Tech Round-Up: October 2020 - Day 286
Dear Reader, it has been a year since we launched our monthly Tech Round-Up. Today is also this year’s 286th day in a pandemic. The science community increasingly believes that safe and effective vaccines will be with us in 2021. How good it will be to leave 2020 behind!
During COVID-19, the Tech Round-Up’s readership has doubled, with all key metrics looking promising. If you have feedback or suggestions for improvement, please let us know here.
And from all of us - thanks for reading the Tech Round-Up.
Original Thinking from North Ridge Partners:
India’s proxy battle for Southeast Asian Tech. Our roving investigative reporter Shauraya Bhutani examines India’s rising influence in Southeast Asia.
Our technology webinar and podcast series has also hit a milestone: it’s 10 episodes old. You can also listen to them on Spotify and register for the next one here.
COVID-19 is Changing Everything, Forever:
It’s fast, it’s deep, and it’s consequential: Fast Company’s take on COVID’s impact on business.
It’s also pushing companies over the technology tipping point: It’s here for the long haul and the winners will take all.
Because of COVID, your tech workforce may just get cheaper: That is if your team is willing to trade lower pay for a better location. People are starting to do just that.
And, as if to reinforce the last point, only 8% of Googlers want to return to work every day.
Quote of the Month:
This is news hyperinflation: “Journalists are wandering around with wheelbarrows full of news but it’s all worthless because it now costs one million news to buy a loaf of bread”.
Tech News from Asia:
Paytm takes on Google in India. Can it beat Google Play?
Stand by for the Clash of the Titans:: It’s Ant Group vs JD Digits.
Indonesia’s Waresix closes Series B round: US$100m raised - we’d call that a successful year.
Taking on the furniture giants: Fabelio shows us how it’s done.
Hyundai think flying cars will be a reality by 2028: Will flying cars hit the airways before self-driving cars hit the streets?
Fun Stuff:
How AI is being used in the creative industries: To create movie trailers, for starters.
“Honey, the coffee maker just sent me a ransom note!”: Did you ever imagine your coffee machine could get hacked?
Shared ownership of cars, art, memorabilia, and wine has arrived: And here’s how it works.
Buy your own personal security drone! It’ll watch all corners of your home. Creepy.
Bringing the catwalk to your bedroom: Twitch ventures into live-streaming. Even creepier.
Tech News from the Rest of the World:
Big Blue is Soon to be Two: Arvind Krishna wastes no time in looking for ways to create value. IBM will spin off its cloud business.
Airbnb burns buckets of bucks: US$1.2bn and counting in the past 12 months! Er…no wonder its IPO looms.
Kaching! Peter Thiel and Alex Karp unload more than $400m in shares after Palantir’s direct listing.
Global App revenue rises 23% to hit $50 billion in H1: Nice work if you can get it.
Inside the problem child that is Uber: Uber invents the self-diving car (get the pun, anyone?) and loses $2.5 billion.
From Your Health Reporter:
The EU approves Google’s acquisition of Fitbit, and what it means: Third parties will have access to Fitbit users’ data, with user consent.
Strava hits unicorn status: Our favourite fitness app is seeking new investors at a $1 billion-plus valuation.
How AI is being used to detect COVID-19: AI could just help to address two of the main challenges in combating the pandemic.
The Space Race:
Musk heads for Mars: Another moonshot from the man who defies logic - time and again.
3D printed houses on the moon? Creating accommodation for Earthlings headed to space.
Equity Markets:
IPOs are broken: Barron’s take on how to fix them.
Are direct listings better than IPOs? The tech world says direct listings.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley is about to get its own Stock Exchange: Welcome to the LTSE.
Other Stuff We Liked:
The rise of the robots: Need someone to take care of essential services? Bring on the bots!
Streaming (continues to) crush free-to-air TV: COVID-19 continues to play a part in the changing landscape.
Klarna is now EU’s most valuable fintech: Backed by the likes of Silver Lake, GIC, and BlackRock. Yadda yadda yadda.
Podcast of the Month:
In this “must-listen”, Andreessen Horowitz deconstruct the Tik Tok algorithm.
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North Ridge Partners works with technology companies across the Asia Pacific to achieve transformational outcomes through advice on strategic positioning, raising third party funding, M&A, and direct investment. We’re experienced deal-makers who have built, run, and sold numerous technology companies.