MasterClass raises $35 million for celebrity taught classes

If you want to learn something new, learn it from the master. That’s the thesis behind MasterClass, which offers tennis tips from Serena Williams, cooking advice from Gordon Ramsay and vocal training from Christina Aguilera. The startup offers online courses from leaders in their field, charging about $90 for the hours long sessions. Students also have access to… Continue reading MasterClass raises $35 million for celebrity taught classes

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Snapchat is already more valuable than these 9 companies

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Evan Spiegel of Snapchat attends TechCruch Disrupt SF 2013 at San Francisco Design Center on September 9, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch)

Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, had a stellar first day in its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange, popping 44%. The self-proclaimed camera company that began its roots as an ephemeral photo-sharing app first priced its IPO at $17 per share on Wednesday. The stock opened at $24 and closed the day at… Continue reading Snapchat is already more valuable than these 9 companies

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B.C. tech startups threaten to disrupt ‘dinosaur’ industries

Another helps farmers boost their crop yields with a mobile app that manages operations from seed to sale. A third new technology firm aims to replace conventional bank accounts with only a card and an app.   Continued on source. Love0 Share Tweet Share Pin

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A new way for founders to connect with the right VCs

A young Silicon Valley venture firm is taking the wraps off a piece of software that it says makes it a cinch for founders to figure out which VCs are worth approaching, based on stage, sector, and a variety of other factors. Continued on source. Love0 Share Tweet Share Pin

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In San Francisco, lease prices hold steady, but landlords offer more perks

The Van Ness cable car as it reaches the top of Nob Hill in San Francisco on California Street with a view of the Bay Bridge in the background.

Leasing commercial space in San Francisco is as expensive as ever, but prices are mostly holding steady for the first time in a long time —  not rising. That shift has landlords offering more perks and brokers wondering what’s next. Their obvious concern: that good times can’t last forever, especially for venture-backed companies that aren’t IPO candidates and… Continue reading In San Francisco, lease prices hold steady, but landlords offer more perks

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Grab is buying Indonesian payment firm Kudo in its first major acquisition

Uber’s Southeast Asia rival Grab is in the process of buying up Indonesia-based online payment startup Kudo in its first major acquisition. A source close to discussions confirmed to TechCrunch that talks are ongoing and a deal could be announced as soon this week. Reuters first reported the deal, which it said would be over $100 million however our source suggested… Continue reading Grab is buying Indonesian payment firm Kudo in its first major acquisition

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2017 is the year your startup gets funded

The turn of the calendar is cathartic for entrepreneurs — there’s something about starting a new year that inspires folks to launch a new startup, build a new product or raise capital. If you’re starting to raise capital, this is your guide. Let’s get to it. Continued on source. Love0 Share Tweet Share Pin

12 KPIs you must know before pitching your startup

It is critically important for the founders of a company to intimately understand the company’s key performance indicators (KPIs). Founders cannot hope to grow a company in any meaningful way without an almost obsessive focus on its KPIs. Why? Because KPIs, if constructed correctly, give management and potential investors a cold, analytical snapshot of the… Continue reading 12 KPIs you must know before pitching your startup

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Amazon Echo spot ‘primes’ Super Bowl audience for drone delivery in the US

The e-commerce titan’s Super Bowl spot featured a woman and a man sitting on a couch with a bowl of Doritos between them. The man is seen licking the Doritos’ orange cheese residue from his fingertips and returning them to the bowl for another helping. At this point, the woman throws a little side-eye his way, and says to… Continue reading Amazon Echo spot ‘primes’ Super Bowl audience for drone delivery in the US