The famous phrase “software eats the world” was originally coined to describe how technology gradually replaces the old industrial norms of production. But few realized that when Uber started to “eat” the taxi industry it would also be among the first harbingers of a new wave of what it meant to be “employed.” As similar… Continue reading Insurance platform Collective Benefits raises £3.3M to give gig economy workers a safety net
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Grab and Gojek began discussing a potential merger more than three months ago
After a report that it is considering a potential merger with Grab, Gojek denied that it is planning a deal with its rival, but a source tells TechCrunch that the two companies have been talking for about three and a half months, beginning after Gojek founder and former CEO left the company in October to… Continue reading Grab and Gojek began discussing a potential merger more than three months ago
Tortoise co-founder Dmitry Shevelenko is bringing autonomous scooters to TC Sessions: Mobility
TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 is gearing up to be a lit event. The one-day event, taking place May 14 in San Jose, has just added Dmitry Shevelenko, co-founder and president of an automatic repositioning startup for micromobility vehicles. Yes, that means we’ll be having autonomous scooters rolling around onstage — #2020. Tortoise, which recently received… Continue reading Tortoise co-founder Dmitry Shevelenko is bringing autonomous scooters to TC Sessions: Mobility
Boom says its supersonic XB-1 aircraft test program will be ‘fully carbon neutral’
Commercial aviation isn’t typically the place to look if you’re after carbon-light initiatives. Jet fuel isn’t generally very green, and airplanes burn a lot of it when traversing the skies. But supersonic flight startup Boom wants to change the perception of commercial aviation as an emissions-costly prospect, starting with their testing development program for the… Continue reading Boom says its supersonic XB-1 aircraft test program will be ‘fully carbon neutral’
Cruise can now transport passengers in self-driving cars in CA
Cruise recently received a permit to transport passengers in its autonomous vehicles in California. Granted by the California Public Utilities Commission, the permit is part of the state’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service pilot. As part of the program, Cruise must provide data and reports to the CPUC regarding any incidents, the number of passenger miles… Continue reading Cruise can now transport passengers in self-driving cars in CA
Your next tire change could be performed by a robot
Waiting in a service station waiting room purgatory one day, Victor Darolfi had a simple thought. “I sat at America’s Tires for three hours and thought, hey, we use robots to put tires on at the factory,” the founder explains. “Why don’t we bring robots into the service industry?” The notion was the first seed… Continue reading Your next tire change could be performed by a robot
EV fleet management gets another venture-backed contender as Electriphi raises $3.5 million
Electriphi, a provider of charging management and fleet monitoring software for electric vehicles, has joined the scrum of startups looking to provide services to the growing number of electric vehicle fleets in the U.S. The San Francisco-based company has just raised $3.5 million in seed funding from investors, including Wireframe Ventures, the Urban Innovation Fund… Continue reading EV fleet management gets another venture-backed contender as Electriphi raises $3.5 million
Volocopter extends Series C funding to $94M with backing from logistics giant DB Schenker and others
Autonomous air mobility company Volocopter has added to the Series C funding round it announced in September 2019. The German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft maker announced €50 million ($54 million at today’s exchange rate) in funding at the time, and the C round has now grown to €87 million ($94 million) thanks… Continue reading Volocopter extends Series C funding to $94M with backing from logistics giant DB Schenker and others
Autonomous yard trucking startup Outrider comes out of stealth with $53 million in funding
The 400,000 distribution yards located in the U.S. are critical hubs for the supply chain. Now one startup is aiming to make the yard truck — the centerpiece of the distribution yard — more efficient, safer and cleaner, with an autonomous system. Outrider, a Golden, Colo. startup previously known as Azevtec, came out of stealth… Continue reading Autonomous yard trucking startup Outrider comes out of stealth with $53 million in funding
Gojek reportedly buys 4.3% stake in Indonesian taxi company Blue Bird
Gojek has paid $30 million to take a minority stake in Blue Bird, one of the largest taxi operators in Indonesia, according to Bloomberg, which first reported that the deal was in progress last month. Gojek’s stake in Blue Bird is worth $30 million. The taxi operator’s holding company disclosed in a regulatory filing earlier… Continue reading Gojek reportedly buys 4.3% stake in Indonesian taxi company Blue Bird