, China, Barra, Beijing, Asia, Shanghai, Russia, India, Thailand, Australia, North America, South Korea, Brazil, Europe, GM's U.S, Qingdao, East China's Shandong, Indonesia, U.S, Nio, Greater China, South America

☆ How Bloomberg Beta's James Cham finds the tech founders making a 'dent in the universe'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cham ended up writing one of the first checks to Weights & Biases after he was convinced Biewald fulfilled his lofty criteria for backing founders. "I am looking for people who are trying to make a dent in the universe," Cham said. Instead of asking founders how they plan to make that dent, Cham prefers to spend lots of time observing them to see what makes them tick. Cham began making his own dent in the world after majoring in computer science at Harvard and becoming a consultant at Accenture. "The reality that the money that we make goes towards Bloomberg Philanthropies is something founders oftentimes find appealing," Cham said.

Persons: James Cham, Lukas Biewald, Cham, Biewald, Jeff Lawson, It's, Bloomberg Philanthropies, who've, James, Shreya Rajpal, who's, Rajpal Organizations: Bloomberg Beta, Business, Harvard, Accenture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Bloomberg

☆ More Americans are feeling a six-figure salary can't afford them a middle-class lifestyle
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at people who feel like a middle-class salary doesn't equal a middle-class lifestyle . The big storyMiddle-class meltdownMichael Raines"Lately, I'm getting the feeling that I came in at the end. AdvertisementBusiness Insider's Jennifer Sor has a report on the people making over six figures who think the middle-class lifestyle they dreamed of isn't realistic for their salary . AdvertisementMarco Bottigelli/Getty, Yevgen Romanenko/Getty, Maskot/Getty, Tyler Le/BILet's address the elephant in the room: A six-figure salary is still a lot of money. Words like "AI Infrastructure" and "generative AI" point to more money heading to Nvidia for its popular H100 GPU chip.

Persons: —, Michael Raines, I'm, It's, Tony Soprano bemoaned, Jennifer Sor, Vincent, it's, Marco Bottigelli, Yevgen Romanenko, Tyler Le, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Warren Buffett, Buffett, Shruti Gandhi, Dalton Caldwell, James Cham, Hemant Taneja, Jenny Lefcourt, Nick Little, Sam Altman, Alice Zhang, Serena Williams, Jack Dorsey, Dorsey, — Dorsey, Bluesky, Alyssa Powell, Katie Notopoulos, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Grace Lett Organizations: Service, Business, Pew Research Center, nab, Adobe, Wall, Hamptons, Nvidia, Genomics, Serena Ventures, Fortune, Starbucks Locations: New York, Zillow, Santa Barbara , California, Berkshire, Bluesky, London, Chicago

☆ Issa Rae is launching a new company to connect brands with diverse creators, with Pepsi, Chili's, and more already on board
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Issa Rae is adding to her business ventures with a new company, Ensemble, to connect brands with diverse creators. The company seeks to attract ad spending by connecting brands with a network of 50 up-and-coming creators, including Leo Gonzalez, Mark Phillips, and Drew Afualo. Ensemble is separate from Rae's media and entertainment company, Hoorae Media, which was formed in 2020 out of Issa Rae Productions. In addition to Rae's TV and film production label, Hoorae encompasses a marketing arm, Fête; a management company, ColorCreative; and an audio division, Raedio. "We want Ensemble to be seen as a general market company," McKay said.

Persons: Issa Rae, Leo Gonzalez, Mark Phillips, Drew Afualo, It's, Issa Rae Productions, Sienna, Rae, Ian Schafer, Matt Berger, Keith Lee, Schafer, Garrett Manet Montrel McKay, McKay, We're, Dallas Turner, Popeyes, influencers, Montrel McKay, Bud Light, we're Organizations: Pepsi, Hoorae Media, Raedio, Sienna Naturals, Business, Ensemble, Hoorae, PQ Media

☆ Man Behind California Forever, Silicon Valley's City of the Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Hugh Langley | Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

He sees California Forever. And if he can't undo the damage, there may never be a California Forever. California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. But here's the thing: California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. Places like California Forever aren't being opposed by the people who are desperate for a place to live.

Persons: Jan Sramek's, Goldman Sachs, Sramek, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen —, They've, Christie Hemm, Peter Thiel, Jan Sramek, Jan, Thiel, Goldman, CheatSheet, Sramek's, hadn't, Jonas Rave, who's, —, Guy Saidenberg, Evernote, Marc Andreessen, Jane Jacobs, He's, he'd, Robert Moses, growth.y Christie Hemm, Flannery, Bronson Johnson, David George, Andreessen Horowitz, Marilyn Farley, Farley, Solano County's, Kathleen Threlfall, Bill Mortimore, California Forever's, Jessica Christian, he's, Lyle Lanley, Solano, Sam Houston, weren't, Gabriel Metcalf, You've, John Garamendi, Garamendi, isn't, they'll, latte, Christie, Travis, I've, aren't, They're Organizations: Silicon, California, BI Development, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, Party, Rising Star, Facebook, York, Sramek's, BI Sramek, Google, American, Planners, Sacramento -, Travis Air Force Base, Area, titans, Farmers, councilwoman, California Forever, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Air Force, Flannery Associates, Disney, San Francisco, Vallejo Naval, Historical Museum, Rep, BI, Solano, Sierra, Goldman Locations: San Francisco, It's, Sramek, California, Rio Vista, Solano County, Napa, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, America, London, Zurich, England, Czech Republic, Dřevohostice, York, British, Eastern Europe, Cambridge, Bay Area, Hayes Valley, America's cutest, Atlanta, Phoenix, Copenhagen, Barcelona, New York, Sacramento - San Joaquin, San Francisco Bay, Lake Tahoe, Toledo , Ohio, Silicon, Google's, Toronto, Big Tech, China, Calif, Springfield, Vallejo, He's, Atherton, Foreverville, Fairfield, Austin, Solano, Valley, Europe

☆ China's automakers must adapt quickly or lose out on the EV boom in the face of regulatory scrutiny abroad and competition at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The automaker is the joint venture partner of Honda and Toyota in China, and has an electric car brand called Aion. Expanding outside ChinaLike other automakers in China, GAC is also turning overseas. China's overseas car sales surged last year, putting the country on par with Japan as the world's largest exporter of cars. Dyer expects that to drive overseas demand for Chinese electric cars. Chinese consumers placed almost twice as much importance on tech features compared with U.S. consumers, Dyer said, citing AlixPartners' survey.

Persons: Evelyn Cheng, Tesla, Feng Xingya, Feng, Wei Haigang, Wei, Stephen Dyer AlixPartners, There's, Stephen Dyer, AlixPartners, Dyer, BYD, Nio, CATL, Zhong Shi Organizations: CNBC, GAC, Labor, Huawei, Honda, Toyota, China Passenger Car Association, EU, U.S, Factories, Greater China Business U.S, Ministry of Commerce, Tech, Volkswagen, SAIC Motor, Battery, China Automobile Dealers Association, Automotive, Robotics, Lotus Technology, Geely Locations: Beijing, Evelyn Cheng BEIJING, China, East, Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Amsterdam, Greater China, Asia, U.S, Europe

☆ Richard Branson shares the simple mindset that's key to his success: 'I don't ever think of myself as a businessperson'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Richard Branson doesn't think of himself as a businessman — and he believes that helped him build Virgin Group into what it is today. "I don't ever think of myself as a businessperson, or even really an entrepreneur," Branson tells CNBC Make It. "I just see myself as somebody that loves to create things that I can be proud of." "There's many things that we've done that we wouldn't have done if we'd listened to accountants," says Branson. Perhaps ironically, the strategy has proved lucrative for Branson, whose current net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Persons: Richard Branson doesn't, —, Branson, we'd Organizations: Virgin Group, CNBC, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, Branson, Forbes Locations: Branson

☆ Duane Eddy: Groundbreaking American guitarist dies age 86
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Cannonball,” has died at the age of 86, it has been reported. “Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakeable signature ‘Twang’ sound. Duane Eddy was one of my most important influences. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Duane Eddy. As a legendary guitarist, he inspired generations with his pioneering twangy sound and musical innovations,” reads the post.

Persons: Duane Eddy, ”, Eddy, “ Duane, “ Peter Gunn ”, They’re Young, Terry Wyatt, “ Forrest Gump ”, Kyle Young, don’t, Duane, Young, George Harrison, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Marty Stuart, ” Eddy, Mark Humphrey, Dave Davies, “ Organizations: CNN, Variety, Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, Central Press, Hulton, Country Music Hall of Fame, Ventures, US, Gretsch Locations: Corning , New York, Nashville , Tennessee

☆ Disney just named 2 new top execs to advise on strategy and M&A as it considers its future: Read the memo
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Disney has appointed two senior executives to oversee corporate strategy as it considers the future of its linear business and contends with streaming losses. Veteran Disney exec Justin Warbrooke, meanwhile, was named EVP and head of corporate development, overseeing M&A as well as divestitures, among other areas. Mayer was Disney's EVP of corporate strategy and business development before going on to run strategy and the DTC and international businesses. As such, we are evolving the Corporate Strategy function to better align with this vision, which includes two leadership roles — one focused on Corporate Strategy and another focused on Corporate Development — both reporting directly to me. In addition to strategy, Andre has advised clients on the topics of operations, organization, customer journey design, and M&A.

Persons: Disney, Nelson Peltz, It's, Bob Iger, Bain, Andre James, Justin Warbrooke, James, Marvel, Hugh Johnston, Kevin Mayer, Mayer, Iger, Tom Staggs, —, Andre, Justin, Hugh Organizations: ESPN, Business, Veteran Disney, Coopers, Lybrand's, DTC, Century Fox, Disney, Media, Walt Disney Company, Corporate, Strategy, Development, of Media, Entertainment, Bain & Company, Consumer, Marvel, Reliance, Fox, Warner Bros . Discovery, Finance Locations: Hulu, India

☆ AI is ushering edtech into a new era. Three investors share what they're most excited about in the space.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Samantha Stokes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The past few years have been tough for edtech companies. In recent months, multiple edtech startups have raised fresh funding rounds while specifically touting AI as a core part of their business model. These deals could signal that AI is ushering in a new era for edtech companies, and VCs who invest in the space are excited about the renaissance. And Ednition, also one of Donnelly's portfolio companies, provides an infrastructure-as-a-service platform for other edtech companies to improve the data that goes into their AI models. That's why it's so important to invest in ed-tech AI startups that help people rethink how they interact with technology and learn new skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce, he said.

Persons: PitchBook, VCs, Brian Dixon, Dixon, we've, Numerade, Kapoor, Katelyn Donnelly, she's, I've, you'll, Donnelly, Avalance, OpenAI, we're, ChatGPT, Ryan Craig, Craig, edtech Organizations: Business, Labs, Kapor, Partners, Chingona Ventures, TechCrunch, Kapoor Capital, Lirvana Labs, Odyssey Education, University Ventures, ACT Locations: VCs, edtech

☆ Exclusive: 11x, a London-based AI startup that builds automated digital workers, is raising money from US fund Benchmark
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Callum Burroughs | Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

11x, a London-based AI startup that creates automated digital workers, has raised funding from US investing giant Benchmark Capital. The company aims to provide businesses with "digital AI workers" that can complete repetitive and mundane tasks to free up employees to focus on other things. The startup has raised a Series A round of funding, led by US fund Benchmark, four sources familiar with the discussions told Business Insider. Related stories11x's deal was led by Benchmark general partner Sarah Tavel, who will join the startup's board. The startup created a digital sales worker named Alice and plans to release several other digital workers in the future.

Persons: Hasan Sukkar, Sarah Tavel, Uber, Alice, Slack Organizations: Benchmark, Business, US, Bessemer Venture Partners, Twitter, Benchmark Capital, Google, Project A, Ventures, Tiny Ventures, LinkedIn Locations: London, Syrian, Europe, Syria

☆ After Meta’s ‘year of efficiency,’ industry leaders root for year of innovation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Rachel Curry | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

With many companies maintaining the "efficiency" mindset, and hiring for tech jobs remaining low, according to the iCIMS Insights April 2024 Workforce Report, innovation is at risk. Madan says companies tend to act based on fear of missing out, but this behavior can stall technological innovation. This process can be messy, which is why experts say any conversation centered around efficiency must also include innovation. Digital transformation is a core pillar of business strategy for 84% of technology and business leaders, according to the TEKsystems report. On the innovation front, he added, "The best organizations are the ones that synthesize human input with AI collaboration."

Persons: It's, Mark Zuckerberg, Ricardo Madan, they've, Zuckerberg, Madan, Chris Duffey, Duffey, Duffy Organizations: Meta, IBM, Tech, Adobe, Google, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Menlo Park, Meta, California, TEKsystems, U.S

☆ How to start a lucrative side hustle, from 4 people who've done it: ‘You can be more successful than you think’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"I think you can be successful with more side hustles than you think," Cody Berman, who co-runs online printables course Gold City Ventures, told CNBC Make It in January. In seventh grade, she started selling leggings for teen girls who couldn't afford larger, trendy brands. Bella Lin, 17, started a side hustle to give her guinea pigs more quality of life. Your ability to stay up-to-date on industry trends and audience demographics can affect your earnings over time, Etsy seller Tim Riegel told Make It last year. Riegel started his side hustle — making and selling steel fire pits — in 2021.

Persons: Cody Berman, Bella Lin —, Bella Lin, Lin, you've, Tim Riegel, Riegel, Becky Powell, Powell, Becky Powell's, —, Morgan Eckroth Organizations: Gold City Ventures, CNBC, Onyx Labs, YouTube, Barista Locations: Gold, Beaverton , Oregon, Portland , Oregon, U.S

☆ Richard Branson says this decision helped build his $2.5B net worth: 'I don't think I would have gone to space' otherwise
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

He's referring to selling record label Virgin Records to Thorn EMI for nearly $1 billion in 1992. Branson needed the money to focus on a newer venture, Virgin Atlantic. CNBC Make It: How did you make the decision to sell Virgin Records? What I decided was: If I sold Virgin Records, all the people's jobs would be secure. I could then use that money to build and protect Virgin Atlantic.

Persons: Richard Branson, He's, —, Branson, Richard, Virgin, We'd, Janet Jackson Organizations: CNBC, Virgin Records, Thorn EMI, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Virgin Group, Forbes, Virgin Locations: London, Branson

☆ A tax compliance startup raised millions. Then it abruptly shut down, and the founder cut off contact.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Even the human-resources firm retained to help employees with offboarding, Tandem, quit soon after the layoffs because it never got paid. Shannon Flynn Bevers, Tandem's president and founder, said that she tried to help employees but that Johnson stopped responding. "When startups go out of business, they will pay employees their final paycheck. Johnson told employees to take a weeklong furlough and blamed the issue on a technical snafu. She also told employees they could file a claim with their state labor department or hire an employment lawyer.

Persons: Slack, Shiloh Johnson, Johnson, they'd, Benjamin Matthews, Shannon Flynn Bevers, I've, Flynn Bevers, VCs, Josh Felser, Aerin Paulo, ComplYant's, I'd, ComplYant, podcaster David Sacks, Michael Tam, Tam, Matthews, Ryan Cady, Lusely Martinez, Martinez, Cady, paychecks, wasn't, Taliah McGuire, McGuire, what's, Shiloh Luckey, Penelope, We've Organizations: Business, offboarding, . Venture, BI, Craft Ventures, ComplYant, Mucker, Slauson, — Mucker, Fika Ventures, Employees Locations: Los Angeles, Shiloh, San Francisco, Colorado, New York, TikTok

☆ In a Communist Stronghold, Capitalists Become an Economic Lifeline
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( David C. Adams | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A modern grocery store whose shelves are packed with everything from pasta to wine fills a spot in central Havana once occupied by a drab state-owned flower shop, its ceilings and walls repaired and repainted. A former state glass company in a Havana suburb now houses a showroom for a private business selling Cuban-made furniture. And at the Cuban capital’s port, forklifts carefully unload American eggs from a refrigerated container. The eggs are bound for an online private supermarket that, much like Amazon Fresh, provides home delivery. These ventures are part of an explosion of thousands of private businesses that have opened in recent years across Cuba, a remarkable shift in a country where such enterprises have not been permitted and where Fidel Castro rose to power leading a communist revolution determined to eliminate capitalist notions like private ownership.

Persons: Fidel Castro Locations: Havana, Cuban, Cuba

☆ A VC and former student-athlete who played with Aaron Rodgers breaks down 7 big opportunities in the burgeoning NIL startup scene
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Tiara White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Today, the venture capitalist is looking to invest in startups in the name, image, and likeness space transforming college sports. NIL, as it's called for short, has become big business since 2021, when student-athletes gained the right to make money from it. Some college athletes are making millions from brand and sponsorship deals, and a cottage industry has cropped up to support the rapidly changing industry. He and his partners also raised $25 million in 2021 for a venture-capital firm, Fiat Ventures, which invests in early-stage companies in the fintech space, per its website. After months of researching and talking to startups, Glover broke down the seven biggest opportunities he sees in the NIL industry:

Persons: Drew Glover, Aaron Rodgers, Cameron Jordan, Marshawn Lynch, Glover, couldn't, Jonathan Ferrey, Vint, he's, He's Organizations: University of California, Business, California, Fiat Growth, Fiat Ventures, LinkedIn Locations: Berkeley, Berkeley , California

☆ Facebook cofounder accuses Tesla of being the next 'Enron'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA Facebook cofounder's attacks against Tesla continues, and it comes with one of his boldest allegations against the company to date: Tesla is the next Enron. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 26, 2024Moskovitz had not yet addressed Musk's posts on Friday. On Wednesday, the Facebook cofounder acknowledged the gravity of his comments in his social media post. Moskovitz also has long been skeptical of Elon Musk and his ventures. "I call on Elon Musk to resign," Moskovitz said on Threads last year, adding that he should resign "(from everything)."

Persons: —, Tesla, Dustin Moskovitz, Asana, Elon Musk, Musk, Dustin Moskowitz, — Elon, Moskovitz Organizations: Service, Business, Tesla, Enron, Traffic Safety Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bloomberg, Justice Department, SpaceX, Elon

☆ Kasa Living, which partners with KKR and TPG, wants to become the Amazon of hospitality. See the 33-page slideshow it used to raise $70 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kasa Living has made a habit of raising funds at some of the hardest times for the hospitality and proptech industries. Kasa Living CEO and founder Roman Pedan points to the shares of Marriott and Hilton, which are up over the last five years, as an indication of what Kasa could be. Kasa Living is now working with some investment firms to help locate and buy buildings that Kasa Living will operate, a model known as OpCo/PropCo. Instead of having to hire someone to handle bookings and finances for each property, Kasa Living handles it all centrally, "removing that fixed cost." Some financial information has been redacted from the deck by Kasa Living.

Persons: Roman Pedan, Kasa, Pedan, Pendan Organizations: Marriott, Hilton, KKR, Sonder, TPG, Amazon Web, Citi Ventures, FirstMark, New York Life Ventures, Fireside Investments, RET, Zigg, Ribbit, EBay, Kasa Locations: Brookfield

Search resuls for: "Ventures"

25 mentions found