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Mobile Messaging Startup UppTalk Evolves Into A Low Cost Cell Service With Launch Of UppWireless In U.S.
Feb 12, 2:08PM
Mobile messaging app startup UppTalk (a rebrand from its prior name Yuilop) is evolving -- and rather than following the social platform playbook of plenty of over-the-top (OTT) messaging players (such as Line, KakaoTalk and WeChat), it's taking aim at carriers by offering a mobile phone service that undercuts current costly U.S. carrier pricing.Hailo Hires Former Ubiquisys CFO Fraser Park, Promotes Starbucks Alum Tom Barr To Co-CEO
Feb 12, 2:00PM
On-demand taxi startup Hailo is ready to ramp up scaling and expanding its service into new markets, both in the U.S. and internationally. To do that, it's bolstering its senior management team by bringing on former Ubiquisys CFO Fraser Park and has promoted former Starbucks exec Tom Barr to co-CEO.Swiping Right, Tinder Backer Joins Warburg Pincus
Feb 12, 1:55PM
Dinesh Moorjani, the mind behind the early stage technology incubator that launched Tinder, is leaving the startup world behind. Moorjani, whose long history in mobile tech includes a stint as an SVP at Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp before launching the mobile technology incubator Hatch Labs, is joining the billionaires boy’s club of private equity investment as an executive in residence at Warburg Pincus. At Hatch Labs, Moorjani helped launch several mobile tech apps – most famously the updated hot-or-not “social networking” service, Tinder. With his new role at Warburg Pincus, Moorjani is moving from launching new mobile technology companies to acquiring them thanks to the cash of an incredibly deep-pocketed backer. “My intent is not to start a company from ground up,” Moorjani said of his new role at Warburg Pincus. “There were companies that I was looking at in mobile that would benefit from additional capital and the strategic guidance that Warburg can provide.” The New York-based private equity firm has more than $35 billion in assets under management, and much of that capital has been committed to technology media and telecommunications companies over the years. Now, Warburg has an experienced tech hand to help it navigate the sometime-choppy waters of the mobile technology market. Already, Moorjani has identified roughly five areas where he hopes to help Warburg spend some of the billions the private equity firm has on hand after its most recent fund closed in 2013. For the former Hatch Labs boss, interesting mobile trends include: mobile smart devices for the “Internet Of Things”; mobile security; mobile software services for enterprises and small businesses; mobile education; and localization of content, advertising and consumer services. If the laundry list looks familiar; that’s because it’s the investment wish-list for every investor looking at the mobile market. Moorjani’s move to Warburg is the culmination of a years-long relationship with the firm, which began with Warburg Pincus using the Hatch Labs founder as a sounding board for due diligence on several companies in the mobile technology space, he said. Even with the move to Warburg, Moorjani will remain in control of the Hatch Labs brand despite foregoing a second fundraise for the incubator. He cautioned people not to read too much into his move from early stage incubation to late stage investment. For Moorjani the move was an opportunity to round off his skill-set and become a better investor. At Hatch LabsWearables Market Heating Up, With More Than 17M Bands Forecast To Ship This Year, Says Canalys
Feb 12, 12:51PM
The wearables device market is still in its infancy but it's growing fast -- with more than 17 million wearable bands forecast to ship this year, according to a new forecast by Canalys. It reckons 2014 will be the year that wearables become a "key consumer technology", and is predicting the smart band segment alone will reach 8 million annual shipments, growing to more than 23 million units by 2015, and over 45 million by 2017.Mozilla Will Sell Ads In Firefox To Create A New Revenue Stream
Feb 12, 12:44PM
Open-source browser Firefox announced in a blog post that it is considering selling ads for its new tab page. Publishers will be able to purchase sponsored tiles that will appear alongside normal tiles, with a clear promoted label. At first, Mozilla just wants to pre-populate the new tab page. When you are using Firefox for the first time, the current new tab page, is mostly empty, with just a link to the Firefox website. Similarly to other speed dial features in other browsers, Firefox uses your browsing history to put your most visited websites on the new tab page. But if your history is empty, the new tab page is empty as well. That’s why the non-profit foundation plans to put the most popular websites in your area by default. In addition to that, some spots will be used for promoted tiles. It might just a first try to see how users react before pushing promoted tiles to all users in their new tab page. For now, the foundation most of its revenue from ads in Google. Google and Firefox signed an agreement so that Google is the default search engine. The two entities also share advertising revenue on Google AdWords ads. And that’s about it — 90 percent of Mozilla’s yearly revenue comes from Google. As Firefox’s market share is shrinking, the foundation needs to find a new revenue stream. While Mozilla used be one of Google’s major partner, the company may renegotiate a much less favorable deal now that it has its own browser — Chrome is now much more popular than Firefox as well. For the last couple of years, Mozilla and the advertising industry have been at odds. The foundation created the do-not-track feature to prevent targeted advertising. When users opt in, the browser won’t accept third party cookies anymore, making it much harder to display targeted ads around the web. Last year, Mozilla even chose to automatically block third party cookies from websites that you hadn’t visited. Now, Mozilla wants to play ball with advertisers. It’s unclear when Mozilla is going to show promoted tiles to its new users. The foundation probably wants to talk with potential advertisers first.Jalousier Is A Connected Box That Gets Your Venetian Blinds Online
Feb 12, 11:06AM
Jalousier, currently bidding for crowdfunding on Indiegogo, is a connected device that clips on to the venetian blinds in your home and automatically adjusts the position of the slats, depending on the temperature, light conditions/weather and time of day -- so you don't have to.AppScotch Exits Stealth To Make Mobile Ads Playable
Feb 12, 9:00AM
Based in California, with an R&D office in Russia, AppScotch has developed technology to enable advertisers to offer a new kind of interactive ad unit that turns the humble banner ad into something that is actually playable.Snapchat Hacked By Fruit Smoothie Enthusiast
Feb 12, 7:26AM
If one of your friends randomly sends you a photo of a smoothie on Snapchat, don't go to the URL on the picture. It's a hack that has affected several accounts, as a Twitter search shows. Wired writer Joe Brown was one of the users who suffered a Snapchat fruiting. A Snapchat spokesperson told him that the startup did not see any evidence of "brute-force tactics," and that someone had likely gotten ahold of his email and password and accessed his account on the first try. We've emailed Snapchat for more information. The spam looks like this (once again, don't go to the URL).
India Raises Concerns On Bitcoin's Credibility, But Doesn't Call It Illegal Yet
Feb 12, 7:19AM
Bitcoin traders are having a roller coaster ride everywhere and India is no exception. After initial momentum that saw several Bitcoin exchanges emerge in India, the Reserve Bank of India issued a warning that sent many traders into a tizzy last year. Now, Raghuram Rajan, the RBI’s new governor has reiterated the central bank’s concerns about the credibility of Bitcoin. Addressing a technology conference in Mumbai earlier today, Rajan said there are ambiguities about who controls the value of Bitcoin. “As a currency, I do worry a little bit when the underlying (value) fluctuates tremendously. One of the values of a currency is stability and the extent (to which) a currency is target of speculation as opposed to primarily a means of exchange,” he said addressing a conference organized by technology industry body Nasscom. I do think we have to understand the role of virtual currencies and how they will interact with the paper currency that you have…There are questions that need to be asked, one of them being, who will maintain value? Can we have confidence in unseen, unknown centres who maintain the value of the currency, or an algorithm that will maintain the value of the currency – we need more credibility there But Bitcoin traders in India are not giving up yet. Last month, Highkart became the first (and the only) e-commerce site in India to start accepting payment in Bitcoin. Its co-founder Amit Kumar told me that one of the challenges facing growth of Bitcoin in India is that many early adopters are still hoarding the currency and not trading them. Highkart sold a pair of shoes from Provogue in exchange for Bitcoin as its first transaction. It has currently 150 products and the startup does not charge anything extra for shipping the products. “There’s nothing illegal in accepting Bitcoin — the RBI will take more time to come up with clarity,” Kumar added. Highkart and other Bitcoin traders in India say they are following all banking regulations prescribed by the RBI, leaving no room for any illegal activities. Benson Samuel, a Bitcoin developer and consultant said nothing much has changed for Bitcoin in India since the last time RBI issued the warning. Last month, an Indian lawyer even sent a legal notice to RBI asking for clarity on Bitcoin trading in India. A major concern for policymakers and regulators about Bitcoin is that it could be usedIBM's Watson Group Makes First Startup Investment In "Social Health Management" Pioneer, Welltok
Feb 12, 6:45AM
Remember Watson? Yes, the artificially intelligent, question-answering computer system developed by IBM that trounced two former champions on Jeopardy like they were a couple of kindergartners. That Watson. (He blends right in.) While IBM has since looked expectantly to Watson to become its next cash cow, it appears the brainy computer is still looking for regular work. So, in January, IBM created the Watson Group, a new business unit “dedicated to the development and commercialization of cloud-delivered cognitive innovations” — or the “Put Watson To Work Fund.” The company said at the time that it would invest $1 billion in the Watson Group, $100 million of which would be made available for venture investments. With bring-Watson-to-market projects flush with capital, IBM’s big plans for its Jeopardy-winning computer have begun to take shape in the form of a new character: Dr. Watson. Today, further evidence of Watson’s future in healthcare arrived in the form of the Watson Group’s first venture investment, which saw it take the lead in the $22.1 million Series C financing of social health management startup, Welltok. Since emerging in 2009, Denver-based WellTok has been on a mission to provide businesses with better ways to incentivize their employees to actually participate (and engage with) in company wellness plans. The startup offers a suite of Web and mobile social media-based solutions, as well as a social health management platform, to help health plans “consumerize” their services. In other words, by leveraging the ease-of-use, accessibility and cross-platform functionality now available in so many consumer-facing products, Welltok wants to help providers, and companies themselves, improve the user experience of their health plans and the health of their employees. For Watson Group and IBM, the interest in Welltok is simple: Healthcare and healthcare applications are where they believe Watson can potentially have the biggest impact. In part, IBM is betting that the computer system’s technology could herald a new era of predictive analytics in healthcare. In other words, by instantaneously scanning millions of studies and academic records, for example, Watson’s technology could allow doctors to quickly find better treatment options for their patients. The investment is also meant to support the Watson Group’s existing partnership with Welltok, through which the two companies are building a new Watson-enabled application called “CaféWell Concierge.” The application will expand on Welltok’s health optimization platform and flagship product, CafeWell, both allows company health manager to more easilySocial Commerce Site Tapiture Raises $2.25M In Seed Funding
Feb 12, 3:34AM
Tapiture, a site where users can share content and buy related products, is announcing that it has raised $2.25 million in seed funding. That amount consists of $1.25 million in new capital, as well as a $1 million convertible note from last year. The funding was led by Jump Investors, with participation from Barry Sternlicht, Herb Simon, Brad Keywell (Lightbank), Brian Lee, Sam Bakhshandehpour, Dave Leyrer (Boulevard Capital), Happy Walters, Hilary Swank (yes, that Hilary Swank), Dwight Howard, and Amar'e Stoudemire. Jump's Randall Kaplan, who was also the co-founder of Akamai, is joining the board of directors.Facebook's Sandberg And Ebersman Say They're Not Planning To Flood The News Feed With Ads
Feb 12, 2:58AM
Judging from recent earnings reports, Facebook's mobile ad strategy is paying off, but CFO David Ebersman said that doesn't mean you'll see an ever-increasing number of ads in your News Feed. Ebersman and COO Sheryl Sandberg spoke this evening at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, where they were asked about the amount of ads that Facebook shows to its users. Ebersman replied that the company saw in 2013 that mobile ads don't just "continue to perform really well for marketers" but also have "a limited or negligible impact on engagement," as shown in part by user surveys.Cloud Accounting Company Xero Adds A New Chairman, Director, And CEO Of North America
Feb 12, 2:09AM
New Zealand-based cloud accounting software company Xero is looking to step up its game in the U.S., and to do so it's boosting its board and senior management ranks. That includes adding former Microsoft and GM CFO Chris Liddell as non-executive chairman of the board, bringing on HP exec Bill Veghte as director, and hiring former PayPal exec Peter Karpas as its CEO of North America.Revel Systems Adds Native Bitcoin Transactions To Its POS Offering
Feb 12, 2:06AM
Hey do you like Bitcoins? Yeah. I thought you might. Well you can use all those coins to buy things at stores running Revel Systems-powered point-of-sale terminals starting right now, as the company has rolled out native support for transactions made using the very much in-vogue cryptocurrency. Previously, Revel customers could accept Bitcoin transactions using third-party plugins, but now it’s integrated as an optional payment method directly into the platform alongside LevelUp, PayPal, cash and credit. The reason behind the integration is to provide its users with access to all the latest payment methods, according to Revel co-founders Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra, and Bitcoin has been a request from a decent number of its clients. “If you actually search ‘Revel’ and ‘Bitcoin’ prior to this release, you’ll see a lot of our clients were already accepting it through our third-party access button,” Ciabarra explained. “But it is double-entry. That’s why we decided to create this integration so that it’s single-entry and you don’t have to worry about it. We had potential clients asking for a POS that could accept Bitcoin, so it’s convincing new clients to come on board who aren’t a Revel customer yet but who are using Bitcoin.” The integration is already being used by some active Revel clients, and they’ve already accepted Bitcoin payments at locations across the country. Ciabarra said that so far, they’ve noticed that grocery stores have seemed to be the most interested in offering Bitcoin as a payment option. It has a number of advantages for merchants and retailers, he notes, including an absence of transaction fees and the lack of exposure to the risk of payments not clearing. Regardless of whether Bitcoin sizzles or fizzles, Revel wants to offer its clients whatever payment means it can, Ciabarra says. And if it does take off, being the first POS provider to support it could pay big dividends later on.CEB Acquires Indian Talent Analytics Startup Talent Neuron for $15M
Feb 12, 1:50AM
Corporate Executive Board, the U.S.-based member advisory company has acquired Indian talent analytics startup, Talent Neuron, for around $10-$15 million. This is the third acquisition in the talent management space for CEB, which acquired UK-based SHL in July 2012, and Valtera in February of that year. Talent Neuron was incubated by Zinnov, a management consulting firm based in Bangalore, two years ago. Since then, the startup has acquired many customers who are paying for big data, analytics solutions focused on talent management and planning. Talent Neuron has its own predictive data model that forecasts talent related trends across important markets in the world. In a recent report, the startup analyzed talent shortage in the Silicon Valley and said for every 100 people moving in, there are at least 120 moving out. Two of Zinnov’s co-founders — Vijay Swaminathan and Vamsi Tirukkala — leveraged the consulting firm’s existing knowledge and connections to start Talent Neuron. When I contacted Pari Natarajan, one of the Zinnov co-founders and its CEO last week, he declined to talk about any potential deal with CEB. Officials at CEB had not responded to my query on whether a deal is in the making. Talent Neuron makes a good example of how to incubate an idea using existing knowledge within a company. And while it’s not unusual for companies based in the Silicon Valley to incubate and hive off ideas from within, such events are a rarity in Indian ecosystem. This is clearly worth learning from, especially for India’s biggest software outsourcing companies who are struggling to identify the next big thing, beyond commoditized software development and maintenance. Over past few years many talent management and planning platforms have been launched that take advantage of big data analytics to offer customized solutions to customers ranging from Microsoft to even industrial giants such as ABB and General Electric. Investors are beginning to see opportunity in this space. As we wrote last year, Spire, a big data startup based in Bangalore that helps customers manage current and future talent requirements using a contextual search engine, raised $8 million in Series A. In fact, Talent Neuron was looking to raise its Series A before the CEB started talking, one of the investors who looked at Talent Neuron told me.Oculus VR's Co-Founders On Winning A Crunchie, Getting To Launch Day, And Their Favorite VR Apps
Feb 12, 12:33AM
Are you excited about the Oculus Rift? Because a whole lot of folks are. So much so, in fact, that the tech community picked Oculus as the "Best Hardware Startup" of 2013 — and that's without them having shipped their finished product. I grabbed two of Oculus' co-founders for a post-win interview, and we talked about everything from challenges ahead to pretending to be a chicken.NSA Protest Day Drives More Than 200K Emails And Calls To Congress
Feb 12, 12:28AM
A planned day of protest against the NSA's surveillance efforts called "The Day We Fight Back" got off to a strong start. So far, more than 69,000 phone calls have been placed to Congressional representatives, along with more than 140,000 emails as part of the effort. In-person protests are planned, as well, both in the United States and abroad.The Flappy Bird Craze Continues – Now Appearing As HTML5 Web Games
Feb 11, 11:35PM
The proliferation of Flappy Bird clones following the abrupt departure of the game from iTunes has reached an all time high. The Apple App Store and Google Play - even the Pebble Appstore - are now filled with clones of the game. Phones with the original game still installed are apparently being listed on eBay for $99,999.Now Seeing 600M Swipes Per Day, Tinder Looks Serious About Expanding Beyond Dating
Feb 11, 11:16PM
Tinder, the simple and addictive matchmaking app that launched just 16 months ago at a University of Southern California party, took home the Crunchie award for best new startup last night. I pulled aside Tinder's co-founders Sean Rad, Justin Mateen, and Jonathan Badeen for a brief interview to discuss the massive success the app saw in 2013 and its outlook for the future -- and the trio made it very clear that Tinder has some big plans for its next chapter.We're Hiring! TechCrunch Is Looking For A Product Leader
Feb 11, 11:14PM
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