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Amazon hardware head confirms layoffs in memo • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Amazon, dave limp, devices, Hardware, LayoffsNo Comments on Amazon hardware head confirms layoffs in memo • ZebethMedia

Update: Spokesperson Kelly Nantel tells ZebethMedia, “As part of our annual operating planning review process, we always look at each of our businesses and what we believe we should change. As we’ve gone through this, given the current macro-economic environment (as well as several years of rapid hiring), some teams are making adjustments, which in some cases means certain roles are no longer necessary. We don’t take these decisions lightly, and we are working to support any employees who may be affected.” While Amazon has yet to confirm the size or scoop of its most recent round of layoffs, the company today posted the text of a letter from Senior Vice President of Devices & Services, Dave Limp, that sheds light on the situation. The note, which was initially sent to the company’s Devices and Services org, confirms a “consolidation” of teams within the division. “After a deep set of reviews, we recently decided to consolidate some teams and programs. One of the consequences of these decisions is that some roles will no longer be required,” Limp writes. “It pains me to have to deliver this news as we know we will lose talented Amazonians from the Devices & Services org as a result. I am incredibly proud of the team we have built and to see even one valued team member leave is never an outcome any of us want.” The memo is a confirmation of earlier reports that the company begun to inform employees yesterday. Amazon reportedly gave employees two months to find another role inside the company or accept severance. Limp adds that all impacted employees in that org were notified of the decision yesterday. “In cases where employees cannot find a new role within the company,” the executive writes, “we will support the transition with a package that includes a separation payment, transitional benefits, and external job placement support.” The moves follow a report earlier this week that puts the company-wide figure at 10,000 – amounting to roughly 3% of the overall corporate headcount. Devices were an easy target for corporate belt tightening, given reports that they’ve been losing $5 billion in annual revenue for Amazon. Human Resources, retail and the cloud gaming platform, Luna, are also said to be targets. “While I know this news is tough to digest,” Limp writes, “I do want to emphasize that the Devices & Services organization remains an important area of investment for Amazon, and we will continue to invent on behalf of our customers.”

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My co-founder’s a green card applicant who just got laid off. Now what? • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Column, Dear Sophie, EC Column, Government & Policy, O-1A visa, Sophie Alcorn, Startups, tech layoffs, VentureNo Comments on My co-founder’s a green card applicant who just got laid off. Now what? • ZebethMedia

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How can I stay in the US if I’ve been laid off? Dear Sophie: How can students work or launch a startup while maintaining their immigration status? Here’s another edition of “Dear Sophie,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies. “Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder or seeking a job in Silicon Valley, I would love to answer your questions in my next column.” ZebethMedia+ members receive access to weekly “Dear Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off. Dear Sophie, My co-founder and I were both laid off from Big Tech last week, and it’s the kick we needed to go all-in on our startup. We’re both first-time founders, but my co-founder needs immigration sponsorship to maintain status with our startup. Do we look at an O-1A in the 60-day grace period? Thanks! — Newbie in Newark Dear Newbie, It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and we have more Big Tech (and startup) layoffs coming. We have lots of educational resources for what to do if you were laid off and you need non-immigrant visa sponsorship or a green card. As explained in last week’s article, there are ways for laid-off immigrants to seek additional time in the U.S. to make their next move. Apparently, almost 25% of laid-off tech workers start their own companies, but I am sure the number has historically been lower for international folks because the ball and chain of the U.S. immigration system can feel weighty. However, there are a lot of ways that you and your co-founder can take to successfully navigate the layoff, the grace period and sponsorship at the new startup. Here’s how: Deadlines and pathways The 60-day grace period is discretionary. We advise conservatively that the grace period begins from the date of termination, although some laid-off individuals will continue to get paychecks for many months. Many of the layoffs are public and WARN Act notices are issued, so the Department of Homeland Security is on notice. That said, if you need more time to set things up properly for your new startup to exist and sponsor your co-founder’s immigration, your co-founder can apply for a change of status to B visitor. As a B-1 business visitor, your co-founder can engage in certain activities legally, such as business formation and fundraising meetings, and request an additional six months of time beyond the 60-day grace period. This application process can run in parallel with immigration sponsorship by a new company. Image Credits: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a new window) Sometimes, you can qualify to sponsor a co-founder for an H-1B transfer so they can work at your startup if you meet the requirements. Additionally, many individuals will use the runway provided by the six months of B-1 status to build their portfolio of accomplishments to qualify for an O-1A visa for extraordinary ability. The O-1 status is available to many professionals, including founders who can demonstrate they are at the top of their field. An O-1A is particularly advantageous for startup founders, because it can be sponsored by an agent for an itinerary of services, including advising other startups for equity, being a venture scout for a VC firm and getting paid as a contractor for speaking engagements in your field. Founders born in India or China are subject to the green card backlogs for individuals, and the O-1A can be a great stepping stone to qualify for and self-sponsor the faster EB-1A green card pathway. Incorporate For either an H-1B, TN, E-3 change of employer or a change of status to O-1A, you should be aware of the importance of setting up your company to successfully sponsor your co-founder and other hires for visas and green cards while also attracting funding from investors.

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Google Play streamlines policies around kids’ apps as regulations tighten • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Android, Apps, families, Google, kids, PrivacyNo Comments on Google Play streamlines policies around kids’ apps as regulations tighten • ZebethMedia

Google Play today announced a series of changes to its programs and policies around apps designed for children. The company is describing the update as an expansion of its previously launched “Teacher Approved” program, which includes a review process where teachers and experts vetted apps not just for safety and security elements, but for educational quality and other factors. The newly revamped policies will now impact how apps qualify for this program, which allows apps to gain entry to the Play Store’s “Kids” tab. These changes should help to streamline some of the policies around apps made for children which, in turn, will increase the number of apps that become eligible to be reviewed for the Teacher Approved program. In addition, these policy updates and other changes will push Android app makers to come into compliance with stricter regulations and laws around software targeting children. Before, Google Play ran two (sometimes overlapping) programs around apps aimed at kids. App developers were required to participate in Google’s “Designed for Families” program if their app was aimed at children, and could optionally choose to participate in the program if their app targeted both kids and older users. The Designed for Families program included a number of requirements around the app’s content, its functionality, use of ads, data practices, use of warning labels, feature set, underlying technology components, and more. Any apps in this program were also eligible to be rated for the Teacher Approved program, which had stricter guidelines, but entry was not guaranteed. Now, the additional policy requirements for the Designed for Families program are being rolled into the Play Store’s broader Families Policy. This latter set of guidelines requires apps to comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to children, like the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for example. The Families Policy also prohibits access to precise location data, prevents developers from transmitting device identifiers from children, and includes additional privacy and content restrictions, among other things. For developers, the merging of the Designed for Families requirements into the Google Play Families Policy simplifies and strengthens the rules for developers around apps that target kids. And, with this change, all the apps that meet the now more robust Families Policy will become eligible to apply for the Teacher Approved program. The Teacher Approved program’s requirements are not changing, however, and only a subset of apps meeting the overarching Families Policy will qualify. The Teacher Approved program itself first arrived in April 2020 — at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. At this time, many schools had shifted to virtual learning, and children were spending more time on their devices to both learn and be entertained. Beyond meeting safety requirements and government regulations, the apps chosen for “Teacher Approved” were vetted by a panel of academic experts including more than 200 U.S. teachers. The panel rated the apps on various aspects like age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and whether kids enjoy using the app, among other things. This information would then be displayed on the app’s Play Store listing if the app was approved so parents could determine if the app was right for their child. Consumers can find these Teacher Approved apps on the “Kids” tab of the Play Store or they can look for the Teacher Approved badge on an individual app’s listing. With the update, all apps that are compliant with the Families Policy will also soon receive an additional badge that’s displayed in the Data safety section of their app’s listing. This badge will indicate the app has committed to the Play Store’s Families Policy. Image Credits: Google In addition to the merging of its two families policies, Google also noted it recently updated its Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Program. Makers of SDKs (software development kits, or software used by developers to expand the functionality of their apps), must now identify which versions of their SDKs are appropriate for use in Families apps. In 2023, Android app developers in the Families program will be required to use only the SDKs that are identified as appropriate — though Google suggests developers start to make the shift to these safer SDKs now. These changes aren’t just about serving developers or consumers — they also help Google to meet stricter regulations being considered, drafted, and enacted worldwide around how software is permitted to handle kids’ data — such as the EU’s GDPR and the U.K.’s Age Appropriate Design Code. Failure to meet these requirements can result in significant penalties, as Meta recently learned when it was fined roughly $400 million for how it treated children’s data on Instagram.  

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Bending Spoons acquires Evernote, marking the end of an era • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in acquisition, App, Apps, Enterprise, Evernote, note taking, StartupsNo Comments on Bending Spoons acquires Evernote, marking the end of an era • ZebethMedia

Evernote, the note-taking and task management app founded over 20 years ago, has been acquired by Milan-based app developer Bending Spoons. In a post on Evernote’s newsroom, Evernote CEO Ian Small said that Bending Spoons will take ownership of Evernote in a transaction expected to close in early 2023. “For Evernote, this decision is the next strategic step forward on our journey to be an extension of your brain,” Small wrote. “Teaming up with Bending Spoons will [accelerate] the delivery of improvements across our teams, professional, personal and free offerings.” For Evernote, the acquisition — the terms of which weren’t made public — marks the end of a roller coaster of a journey. Founded in 2000 by Russian-American entrepreneur Stepan Pachikov, Redwood City-based Evernote made handwriting recognition software for Windows and the eponymous note-taking, web-clipping app Evernote, which stored notes on an “infinite roll of paper.” Under CEO Phil Libin, who joined the company in 2007, Evernote shifted its focus to the web, smartphones and Mac, starting with Evernote 3.0 in 2008. This proved to be a winning strategy — at least at first. Between 2010 and 2015, Evernote raised hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital from investors including Sequoia, Meritech Capital and Japanese media company Nikkei. Its web service reached 11 million users within the first three years and Evernote launched a business in China, Yinxiang Biji, as the startup sought to rapidly expand. In 2013, Evernote was reportedly valued at nearly a billion dollars. But then trouble set in. Evernote’s chief operating officer, appointed in June 2015, left after just a few months. Meanwhile, Libin pursued partnerships with physical goods brands like Moleskine and Pfeiffer, launching Evernote-branded desk accessory lines that failed to catch on in a major way. Former Google Glass executive Chris O’Neill replaced Libin in July 2015. And in October of that year, Evernote laid off 18% of its staff and closed three of its ten global offices. August 2018 saw an exodus of top execs, including Evernote’s chief technical officer, chief financial officer, chief product officer and head of HR. Fifteen percent of the company’s workforce was laid off in September 2018, a step O’Neill justified as necessary to correct for the company’s recent overexpansion and “inefficiency.” Small, the former CEO of platform-as-a-service company TokBox, came on in 2018. Under his leadership, Evernote hit $100 million in recurring revenue, millions of paying customers and over 250 million users. But it largely failed to keep pace with competitors like Notion, opting to rely heavily on a consumer-focused freemium model while eschewing the kinds of collaboration features embraced by its rivals. So what does Bending Spoons gain with the purchase? Another feather in its software cap, it’d seem. The European tech company makes apps like video editor Splice, 30 Day Fitness, Live Quiz and photo editor Remini, which combined have about 100 million users. Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari says that Bending Spoons — fresh off of a $340 million venture round — will apply its “proprietary technologies” to Evernote to “augment its usefulness” and “strengthen its reach.” “Our mission at Bending Spoons is to make an enduring positive impact on our customers, on our teammates, and on society at large. Every day, millions of people across the globe rely on Evernote to organize their lives,” Ferrari said in a statement. “As such, Evernote is a perfect fit for the Bending Spoons portfolio, and we’re delighted to be able to serve its large and loyal customer base.”

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Join Bitcoin Association for BSV and Polygon at TC Sessions: Crypto • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in BSV, Crypto, Polygon, Startups, TC Sessions: Crypto, TC Sessions: Crypto 2022No Comments on Join Bitcoin Association for BSV and Polygon at TC Sessions: Crypto • ZebethMedia

It’s time for another shout-out to recognize more of our partner companies that are dedicating their time and resources to make TC Sessions: Crypto — taking place tomorrow on November 17 in Miami — an awesome experience for everyone. The cure for FOMO: Buy your pass right now to keep your fingers on the pulse of the dynamic cryptoverse. ZebethMedia partners do a whole lot more than just cut a check. They show up and deliver relevant content, resources and expertise to help early-stage startup founders build better and stronger companies. You’ll find that holds true at TC Sessions: Crypto, too. Check out our other partners, and be sure to explore the full agenda. Today we’re highlighting breakout sessions from two companies — Bitcoin Association for BSV and Polygon. Let’s take a look at what they’re bringing to the startup table. Someone Stole Your Bitcoin…Now What? As high-profile crypto and NFT thefts continue to haunt wary investors, who are already navigating a harsh crypto winter, robust security developments are growing increasingly more important. Fortunately for investors and business owners alike, there is finally a way to protect digital assets against the worst-case scenario. This session with Connor Murray — content creator for the Blockchain Academy SV and co-founder and CEO of True Reviews — will cover how, for the first time ever, Bitcoin can be frozen and recovered through the Digital Asset Recovery (DAR) Process. The process makes it possible for property rights to be enforced and to recover stolen or lost Bitcoin. Learn how this is the first, crucial step toward safeguarding all digital assets against theft and scams within the rule of law, how investors can use this tool, and how platforms can easily adopt this process to better protect users.Sponsored by Bitcoin Association for BSV. Robotaxis in the Metaverse How does autonomous transportation operate in the metaverse? In this session — led by Siraj Raval, a developer educator at Polygon — we’ll build an autonomous car in a simulated environment using computer vision and path-planning algorithms. Next, we’ll integrate a Polygon wallet with the car so that the car can extend its autonomy to not only drive itself, but to also pay for its own repairs, maintenance and upgrades. Sponsored by Polygon. The Future of Finance In this session, Colin Butler, Polygon Technology’s Global Head of Institutional Capital, will discuss why DeFi remains superior to CeFi, how Polygon is empowering DeFi developers and Polygon’s approach to tackle liquidity and new users via partnerships with Stripe, Robinhood, Nubank and many more. Sponsored by Polygon. TC Sessions: Crypto takes place on November 17 in Miami. Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with our partners and to tap into the tech, trends and controversy spanning the blockchain, cryptocurrency, DeFi, NFT and web3 cryptoverse. Buy your ticket today! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Crypto? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.  

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Students — Shoot for the stars at TC Sessions: Space • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Space, tc sessions space, TC Sessions: Space 2022No Comments on Students — Shoot for the stars at TC Sessions: Space • ZebethMedia

Space technology — it’s incredibly complex, challenging and expensive on an epic scale. It will also impact humanity in ways we both can and can’t yet imagine. It’s the ultimate cutting-edge technology, and it requires a deep bench of brilliant thinkers and makers. If you’re a student with your head in the stars — whether you want to build the tech or fund those who do — TC Sessions: Space, which takes place on December 6 in Los Angeles, will help you move closer to your dream. It’s vital to support the next generation, so we’re offering a deeply discounted price exclusively for students. Buy a pass for just $45 (a $450 savings) to hear from and connect with the most influential people in the space industry, across public, private and defense sectors. Like who? Well, for starters, you’ll hear from Dr. Carolyn Mercer, chief technologist for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Among other things, she’ll discuss the agency’s tech and science ambitions and priorities in the Artemis era. We’re also hosting Peter Beck, CEO and founder of Rocket Lab; Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisitions; Amela Wilson, CEO of Nanoracks; and many more. Whether you’re searching for an internship, a mentor, a post-doc gig or a potential co-founder, you won’t find a better atmosphere for networking with hundreds of engineers, founders, students, investors, executives, and military and government officials in the house. Use our event app to find people you want to connect with, schedule 1:1 meetings, and start exploring the many potential opportunities. TC Sessions: Space takes place on December 6 in Los Angeles. Students looking to work in this challenging, rapidly evolving industry — across public, private or defense domains — buy your $45 pass today, join us in L.A., and get your career track flying at warp speed. Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Space? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

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Israel’s OurCrowd expands to Abu Dhabi • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Crowdfunding, investments, OurCrowd, Startups, VentureNo Comments on Israel’s OurCrowd expands to Abu Dhabi • ZebethMedia

Crowdfunding platform OurCrowd, which has now become Israel’s most active venture firm, today announced that it is expanding its operations in Abu Dhabi by launching a new office and AI tech hub — enabled by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office — in the emirate. In total, OurCrowd plans to invest $60 million as part of this move. It’s only been a bit over two years since Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalized their diplomatic ties, but OurCrowd was among the first to apply for a license to operate in the emirate. OurCrowd Arabia opened in Abu Dhabi in 2021 and its new investment center in the country will manage its deals there and also cater to its investors in the emerging market. In total, the firm expects to have a staff of 60 in the emirate. “Following a global search for the most suitable location for IDI and OurCrowd’s new investment center, Abu Dhabi was by far the most fitting destination,” OurCrowd CEO and founder Jon Medved said. “The World Economic Forum ranks the UAE first in the world in best e-infrastructure and macroeconomic stability, and the third most-trusted government. These factors, with numerous other advantages including global talent and market access, underscore why Abu Dhabi is now home to OurCrowd Arabia and OurCrowd’s new AI spinoff, and why we will continue to invest in the innovation infrastructure and talent in the country.” Earlier this month, OurCrowd celebrated that its total investment commitments had crossed $2 billion, just over three years after it hit $1 billion. The firm has now invested in 370 companies, with another 410 held through partner funds. It has seen 60 exits so far and currently plays host to about 220,000 registered investors from 195 countries.

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How to turn user data into your next pitch deck • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Column, EC Column, EC How To, fundraising tactics, pitch deck, Startups, VentureNo Comments on How to turn user data into your next pitch deck • ZebethMedia

David K Smith Contributor David Smith is VP of data and analytics at TheVentureCity, a global early-stage venture fund investing in product-centric startups across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Of every 100 deals a VC firm considers, about a quarter get a meeting, and only one ends up securing investment. Given the downturn in the markets leading to a startup funding squeeze, getting through the door is a critical first step. But then what? How do you prove you’re that one in 100? Well, you have one drastically overlooked superpower: your data. Many early stage startups don’t have a data team or even a data expert. They’ve been told that it looks good to have cash flowing in and user numbers ticking up. But investors are looking past superficial metrics for indicators that your product is poised to grow years into the future. There’s no one metric for that, which is why you need to know exactly which ones to focus on, and what they tell others about your product’s growth prospects. If possible, collect the most granular, user-level data you can: events and transactions. Having this data allows you to X-Ray how people are interacting with your product. Visualizing and communicating this data can definitively power up a pitch deck. If you’re a founder of a new SaaS, fintech, marketplace, or consumer subscription product, here’s what you should be showing investors at the early stages of your journey. Investors need to see that you’re not being blindsided by easy wins that can go up in smoke within weeks, but are using hard data to build a sustainable company. At all stages: Focus on active usage, not vanity metrics If you haven’t been thinking about product-market fit, you don’t have a pitch. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to prove you have product-market fit, but you absolutely need to show investors that you’ve been working towards it. If investors can’t tell where you are in your lifecycle, they have no way of telling how close you are to getting real traction — and getting them their returns. Product-market fit isn’t a defined point. It’s more about reading the right signals: You have to know which metrics to look at and how to measure their strength. The stronger the signals related to user engagement and retention — all measured in different ways and all trending positively — the more evidence you have that you’ve reached, or are reaching, product-market fit. Building up all that evidence through data helps bolster a pitch and increases your odds of landing an investment.

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Snapchat gears up for the FIFA World Cup with new AR experiences, filters and more • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on Posted in Apps, Snap, Snapchat, Social, world cupNo Comments on Snapchat gears up for the FIFA World Cup with new AR experiences, filters and more • ZebethMedia

Snapchat is introducing a slew of new features and experiences ahead of the FIFA World Cup to let users show support for their teams and keep up with the tournament. The new features let you virtually try on jerseys, dress up your Bitmoji, watch match highlights and more. The app has partnered with Adidas to let users virtually dress their Bitmoji in the official home football kits of their team. Users will also get access to official team stickers and filters to decorate their snaps and support their team. The app is launching official team kit try-on experiences that allow users to express their fandom by wearing official team jerseys. The try-on Lenses leverage AR technology that originated as a Snap Research project and was in development for years, and is now available for developers to begin testing in Lens Studio. Image Credits: Snap Snapchat Discover, the app’s curated content platform, will publish highlights, goals, player interviews, match analysis and behind the scenes content during the tournament in over 30 countries. On Spotlight, Snapchat’s in-app entertainment platform for user generated content, users in the U.S. will have the chance to submit Snaps to for a chance to win cash prizes for creating top-performing snaps using specific Lenses, Sounds or Topics. In addition, Snap Map will feature curated stories of fans watching and celebrating their team during the games. Users will be able to tap specific places to see Snaps shared publicly. The stories will include Snaps from watch parties, fan experiences, reactions in the stands, game highlights and more.

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