Episodes

  • State of European Tech: Funding Down, But Industry Still Growing

    State of European Tech: Funding Down, But Industry Still Growing
    Dec 7 2022
    European tech startups are expected to raise $85 billion this year, down from $100 billion last year. The figures come from the latest State of European Tech report from London VC firm Atomico. The report highlights the pressure the tech industry is under in Europe, with a drop in funding and a slowdown in investment. However, the European tech ecosystem has still grown significantly in recent years, with more than double the amount of funding raised in 2020 than in 2018. There is a significant gender gap in the European tech industry, with 87% of VC funding going to male-only teams.
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    1 min
  • Ramesh Balwani to Be Sentenced for Theranos Fraud

    Ramesh Balwani to Be Sentenced for Theranos Fraud
    Dec 7 2022
    Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, the former romantic partner of Elizabeth Holmes and president of disgraced blood testing company Theranos, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday for 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy. Prosecutors have argued that the severity of the fraud and the need to "promote respect for the law" warrant a prison term of 15 years for Balwani, while his lawyers have said that probation would suffice. The sentencing comes weeks after Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos and Balwani's ex-girlfriend, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. During her trial, Holmes alleged that Balwani psychologically and physically abused her over the course of their romantic relationship -- accusations that he forcefully denied. Before joining Theranos, Balwani had a career as a software executive. Balwani, nearly 20 years older than Holmes, first met her in 2002 before she dropped out of Stanford. He served as an informal adviser to Holmes in Theranos' earliest days and the two became romantically involved.
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    1 min
  • The Facebook Oversight Board Criticizes Cross Check Program

    The Facebook Oversight Board Criticizes Cross Check Program
    Dec 6 2022
    The Facebook Oversight Board has criticized the company's Cross Check program, which moderates content posted by high-profile users, for being driven more by Meta's desire to avoid negative PR than by a commitment to safeguarding the public. The board has called for significant changes to the program, including increased transparency and accountability. Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, has said that the company will respond to the report within 90 days.
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    1 min
  • Senate Investigates Silvergate Bank's Relationship with FTX and Alameda Research

    Senate Investigates Silvergate Bank's Relationship with FTX and Alameda Research
    Dec 6 2022
    In response to allegations of wrongdoing in the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, three US Senators have sent a letter to Silvergate Bank requesting information about any relationship the bank may have had with FTX or with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. The letter expresses concern that Silvergate may have facilitated the transfer of customer funds from FTX to Bankman-Fried's trading firm, Alameda Research, in violation of US securities laws. Silvergate has issued a statement saying that it was the victim of FTX's and Alameda Research's misuse of customer assets, and that it will cooperate fully with the investigation.
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    1 min
  • Apple Sued for Making AirTag Devices Too Easy for Stalkers to Use

    Apple Sued for Making AirTag Devices Too Easy for Stalkers to Use
    Dec 6 2022
    Apple is being sued by two women who claim that its AirTag devices have made it too easy for stalkers to track and terrorize victims. The women allege that Apple's safeguards against unwanted tracking are "woefully inadequate" and that the company has released an unsafe product. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.
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    1 min
  • Ford Dealers Opt to Sell EVs

    Ford Dealers Opt to Sell EVs
    Dec 6 2022
    Ford dealers have the option to become certified to sell EVs under two different programs. The higher tier of certification requires a higher investment, but also provides more benefits. Nearly two-thirds of Ford dealers have opted to become certified to sell EVs. The majority of those who have certified have chosen the higher-tier option. This is a good sign for Ford's EV plans, as it shows that dealers are willing to make the necessary investment to sell EVs.
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    1 min
  • Apple shifting iPhone production out of China

    Apple shifting iPhone production out of China
    Dec 4 2022
    Apple is looking to shift some of its production out of China and into other countries in Asia, including India and Vietnam. This is due to unrest at the company's "iPhone City" facility in Zhengzhou, China, which has been disrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak. Apple is also looking to reduce its dependence on Taiwanese assemblers, led by the Foxconn Technology Group. Moving production out of China is a complicated process that will take a long time, due to the manufacturing infrastructure and cheap labor force that China offers. Eventually, Apple is expected to shift up to 40% of iPhone production to other countries.
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    1 min
  • Joe Biden Approves Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

    Joe Biden Approves Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
    Dec 4 2022
    In September, US Vice President Joe Biden approved the first $900 million in funding to build electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across 35 states in the US. In the latest, Biden announced the first round of funding for a countrywide EV charging network, which will fund the installation of stations in 35 states. Biden boasted about the work of his government regarding the creation of new EV infrastructure by announcing that work was underway to bring the number of points across the United States to 500,000 stations. This was approved last September and the US government will dedicate 900 million dollars to it. In addition, the creator of Tesla, Elon Musk, reminded the US president that his company has started to open up access to its chargers, allowing other electric vehicles to use Tesla Superchargers, something that is also possible at European stations (including some Spanish ones). Notably, earlier this year, after Biden omitted to mention Tesla from his State of the Union Address, the CEO of Twitter said that nobody was watching. In contrast to Tesla, which was not mentioned in the US President's address to the country, Biden had praised the combined $18 billion expenditures by Ford and GM to develop electric vehicles. In February of this year, Biden remarked that the nation is constructing a dependable national public charging network to fight Chinese challenge in the EV market, which was his first-ever public acknowledgement of Musk-run Tesla's contribution to the industry.
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    2 mins