Good morning, and welcome to Friday!
The news of Atlassian’s purchase of Loom last week raised eyebrows, and not just because it missed unicorn status by a hair. But overall, it makes sense that Atlassian bought Loom. As Constellation Research’s Ray Wang told TechCrunch+, "Teaming and collaboration is moving to async video, and that was the one big piece missing for Atlassian." But was it worth it?
The Acquisition
Loom raised $130 million in 2021 at a unicorn valuation, when we were all stuck inside making sourdough and video messaging was hot, hot, hot. Things in 2023 aren’t quite as hot, and even though we know that Loom isn’t immensely profitable, it was still a pretty good get for Atlassian. So now we’re wondering: What will Atlassian buy up next?
The Impact on the Market
The acquisition of Loom has significant implications for the market. As Ray Wang noted, "Teaming and collaboration is moving to async video." This means that companies like Atlassian are investing in technologies that enable remote work and asynchronous communication. But what does this mean for other startups in the space? Will they be acquired next?
Ask Sophie: Immigration Status and Export Control Licensing
Dear Sophie,
I’m working in the U.S. in the aerospace industry on a J-1 research visa. I want to pursue my own space tech startup, but people have mentioned I will have to get an export control license because of my immigration status. Could you explain what I need to be aware of? Any advice?
— Fastidious (Soon-to-Be) Founder
Export Control Licensing and Immigration Status
As a J-1 research visa holder in the aerospace industry, you may need to obtain an export control license for your space tech startup. The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) require individuals to have a valid export license when engaging in certain activities related to sensitive technologies. Your immigration status can affect your eligibility for such licenses.
5 Investors on Open Source AI Business Models
There’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer to whether AI should be closed source or open source. But several investors we spoke with definitely had an opinion.
- Dave Munichiello, general partner at GV, says that open source AI innovation can help users feel a sense of trust because of its transparency.
- Insight Partners’ Ganesh Bell warns that open source projects are often less polished.
We spoke with:
- Dave Munichiello, General Partner at GV
- Ganesh Bell, Managing Director at Insight Partners
- Amit Yoran, CEO of Tenable
- Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber
- Anthony Ha, Reporter at TechCrunch
These Fintech Companies Are Hiring in 2025 After a Turbulent Year
After a turbulent year, fintech companies are looking to hire talented individuals to fill various roles. Some of the top fintech companies hiring in 2025 include:
- Stripe
- Square
- Robinhood
- PayPal
- Revolut
These companies offer a range of job opportunities, from software engineering and product management to marketing and sales.
Internal SpaceX Documents Show Sweet Stock Deals Offered to Investors Like Andreessen Horowitz and Gigafund
According to internal documents obtained by TechCrunch, SpaceX has been offering sweet stock deals to investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Gigafund. The documents reveal that these companies have been given preferential treatment when it comes to investing in the space company.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Resigns from Self-Driving Truck Startup Aurora’s Board
In a surprise move, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has resigned from the board of self-driving truck startup Aurora. The resignation follows a tumultuous year for both companies.
Transportation News
- Toyota’s CES 2025 Press Conference: How to Watch
- Roborock’s Roomba Competitor Gets a Robot Arm
- Live Updates CES 2025: Nvidia, Samsung, Sony, Toyota Reveals, Plus More
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