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Fluffy dog tails could be the next step in robot-human interaction
The IEEE unearthed a fascinating 2013 study that showed that a cute dog tail does more than just amuse — it can communicate. The study, created by Ashish Singh and James Young, posited that a Roomba with a tail attached could communicate quickly and easily with a human — a fast, excited wag means things are going OK, while a slow side to side motion shows disdain. “Any… Read More
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Monzo, a UK digital-only bank, is closing in on new funding led by US-based Thrive Capital
Monzo, one of a number of new digital-only, or so-called “challenger,” banks in the U.K. aiming to re-invent the current account, is closing in on new Series C funding, which could be announced as early as this week. According to multiple sources, U.S.-based Thrive Capital is leading the round. Read More
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Former Uber engineer says company ignored repeated reports of sexual harassment
Former Uber site reliability engineer Susan Fowler accused the company of rampant sexual harassment and human resources negligence in a blog post published today. It’s the latest in a series of events that point to serious questions about Uber’s company culture. When less is more
Money doesn’t necessarily mean freedom. Yet the ability to maneuver in response to business challenges is the one thing a startup founder needs most. Some of these decisions are minor; others are existential. As grueling as it can be to make a call on the hard decisions, it’s much worse to be unable to make a key decision at all. Read More
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Co-founder conflict
Here’s how it felt in the weeks before I resigned from my last startup: I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. Resting pulse at 120. I had reached a point where I couldn’t agree with my co-founder over the future of the company. I had to step away. Every co-founder situation is different, but one common problem revolves around how founders engage in conflict: either not… Read More
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A big apartment management company is suing Airbnb
Oh, how the tables can turn. After suing San Francisco, New York City and Anaheim, Airbnb has found itself on the other side of a lawsuit. Apartment Investment & Management Company (Aimco), which owns or manages about 50,000 properties, is suing Airbnb, saying that the company is deliberately incentivizing people to breach their leases, The Wall Street Journal reported. Aimco, which filed… Read More
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Ford invests $1 billion in Pittsburgh-based Argo AI to build self-driving cars by 2021
Ford has invested $1 billion in a joint venture with Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based company with ties to Carnegie Mellon. The goal is to completely outfit Ford vehicles with self-driving technology. Interestingly this isn’t a case of a large company simply hiring talent but the creation of an entirely separate company with an independent equity structure.
Ford is the “majority… Read More
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The value of venture capital investors and the importance of physical infrastructure
Why is it important to invest via VCs, and do they add value further to the money they invest into a growth business? Furthermore, what role do physical transport links play in terms of business success and innovation in this, the digital age? Postmates now allows drivers to opt out of mandatory arbitration
In fall 2015, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against Postmates that challenged the legality of the company’s mandatory arbitration agreement between it and its contractors. Yesterday, Postmates updated its legal document to offer contractors a way to opt out of mandatory arbitration. Read More
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Blin.gy puts you inside your favorite music video
A green-screen effect, or chroma keying, is nothing new. But it’s not really consumer technology — mainly because of the need for an actual green screen, a static camera and studio-quality lighting. But being able to have a live video background behind you is cool. Meet Blin.gy, a new app that’s figured out how to achieve a “mobile green-screen effect.” Read More
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