Author: Thomas Crown

 Zscaler, a nine-year-old, San Jose, Calif.-based company, has filed confidentially for IPO, multiple sources tell TechCrunch. The cloud security outfit is aiming to go public before the end of the year. Read More

from TechCrunch

 Korea electronics giant LG continues to show the world that making a profit, or even breaking even, from selling smartphones is no easy thing. LG Mobile has posted just one quarter of profitability over the last two years, that was six months ago during the first quarter of sales of its new flagship, the LG G6, when it eked out a $3.2 million profit. Previous to that, you have to go way back… Read More

from TechCrunch

 Taking on a giant like Nielsen, the $15 billion research firm, is no easy task. But tucked away in Southeast Asia, Snapcart is a two-year old company that is making progress by shining light on the black box that is consumer spending in emerging markets. Founded by CEO Reynazran Royono, who previously worked as a consultant for Procter and Gamble and Boston Consulting, the startup uses… Read More

from TechCrunch

 Current announced today it has raised $5 million in Series A funding for its debit card aimed at kids that parents can control with an app. The company first introduced its Visa debit to the market in May. Kids can use the card to shop in stores or online using funds from their own bank account linked to the card, after receiving a digital allowance from mom or dad. The new round was led by… Read More

from TechCrunch

 There’s little question that former Facebook executive and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya thoroughly enjoys challenging the way that startups are funded. Because he has the hot hand, so to speak, he’s able to get away with it, too. Read More

from TechCrunch

 With over four million listings across more than 65,000 cities worldwide, Airbnb has not just upended the global hospitality industry — it has inadvertently created an industry within an industry: demand for services that help hosts manage their properties efficiently and professionally. It’s a hot space, for sure. GuestReady, a one-year-old contender based in London, has pulled in… Read More

from TechCrunch

 Reflektion, a marketing startup that uses predictive analytics to increase conversion rates on e-commerce sites, has raised $12 million to support its international expansion plans. The new funding is an extended Series B round led by Hasso Plattner, with participation from returning investors Battery Ventures and Clear Ventures. Read More

from TechCrunch

 Apple is doubling on wireless charging, the technology that debuted in this year’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X, after it scooped up New Zealand-based company PowerbyProxi in its latest piece of M&A. Ten-year-old PowerbyProxi is a spinout of the University of Auckland and it is focused on developing wireless charging and power transfer products. That spans wireless control systems,… Read More

from TechCrunch

 Sometimes, for growth stage startups raising money, when it rains it pours. That’s the case for Klook, a Hong Kong-based travel startup that specializes in helping travelers book trip activities and logistics for when they are overseas. Klook raised $30 million Series B back in March and, despite admitting that it has barely touched that cash, today it revealed that it has competed… Read More

from TechCrunch

 Weibo, the Twitter-like Chinese social network that is profitable unlike Twitter, is raising $700 million as it looks for acquisitions to continue the rocket ship growth its business has seen in 2017. The Beijing-based company, which is listed on the NASDAQ with a current market cap of $21 billion, announced today it will offer up to $700 million in convertible senior notes in order to… Read More

from TechCrunch