As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.
Notable news stories from last week included: Boston biotech firm Beam Therapeutics plans to build an $83 million manufacturing facility in RTP, adding over 200 high-paying jobs; multinational ag company UPL Limited is opening a new R&D hub in RTP; fintech firm Retirement Clearinghouse is expanding its HQ in Charlotte with 300 new jobs; NASA astronaut and NCSU graduate Christina Koch won the Global ATHENA Leadership Award – read more in our exclusive Q&A; Raleigh software firm Pendo ranked No. 26 on the latest Inc. 5000, and several NC life science firms also made the list; Cary-based Epic Games escalated its ongoing battle with Apple and Google over in-app purchases, now suing the tech giants; Charlotte “unicorn” AvidXchange raised $119 million.
Several North Carolina companies landed new funding last week, including Raleigh-based WalletFi ($85,000), Durham-based ServiceTrade ($49 million), Old Fort-based Kitsbow ($850,000), Wilmington-based LifeGait ($200,000) and Charlotte-based AvidXchange ($119 million). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind and Startup Spotlight editions.
And, in national news: Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested under China’s new national security law; the price of Bitcoin is now trading at its highest level in a year; Airbnb is reportedly planning to go public; Cisco is planning to cut $1 billion in expenses, including layoffs.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 80 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | August 10 Headlines:
- Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway rebounds from COVID-19 impact – here’s what happened
- Could an NC mall land an Amazon distribution hub? Here’s the latest
- Former Intel exec to be new CEO of Semiconductor Research Corporation
- Global agriculture company UPL unveils new ‘OpenAg’ hub in RTP
- GRO, a new incubator program for startups from CED, launches on Oct. 5
- Media tycoon, pro-democracy supporter arrested under new Hong Kong security law
- NC headliners: Here’s a breakdown on 44 events & webinars happening statewide this month
- On the NC event horizon: Scores of events, deadlines set for Sept. – here’s our exclusive guide
- Pandemic wrecks global Class of 2020’s hopes for first job
- Raleigh fintech startup WalletFi, founded by UNC-CH grad, raises more cash
- Specialized clinics could ‘flatten curve’ of pandemics, influenza outbreaks, NCSU study finds
- Startup Rewind: From Epic’s huge funding to exclusive interview with CED’s top exec, recapping a busy entrepreneurial week
- Startup Spotlight: Former Leadership Triangle exec launches venture aiming to be ‘master of reinvention’
- TechWire rewind: Epic $17.3B valuation; Black-owned businesses land grants; Triangle startups raise cash + many more
- Triangle headliners: Previewing 59 events & program deadlines through Aug.
- Triangle meetups: Here’s your guide to 140+ local groups to join
- Triangle Startup Guide keeps growing with more accelerators, COVID-19 relief resources
- Video: Duke researchers demonstrate effectiveness of masks in pandemic fight
TUESDAY | August 11 Headlines:
- Astronaut, NCSU graduate receives Global ATHENA Leadership Award during live SAS webinar
- Beam Therapeutics to build $83M manufacturing facility in RTP, create hundreds of jobs
- David Gardner: Social media, censorship, freedom of speech and the truth
- Drone firm PrecisionHawk secures two patents for collision avoidance technology
- Durham medtech startup Deep Blue receives FDA clearance for hernia mesh product
- Durham SaaS startup ServiceTrade adds to its coffers, bringing total funding to $49M
- Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper vows to keep operating despite founder’s arrest
- Liquidia losses exceed analysts’ expectations but CEO sees progress
- Loading Dock coworking and incubator space getting a home in downtown Wake Forest
- Pentagon to free up wireless spectrum for commercial use of 5G
- Retirement Clearinghouse to expand HQ in Charlotte, adding 300 jobs
- Sports clothing startup Kitsbow, with HQ in Old Fort, raises $850,000
- UNC-Chapel Hill startup develops ‘error-free’ dose measurement for pediatric patients
- What’s on Wall Street horizon? Schools, elections, COVID-19 vaccine to affect landscape ‘substantially’
WEDNESDAY | August 12 Headlines:
- Appeals court overturns antitrust ruling against chip maker Qualcomm
- Backstory: A look at RTP’s growing gene therapy hub as startup brings 200+ $102,000 jobs to Durham
- Back to space? One-on-one with NASA astronaut, NCSU grad Christina Koch
- Cary-based Cornerstone Building Brands confirms ransomware attack
- Chapel Hill economic development in the works: a look at two major projects
- Creative Allies to host webinar on communicating effectively in ‘new normal’
- Donald Thompson: How to reinvent yourself and pivot your career
- Fast-growing Raleigh software Pendo soars nearly 50 spots to No. 26 on Inc. 5000 list
- ‘Flight to safety:’ Bitcoin becoming digital gold as dollar weakens
- LabCorp to offer free antibody test, hopes to increase plasma donations in COVID-19 battle
- Microsoft back in the smartphone business with its new Duo
- Republic Wireless’ Relay device becomes unexpected ‘lifeline’ for families in ICU during COVID-19
- Report: COVID-19 driving record college student interest in possible transfer
- Report: Airbnb preparing for IPO – but at half pre-pandemic value
THURSDAY | August 13 Headlines:
- Cary-based Epic Games sues tech giant Apple over ‘monopolistic practices’
- Epic Games offers new way for in-app purchases, bypassing Apple’s and Google’s app stores
- Eva Garland Consulting, several NC life science firms crack Inc 5000
- Facebook is stepping up efforts to combat misinformation ahead of elections
- Google joins Apple, removes Epic Games’ Fortnite from its app store
- ‘Intelligent Transformation:’ Lenovo spells out strategic vision through this infographic
- Layoffs coming: Cisco plans $1B in cost cuts after forecasting revenue drop
- Lenovo profits, revenues surge beyond expectations with pandemic driving sales
- Looking to buy Apple, Tesla shares? Here’s what stock splits mean to investors
- Raleigh IoT startup lands ‘smart cities’ partnership to improve public safety in Denver
- Raleigh startup Keepsake Tales offers personalized books making your child the star
- Report: Apple to launch bundle of services under name ‘Apple One’
- RTI researchers to help coordinate federal program seeking COVID-19 treatments
- Stressed by COVID-19? The more you know the better off you will be, NCSU study finds
- Survey: 74% people shopping more online for everything from clothing to electronics
- Talk of ‘Apple One’ service hits Peloton as investors ponder streaming threat
- Wilmington IoT startup LifeGait aims to raise $1M, lands $200K so far
FRIDAY | August 14 Headlines:
- ‘A Price to pay’ for freedom: Hong Kong media tycoon vows to keep up fight despite arrest
- Can data science get fans back in the game? NC State Athletics wants to find out
- Duke researchers develop calculator to examine risk of airborne transmission in classrooms
- Earnings: Precision BioSciences, Chimerix report losses
- Epic Games sues Apple, Google after Fortnite is banned from app stores
- Fast-growing Charlotte fintech AvidXchange raises another $119M
- IBM targets ‘hybrid cloud’ growth with $1B investment fund
- In tandem with lawsuit, Epic mocks Apple with short film on ‘Fortnite’ – watch it
- Mouse with COVID-19 bites researcher during clinical trial at UNC
- Multinational firm UPL is looking for R&D partners, adding jobs at new RTP hub
- NC IDEA takes Ecosystem Summit virtual with aim to ‘rethink and reset’ priorities
- NC State’s Chancellor’s Innovation Fund supports 6 promising biotech projects
- NCSU economist: Setting record straight on just how big US economic loss has been in pandemic
- Rural families without internet face tough choice on school
- UNC Health Alliance earns $17.5M in pay-for-performance program
