Airbnb plans to go public in 2020 September 19, 2019 Airbnb has revealed its intention to become a publicly-traded company next year. In one of the most prominent market listings scheduled for next year, the property giant has said today that it is looking to float in 2020. Read more: Wework delays IPO The move could see Airbnb, which is an online marketplace for lodging, [...]
Uber rival Bolt sees surge in London rides three months after launch September 18, 2019 Ride-hailing app Bolt has boasted that 300,000 Londoners have signed up to its platform in just three months since its summer launch, as it aims to dent Uber’s dominance. The startup, which formerly launched in the UK as Taxify two years ago, has also seen around 50,000 drivers join a waiting list to work on [...]
Caffeine kick: Starbucks rolls out coffee delivery service across UK cities September 17, 2019 Starbucks is rolling out a delivery service which will allow customers across the country to wake up and – immediately – smell the coffee. The world’s biggest coffee shop chain has teamed up with Uber Eats to allow people in 11 UK cities to order their favourite brew directly to their doorstep via the app. [...]
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 [...]
Wework delays IPO plans amid investor caution September 17, 2019 Wework has pushed back plans for its highly-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) amid cooling investor appetite. Following a number of setbacks over its ambitions to go public, the fast-rising parent owner of real estate group Wework is expected to postpone its listing until the end of the year. Read more: Wework considers cutting founder’s voting [...]
Unsung heroes: How migrants power our economy and transform lives back home September 17, 2019 With all the debate over Britain’s post-Brexit immigration policy, its relationship with other nations, and its place on the world stage as a supporter of global development, it is worth going back to basics and reminding ourselves of what exactly our migrants contribute, to both the UK and the world. Because make no mistake, ambitious [...]
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 [...]
Uber to raise $750m from debt markets to fund purchase of Emirati rival Careem September 12, 2019 Uber has said it will raise $750m (£608m) of debt to help finance the purchase of rival ride-hailing company Careem, the day after California passed a bill that threatens to undermine the company’s business model. The company said the debt placement would primarily be used to raise money for its pending $3.1bn purchase of Careem. [...]
Facebook seeks Swiss licence for Libra cryptocurrency September 11, 2019 Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra has applied for a payment licence from Switzerland’s financial watchdog, following a widespread backlash from politicians and regulators. The Libra Association announced today that it intended to apply for a licence from Switzerland’s Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) to be regulated as a payment systems operator and had “submitted a request [...]
Sorrell’s S4 Capital sees earnings slip amid rapid expansion September 11, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital has posted a decline in earnings for the first half as the advertising company splashed the cash on acquisitions and staff expansion. Read more: Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital buys influencer agency IMA The figures S4 Capital’s revenue rose 42 per cent to £88m in the six months to the end [...]