The PlayStation DualSense controller and PlayStation 5 console. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images Sony is making a bold bet on Africa’s video game industry. The Japanese consumer electronics and gaming giant has invested an undisclosed sum into Carry1st, a video game studio based in Cape Town, South Africa, via its Sony Innovation Fund … Read more
The book traces the following thesis: At first, the internet was open, but limited. Private companies brought interactivity to the web and grew fat on the proceeds, but that made it difficult for users to leave their networks and for competitors to enter the market. The concentration of power in the hands of Big Tech … Read more
TravelPerk CEO and co-founder Avi Meir. TravelPerk Barcelona-based startup TravelPerk, which helps automate corporate travel and expenses, has raised $104 million in fresh funding from Japanese tech investing giant SoftBank and a flood of other names, to invest in artificial intelligence development and new products. The company said Tuesday that it raised the cash in … Read more
The partners of European venture capital firm Plural, from left to right: Ian Hogarth, Taavet Hinrikus, Carina Namih, Sten Tamkivi and Khaled Helioui. Plural The founders of Wise, Skype and Songkick have raised 400 million euros ($436.4 million) for a new fund to back technology startups in Europe. It seeks to compete with established funds … Read more
CNBC is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Disruptor 50 list — our annual look at the most innovative venture-backed companies using breakthrough technology to meet increasing economic and consumer challenges. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 16 at 11:59 pm EST. All independent, privately-owned companies founded after Jan. 1, 2009, are eligible, and … Read more
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins participates at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2023. Hollie Adams | Bloomberg | Getty Images The valuations of some private companies are “going nuts again,” returning to highs not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Cisco’s chief executive. Chuck Robbins told CNBC Tuesday that businesses … Read more
An aerial view shows the Tesla Fremont Factory in Fremont, California on February 10, 2022. Josh Edelson | AFP | Getty Images Tesla is rolling out “market adjustment” pay increases this month to many of its factory workers across the U.S., according to notices posted at the company’s vehicle assembly plant in Fremont, California. Bloomberg … Read more
Europe’s fintech sector is fiercely competitive, with privately-held start-ups worth tens of billions of dollars vying to steal market share from incumbent banks. Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images The fintech industry saw more pain in 2023, with overall investment falling by half as higher interest rates and worsening macroeconomic conditions caused investors to … Read more
In 2022, only 2.1% of venture capital investments in the U.S. went to businesses that are founded solely by women. But some say the gap may be closing. Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images Starting a business is always challenging and while women have historically faced additional challenges, some female founders say the landscape is … Read more
Omar Marques | Lightrocket | Getty Images Anthropic, the OpenAI rival founded by ex-OpenAI employees, is in talks to raise a $750 million funding round led by Menlo Ventures, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told CNBC. The round would value Anthropic at up to $18.4 billion, per the source familiar — nearly … Read more
