Google Earth gives users a new look at a changing planet, Facebook tests new business discovery features, and Autodesk acquires Up chain. This is your Daily Crunch for April 15, 2021. Google is describing this as Google Earth’s most significant update since 2017. However, there’s one considerable addition: A time-lapse mode that combines satellite photos from the past 37 years in 3D. Beyond being a new feature, this model can reveal how climate change has reshaped our planet.
Google Earth now offers guided tours focused on forest change, urban growth, warming temperatures, and more. Facebook to test new business discovery features in US News Feed — Users can tap on topics they’re interested in underneath posts and ads in their News Feed, allowing them to explore related content from businesses. Autodesk acquires Up chain — Up chain, a Toronto-based startup offering a cloud-based product life cycle management service. Consumer groups and child development experts petition Facebook to drop the ‘Instagram for kids’ plan — The Campaign wrote the letter for a Commercial-Free Childhood, an advocacy group that often leads campaigns against big tech and its targeting of children.
Startups, funding
Polestar raises $500M from outside investors as the EV market grows — This is the first external round for Volvo Car Group’s standalone electric performance brand. Goldman Sachs leads $23M in funding for Brazilian e-commerce startup Olist — Olist connects small businesses to more significant product marketplaces, helping entrepreneurs sell their products to a more extensive customer base. Substack announces a $1M initiative to fund local journalists — The newsletter startup will support independent writers creating local news publications.
Advice and analysis
Coinbase’s direct listing alters the landscape for fintech and crypto startups. In Alex Wilhelm’s view, Coinbase reaching a valuation north of $100 billion during its first day of trading was the biggest startup event of the year. Billion-dollar B2B: cloud-first enterprise tech behemoths have massive potential — Dharmesh Thakker of Battery Ventures writes that a new class of cloud-first, enterprise-tech behemoths can reach $1 billion in ARR. How startups can ensure CCPA and GDPR compliance in 2021 — It’s essential to enact best data management practices before a legal situation arises. (Extra Crunch is our membership program, which helps founders and startup teams get ahead. You can sign up here.)
Everything else
Detroit’s native son, billionaire Dan Gilbert, makes a case for his town — The Quicken Loans founder has poured at least $2.5 billion into rehabilitating buildings in the city’s heart. Can the tech trade show return in 2021? — IFA promises a “full-scale, real-life event” for Berlin in September, while MWC reels from losing marquee names. Garry Kasparov launches a community-first chess platform — Kasparovchess will be a platform where legendary chess players have free reign to share tips and tricks with players from various levels.
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