clear capital Real Estate Tech Firm Clear Capital Cuts 27% of Workforce Amid Housing Slump Clear Capital lays off an estimated 378 employees as rising interest rates severely reduce mortgage industry volume. The company calls the restructuring a necessary response to a shifting housing market.
molly russell UK Coroner Calls for Age Verification and Algorithm Regulation After Teen's Death A landmark coroner's report urges the UK government to mandate age verification on social media and create an independent regulatory body following the tragic death of 14-year-old Molly Russell.
momentive global SurveyMonkey Parent Momentive Global Cuts 11% of Workforce Momentive Global, the parent company of SurveyMonkey, lays off 11% of its staff as part of a strategic restructuring effort to improve operating margins.
touchlab Scottish Startup Brings Robotic Skin Sensors to Understaffed Hospitals Touchlab is piloting its ultra-thin robotic skin in hospital settings to enable remote patient care through teleoperated robots. The technology allows human operators to feel pressure and 3D forces via haptic suits.
volkswagen Volkswagen Partners With Horizon Robotics for Chinese Autonomous Driving Volkswagen invests €2.4 billion in a joint venture with Chinese chipmaker Horizon Robotics to develop advanced autonomous driving systems specifically for the Chinese market.
instagram Instagram Expands AI Age Verification to India and Brazil Ahead of Global Rollout Instagram is bringing its artificial intelligence age verification system to India and Brazil, impacting roughly 400 million users. The expansion drops the flawed social vouching method in favor of video selfies and ID uploads to better protect teens.
meta Meta Urges Court to Dismiss FTC Complaint Over VR Fitness App Acquisition Meta asks a federal court to dismiss the FTC's antitrust complaint regarding its acquisition of the VR fitness app maker Within. The company argues the agency weakened its case by dropping claims that Meta already competes in the VR fitness market.
framework Framework Launches Refurbished Program for Modular Laptops Repairable laptop maker Framework introduces a new refurbished program offering discounted secondhand laptops and components. The refurbished items come from 30-day returns and receive the same warranty as brand-new products.
venture capital Venture Capitalists Unlikely to Rush Into Q4 Deals Despite Summer Slump After a noticeable summer slowdown in venture capital activity, founders hope for a Q4 rebound but analysts warn against expecting a sudden surge in deals. Investors show little urgency to ramp up deal counts simply to appease their limited partners.
gohenry Youth Banking App GoHenry Secures $55 Million After Reaching 2 Million Users U.K. fintech GoHenry raises $55 million to expand its youth banking platform, which currently serves 2 million children between the ages of 6 and 18 across four countries.
vc fund Paris Family Office Launches $150 Million Resonance Venture Fund Pierre-Edouard Stérin's Otium Capital unveils Resonance, a new $150 million VC fund led by two seasoned investors. The fund targets seed and Series A startups across Europe with a highly focused investment strategy.
lightrock London Firm Lightrock Raises $834 Million for New Climate Tech Fund Lightrock secures €860 million to back startups in clean energy, decarbonization, and sustainable agriculture across Europe and North America.
truth social Truth Social Arrives on Google Play Store After Content Moderation Shift Truth Social officially launches on the Google Play Store for Android users after agreeing to enforce policies against violent content. The app expands its mobile reach months after its initial iOS debut.
meta Meta Unveils $1,499 Quest Pro Headset and Workplace VR Partnerships Meta reveals its high-end Quest Pro headset at Connect 2022, partnering with Microsoft to bring productivity apps to virtual reality. The company also announces new business-focused subscriptions and shares that its app store has generated over $1.5 billion.
meta Meta Unveils $1,499 Quest Pro Headset Focused on Workplace Productivity Meta reveals the high-end Quest Pro VR headset, featuring full-color passthrough and advanced tracking for mixed reality. The premium device targets professionals rather than casual consumers at a steep $1,499 price point.