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: NC TECH’s latest jobs report says 27,000 high-tech jobs were available in NC last month and openings have surged more than 5,000 from a low of 22,500 in May; Apple fired back at Cary-based Epic Games in a legal filing amid the ongoing dispute over App Store fees; the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that IBM discriminated against older workers in making layoffs between 2013-2018.
Several North Carolina companies secured new funding last week, including RTP-based Metabolon ($21.8 million), Durham-based Avicenna Biosciences ($2.5 million), Wilmington-based opiAID ($276,000 SBIR NIH grant), Morrisville-based JupiterOne ($19 million), Charlotte-based AvidXchange ($66 million), Carrboro-based Inhalon Biopharma ($912,000) and Raleigh-based OnPoint ($905,000). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind and Startup Spotlight editions.
And, in national news: Oracle agreed to become TikTok’s U.S. business partner before the Trump administration moved to ban the app on Sunday; Amazon is hiring 100,000 people to meet delivery demands, and FedEx plans to hire 70,000 seasonal workers ahead of the holiday season; a new report found that nearly 50% of women founders and tech professionals have experienced harassment; Apple introduced new iPads and smartwatches; Yelp data found that around 60% of businesses that closed during the pandemic will never reopen.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 91 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | September 14 Headlines:
- Amazon: We’re hiring another 100,000 to meet delivery demands
- Charlotte’s Red Ventures acquires digital news pioneer, TVGuide operator CNET for $500M
- Cree teams up with NC’s historically Black A&T to set up $4M scholarship fund
- Feds: IBM did discriminate against older workers in making layoffs
- Gilead Sciences to expand cancer therapy portfolio with $21B deal for Immunomedics
- Historic Burroughs Wellcome building in RTP to be demolished despite protests
- Looking for meetups? Here’s your guide to 150 tech and business groups across Triangle
- Mega chip deal: Nvidia acquires Arm Holdings from SoftBank for $40B
- Musk talks trash to Bill Gates: He ‘has no clue’ about truck batteries
- On the NC horizon: 110 events & application deadlines on tap for Oct.
- Oracle confirms it’s the choice to take over TikTok operations in US
- Oracle reportedly wins battle with Microsoft for TikTok
- Searching for funding? Sign up to gain insight through early-stage capital event
- Sept. calendar preview: 76 upcoming webinars/events happening across Triangle
- Startup Rewind: A look back at deals, features and advice in TechWire from Sept. 7-12
- Startup Spotlight: Raleigh agtech startup shines as pandemic drives indoor farming interest
- TechWire Rewind: From vaccines to drone delivery, here’s a recap of last week’s 80 headlines
- TechWire’s Triangle Startup Guide grows with additional new resources
- T-Mobile customers could experience service issues after wiring theft in Wake County
- Trump order on drug prices could cost NC jobs, biotech trade group warns
- Virtual event offers NC entrepreneurs opportunity to explore federal grant programs
- What’s happening across NC in Sept.: Previewing 40 webinars & events
TUESDAY | September 15 Headlines:
- 5G study: Most government agencies says infrastructure not ready
- Apple takes online store down ahead of today’s product event
- Armed with $600K grant, NCSU researchers aim to improve COVID-19 test kit distribution
- Duke U. to buy more solar power, joins Duke Energy program in ‘carbon neutral’ plan
- FedEx to hire 70,000 workers; rate hikes coming in January
- Google Fiber is doubling its top internet speed, looking for testers
- In the LimeLight: WRAL TechWire’s new way to focus attention on you, your company
- KNOW Bio: Nitric oxide could help combat coronavirus
- Looking for work? 27,000 high-tech jobs available across NC, report says
- PPD investors to sell 38M shares; stock slides 5% despite improving financial guidance
- Precision medicine firm Metabolon looks to raise $48M – and investors are on board
- Raleigh tech firm Tantalus to merge with RiseTech Capital, adds new CFO
- RDU, RTI, Triangle universities team up to find ways to improve air travel
- ‘Toxic workplace culture’: Nearly 50% of women working in tech say they’ve been harassed
- Verizon is buying Tracfone in deal worth nearly $7B
- ViacomCBS to rebrand CBS All Access as Paramount Plus
- What is keeping Wall Street investors awake at night? These key issues …
WEDNESDAY | September 16 Headlines:
- Amazon launches ‘Luxury Stores’ – but you have to be invited to shop
- Applications open for $32M in special GREAT grant funding to expand internet in rural areas
- Biogen, with big presence in RTP, launches $250M plan to eliminate fossil fuel emissions
- Chip maker Qorvo looks to raise $700M, ups financial guidance
- Climate change will impact Colorado’s colorful aspens, NCSU study warns
- Donald Thompson: To lead by example, choose your words carefully
- Durham biotech startup Avicenna Biosciences raises $2.5M
- Guest analysis: Anti-immigrant policies will hurt America’s COVID-19 recovery
- How American Underground’s startup community is adapting to COVID-19
- IBM’s autonomous Mayflower launches on 400th anniversary of original’s journey to US
- Inside Apple’s big show: Time, iPads, health, news – but no iPhones
- It’s biggest software IPO ever: Cloud data firm Snowflake is going public
- Launch Place adds another health care startup to investment portfolio
- Lawyer for laid-off IBMers hails Fed’s discrimination ruling, says others can still join lawsuit
- One-time screening for COVID-19 misses many infections, researchers warn
- The importance of leadership development skills in an Agile world
- Triangle is an attractive area for companies, despite COVID-19
- Triangle real estate market remains hot, land sales strong despite COVID-19
- Triangle’s start-up ecosystem fosters the birth and growth of businesses of all types
- Why diversity in STEM is good for your company culture and good for business
THURSDAY | September 17 Headlines:
- Apple attacks Epic in new filing, says Cary firm is ‘holding own customers hostage’
- Carteret County makes a name for itself as a retirement haven
- Founder Shares podcast: From NCSU to changing state of health information networks, with Medicom Technologies’ Malcolm Benitz
- Google lands $25M in tax breaks to build data center in Nevada
- IBM invests $100M in HBCU computing programs; NC A&T, NCCU included
- Innovative industrial developments in Wake Forest creating new opportunities for skilled jobs
- Lowe’s, Shark Tank’s Daymond John team up to give small businesses chance to pitch products
- New PlayStation will cost $500, goes on sale Nov. 12
- Report: Net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 is possible – but cost is up to $2 trillion a year
- RTP spinoff JupiterOne lands $19M to help companies manage cyber assets
- Star power: Gwyneth Paltrow to be face for Raleigh-based firm’s anti-wrinkle product
- Trump ‘not prepared to sign off’ on a TikTok-Oracle deal yet
- Yelp data: 60% of businesses shut down due to pandemic won’t reopen
- Wilmington startup opiAID lands big grant to fight substance abuse
FRIDAY | September 18 Headlines:
- AvidXchange becomes an even bigger unicorn with new $66M cash haul
- Beyu Caffe owner unveils Boxyard RTP expansion plans, eyes spring opening
- Carrboro biotech startup Inhalon Biopharma adds $912K to its coffers
- Clock is ticking on TikTok deal – here’s what it means for tech giants, US-China and users
- Down but hardly out: Richard Branson going back on offensive
- Epic-owned Rocket League set to launch season one, and it’s free
- Feds ask Epic Games about data security protocols with Chinese investor Tencent
- High-tech shooting startup OnPoint raises $905K, seeks another $320K
- Lab-grown diamonds? Raleigh firm is launching its own exclusive brand
- NCSU’s Poole College launches new ‘hub’ for business analytics
- Raleigh tech startup Pendo climbs 41 spots on Forbes 2020 Cloud 100 list
- Summit for Women in Tech’s ambitious goal: To ‘move the needle on gender equity’
- US banning TikTok, WeChat transactions as of Sunday
Weekend Headlines:
- Apple, Cisco, Qualcomm could face restrictions in China as trade war with US intensifies
- Bank of America is setting record pace for patents despite pandemic
- Deutsche Bank says employees can work from home until next July
- Judge orders delay in US restrictions on Tencent’s WeChat
- TikTok deal likely means 25,000 jobs, HQ in Texas; Oracle to own 12.5%, Walmart 7.5%
