covid-19 COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Show Promise While Tech Giants Roll Out New Features Researchers at Oxford and in Wuhan report promising early results for COVID-19 vaccines, though experts caution more study is needed. Meanwhile, Google Maps adds end-to-end bikeshare directions and Roblox launches a virtual event space.
hong kong Hong Kong's New Security Law Brings Uncertainty to Tech Sector Hong Kong's newly enacted national security law creates a chilling effect for the local tech industry as entrepreneurs and investors face vague rules and potential data control challenges.
palantir Palantir Files for IPO After 17 Years of Secretive Growth Data mining giant Palantir publicly announces it has privately filed to go public after raising hundreds of millions in new capital. The company prepares for its market debut with a long, complex, and controversial history of government contracts.
robotics investments Robotics Sector Secures $1.9 Billion in Funding During July 2020 Robotics companies attract over $1.9 billion across 47 transactions in July 2020, showing steady investor interest despite the global pandemic. Autonomous vehicles lead the funding rounds, followed by drones and healthcare robots.
ai AI Startups Raise Record $6.9 Billion in Q1 Before Pandemic Hits AI startups raise $6.9 billion in Q1 2020, outpacing the broader venture capital market. However, the coronavirus pandemic is expected to sharply slow this record-setting momentum.
ninja van Logistics Startup Ninja Van Secures $279 Million in New Funding Round Southeast Asian delivery company Ninja Van raises $279 million in a funding round led by French logistics firm GeoPost. The investment highlights growing confidence in regional supply chain solutions.
startups Majority of Startups Face Severe Cash Shortages Amid Pandemic Layoffs A global survey reveals that nearly three-quarters of startups have reduced staff due to COVID-19, while 65% possess less than six months of operating cash. Venture capital funding drops significantly, leaving most young companies in a desperate fight for survival.
velo3d Velo3D Secures $28M to Expand 3D Printing Tech Used by SpaceX Velo3D raises $28 million to scale its metal 3D printing business, which currently supplies equipment to SpaceX. The funding aims to expand the company's product portfolio and push it toward profitability by mid-2022.
omers ventures OMERS Ventures Raises $750M Transatlantic Fund to Target Startups Across Two Continents OMERS Ventures consolidates its European and North American investment efforts into a single $750 million fund. The firm also adjusts its strategy to help portfolio companies navigate the COVID-19 pandemic with longer financial runways.
healthjoy HealthJoy Overhauls Benefits Platform as Employee Usage Surges During Pandemic HealthJoy unveils a revamped interface and cloud-based technology stack to manage doubled demand for its employee benefits assistance platform. The updated system makes it easier for workers to access telemedicine, mental health support, and healthcare concierge services.
venture capital Venture Capitalists Spot Six New Investment Trends During COVID-19 Downturn Despite a significant drop in dealmaking, venture capitalists see a major opportunity to invest during the economic nadir of the COVID-19 pandemic. Massive reserves of dry powder remain ready for deployment into resilient early-stage startups.
magic leap Magic Leap Halves Workforce, Abandons Consumer AR Market Augmented reality startup Magic Leap lays off approximately 1,000 employees and abandons its consumer focus to concentrate entirely on enterprise customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
molotov French Streaming Service Molotov Launches Free Educational Video Platform Molotov partners with SchoolMouv to provide free video lessons for students during school closures. The new section aggregates educational TV content and offers around 1,000 lessons without requiring a credit card.
health tech Health Tech Startups Face Unexpected Layoffs Amid Coronavirus Economic Fallout Despite high demand for digital health tools during the pandemic, health tech startups are furloughing and laying off workers due to the broader financial meltdown. Virta Health confirms it is cutting staff to weather the economic uncertainty caused by Covid-19.
zoom Zoom Faces Intense Security Scrutiny Amid Global Pandemic Boom Zoom experiences severe backlash as researchers uncover multiple security vulnerabilities and false encryption claims. Meanwhile, investors warn Indian startups of tough economic times ahead and Uber Eats expands grocery deliveries globally.