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

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Oct 21, 2017 8:01am PDT

Good Morning!Amazon.com is nearing a decision on the city for its second headquarters. We hear the top criteria for Jeff Bezos is proximity to a Gold’s Gym. Good Morning!Amazon.com is nearing a decision on the city for its second headquarters. We hear...

The Information's Tom Dotan (l.), and Jessica Lessin with BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti. Photo by Erin Beach

Subscriber Summit

BuzzFeed CEO: News Outlets Need to ‘Bridge’ Subscription, Ad Models

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 20, 2017 6:01pm PDT

Subscription-based and advertising-based news organizations need to coexist “in peace and harmony” so they can both push back against sensationalized or false stories on social platforms, BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti said Friday at The Information’s Subscriber Summit.Both types of media companies face challenges from the ways... Subscription-based and advertising-based news organizations need to coexist “in peace and...

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison talking with The Information's Jessica Lessin on Friday. Photo by Erin Beach.

Subscriber Summit

Stripe CEO Says Firm Is ‘Years Away’ From IPO

By Serena Saitto · Oct 20, 2017 4:55pm PDT · 1 comment

Stripe, the seven-year-old digital payments firm, is still in “the early stage of its cycle” and is therefore “years away” from going public, co-founder and CEO Patrick Collison said Friday.“We are not a capital-intensive business, and we don’t need to go public to raise capital,” Mr. Collison said,... Stripe, the seven-year-old digital payments firm, is still in “the early stage of its...

The Information’s 411 — Containers Are Commoditized

By Tom Dotan · Oct 20, 2017 4:01pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — Containers Are Commoditized

By Tom Dotan · Oct 20, 2017 4:01pm PDT

Kevin talks about why Docker is finally jumping on board the hottest trend in cloud technology and Cory discusses the internal deliberations at Sidewalk Labs about which city it should use as its test bed. Kevin talks about why Docker is finally jumping on board the hottest trend in cloud technology...

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner. Photo by Erin Beach.

Subscriber Summit

LinkedIn May Consider Developing Original Shows

By Priya Anand · Oct 20, 2017 1:44pm PDT · 1 comment

LinkedIn would be open to developing or buying original video programs, CEO Jeff Weiner said in an interview, as an extension of a recent push into video.“We’re certainly open to the idea of original content and at some point would be very interested in exploring that with various publishers,” Mr. Weiner said at The... LinkedIn would be open to developing or buying original video programs, CEO Jeff Weiner said in...

Consensys CMO Amanda Gutterman. Photo by Erin Beach.

Subscriber Summit

Consensys Executive: Blockchain Can Prevent ID Theft

By Wendy Pollack · Oct 20, 2017 1:28pm PDT

The blockchain-based Ethereum network has the potential to help protect personal data in an age of security breaches, an executive at the blockchain company Consensys said Friday at The Information’s Subscriber Summit in San Francisco.Consumers in the developed world are in a constant struggle to protect their personal information online.... The blockchain-based Ethereum network has the potential to help protect personal data in an age...

Uber's U.S. chief Rachel Holt on stage with The Information's Jessica Lessin. Photo by Erin Beach

Subscriber Summit

Uber U.S. Chief: ‘Mistakes’ Made but Business Is ‘Sound’

By Amir Efrati · Oct 20, 2017 12:40pm PDT

Rachel Holt, who runs Uber’s U.S. and Canada business, acknowledged “mistakes and things that shouldn’t have happened that did happen” at the company, which exposed it to seemingly never-ending scandals.Speaking at The Information’s San Francisco Subscriber Summit on Friday, Ms. Holt said she was in Arizona... Rachel Holt, who runs Uber’s U.S. and Canada business, acknowledged “mistakes and...

WeWork CEO Adam Neumann. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Deal Hurdles for WeWork: Neumann’s Style and Rich Stock Price

By Alfred Lee · Oct 20, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

WeWork CEO Adam Neumann. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Deal Hurdles for WeWork: Neumann’s Style and Rich Stock Price

By Alfred Lee · Oct 20, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

When executives at office space provider WeWork considered expanding into China two years ago, they discussed buying a fledgling Chinese co-working firm called UrWork. A deal didn’t get done, in part because WeWork offered stock, which UrWork didn't want to accept, a UrWork adviser said.That was due to WeWork's rich stock value.... When executives at office space provider WeWork considered expanding into China two years ago,...

An Uber autonomous vehicle. Photo by AP.

Ex-Uber Map Execs Develop Routing Service for Self-Driving Cars

By Amir Efrati · Oct 19, 2017 4:27pm PDT

Three recently departed Uber managers have started a mapping company to help ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft introduce autonomous vehicles to the public, according to two people briefed about it. The startup, which is called rideOS, will focus on something few others are focused on: determining whether an autonomous vehicle is able... Three recently departed Uber managers have started a mapping company to help ride-sharing...

People walk past Google Fiber's store in Austin, Texas in April, 2015. Photo by Bloomberg.

Google Fiber Loses Key Wireless Executive

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 19, 2017 12:09pm PDT

Charles Barr, founder and president of Webpass, the high-speed wireless internet provider acquired by Google Fiber last year to help fuel its expansion, abruptly left the company last week, according to two people close to Webpass. The circumstances of his departure aren’t known. But it adds to uncertainty surrounding Google Fiber’s... Charles Barr, founder and president of Webpass, the high-speed wireless internet provider...

The site of the planned Sidewalk Labs development in Toronto. Photo: Sidewalk Labs

Sidewalk Labs Chose Toronto Despite Pushback From Larry Page

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 19, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Before Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalk Labs could move forward with a grand plan for a new tech-enriched neighborhood in Toronto, Sidewalk CEO Dan Doctoroff had to persuade Alphabet CEO Larry Page of his vision. It was no easy task. The two clashed over some initial fundamentals of the project, which was announced Tuesday. Mr. Page preferred... Before Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalk Labs could move forward with a grand plan for a new...

Pedestrians in Shanghai. Flickr/Drew Bates

Big Data Strengthens China’s Grip

By Shai Oster · Oct 18, 2017 12:35pm PDT · 3 comments

Pedestrians in Shanghai. Flickr/Drew Bates

Big Data Strengthens China’s Grip

By Shai Oster · Oct 18, 2017 12:35pm PDT · 3 comments

There was a time when the internet seemed to pose a mortal threat to the Communist Party’s iron grip over China. Free-flowing information was going to trigger an irreversible and inevitable weakening of the party’s dominance. Instead, the same advances in technology that have spawned multibillion-dollar startups also have been... There was a time when the internet seemed to pose a mortal threat to the Communist Party’s...

Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. Photo by Bloomberg.

GM’s Cruise Talks to Uber as Lyft Relationship Fades

By Amir Efrati · Oct 18, 2017 7:02am PDT · 1 comment

General Motors’ autonomous vehicle unit, Cruise, is in discussions to launch fully self-driving cars for Uber customers in San Francisco by next year, said two people with knowledge of the effort. The talks reflect a growing distance between GM and Uber’s main U.S. rival, Lyft, which previously engaged in a public love affair.In... General Motors’ autonomous vehicle unit, Cruise, is in discussions to launch fully...

Zuora CEO Tien Tzuo. Photo by Zuora.

Benchmark-Backed Zuora Eyes IPO in 2018

By Serena Saitto · Oct 17, 2017 2:34pm PDT

Zuora, which makes billing and forecasting software for subscription software firms, is in talks to hire underwriters for an initial public offering next year, co-founder and CEO Tien Tzuo said in an interview. The move is in the latest sign that 2018 is likely to be a busier year for tech IPOs than 2017. “We have passed the magic... Zuora, which makes billing and forecasting software for subscription software firms, is in talks...

Photo by Bloomberg.

The Crypto World’s Fake Advisers

By Reed Albergotti, Jon Victor and Juro Osawa · Oct 17, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Steve Chen is a longtime Silicon Valley engineer who lately has turned his attention to blockchain. One of two blockchain startups he founded, Echolink.io, aims to check resumes for accuracy. The startup’s own website could have used the service.Until recently, Echolink’s website listed a team of respected blockchain industry people... Steve Chen is a longtime Silicon Valley engineer who lately has turned his attention to...

Docker founder Solomon Hykes. Photo by Flickr/Techcrunch

When Docker Said No to Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 16, 2017 10:44am PDT · 4 comments

Docker founder Solomon Hykes. Photo by Flickr/Techcrunch

When Docker Said No to Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 16, 2017 10:44am PDT · 4 comments

In 2014, Google approached a startup called Docker proposing the two collaborate on software each was developing to help companies manage lots of complex applications, according to people with knowledge of the proposal. But Solomon Hykes, Docker’s founder and CTO, said no. He wanted to go it alone. Three years later, the cost of Mr.... In 2014, Google approached a startup called Docker proposing the two collaborate on software each...

Photo: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

The People Behind SoftBank’s Global Deal Spree

By Juro Osawa and Serena Saitto · Oct 16, 2017 7:02am PDT · 3 comments

SoftBank is synonymous with Masayoshi Son, the charismatic founder of the Japanese telecom and internet giant that is reshaping global tech with its colossal $93 billion Vision Fund. But behind Japan’s richest man is a team of trusted company veterans, recent banking hires and Silicon Valley tech executives. Mr. Son’s management team... SoftBank is synonymous with Masayoshi Son, the charismatic founder of the Japanese telecom and...

Modest Conversations

Modest Conversations: The Human Side of Building Technology

By Sam Lessin · Oct 15, 2017 9:58am PDT

Blake joins to discuss the human side of technology - growth mindset, failure, and success. How do the people who build technology, and the ways they collaborate on teams, and the culture of tech companies define the products that come out? Blake joins to discuss the human side of technology - growth mindset, failure, and success. How...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Oct 14, 2017 8:02am PDT

Good Morning!We’re thinking of all those affected by the California wildfires. If you’d like to help with a donation, here’s a link. Good Morning!We’re thinking of all those affected by the California wildfires. If...

The Information’s 411 — What Happens After Weinstein?

By Tom Dotan · Oct 13, 2017 2:11pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — What Happens After Weinstein?

By Tom Dotan · Oct 13, 2017 2:11pm PDT

Jessica talks about the similarities in the power dynamics in Hollywood and Silicon Valley, leading to sexual harassment scandals in both industries. Serena breaks down the latest hurdles in the Softbank-Uber deal. Jessica talks about the similarities in the power dynamics in Hollywood and Silicon Valley,...