ICOs somehow still going strong, despite repeated federal warnings
The course of cryptocurrency never did run smooth. This week, it continued its erratic journey with two major Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in New York City alone. These fundings come mere weeks after the SEC launched investigations into dozens of ICOs, and reports of fraud began flooding the internet. Sites like Facebook and Twitter have even banned ads relating to ICOs for fear of their volatility. Nevertheless, aXpire, a blockchain payment processor, and Celsius, a crypto-based lending company, managed to raise $20 million and $50 million respectively, using the risky ICO method.
Would you celebrate or fight back against a law banning after-work emailing?
There’s no denying that the workers of today find it difficult to turn off the productivity switch, even when the blazer has been exchanged for the pajamas. Brooklyn City Councilman Rafael Espinal is spearheading a proposal that would make it illegal for companies to require employees to engage with work-related emails after working hours. While some may be thanking the stars at the very thought, others — particularly those in the hustle-heavy startup world — question whether such a law could negatively impact their company. [Technical.ly]
HQ Trivia lands major (seriously, major) partnerships and ups its prize pools
It looks like HQ Trivia may be more than just a passing fad after all: the company has just announced its first partnerships, and they just so happen to be with the likes of Nike and Warner Bros. Oh, you know, just two of the biggest brands out there. The partnerships will result in themed episodes with evident promotions — but who cares about a little spon-con when it also ups the prize pool to as much as $250 thousand? [New York Post]
The “Uber for helicopters” just raised $38 million, because that’s a thing we need
Have you ever needed to jet set out to the Hamptons in a pinch, but your chauffeur is on vacation and all of the private planes are booked? For $500, helicopter service Blade will take you (and as many as five others) from Manhattan to Montauk in a fraction of the driving time. Though this service may seem niche, it’s clearly thriving, as the flight company just raised a $38 million Series B round with the likes of Colony NorthStar and Lerer Hippeau Ventures joining. [Vertical Magazine]
Accessible emoji: coming soon to a mobile device near you?
While they may just be a few pixels on our mobile screens, emoji have become a real cultural force of communication. After the masses rallied to have a range of skin and hair colors developed in the emoji universe, our texts look like they will soon be able to represent another important demographic: the differently-abled. According to reports, iOS is seeking to roll out a handful of new emoji that include individuals in different types of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and symbols for deafness. [Business Insider]
Tech stocks can’t seem to figure out how they feel this week
It was a volatile week for the stock market, with tech stocks particularly affected. The numerous ups and downs of the past week (and some change) are no doubt tied to growing public concerns over power and data amassed by companies like Facebook and Google.
Indeed it was these companies, among others like Amazon, who saw the biggest overall losses. In an interview with Bloomberg, strategist Max Kettner explained that “the fate of the bull market right now, is heavily connected with tech,” which means we can all expect the next sell-off when Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress in the coming weeks. [Bloomberg]
