The emergence of cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, has raised many to speculate whether the concept of a global digital currency is inevitable in today's society. Andrew Filipowski, founder and former CEO of PLATINUM technology, inc and current Chairman & CEO of SilkRoad Equity, believes that the value and promise of Bitcoin can completely revolutionize the global economy and has the inevitable potential to bypass banks altogether.
Investors
New York's Meetup closes second funding round for undisclosed amount
After 12 years in the industry, New York, US-based local group network Meetup closed an undisclosed amount in its second funding round from three major investors to allow some of its employees to exercise their expiring stock options.
Sequoia Capital and Jim Goetz emerge as winners in Facebook-WhatsApp $16B deal
From the viewpoint of venture capital, the real victors of the recently-announced acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook are Sequoia Capital and Partner Jim Goetz, TechCrunch reported.
China's Meizu and Spain's Bq to build first Ubuntu Mobile phones this year
Canonical, the parent firm of UK-based operating system Ubuntu, partnered with Chinese electronics firm Meizu and Spanish mobile gadget firm Bq to build the first Ubuntu Mobile phones this year.
Facebook to acquire messaging giant WhatsApp for $16B
Facebook will be buying WhatsApp in a cash and stock deal worth $16 billion. The messaging giant will also be retaining its brand and will function as an independent unit, TechCrunch reported.
Latest News
Weight loss app MyFitnessPal has acquired Sessions, a Rock Health-backed startup that has developed an app that connects individuals with fitness experts who encourage accountability in their workouts, VentureBeat reported.
Robocoin will be opening the first Bitcoin ATM in the US at the HandleBar tavern located in Austin, Texas. The machine will be operational starting Thursday, February 20 at 2 PM, TechCrunch reported.
Cloud-based payroll application provider ZenPayroll obtained $20 million from General Catalyst Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers for its Series A round, TechCrunch reported.
K-12 learning analytics company Renaissance Learning secured a $40 million investment from Google Capital, the investment arm of search giant Google that concentrates on late-stage deals, TechCrunch reported.
Brand Embassy, the UK startup that provides an SaaS platform that helps firms improve their customer service on social media, has received $1 million from two new investors, TechCrunch reported.
myTomorrows, a startup based in the Netherlands, got $2.2 million in additional funding from friends and family to give patients with critical conditions access to development-stage therapies, TechCrunch reported.
The venture capital arm of Tokyo-based Internet firm Rakuten, Rakuten Ventures, led the Series A round for Singapore-based ViSenze which raised $3.5 million, TechCrunch reported.
Berkeley, US-based startup MobileWorks raised $2.1 million in funding to change the way outsourcing works by generating online jobs for people who cannot enter the traditional career path.
Medical and pharmaceutical firm GE Healthcare Finland is planning to free up several floors in its Helsinki complex to transform the area into a corporate space where startups can collaborate and hold office.
