The Information

An AWS office in Virginia. Photo by AP

Can’t Code? AWS Project Aims to Attract Broader Range of Users

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 18, 2018 10:02am PST

Amazon is entering the “no-code" game. The cloud leader wants to enable business users who aren't engineers to build customized apps solving specific problems, merely by dragging and dropping app components into a graphical interface. Google and Microsoft, among others, got a head start in the market for so-called... Amazon is entering the “no-code" game. The cloud leader wants to enable business users...

Ofo bikes parked in Shanghai last year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Inside Alibaba and Didi’s Tussle Over a Multibillion Dollar Startup

By Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jan 18, 2018 7:02am PST · 1 comment

Last fall, Didi Chuxing tried to get bike-sharing company Ofo to merge with main competitor Mobike. The attempt, led by Didi and other Ofo investors, failed because the bike startups strongly opposed it, according to people familiar with the talks. Then Didi, Ofo’s largest shareholder, changed course and launched its own bike-sharing... Last fall, Didi Chuxing tried to get bike-sharing company Ofo to merge with main competitor...

Clockwise from top left: Amish Jani; Hemant Taneja; Mike Volpi; John Frankel; Joe Lonsdale; Navin Chaddha; Scott Sandell; John Doerr. Photos: Messrs. Jani, Taneja and Doerr via TechCrunch; other via Bloomberg.

How Many Board Seats Is Too Many?

By Alfred Lee · Jan 17, 2018 7:01am PST · 4 comments

Scandals at Uber and SoFi have led to renewed calls for stronger board oversight in Silicon Valley. But is that possible from a director who sits on 18 boards?The Information identified at least 24 venture capitalists who hold nine or more directorships at technology companies, including partners at Benchmark, Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen... Scandals at Uber and SoFi have led to renewed calls for stronger board oversight in Silicon...

Uber's headquarters. Photo by AP

The Numbers Uber Shows Investors

By Amir Efrati · Jan 11, 2018 11:29am PST · 5 comments

Uber's headquarters. Photo by AP

The Numbers Uber Shows Investors

By Amir Efrati · Jan 11, 2018 11:29am PST · 5 comments

If you're curious about the details of Uber's finances, check out the table below.It shows Uber’s financial statements for two quarters of 2016 and 2017, including revenue and the ride-hailing giant’s three main categories of costs. One is operating expenses, including marketing to attract riders and drivers. Another is... If you're curious about the details of Uber's finances, check out the table below.It...

Francis Davidson and Lucas Pellan, cofounders of Sonder. Photo by Sonder.

Airbnb Fuels Boutique Rental Startups, but Regulatory Risks Loom

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 10, 2018 10:38am PST · 1 comment

A new breed of vacation rental startup offering upscale apartments to tourists is attracting interest from venture capital firms. But some investors are staying away, worried that tight regulations in some of North America’s hottest real estate markets will limit the startups’ growth. Two early entrants in the market, Sonder and... A new breed of vacation rental startup offering upscale apartments to tourists is attracting...

A Voyage self-driving car. Photo by Voyage.

When Self-Driving Car Startups Go Private

By Amir Efrati · Jan 10, 2018 7:01am PST

Every weekday at 4 p.m., retirees Irene and Daniel Grim use an app to summon a self-driving car. Operated by the startup Voyage, the car takes them from their San Jose home to a gym a mile and a half away, all inside in a private, gated community.Voyage has an exclusive deal to operate its “robotaxi” prototypes within the San Jose... Every weekday at 4 p.m., retirees Irene and Daniel Grim use an app to summon a self-driving car....

Photo by Bloomberg

China’s Didi Misses December Ride Target, Declares ‘War of the Century’

By Yunan Zhang · Jan 9, 2018 11:02am PST · 3 comments

Didi Chuxing missed its target for the number of daily rides taken in December, according to internal data seen by The Information, sparking concerns about growth for the world’s biggest ride-hailing company.The shortfall—which could reflect new local government rules on ride-hailing and competition from bike-rental... Didi Chuxing missed its target for the number of daily rides taken in December, according to...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

Photo: Bloomberg

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

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

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....

Illustration by Mike Sullivan

Google Ramps Up Mobile Chipmaking With Talent From Apple

By Aaron Tilley · Dec 21, 2017 9:47am PST · 4 comments

Google has hired John Bruno, a well-regarded chip designer from Apple who had worked on the company’s series of iPhone chips since 2012. The hiring is part of a brewing effort by Google to design its own chipsets for consumer devices like the Pixel phone.Mr. Bruno follows a number of other experienced chip engineers who have defected to... Google has hired John Bruno, a well-regarded chip designer from Apple who had worked on the...

Didi President Jean Liu. Photo by Bloomberg.

China’s Didi in Talks to Buy Brazil’s 99, Threatening Uber

By Yunan Zhang · Dec 21, 2017 5:27am PST · 1 comment

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is in talks to buy a majority stake in Brazilian ride hailing app 99, according to a person familiar with the talks. If the deal is completed, it would threaten Uber, which now dominates the Brazilian market.It could also accelerate a broader reorganization in the global ride-sharing sector pursued by Didi... Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is in talks to buy a majority stake in Brazilian ride...

A Pinterest-branded banner on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Pinterest, After Just Missing 2017 Revenue Target, Plans Sales Ramp-Up

By Amir Efrati, Alfred Lee and Serena Saitto · Dec 20, 2017 3:39pm PST

Pinterest is likely to slightly fall short of its revenue projection for 2017, says a person briefed on the numbers. The company is expected to wait until 2019 to go public, giving it more time to accelerate growth and justify its $12.3 billion valuation, say people familiar with the situation. Pinterest, which people use to bookmark and search... Pinterest is likely to slightly fall short of its revenue projection for 2017, says a person...

An artists' rendering of the roof deck at Treehouse's first Los Angeles apartment building. Image by Treehouse.

Startups Take On More Risk to Popularize ‘Co-Living’

By Cory Weinberg · Dec 20, 2017 10:02am PST · 2 comments

An artists' rendering of the roof deck at Treehouse's first Los Angeles apartment building. Image by Treehouse.

Startups Take On More Risk to Popularize ‘Co-Living’

By Cory Weinberg · Dec 20, 2017 10:02am PST · 2 comments

Venture capitalists have been slow to warm to startups wanting to rent out shared living spaces like college dorms. Now, new coliving companies have emerged with a different approach to the business—one they say promises a higher return but carries much more risk.The new approach, pursued by startups like Starcity and Treehouse, involves... Venture capitalists have been slow to warm to startups wanting to rent out shared living spaces...

OfferUp CEO Nick Huzar. Photo by Bloomberg.

Sequoia, SoftBank Passed On OfferUp Investment

By Serena Saitto · Dec 15, 2017 5:38pm PST

Would-be Craigslist competitor OfferUp has been trying to raise about $100 million in financing for at least five months, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. It’s been tough going, a sign of how quickly tech startups can lose popularity among investors.Prominent tech investors, including Sequoia Capital and... Would-be Craigslist competitor OfferUp has been trying to raise about $100 million in financing...

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and People VP Jason Halbert. Art by Mike Sullivan

Employee Complaints About Snap Personnel Chief Led to Outside Inquiry

By Tom Dotan · Dec 15, 2017 2:43pm PST · 1 comment

There might not be a more unique, or controversial, human resources chief than Snap’s Jason Halbert, a decorated ex-military officer who served two tours in Afghanistan.Mr. Halbert, who came to Snap with no experience in corporate human resources but is close to CEO Evan Spiegel, is infamous for regaling the staff with military stories... There might not be a more unique, or controversial, human resources chief than Snap’s Jason...

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. Photo: Bloomberg

New Hurdle for SoftBank’s Uber Investment: Regulatory Review

By Juro Osawa, Shai Oster and Serena Saitto · Dec 14, 2017 10:52am PST · 1 comment

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s global buying spree is running into a potentially significant roadblock: the U.S. government.The fate of Mr. Son’s most ambitious moves, including the financing of his $100 billion Vision Fund and SoftBank’s proposed investment in Uber, hinges in part on the approval of the Committee on Foreign... SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s global buying spree is running into a potentially...

A Lyft car. Photo by Bloomberg.

Lyft Rejiggers Leadership Team as It Tackles Driver Costs

By Amir Efrati · Dec 13, 2017 9:33am PST · 1 comment

A Lyft car. Photo by Bloomberg.

Lyft Rejiggers Leadership Team as It Tackles Driver Costs

By Amir Efrati · Dec 13, 2017 9:33am PST · 1 comment

The manager of Lyft’s growth group, Ran Makavy, has been promoted to also oversee engineering, product, and design at the ride-hailing firm, said two people briefed about the change. Mr. Makavy, a former Facebook manager who joined in early 2016, is now one of the most powerful executives at the company aside from its co-founders. (See... The manager of Lyft’s growth group, Ran Makavy, has been promoted to also oversee...