Haircare. Has there ever been a business better suited to the franchise model? Literally everyone needs to have their hair cut eventually, and there is a need for the specialized services of barbers and stylists from coast to coast. With a little business support, any skilled haircare professional can build a thriving business in their…
Meet Leslie Smith, president and CEO of TechTown, a research and technology business park and accelerator program located near the campus of Wayne State University in north downtown Detroit. This is the real Detroit. Her office is located in a converted General Motors research and development facility, the actual building where the original Corvette was…
“How important is high-tech employment growth for the U.S. labor market? As it turns out, the dynamism of the U.S. high-tech companies matters not just to scientists, software engineers and stock holders, but to the community at large,” writes economics professor Enrico Moretti, the author of The New Geography of Jobs, in the Bay Area…
By Sarah McBride and Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The waves of cash surfed relentlessly by some of Silicon Valley's largest venture-backed businesses are showing signs of receding amid concern the companies may already be worth more than their likely valuations once they finally go public. Investors have created 132 privately held companies valued…
By Liana B. Baker (Reuters) - HotChalk, an educational technology startup, is in talks to raise at least $75 million from private investors, valuing the company at roughly $500 million to $800 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The company, which helps universities and colleges create online degree programs, has hired Citigroup Inc…
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - XTI Aircraft, a Denver, Colorado-based aerospace startup firm, launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Tuesday to raise $50 million to fund the production of the TriFan 600, a six-seat fixed wing jet that can take off and land like a helicopter. XTI was founded in 2009 by David Brody,…
Regionalism isn’t one size fits all. Tech ecosystems do share many similar qualities, but the range of needs and unique challenges between cities can be significant. Florida has a large community of high-net-worth individuals and plenty of available capital, but its investors are not familiar with the tech market and as a result are less…
By Mark Miller CHICAGO (Reuters) - Five dollars may not sound like much pay for doing a job, but do not tell that to Brooke Folk. At age 67, Folk spends up to 30 hours a week on projects generated through Fiverr.com (http://fiverr.com), a shared-economy website that requires all its vendors to offer something to…
(Reuters) - ZocDoc, which helps users book doctor appointments online, said on Thursday it raised $130 million in funding, valuing the U.S. digital healthcare company at $1.8 billion. The funding was led by Baillie Gifford and Atomico, with participation from existing investor Founders Fund. The proceeds would be used to develop products and expand beyond…
By Ankur Banerjee and Abhirup Roy (Reuters) - U.S. digital health startup Grand Rounds, which connects patients with medical experts mainly for a second opinion, said it had raised $55 million in new capital. Grand Rounds' app and website connect patients in more than 120 countries with doctors, surgeons and other specialists in over 110…
