The Information

The Information’s 411 — Laurene Powell Jobs and Jenna Lyons (2020 WTF Summit)

By Tom Dotan · Sep 18, 2020 1:16pm PDT

This week we're presenting highlights from two interviews from the WTF Summit earlier this month. Emerson Collective's president Laurene Powell Jobs discusses her group's work on voting access as well as her ownership of The Atlantic magazine. Jenna Lyons, the former creative director for J Crew, talks about starting from the... This week we're presenting highlights from two interviews from the WTF Summit earlier this...

The Information’s 411 — Sanitation Theater

By Tom Dotan · Sep 11, 2020 1:25pm PDT

We speak to some brave souls around the world who ventured back into the movie theater. And Richard Rushfield of The Ankler joins to give his take on how well the movie industry has fared these last two weekends and what it all means for Hollywood. We speak to some brave souls around the world who ventured back into the movie theater. And...

The Information’s 411 — Stripe Tease

By Tom Dotan · Sep 4, 2020 3:33pm PDT

With the TikTok drama getting even messier and tech relations between the U.S. and China at an all-time low, we check in with Jessica Lessin about the latest. Then Cory talks to Kate Clark about how the payments firm Stripe has become a force in venture capital, often edging out established firms to get in on deals. With the TikTok drama getting even messier and tech relations between the U.S. and China at an...

The Information’s 411 — Wherefore Art Thou Domio

By Tom Dotan · Aug 28, 2020 1:26pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — Wherefore Art Thou Domio

By Tom Dotan · Aug 28, 2020 1:26pm PDT

The second part of our Airbnb series looks at Domio, a startup that tried to build a business on the Airbnb platform. Paris tells us how she stumbled across the Domio story and how the company gamed loopholes in city guidelines about short-term rentals. And Cory explains what the Domio saga means for Airbnb as it heads toward an IPO. The second part of our Airbnb series looks at Domio, a startup that tried to build a business on...

The Information’s 411 — Airbnb Fights the Right to Party

By Tom Dotan · Aug 21, 2020 2:25pm PDT

Cory talks about the rise of parties at Airbnb rentals and how it's poised to be a huge headache for the company as it heads down the path of going public. Cory talks about the rise of parties at Airbnb rentals and how it's poised to be a huge...

The Information’s 411 — Benioff at Sea

By Tom Dotan · Aug 14, 2020 12:51pm PDT

Kevin discusses Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO and philanthropist. His profile earlier this week described how Benioff is managing during the pandemic, especially now that Salesforce's marquee event, Dreamforce, appears to be off this year. Also, Tom chats with Alex about Apple's changes to ad tracking and the effect it will have on... Kevin discusses Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO and philanthropist. His profile earlier this...

The Information’s 411 — Tik Talk

By Tom Dotan · Aug 7, 2020 6:49pm PDT

Yunan joins to explain why the TikTok saga and the U.S. government's decision to ban the app, unless it sells to an American company, has hurt the reputation of Zhang Yiming, the CEO of the app's parent company ByteDance. And Cory speaks to Kate about Headspin and the case of the startup that had to give back much of its capital to... Yunan joins to explain why the TikTok saga and the U.S. government's decision to ban the...

The Information’s 411 — Cyberpunk Barons

By Tom Dotan · Jul 31, 2020 5:53pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — Cyberpunk Barons

By Tom Dotan · Jul 31, 2020 5:53pm PDT

It was a big week for tech and politics as the four leaders of the major U.S. tech companies testified in front of the House Antitrust subcommittee. We spoke to Alex Heath and Chris Stern about which CEOs weathered the questions from lawmakers best and where the antitrust investigations go from here. Then Cory speaks to Anissa Gardizy about... It was a big week for tech and politics as the four leaders of the major U.S. tech companies...

The Information’s 411 — I’m a Celebrity…Get Me on Here!

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 24, 2020 10:44am PDT

Cory Weinberg interviews Steven Galanis, the CEO of Cameo, a fast-growing startup that allows major and minor celebrities to send messages to fans. Steven discusses Cameo's growth story, why this is a "new golden age" of consumer apps, and why Apple's app-store monopoly should get government scrutiny. Cory Weinberg interviews Steven Galanis, the CEO of Cameo, a fast-growing startup that allows...

The Information’s 411 — Haven Help Me

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 17, 2020 1:37pm PDT

Paris Martineau discusses her reporting on problems at the secretive healthcare initiative Haven, and what the turmoil tells us about its benefactor Amazon. Four Information reporters give their takes on which companies are ripe for acquisitions. Paris Martineau discusses her reporting on problems at the secretive healthcare initiative Haven,...

The Information’s 411 — Billionaires Without Summer Camp

By Tom Dotan · Jul 10, 2020 4:35pm PDT

Nick Bastone gives us an update on the digital advertising industry and compares the trajectories of Google and Facebook during the second quarter. Jessica Lessin gives her take on whether it matters that the annual Sun Valley conference was called off this year because of the pandemic. Nick Bastone gives us an update on the digital advertising industry and compares the trajectories...

The Information’s 411 — A Little More Moderation

By Tom Dotan · Jul 3, 2020 12:13pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — A Little More Moderation

By Tom Dotan · Jul 3, 2020 12:13pm PDT

We talk with John Redgrave, the CEO of content moderation startup Sentropy, about the challenges of curbing hate speech online. Then Cory checks in on the state of the travel industry with Jon Staff, the CEO of vacation startup Getaway. We talk with John Redgrave, the CEO of content moderation startup Sentropy, about the challenges...

The Information’s 411 — Facebook v Speech

By Tom Dotan · Jun 26, 2020 3:32pm PDT

Alex joins to talk about how Facebook went from hero to heel as America careened from the coronavirus pandemic to the Black Lives Matter protests. Then Chris Stern discusses the state of the antitrust investigations pending against big tech companies and the behind-the-scenes role Pierre Omidyar is playing in advancing the cases.Guests include... Alex joins to talk about how Facebook went from hero to heel as America careened from the...

The Information’s 411 — Party at the Mailbox

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 19, 2020 1:31pm PDT

As part of our Juneteenth episode, we're focusing on how tech companies and tech products can contribute to major policy changes. We talk to Catherine Bracy, executive director of TechEquity Collaborative, about why tech companies should fight for racial justice through property tax reform. Then we hear from Nykidra Robinson, who runs Black... As part of our Juneteenth episode, we're focusing on how tech companies and tech products...

The Information’s 411 — iRobot

By Tom Dotan · Jun 12, 2020 2:26pm PDT

We talk to Wayne Ma about Apple's attempts to have robots handle the manufacturing process at their factories and why it hasn't worked. Then we speak with Kate Clark about the federal paycheck protection program loan and the startups that took advantage of it. Special guests this episode include David Bourne, a scientist at the... We talk to Wayne Ma about Apple's attempts to have robots handle the manufacturing process...

The Information’s 411 — Representation Matters

By Tom Dotan · Jun 5, 2020 5:31pm PDT · 1 comment

The Information’s 411 — Representation Matters

By Tom Dotan · Jun 5, 2020 5:31pm PDT · 1 comment

Cory talks with two black women in tech to see what tech companies have done and still need to do to address racial inequality. Sherrell Dorsey, a journalist and entrepreneur and the founder of The Plug, has been cataloguing the responses from tech companies showing support for the black community. Sarah Kunst, a venture capitalist at Cleo... Cory talks with two black women in tech to see what tech companies have done and still need to do...

The Information’s 411 — Job Mirages

By Tom Dotan · May 29, 2020 4:15pm PDT

Zoe and Cory join to discuss how the pandemic has hit the job market in tech. Zoe talks about the phenomenon of job postings that turn out not to be real. And Cory gives some historical context around how the current job losses in tech compare to previous recessions. Zoe and Cory join to discuss how the pandemic has hit the job market in tech. Zoe talks about the...

The Information’s 411 — TikTok on the Clock

By Tom Dotan · May 22, 2020 3:14pm PDT · 2 comments

Cory joins to discuss Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that Facebook is fully embracing the work from home workforce. We explore the reasons tech is rushing to adopt the policy and whether it will have a big effect on cities. Then Tom gives the backstory on Kevin Mayer, TikTok's new US CEO. He explains what it means for Disney to lose... Cory joins to discuss Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that Facebook is fully embracing the...

The Information’s 411 — The Oracle and the JEDI

By Tom Dotan · May 15, 2020 4:19pm PDT

Chris Stern gives us an update on the ongoing battle to win the Pentagon's cloud computing contract. He explains why Amazon is still fighting to win the account back from Microsoft in the courts. And how Oracle fits into the puzzle. Chris Stern gives us an update on the ongoing battle to win the Pentagon's cloud computing...

The Information’s 411 — Uber in a Pandemic

By Tom Dotan · May 8, 2020 6:48pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — Uber in a Pandemic

By Tom Dotan · May 8, 2020 6:48pm PDT

Amir joins to talk all things ride hailing, including why Uber and Lyft had to undergo massive layoffs. We also explain how Uber's side businesses like food delivery and bikes are on diverging paths during the crisis. Amir joins to talk all things ride hailing, including why Uber and Lyft had to undergo massive...