Others

Fitness tracker Whoop faces unhappy customers over upgrade policy

May 11, 2025
Whoop has backed down, somewhat, from the controversial upgrade plans around its Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker. When the company first announced Whoop 5.0 this week, it said members who wanted the new device could either extend their subscriptions by 12 months or pay a one-time upgrade fee of $49 ($79 for the model with EKG […]

Microsoft and OpenAI may be renegotiating their partnership

May 11, 2025
OpenAI is currently in “a tough negotiation” with its biggest investor and partner, Microsoft, according to the Financial Times. The AI startup recently announced a major change to its corporate restructuring plans — while it still aims to convert its business arm into a for-profit public benefit corporation, its nonprofit board will still be in […]

The Backbone Pro controller makes mobile gaming worth the hassle

May 11, 2025
The mobile controller company Backbone unveiled its Backbone Pro controller this week, which brings iOS and Android gaming experiences to the next level. A successor to the Backbone One controller, the Pro features full-size joysticks, re-mappable buttons, and Bluetooth compatibility, making for a more premium gaming setup. Unlike its predecessor, the Backbone Pro doesn’t need […]

Amazon offers peek at new human jobs in an AI bot world

May 11, 2025
The tech industry seems to have two thoughts when it comes to where human workers fit into the AI-powered world they are creating: Either they think that all the jobs, except perhaps their own, will be done by bots. (VC Marc Andreessen seems to think that his work as an investor could never be automated).  […]

The Greek revival you’re not watching (but probably should be)

May 11, 2025
Much of the world isn’t paying close attention to Greece right now. That may be a mistake. Best known for its stunning islands, sun-soaked cities, and deep historical roots, Greece has been quietly laying the foundation for something far less expected: a modern, resilient tech economy. While the international spotlight often misses it, something real […]

Egypt’s Nawy, the largest proptech in Africa, lands a $52M Series A to take on MENA

May 11, 2025
For decades, buying property in Egypt meant navigating a fragmented real estate market, relying on personal networks, dealing with commission-driven brokers, and facing developers more focused on selling than serving customer needs. In 2019, Mostafa El Beltagy, Abdel-Azim Osman, Ahmed Rafea, Mohamed Abou Ghanima, and Aly Rafea founded Nawy to bring transparency and efficiency to […]

Elizabeth Holmes’ partner reportedly fundraising for new blood-testing startup

May 10, 2025
Billy Evans, partner of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is working on a new startup that seeks to deliver “human health optimization” through blood testing, according to The New York Times. The Times reportedly spoke to two investors pitched on the startup, called Haemanthus, and also viewed some of Haemanthus’ marketing materials. In those materials, the […]