Tech
Google rolls out a new set of search tools for eco-conscious travelers
In recent months, Google has been steadily adding new tools to help consumers choose more sustainable options when using its services like Google Maps, Google Flights, and hotel search. On Tuesday, the company announced it’s expanding these efforts with the addition of a handful of new features that allow travelers to better filter their searches … Read more
Network isn’t a dirty word
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: What does breaking into venture capital look like today, … Read more
Morgan Stanley to pay $35M after hard drives with 15M customers’ personal data turn up in auction
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to settle charges against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) for its “astonishing” failure to protect the personal identifying information of some 15 million customers. MSSB, now known as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, is the wealth and asset management division of banking giant Morgan Stanley, which this week … Read more
Win a mystery bag of free stuff from The Verge and The Strategist
The bag itself is a Timbuk2 Vert Backpack in two-tone light blue / black. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Superman and Batman. Cable and Deadpool. Spider-Man and Wolverine. These are some of the most storied and treasured — if sometimes unlikely — team-ups the world has ever seen. Well, we’ve got … Read more
Visualizing how cool it is to be green
People relax underneath a blossoming tree during a warm spring day in Central Park in Manhattan. | Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images Thanks to a couple satellite images from NASA, we can see how cool it is to be green — literally. The maps below show that the greenest parts of the Northeastern … Read more
Kode Labs raises $8m to advance its smart building platform
RiverSouth is called the smartest building in North America and features a wild array of technology for tenants, business owners, and real estate managers. Kode OS underpins the building’s systems, a real estate platform developed by the Detroit-based startup, Kode Labs. The platform ingests data from any number of systems and provides users with a … Read more
Envoy Connect brings automated visitor management to high-rise buildings
Envoy launched in 2013 with the promise of bringing visitor management for individual companies into the modern age. When the pandemic hit, it quickly pivoted to control who could come into an office based on factors like local regulations, their state of health and vaccination status. Today, the company announced the next step in the … Read more
In Strange World’s new trailer, sci-fi adventuring is a family affair
Image: Disney The first trailer for Disney’s Strange World introduced us to its pulp sci-fi style of adventuring — and now we have a better look at the family who will actually be doing the exploring. The latest clip from the film reveals three generations of explorers led by a reluctant Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), … Read more
Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch is down to just $55 today
Gyms may have reopened, but Ring Fit Adventure remains a good excuse to stay in. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Are you, like me, wanting to get fit but don’t want to, well, actually leave the comfort of your home for the gym? Thankfully, Ring Fit Adventure poses a fun alternative … Read more
A ‘Stripe for phone plans’: Gigs raises $20M to help any company be an MVNO
A new startup wants to make it easier for any company to sell phone and data plans as part of their own branded mobile network subscriptions — and to help, it has secured the backing of big-name investors including Google’s early-stage venture capital arm Gradient Ventures and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Gigs, which was founded … Read more
Brightflow AI aims to spotlight small business cash flow
Cash flow can make or break a small business; in fact, issues in this area account for 82% of small business failures, according to U.S. Bank data. Robbie Bhathal, co-founder and CEO of Brightflow AI Image Credits: Brightflow Brightflow AI is injecting technology into this problem with its forecast and analysis tools so that small … Read more
Facebook is experimenting with letting users help write speech rules
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge In June, I wrote that to build trust, platforms should try a little more democracy. Instead of relying solely on their own employees, advisory councils, and oversight boards, I wrote, tech companies should involve actual users in the process. Citing the work Aviv Ovadya, a technologist who recently … Read more
SMB-focused Pie Insurance raises $315M Series D
Pie Insurance, which provides workers’ compensation insurance to small businesses, has closed on a $315 million Series D round of funding. In 2021, the size of this round wouldn’t have turned heads. But in today’s environment, where investors are pulling back and venture funding has slowed considerably, a $315 million raise stands out. The financing … Read more
SentinelOne launches $100M fund to invest in enterprise cybersecurity startups
SentinelOne, an AI endpoint security firm that went public last June, has announced the launch of S Ventures, a $100 million fund to invest in the generation of enterprise cybersecurity startups. The launch of S Ventures comes at an interesting time for the cybersecurity market. While startups in this sector have long weathered the current … Read more
Volvo’s EX90 electric SUV will have laser sensors and cameras that can detect drunk driving
Volvo’s Concept Recharge, released in 2021, is meant to preview the upcoming EX90 SUV. | Image: Volvo Volvo announced that it will unveil its new flagship electric vehicle, the EX90 SUV, on November 9th. The EX90 is meant to replace the company’s current flagship, the gas-powered XC90 SUV, as Volvo transitions to an all-electric car … Read more
Dame Products expands sexual wellness product line following $7M raise
Sexual wellness company Dame Products is targeting audiences at a new price point after raising $7 million in new Series A funding. The New York–based company launches the Dip vibrator on October 12, which it describes as “an unintimidating, inclusive entry point to pleasure for people who are in the early stages of their sexual … Read more
Block Party, a tool to combat online harassment, raises a $4.8M seed
If you’ve experienced any form of harassment on Twitter in the last couple of years, then you’ve probably heard of Block Party. And if you haven’t, lucky you! Developed by software engineer and tech diversity advocate Tracy Chou, Block Party helps people curate a safer experience on Twitter. By building on top of Twitter’s API, … Read more
Apple Watch Ultra review: an aspirational debut
A new player has entered the multisport watch game Continue reading…
Now you can touch Alexa on Fire tablets, too
Tap to activate Alexa is coming to Fire tablets, including the new Fire HD 8 and 8 Plus. | Image: Amazon Amazon is bringing more accessibility features to its Fire tablets — including the new Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus announced today — adding support for Tap to Alexa, compatibility with Bluetooth … Read more
Spotify Island on Roblox launches a new virtual destination for hip-hop listeners
It’s been four months since Spotify’s debuted its virtual Spotify Island on Roblox, which made it the first music streaming service to have an official presence within the gaming platform. Today, Spotify launched a new space-themed digital destination on Roblox called Planet Hip-Hop, which will soon feature up-and-coming female rapper Doechii. Spotify Island’s new Planet … Read more