Technology

In a more conservative venture capital market, will big tech step up?

May 17, 2023

Hello, and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we usually focus on one person — but today, we’re talking to two people! — think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Alex […]

In a more conservative venture capital market, will big tech step up? by Alex Wilhelm originally published on TechCrunch

Time’s up for Elizabeth Holmes

May 17, 2023

After years of high-profile court proceedings, Elizabeth Holmes could actually be headed to prison. For real this time. The former Theranos founder and CEO was found guilty of defrauding investors last January, but has consistently delayed and appealed her sentencing to remain out of incarceration. Though the infamous biotech entrepreneur is still appealing her 11-year […]

Time’s up for Elizabeth Holmes by Amanda Silberling originally published on TechCrunch

The Download: unlocking Chinese social accounts, and AI voice analysis

May 17, 2023
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Inside Tencent’s weirdly secretive customer service center —Zeyi Yang When I recently visited China, for the first time since the pandemic, I traveled to Shenzhen in a bid to unlock my 15-year old…

Insurtech bolttech gets $196M at $1.6B valuation from investors like MetLife

May 17, 2023

Embedded insurtech is still hot, as the $196 million in funding landed by bolttech proves. The company, which started in Singapore but now has operations around the world, said it is now valued at $1.6 billion. The funding was led by Tokio Marine, Japan’s first insurance company, and life insurance leader MetLife through its subsidiary […]

Insurtech bolttech gets $196M at $1.6B valuation from investors like MetLife by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch

France’s privacy watchdog eyes protection against data-scraping in AI action plan

May 17, 2023

France’s privacy watchdog, the CNIL, has published an action plan for artificial intelligence which gives a snapshot of where it will be focusing its attention, including on generative AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in the coming months and beyond. A dedicated Artificial Intelligence Service has been set up within the CNIL to work on scoping […]

France’s privacy watchdog eyes protection against data-scraping in AI action plan by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

Inside Tencent’s weirdly secretive customer service center

May 17, 2023
China Report is MIT Technology Review’s newsletter about technology developments in China. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Tuesday. It’s been a while. I just got back from several weeks in China. It was my first visit since the pandemic, and I noticed some changes: half the cars running on the streets of Shanghai…

Eagle Eye Networks and Brivo raise $192M in a joint round to boost cloud security business

May 17, 2023

Eagle Eye Networks and Brivo, two players in the world of physical cloud security — respectively video surveillance and access control systems to secure buildings and other physical spaces — are doubling down on their businesses… quite literally. The pair of U.S. companies — majority owned by the same individual, security entrepreneur Dean Drako — […]

Eagle Eye Networks and Brivo raise $192M in a joint round to boost cloud security business by Ingrid Lunden originally published on TechCrunch

Tiger Global-backed Axis launches digital payments platform for Egyptian SMEs months after its $8.25M seed 

May 17, 2023

Egyptian fintech Axis has launched its digital payments platform to the North African market after securing a license from the apex bank, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), for its open-loop mobile wallet, axisPay, which offers a digital banking alternative for small businesses and their employees.  This is coming almost 18 months after the startup received […]

Tiger Global-backed Axis launches digital payments platform for Egyptian SMEs months after its $8.25M seed  by Tage Kene-Okafor originally published on TechCrunch

Wefox secures new funding at $4.5 billion valuation as it aims for profitability

May 17, 2023

Wefox, the German insurtech startup, has closed a new funding round from existing investors. The funding amount isn’t going to impress anyone as the company managed to secure $55 million. This could be considered as an extension of the $400 million Series D round as Wefox managed to maintain the same valuation of $4.5 billion. […]

Wefox secures new funding at $4.5 billion valuation as it aims for profitability by Romain Dillet originally published on TechCrunch