The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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Recent Editions

Protesters at the Supreme Court today. Photo by AP

Roe Ruling’s Repercussions for Tech; Zendesk’s Fit of Pique

By Martin Peers · Jun 24, 2022 5:00pm PDT

What a week! Tech business news has been relatively scarce in recent days—but today’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade will have repercussions for all businesses. For the tech industry, which has been spreading outside the San Francisco Bay Area and New York for the past couple of years as remote work has become widely available,... What a week! Tech business news has been relatively scarce in recent days—but today’s Supreme...

Art by Clark Miller

Scene and Heard

‘The Last Great Party’: With Crypto Winter Coming, NFT Lovers Try to Stave Off Reality

By Margaux MacColl · Jun 24, 2022 2:30pm PDT · 9 comments

Ten days before NFT.NYC began last Monday in New York, I interviewed the conference’s founder, Jodee Rich, about how the crypto market’s collapse would impact this year’s gathering. It seemed like an obvious topic of discussion: $400 billion in cryptocurrencies’ market value had just vanished in a matter of weeks; heavyweights like Coinbase had... Ten days before NFT.NYC began last Monday in New York, I interviewed the conference’s founder,...

Carta CEO Henry Ward. Photo: Carta

Carta Has Had Talks to Acquire Vauban, a European AngelList-like Startup

By Erin Woo, Mahira Dayal and Becky Peterson · Jun 24, 2022 1:35pm PDT

Financial services startup Carta has been in talks to acquire Vauban, a London-based startup that provides software for raising venture capital funds and investing capital, according to two people familiar with the matter. Carta, which builds software for startups and investors to track their equity stakes, raised $500 million at a $7.4 billion... Financial services startup Carta has been in talks to acquire Vauban, a London-based startup that...

Art by Clark Miller

Will Your Cheatin’ Heart Tell on You? As Americans Lose Trust in Each Other, They’re Turning to Tech to Detect Lies

By Zara Stone · Jun 24, 2022 12:00pm PDT · 1 comment

Art by Clark Miller

Will Your Cheatin’ Heart Tell on You? As Americans Lose Trust in Each Other, They’re Turning to Tech to Detect Lies

By Zara Stone · Jun 24, 2022 12:00pm PDT · 1 comment

A few months ago, inside a soundproof room attached to his office, Dennis Cates, a retired police officer and founder of Mid Valley Polygraph in Porterville, Calif., cleared his throat and directed his client to answer an awkward question. “Have you ever had sex with your husband’s brother?” “No,” the client answered, clicking false on the... A few months ago, inside a soundproof room attached to his office, Dennis Cates, a retired police...

Amazon’s Ad Staffers Flee Amid Complaints of Bloat, Bureaucracy

By Mark Di Stefano and Jessica Toonkel · Jun 24, 2022 10:07am PDT · 1 comment

In the years immediately before Covid-19 sidelined the global advertising festival in Cannes, Amazon kept a low-key presence at the annual gathering of ad and tech people. While staffers booked rooms at the iconic Carlton Hotel to meet with clients, they were so conscious of overspending that one year two senior employees shared a room,... In the years immediately before Covid-19 sidelined the global advertising festival in Cannes,...

The Question Plaguing Connected TV: Who’s Watching?

By Andrew A. Rosen · Jun 24, 2022 9:00am PDT · 2 comments

PARQOR is part of The Information’s newsletter network. To receive it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, sign up here. We’re more than 15 years into the age of streaming media, and yet we still don’t know the answer to two basic questions: How many people are watching, and who are they? A recent study... PARQOR is part of The Information’s newsletter network. To receive it in your inbox every...

Not Just Tiger: Coatue, Greenoaks Reduce Late-Stage Deals

By Mahira Dayal · Jun 24, 2022 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Last year, Tiger Global Management led a rush to back startups nearing initial public offerings, piling into late-stage funding rounds for banking app Chime, data firm Databricks and videoconferencing startup Hopin. New data shows just how much Tiger and other deep-pocketed investors have pulled back so far this year. Tiger’s participation... Last year, Tiger Global Management led a rush to back startups nearing initial public offerings,...

Nio plans to offer a car with solid-state batteries by the end of the year. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Electric: Solid-State Batteries Are All the Rage—Except in China

By Steve LeVine · Jun 24, 2022 5:00am PDT

Nio plans to offer a car with solid-state batteries by the end of the year. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Electric: Solid-State Batteries Are All the Rage—Except in China

By Steve LeVine · Jun 24, 2022 5:00am PDT

Today's column is from Dalibor Petkovic, a freelance researcher specializing in Chinese industrial policies. Since 2017, he has focused on the Chinese EV market, as well as smart cities, urban logistics and battery recycling management.Investors worldwide are pouring billions of dollars into companies such as QuantumScape, Solid Power and... Today's column is from Dalibor Petkovic, a freelance researcher specializing in Chinese...

Netflix's offices in Los Angeles. Photo by Bloomberg.

Netflix’s Layoffs; What Twitter’s Stock Price Reveals

By Martin Peers · Jun 23, 2022 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

What a grim summer this is turning out to be. News today that Netflix was laying off 300 people, or 3% of its workforce, is a reminder that the slowdown in streaming we talk about so often has a human cost (on that, more below). More sobering: Netflix was the 28th tech firm to lay people off this week, according to Layoffs.fyi. In other... What a grim summer this is turning out to be. News today that Netflix was laying off 300 people,...

Erin Woo Joins The Information’s Startup Team

By The Information Staff · Jun 23, 2022 4:00pm PDT

We are thrilled to announce that Erin Woo has joined The Information to report on startups and venture capital. Previously, she was a reporting fellow on the technology desk at The New York Times, where she wrote about startups, the Elizabeth Holmes trial and tech news ranging from QR codes to cryptocurrency. Erin started her career as an intern... We are thrilled to announce that Erin Woo has joined The Information to report on startups and...

Maria Heeter Expands The Information’s Investing Coverage

By The Information Staff · Jun 23, 2022 3:49pm PDT

We are excited to announce that Maria Heeter has joined The Information as a venture capital reporter covering late-stage private startups, venture capital investors and IPOs. Before joining The Information, Maria covered real estate at Bloomberg News, led the student newspaper of the Claremont Colleges and reported on business and Covid-19 for... We are excited to announce that Maria Heeter has joined The Information as a venture capital...

Shutterstock.

Event Recap: Dos and Don’ts for Working with Creators

By The Information Staff · Jun 23, 2022 3:45pm PDT

Shutterstock.

Partner Content

Event Recap: Dos and Don’ts for Working with Creators

By The Information Staff · Jun 23, 2022 3:45pm PDT

So you want to hire an influencer to pitch your company. But how do you make sure you hire the right one? At The Information’s annual Creator Economy Summit, attendees gathered to discuss how to avoid common partnership mistakes during the “Brands, Creators and Campaigns” masterclass session. Panelists included: Jamie Gutfreund... So you want to hire an influencer to pitch your company. But how do you make sure you hire the...

How creator diversity programs compare. Table: Mike Sullivan

Creator Economy

What’s Hot at VidCon; How Creator Diversity Programs Compare (Chart)

By Kaya Yurieff · Jun 23, 2022 3:11pm PDT

VidCon kicked off on Wednesday evening, with welcome receptions, social media-worthy spaces for creators to hang out and excited teen fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite influencer. My first stop was Meta Platforms’ creator lounge, a private space for creators to hang out–and of course take photos and shoot Reels.... VidCon kicked off on Wednesday evening, with welcome receptions, social media-worthy spaces for...

A promotional image for the Quest 2 VR headset. Photo: Meta Platforms.

A Peek at Meta VR Testing; Tim Cook Says “Stay Tuned” for AR News

By Mathew Olson · Jun 23, 2022 11:00am PDT

Meta Platforms is working hard—and shelling out money—to make sure it leaves no stone unturned when it comes to making sure its VR products work for a wide range of people. In recent days, for instance, Meta has been looking for very specific demographic groups—young people of South Asian descent or African American females who wear lipstick—for... Meta Platforms is working hard—and shelling out money—to make sure it leaves no stone unturned...

Tech’s Worst-Timed Deals: Six Acquisitions That Have Not Improved With Age

By Martin Peers · Jun 23, 2022 6:00am PDT · 7 comments

As tech valuations collapse to a fraction of where they were last year, executives likely have a few regrets. One is sure to be acquisitions done at the top of the market. It’s always tempting when stock prices and private valuations are trading at stratospheric levels for company executives to choose that moment to expand through... As tech valuations collapse to a fraction of where they were last year, executives likely have a...

In Cannes This Week? Don’t Mention the R Word

By Mark Di Stefano · Jun 22, 2022 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

In Cannes This Week? Don’t Mention the R Word

By Mark Di Stefano · Jun 22, 2022 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

Having trouble reaching someone in the advertising or marketing worlds this week? They’re most likely living it up in the South of France. Yes, after two years on hiatus due to Covid-19, the annual Cannes ad festival is back on. And attendees are out in force, looking to make up for lost party time. Just don’t mention the r-word (yes,... Having trouble reaching someone in the advertising or marketing worlds this week? They’re most...

Art: Mike Sullivan

Creator Economy

NFT Lovers Buck the Crypto Crash

By Mahira Dayal · Jun 22, 2022 2:14pm PDT

If you attended this year’s NFT NYC conference, you wouldn’t think we’re knee-deep in a crypto crash. Lines to register at the Marriott Marquis at Times Square wrapped around the block and snaked up five floors of the hotel on Tuesday. NFT enthusiasts, tech employees and digital artists, who paid at least $599 for general admission tickets, told... If you attended this year’s NFT NYC conference, you wouldn’t think we’re knee-deep in a crypto...

FalconX Chief of Staff Austin Reid. Photo: FalconX. Art by Mike Sullivan

FalconX Deal a Bright Spot in Bleak Market for Crypto

By Aidan Ryan · Jun 22, 2022 1:59pm PDT

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for crypto companies as token prices have dropped, bellwethers such as Coinbase have laid off staff, and the crash in two cryptocurrencies—terraUSD and luna—has trashed confidence in digital assets. But some startups have been able to lock in new funding rounds or deals. FalconX on Wednesday said it raised... It’s been a rough couple of weeks for crypto companies as token prices have dropped, bellwethers...

Meta's avatars featuring clothing from new fashion partners. Credit: Meta Platforms.

Avatar Fashion Comes to Non-VR Meta Apps; June News Roundup

By Mathew Olson · Jun 22, 2022 11:00am PDT

Starting today, users of Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will be able to start dressing up avatars they use on those apps in outfits from brands like Balenciaga and Prada. But this feature won’t be available to users of Horizon Worlds, the social VR platform which recently expanded its reach to users in the United Kingdom. Even though Meta... Starting today, users of Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will be able to start dressing up...

Signage at VidCon 2016. Photo by Shutterstock

VidCon Returns as Chill Falls on Creator Economy

By Kaya Yurieff · Jun 22, 2022 6:00am PDT

Signage at VidCon 2016. Photo by Shutterstock

VidCon Returns as Chill Falls on Creator Economy

By Kaya Yurieff · Jun 22, 2022 6:00am PDT

VidCon, the annual gathering of social media creators, fans and industry representatives, will descend on Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday for the first time since 2019. While the pandemic hijacked the conference’s plans to meet in person for two years running (it took place virtually in 2020), it made the YouTube- and TikTok-famous stars that... VidCon, the annual gathering of social media creators, fans and industry representatives, will...