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: Auto parts manufacturer Marelli is closing its Sanford plant and moving 329 jobs to Mexico; a group of Black developers joined backers of the $2.2 billion Downtown South project in Raleigh; Greenville startup Grover Gaming will add 200 jobs and invest $12.5 million into its operations; Durham VC firm SJF Ventures closed on nearly $90 million for its latest fund; Thermo Fisher is investing $500 million into expanding its Greenville site, adding 500 jobs; Burlington-based LabCorp received FDA authorization to offer its COVID-19 test kit over the counter; SaaS firm Phreesia moved its corporate HQ to Raleigh from New York City; 17 groups across North Carolina received $1.5 million in grants from NC IDEA; Raleigh software firm Pendo is opening new offices in Japan and Australia.
Several local companies secured new funding last week, including RTP-based BioCryst Pharmaceuticals ($325 million), Durham-based Kevel, formerly Adzerk ($11 million), and Durham-based Grid Therapeutics ($1.9 million). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind edition.
And, in national news: Apple rolled out its AirPods Max series and announced a launch date for its Fitness+ subscription service; DoorDash went public with shares surging 78% on opening day; 48 states (including North Carolina) filed an antitrust suit against Facebook, with the potential for severe financial penalties and divestitures; in a new survey, 54% of executives said that the lack of a pandemic stimulus package will hurt their businesses; Airbnb raised $3.7 billion in its IPO; GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi say their potential COVID-19 vaccine won’t be ready until late 2021.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 82 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | Dec. 7 Headlines:
- 2021 head start: Previewing January, from economic forecasts to startup pitches
- Auto plant in Sanford to shut down; 329 jobs moving to Mexico
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative provides up to $11M for Duke deep tissue imaging research
- Cree shares slip from 20-year high after analyst downgrade
- Ikea’s bible-sized catalog – a 70-year tradition – is latest ecommerce victim
- Looking for a meetup? Here are 150+ in Triangle for tech and business groups
- Looking for startup capital? New list links you to nearly 40 VC firms in Triangle
- New groups for entrepreneurs join growing Triangle Startup Guide lineup
- North Carolina headliners: Previewing 50 events coming up this month outside Triangle
- Pandemic grocery divide: Many food stamp recipients can’t order online – in NC there are 3 choices
- Phononic to expand electronics manufacturing overseas, pledges to keep biz in Durham
- Pornhub.com under investigation by Mastercard for alleged child abuse content
- RTP pharma BioCryst lands $325M in new capital after FDA drug approval
- SEC supercharges crowdfunding with 500% increase for offerings – Here’s what that means for startup funding
- Southwest plans to furlough some workers at RDU, blames union for decision
- Startup Rewind: Business rankings, diversity, fundraising + more headlines from Nov. 30–Dec. 4
- TechWire Rewind: Chick-fil-A, KBI Biopharma expansions; bitcoin soars; $5M to gaming startup + much more
- Trending marketing: Fortnite streamers, new gaming consoles headline Wendy’s campaign
- Triangle’s December headliners: Previewing 59 upcoming events, webinars
- UNC researcher lands grant for genetic research from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
TUESDAY | Dec. 8 Headlines:
- $25 billion semiconductor package backed by IBM, Cree is still alive, Schumer says
- Apple increasing tracking privacy for consumers, will remove apps that don’t comply
- AT&T vs. Hollywood: CEO defends streaming strategy as HBO Max nears 12.6M customers
- Charlotte firm to spearhead retail development for huge Hub RTP project
- Cisco bets more than $730M on 2 ‘customer experience’ deals
- Economists: COVID-19 vaccines will boost economy, but don’t expect too much
- Epic fights to keep Fortnite suit against Apple from being tossed in Australia
- Fast-growing gaming software startup in Greenville to add 200 jobs
- Group of Black developers joins backers of $2.2B Downtown South project
- In the LimeLight: CBRE expands retail investment sales platform in the Carolinas
- More NC layoffs: Defense contractor is cutting jobs in Elizabeth City
- New name (Kevel), new cash ($11 million) for emerging Durham adtech firm Adzerk
- Post-pandemic offices will likely feature fewer workers, more protections
- Raleigh-Durham ranked #5 in the nation for life sciences industry
- Teaching Startup: A new series for entrepreneurs launches at TechWire
- Uber sells autonomous vehicle group to startup, also invests $400M as part of deal
- Your ‘smart home,’ other Internet of Things devices face new cybersecurity threat
WEDNESDAY | Dec. 9 Headlines:
- 500 jobs, $500M in investment coming to Thermo Fisher plant in Greenville
- An IPO with plenty of ‘pop:’ DoorDash shares surge 78% on opening day
- Cleantech capitalism: Ideas for how a Biden administration can tackle climate change
- Diversity at Starbucks now starts at the top with first Black woman chair
- Donald Thompson: Five reasons why you should listen to me
- Elon Musk moves to Texas, looks to raise billions for Tesla
- Facebook antitrust suit: The penalties states want and under what laws
- Former CEO spearheads purchase of Morrisville cybersecurity firm from giant BAE Systems
- Google CEO says tech giant to review Black scientist’s abrupt departure
- Hacked! ‘Nation with top-tier offensive capabilities’ hits prominent security firm FireEye
- In the LimeLight: Cary drug firm Chiesi USA names successor to longtime CEO
- Investors pour nearly $90M into Durham venture capital firm SJF Ventures
- New jobs coming to Scotland County at animal health plant
- RTP-based Chimerix lands priority review from FDA for its smallpox treatment
- Shaw, Saint Augustine partner with Apple to become tech hubs for coding education
- Take that, Zoom: Cisco beefing up Webex in ‘work from home’ battle
- Triangle Cleantech Cluster recognizes nine winners for innovation awards
- Trump’s FCC move likely to stymie Biden on net neutrality, social media
- Want to know out-of-pocket costs before getting care? UNC Health launches a tool for that
- Watch out, Peloton, Beats, Bose: Apple launches new AirPods, fitness service
- Wilmington’s Next Glass is showing a growing taste for deals, making another buy
- Why is COVID-19 misinformation so hard to fight on social media? NCSU survey says …
THURSDAY | Dec. 10 Headlines:
- 17 groups across state to share nearly $1.5M in grants from NC IDEA Foundation
- $2B healthcare software services firm moves HQ to Raleigh from NYC
- $30 million freed up for rural broadband in NC
- 54% of execs warn lack of pandemic stimulus package will harm businesses
- Airbnb going public with a value of $47B – but is it a long-term investment success?
- Anime empire: Sony snatches up Crunchyroll from AT&T for $1.2B
- Building a ‘smart’ Morrisville: Leaders have a plan – and it could be an award winner
- Inside look: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s huge expansion, 500 new jobs plan for NC
- In times of COVID, don’t forget the flu – Seqirus, which has huge vaccine plant in Holly Springs, isn’t
- LabCorp’s COVID-19 testing kit now available over-the-counter
- North Carolina native named to Forbes’ 30 under 30
- Pendo expanding global footprint with new offices in Japan, Australia
- War on cancer: Duke spinout pursues revolutionary treatment using polio vaccine
FRIDAY | Dec. 11 Headlines:
- Elo Life Systems studies the not-so plain vanilla bean genomics
- Grid Therapeutics injects debt/equity round for cancer immunotherapy treatment
- GSK, Sanofi say COVID-19 shot won’t be ready until late 2021
- Mask-maker Sanctuary Systems creating 118 jobs in Wayne County
- Mycovia to seek FDA approval for first antifungal drug
- NCSU study shows strong link between trust and intense Facebook use
- Siemens Energy, Duke Energy, Clemson awarded research grant to study hydrogen
- Sprout Pharmaceuticals maker of female “Viagra,” sells options and securities in debt round
- The window opens for Virgin Galactic’s first rocket-powered test flight
- UNC Economist: economic recovery depends on 2021 consumer confidence
