The Information

Southeast Asia's online travel market is expected to more than quadruple to $90 billion by 2025 , driven in part by strong demand for low-cost flights. Photo by AP.

Expedia to Invest $350M in Indonesia’s Traveloka

By Juro Osawa · Jul 27, 2017 8:44am PDT · 1 comment

Expedia is investing about $350 million in Southeast Asia’s biggest local online travel portal, as the U.S. company tries to increase its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, people familiar with the matter said. Indonesia-based Traveloka, which operates in six countries in Southeast Asia, is raising a total of... Expedia is investing about $350 million in Southeast Asia’s biggest local online travel...

A Snap sign at the New York Stock Exchange. Photo by Bloomberg.

Snap’s General Counsel Stepping Down

By Tom Dotan · Jul 25, 2017 1:10pm PDT

Snap’s general counsel Chris Handman has stepped down, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Mr. Handman announced the news in an email to the company employees last week, saying that he was staying on as an advisor.Mr. Handman had been with the company since mid-2014, having joined after many years as a partner at Hogan... Snap’s general counsel Chris Handman has stepped down, citing a desire to spend more time...

AWS CEO Andy Jassy. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon Considering New Cloud Service to Combat Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 20, 2017 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

Executives at Amazon Web Services used to pride themselves on ignoring products offered by rivals like Microsoft and Google. Not anymore.AWS is considering developing a new cloud service based on a Google-created software tool called Kubernetes, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Used to run many applications at the same... Executives at Amazon Web Services used to pride themselves on ignoring products offered by rivals...

Toutiao's app on a smartphone. Photo by Mike Sullivan.

How a News Startup Caught China’s Tencent by Surprise

By Juro Osawa · Jul 19, 2017 7:00am PDT · 5 comments

Toutiao's app on a smartphone. Photo by Mike Sullivan.

How a News Startup Caught China’s Tencent by Surprise

By Juro Osawa · Jul 19, 2017 7:00am PDT · 5 comments

In a lush valley near the ancient Silk Road’s starting point in Western China, young farmer Wang Zheng checks his smartphone for chicken feed tips and egg prices. Mr. Wang is using a news app called Jinri Toutiao—“today’s headlines” in English—whose machine-learning algorithm feeds him personally tailored... In a lush valley near the ancient Silk Road’s starting point in Western China, young farmer...

Turo’s rental-agency rivals say the car-sharing startup has enjoyed an unfair advantage because it doesn’t pay airport fees. Photo by Bloomberg.

Turo Eyes New Funding as Car-Sharing Fight Revs Up

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 17, 2017 3:29pm PDT · 4 comments

Turo, which runs an Airbnb-like marketplace for car rentals, is looking to raise about $100 million in a funding round that would value the company at roughly $700 million, two people familiar with the matter said.The round, which is expected to close by next month, could position the under-the-radar company for a more prominent role in the... Turo, which runs an Airbnb-like marketplace for car rentals, is looking to raise about $100...

VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger. Photo by Bloomberg.

Next Phase of AWS-VMware Venture Could Be Data Center Software

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 17, 2017 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Amazon Web Services is discussing developing software for corporate data centers with its one-time arch enemy, VMware, said a person with knowledge of the plans. The deal, if struck, would shake up the enterprise software industry by expanding AWS’s customer base significantly and help the Michael Dell-controlled VMware retain its... Amazon Web Services is discussing developing software for corporate data centers with its...

David VanderWaal, vice president of marketing for LG Electronics USA and Michael George, vice president of Alexa, Echo, and Appstore at Amazon, discussing an LG-Amazon Alex partnership at CES this year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facing New Rivals, Amazon May Open Up Alexa Data for Developers

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 12, 2017 10:01am PDT · 4 comments

Amazon.com is mulling a far-reaching policy change that would give Alexa developers access to raw transcripts of what people say when using Alexa applications, said three people familiar with the matter. It comes as the market for voice-activated speakers and digital assistants is getting more crowded, spotlighting the value of signing up... Amazon.com is mulling a far-reaching policy change that would give Alexa developers access to raw...

Union Square Ventures partner Fred Wilson. Photo by Bloomberg.

Risks Facing VCs Planning to Invest in Cryptocurrencies

By Jon Victor and Serena Saitto · Jul 12, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Union Square Ventures partner Fred Wilson. Photo by Bloomberg.

Risks Facing VCs Planning to Invest in Cryptocurrencies

By Jon Victor and Serena Saitto · Jul 12, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Some venture capital firms, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures, are planning to invest in initial coin offerings, giving them direct exposure to cryptocurrencies after years of investing in startups operating in the sector. Making such investments would be risky and unorthodox for VCs.ICOs are crowdfunding campaigns... Some venture capital firms, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures, are...

A man walking past Ofo bikes in Shanghai last May. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank May Invest in Chinese Bike Rental Firm Ofo

By Shai Oster, Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jul 11, 2017 8:14am PDT

Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group is in talks to invest in Chinese bike rental firm Ofo, people familiar with the matter said, the latest sign of how the hugely popular bike-sharing business in China is drawing big name investors. Ofo’s backers already include Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group, ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing and... Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group is in talks to invest in Chinese bike rental firm Ofo,...

Advocates of housing development in the Bay Area often run up against zoning laws and local objections to development. Photo: Bloomberg

Tech Leaders Seek Bigger Political Role With Housing Push

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 10, 2017 10:00am PDT · 5 comments

A small group of executives at tech companies like Microsoft, Stripe and Yelp are organizing and funding a new effort to sway policy that would make way for more housing development in California—a political debate that industry leaders have largely avoided until now. Led by Microsoft executive Nat Friedman, Pantheon CEO Zack Rosen and San... A small group of executives at tech companies like Microsoft, Stripe and Yelp are organizing and...

Jawbone co-founder Hosain Rahman. Photo by Bloomberg

Jawbone to Be Liquidated as Rahman Moves to Health Startup

By Reed Albergotti · Jul 6, 2017 1:45pm PDT · 5 comments

Jawbone, the consumer electronics firm once valued at $3 billion, is going out of business. The company has begun liquidation proceedings, after years of financial pressures, according to a person close to Jawbone. Jawbone co-founder and CEO Hosain Rahman has founded a new company called Jawbone Health Hub that will make health-related... Jawbone, the consumer electronics firm once valued at $3 billion, is going out of business. The...

Joe Zadeh, Airbnb’s vice president of product. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Airbnb Restructures to Grow Business Beyond Home Rentals

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 6, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

Joe Zadeh, Airbnb’s vice president of product. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Airbnb Restructures to Grow Business Beyond Home Rentals

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 6, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

As Airbnb has diversified into new businesses like luxury home rentals and travel tours, the company’s organizational structure has begun to show the strain, say current and former employees. Reporting chains seemed muddled while information flowed slowly across product teams. CEO Brian Chesky turned to executives from Apple, Facebook,... As Airbnb has diversified into new businesses like luxury home rentals and travel tours, the...

Kate Mitchell, co-chair of the NVCA diversity task force. Photo by Bloomberg.

VCs Draft Code of Conduct to Battle Sexual Harassment

By Hannah Natanson · Jul 5, 2017 10:01am PDT · 12 comments

A group of roughly 30 venture capitalists are drafting a “code of conduct” for members of the industry that will set clear standards for unacceptable behavior—such as sexual harassment of founders—and will outline penalties for violators.The proposed code will demand that venture capital firms establish... A group of roughly 30 venture capitalists are drafting a “code of conduct” for...

Uber co-founder Garrett Camp. Photo by Bloomberg.

Conflicts Simmer on Uber’s Board

By Amir Efrati · Jul 5, 2017 7:01am PDT

Uber’s board of directors has never been more important. Eight of the company’s top 13 executives have departed, including CEO Travis Kalanick. That puts the onus on the board to steer the ship. But to do that, directors will have to overcome differences in agendas and loyalties. And they will have to get to know each other. Three of... Uber’s board of directors has never been more important. Eight of the company’s top...

Jason Mudrick, founder of Mudrick Capital Management, a director and part owner of Dex Media. Photo by Bloomberg.

Dex Media to Combine With YP

By Amir Efrati · Jun 29, 2017 5:29pm PDT · 4 comments

Dex Media and YP, two giants of the phone book era that have moved into local-business marketing online, are finalizing a deal to combine, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The combination would position the company to better compete with a slew of companies selling digital marketing tools to small businesses, such as Web.com,... Dex Media and YP, two giants of the phone book era that have moved into local-business marketing...

Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma. Photo by Bloomberg.

Alibaba Plans Echo-Like Device for China

By Juro Osawa · Jun 29, 2017 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma. Photo by Bloomberg.

Alibaba Plans Echo-Like Device for China

By Juro Osawa · Jun 29, 2017 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce and cloud-computing company, plans to unveil a Chinese voice-controlled speaker similar to Amazon’s Echo as early as next week, people familiar with the matter said. Alibaba’s new product could create more competition for Apple in China if the U.S. company releases its HomePod there.While... Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce and cloud-computing company, plans to unveil a Chinese...

Wilmington, Delaware. Photo by Getty Images.

Tech Startups Find Ways to Shield Key Information

By Alfred Lee · Jun 27, 2017 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

Here is the latest innovation being pursued by some Silicon Valley startups: finding ways to disclose less information in their publicly filed company charters.A small but growing number of private tech companies are asking lawyers to find ways to move information out of their founding documents, and away from the eyes of journalists and other... Here is the latest innovation being pursued by some Silicon Valley startups: finding ways to...

Binary's former partner Justin Caldbeck with the remaining partner, Jonathan Teo. Photo by Peter DaSilva.

Investors Moving to Pull Out of Binary

By Reed Albergotti · Jun 26, 2017 7:01pm PDT · 2 comments

A group of major investors behind Binary Capital were pushing late Monday to withdraw funding commitments for the venture firm, which has been caught up in a controversy over unwanted and inappropriate advances made to seven Silicon Valley women by Binary co-founder Justin Caldbeck. Cancellation of funding commitments would prevent Binary from... A group of major investors behind Binary Capital were pushing late Monday to withdraw funding...

Uber's Chief Technology Officer Thuan Pham, center, with fellow engineers.

How Uber’s Top Engineer Saved His Job

By Amir Efrati · Jun 23, 2017 5:41pm PDT · 2 comments

As Uber struggles to rebuild its management team and board, its leaders are snuffing out internal fires too. One of the biggest: turmoil within its 2,000-person engineering team, the center of Susan Fowler’s now famous sexual harassment and bullying allegations.In the hotseat is CTO Thuan Pham, who Ms. Fowler said failed to act on her... As Uber struggles to rebuild its management team and board, its leaders are snuffing out internal...

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

Travis Kalanick’s Power Dented but Not Gone

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2017 7:39pm PDT

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

Travis Kalanick’s Power Dented but Not Gone

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2017 7:39pm PDT

Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, who quit as CEO on Tuesday, has told at least one person close to Uber’s board that he is planning to be directly involved in the search for his replacement. His prerequisites for the job, not surprisingly, resemble an executive in Mr. Kalanick’s own image. That could complicate the board’s CEO... Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, who quit as CEO on Tuesday, has told at least one person close...