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: Raleigh ranked third in CompTIA’s 2020 Tech Town Index, while Charlotte metro was listed No. 5 and Durham-Chapel Hill ranked No. 13; Raleigh VC firm Oval Park Capital emerged from stealth mode after banking $4.5 million of its new investment fund; Amazon is hiring over 2,800 seasonal workers in North Carolina; the legal battle between Apple and Cary-based Epic Games continues, now with a judge striking down Apple’s demand for punitive damages; the NC Biotechnology Center recently awarded $623,136 in grants and loans to bioscience companies, universities and nonprofits; NC State is seeking rezoning approval to modernize its Centennial Campus.
Several local companies secured new funding last week, including Morrisville-based Locus Biosciences ($7 million), Durham-based Sense Photonics ($6 million), Durham-based Colmmune ($45 million) and Raleigh-based Virtue Labs ($28.6 million). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind edition.
And, in national news: Pfizer revealed early data showing that its coronavirus vaccine is over 90% effective; the Federal Trade Commission is requiring Zoom to step up its security; European Union regulators hit Amazon with antitrust charges over its use of data; Apple announced a series of new devices powered by its new M1 chip; more than 1,000 layoffs are underway at WarnerMedia; Cisco spent $900 million last quarter on early retirements, severance and termination benefits, but employees still don’t know the details about job cuts.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 81 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | Nov. 9 Headlines:
- Avaya, which recently moved HQ to Triangle, names VC to its board
- Duke researchers help develop biomaterial that improves skin healing
- Gene editing firm Locus Biosciences adds another $7M to its 2020 cash haul
- GM could be a better investment for electric vehicles than Tesla – here’s why
- Lending Tree’s interesting letter to shareholders: ‘We’re gaining confidence worst is behind us’
- Looking for grants & other funding? Triangle Startup Guide adds more resources
- Looking to connect with others in tech world? Here are 150+ RTP meetups to check out
- NC headliners: Previewing 43 events & webinars happening statewide this month
- On the event horizon: Triangle Global Health, Cleantech Innovation, Raleigh Leadership & more in Dec.
- Pfizer: Coronavirus vaccine proves 90% effective in early data from trial
- Software from NCSU, A&T aims to help better address mental health challenges
- Startup Rewind: RTP region’s medical and biotech startups dominate headlines
- Startup Spotlight: Oval Park Capital emerges from stealth, plans $25M fund
- Study: Injectable drug more effective than daily pill in preventing HIV among women
- TechWire Rewind: Stocks surge; quarterly earnings updates; startup funding + more across 75 headlines
- Triangle headliners: Preview of 63 webinars, events & deadlines coming up in Nov.
TUESDAY | Nov. 10 Headlines:
- Amazon hit with antitrust charges over data use by European Union
- Apple fans salute its new chip: ‘Screaming and crying at Intel’s headquarters as we speak’
- ‘Another one:’ 2-year-old Raleigh insightsoftware makes 15th acquisition
- Charlotte rising: Queen City climbs to No. 5 on ‘Tech Town’ list
- Could wearables detect COVID-19, other illnesses? RTI, Pentagon, Garmin to find out
- Durham-Chapel Hill metro ranks No. 13 on ‘Tech Town’ list as job demand grows
- Epic Games teams with Disney+ for 2-month free offer to some Fortnite players
- FTC: Zoom misled users about security, must improve it
- Global, autonomous vehicle collective soars in Wake Forest
- In the LimeLight: Applications open for ‘PopBox’ space at Boxyard RTP
- Layoffs begin at AT&T’s WarnerMedia – CNBC says cuts could be ‘in thousands’
- Liquidia reports a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss
- Raleigh ranks as No. 3 ‘Tech Town’ in new study; average pay hits $94,000
- SAS: No surrender in $79M lawsuit against World Programming Ltd.
- Tech issues at several electronic brokers mean some investors missed out on big rally
WEDNESDAY | Nov. 11 Headlines:
- After warning of cost cuts, CommScope names new chief operating officer
- Amazon hiring 2,800 seasonal workers in North Carolina
- Apple unveils new Macs, its own chip: Here are the details plus a video update
- Autonomous vehicle tech startup Sense Photonics raises another $6M under new CEO
- Big Blue CEO writes Joe Biden: ‘IBM is committed to working with your Administration’
- Brain-computer interface technology debate can’t wait, say NCSU researchers
- Cisco’s layoff fog: As workers keep grumbling, will CEO provide some clarity on earnings day?
- Donald Thompson: How you can win despite all the chaos
- DUALBOOT PARTNERS: 7 ways we build trusting relationships
- Durham oncology firm lands $45M in new financing
- Epic’s big court win: Judge strikes down Apple demand for punitive damages
- First Flight Venture Center adds Hutchison LLC attorney to its board
- Honda’s self-driving system wins OK for use on busy roads in Japan
- IBM’s CEO defends sending congratulatory letter to Biden
- Pfizer CEO sells $5.6M in stock on day firm discloses positive coronavirus vaccine results
- ‘Powerhouse’ Raleigh ranks No. 25 on best 100 US cities list; Durham is 44th, Charlotte 34th
- Precision Bio CEO finds comfort in gene-editing patent wins despite $26M loss
- TikTok asks federal court to intervene as deadline to sell US operations nears
THURSDAY | Nov. 12 Headlines:
- 67% of pharmacies worry people won’t take a COVID-19 vaccine, Raleigh firm’s survey finds
- Cisco reports spending $900M on early retirements, severance, termination benefits
- Cleantech Innovation Awards includes a host of nominess from across NC – here’s the list
- Duke biomedical engineers discover bacterial DNA’s recipe for success
- Google Fiber deepens embrace of streaming, adding Sling TV
- Jennifer Garner recently gave a boost to Raleigh startup Virtue Labs; now investors pour in $26M
- McDonald’s new menu: Faster drive-thrus, using artificial intelligence, adding plant-based burgers
- NC Biotech Center awards $623K in grants; its portfolio firms raise nearly $33M
- RDU Airport embraces free data help from SAS to better forecast travel in times of COVID
- Streaming wars: Disney+ isn’t the future of Disney – it’s the present
- Tech Today: SAS tech tackles COVID; CommScope 5G deal; Triad job fair; SPX makes a buy; Phitonex advance
- UNC Medical Center launches new therapy for heart failure in a first for Carolinas
- Work from home? Then pay higher taxes to help pandemic recovery, says Deutsche Bank
FRIDAY | Nov. 13 Headlines:
- Center for Black Innovation lands $2.1M in new funding, plans expansion
- Charlotte fiber firm Segra, US Ignite pick Greensboro for ‘Smart Gigabit Community’ effort
- Covid ‘chaos:’ NCSU, other experts call for changes in strategic supply chain
- Demand for new PlayStation surges but glitches hit Walmart, Best Buy sites
- Disney+ soars to nearly 74M subscribers, giving boost to Disney shares
- Gates Foundation awards Duke $4.5M grant to field-test new sanitation technologies
- GSK, Medicago – which has big plant in RTP – taking potential COVID-19 vaccine to next stage
- How can economists’ forecasts be so different? NCSU’s Mike Walden explains
- IBM is closing several data centers ‘unsuitable for upgrading’
- NC State unveils a new Centennial Campus vision – from 28 story towers to more density
- Need startup funding? Convertible Notes is increasingly popular option – here’s why
- Parent of virtual real estate brokerage in Cary reports surge in revenue
- Plain Sight, a startup ‘commercializing serindipity,’ is expanding to the Triangle
- ‘Sound beaming:’ New tech toy enables you to create your own sound bubble
Weekend Reading:
- Jobs at risk post-COVID: ‘We’re recovering, but to a different economy,’ Fed chair warns
- Like to bet on sports? ‘It’s a golden age of online gambling’ – here’s why
- Longing for 5G? Take heart – infrastructure spending to soar, report says
- Shining times for clean energy ahead? ‘Vibe in solar industry is great and getting greater’
- UNC study: E-cig users may be at greater risk for flu, COVID than smokers