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 new round of loans was made available to small businesses; Enterprise Holdings is laying off nearly 900 workers across NC; new usage of healthcare and education software has spiked; a WalletHub study ranks NC last for COVID-19 support; new data shows NC lagged in COVID-19 loan support for small businesses; LabCorp is taking cost-cutting actions including furloughs, delayed hiring and reduced hours; Cree’s CEO is optimistic about sales; NC tech execs expect an economic rebound starting in August.
In non-COVID news: A Durham dental software startup raised $1.25 million in new funding and will be expanding its local staff; NC IDEA announced 16 startups will receive $160,000 in funding from its NC IDEA MICRO grant program; Amazon, which hired 95,000 people in April, is still looking for workers in NC; 9 Meters Biopharma, the result of a merger between Innovate Biopharmaceuticals and RDD Pharma, officially launched in Raleigh; Raleigh’s Reveal Mobile landed $2 million in funding and secured a patent for its new technology.
Some TechWire news: Today, we’re launching a new column that summarizes local startup news coverage over the past week. Digests will be published on Mondays. You can read the first edition here.
- Check out TechWire’s comprehensive resource package for Triangle startups.
And, in national news: LabCorp made its antibody tests available nationwide; Google reported its weakest revenue growth in nearly five years; U.S. stocks increased as Gilead Sciences announced positive results for its remdesivir treatment; Microsoft earnings beat analysts’ expectations, as demand for cloud services is skyrocketing; Americans are saving cash at record rates; Apple’s profit dipped slightly while revenues rose last quarter; Berkshire Hathaway reported its biggest loss ever for Q1 2020.
Keeping with our Monday tradition, here’s a look back at 85 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | April 27 Headlines:
- Airbnb will make some property owners wait 24 hours between guests
- Banks, small businesses gear up for launch of $330B in new COVID-19 loans
- Bill Gates explains how the United States can safely ease coronavirus restrictions
- Durham’s Veritas Collaborative raises roughly $2.3M in debt and options
- Enterprise lays off nearly 900 workers across North Carolina
- Here’s your guide to networking, meetups across the Triangle
- Mark your calendar: 50+ events across NC coming up in June
- NC event headliners: 62 webinars, events happening rest of April & May
- New guidance spells out limits for second round of PPP loans
- Software startup focusing on dental industry raises $1.25M, to expand Durham staff
- TechWire rewind: Job losses mount; PPP loans; AvidXchange’s big round; startup funding + much more
- Triangle event headliners: Previewing 70 events & deadlines through the end of May
- Usage of healthcare, education software jumps during COVID-19: Pendo study
- We keep growing Triangle Startup Guide, adding more COVID-19 grants & funding resources
TUESDAY | April 28 Headlines:
- 16 early-stage startups across state land $160,000 in NC IDEA grants
- CED’s three-part Venture Connect Online program is coming up – here’s a preview
- Central Carolina Community College cracks Top 50 national list
- Contact tracing, COVID-19 and you – What you need to know
- Drug shows promise against COVID-19, says RedHill, which has US HQ in Raleigh
- Duke lands federal grant to see if Ebola test can detect COVID-19 antigens
- Earnings reports mixed for IQVIA, Pfizer, Merck, Deutsche Bank in days of COVID-19
- Epic news: Its tech could boost Hollywood movie shoots; Fortnite $2M tourney; 27.7M tune in rapper
- Former Pendo exec joins Indianapolis startup MetaCX which just landed $14M
- Here’s what COVID-19 has taught us – so far- about our society and economy
- LabCorp COVID-19 antibody tests available nationwide with no upfront costs
- Location data startup Reveal Mobile in Raleigh lands patent, $2M in new funding
- Navigating the ‘great pause’: UNC’s online series extended as demand increases
- Study: North Carolina ranks dead last in COVID-19 pandemic support
- Tech today: IBM dividend boost; Red Hat growth; NetApp’s AI startups; Lenovo-Linux; FirstNet tops 1M
- Tesla: Autopilot update includes checking for traffic signals, stop signs
- ‘True retail apocalypse is upon us now,’ warns UNC business professor
- Unemployed because of COVID-19? Here are jobless benefits you can receive
WEDNESDAY | April 29 Headlines:
- Bank of America submits 184,000 PPP loan applications – only 1,000 approved
- COVID-19 response is ‘at heart of our purpose’ says GSK’s CEO
- Data shows NC lagged in COVID-19 loan program for businesses
- Ethix360, a compliance software startup in Matthews, is raising $1M, also hiring
- Guide dogs are helping blind employees navigate COVID-19 – here’s how
- Here’s a look at 8 energy startups joining NC Cleantech Corridor program
- LabCorp makes cost-cutting moves: Furloughs, pay freeze, job cuts, more
- NetApp acquires Garner’s CloudJumper in bid to capitalize on work-from-home surge
- Not even Google can escape economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic
- Positive news on potential COVID-19 treatment gives Wall Street big boost
- Raleigh teenage brothers tackle COVID-19 with their own neckware-mask combo
- Video: How can retail survive COVID-19? Experts talk the future in webinar
- Your commencement speaker – virtually – will be Oprah Winfrey
THURSDAY | April 30 Headlines:
- Americans are hoarding cash: Savings rate hits its highest level since 1981
- Cary-based SAS launches COVID-19 data hub as resource for businesses, individuals
- Cree CEO helps screen workers for COVID-19, is optimistic despite ‘bizarre situation’
- Durham’s Chimerix gets FDA nod to test cancer drug in COVID-19 patients
- Elon Musk: ‘Fascist’ stay-at-home orders ‘forcibly imprisoning people’
- Facebook sees ‘signs of stability,’ continues to hire despite COVID-19
- Fed expands Main Street lending program to more companies
- Guest opinion: Is your deal sick? Then call a deal doctor
- Heat Bio COVID-19 vaccine’s potential 2-way benefit: Clear virus, boost immunity
- LendingTree backs NY financial startup with $80M investment
- Microsoft finds a silver lining in cloud services, beats Street expectations
- NFL partners with Greenville startup Game Plan for eLearning curriculum
- Nextdoor acquires neighborhood platform founded by Raleigh entrepreneur
- Quick OK likely for COVID-19 treatment using drug with UNC roots
- ‘Strong’ customer growth helps Syneos Health top Street expectations
- Tech giants shine despite COVID-19 but Apple, Amazon earnings still to come; Twitter stumbles
- Two Triangle agtech startups are finalists in $100K Alexandria LaunchLabs pitch competition
- Wearable sensor breakthrough? NCSU engineers create stretchable electronic material that can ‘breathe’
FRIDAY | May 1 Headlines:
- 32 startups to pitch in first installment of Venture Connect Online
- Amazon hires 95,000 in April, still looking for workers in NC
- Bandwidth reports quartertly loss but still exceeds Street forecast
- By studying fallout of COVID-19’s devastation we can better prepare for ‘new normal’
- Cook sees bright spots in Apple’s performance during pandemic
- Durham’s Chimerix receives FDA clearance for rolling submission of smallpox treatment
- Flush with $22M, newly merged 9 Meters Biopharma launches in Raleigh with focus on GI diseases
- Here’s to your health: PRA beats Street with $41M profit, $784M in revenue
- Here To Help: Local Business Virtual Conference Series – listen in to latest in the series
- High Point pharma firm secures FDA approval for multiple sclerosis drug
- How would Mark Cuban fix the US economy? Here are his ideas
- NC tech executives see economic rebound starting in August or later
- Need career advice? Raleigh startup led by Google, Facebook vets provides virtual mentoring
- Put a smile on your face mask with Baby Yoda, Star Wars, Avengers from Disney
- What do entrepreneur support orgs like Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW) do for startups?
- Wilmington IoT startup LifeGait aims to raise $500k, lands $170K so far
Weekend Reading:
- Former Duke Energy, Progress exec Bill Johnson giving up CEO job at PG&E
- Internet dot-org registry won’t be sold to investment firm
- Most of new COVID-19 emergency loans going to small businesses, JPMorgan says
- Warren Buffett: ‘I remain convinced … that nothing can basically stop America’
- Warren Buffett’s conglomerate reports biggest loss ever – nearly $50B
- Warren Buffett to talk investment strategy – Wall Street is listening
