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

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

AngelList founder Naval Ravikant. Photo: Flickr/TechCrunch

AngelList to Launch $35 Million Fund to Groom VC Investors

By Serena Saitto · Jan 9, 2018 7:00am PST · 8 comments

Naval Ravikant shook up early-stage investing by launching AngelList. Now, working with Boston-based venture capital firm Accomplice, Mr. Ravikant has raised a $35 million fund that will groom tech investors and increase opportunities to invest in very early-stage tech startups.Mr. Ravikant personally invested in the new fund, named Spearhead,... Naval Ravikant shook up early-stage investing by launching AngelList. Now, working with...

Google's pavilion at CES this week. Photo by AP

Apple’s Smart Home Efforts Clouded by Amazon, Google

By Aaron Tilley · Jan 8, 2018 7:01am PST · 5 comments

About three years ago, Apple had big ambitions for HomeKit, the company’s software for controlling lights, locks, and other appliances with iPhones or iPads. The company even promised to showcase HomeKit-certified gadgets in every Apple store, according to one third-party product developer. The display area would be built to resemble a... About three years ago, Apple had big ambitions for HomeKit, the company’s software for...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Jan 6, 2018 8:00am PST

Good Morning!So Travis Kalanick is finally a real billionaire, thanks to his sale of stock in Uber. Donald Trump is probably wondering what that feels like. Good Morning!So Travis Kalanick is finally a real billionaire, thanks to his sale of stock in...

The Information’s 411 — It Gets the Red Out

By Tom Dotan · Jan 5, 2018 1:11pm PST

The Information’s 411 — It Gets the Red Out

By Tom Dotan · Jan 5, 2018 1:11pm PST

In the first podcast of the new year, Kevin talks about how Amazon and Salesforce have been quietly making moves to get off Oracle. Sarah Kuranda makes her podcast debut along with Aaron Tilley to talk about the serious security flaw in Intel's chips that has affected hardware devices—and whether this reaches all the way to... In the first podcast of the new year, Kevin talks about how Amazon and Salesforce have been...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Photo: Flickr/NVIDIA Taiwan

With Tighter Licensing Rules, Nvidia Walks Fine Line

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 5, 2018 7:00am PST · 6 comments

Last week, Nvidia signaled it was going to start cracking down on customers who use consumer graphics chips for business-related projects to avoid higher licensing charges. The move rattled companies that have long used these chips for scientific research. But another Nvidia licensing change, which hasn’t been previously reported, could... Last week, Nvidia signaled it was going to start cracking down on customers who use consumer...

Carbon Black CEO Patrick Morley. Photo: Kyle Alspach for BostInno

Carbon Black Revives IPO Plans, Holds Talks With IBM, Microsoft

By Serena Saitto and Sarah Kuranda · Jan 4, 2018 11:03am PST

Cybersecurity software provider Carbon Black is looking to sell or go public.Carbon Black has revived its plans for an initial public offering—after initially filing in 2016—and aims to complete an IPO in the first half of this year, according to people familiar with the situation. But it also is open to selling and has held talks... Cybersecurity software provider Carbon Black is looking to sell or go public.Carbon Black has...

Limebike bikes on the street. Photo by Flickr/Kiewic

Big Test for VC-Fueled Bike-Share Startup LimeBike

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 4, 2018 7:01am PST · 3 comments

In the race to build a U.S. bike-share business, LimeBike is pedaling faster than anyone else. The one-year-old startup is trying to raise tens of millions of dollars in new capital, on top of $62 million already raised, with extravagant statements about how fast it can grow.One question is whether there is enough of a bike culture in the U.S.... In the race to build a U.S. bike-share business, LimeBike is pedaling faster than anyone else....

Snowflake CEO Bob Muglia. Photo by Flickr/MicrosoftPDC

Snowflake Computing Raised $270 Million at $1.5 Billion Valuation

By Serena Saitto and Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 3, 2018 5:29pm PST · 4 comments

Snowflake CEO Bob Muglia. Photo by Flickr/MicrosoftPDC

Snowflake Computing Raised $270 Million at $1.5 Billion Valuation

By Serena Saitto and Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 3, 2018 5:29pm PST · 4 comments

Snowflake Computing, a five-year-old cloud database startup, has raised a $270 million Series E round of funding at a $1.5 billion valuation from existing investors, including Iconiq Capital and Altimeter Capital, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.The new valuation appears to be a significant increase on the reported $500... Snowflake Computing, a five-year-old cloud database startup, has raised a $270 million Series E...

Photo: Bloomberg

Security Vendor Fortinet Loses Key Sales Executive

By Sarah Kuranda · Jan 3, 2018 11:49am PST

Fortinet has lost one of its top sales leaders, just as the security vendor comes off months of sales challenges and fights to maintain its market share in the intensely competitive network security business. Fortinet Senior Vice President of Sales Andy Travers, who was responsible for leading sales in the U.S. and Canada, left the company... Fortinet has lost one of its top sales leaders, just as the security vendor comes off months of...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

Google Takes On Microsoft With Voice, Video Upgrades

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 3, 2018 7:01am PST · 1 comment

Google Cloud is working on major improvements to its G Suite productivity applications to bolster its appeal to businesses. These include voice and video conferencing upgrades along with a new service for managing user identity data, according to three people who have been briefed on the plans. Central to the G Suite makeover is a new... Google Cloud is working on major improvements to its G Suite productivity applications to bolster...

Art: Mike Sullivan

Cybersecurity Startups’ Newest Tool: Blockchain

By Sarah Kuranda · Jan 2, 2018 10:00am PST

Blockchain is best known as the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but a growing number of cybersecurity startups plan to use the distributed network to help their clients thwart hackers.Startups increasingly see a path into the lucrative cybersecurity market long dominated by bigger companies, aided by the booming interest in... Blockchain is best known as the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but a...

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Photo: Bloomberg

In Major Shift, Amazon, Salesforce Move Away From Oracle

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 2, 2018 7:00am PST · 5 comments

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Photo: Bloomberg

In Major Shift, Amazon, Salesforce Move Away From Oracle

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 2, 2018 7:00am PST · 5 comments

On Oracle’s earnings call in mid-December, a Wall Street analyst asked whether the company was losing database customers to lower-cost alternatives. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison insisted that its huge base of Fortune 500 clients, including two of its biggest customers, weren’t going anywhere. “Amazon continues to buy Oracle... On Oracle’s earnings call in mid-December, a Wall Street analyst asked whether the company...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Dec 30, 2017 8:01am PST

Good Morning! President Trump tweeted that the U.S. Postal Service should charge Amazon more to deliver its packages. This is what happens when Amazon can’t get bronzing lotion to Mar-a-Lago in time for Christmas. Good Morning! President Trump tweeted that the U.S. Postal Service should charge Amazon more...

2018 Predictions

Why Microsoft, Amazon Will Make Their Own AI Chips

By Aaron Tilley · Dec 29, 2017 7:00am PST · 2 comments

Competing in the field of artificial intelligence requires a few key ingredients: huge amounts of data to train the systems, talented engineers and colossal amounts of computing power. That power is currently delivered, in large part, by graphics chips built by Nvidia, but there are signs that might change.I predict that 2018 will be the year... Competing in the field of artificial intelligence requires a few key ingredients: huge amounts of...

Photo: Bloomberg

SoftBank Succeeds in Buying Uber Stake

By Amir Efrati · Dec 28, 2017 11:14am PST · 8 comments

A group of investors led by SoftBank will buy at least 14% of Uber’s stock at a 30% discount to Uber’s current private valuation, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday, capping months of negotiations and gamesmanship between the Japanese conglomerate and Uber shareholders over the terms of SoftBank’s offer.The purchase... A group of investors led by SoftBank will buy at least 14% of Uber’s stock at a 30%...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo: Bloomberg

Moment of Truth for Uber, SoftBank

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Dec 28, 2017 8:31am PST · 3 comments

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo: Bloomberg

Moment of Truth for Uber, SoftBank

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Dec 28, 2017 8:31am PST · 3 comments

UPDATE: The SoftBank offer has succeeded, said a person familiar with the deal.The offer by SoftBank and other investors to acquire a 14% stake in Uber by buying shares from existing shareholders seems likely to pass today, according to some of the shareholders who plan to sell. But the proposed deal, which expires at noon PT today, still... UPDATE: The SoftBank offer has succeeded, said a person familiar with the deal.The offer by...

Taxify CEO Markus Villig. Photo: Taxify

Why Uber Cares About a Tiny Estonian Rival

By Amir Efrati · Dec 28, 2017 7:00am PST

A small, Estonia-based startup has emerged as an unlikely chess piece in Didi Chuxing’s global proxy war against Uber for ride-hailing supremacy.Taxify, a ride-hailing app that has begun to eat into Uber’s market share in places such as South Africa where it was once a near-monopoly, was an afterthought in the industry until Didi... A small, Estonia-based startup has emerged as an unlikely chess piece in Didi Chuxing’s...

Doha, Qatar. Photo: Francisco Anzola/ Flickr

2018 Predictions

Why Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Rivals Will Launch a Mega Fund

By Shai Oster · Dec 27, 2017 10:53am PST · 2 comments

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son created the $100 billion Vision Fund by tapping Middle Eastern petrodollars from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But the Saudis aren’t the only ones with cash and a burning need to diversify their investments to make up for falling oil prices. I predict that in 2018, another coalition of oil-rich... SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son created the $100 billion Vision Fund by tapping Middle Eastern...

Photo: Bloomberg

Inside Huawei’s Plans to Challenge Apple in the U.S.

By Juro Osawa · Dec 27, 2017 7:02am PST · 3 comments

The U.S. may no longer be a safe refuge for Apple and Samsung from the relentless rise of Huawei. When Huawei launches its flagship phone with AT&T early next year, the Chinese tech giant is finally going after Apple's home turf.It is the culmination of more than a year of work at Huawei, including confidential negotiations with... The U.S. may no longer be a safe refuge for Apple and Samsung from the relentless rise of Huawei....

Photo: Bloomberg

Why Microsoft Will Make a Big Security Acquisition

By Sarah Kuranda · Dec 26, 2017 10:00am PST

Photo: Bloomberg

2018 Predictions

Why Microsoft Will Make a Big Security Acquisition

By Sarah Kuranda · Dec 26, 2017 10:00am PST

When it comes to cybersecurity companies, Microsoft isn’t usually the first name that comes to mind. CEO Satya Nadella has been trying to change that by buying several small security firms in the past couple of years. Next year, I predict he will get more ambitious and make a major, multibillion dollar security acquisition. One target... When it comes to cybersecurity companies, Microsoft isn’t usually the first name that comes...