The Information

Snap Chief Strategy Officer Imran Khan on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange when Snap went public in March. Photo by Bloomberg.

Why Snap Is Putting a Lid on Costs

By Tom Dotan · Oct 25, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

In the summer of 2016, a team of Snap engineers began building a feature known as Snap Map, which would display people’s locations and publicly posted stories on a map. Then, a month before its release to the public last June, Snap acquired Zenly, a French company that had a similar mapping product.The news took many people who worked on... In the summer of 2016, a team of Snap engineers began building a feature known as Snap Map, which...

DFJ founding partner Steve Jurvetson. Photo by Bloomberg.

DFJ Investigating Allegations About Jurvetson

By Serena Saitto and Amir Efrati · Oct 24, 2017 4:23pm PDT · 8 comments

DFJ, the 32-year-old venture capital firm that backed Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX, has hired an external law firm to investigate allegations against founding partner Steve Jurvetson, the firm said.The Menlo Park, Calif. based firm started the investigation in August after rumors began circulating about Mr. Jurvetson, prompting press... DFJ, the 32-year-old venture capital firm that backed Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX, has...

Uber's headquarters in San Francisco. Photo by AP.

Two Women File Complaints Against Uber Over Unequal Pay

By Priya Anand · Oct 24, 2017 9:08am PDT

Two women have filed complaints with the state of California against Uber for allegedly paying them less than men in similar roles. The previously unreported claims were filed with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency this summer through the Private Attorneys General Act, in what is typically the first step toward a public... Two women have filed complaints with the state of California against Uber for allegedly paying...

Sources: theBoardlist and Qualtrics

Boards Stay Silent on Sexual Harassment

By Serena Saitto · Oct 24, 2017 7:01am PDT · 8 comments

Sources: theBoardlist and Qualtrics

Boards Stay Silent on Sexual Harassment

By Serena Saitto · Oct 24, 2017 7:01am PDT · 8 comments

Only 23% of company boards have discussed sexual harassment or gender discrimination in recent months, according to a survey of 600 company directors done in August. And only 12% of boards have taken any action to address the issues in their companies. The findings suggest that an onslaught of sexual harassment allegations against business... Only 23% of company boards have discussed sexual harassment or gender discrimination in recent...

Photo: Bloomberg

After Beating Uber, Didi Faces New Rivals in China

By Yunan Zhang, Juro Osawa and Shai Oster · Oct 23, 2017 10:00am PDT · 2 comments

Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing is facing fresh competition at home, as companies such as on-demand services app Meituan-Dianping see an opportunity to leverage their huge customer base in new areas. When Uber abandoned China last year, many thought Didi had won the battle to become the country’s dominant ride-hailing service.... Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing is facing fresh competition at home, as companies such...

Customers standing outside Snap's Spectacles store in New York in December last year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Snap’s Misfire on Spectacles

By Tom Dotan and Reed Albergotti · Oct 23, 2017 7:00am PDT · 4 comments

Snap badly overestimated demand for its Spectacles and now has hundreds of thousands of unsold units sitting in warehouses, either fully assembled or in parts, according to two people close to the company. The disclosure undercuts Snap CEO Evan Spiegel’s recent contention that Spectacles sales of more than 150,000 had topped the... Snap badly overestimated demand for its Spectacles and now has hundreds of thousands of unsold...

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

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...

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 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

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...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo: Bloomberg

Airbnb Tackles Home Improvements

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 12, 2017 12:12pm PDT

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo: Bloomberg

Airbnb Tackles Home Improvements

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 12, 2017 12:12pm PDT

For years, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has told employees that one of his regrets about how he shaped the company was that it didn’t vet hosts to make sure their homes were high quality, two people who spoke with him said. Now that the company plans to launch a program that will spotlight hand-picked homes, it is grappling with how to manage... For years, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has told employees that one of his regrets about how he shaped...

Spotify's offices in Berlin. Photo: Bloomberg

Fast Growth, Losses Continue as Spotify Eyes IPO

By Alfred Lee · Oct 12, 2017 7:03am PDT

As eyes turn to a potential Spotify public offering next year, the company’s recent financial performance might bolster its case to investors. But questions about profitability remain.The music streaming service recorded revenue of 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in the first half of this year, according to two people briefed on the... As eyes turn to a potential Spotify public offering next year, the company’s recent...

Bill Gurley of Benchmark and Masayoshi Son of SoftBank. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank, Benchmark Face Final Hurdle in Uber Deal

By Serena Saitto and Amir Efrati · Oct 11, 2017 2:38pm PDT · 1 comment

It’s been a week since the Uber board agreed, in theory, to sell between $7 billion and $10 billion worth of Uber’s shares to SoftBank—yet nothing has happened. The reason: SoftBank and major Uber investors, including Benchmark, still haven’t been able to agree on the deal’s structure and price.Benchmark wants every... It’s been a week since the Uber board agreed, in theory, to sell between $7 billion and $10...

Huawei executive Richard Yu. Photo: Bloomberg

Huawei Hosts Private AI Confab in Vancouver

By Juro Osawa · Oct 11, 2017 10:02am PDT

Some executives and researchers from Amazon.com, Microsoft and Google are gathered this week in Vancouver, to talk artificial intelligence. Their host: Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies.The conference, which Huawei kept confidential and didn’t announce, reflects the Chinese company’s eagerness to work more closely with American... Some executives and researchers from Amazon.com, Microsoft and Google are gathered this week in...

An Auro autonomous shuttle. Photo by Auro

Ridecell Acquires Auro, Maker of Self-Driving Shuttles

By Amir Efrati · Oct 6, 2017 1:31pm PDT · 2 comments

An Auro autonomous shuttle. Photo by Auro

Ridecell Acquires Auro, Maker of Self-Driving Shuttles

By Amir Efrati · Oct 6, 2017 1:31pm PDT · 2 comments

Ridecell, a software startup in the car-sharing and ride-sharing market, is buying Auro Robotics, one of the earliest autonomous vehicle startups, Auro CEO Nalin Gupta confirmed to The Information, without elaborating. The all-stock deal is likely to value Auro at around $20 million, said a person briefed on the deal.Auro equips off-the-shelf... Ridecell, a software startup in the car-sharing and ride-sharing market, is buying Auro Robotics,...