The Information

Facebook executive Ime Archibong, who heads a new products group that now includes Facebook's venture capital arm.

Facebook Seeks Insights Into Startups by Investing in VC Funds

By Alex Heath and Kate Clark · Jul 28, 2020 10:52am PDT · 6 comments

Facebook in recent weeks has approached a handful of small venture capital firms to discuss becoming an investor in their funds, according to people familiar with the matter. The VC strategy, which also includes direct investments in startups, aims to give the social network early, valuable insight into a wider swath of companies. To run... Facebook in recent weeks has approached a handful of small venture capital firms to discuss...

A Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Note Edge smartphone running the Android mobile operating system. Photo by Bloomberg.

Internal Google Program Taps Data on Rival Android Apps

By Alex Heath, Nick Bastone and Amir Efrati · Jul 23, 2020 3:49pm PDT · 2 comments

When YouTube was planning the rollout of its rival to TikTok in India earlier this month, employees turned to a valuable source of market research: how people in the country were using TikTok and its competitors on Android, the mobile operating system controlled by YouTube parent company Google.The research was part of an unreported Google... When YouTube was planning the rollout of its rival to TikTok in India earlier this month,...

TuSimple self-driving truck. Photo courtesy of TuSimple

The Biggest Self-Driving Truck Startup Stumbles in Hitting High Goals

By Amir Efrati and Yunan Zhang · Jul 22, 2020 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

In just five years, TuSimple has become the biggest and most visible developer of self-driving trucks, raising more cash and putting more robotic big rigs on the road than any rival. High-profile customers including UPS have contracted to let TuSimple haul their cargo on the highway. Executives have forecast heady revenue and predicted that... In just five years, TuSimple has become the biggest and most visible developer of self-driving...

ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming. Photo by Bloomberg

ByteDance Investors Discuss TikTok Purchase

By Juro Osawa and Tom Dotan · Jul 21, 2020 1:53pm PDT · 2 comments

ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming. Photo by Bloomberg

ByteDance Investors Discuss TikTok Purchase

By Juro Osawa and Tom Dotan · Jul 21, 2020 1:53pm PDT · 2 comments

A small group of ByteDance’s U.S. investors is discussing with the company’s top management the possibility of joining forces to buy a majority stake in TikTok, said people familiar with the situation, as it grows more difficult for the Chinese-owned company to keep control of the fast-growing video app. The talks appear to be... A small group of ByteDance’s U.S. investors is discussing with the company’s top...

Microsoft President Brad Smith. Photo by Bloomberg

Microsoft President Met With House Antitrust Committee

By Christopher Stern and Nick Wingfield · Jul 20, 2020 5:38pm PDT

Next Monday, a House antitrust subcommittee will grill a quartet of CEOs from Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook, but the committee has already prepped for a related investigation into the sector by quizzing a top executive from another tech giant: Microsoft. Several weeks ago, the subcommittee interviewed Brad Smith, president and chief... Next Monday, a House antitrust subcommittee will grill a quartet of CEOs from Apple, Amazon,...

Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda. Photo by Coursera

Coursera Raises $130 Million Amid Flurry of Ed Tech Deals

By Kate Clark · Jul 17, 2020 1:23pm PDT · 1 comment

Another education technology company is flourishing amid the coronavirus pandemic, as people stuck at home flock to online classes. Coursera, the global online learning platform founded by prominent artificial intelligence researcher Andrew Ng, has raised $130 million in Series F funding, the company confirmed. NEA managing general partner... Another education technology company is flourishing amid the coronavirus pandemic, as people...

Autonomous Trucking Startup Plus.ai in Talks to Raise $60 Million

By Yunan Zhang · Jul 17, 2020 2:41am PDT · 1 comment

Plus.ai, a developer of self-driving trucks based in the U.S. and China, is in talks to raise $60 million, according to two people familiar with the matter.The fundraising, which is still under negotiation, would be led by Hong Kong-based investment and securities firm Guotai Junan International and could value Plus.ai in the range of $600... Plus.ai, a developer of self-driving trucks based in the U.S. and China, is in talks to raise $60...

Former Haven CEO Atul Gawande. Photo by Kelly Davidson

What’s Ailing an Amazon Health Venture

By Paris Martineau · Jul 16, 2020 7:00am PDT · 6 comments

Former Haven CEO Atul Gawande. Photo by Kelly Davidson

What’s Ailing an Amazon Health Venture

By Paris Martineau · Jul 16, 2020 7:00am PDT · 6 comments

In May, when celebrated surgeon and writer Atul Gawande stepped down as CEO of Haven—a high-profile health care venture launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase—he said the move would allow him to focus his energy on combating Covid-19 through policy and advocacy work. But Gawande left the top job at Haven under... In May, when celebrated surgeon and writer Atul Gawande stepped down as CEO of Haven—a...

Greg Greeley, shown in 2017. Photo: Bloomberg

Top Airbnb Executive to Depart Amid Broader Shakeup

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 15, 2020 5:19pm PDT

Greg Greeley, Airbnb’s president of homes and one of the the travel site’s highest-ranking executives, is leaving the company, part of a broader shakeup of Airbnb’s executive team.The former Amazon Prime executive was brought in two years ago to stabilize Airbnb’s core business. The company informed employees about... Greg Greeley, Airbnb’s president of homes and one of the the travel site’s...

Udemy CEO Greg Coccari. Photo: Udemy

Online Education Company Udemy Seeks Funding at $3 Billion Valuation

By Kate Clark · Jul 15, 2020 12:17pm PDT

Udemy, one of the most highly valued education technology companies, is taking advantage of the unusually bright spotlight on online learning to raise more money. At a moment when the coronavirus outbreak is prompting more people to experiment with virtual learning, San Francisco–based Udemy is seeking new funding at a valuation of $3... Udemy, one of the most highly valued education technology companies, is taking advantage of the...

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming. Photo by Bloomberg

ByteDance Plans to Double Down on China Expansion While TikTok Sale Possible

By Yunan Zhang, Shai Oster and Juro Osawa · Jul 15, 2020 9:40am PDT

Facing the threat of a U.S. ban on TikTok, the app’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, has told some investors that it plans to focus more on growth in its home market by expanding into new sectors and trying to develop another hit app, says a ByteDance investor.Even as ByteDance has faced growing international pressure on TikTok, its Chinese... Facing the threat of a U.S. ban on TikTok, the app’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, has told...

Image by Shutterstock

TikTok Agreed to Buy More Than $800 Million in Cloud Services From Google

By Kevin McLaughlin and Amir Efrati · Jul 14, 2020 1:12pm PDT

Image by Shutterstock

TikTok Agreed to Buy More Than $800 Million in Cloud Services From Google

By Kevin McLaughlin and Amir Efrati · Jul 14, 2020 1:12pm PDT

For years, Google Cloud has languished in third place in the cloud computing market, with fewer marquee customers to boast of than rivals Amazon Web Services and Microsoft. Last week, though, word surfaced of a buzzy new customer for Google Cloud—TikTok, the app for sharing short videos that is the year’s runaway social media... For years, Google Cloud has languished in third place in the cloud computing market, with fewer...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

Amazon Alum’s Exit From TV Firm Shows Pitfalls for Tech Execs in Media

By Jessica Toonkel · Jul 13, 2020 10:01am PDT

Amazon alumni have turned up at a wide range of digital and traditional media firms, such as Snap and Disney. But one of the biggest contingents—around 100—has defected to TV firm Discovery, owner of the Discovery Channel, HGTV and Animal Planet, following a former Amazon Marketplace executive, Peter Faricy. He was hired in 2018 to... Amazon alumni have turned up at a wide range of digital and traditional media firms, such as Snap...

Lo Toney of Plexo Capital (left) and Adeyemi Ajao of Base10 Partners. Photo: Plexo, Base10

Venture Capital Firms Pushed to Take Historically Black Colleges as LPs

By Kate Clark · Jul 13, 2020 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

A group of Black venture capital managers is pressing Silicon Valley’s largest firms to commit to including historically Black colleges and universities among their limited partners, the institutions and individuals that provide capital to VC funds and reap the returns. Lo Toney, who spun out Plexo Capital from Alphabet’s... A group of Black venture capital managers is pressing Silicon Valley’s largest firms to...

A TikTok sign at event in Tokyo last year. Photo by Bloomberg

For TikTok, an Amazon Ban That Wasn’t, a Wells Fargo Ban That Was

By Mark Di Stefano, Alex Heath and Paris Martineau · Jul 10, 2020 3:53pm PDT

It was a head-spinning day for TikTok, the hit video-sharing app. Hours after Amazon told employees to delete TikTok from their phones over security concerns, the internet giant publicly reversed its decision after a flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions between the two companies. Amazon’s initial email telling employees to get rid... It was a head-spinning day for TikTok, the hit video-sharing app. Hours after Amazon told...

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaking at the company's online Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Photo by Bloomberg

Apple Reaches New Stage in Development of AR Devices

By Wayne Ma and Yunan Zhang · Jul 10, 2020 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaking at the company's online Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Photo by Bloomberg

Apple Reaches New Stage in Development of AR Devices

By Wayne Ma and Yunan Zhang · Jul 10, 2020 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted key parts of Apple’s business, but it hasn’t derailed the company’s plans to build what could be its next important technology platform—augmented reality devices. The Information has learned that Apple is working with Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology, Apple’s largest contract... The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted key parts of Apple’s business, but it hasn’t...

An Under Armour store in Chicago. Photo by Bloomberg

Under Armour Seeks Buyer for MyFitnessPal App

By Jessica Toonkel and Nick Wingfield · Jul 7, 2020 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

A few years ago, Under Armour made a splashy entrance into the burgeoning market for digital fitness apps with a series of acquisitions. Now, as the coronavirus batters its business, the sports apparel maker has decided to part ways with the biggest of those deals.Under Armour is looking to sell MyFitnessPal, an app it bought in 2015 for around... A few years ago, Under Armour made a splashy entrance into the burgeoning market for digital...

Attendees at the 2018 E3 conference in Los Angeles walk past a booth for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Photo by Bloomberg

Microsoft Expresses Interest in Acquiring Warner Game Unit

By Jessica Toonkel · Jul 6, 2020 11:35am PDT

Microsoft has expressed interest in acquiring the games division of Warner Bros., the publisher behind popular game franchises based on Batman, Harry Potter and other characters, according to two people familiar with the situation.An acquisition of the business, which consists of game development studios scattered around the U.S., Canada and the... Microsoft has expressed interest in acquiring the games division of Warner Bros., the publisher...

Ron Conway (left) and Pharrell Williams. Photos by Bloomberg; AP

Pharrell Williams, Ron Conway Teaming Up for New Venture Fund

By Kate Clark · Jul 2, 2020 4:10pm PDT

Veteran tech investor and SV Angel founder Ron Conway is working with Grammy Award–winning musician Pharrell Williams to raise a venture capital fund, according to two people familiar with the matter. The new fund aims to make investments in startups led by underrepresented minorities.The pair are currently in discussions with limited... Veteran tech investor and SV Angel founder Ron Conway is working with Grammy Award–winning...

Illustration by J.Claeys

Uber CEO Wants to Shift More Engineering Jobs to India, Sparking Internal Debate

By Amir Efrati · Jul 2, 2020 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Illustration by J.Claeys

Uber CEO Wants to Shift More Engineering Jobs to India, Sparking Internal Debate

By Amir Efrati · Jul 2, 2020 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Since Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017, he has been steadily pushing his engineering team to move jobs to India as a way of saving money. Despite some resistance from his top technology executive, Khosrowshahi made progress: about 15% of Uber’s engineering team, or about 600 people, is now in India. That’s up from 80... Since Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017, he has been steadily pushing his engineering...