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The Weekend
The Short Seller Who Told Us So
May 27, 2023
Pro Weekly
Pro Weekly: Creator Funding Flows to More Places
May 26, 2023
The Briefing
Big Tech Investors Have Drunk the AI Kool-Aid
May 25, 2023
Creator Economy
The Sudden Rise of Twitch Rival Kick
May 25, 2023
Dealmaker
The Perils of Venture Patriotism
May 25, 2023
The Electric
The Electric: Ford EVs Will Use Iron-Based Batteries, but Not Many and Not for a While
May 25, 2023
Crypto Global
The Volatility of Crypto Customer Loyalty
May 24, 2023

Briefings

Temu Takes on Heavy Losses to Win U.S. Customers
May 28, 2023
Sam Altman Says OpenAI Will Not Leave Europe
May 26, 2023
Shopify Nominates Bret Taylor For Board Seat
May 26, 2023
Tesla Whistleblower Leaks 100 Gb of Data to German News Outlet
May 26, 2023
Neuralink Wins Regulatory Approval for First Human Trial
May 26, 2023
Barry Silbert’s DCG Shutting TradeBlock Subsidiary
May 25, 2023
Twitter Engineering Director Dabiri Resigns
May 25, 2023
Venture Firm Paradigm Broadens Focus Amid Crypto Winter
May 25, 2023
JPMorgan to Cut About 1,000 First Republic Workers
May 25, 2023
Michael Arrington-Backed Fahrenheit LLC Wins Bid to Buy Bankrupt Celsius
May 25, 2023
OpenAI Closes $175 Million Startup Fund
May 24, 2023
DeSantis Campaign Announcement Plagued by Twitter Glitches
May 24, 2023
Nvidia Shares Jump 25% as Generative AI Adoption Surges
May 24, 2023
Snowflake Shares Drop 12% as Revenue Growth Slows
May 24, 2023
Meta Announces Layoffs on Business Teams
May 24, 2023
Skepticism Rises Over AWS’s AI Strategy
May 24, 2023
Semafor Raises $19 Million
May 24, 2023
Amazon Aggregators Suma and D1 Brands Merge
May 23, 2023
JPMorgan Adds More Former SVB Tech Bankers
May 23, 2023
ChatGPT Is Using Microsoft’s Bing to Deliver Answers
May 23, 2023
Comcast Unveils New Online TV Bundle, Including Peacock
May 23, 2023
Shutterstock Agrees to Acquire Giphy From Meta
May 23, 2023

Subscriber comments

Carsten Schmidt

Carsten Schmidt

on TikTok Is Not the Enemy

While TikTok is certainly shady, there hasn’t been any clear evidence that shows they are guilty. I think the government owes it to the people to provide clear evidence of this being a clear security threat before banning a service.

Ivan Bou

on Musk Tells Tesla Staff He Must Approve All Hiring—Again

Carly Fiorina and Mark Hurd did the same at HP for many years. It kept creating a situation where sales people would love and territories would stay open for months and months because approvals took forever. When you don't trust people to manage to a budget and then use use blunt instruments to massage numbers to quarterly targets, this is what you do.

Andrew Hopkins

on Scared of Leaking Data to ChatGPT? Microsoft Tests a Private Alternative

Controlling the data feeding "private models" is part of the problem though. The more data you can feed a "private model", the more likely you are to derive value from it... but, how do you control access to data that could be sensitive or regulated? You have to control the output as well.

Jason Geater

on Silicon Valley’s Realtors, Like Its Bankers, Are Having a Tough Month

Shows just how much free money has artificially inflated assets prices (into the stratosphere) in the most highly-levered asset class. Exacerbate the issue by making said loans against fantasy VC valuations sounds like a recipe for success: ‘This founder has liquidity issues, but they have a billion in founder stock.…We’re going to ascribe value to that and give them a loan. We’re not like the boring banks who need a salary" This will certainly end well when all of the "unicorn" founder borrowers start defaulting on their mega-mansions.

Amber Hayes

on LinkedIn Faces Growing Complaints From Recruiters Over Rising Prices

Amber Hayes VP of recruiting, HR Operations and Mobility - Unity Technologies Totally agree. Their product has not improved, and prices continue to rise, significantly. We have partnered with seekout as the continued cost increases with LinkedIn are not sustainable in the long term.

Anshu Sharma

on Twitter Cuts Salesforce Bill 75% as More Buyers Scrutinize Software Spending

The $400 per year sounds like a lot for Slack. But when your employees each fully loaded cost is close to $250,000 - it’s a rounding error, especially if it makes them even 1% more productive.

Abed Agha

on What Creators on Meta Should Learn from News Publishers on Meta

I think the situation with publishers and creators differs for the following reasons: Creators are the users themselves and as the creator economy grows, so will the number of creators. I suspect the line that draws a distinction between a "creator" and a "user" will get very blurry in the future. In this context, ignoring creator demands = ignoring users; and this will inevitably lead to the decline of such platforms who do this. Equitability between platforms and creators is an important pillar to the advertising-led creator economy and so far YouTube is the only platform that has done it right and baked it in their business model. Meta already scaled their business model outside of creators, so sharing revenue with creators will cannibalize their existing revenue. TikTok should do it while they are still early in their monetization journey.

Latest Articles

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Photo by Bloomberg.

Exclusive

Twitter Cut Key Software Before DeSantis Audio Glitch

By Kevin McLaughlin and Erin Woo · May 26, 2023 2:12 PM PDT · 6 comments

On Wednesday night, Twitter experienced multiple outages during a high-profile live audio forum on the app in which Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched his presidential campaign. While the specific reason...

Image: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Photo by Bloomberg.

Fraser Kelton, venture partner at Spark Capital. Photo via Fraser Kelton

Former OpenAI Exec Joins Spark Capital as Venture Push Into AI Heats Up

By Kate Clark · April 13, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 2 comments

To gain an edge in the suddenly hot artificial intelligence category, one venture firm is hiring from the startup—OpenAI—that set off the generative AI craze in the first place. Spark Capital has hired Fraser Kelton, the former head of product at OpenAI, as a venture partner, Kelton and Nabeel Hyatt, a Spark general partner, told The... To gain an edge in the suddenly hot artificial intelligence category, one venture firm is hiring...

Photo by Erin Beach.

Creator Economy Summit

Announcing the Creator Economy Summit 2023 Masterclasses

By The Information · April 12, 2023 11:50 AM PDT

We’re excited to see everyone on April 20th at The Information's Creator Economy Summit. Our masterclass breakout sessions are an important part of the Summit. At this year’s event, we’ll have two sets of 45-minute breakout sessions. Here’s a preview of this year’s topics. Gen Z and the Creator Economy (1:30... We’re excited to see everyone on April 20th at The Information's Creator Economy...

Illustration by Matheus Costa.

google facebook

Google, Meta Struggle to Figure Out Employee Reviews

By Mark Matousek · April 12, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 3 comments

Last year, Google cut the number of employee performance reviews it conducts annually from two to one, responding to complaints that twice-a-year reviews consumed too much time. In the new system, managers were asked to talk more casually—but more frequently, once a quarter—with their subordinates about their performance. And Google... Last year, Google cut the number of employee performance reviews it conducts annually from two to...

Photo by Shutterstock.

Cybersecurity Firm Zscaler Loses Coveted Spot in Gartner Ranking Due to ‘Sales Arrogance’

By Kevin McLaughlin · April 12, 2023 5:00 AM PDT · 4 comments

Photo by Shutterstock.

Cybersecurity Firm Zscaler Loses Coveted Spot in Gartner Ranking Due to ‘Sales Arrogance’

By Kevin McLaughlin · April 12, 2023 5:00 AM PDT · 4 comments

Competition between the two of the biggest cybersecurity firms selling software monitoring employee access to cloud applications and data is set to intensify after influential market research firm Gartner cut its ranking on the market leader, Zscaler. In a regular update about the best positioned firms, Gartner ranked privately held... Competition between the two of the biggest cybersecurity firms selling software monitoring...

startups venture capital

T. Rowe Marked Down Cross River Stake Ahead of Banking Sector Meltdown

By Michael Roddan · April 11, 2023 11:26 AM PDT · 1 comment

Venture-backed Cross River Bank, a key partner to companies including Affirm and Coinbase, rode the coattails of the crypto and fintech boom—as well as a pandemic-era government business lending program. Now, as both sectors struggle with the impact of rising interest rates, some are losing faith in Cross River’s potential. Mutual... Venture-backed Cross River Bank, a key partner to companies including Affirm and Coinbase, rode...

Art by Clark Miller.

Make Time for This Tax Secret

By AJ Ayers · April 11, 2023 9:00 AM PDT · 1 comment

If you’re a founder or you work in the startup space, you can’t afford to be ignorant about tax law, especially in a down market. One day a piece of paper says you’re worth tens of millions of dollars; the next day, pennies. Many first-time founders saw their valuations drop for the first time in 2022—and with April 18... If you’re a founder or you work in the startup space, you can’t afford to be ignorant...

YC CEO Garry Tan. Photo by Getty.

startups venture capital

Garry Tan’s First Big Move as Y Combinator CEO Roils Founders

By Kate Clark · April 11, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 14 comments

The first big change made by Y Combinator’s new CEO and president Garry Tan—to shutter a fund investing in mature startups so it could sharpen its focus on much younger companies—has set off an uproar among founders backed by the esteemed startup accelerator. The first big change made by Y Combinator’s new CEO and president Garry Tan—to ...

Photo by Bloomberg.

Amazon Starts Charging for Some UPS Store Returns

By Theo Wayt · April 10, 2023 12:33 PM PDT · 4 comments

Photo by Bloomberg.

Amazon Starts Charging for Some UPS Store Returns

By Theo Wayt · April 10, 2023 12:33 PM PDT · 4 comments

Amazon has started charging fees to make some returns at UPS Stores, marking the latest effort by the e-commerce giant to cut down on costs associated with customers sending back items. Returns have been an expensive headache for e-commerce companies after they skyrocketed during pandemic lockdown and have remained stubbornly high.... Amazon has started charging fees to make some returns at UPS Stores, marking the latest effort by...

From left: Nichole Wischoff, Helen Min, Meena Harris and Erica Wenger. Photos via Wischoff Ventures, Phenomenal Ventures and Erica Wenger.

startups venture capital

Cash Dries Up for VC Newcomers

By Kate Clark and Becky Peterson · April 10, 2023 10:10 AM PDT · 9 comments

When Helen Min and Meena Harris started raising money for their debut venture capital fund in January of last year, they expected that their combined 30 years of experience at tech companies would allow them to collect $15 million, a standard first-time fund target. Then interest rates spiked, sending tech stocks careening. By December, when... When Helen Min and Meena Harris started raising money for their debut venture capital fund in...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

TikTok Struggles to Enlist U.S. Merchants for Shopping Service

By Juro Osawa, Theo Wayt, Ann Gehan and Kaya Yurieff · April 10, 2023 6:01 AM PDT · 1 comment

As TikTok tries to win over U.S. politicians, it may have kneecapped its shopping service, TikTok Shop. Relatively few U.S. merchants are showing interest in signing up for the nascent service, both because they’re more focused on expanding in bricks and mortar and because they’re concerned the app could be banned, merchants say. ... As TikTok tries to win over U.S. politicians, it may have kneecapped its shopping service, TikTok...

Art by Clark Miller

Market Research

Roadie Revolution: The Stunning New Tech on Silicon Valley Bikes

By Tim Stevens · April 8, 2023 7:00 AM PDT · 7 comments

As a technology, the bicycle hasn’t changed much since 1885, when designer J.K. Starley decided to use a chain to drive the rear wheel. Nearly 140 years later, a foot still turns a crank that pulls a chain that spins a wheel. But the tech that’s layered on top of the modern bicycle is the stuff of sci-fi. I spoke with a number of... As a technology, the bicycle hasn’t changed much since 1885, when designer J.K. Starley...

Art by Clark Miller

How Chess.com Became ‘the Wild West of the Streaming World’

By Jessica Lucas · April 7, 2023 11:00 AM PDT · 1 comment

Art by Clark Miller

How Chess.com Became ‘the Wild West of the Streaming World’

By Jessica Lucas · April 7, 2023 11:00 AM PDT · 1 comment

When Michael Brancato began working with Chess.com in late 2017, it wasn’t particularly popular. A product manager at Twitch, Brancato was tapped to spearhead a two-year partnership between the chess site and the video streaming giant, hoping to grow the 1,500-year-old game’s reputation as a legitimate e-sport. He had his work cut... When Michael Brancato began working with Chess.com in late 2017, it wasn’t particularly...

Art by Clark Miller.

startups culture

Fear the Birdie: Can an Ear-Splitting Device Make Women Feel Safer?

By Annie Goldsmith · April 7, 2023 9:05 AM PDT · 6 comments

A few months ago, I broke down and bought myself a Birdie, a $30 personal safety device that’s the size of a canary and the color of a candy bracelet. When activated, it emits an electronic shriek that is said to reach 130 decibels, loud enough to make your ears hurt and, theoretically, to keep bad guys at heel. Already my relationship... A few months ago, I broke down and bought myself a Birdie, a $30 personal safety device...

Art by Mike Sullivan

AI Developers Stymied by Server Shortage at AWS, Microsoft, Google

By Aaron Holmes and Anissa Gardizy · April 7, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 6 comments

Startups and other companies trying to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom sparked by OpenAI are running into a problem: They can’t find enough specialized computers to make their own AI software. A spike in demand for server chips that can train and run machine-learning software has caused a shortage, prompting major... Startups and other companies trying to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom sparked by...

Photo by AP.

The Information's 411

Special 411 Podcast: Jessica Lessin interviews Kara Swisher

By Jessica E. Lessin · April 6, 2023 2:15 PM PDT · 1 comment

A few weeks ago, at the SXSW conference, I sat down with journalist and the host of “Pivot” and “On with Kara Swisher,” Kara Swisher. With Silicon Valley Bank imploding around us, and technology companies on edge about all sorts of issues, it felt like a good time to check with Swisher on not just the state of tech, but... A few weeks ago, at the SXSW conference, I sat down with journalist and the host of...

Art by Clark Miller.

India Is the World’s Next Tech Manufacturing Hub

By Shaoshan Liu · April 6, 2023 9:00 AM PDT · 2 comments

Art by Clark Miller.

India Is the World’s Next Tech Manufacturing Hub

By Shaoshan Liu · April 6, 2023 9:00 AM PDT · 2 comments

Historically, India has been a software kingdom, a place where more advanced economies such as the U.S. outsource their development jobs. Lacking both the infrastructure and the expertise necessary to be competitive in manufacturing, India rarely produced any major consumer electronic products. That is poised to change. As major tech... Historically, India has been a software kingdom, a place where more advanced economies such as...

Comcast's Brian Roberts and Disney's Bob Iger. Photos by Getty

Comcast’s Roberts Has Upper Hand Over Iger as Hulu Battle Looms

By Sahil Patel · April 6, 2023 8:33 AM PDT · 4 comments

The last time Disney CEO Bob Iger and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts tangled, in a battle for control of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment business, Roberts came off second best. But as they prepare for their next contest, over ownership of streaming service Hulu, it’s the Comcast CEO who appears to have all the leverage. Next January,... The last time Disney CEO Bob Iger and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts tangled, in a battle for control...

OpenAI President Greg Brockman. Photo via OpenAI

The OpenAI Coder Who Spun Tech On its Head

By Jon Victor · April 6, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 6 comments

Greg Brockman needed a win. In 2017, Brockman—then chief technology officer of OpenAI, a 50-person nonprofit at the time—was worried about getting left in the dust by bigger rivals like DeepMind, an AI lab owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. He also was concerned that OpenAI might fall into the trap that had ensnared... Greg Brockman needed a win. In 2017, Brockman—then chief technology officer of OpenAI, a...

Tiger founder Chase Coleman. Photo by Bloomberg.

venture capital

Tiger Global Tried to Sell VC Fund Stakes in Latest Sign of Strategy Shift

By Kate Clark · April 5, 2023 6:31 AM PDT · 2 comments

Tiger Global Management, the most prolific investor in private tech companies during the recent boom, also invested in dozens of venture capital firms as it sought to forge closer ties to the young startups those funds backed. But in recent months, the New York–based investment firm has been looking to dump some of those VC fund stakes. ... Tiger Global Management, the most prolific investor in private tech companies during the recent...

Art by Shane Burke/Shutterstock

Sequoia and Other U.S.-Backed VCs Are Funding China’s Answer to OpenAI

By Juro Osawa · April 5, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 14 comments

Art by Shane Burke/Shutterstock

Sequoia and Other U.S.-Backed VCs Are Funding China’s Answer to OpenAI

By Juro Osawa · April 5, 2023 6:00 AM PDT · 14 comments

A boom in artificial intelligence startup funding sparked by OpenAI has spilled over to China, the world’s second-biggest venture capital market. Now American institutional investors are indirectly financing a rash of Chinese AI startups aspiring to be China’s answer to OpenAI. The American investors, including U.S. endowments, back... A boom in artificial intelligence startup funding sparked by OpenAI has spilled over to China,...