TechWire rewind: Disaster relief loans; internet demand; startups raise cash + 72 more headlines

As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to dominate news coverage last week. A massive $2 trillion emergency relief bill was passed, which includes small business loans and employment insurance for employees (including gig workers); NC will likely lose 250,000 jobs in the COVID-19 crisis; startups and small businesses can get disaster relief loans from the SBA and the Golden LEAF Foundation; as internet speeds slow, an industry veteran warned of the consequences of increased demand; VC-based startups may not benefit from the $2 trillion stimulus package; NC IDEA launched a new fundraiser for NC startups.

Despite economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, several local startups raised funding rounds last week: Raleigh-based Plant Heath Care ($2.3 million), Winston Salem-based Swipeby ($1 million), Chapel Hill-based Keona Health (amount undisclosed), Chapel Hill-based CData Software ($20 million), Brevard-based Earth Renewable ($900,000) and Raleigh-based ZynBit ($250,000).