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☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Beyond Meat, Live Nation, Yeti, Boeing and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Live Nation — The ticker seller fell 9%, despite reporting fourth-quarter revenue of $4.29 billion, up about 60% year over year and topping StreetAccount's estimate of $3.6 billion. EOG Resources — The energy company dropped 5.1% after reporting fourth-quarter earnings, excluding items, that were short of analysts' expectations, according to StreetAccount. Etsy — Etsy slipped 4.8%, a day after gaining more than 2% on its fourth-quarter earnings beat. The company also offered cautious guidance for its first quarter, anticipating $2.95 billion to $3.15 billion in gross merchandise revenue. However, Autodesk beat fourth-quarter expectations on the top and bottom lines, according to Refinitiv.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the stock market Friday: Hot inflation — bond yields up and stocks down
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. ET: Jim and Jeff discuss the Club portfolio (Part 1)12:15--1:30 p.m. ET: Jim and Jeff discuss the portfolio (Part 2)2:15-2:45 p.m.

☆ Adobe’s lose-lose Figma bind
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Adobe’s (ADBE.O) $20 billion Figma deal is too expensive, and yet boss Shantanu Narayen is punished for losing it. Adobe’s shares tumbled over 7% on Friday after Bloomberg reported the previous night that U.S. antitrust enforcers might block it. That conflicts with the initial reaction to the cash-and-stock deal, when shares crashed 16% on announcement in September. Startups like Figma and peer Canva leapfrogged Adobe in tools allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously. That’s why losing Figma also hurts: The deal is an expensive bridge to a new future.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Beyond Meat, Sweetgreen, Adobe, Block and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The meat-alternative company reported a loss per share of $1.05, lower than the expected $1.18, according to Refinitiv. Sweetgreen — Shares of the salad chain shed about 10% after Sweetgreen issued weaker-than-expected revenue guidance for the first quarter and full year, according to Refinitiv. Fourth-quarter revenue also fell short. MercadoLibre — MercadoLibre jumped 5% after the South American e-commerce firm reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3.25 per share on revenue of $3 billion. EOG Resources — EOG Resources slid 3.6% after the energy company reported fourth-quarter earnings, excluding items, that were short of analysts' expectations, according to FactSet.

Feb 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is preparing an antitrust lawsuit to block software maker Adobe Inc's (ADBE.O) $20 billion bid for cloud-based designer platform Figma, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Responding to the report, Adobe said it and Figma were in different product areas, with Figma focusing on interactive designs. The Justice Department declined comment. Adobe shares edged lower in trading post-market trading after the story came out. Adobe, which makes Photoshop, said in September it would buy Figma, with investors concerned about the hefty price tag.

☆ Adobe slips on report saying DOJ plans suit to block $20 billion Figma deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Adobe has said Figma would generate over $400 million in annualized recurring revenue in 2022. Figma is a leader in interactive product design, focused on building a collaborative web platform. David Wadhwani, president of Adobe's digital media business and a key figure in the Figma deal, told analysts on a conference call in December that "the regulatory process is proceeding as expected." Adobe was busy with the Justice Department's second request process as the federal agency examined the deal, he said. Adobe still expects to close the Figma deal in 2023, the spokesperson said.

☆ Investor Brianne Kimmel is doubling down on AI with a new bootcamp and $20 million pledge to back hot, new startups in the space
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | April Joyner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Worklife Ventures founder Brianne Kimmel is launching a bootcamp for AI startups. Her firm has pledged $20 million to invest in those AI companies that complete the bootcamp. As part of the AI bootcamp, her firm is committing $20 million to invest into companies that complete the program. "I grew up in northeast Ohio, and a lot of friends from my high school are using this technology," Kimmel said. Formerly a grant program, AI Grant now makes $250,000 investments in AI companies.

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Adobe Inc (ADBE.O) will need to secure European Union antitrust approval for its $20 billion bid for cloud-based designer platform Figma even though the deal falls short of the EU turnover threshold for a review, EU regulators said on Wednesday. The move by the European Commission underlines regulators' worries on Big Tech acquiring smaller innovative rivals and the impact on competition. Photoshop maker Adobe had originally sought approval from antitrust agencies in Austria and Germany for the deal. Austria subsequently referred the case to the Commission, prompting the other EU countries to join in. "We look forward to working constructively with the European Commission to address its questions and bring the review to a timely close," a spokesperson for San Francisco, California-based Figma said.

☆ As Deal Making Picks Up, Tech Chiefs Worry About Software Integration
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

That is a potentially costly process that can require overhauling existing enterprise tech stacks, or even hiring high-priced experts to manage new IT tools, analysts said. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS How can tech executives smooth the integration of new digital tools when their vendors make acquisitions? Hewlett Packard Enterprise this month said it acquired Pachyderm and would integrate new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. HPE this month said it acquired Pachyderm, a San Francisco-based software startup, and would integrate the new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. “Our existing customer base will want to know they won’t be forced to replace an existing technology they already buy,” Mr. Hotard said.

☆ Tech Chiefs Fear ‘Frankenstein’ Software Integrations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Microsoft Corp. this month said it plans to incorporate AI into all of its enterprise software, while boosting its multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI, the startup behind chatbot ChatGPT. That is a potentially costly process that can require overhauling existing enterprise tech stacks, or even hiring high-priced experts to manage new IT tools, analysts said. Hewlett Packard Enterprise this month said it acquired Pachyderm and would integrate new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. HPE this month said it acquired Pachyderm, a San Francisco-based software startup, and would integrate the new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. “Our existing customer base will want to know they won’t be forced to replace an existing technology they already buy,” Mr. Hotard said.

☆ This startup is helping brands like Dior and Lacoste build virtual stores. Check out the 11-slide pitch deck Emperia used to raise $10 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based Emperia has raised $10 million in Series A funding for its virtual retail platform. A startup that has created a virtual platform for immersive retail experiences has just raised $10 million from Base10 Partners. Its virtual store SaaS platform is deployed to companies, who can use customers to better enhance the retail experience. Emperia works with brands such as luxury fashion house Dior, clothing company Lacoste, and luxury department store chain Bloomingdale's. She added that Emperia's aim is to "make virtual experiences the future of brands' long-term e-commerce strategy."

☆ This a16z-backed startup wants to make it easier for designers to create interactive, animated graphics. Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck Rive used to raise $10 million from Two Sigma Ventur
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rive offers designers and developers a tool to create animated, interactive graphics. Brothers Guido and Luigi Rosso cofounded the graphic design startup in 2016. Currently, design processes are inefficient, with engineers forced to rebuild mockups that designers create in tools like Figma, Guido Rosso told Insider. To that point, Rive also offers open-source libraries to load and run Rive graphics across a variety of destinations, including apps, games, and websites. Here's an exclusive look at the 10-slide pitch deck Rive used to raise $10 million in Series A funding from Two Sigma Ventures:

☆ Value investor Bill Nygren says he sold some energy for new buys, including Adobe and an auto name
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Last year's losing market created a new host of buying opportunities for long-term value investors across different sectors, Oakmark Funds' Bill Nygren said Thursday. In the energy sector, Oakmark opted to keep positions in APA , Conocophilips and Dominion Energy , which have more non-earning assets, Nygren said. The portfolio manager then used the cash to buy Canadian auto parts manufacturer Magna International . It is a single-digit price-to-earnings stock that fell to around $60 from $100 at its high, Nygren said. MGA 1Y mountain Magna International "We think they're under earning today because of supply chain problems," Nygren said.

☆ Microsoft looked at buying Figma but declined to put in an offer as Adobe deal was nearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dylan Field, co-founder and CEO of Figma, speaks at the startup's Config conference in San Francisco on May 10, 2022. As Figma was in talks about an acquisition with Adobe last year, the design software startup's CEO, Dylan Field, approached another public company to gauge potential interest, according to a regulatory filing. That company was Microsoft , CNBC confirmed with a person familiar with the matter. Adobe ultimately agreed to buy Figma in September for $20 billion, the software company's biggest purchase ever. Prior to the Adobe deal, CNBC reported on Figma's growing popularity inside Microsoft.

☆ Leaders who want longevity in their role need to love what they do and 'have other passions,' Adobe CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen told the WSJ that leaders who don't love what they do can't do their jobs. Narayen has been Adobe's CEO for 15 years, a longer tenure than that of most tech leaders. Narayen, who has been Adobe CEO since 2007, gave his advice to other leaders looking for long tenures. He added that he has "no idea" what he would do if he wasn't Adobe CEO. "I'm probably not as out there as other CEOs," Narayen told Insider.

☆ 6 top M&A bankers lay out their dealmaking playbook for 2023 — from getting around a sagging bond market to dealing with skeptical shareholders
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"We're certainly telling clients to plan for longer timelines between signing an announcement and when a transaction closes," RBC's Sperduto said. Bankers noted the figure was on pace with the average amount of deals done in the five years preceding the pandemic. "There is still significant desire from both corporates and financial sponsors to transact," Gary Posternack, co-head of global M&A at Barclays, told Insider. But in 2023, bankers see more transactions receiving greater scrutiny from stakeholders. Vito Sperduto, the co-head of global M&A at RBC Capital Markets.

☆ Coursera offers split-screen tutorials to gain new skills in a few hours. Despite some glitches, I learned the basics of Figma really fast.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Gareen Puglia | Story Production Fellow | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I tried out the Coursera Project Network to gain basic Figma skills. Compared to the other Coursera course I took, the time commitment differed from six weeks to a few hours. You can also think of the difference between the Coursera Project Network and other Coursera courses as the difference between reading a chapter versus the whole book. Gareen Puglia/CourseraAre Coursera Project Network courses free? Not all Coursera Project Network courses are free.

☆ VCs say hybrid work, generative AI, and niche collaboration tools will be some of the top future-of-work trends that dominate 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider talked to VCs about the rising trends they say will revolutionize the way we work and live. Insider spoke with 15 venture capitalists about the trends and verticals they think are most likely to revolutionize the way we work and live today. Therefore, startups that will thrive going forward are those that embrace a mix of in-person and remote work, known as hybrid work, Thacker and other VCs said. An increase in workers caregiving for aging or sick family members is also supported by flexible work, the CRV general partner Kristin Baker Spohn said. "A lot of employees, whether it's the Great Resignation or the pandemic, found themselves changing the way that they work."

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Meta, Maxar Technologies, Ford, Goldman Sachs and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs — Goldman Sachs shares slumped 1% amid news that the Wall Street firm will cut up to 8% of its workforce. The layoffs are slated to come in January and hit all areas of the Wall Street firm, CNBC reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Wall Street firm cited recent underperformance in net adds as well as growing macro headwinds to advertising revenues. Lincoln National — Shares dropped more than 4% after Lincoln National was downgraded to underperform from hold at Jefferies, according to StreetAccount. JD.com and Alibaba shares rose more than 1% .

☆ Adobe stock climbs on a more profitable quarter than predicted
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Here's how the company did:Earnings: $3.60 per share, adjusted, vs. $3.50 per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. $3.60 per share, adjusted, vs. $3.50 per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. Revenue: $4.53 billion, vs. $4.53 billion as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. In the previous quarter revenue rose by 13%. In the quarter Adobe said it would buy design software startup Figma for about $20 billion in the 40-year-old public company's largest transaction to date.

☆ This biotech startup helps scientists design proteins using AI. Check out the 16-slide deck Cradle used to raise $5.4 million in seed funding.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biotech startup Cradle just raised $5.4 million from Index Ventures and Kindred Capital. Check out the 16-slide deck Cradle used to raise the fresh funds. Inside that factory are proteins, which behave like machines," said cofounder Stef van Grieken. Amid a shaky economic downturn, van Grieken found that having a strong founding team — including Uber's first employee and a host of experienced biologists — helped with the fundraise. Investor appetite for generative AI and biotech has also remained stable, which was a boon, van Grieken added.

☆ Early Figma and Revolut-backer Index Ventures just launched a $300 million fund to back pre-seed and seed stage startups
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

San Francisco and London-based VC firm Index Ventures has launched a $300 million seed fund. San Francisco and London-based VC firm Index Ventures has launched a new $300 million fund that will invest in pre-seed and seed-stage startups globally. Amid the global downturn that's shaken the tech industry, it's been "business as usual" for Index Ventures, Hammer said. The hope is that the seed fund will systematize the firm's efforts toward early-stage startups and entrepreneurs. "It was so tempting two years ago to back these growth rounds — but we launched Origin I, because we operated intuitively."

☆ Check out the pitch document martech startup Primer used to raise $12 million from Elon Musk's top advisor, Salesforce Ventures, and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Elizabeth Pham Janowski | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marketing tech startup Primer wants to help business-to-business marketers make sense of fragmented data sources. The company just raised a $12 million Series A round, led by Craft Ventures. Primer's tools allow marketers to apply filters across all these datasets to search for more targeted audiences. With Primer's tools, companies are able to hone in on hyper-specific audiences — like women founders with stores on Shopify, or brand managers who work in the media industry. Scroll down for key slides from the Notion document that Primer used to raise its funds.

☆ Index Ventures picks Israeli partner to boost high tech investment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TEL AVIV, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Index Ventures has appointed a local partner to help significantly boost its already sizeable investments in Israel's technology sector, officials from the U.S. and European venture capital firm said. Index, which mainly invests in seed and so-called Series A funding rounds has named Juriaan Duizendstraal as a Partner based in Tel Aviv. In the past 26 years, Index has invested $350 million in 27 Israeli companies and firms with an Israeli founder but has not had a local presence. Among the Israeli companies Index has invested in are Wiz, Slack, Figma, Datadog, Discord, Robinhood, Adyen, Elastic, Plaid, Roblox and Scale. Those conversations are difficult if you are in New York or London," said Carlos Gonzalez-Cadenas, another Index partner based in London.

☆ Canva: 2022 Top Startups for the Enterprise
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Canva helps people create presentations, videos and other designs, competing against Adobe , Microsoft and other graphic-design software firms. The company lures in subscribers with free trials for 30 days, and aims to convert them to a premium or Pro level for $12.99 monthly. Currently, Canva counts millions of Pro customers and over 100 million active monthly users. It also added an enterprise level two years ago that has attracted major customers, including Marriott, PayPal, Salesforce, American Airlines and Zoom. The 2022 Top Startups for the Enterprise list is powered and inspired by the members of CNBC's Technology Executive Council (TEC).

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