CDK Global buys vehicle the e-commerce platform Roadster for $360 million

Roadster, the Palo Alto-based digital platform that gives dealers tools to sell new and used vehicles online has been acquired for $360 million by retail automotive technology company CDK Global Inc., according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. As part of the all-cash deal, Roadster is now a wholly owned subsidiary. Roadster’s business model… Continue reading CDK Global buys vehicle the e-commerce platform Roadster for $360 million

Rideshare drivers gather in NYC in hopes of unionizing

Protesters gathered in bright red t-shirts and matching masks bearing the Independent Drivers Guild logo. Placards bearing slogans like “Freeze Hiring, Reactive Workers Now!” and “Unlock Uber” were being handed out at a table toward the entrance. What the gathering lacked in sheer numbers, it made up with enthusiasm. A wide range of speakers approached… Continue reading Rideshare drivers gather in NYC in hopes of unionizing

Faction raises $4.3M to deploy 3-wheeled EVs for driverless delivery

Faction Technology founder and CEO Ain McKendrick didn’t have the $1 billion or the time that a typical automotive program might need to design and manufacture an EV that could be used for driverless delivery. So, he turned to power sports to fulfill his vision of a micro-logistics service that can be used for driverless… Continue reading Faction raises $4.3M to deploy 3-wheeled EVs for driverless delivery

Taking Lyft’s new e-bike for a spin

The bike had none of the usual signage when I took it for a spin around the chaotic and construction-filled streets of Manhattan. It very much looked like a prototype, with visible soldering on the joints and a not-quite-complete AV system. But it handled well, when merging in and out of traffic — and at… Continue reading Taking Lyft’s new e-bike for a spin

Synctera raises $33M Series A to pair fintechs with banks

Synctera, which aims to serve as a matchmaker for community banks and fintechs, has raised $33 million in a Series A round of funding led by Fin VC. The raise comes just under six months after the fintech raised $12.4 million in a seed round of funding. New investors Mastercard and Gaingels also participated in… Continue reading Synctera raises $33M Series A to pair fintechs with banks

Tesla files trademark, hinting at Elon Musk’s restaurant concept plans

Tesla has recently filed a new trademark for its brand under restaurant services, a sign the company might be finally gearing up to deliver on an idea that CEO Elon Musk and other company executives have discussed publicly since at least 2017. The company applied for three new trademarks that will cover the categories of:… Continue reading Tesla files trademark, hinting at Elon Musk’s restaurant concept plans

Former head of Alphabet’s Loon joins Starship Technologies as new CEO

Autonomous robotics company Starship Technologies has a new CEO. The company on Tuesday said Alastair Westgarth, the former CEO of Alphabet’s Loon, would be leading the company as it looks to expand its robotics delivery service. Westgarth previously headed Loon, Alphabet’s experiment to deliver broadband via high-altitude balloons, from 2017. The project shut down for… Continue reading Former head of Alphabet’s Loon joins Starship Technologies as new CEO

7-Eleven to install 500 EV charging stations by the end of 2022

Convenience stores are ubiquitous – and they sell the vast majority of gas purchased by consumers in the United States. But as more Americans transition to electric vehicles, a major reason people visit convenience stores will disappear. Industry giant 7-Eleven is looking to capture this growing market of EV drivers. The company said Tuesday it… Continue reading 7-Eleven to install 500 EV charging stations by the end of 2022

Belvo, LatAm’s answer to Plaid, raises $43M to scale its API for financial services

Belvo, a Latin American startup which has built an open finance API platform, announced today it has raised $43 million in a Series A round of funding. A mix of Silicon Valley and Latin American-based VC firms and angels participated in the financing including Future Positive, Kibo Ventures, FJ Labs, Kaszek, MAYA Capital, Venture Friends,… Continue reading Belvo, LatAm’s answer to Plaid, raises $43M to scale its API for financial services

Freight forwarder Sennder raises $80M at a $1B+ valuation

Freight forwarding — the process of organising how and where items will be shipped around the world, and specifically the technology that underpins that work — continues to be a huge area of the logistics market, not least because of the huge boom in e-commerce in the last year, and because of the Covid-19-mandated need… Continue reading Freight forwarder Sennder raises $80M at a $1B+ valuation