As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.
Notable news stories from last week included: Durham-based BioCryst Pharmaceuticals landed a $44 million contract to test its COVID-19 treatment; Cisco employees remain in the dark on potential layoffs; Chapel Hill VC firm TrueBridge Capital is getting acquired by Dallas-based P10 Holdings; WeWork is reportedly closing one of its three Durham locations by the end of 2020; a Facebook group started by a local couple is helping to empower Black-owned businesses across the Triangle; after Global Data Consortium CEO Bill Spruill’s call to action, local companies are moving their funds to minority-owned M&F Bank; Raleigh startup MuukLabs landed a $256,000 SBIR grant; NC is one of the top destinations for people moving to new states; the battle between Apple and Cary-based Epic Games continues.
Read last week’s local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind and Startup Spotlight editions.
And, in national news: TikTok is still searching for an American buyer; job growth is slowing as economists still call for another U.S. stimulus package; unemployment claims dropped below 1 million again for the first time since early August; tech stocks took a tumble on Wall Street; ecommerce sales grew by over 30% in the second quarter.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 87 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | August 31 Headlines:
- All Things Open expects to draw thousands worldwide for all-digital conference
- Amazon wins FAA approval to deliver packages by drone
- Arts, architecture, culture abound on the Crystal Coast
- Carteret County hits trifecta with great education, top-rated health care and the state’s lowest tax rate
- Cisco employees remain in the dark weeks after firm announced $1B in cost cuts
- Clock is ticking – fast – on a possible TikTok deal
- Dallas group to acquire Chapel Hill-based TrueBridge Capital Partners with $3.3B in assets
- Durham’s BioCryst lands $44M contract to test anti-viral drug against COVID-19 virus
- Happy 90th birthday, Warren: Bill Gates’ sweet dessert wish to Buffett
- Here’s your guide to 146 tech & startup meetups across the Triangle
- Honeywell cracks the Dow; Apple and Tesla stocks split – big Monday on Wall Street
- NC calendar preview: 50+ events to add to your September schedule
- Need to fight pandemic isolation? Raleigh firm’s 3D software tool designs home theaters
- Nonprofit Wireless Research Center is connecting communities through innovation – here’s how
- On the horizon: Previewing 80+ upcoming events across NC in October
- Remote workers thrive at the Crystal Coast
- Startup Rewind: From fundings to M&A, expansions to equality – here’s a look at TechWire headlines
- TechWire Rewind: Fundings galore; NetApp layoffs; M&A report spots tech trends – in all 89 headlines
- Town of Newport in the Crystal Coast poised for growth
- Triangle Sept. calendar a busy one: Here are 100+ events & deadlines coming up
- Triangle Startup Guide makes more additions: new podcasts + upcoming pitch competition
- Triangle therapeutics startup’s deal with global firm RTI is important – here’s why
- WeWork to close one of 3 Triangle locations, report says
TUESDAY | September 1 Headlines:
- Apple, Google boost coronavirus tracking efforts as doctors complain about false news on social media
- Ecommerce battle: Walmart+ to challenge Amazon Prime
- Gene therapy company bluebird bio reports positive test results for treatment
- Is Lowe’s stock still a buy in pandemic? Yes, says billionaire hedge fund manager
- LimeLight from WRAL TechWire offers opportunities to highlight people, businesses
- Musk now richer than Zuckerberg; Tesla looks to raise $5B
- New jobs: Ecommerce parcel carrier LaserShip is hiring, opens facility in Durham
- Report: Apple plans 75M 5G iPhones, 4 new models, for fall launch
- SAS outsources daycare center to Bright Horizon; employees must now decide — transfer or resign
- Some NetApp employees complain of ‘toxic culture’ ahead of looming layoffs
- Zoom cashes in on soaring demand for virtual meetings during times of COVID-19
WEDNESDAY | September 2 Headlines:
- Clinical trials software startup SignalPath adds to its C-Suite
- COVID-19 scams cost North Carolinians $3.8M – 8th highest among states
- Facebook group is working to empower Black-owned businesses across Triangle
- Job growth is slowing – will there be another stimulus package for economy?
- Mobile investing: Bank of America updates app to include stock trades
- No quick economic rebound: Deutsche Bank CEO offers grim reality check
- Practical advice: Tools for navigating the changing landscape of 2020
- Report: Amazon is mighty but does have its weaknesses – here they are
- Samsung targets the elites with $2,000 foldable phone + perks
- SAS ranks as one of People magazine’s ‘Companies That Care’
- Scared to fly? RDU survey suggests travelers feel safer after hitting the skies
- Questions about algorithms could hinder TikTok sale, report says
- Want an Uber? Mask slackers have to provide a selfie with mask first
- W-S startup, IBM team up to track drug shortages in growing crisis
THURSDAY | September 3 Headlines:
- A new $300 federal jobless benefit? Not likely for some
- Autonomous vehicle testing across US can now be tracked via website
- Bitcoin breakthrough? Swiss region to accept cryptocurrencies for tax payments
- Charlotte-based SPX acquires robotics firm for $90M
- Charlotte firm Paymentus lands Walmart as client for its instant payment network
- Duke joins $115M program to focus on development of quantum computing
- Facebook taking steps Zuckerberg says ‘to protect our democracy’
- ‘Forced to adapt:’ Many life science firms hiring despite pandemic, recruitment firm finds
- Global Data’s Bill Spruill says effort to support minority bank is paying off
- GSK, Sanofi launching clinical trial of potential COVID-19 vaccine
- MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, is now world’s richest woman
- NC among top ‘migration destinations’ as Americans flee big cities during COVID-19
- NCSU researchers’ algorithms boost cyber-physical systems for autonomous vehicles, smart grids
- Raleigh tech startup MuukLabs lands big grant fresh out of TechStars accelerator
- RTI, Duke team up to identify threats like coronavirus in wildlife that might affect humans
- SEC changes accredited investor definition – are you sophisticated enough to pass the test?
- Stocks drop the most since June as tech sector stumbles
- Unemployment claims drop below 1M again; jobs market continues gradual recovery
FRIDAY | September 4 Headlines:
- Boom time: E-commerce sales in US grow by almost 31% in Q2 — and counting
- Carrboro startup Tanjo to leverage its AI platform to help with NC’s reopening
- ‘Dream bigger:’ That’s marching order from ex-Cisco CEO to entrepreneurs at Startup Summit
- Durham biotech startup inSoma Bio looking to raise $1M
- Fans pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman at Fornite’s Panther’s Prowl location
- FBI wants to teach NC students how to safely surf the internet
- Google is pushing to get Epic’s Fortnite antitrust case dismissed
- Guest opinion: In these troubling times, now is the time to innovate in education
- How to recruit employees in trying times of COVID-19 and in future? Experts offer advice
- RTP biotech BioCryst receives $7M order from feds for influenza therapy
- Tech stocks finally tumble – a ‘bumpy road’ may be ahead
- Tech Today: Apple delays privacy feature; a day off at Google; Trump targets more China apps
- This market mayhem will test Robinhood’s newbie investors
- Wake County climbs to 2nd place in national ‘Digital Counties’ survey
- What do we really know about COVID-19 after 6 months? A lot – but much still to be learned
- What’s the state of quantum computing? Led by IBM & Amazon it’s developing rapidly
Weekend Reading:
- Cloud wars: Pentagon affirms Microsoft over Amazon for $10B ‘JEDI’ contract
- Epic Games CEO warns Apple’s ban could be a ‘death sentence’ for his company
- HQ3 for Amazon? Thousands of jobs heading for Seattle suburb of Bellevue
- Survey: Video games help children become more literate, improve mental well-being
- US may target big Chinese semiconductor manufacturer in latest trade disupute
