Filing: Salesforce paid $419M to buy Spiff in Feb

Salespeople live and die by commissions, which typically form a big chunk of how they are paid, so it’s no surprise that Salesforce paid a premium to buy a platform to manage this for customers more easily. Several months ago, it acquired Spiff, to help companies build out and manage …...Read More

YoLa Fresh, a GrubMarket for Morocco, digs up $7M to connect farmers with food sellers

The fresh produce supply chain in Africa and emerging markets is faced with a daily list of cascading challenges. They include environmental and labor issues through to logistical ones food wastage to poor demand-supply synchronization. These various issues affect stakeholders differently: farmers struggle with sales, while retailers struggle to negotiate …...Read More

Archer, Kakao Mobility partner to bring electric air taxis to South Korea in 2026

Archer Aviation is partnering with ride-hailing and parking company Kakao Mobility to bring electric air taxi flights to South Korea starting in 2026, if the company can get its aircraft developed in time. The move to South Korea is part of an international strategy that will also see Archer commercially …...Read More

Instagram now lets teens limit interactions to their ‘Close Friends’ group to combat harassment

In a bid to combat harassment on its platform, Instagram said on Thursday it is expanding the scope of its “Limits” tool specifically for teenagers that would let them restrict unwanted interactions with people. Once they turn the feature on, teens will only be able to see comments, messages, story …...Read More

Iyris makes fresh produce easier to grow in difficult climates, raises $16M

2023 was the hottest year on record, it doesn’t look like we’re cooling down anytime soon. Rising temperatures have made farming increasingly difficult in areas that were once prime agricultural resources where heat and drought have severely impacted crops. For most farmers who rely on traditional methods and lack access …...Read More

Exactly.ai secures $4M to help artists use AI to scale up their output

With all the controversy surrounding visual artists being ripped off by AI, it seems like these are difficult and confusing days for creators. Now, a London-based startup hopes to use AI to help artists take back control. Exactly.ai says it uses generative AI to help artists retain legal ownership of …...Read More

Romanian startup FintechOS raises $60M to help old banks fight back against neobanks

Over the years, fintech startups, particularly neobanks, have thrown a cat among the pigeons in banking and finance by building whole new banking software stacks. But a startup out of Romania decided to build tools that help older banking and insurance companies provide the newer features and products offered by …...Read More

India's Agnikul launches 3D-printed rocket in sub-orbital test after initial delays

After two years of preparation and four delays over the past several months due to technical glitches, Indian space startup Agnikul has successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle, powered by its unique 3D-printed rocket engines, space agency Indian Space Research Organisation said Thursday. Called Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator), …...Read More

Fisker cuts hundreds of workers in bid to keep EV startup alive

Struggling EV startup Fisker has laid off hundreds of employees in a bid to stay alive, as it continues to search for funding, a buyout or prepare for bankruptcy. Workers suspected layoffs were coming when the company directed everyone to work from home on Wednesday — an out-of-character directive, according …...Read More

Chinese EV makers, and their connected vehicles, targeted by new House bill

Chinese EV manufacturers face a new challenge in their pursuit of U.S. customers: a new House bill that would limit or ban the introduction of their connected vehicles. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, comes as the trade war between the U.S. and China heightens in the aftermath …...Read More