5G Open Innovation Lab, backed by corporate giants, reveals 16 startups in second cohort

The 5G Open Innovation Lab (5G OI Lab), a startup program funded by T-Mobile, Intel, and NASA, today revealed its second cohort of companies.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based lab debuted in early May and wrapped up its first 12-week program in July. It aims to help entrepreneurs take advantage of 5G technology and build connections with a variety of partners from the public and private sphere.

Unlike many accelerators and incubators, the lab does not take equity stakes in the startups. But the sponsoring companies get early access for potential venture investments and are part of the cohort selection process. They also get a chance to work with early-stage startups that could end up being the next billion-dollar tech giant.

The lab is also a founding member of a Washington state “Innovation Partner Zone,” an alliance developed by the Department of Commerce to help spur collaboration between institutions, government organizations and companies. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Snohomish County, Washington State University (WSU), the University of Washington, T-Mobile, and the City of Bellevue are part of the “5G Open Innovation Zone,” in addition to the lab.

5G is the next generation of wireless service that is expected to pave the way for smarter cities, faster downloads, self-driving cars, and countless other innovations that are hard to predict, just as tech stalwarts such as Uber and Snapchat couldn’t be anticipated until 4G and LTE made their business models possible.

Here are the 16 new companies, with descriptions from the lab:

Bluebox Labs: Bluebox uses Co-pilot to offer an affordable software ecosystem for any car, providing security, convenience, and savings to the user.FreedomFi: FreedomFi uses commodity hardware, open source software and CBRS shared spectrum to build cost efficient private LTE networks and future 5G IoT deployments.GenXComm: GenXComm has developed an advanced technology for 5G deployment which can operate in a variety of bands, including the unlicensed CBRS Band optimizing spectrum usage by allowing communication to transmit and receive simultaneously – on the same frequency.Innov8.ag: Innov8.ag combines on-farm and off-farm data with machine learning to inform grower decisions and maximize resource efficiency.Kubermatic Gmbh: Kubermatic’s platform automates the operations of Kubernetes clusters across multi-cloud, on-premises, and edge environments with a single management UI, addressing the operational challenge of running Kubernetes at scale.Latent AI: Latent AI’s modular software solution automates the resource-intensive tasks of training AI models for constrained devices anywhere on the edge continuum.Mangata Networks: Mangata Networks provides scalable global coverage, with satellite and terrestrial solutions for high capacity and affordable backhaul.MATRIX Labs: MATRIX Labs offers affordable FPGA-driven development boards with sensors, mics, and wireless communication protocols to facilitate IoT app creation.Megh Computing: Megh Computing provides a Real-Time Streaming Analytics Platform with AI+ acceleration using FPGAs for Edge-to-Cloud deployments.mimik Technology, Inc.: mimik provides a hybrid edgeCloud platform to enable any computing device with server capability, increasing data privacy and development speed while lowering the latency and cost of cloud hosting.MixComm: MixComm is the “Antenna to AlgorithmTM” company solving the challenges constraining 5G mmWave performance by extending the link range, reducing power consumption, and reducing system costs with their RFSOI Front End ICs and modules.Moeco IoT: Moeco combines a web platform with low-cost sensors to provide an end-to-end solution for data and sensor management as well as insight generation.Nodle: Nodle is a decentralized wireless network of millions of smartphones and Bluetooth devices connecting people and things privately and securely.PerVices: PerVices delivers a flexible, multi-channel transmit and receive solution using their high-performance software defined radio (SDR) platforms.QuayChain: QuayChain builds digital infrastructure through private LTE/5G for the Supply Chain, creating Smart Industrial Hubs to harvest & democratize data through IoT and AI-driven solutions in large multi-modal locations.Taubyte – Taubyte is The Smart Computing Platform that enables scaling software to the global infrastructure catalyzed by 5G and IoT; being fully automated (i.e. NoOps), it eliminates software development, deployment, and routing complexity at the Edge, allowing (I)IoT developers to focus on product features, while reducing costs and time to market.

View the original article here

from WordPress https://cybersonday689753477.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/5g-open-innovation-lab-backed-by-corporate-giants-reveals-16-startups-in-second-cohort/

Microsoft-supported effort to advise female-led software startups reveals new cohort

The first Saas Launch Lab cohort includes two Seattle-area tech leaders: Advocat Tech CEO Pradnya Desh (left), and Automaton CEO M.H. Lines.

SaaS Launch Lab, a new effort to boost female-led enterprise software companies, announced the 12 companies selected to participate in the program, including two from the Seattle area.

SaaS Launch Lab is a joint project of Microsoft’s venture fund, M12, and Project W, a Davis Wright Tremaine initiative to support female founders.

The lab is holding five virtual workshops for the pre-seed companies. The topics covered include refining a proof of concept, finding a product-market fit, building a team, creating a deck for making your VC pitch and a seed round how-to. The workshops wrap up in October with 1-on-1 pitches with M12 investors.

Participating Northwest companies include:

Advocat Technologies, a Bellevue-based platform addressing legal needs by using AI to create documents from attorney conversations. The CEO is Pradnya Desh.Automaton, Seattle software platform that provides automated testing for sales and marketing technology. The co-founder and CEO is M.H. Lines.

The organizers have not decided if this will become an annual event.

M12 will also be a program partner for Project W’s Women Entrepreneurs Boot Camp that’s taking place in early October. The event targets women founders in fintech, cybersecurity/data management, and plant-based protein. Companies need to apply by Sept. 11 to be considered for participation in the virtual boot camp.

View the original article here

from WordPress https://cybersonday689753477.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/microsoft-supported-effort-to-advise-female-led-software-startups-reveals-new-cohort/

Cloud startup Snowflake reveals financials in IPO filing as it battles Amazon, Microsoft, others

Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman. (Snowflake Photo)

Cloud computing startup Snowflake Computing filed for an IPO on Monday, revealing its financial data for the first time as the company prepares to go public.

The San Mateo, Calif.-based company said it more than doubled revenue to $242 million in the first half of 2020, with a net loss of $171.3 million, down from $177 million in 2019.

Snowflake’s data warehouse is a specialized type of cloud database built for analytical applications. The company has more than 3,100 customers including Brex, ConAgra Foods, Domino’s, JetBlue, and Nationwide. It has more than 20 offices worldwide, including a Seattle hub, and is one of the most valuable private tech startups in the world.

(Click to enlarge)

Founded in 2012, Snowflake sits in a unique position among other cloud service providers, partnering with giants such as Amazon and Microsoft but also competing against them.

In its IPO filing, Snowflake listed Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform under potential risk factors to the business. All three competitors offer their own data warehousing service.

Snowflake said a substantial majority of its business runs on AWS. From the filing:

“There is risk that one or more of these public cloud providers could use their respective control of their public clouds to embed innovations or privileged interoperating capabilities in competing products, bundle competing products, provide us unfavorable pricing, leverage its public cloud customer relationships to exclude us from opportunities, and treat us and our customers differently with respect to terms and conditions or regulatory requirements than it would treat its similarly situated customers. Further, they have the resources to acquire or partner with existing and emerging providers of competing technology and thereby accelerate adoption of those competing technologies. All of the foregoing could make it difficult or impossible for us to provide products and services that compete favorably with those of the public cloud providers.”

Longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia previously led Snowflake as CEO for five years but stepped down in May 2019. Frank Slootman, who ran ServiceNow as chairman and CEO from 2011 to 2017, now leads the company.

Slootman owns 5.9% of the company while Muglia owns 3.3%, according to the IPO filing. The largest shareholder is Sutter Hill Ventures with a 20.3% stake.

Dragoneer Investment Group — a backer of Airbnb, Slack, Spotify, Uber and other giants — led a $479 million Series G round in February and Salesforce Ventures participated for the first time. That round valued Snowflake at $12.4 billion.

Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group is another investors, though it is not listed in IPO documents as the firm owns less than 5% of the company. Other backers include Altimeter; ICONIQ Capital; Redpoint Ventures; and Sequoia.

Snowflake was one of five tech companies to file for IPOs on Monday alone as tech IPOs continue despite the ongoing pandemic and economic crisis. Many companies have traded higher since debuting on the public markets over the past several months.

Software startups that filed for IPOs *today*:
– Snowflake
– Unity
– JFrog
– Sumo Logic

And now: Asana https://t.co/bcnC63kp5E

— Deirdre Bosa (@dee_bosa) August 24, 2020

View the original article here

from WordPress https://cybersonday689753477.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/cloud-startup-snowflake-reveals-financials-in-ipo-filing-as-it-battles-amazon-microsoft-others/

Amazon reveals ‘confidential’ podcast plan in mass email; shows must agree not to disparage Amazon

BigStock Photo / KFifa

Amazon Music and the tech giant’s Audible subsidiary plan to offer podcasts from third-party content providers directly on their platforms, significantly expanding their audio offerings and going head-to-head with Apple, Google, Spotify and others major podcast distribution platforms.

But first, they’ve got a PR mess to deal with.

The company disclosed the plans on Monday in a mass email to podcast content producers, including journalists and media organizations that cover Amazon, declaring that the information about its podcast plans were “confidential” without following the standard practice of first securing their agreement to treat the message as confidential.

This information, of course, was promptly tweeted and reported publicly — quickly making it to the home page of Techmeme, the widely followed tech news aggregation site.

Then came the real mess. Podcasters who clicked through to submit their shows discovered this clause in the content license agreement that’s a requirement to participate in the program: “Your Content may not (a) include advertising or messages that disparage or are directed against Amazon or any Service; …”

That’s a non-starter for many podcast hosts, particularly those that comment regularly on the tech giant.

That’s a standard flub, but here’s where it really goes off the rails: the terms and conditions specify that podcasts will not disparage @Amazon in any way.

I’m a freaking entertainment podcast and I can’t consent to that.

How can any actual news podcast?! pic.twitter.com/QlE23KdAv7

— HydroxyCoreyQuinn (@QuinnyPig) August 11, 2020

Amazon has previously offered podcasts on its Echo speakers via the TuneIn music service. The reach of Alexa-enabled devices and the Amazon Music service could be a big draw for many podcasters. The message notes that the shows would be available via services including Amazon Music’s free tier, reaching more than 55 million customers.

Audible, best known for its audio books, has been expanding in recent years to include a variety of episodic shows and other varieties of audio content.

GeekWire was among the podcast content producers that received the message. We have not submitted our weekly GeekWire Podcast for inclusion, or agreed to the license terms, and we did not agree to treat the information in the email confidentially before receiving it.

We’ve contacted Amazon and Audible seeking comment for this story, and haven’t yet heard back.

View the original article here

from WordPress https://cybersonday689753477.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/amazon-reveals-confidential-podcast-plan-in-mass-email-shows-must-agree-not-to-disparage-amazon/

Filing shows where Microsoft is really making its money; reveals M&A spending; adds Netflix, Hulu, Tencent to list of rivals

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has led a resurgence in the company’s business. (GeekWire File Photo / Kevin Lisota)

Microsoft may be toying with the idea of buying Tik-Tok, but more than ever, its bread-and-butter is basic cloud services and server software for businesses.

Speaking of M&A, Microsoft was relatively active on the acquisition front but also pretty thrifty with its spending in its recently completed fiscal year.

The company’s list of officially recognized competitors is growing, with the addition of Netflix, Hulu and Tencent for the first time.

And Microsoft now sees restrictions on marketplaces operated by competitors (i.e., Apple’s App Store) as a material risk to its business.

Those are some of our takeaways from the Redmond company’s new Form 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, an annual treasure trove of tidbits about the tech giant. In addition to reading the latest filing, we used the Compare Documents feature in Microsoft Word to help us spot significant changes since last year’s filing.

The biggest additions this year are long passages about COVID-19 and the company’s response to the pandemic, plus its racial justice, environmental sustainability and digital skills initiatives, largely reiterating Microsoft’s past public statements and announcements on each of those fronts.

Most notable on the business front is a section that breaks down Microsoft’s revenue into categories associated with its traditional product lines: Office, Windows, Xbox, etc. This is in contrast with the company’s quarterly financial reports. Those use a broad-based and somewhat ambiguous divisional structure — Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing — that mix different businesses and products in such a way that it’s not always easy to discern clear trends by product line.

The alternative categories in the 10-K filing show a clear trend: Microsoft’s back-end server products and cloud services are booming. Revenue grew by nearly 27% to $41.4 billion in the product category of Server and Cloud Services in the fiscal year ended June 30.

Office and Cloud Services revenue was the second-fastest growing category, at 11%, reaching $35.3 billion in revenue for the year. Windows grew by 9% to $22.3 billion.

Microsoft made 15 acquisitions for a total amount of $2.4 billion in its 2020 fiscal year, according to the filing. That was down from 20 acquisitions for a total of $9 billion the year before, which included the $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub.

The company’s biggest acquisition on record was its $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn in December 2016, in Microsoft’s 2017 fiscal year.

Microsoft’s official list of rivals is growing. It’s always interesting to see which competitors the company considers worthy of mentioning in the filing, as an indication of where its business is headed. Two years ago, it was Slack. This year, it’s Netflix, Hulu and Tencent.

Here’s how the section on the company’s gaming and entertainment competition now reads with those additions.

Xbox Live and our cloud gaming services face competition from various online gaming ecosystems and game streaming services, including those operated by Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Tencent. We also compete with other providers of entertainment services such as Netflix and Hulu. Our gaming platform competes with console platforms from Nintendo and Sony, both of which have a large, established base of customers. We believe our gaming platform is effectively positioned against, and uniquely differentiated from, competitive products and services based on significant innovation in hardware architecture, user interface, developer tools, online gaming and entertainment services, and continued strong exclusive content from our own first-party game franchises as well as other digital content offerings.

Interesting to see the company’s main console rivals, Nintendo and Sony, practically relegated to afterthoughts. This is notable in part as an indication that Microsoft continues to see Xbox as a broader entertainment platform, with the release of the Xbox Series X console coming up later this year.

And finally, the filing reflects the growing tension between Microsoft and competitors that operate online marketplaces in which the company wants to participate.

This section is entirely new: “Competitors’ rules governing their content and applications marketplaces may restrict our ability to distribute products and services through them in accordance with our technical and business model objectives.”

Microsoft is at odds with Apple over App Store restrictions that Microsoft says restrict its ability to offer its xCloud gaming service on iOS.

Those are our main takeaways. If you’re up for some light reading, here’s the full filing. Let us know if you spot anything notable that we missed.

View the original article here

from WordPress https://cybersonday689753477.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/filing-shows-where-microsoft-is-really-making-its-money-reveals-ma-spending-adds-netflix-hulu-tencent-to-list-of-rivals/