Taxi app wars: Uber vs Hailo vs Maaxi vs Lyft – Emil Michael gaff is latest hurdle in startup battle November 19, 2014 Fast-growing “ridesharing” app firm Uber hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this week as senior executive Emil Michael was reported suggesting the company hire researchers to dig up dirt on its media critics. The blunder is the latest in a long line of controversies that have plagued the startup over [...]
Gimme 3: Startups crowdfunding this month November 17, 2014 Oak and Iron Target: £55,000 for 30 per cent equity The furniture company uses environmentally friendly processes and locally sourced materials. Owner Terry Facey has made furniture for Harrods. Raised: £44,700 www.fundingtree.co.uk Grub Club Target: £250,000 for 15.6 per cent equity A team on a mission to change how we dine by creating pop [...]
Deloitte launches £25m fund for employees to create their own startup businesses November 16, 2014 Big four accountancy firm Deloitte today announced it had started a £25m internal investment fund to allow its employees to create their own startup businesses. If their idea is chosen, employees will be given funding and allowed to work full time on developing their business ideas while receiving “incubator” support from the firm to turn [...]
How we can turn London’s thriving tech startups into billion dollar digital giants November 16, 2014 Just four years after the Prime Minister and the mayor of London launched the Tech City initiative, London now has one of the fastest growing technology sectors in the world. Visitors to any of its tech hubs will be struck by the industry and dynamism of the capital’s entrepreneurs and startups, driving innovation and change. [...]
Quotas on immigration would be a disaster for London’s tech startups November 12, 2014 Political debates over the benefits and drawbacks of immigration will no doubt rage on for years to come. But while the opposing sides pick apart the evidence over the impact of migrants on the public purse, one thing is clear: London’s tech ecosystem faces a very significant skills shortage. Government should be doing all it [...]
Web Summit 2014 was attended by Peter Thiel, Bono and Eva Longoria – so why do celebrities invest in startups? – CNBC Comment November 10, 2014 If you attended Europe’s largest tech conference, held in Ireland last week, you probably wouldn’t have known that the continent had just gone through one of its worst periods in financial history. Startups – big and small – headed to Dublin for Web Summit, in order to market their companies and find potential investors, many [...]
Tinder CEO and co-founder Sean Rad is out as boss of IAC’s star startup November 4, 2014 The chief executive and co-founder of hugely successful dating app Tinder has been removed by majority owner IAC. Sean Rad will stay on as president and remains on the board. He will stay on until a new chief executive is found. Rad was ousted from the position after a call last month from IAC’s Sam [...]
More $1bn startups bypass the US October 27, 2014 SILICON Valley’s stranglehold of creating leading software businesses is weakening as less than 40 per cent of the 134 software companies reaching a billion-dollar valuation over the past 10 years have come from the legendary tech hub. New research, created by London-based venture capital firm Atomico, led by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, found that 82 [...]
Hotel price comparison startup Lodgeo eyes £10m fundraise after launch October 26, 2014 Lodgeo, the recently launched price comparison mobile app for hotel rooms, is preparing to raise up to £10m through a funding round advised by Catalyst Corporate Finance. The app was launched last month with £2m in funding from Javest Investment fund, the Amsterdam venture capital fund, and a number of named individual investors. Lodgeo’s founder [...]
Samsung picks British startup Bango for billing October 22, 2014 CAMBRIDGE-based carrier billings startup Bango has signed a deal with Samsung to preload its software on the South Korean tech giant’s smartphones, letting consumers charge games, music and videos directly from their mobile phone bills. Shares in the Aim-listed company jumped 5.76 per cent on the news to 101p in London, valuing Bango at over [...]