Spotify today took another step in its efforts to build out services for artists to help diversify itself away from a business model predicated on paying music streaming royalties to labels: it has acquired SoundBetter, a music production marketplace for artists, producers, and musicians to connect on specific projects; and for people who are looking to…
It’s a situation I’m all too familiar with from my years working in the London start-up scene. It is a dog-eat-dog environment where it came to attracting, poaching, and holding on to talent. At every company I worked for, I was constantly being offered cash incentives to refer candidates for the many roles that needed…
Hello Ladies, let’s talk about periods, privacy, and Facebook. Are you using an app on your smartphone to keep tracks on your periods? Well, it’s worrying, because it might be sharing your extremely sensitive information like menstrual cycle and sexual activities with Facebook. A new investigative report from UK-based advocacy group Privacy International revealed how…
In little more than three weeks, San Francisco will be all aglow with TechCrunch’s Disrupt SF (October 2-4) at the Moscone Center. If you’re a part of the startup scene, or plan to be, there is a long list of reasons why you should join the event. (And there is a pass priced for most…
Sex, despite being one of the most fundamental human experiences, is still one of those businesses that some advertisers reject, banks are hesitant to financially support and some investors don’t want to fund. Given how sex is such a huge part of our lives, it’s no surprise founders are looking to capitalize on the space.…
Oh, be still my heart. It’s not The Office reunion special/season/complete series everyone wants, but it’ll do for now: Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (… Angela) are setting up to release a podcast together. Called “Office Ladies” (though I hope “Party Planning Committee” was at least in the running), they’re going to rewatch the…
It could just be a better job offer, but WeWork’s top communications executive, Jennifer Skyler, has announced to her contacts that she is leaving the co-working giant to become the chief corporate affairs officer at American Express later this fall. Skyler joined WeWork four years ago as its first communications hire, after spending three years…
Walmart is expanding its brand-new “Delivery Unlimited” grocery delivery membership program to more stores across the U.S., with plans to reach over 50% of the country by year-end. The new program allows regular grocery delivery customers to pay either an annual fee of $98 or $12.95 on a monthly basis instead of paying the usual…
McDonald’s has announced a deal to acquire Silicon Valley speech recognition startup Apprente for an undisclosed fee. It is the burger chain’s second acquisition of an artificial intelligence (AI) software firm in less than six months. Both newly-acquired Apprente and recently-acquired Dynamic Yield have been drafted in to automate its drive-through experience for customers, with…
Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised a more powerful powertrain option in future Model S, Model X and the next-generation Roadster sports car that will push acceleration and speed beyond the current high bar known as Ludicrous mode. Musk tweeted Wednesday evening “the only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid,” a teaser to a higher performing vehicle…
