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. In a multi-part series, we covered the Triangle’s rebound in the “new normal” – read the reports here, here, here and here. In another series on COVID-19’s impact on minority-owned businesses, we reported that black-led businesses say they’re getting shut out of the PPP loan program, as calls emerge for prioritized funds to help underserved businesses. In other news, a NC TECH survey revealed tech execs’ doubts about telework impact; also, IBM is cutting thousands of jobs across the U.S., including in NC.
In non-COVID news: Raleigh’s Prometheus Group made its fourth acquisition in seven months; over 23,000 high-tech jobs are open across NC; SAS is working on three projects to monitor, track and improve bee populations worldwide; a Triad group is recruiting Tesla to come to NC, while Mahindra confirmed NC is still in the running for an upcoming factory; NC TECH’s virtual job fair was a success; former Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda wrote a new book – read our exclusive Q&A here.
As part of TechWire’s new “Startup Monday” coverage, we recently launched a new column that summarizes local startup news coverage over the past week. Catch up with last week’s edition here.
- Check out TechWire’s comprehensive resource package for Triangle startups.
And, in national news: Apple is reopening its retail stores; a Facebook survey found that 31% of small businesses are closed and only 45% will rehire the same workers; Uber cut another 3,000 jobs; a new report warned that four out of every 10 startups globally are in the “red zone,” with only three months of cash left; Lenovo reports growing demand for work-at-home PCs; Spotify is acquiring the Joe Rogan Experience podcast; Apple and Google released their much-anticipated COVID-19 exposure tracking technology; IBM’s post-pandemic playbook involves opening its offices in waves.
Keeping with our Monday tradition, here’s a look back at 72 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | May 18 Headlines:
- 9/11, dot-com bubble, pandemic … Get Spiffy’s Scot Wingo talks how to stay alive in downturns
- Apple reopening more stores – but not yet in NC
- Facebook survey: 31% of small businesses are closed; only 45% will rehire same workers
- Fed chair confident; Facebook’s buy; TikTok privacy concerns; Google faces probes
- Here’s Startup Monday’s guide to 100+ meetups, networks & user groups for Triangle
- How’s ‘new normal’ affecting coworking hubs? Just take a look at Loading Dock’s rules
- Morrisville-based Liquidia names its first chief medical officer
- North Carolina headliners: 37 upcoming events & webinars across our state
- On the NC calendar horizon: 91 events & deadlines coming up in June
- Startup rewind: Raising cash during COVID-19; new accelerator; 6 startups land $50K grants + many more headlines
- TechWire rewind: COVID-19 & real estate; Eli Lilly’s $474M plant; the new office space + 64 more headlines
- The new normal: A different Raleigh-Cary entrepreneurial community takes shape at coworking hubs
- Triangle headliners: Previewing 49 local events & deadlines through May
- Triangle’s entrepreneurial economy gears up to lead in the new normal
- Triangle startup Get Spiffy pivots to stay afloat, unveils ‘decontamination business’
- Triangle Startup Guide is the hub of TechWire’s new Startup Monday – here’s why
- Uber cuts another 3,000 jobs, closes artificial intelligence unit, shutting 45 offices
- UNC-Chapel Hill to host VC summit spotlighting local ventures
- Venture Connect Online wraps today with 21 life science, fintech startup pitches
TUESDAY | May 19 Headlines:
- Forced to embrace work-from-home, tech execs have doubts about telework impact
- Former Disney exec could bring regulatory help for controversial TikTok
- Greeenpeace report triggers Google to back off AI use in oil industry; Amazon, Microsoft won’t
- Help wanted: More than 23,000 high-tech jobs open across NC
- Looking for work? Check out hundreds of jobs to be available during virtual job fair
- Raleigh’s MemberHub lands roughly $3.3M for its parent-teacher group software
- Prometheus Group makes fourth acquisition – this time it’s ‘bolt-on’ software
- RTP-based AskBio taps former Chimerix exec as chief financial officer
- UNC researchers help develop tool to map flow of information within cells
- ViiiV Healthcare ‘long-acting injectable has the potential to be a game-changer for HIV prevention’
- What are 10 deadliest risks to businesses from pandemic? Execs pick these …
- Where are the tech jobs in NC? What skills are needed? Here’s a breakdown
- Winston-Salem startup, committed to minimizing healthcare costs, raises $1.3M
WEDNESDAY | May 20 Headlines:
- Apple, Google release technology for pandemic apps tracking COVID-19 exposure
- As Triad group recruits Tesla, Mahindra confirms NC remains on vehicle plant list
- Duke expert: Another relief package ‘absolutely’ necessary for pandemic recovery
- Durham medtech startup Validic receives kudos for virtual care technology
- Durham startup offering ‘baldness cure’ wins MedTech ‘Breakthrough Award’
- From streaming hive data to acoustics, SAS uses machine learning, analytics to boost bee populations
- Lenovo execs: Pandemic driving growing demand for work-at-home PCs
- NC BIONEER program awards grants to four startups in Wilmington
- NCSU-led team lands $200K grant to study wastewater for COVID-19 indicators
- NCTA virtual job fair a success for employers, job seekers
- NorthState’s longtime CEO exits as Charlotte-based Segra closes on $240M acquisition
- Raleigh HR startup makes first acquisition, wants to roll out ‘facial recognition terminals’
- Report: Four in 10 startups face ‘red zone’ – 3 months of funding left
- Spotify acquires popular commedian Joe Rogan’s ‘Experience’ podcast
- Virtual E4 Carolinas conference to cover energy sector’s role in COVID-19 recovery
THURSDAY |May 21 Headlines:
- Brooks Bell, Pamela Norley join RTP Foundation’s board of directors
- ‘Discover mindset to pursue the impossible:’ That’s goal of ex-Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda in new book
- Equity gaps in digital learning ‘expand exponentially’ during pandemic
- Genetic barcodes can now ensure authentic DNA fingerprints
- Got a dawdling dog? K9 ‘scent stimulator’ developed by Greensboro startup helps with poops
- HQ Raleigh reopens doors, gives snapshot of what this ‘new normal’ looks like
- IBM’s post-pandemic playbook involves returning back to work in ‘waves’
- Q&A: Safety a big concern as workers return to their jobs
- Regional Fed chief: Loan program could aid a slow recovery
- Try surfing the web like someone who has no vision, then let’s talk about digital accessibility
- UNC Health, Novant Health hatch plans to expand Wilmington medical center
- Was April rock bottom for the economy? New data provides some clues
- Why read Chuck Swoboda’s new book? Here are his 5 essential points
FRIDAY | May 22 Headlines:
- America’s unemployment rate may hit 23%, Trump adviser says
- Black-led businesses getting shut out of PPP loan program, owners and experts say
- Calls for ‘prioritized’ funds to help underserved, black-owned businesses
- Durham among top US cities ‘to land your first job’; median starting salary, $63,000
- Durham-based IQVIA to manage clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine vs. COVID-19
- Durham medical AI leader TeraRecon makes quick shift to COVID-19 imaging
- How effective is your face mask? UNC researchers put it to the test
- IBM cuts ‘thousands’ of jobs across the US, NC included
- NCBiotech among grant recipients from Wells Fargo Incubator Fund
- Raleigh tech startup offers ‘touchless menus’ to help restaurants re-open
- Tech giants are embracing remote work. Others may follow
- Teen entrepreneur summit to spread the word: ‘Start small and learn’
