Joanna Glasner Contributor More posts by this contributor Getting personal: Funding rises for software-driven tastemakers The alumni of these universities raised the most VC in the past year Much of the last couple of decades of innovation has centered around finding ways to get what we want without leaving the sofa. So far, online ordering… Continue reading Robot couriers scoop up early-stage cash
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Shuttle business Via could add scooters to its lineup
Via, a shuttle-based carpooling service and platform that partners with cities in the U.S. and Europe, could soon add scooters to its business. Via CEO and co-founder Daniel Ramot said on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin that the company is experimenting with the idea of adding scooters as a complement to its shuttle business. “We’re also adding scooters… Continue reading Shuttle business Via could add scooters to its lineup
Cruise Automation taps GM president Dan Ammann as its new CEO
Cruise Automation, the self-driving car subsidiary of GM, is getting a new CEO. The autonomous vehicle company, which was acquired by GM in 2016 and became subsidiary GM Cruise, has tapped Dan Ammann as CEO. Ammann (shown on the right in the photo above) will step down as GM’s president, a role he’s held since… Continue reading Cruise Automation taps GM president Dan Ammann as its new CEO
Europe’s ride-hailing companies aren’t scared of Uber
Uber is speeding toward a historic IPO next year that could value it as high as $120 billion, but that doesn’t scare its rivals that operate across Europe. Speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin, Markus Villig — the CEO of $1 billion-valued Taxify — and Via CEO Daniel Ramot, whose company has expanded from Israel into… Continue reading Europe’s ride-hailing companies aren’t scared of Uber
Audi’s e-tron GT concept is an all-electric sedan with some Porsche DNA
Audi is making room in its electric future for more than SUVs or crossovers. After a string of teasers, the German automaker finally unveiled the Audi e-tron GT concept, a four-door all-electric coupe that has some Porsche DNA sprinkled in and that looks a lot like the A7. Audi introduced the concept Wednesday during the… Continue reading Audi’s e-tron GT concept is an all-electric sedan with some Porsche DNA
Phiar raises $3 million for an AR navigation app for drivers
Augmented reality is a very buzzy space, but the fundamental technologies underpinning it are pushing boundaries across a lot of other verticals. Tech like machine learning, object recognition and visual mapping tech are the pillars of plenty of new ventures, enabling there to be companies that thrive in the overlap. Phiar (pronounced fire) is building… Continue reading Phiar raises $3 million for an AR navigation app for drivers
China’s Didi adds driver training program to counter sharp decline in rides
Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hailing company by number of users, has been struggling to recover from a major setback following the deaths of two passengers earlier this year. On Wednesday, its founder and CEO Cheng Wei released a letter detailing the company’s moves to step up safety oversight and meet new government rules, including a training… Continue reading China’s Didi adds driver training program to counter sharp decline in rides
ChargePoint raises $240 million to serve an anticipated flood of electric vehicles
Electric vehicle charging network ChargePoint has raised $240 million in a Series H funding round that attracted a diverse group of investors from the automotive, energy, financial, venture capital, utilities, and even oil and gas industries. New investors in the round include American Electric Power, Chevron Technology Ventures, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Daimler Trucks… Continue reading ChargePoint raises $240 million to serve an anticipated flood of electric vehicles
Turo’s new dongle will let customers instantly find and unlock cars
Turo, the peer-to-peer car-sharing company described as the “Airbnb of cars,” is rolling out a new product that will let users locate and unlock cars right from the app. The new product, called Turo Go, is a dongle and an accompanying service that aims to bolster the number of cars and users on its platform.… Continue reading Turo’s new dongle will let customers instantly find and unlock cars
For a small fee, entrepreneurs can now manage their own fleet of Bird e-scooters
Bird announced today that it will sell its electric scooters to entrepreneurs and small business owners, who can then rent them out as part of a new service called Bird Platform. The company will provide the independent operators with scooters, which they are given free rein to brand as they please, as well as access to… Continue reading For a small fee, entrepreneurs can now manage their own fleet of Bird e-scooters