Articles by Hadriana Lowenkron and Sarah McBride

Trump Names David Sacks as White House AI and Crypto Czar

Donald Trump says he is selecting venture capitalist David Sacks of Craft Ventures LLC to serve as his artificial intelligence and crypto czar, a newly created position that underscores the president-elect’s intent to boost two rapidly developing industries. “David will …

Insurtech Hippo in Talks to Go Public via Merger With SPAC: Bloomberg

Hippo, an insurance technology startup, is in talks to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The transaction with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company that …

Startup CEO Exonerated from Crimes, Seeks Compensation for Firing

Zain Jaffer’s charmed, Silicon Valley life was about to collapse beneath him. It was October 2017 and Jaffer, founder of a promising mobile ad startup, was suddenly arrested and charged with a series of crimes, including assault and sexual abuse. …

Safety Experts Warn Smart Car Dashboard Screens Distract Drivers

When it comes to dashboard displays that are more like smart phones, two things are clear: Customers want them, and automakers are intent on supplying them. But are they really a good idea? Car companies answer with an emphatic yes. …

Uber Expected to Ride Out Employee Ruling, Maintain High Valuation

A California ruling requiring Uber to classify a San Francisco-based driver as an employee instead of an independent contractor could potentially change how sharing-economy companies operate, but it is unlikely to dent their value, investors said. If it holds up …

Commission Rules Uber Drivers Employees, Not Contractors

A San Francisco-based driver for smartphone-based ride-hailing service Uber is an employee, not a contractor, according to a ruling by the California Labor Commission. The ruling, filed on Tuesday in state court in San Francisco, said Uber is “involved in …

Zenefits Rises Quickly to Join Billion-Dollar Start-Up Club

Human resources software company Zenefits said it had raised $500 million in venture funding, giving it a valuation of $4.5 billion and confirming a drop in appetite among venture-backed companies for initial public offerings. Zenefits was founded just two years …

Judge In California Gender Bias Case Oks Punitive Damages

A judge in a high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit will allow a former partner at venture firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers to seek punitive damages, adding to the potential pricetag for the firm if it loses the case. In his …

Uber in a California Regulatory Standoff Over Data

Uber argued Thursday that it should not have to turn over ride data in a California regulatory standoff that shows how the transportation service is falling afoul of officials who could threaten its expansion. The issue, which is being heard …

Uber Hires Obama Campaign Strategist; Expands Into Courier Service

Uber has enlisted David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, to devise and run its global political and branding strategy, as the fast-expanding car rides-on-demand startup runs into stiff resistance in some cities. The San Francisco-based company, which is …