Wework IPO: Is the coworking giant still working for investors? September 17, 2019 Wework today revealed it will push back plans for its closely-watched initial public offering (IPO) after more and more investors gave the coworking giant the cold shoulder. Parent group We Company has been hampered by cooling investor appetite and has even reportedly slashed its planned valuation in half to $20bn (£16bn) in a bid to [...]
Elon Musk claims ‘pedo guy’ insult was not accusation September 17, 2019 Tech billionaire Elon Musk said he did not intend to accuse a British diver of paedophilia by calling him a “pedo guy” on Twitter. The Tesla founder last night sought to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by diver Vernon Unsworth, saying the phrase was a “common insult used in South Africa when I was growing [...]
Ranked: The most popular employers for UK tech talent September 17, 2019 Monzo, Skyscanner and the BBC are the most desirable companies to work for among UK tech talent, according to a survey published today. The survey, compiled by recruitment firm Hired, revealed fintech firms remain among the most attractive employers for techies, with Transferwise, Starling Bank and Revolut all making it into the top 10. Read [...]
Digital battlegrounds: The war between big tech and regulators September 17, 2019 We now live in the age of the internet of things, where voice-sniffing devices abound, and consumers have the convenience of tailored search suggestions. Perhaps it is Amazon’s Alexa – revealed earlier this year to be forever listening to its users’ conversations – that provides the emblem of the age. However, while such devices can [...]
Phonebooth startup Room launches in UK as it dials in to coworking boom September 17, 2019 Room, the US startup specialising in phonebooths for open plan offices, launched in the UK today as it looks to cash in on the rising popularity of coworking spaces. The New-York based firm, which counts Google, Uber, Amazon and Apple among its clients, is also rolling out in six other European countries amid growing demand [...]
Apple prepares to launch EU legal challenge over €13bn Irish tax bill September 16, 2019 Apple is set to launch a legal challenge tomorrow over an order by the European Commission to pay €13bn (£11.5bn) in Irish back taxes, as the EU seeks to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational companies. What’s the case about? The tech giant was accused of having dodged taxes and received €13bn illegal state [...]
Global authorities to quiz Facebook on Libra September 15, 2019 Facebook will be grilled by global central banks over its proposed Libra digital currency project as the social media giant faces increasing European opposition to its plans. Libra representatives will head to Basel, Switzerland tomorrow to face representatives of 26 central banks including the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve, according to the Financial [...]
Micro Focus taps Goldman Sachs to lead review after share price crash September 15, 2019 Struggling software firm Micro Focus is said to be close to appointing advisers at Goldman Sachs as it ramps up its review into a potential sale of the business. Read more: Micro Focus issues revenue warning and embarks on strategic review Micro Focus, which helps to extend the life of old software businesses, could also [...]
Benevolent AI’s valuation halves to $1bn in further blow for Neil Woodford September 15, 2019 Benevolent AI, the tech startup backed by troubled stockpicker Neil Woodford, is set to lose half its value as it announces a major new investment. The London-based firm, which is led by former Facebook executive and government minister Baroness Joanna Shields, has secured a cash injection from Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek. Read more: Fresh [...]
Why Vestager’s legacy is about to catch up with her September 14, 2019 It was a week full of surprises in the world of tech antitrust regulation. On Monday, Google found itself at the centre of a 50-state investigation by the US attorneys general into a range of anti-competitive practices. By the end of the week, publishers had hit out en masse at Google and Facebook for “unscrupulous [...]