Uber Tries to Rein in Kalanick's Bid for InfluenceUber Technologies Inc. executives are trying to ease tensions stemming from Travis Kalanick’s attempts, in the weeks since he was ousted, to remain involved with the business and eventually seek a new role there. Garrett Camp, an Uber co-founder and board member, sought to reassure employees on Monday that the search for a new leader is the board’s top priority. In a staff email, Camp said Kalanick won’t return as chief executive officer, responding to reports by Bloomberg and others that the former CEO had privately expressed interest in coming back to Uber in a new full-time position. [ Bloomberg ] [ Re/Code ] Peter Thiel Has Been Hedging His Bet On Donald TrumpDonald Trump’s most prominent Silicon Valley supporter has distanced himself from the president in multiple private conversations, describing at different points this year an “incompetent” administration, and one that may well end in “disaster.” Peter Thiel’s unguarded remarks have surprised associates, some of whom are still reeling from his full-throated endorsement of Trump at the Republican National Convention. And while the investor stands by the president in public — “I support President Trump in his ongoing fight," he said in a statement to BuzzFeed News — his private doubts underscore the fragility of the president's backing from even his most public allies. Thiel’s comments may sting in particular in the White House as they come amid a series of hasty and embarrassed departures from the Trump train, as conservative voices from the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page to the floor of the US Senate have begun to distance themselves from the administration. [ BuzzFeed ] [ Business Insider ] Jeff Dean’s Lecture for YC AIBenchmark and SoftBank are engaging in some public negotiating jiu jitsu over Uber“Despite speculation to the contrary, Benchmark is incredibly optimistic about Uber's future,” Benchmark’s official account said in one message. “We have immense confidence in Uber's 1000s of employees & are excited about what they will accomplish with the right new CEO.” The carefully worded tweets did not specifically say that Benchmark would hold onto every last one of its shares, and the firm declined to comment beyond the tweets when asked if they were ruling out any sale. [ Re/Code ] Timeline: In seven years, WeWork built a $21B co-working empireWeWork has had quite the year in what is shaping up to be quite the decade for the New York-based workspace provider. Since the beginning of 2017, the company, which has locations in more than 100 cities, has pulled in roughly $1 billion, per reports, bringing its total funds raised to around $2.7 billion. Its latest infusion of capital was a $500 million round, which WeWork plans to use to expand in Southeast Asia and Korea, per reports. It's acquisition of Spacemob—announced this week—a co-working space provider based in Singapore, will help to expedite the strategic expansion. [ PitchBook ] Here's how start-ups get funded before they're ready for venture capitalFledgling businesses rarely command seed or venture funding right out of the gate. But they still need cash to get started. While entrepreneurs have more capital sources than ever before, they're also faced with a ton of misinformation. For example, a PwC report last month raved about crowdfunding and how it's helping female founders get ahead in business. The report lumps Kickstarter-style campaigns together with peer-to-peer lending and equity fundraising online. It regards these as a single source of capital, which it calls crowdfunding. [ CNBC ] Greed Isn’t GoodThe famous Gordon Gekko line that “greed is good” is bandied about quite often to explain why capitalism, and the pursuit of riches, is a positive thing for the economy, society, and the world at large. Greed is not good. There is a fine line between the profit motive and greed. I am a firm believer in the profit motive. It drives many of us to work hard, make new things that can move the world forward, and better our lives and the lives of our children, and others, through philanthropy. [ AVC ] The Most Active Investors In Construction TechAn internal memo written by a male Google engineer has reignited a heated debate about representation in Silicon Valley. Google’s new diversity VP has since come out against the memo’s central claims — which include statements about women being biologically unsuited to engineering jobs — but the debate still rages on. [ Re/Code ] Here's how Snap CEO Evan Spiegel has responded to employee concerns about FacebookEarlier this year, Snapemployees got the chance to ask the CEO, Evan Spiegel, anything on their minds. Using a Google document that was shared throughout the company, employees submitted written questions to Spiegel, who had recently started the tradition (unlike execs at other tech companies, Spiegel rarely holds in-person, all-hands meetings). [ Business Insider ] Carmakers have regained some of the upper hand in self-drivingIn 2014, Uber and Lyft were the future. Automakers like Ford and GM were under pressure as these fledgling startups threatened to cause a fall in sales, as they aimed to curb the need for personal car ownership. Initially, carmakers concluded they needed to partner with Uber or Lyft and help create autonomous vehicles or risk extinction. But in the short lifespan of the self-driving industry, a series of significant changes has shifted the power to the traditional automakers. [ Re/Code ] Iflix raises $133M for its Netflix-style service for emerging marketsIflix, an Asia-based startup providing Netflix-like streaming services in emerging markets, has landed $133 million in fresh funding to accelerate its business. The investment was led by U.S. media conglomerate Hearst, which counts BuzzFeed, Vice and Roku among its investment portfolio. The group was joined by another new backer EDBI — the corporate investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board — alongside undisclosed clients of Singapore-based DBS bank. Existing investors joining included Evolution Media, UK broadcaster Sky, Malaysia’s Catcha Group, Liberty Global, Jungle Ventures and PLDT. [ Tech Crunch ] Millions In, Little Back: The Story Of Investing In (Non-Tesla) Electric CarsTesla successfully delivered the first 30 Model 3 sedans to early buyers. Following the Roadster, Model S, and Model X, the Model 3 continues to push the boundaries of the electric vehicle (EV) industry. With a minimum range of 220 miles and a price ($35,000) at half of the Model S, Model 3 represents an opportunity for Tesla to grow its volume, something evinced by the number of low-cost pre-orders. [ Crunchable News ] Netflix’s first ever acquisition is indie comic book publisher MillarworldNetflix has acquired Millarworld, the streaming media company announced on Monday. Millarworld is the independent comic publishing company founded by Mark Millar, a storied comic book creator who is behind a host of iconic characters and series, including Kick-Ass and Kingsman, as well as the creative force behind some of Marvel’s best story arcs, including The Ultimates and Old Man Logan. [ Tech Crunch ] Top U.S. tech companies founded by immigrants are worth over $3 trillionRich SF residents get a shock: Someone bought their street |