As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.
Hot news for November 11-17 included: Triangle entrepreneur Steve Malik (who is seeking to build a $2 billion entertainment complex in Raleigh) sold his company, Medfusion, for the second time; developers unveiled plans for a new $1 billion mixed-use complex in North Raleigh; four Triangle firms are cutting 1,000 jobs total; Canada fintech firm FreshBooks is opening its first U.S. office at HQ Raleigh; UNC’s School of Medicine reported a cyberattack affecting the personal data of around 3,700 people.
In startup funding news: Durham fintech startup Spreedly landed $75 million in funding from Spectrum Equity, allowing it to expand its workforce and expand globally; NC IDEA awarded $300,000 in grants to six North Carolina startups.
WRAL TechWire sent writers Renee Wright and Allan Maurer to cover Wilmington’s Cucalorus Festival live. Read our full coverage here, here, here, here, here and here.
- Check out TechWire’s comprehensive resource package for Triangle startups.
And, some national news: Disney launched its highly anticipated streaming service, Disney+, and drew 10 million signups on the first day; Google is venturing into the healthcare space with a new partnership involving patient data; T-Mobile CEO John Legere is reportedly being considered for a position as new CEO of WeWork; Motorola unveiled its new foldable Razr phone.
Keeping with our Monday tradition, here’s a look back at 79 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY November 11 Headlines:
- A folley or blockbuster? Disney charges into the streaming wars
- Event guide: 100+ meetups for entrepreneurs and techies in the Triangle
- Events ‘on the horizon’ in December: Wilmington Tech-Con, Cleantech Innovation Awards, Talent Jam Charlotte + more
- MCNC celebrates ‘magic of NCREN’: 35 years of building NC’s broadbrand infrastructure
- NC headliners: Mountain Raise, NC Coastal Conference, Venture135 + more upcoming events across the state
- Our Triangle Startup Guide keeps growing – here are the latest additions
- Streaming wars: Pressure is on Disney as its new service gears for Tuesday launch
- TechWire rewind: Get Spiffy growth; 5 NC startups on ‘Technology Fast 500’ list; local ‘legends’ series
- Triangle headliners: Internet Summit, GEW at NC State, Route Fifty Tech Summit + more local events in Nov.
TUESDAY November 12 Headlines:
- Apple card is accused of gender bias. Here’s how that can happen
- Charlotte’s Premier spins out new healthcare company
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches 60 more mini satellites for global internet
- Epic Games to get more real after acquiring photogrammetry startup Quixel
- Google’s health care ambitions now involve patient data
- Little Caesars is taking ‘Pizza! Pizza!’ to Durham’s McKinney agency – Here’s why
- Longfellow acquires Swabia Court for $12.2M, boosting lab space in RTP
- Morrisville-based agtech firm Pyxus misses revenue estimates in Q2
- Raleigh AI startup Pryon makes CNBC’s Upstart 100 List for 2019
- Raleigh pharma firm Merz reorganizes into 3 separate businesses
- Something for everyone at Cucalorus: best bets in tech, stage and film
- The Streaming Advisor: Disney launches ambitious Plus but it stumbles with tech glitches
- WeWork is courting T-Mobile’s John Legere for top job: Reports
WEDNESDAY November 13 Headlines:
- Black Death return? Plague strikes in China for 2nd time in 7 months
- CEO is out at TransEnterix, will remain an adviser as company mulls possible sale
- Congressman David Price talks ‘futuristic workshop’ at Hanger6
- Digital summit in Durham aims to ‘accelerate the future of health’
- Disney Plus hits 10M subscribers in 1 day
- Duke among 4 institutions to split $1B gift fund created from sale of Cary-based LORD Corp
- Duke Energy gives a charge to electric bus service in Triangle with $300,000 in grants
- Durham fintech startup Spreedly gets $75M injection from Spectrum Equity
- Franklinton startup finds traction for waste tire disposal tech, nears $10M target
- Life science giant PPD files notice to possibly go public again
- Next Fortnite? Cary startup developing esports blockchain game where players win real cash
- Malik spins out health data startup as part of Medfusion sale
- Musk picks Berlin for 2nd Tesla plant outside US
- Steve Malik: Selling Cary firm gives more ‘flexibility and leverage’ for $2B Downtown South project
- Steve Malik sells Cary firm Medfusion to California firm for $43M
- UNC School of Medicine reports cyber attack affecting personal data of some 3,700 people
- What’s better – Mac or Windows PC? It’s Jetsons vs. Flintstones, IBM says
- What’s happening to unicorns like WeWork? Early Apple investor blames founders
THURSDAY November 14 Headlines:
- Alexa, stop listening to my private conversations
- Cisco stocks take a hit as uncertainly looms over trade wars and economy
- Developer plans $1 billion mixed-use project, Midtown Exchange in North Raleigh
- Duke researchers develop ‘whole new approach’ to help immune system fight cancer
- Fintech firm backed by JPMorgan Chase picks HQ Raleigh for first US office
- Future of healthcare? Apple Watch study gathers heart data on 419,000 people
- Gannett-GateHouse merger wins approval; deal impacts 16 NC media outlets
- Google moves to offer checking accounts; groups oppose its $2.1B Fitbit takeover
- Is this the new Pokemon Go? Minecraft Earth arrives for augmented reality
- It’s a b-i-g party! Cucalorus Festival kicks off in Wilmington
- It’s Parker Lord: Cary firm has new name, structure, logo after $3.7B deal
- Motorola unveils foldable Razr phone featuring cinematic viewing, more
- NC IDEA awards six NC startups grants totaling $300,000
- Reports: Nearly 1,000 layoffs hitting four Triangle firms
- RTP gene tech firm lands deal worth up to $90M for 8 nervous system therapies
- Silicon Valley startup offers $10,000 to employees to leave Bay Area for jobs
FRIDAY November 15 Headlines:
- After 2 year wait, Epic Games launches ‘Battle Breakers’ – watch the trailer
- BioCryst looks to raise $55M through stock offering
- Bitcoin rallies again despite worries about Facebook cryptocurrency – but can uptrend last?
- CDC: New vaping cases ‘trending downward nationally;’ death toll hits 42
- Digital humans with star’s voice such as Cate Blanchett could answer your healthcare questions
- Flush with $75M, Spreedly plans to rapidly expand workforce, go global
- nCino adds artificial intelligence to its cloud banking arsenal
- NCSU Shelton Leadership Forum to focus on ethical leadership in tough times
- Orthus Health names Duke physician as medical advisor for diabetes program
- Red Hat talks up new digs but still refuses to provide details about former CFO’s dismissal
- RTI makes another investment in precision medicine startup
- RTP firm Rho lands contract worth up to $22M to improve dental, oral, craniofacial health
- The art of gifting: Pinksocks movement promotes human connections vs. connectivity
- Trade war troubles: US-China talks hit another snag
- Traveling solo? Raleigh startup aims to make sharing of trips, costs both easier, safer
- WeWorks revenue surges 94%, office count surges – but losses top $1.25B
Weekend Reading:
- Android Chat from Google arrives – Here’s what you need to know
- Are we living in a computer simulation – a real Matrix – without knowing it?
- Getting real with virtual reality – a treat from Cucalorus Connect VR Salon
- Lyft pulls plug on scooters in six cities, including Atlanta
- Streaming wars: Hulu ups price of its live service by 22%
- Study: Invasive procedures not necessarily better than meds for heart patients
- Study: Switching to e-cigs from cigarettes might be better for adult smokers
