500 Startups, still recovering from scandal, is giving some control to an Abu Dhabi investment firmThe accelerator program 500 Startups was roiled by drama last year after the ouster of its CEO, Dave McClure, under allegations of sexual harassment. Now 500 Startups is making its most meaningful governance change since McClure resigned from the role last year. In an unusual deal, the firm said it would sell some equity in its parent company, called Mothership, to the Abu Dhabi Financial Group, which will now help manage 500 Startups operations alongside McClure’s successor, Christine Tsai. [ Recode ] The founder of Ethereum just called the man who claims to have invented bitcoin a 'fraud'
Spotify investor Lakestar won't be selling its shares — and thinks it should be a $100 billion company
Shine announces 2 million users, raises $5 million to grow its motivational mindfulness appIn the age of Facebook and mobile messaging apps, you could be excused for thinking that SMS was on the fast track to extinction. But one New York startup has built a service that issues bite-sized advice each day via text message, designed to improve confidence and general mental wellbeing. [ Venture Beat ] 2 Founders of $32 Million Centra Virtual Currency Project Are ArrestedFederal authorities have arrested two founders of a virtual currency that raised $32 million from investors last year and won an endorsement from the boxer Floyd Mayweather. The co-founders of the Centra virtual currency, Sam Sharma and Robert Farkas, were arrested on Sunday, a day before the Securities and Exchange Commission released a complaint against the men and announced that it was halting the project. [ NY Times ] Blackbird Ventures launches $225 million fund, bringing on investment from government’s Future FundAustralian venture capital firm Blackbird Ventures has announced the closing of its third fund, having raised $225 million from industry super fund Hostplus, the cornerstone investor, First State Super, the government’s Future Fund, and 100 high net worth individuals. The figure is another jump for the firm, which launched its inaugural fund of $29 million in 2012. The second saw Blackbird raise $200 million and bring on the two super funds; launched in 2015, the raise had come following strong calls from the startup sector for super funds to look to venture capital. Taking to Medium, Blackbird cofounder Rick Baker wrote the firm launched with the dream of finding “Australia’s most ambitious founders” and in turn its own ambition has increased significantly over the years. [ Startup Daily ] Here's How Women and Startups Can Accelerate Pay Equity in Tech"When we're talking about compensation, we're actually talking about how different people position their self worth in the marketplace," says Jana Rich, founder of the Rich Talent Group — one of the leading recruiting agencies in the tech industry today. Over her 22 years in the business, she's seen hundreds of compensation negotiations, including patterns in who wins, who loses and why. "The way you choose to represent your self worth depends on a number of things, like how you were brought up, your past experiences, your gender, etc. Some of us are much more comfortable asking for what we want, and recognizing and amplifying our own achievements to get it. But those of us who aren't in this group shouldn't be penalized because that's not our style." [ Firstround ] JUMP Bikes weighing Uber $100m+ acquisition, investment offersJUMP Bikes, the on-demand biking service that integrates with Uber, has been weighing both acquisition and investment offers. A decision has not yet been reached, but right now possible options include a sale to Uber at a price that exceeds $100 million, or a venture investment round, multiple sources tell TechCrunch. One of the possible investor names that has been floated is Mike Moritz of Sequoia Capital, but we are told that JUMP has several options. [ CrunchBase ] This Startup Lets Neighbors Pool Their Money To Invest In Their CommunitiesWhere private meets public: Venture capital's role in developing economiesMIT cuts ties with brain preservation startup NectomeEmily Chang on the ‘Brotopia’ of Silicon Valley, and how companies can tackle a toxic cultureAllRaise wants to increase the amount of venture funding female founders receiveStartup Of The Week: FramerSilicon Valley, intent on disrupting food, is now taking aim at hangoversStartup Grind Central Arkansas Hosts Jerry JonesThe key numbers behind Spotify's highly anticipated direct listing [datagraphic] |