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: High-tech job openings surged across NC in July and are now returning to pre-COVID levels; Cary-based Epic Games is ramping up its challenges to Apple’s app payment system; RTP-headquartered RTI International announced nearly 1,200 furloughs across the U.S.; coworking community HQ Raleigh rebranded to “Raleigh Founded”; NC awarded $12 million in grants to expand high-speed internet in 11 rural counties; Cisco employees voiced concerns about layoffs as the company stays quiet on the specifics of its planned expenses overhaul; nearly 19% of NC’s clean energy workforce remains unemployed in the pandemic.
Also, WRAL TechWire launched LimeLight, a new feature dedicated to bringing more exposure for entrepreneurs and companies across North Carolina. Read more about LimeLight here.
Several North Carolina companies landed new funding last week, including Triangle-based VADE ($500,000), Durham-based LoanWell ($715,000), Greenville-based RFPI ($2 million) and Winston Salem-based Javara ($4.6 million). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind and Startup Spotlight editions.
And, in national news: The bulls are still running on Wall Street; Oracle is reportedly in talks to acquire TikTok; a new survey found that 37% of Wall Street’s top investors are expecting a double-dip recession with a W-shaped recovery; Apple is the first U.S. company to hit $2 trillion in value.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 79 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | August 17 Headlines:
- ‘All Trump-Biden scenarios are on the table:’ Wall Street braces for turbulent election campaign
- Google, Australia duel over law requiring payments to media organizations for news
- Looking for meetups in Triangle? Here are 100+ to check out
- NC headliners: 30+ events, program deadlines across NC through Aug. 31
- New podcast ‘Founder Shares’ offers insights into how startups are born, grown
- On Sept. event horizon across NC: 89 events & program deadlines for your calendar
- Plant-based protein startup Impossible announces new round of funding as it leans into retail
- Startup Rewind: Recapping an epic week across NC from fundings to new jobs, law suits and more
- Startup Spotlight: IDEA Fund Partners doesn’t miss a beat despite pandemic
- TechWire rewind: RTP expansions; NASA astronaut Q&A; Epic vs Apple & Google – 80 stories in all
- Triangle headliners: Here are 47 events & webinars through Aug. 31
- Triangle Startup Guide keeps growing: More COVID-19 support resources + a new startup incubator
- UNC, tech institute RENCI, partners land $10M grant for cloud computing testbed
- Wake Tech, universities partner to create ‘pathways’ to 4-year tech degrees
TUESDAY | August 18 Headlines:
- 11 counties land $5K BAND-NC grants to help ‘bridge the digital divide’
- 11 investors back Durham fintech startup LoanWell with $715,000
- Amazon skips Triangle for new tech, corporate jobs in $1.4B expansion
- Bulls keep running on Wall Street: Nasdaq sets a record, S&P 500 nearly does
- Fortnite war escalates: Epic seeks injunction to block Apple’s threat of ecosystem ban
- Here’s how startups can capitalize on opportunities for free legal services
- High-tech job openings surge across NC, nearly back to pre-pandemic level
- New US sanctions on Huawei will hurt global trade, China warns
- Parking startup VADE, founded by NCSU, UNC-Chapel Hill students, closes on $500K seed round
- Raleigh Founded’s name change triggered by lawsuit — but rebrand was long overdue, say founders
- Reports: Oracle is interested in acquiring TikTok’s US, other assets
- RTI International furloughs roughly 1,200 employees across U.S.
- The wonders of the Crystal Coast’s shoulder seasons
- Under new president, First Flight Venture Center doesn’t let pandemic clip its wings
WEDNESDAY | August 19 Headlines:
- $175M ‘operational mistake:’ Citibank sues to get back money sent to hedge fund
- 37% of top Wall Street investors expect double-dip recession, Bank of America survey finds
- Apple is golden, hitting $2 trillion in value – first US firm to do so
- ChannelAdvisor’s cofounder sells more than $900K in shares
- Crackdown on WeChat could hinder millions of US users who rely on social media tool
- Cree CEO remains ‘fully committed’ to semiconductor expansion despite revenue drop
- Facebook offers $40M in grants to Black-owned businesses with 50 or fewer employees
- Fight against robocalls is making progress, NCSU study finds
- Introducing LimeLight – a new feature celebrating accomplishments across NC
- Kenan Insights: Can social entrepreneurship deliver Impact?
- Lenovo wins nearly $24M contract to provide 85,000 laptops to Wake schools
- More, quicker choices: Netflix is testing out a shuffle button
- NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues launching a grant to help bridge digital divide
- NC to pour $12M into expanding internet access for students learning remotely
- Raleigh Founded’s Jason Widen riffs on new name, evolving mission and the future of co-working
- Selling concepts: Realizing the full potential of your ideas
- Triangle’s G1 Therapeutics reaches key milestone in fight against cancer
THURSDAY | August 20 Headlines:
- Active in COVID-19 research, Triad clinical services firm Javara lands $4.6M
- Airbnb plans to go public, but how will investors react in midst of pandemic?
- Durham startup Dualogics sells platform for producing therapeutic antibodies
- Entrepreneurs catalyzing Crystal Coast’s growth and generating community support
- Facebook joins social media crackdown on right-wing conspiracy group
- IBM hits new computing milestone in race to achieve ‘quantum advantage’
- Layoff threat drives Cisco employees to complain about cuts; tech giant remains mum
- Lowe’s to offer tool rentals, will utilize online tech, in-store kiosks
- Raleigh-based startup unveils tracking wristband for kids in parks, zoos
- Report: NC’s clean energy sector takes a hit with more than 21,000 jobs lost post-COVID-19
- Reports: Raleigh on list for testing of new Google wireless initiative
- Three NC life science execs crack PharmaVoice ‘most inspiring’ list
- Uber, Lyft threaten to shut down in Calif. over law requiring drivers be classified as employees
- UNC’s student-staffed business news wire is back after hiatus
- Watch out, Tesla? Volkswagen begins production of electric SUV
- With FDA clearance in hand, Greenville med device startup raises $2M, wants $5M more
FRIDAY | August 21 Headlines:
- Asheville startup Ecobot acquires WetForm, a wetland delineation software platform
- AT&T, T-Mobile fight speed tests that seek to verify coverage claims
- Court grants Uber, Lyft reprieve in dispute with California over drivers’ status
- Curbside pickup app Swipeby launches crowdfunding campaign to fuel ‘national expansion’
- DoorDash launching grocery delivery service, taking on Instacart
- Durham life science startup IMMvention shines in LaunchBio Big Pitch competition
- Liquidia CFO resigns; interim replacement to earn $65K a month
- Merz lands FDA approval for new use of muscle treatment; its N. American HQ is in Raleigh
- New report raises more questions about Lenovo, forced labor in China
- Potential successor to Jeff Bezos is retiring at Amazon
- Raleigh AI startup Diveplane lands multiple kudos in top tech industry report
- RDU traffic plummets, American suspends Greenville flights in pandemic fallout
- Semiconductor firm Qorvo’s CEO sells nearly $1.2M in shares
- Taco Bell is adapting to pandemic world with restaurants focusing on mobile access
- Tech titans are a true Magnificent 7 with value now topping $7 trillion
