Slack eyes IPO in 2019 as SEC sues Musk over Tesla tweets
SEC sues Musk over Tesla tweets
U.S. securities regulators filed a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk of making false and misleading statements about plans to take Tesla private. The SEC also wants to bar Musk from serving as officer or director of a public company.
Slack eyes IPO in 2019
After a storied run as a private company, Slack reportedly intends to go public in the first six months of next year. It’s unclear yet whether the enterprise messaging platform will stick with its recent valulation of $7.1 billion or aim for something higher.
These corporate VCs were most active in 2018
Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, and Intel top the list as the most prolific corporate venture investors so far this year, based on deal counts. A list of well-known, large cap tech companies round out the rest of the top investor list.
Bots to replace workers drive big valuations
Venture and growth investors are spending heavily to speed up the rise of worker-bots. So far this year, they’ve poured hundreds of millions into developers of robotic process automation technology, software used for performing a series of tasks previously carried out by humans.
Startups plot future of fertility tracking
Startups in the fertility space are looking to provide monitoring and data to improve the chances of conception. Crunchbase News takes a look at two: Ava, developer of a wearable to track indicators of ovulation, and Mira, which offers a palm-sized hormone tracking device.
Budget hotelier OYO raising $1B
Indian budget hotel startup OYO is raising $1 billion from existing investors, including Softbank, to grow its domestic and China businesses, as well as expand into other international markets. The fundraise comes at a reported valuation of around $5 billion.
Instagram founders quit Facebook
Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger are leaving parent company Facebook after eight years, saying they plan to take time off to explore and embark on their next chapter. The decision follows perceived moves by Facebook to curtail Instagram’s independence as an operating unit.
Big Auto races to keep pace with surging startups
There was a time when the most valuable players in automotive transport made lots of automobiles. No more. Today, only a handful of the largest global auto brands are valued higher than Uber. Crunchbase News takes a look at how valuations stack up, and how that’s driving Big Auto’s recent venture dealmaking.
Cargo raises cash for in-car commerce
Cargo, a startup offering a service for rideshare drivers to sell items like snacks and chargers, has raised $22.5 million in a round that appears to be led by Founders Fund, according to a securities filing.
Prefab home maker Plant raises $6.7M from Amazon, others
Home design and prefabrication startup Plant Prefab has raised a $6.7 million Series A round that included participation from the Amazon Alexa Fund, Obvious Ventures, and an unnamed lead investor.
