Hi there!
Here's the latest feed from TechCrunch.
Add feeds@feed2email.net to your contact list to make sure you receive all your emails
Make sure to visit feed2email.net to get more feeds sent to your inbox.
To find out which feeds you are subscribed to, or to get further help, just reply to this email.
Andreesen Horowitz And Index Lead $25 Million Round For Big Data Startup Factual
Dec 09, 4:55AM
Factual, the open database company, closed a $25 million series A financing, led by Andreessen Horowitz and Index Ventures. VCs Ben Horowitz of AH and Danny Rimer of Index will be joining Factual's board. Ron Conway's SV Angel and former Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz also invested, as did some of the previous angels who put in about $2 million earlier this year (only half of which was previously disclosed). "The company has very significant aspirations," says Rimer," what they are seeking to do is extremely ambitious. We believe they will need a lot of funding." Factual started out as sort of a wiki for databases. Anyone can create or add data to Factual, and it has all sorts of APIs to make it easy for Websites and developers to build apps on top of the data. It also lets developers and consumers visualize this big data in all sorts of ways. But over the past few months, the company started to focus on a few key areas, especially local. It is also building datasets around healthcare, education, entertainment, and government.
SPARQCode Makes It A Snap For Local Businesses To Use QR Codes
Dec 09, 2:25AM
MSKYNET, a company that allows businesses to create and analyze the usage of 2D barcodes called SPARQCodes, launched a service today helps local businesses connect their customers with their online presences, such as Facebook, Twitter, Gowalla, and Foursquare. MSKYNET raised $550K in seed funding back in August. SPARQCodes are very similar to normal QR codes, but differ slightly because they link to a URL instead of embedding their payload data in the QR code itself. The new feature, which is called 'Connect N Share', is very straightforward — it makes it easy for businesses to generate QR codes that link to the business's presence on Twitter and/or Facebook. 
WeGame Hopes To Take On Steam With Online Game Store
Dec 08, 11:51PM
Back in the old days — say, 2004 or so — the only way to get computer games was from retail outlets. Then Valve's digital distribution platform Steam came along, allowing gamers to pay for and immediately download games from both Valve and major third parties (it's a little like Apple's App Store). And it's done very well — Steam now has over 70% of the digital game distribution market, and some retail stores have gone as far as banning games that install Steam because it's eating up so much of their business. WeGame, a 4-man startup that's been around since 2007, wants in on the action. Up until now the company has been primarily focused on building software that lets gamers record and share their in-game exploits using screenshot and video capture tools. 
Outfitting Your Family's Traveler For Stellar Photography
Dec 08, 10:01PM
If you've got a friend or family member who's planning a trip, you're going to want to make sure they're prepared. Yeah, sure, with extra socks and stuff, but what I'm talking about is making sure they don't come back from a three-month tour of rural China with a grand total of 15 pictures on their iPhone, because "it's good enough." No, they need to take along something that can take a beating and still produce memorable images. And a few accessories wouldn't hurt, either. Depending on how much you want to spend, there are a lot of good options out there, though it depends on what kind of travel is going on. Here's a gift guide for the new traveler in your family.
IPO Gives Chinese Video Site Youku A $3.3 Billion Market Cap; Worth More Than AOL
Dec 08, 9:44PM
Shares of Chinese video site Youku soared on its IPO today, closing at $33.44, which is 160 percent above its offering price of $12.80. Since Youku's 15.8 million shares of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) represent 16 percent of the total shares, the closing price gives Beijing-based $Youku a market cap of roughly $3.3 billion. In other words, it is worth more than $AOL (owner of TechCrunch), which has a market cap of $2.7 billion. Earlier today, I referred to Youku as the YouTube of China, but it is more like the Hulu of China. About two thirds of the videos on YouKu are syndicated from traditional media companies in China. The company was founded in November, 2005 and the site launched in December, 2006. YouKu never really relied on user-generated content because it took longer to develop as a phenomenon in China than the U.S. "Unlike the US, we are still in the development phase for user generated content so we didn't rely on that," CEO Victor Koo tells me. 
Facebook Upgrades Its Mobile Privacy Dashboard
Dec 08, 9:19PM
Facebook's mobile presence has long been an important part of the site — Facebook now gets over 200 million users between its various mobile web sites and smartphone applications. And because so much content gets posted from phones, Facebook has seen fit to port over its extensive privacy controls to mobile. The site initially launched a mobile version of these controls back in August, and soon they'll be getting an upgrade. The new controls being announced today have to do with the applications that you've connected to Facebook. Between all the apps you use Facebook Connect for, and the ones you've installed on Facebook proper, there's a good chance that you're sharing your data with a lot of different sites — some of which you may have forgotten about. 
Keen On… Exposed – The Unholy Alliance Opposed to Solving the Network Neutrality Problem (TCTV)
Dec 08, 8:44PM
The political paralysis over network neutrality might be a microcosm of the broader political paralysis in America. Last week, after FCC chairman Julius Genachowksi laid out his Title I compromise strategy to finally resolve this seemingly never-ending debate, radical left and right wing groups conspired to destroy any possibility of consensus. On the left, activist groups like Free Press called Genachowki's initiative a "fake net neutrality proposal," while many of the radical right questioned the FCC's legitimacy and called for a complete retreat from any kind of government involvement in technology policy. So can the center fight back against this unholy alliance of radical netizens and Tea Party libertarians that seem intent on crushing any kind of network neutrality compromise? Video ahead.
Offermatic's Love Child Of Mint, Groupon & Blippy Now Open To The Public
Dec 08, 8:18PM
Last spring, we did a preview post on Offermatic, a new deals site that we described as the "freak love child Of Mint, Groupon and Blippy". Seven months later, that's still pretty accurate. And now you've got a chance to try it out for yourself: Offermatic has launched to the public. The company is also announcing that it's closed a $750,000 seed round with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Bessemer, and angel investors. Offermatic revolves around getting good deals at local merchants and from national chains, but it isn't just another deals site — there aren't any printed vouchers, and you never have to show a cashier a coupon. Instead, you link up your credit or debit card to the service, which then automatically analyzes your purchases and offers you deals based on your shopping history.
Time Warner Shows Off Its $200/Month SignatureHome Package For The Remaining Rich
Dec 08, 8:08PM
Today I got to see Time Warner's Signature Home $200 a month service package offerings up close and personal at a loft they rented in fancy-pants Soho. The offering, which is comparable to their triple-play program except that you get 24/7 customer service including concierge-style phone service and installation techs who will spend up to three hours at your home setting up all your junk. They even wear little booties so they don't scratch up your imported zebra-wood and elephant ivory parquet floors. To be fair, you do get two 500GB DVRs as well as a digital VOIP service with included caller ID that will AIM when you get a call. You can also control the DVRs over the Internet and iPad and iPhone apps are forthcoming. Finally, you get "wideband" Internet through DOCSIS 3.0-tier networking with 50Mbps down and 5Mbps up, an improvment from their current real-world service of about 1Mbps down and "Why Don't You Send a Letter In The Mail, It Will Get There Faster"Mbps up. 
WhiteyBoards Introduces the Next Generation In Dry-Erase Technology: WhiteyNotes and WhiteyPads
Dec 08, 7:33PM
A few things really stand out as watershed moments in human history. The Polio vaccine and the moon landing are two, perhaps, and maybe there's that whole Hadron collider thing. But when it comes to true breakthroughs I'd have to add one more to the list: the Whiteyboard. As you recall, Whiteyboards are big panels of dry-erase plastic that you can stick to any wall in the house or office. They are removable without damage to the underlying surface and they're significantly cheaper than any other whiteboard solutions out there. The company just introduced WhiteyNotes, dry-erase sticky notes, and WhiteyPads, to-do list-type sheets for kitchens and/or kink dungeons. 
Thin Film Solar Catching Up To Crystalline Panels On Efficiency?
Dec 08, 7:21PM
The National Renewable Energy Labratory (NREL) recently tested thin-film solar modules made by MiaSolé, and verified that their energy conversion efficiency rate hit 15.7 percent, up from 14.3 percent last year. The company boasted about the number, and several news outlets touted the results. Does it mean the performance gap betweenthin-film and crystalline solar modules is closing? Could thin-film take a bite out of the market for crystalline panels in the U.S., soon?
LeWeb Video: Rodrigo Sep̼lveda Schulz On French Startups РThey Are Getting Better
Dec 08, 6:58PM
At Le Web I ran into Rodrigo Sepúlveda Schulz, serial entrepreneur and now investor. I asked him about the startup market in France, a market which - despite his reputation as a huge globe-trotter - he is intimately acquainted with, being based out of Paris. What was interesting was the extent to which he was quite down on the market, even as we often hear from TechCrunch France that there has been a lot more startup activity in the last 18 months. Unfortunately for these French startup heroes, the over-riding business culture of France is not helping them. Here's Rodrigo: 
1000Memories Now Captures The Lives Of Departed Loved Ones In A Single Glance
Dec 08, 5:31PM
Wikipedia chronicles the lives of plenty of the most important figures to ever walk the Earth. Unfortunately, for those countless people who fail to discover an element or pen a bestselling novel, Wikipedia's editors are quick to strike down biographies that anyone might try to write about them. And when they die, their stories — which may not be important to the public but are priceless to their family and friends — have a habit of fading with them. 1000memories thinks there's a better way. The site, which launched last July, sets out with one big, important goal: helping family and friends cherish and share the memories of someone that's passed away. This week, the company has launched some key new features to make this sharing easier and more effective than before.
The Media Comes To The Defense Of WikiLeaks At LeWeb: "The Leakers Will Win"
Dec 08, 5:16PM
Today during the Media Panel at LeWeb '10 in Paris, France, there was one thing on everyones' mind: WikiLeaks. "This is a turning point for the Internet — it's not just about WikiLeaks anymore," Weblogs SL's Julio Alonso said. "What happens to WikiLeaks will get applied to others later on," he warned. "This is the first attempt at censorship of the Internet by all the governments of the planet," Wikio's Pierre Chappaz added. "Despite all the attacks, I'm optimistic that the information will survive," he added.
MindJolt Partners With BIM To Bring Games To 900 Local News Sites
Dec 08, 5:01PM
MindJolt, the game distribution company that was acquired by MySpace founder and former CEO Chris DeWolfe earlier this year, has landed a big new parter: Broadcast Interactive Media (BIM). That name probably doesn't ring a bell, but BIM helps run the online presences for hundreds of local television networks, newspapers, and radio stations across the country (here's an example Fox station out of Illinois). Now, BIM is going to offer these 900 publisher partners access to MindJolt's library of casual games. And those sites represent a lot of eyeballs: MindJolt says that it's going to be exposed to 110 million people per month through the partnership.
Angry Birds Find Their Way Onto iPhone 4, iPod Touch Cases, Let the Pig Slaughter Begin
Dec 08, 4:27PM
So you went as an Angry Bird for Halloween and your kids are getting Angry Bird plush dolls in their holiday stockings. But that leaves nothing for you, the hard-working family provider. Clearly Santa should bring you some Angry Bird merchandise this year, too. It's only fair. You've been a good kid. Good thing Gear4 just announced a line of Angry Birds iPhone 4 and iPod touch cases that will dress up your device as either an Angry Bird or smug Pig King. Be warned though. While the cases are constructed out of hard plastic and are probably plenty durable, they're not going to allow you to chuck your phone through plates of glass or wood beams. Yeah, that's not a good idea although here's hoping that someone does and uploads the tomfoolery to YouTube. Both variants run $24.99 each and will probably be one of best things you get this year. Well, that is of course, if you stocking isn't stuffed with any of these items from our epic cheap stocking stuffers gift guide. But even then, these cases are still awesome as cases can get.
Shares Of Youku, China's YouTube, Double At IPO
Dec 08, 4:22PM
The Internet IPO is back—if you are a Chinese Internet company. Youku, the YouTube of China, saw its shares pop more than 100 percent in its IPO today. Shares were priced at $12.80, but they are currently trading at $27.60.. That is a 116 percent jump. According to its SEC filing, the company lost $25 million on total revenues of $35 million for the first nine months of 2010. The company raised $120 million prior to the IPO, and another $203 million at the IPO.
Dennis Crowley Sort Of Confirms They Turned Down A $140M Acquisition Offer
Dec 08, 4:18PM
At Le Web 10, everyone saw the awkward expression on Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley's face when host Loic Le Meur asked him just how large the acquisition offer was that the company recently turned down. Le Meur guessed around $140 million (whether that offer came from Facebook, Yahoo or another company wasn't really mentioned, but they are the likely bidders and the topic of the on-stage conversation was Facebook when the question dropped). Crowley didn't deny it, and then went on to acknowledge that number is "ballpark".
Foursquare Hits 2 Million Check-ins, 25K New Users Daily
Dec 08, 4:09PM
Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley, who ironically got lost on his way to Le Web, just broke some stats about the company on stage at Le Web. Crowley said that the company is just about to hit 40 employees whereas a year ago it was just four people.
ViKi Raises $4.3 Million from VC All-Stars to Translate the World's Video
Dec 08, 3:59PM
First it was distribution. Then it was monetization. The next generation of Web entrepreneurs' make-or-break challenge will be localization and a big part of that is language. The Web is so powerful today and the valuations are so high, because it is a billion-person-audience and growing. But more of them speak Chinese than English, and critical masses are developing around Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Bahasa Indonesian and other languages. The problem will only get worse as opportunity on the Web grows. Good translation can be incredibly expensive and just slapping Google translate on content isn't going to be the answer. ViKi has an interesting, open-source-like solution for video, that could have implications for other kinds of content online too. 
Marissa Mayer's Next Big Thing: "Contextual Discovery" — Google Results Without Search
Dec 08, 3:22PM
Today at LeWeb '10 in Paris, France, our own Michael Arrington took the stage to talk with Google's Marissa Mayer. Mayer recently took a new job within Google. Technically, she's now the head of consumer products for the company. So what's she working on? Well, as we've all heard, location is a big part of it. But she's also thinking about a bigger picture item that Google is still working on. This is what Google is calling "contextual discovery". This means being able to look at either a person's browsing profile or their location profile and serving up interesting data to them without them searching for anything. Yes, it's Google results without the search.
E-Signature Company DocuSign Lands $27 Million, Expands Management Team
Dec 08, 2:28PM
DocuSign, which offers an electronic signature cloud platform, has secured $27 million in third-round funding. The round was led by Scale Venture Partners and joined by Salesforce.com, Sigma Partners, Ignition Partners and Frazier Technology. In conjunction with the financing announcement, the company said that it has hired Dustin Grosse, formerly sales and marketing GM for Microsoft's Field Readiness team and the Microsoft Office Unified Communications Group, as its new SVP, chief marketing and business development officer. 
4Chan's Moot Joins Lerer Ventures As An Advisor
Dec 08, 2:08PM
Christopher Poole, aka Moot, the founder of 4chan and still stealthy Canvas Networks, is now a venture advisor. He just joined Lerer Ventures, the New York City seed fund started by Ken and Ben Lerer. While he is not a formal partner, he will have the ability to greenlight deals. Poole joins other Lerer Ventures advisors Eric Hippeau (CEO of the Huffington Post), and Jonah Peretti (CEO of Buzzfeed and co-founder of the Huiffington Post). Ken Lerer is the chairman of the Huffington Post, while his son, Ben, is the CEO and founder of Thrillist. Moot is plugged into the hacker culture in New York City, which Lerer Ventures wants to tap into. He will advise the fund and bring it deals, as well as participate in the upside of the fund. So he's more like an advisor with privileges. "Like everyone else at Lerer," says Poole, "I'm primarily focussed on building my company, but I view my participation in the fund as a way to stay current as the world changes and invest in my peers who are doing amazing things."
My Major Company Mixes Traditional Record Label A&R With Crowdfunding
Dec 08, 2:08PM
Described as a fan-funded record label, My Major Company has launched in the UK with a mix of traditional A&R and crowdfunding. It differs slightly from similar sites, such as Sellaband or the UK's Slicethepie, in that the acts featured on the site are sourced by the startup's own talent spotting department first. In addition, fans who choose to invest are essentially buying shares in any future profits made from the artist's launch campaign as a whole (physical and digital music sales, merchandise, tours etc.), which My Major Company oversees, should they raise the £100,000 stipulated to get off the ground.
PayPal VP On Blocking WikiLeaks: State Department Said It Was Illegal
Dec 08, 12:35PM
Milo Yannopoulos' very first question on stage to PayPal's VP of Platform Osama Bedier was why PayPal blocked WikiLeaks payments and froze its account. The last part of the question was met with boos from the mostly European audience. Bedier made it seem like PayPal had complied with governmental request to deny service to WikiLeaks, "We have an acceptable use policy and their job is make sure that our customers are protected, making sure that we comply with regulations around the world and making sure that we protect our brand." 
If at any time you'd like to stop receiving these messages, just send an email to feeds_feedburner_com_techcrunch+unsubscribe-hmdtechnology=gmail.com@mail.feed2email.net.
To stop all future emails from feed2email.net you can reply to this email with STOP in the subject line. Thanks
