TechCrunch Summary (2023-05-17 08AM)

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Source: Roku launches new sports hub dedicated to women’s sporting events

Summary
Roku has introduced the Women’s Sports Zone hub to provide a one-stop shop for consumers interested in live events, matches and tournaments in women’s sports. The platform will provide content from the US Women’s Open, the National Women’s Soccer League and the Women’s Long Drive from the Ladies Professional Golf Association, among others. Within the programme, fans can also access free, female-oriented content available on the Roku Channel.

Fact

  • 🚺 Roku has launched its Women’s Sports Zone hub, to make it easier to search, discover and stream women’s sports content.
  • 🖥️ Users can find programming from the National Women’s Soccer League, US Women’s Open and the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and watch free female-focused sports content on The Roku Channel, such as the Women’s Sports Network, “The Longshots,” “Prodigy” and “Bring It!” among others.
  • 🏀 All WNBA games will be available to Roku users via ESPN, ABC, CBS and CBS Sports Network and streaming services like ESPN+, Paramount+, Prime Video and WNBA League Pass.
  • 📊 30% of US sports fans say they are watching more women’s sports than five years ago, and 85% of sports fans, including 79% of men, agree that it’s essential for women’s sports to continue to grow in popularity.

    • Source: Emerging managers shouldn’t rush a first close – even in this market

    Summary
    Emerging managers and new funds in the market may rush to have a first close as soon as LP capital comes in, but it shouldn’t be a rushed decision as it can result in possible issues down the road, cautions Kari Harris, partner at law firm Mintz advising VC firms on fundraising.

    Facts

  • 💼 Venture firms led by new managers raised only 13% of total capital raised in the U.S., in Q1 2023.
  • 🔍 Holding the first close, which allows a firm to charge management fees and appear as a vote of confidence for larger LPs, should not be rushed.
  • 🚀 Planning to be ready to start backing deals immediately after the first close can avoid amendment of the investment plan down the line.
  • 📆 A vague fundraising timeline should be formed and revealed to potential backers to prevent missed deadlines.

    • Source: Kubernetes and sigstore founders raise $17.5M to launch software supply chain startup Stacklok

    Summary
    Kubernetes co-founder Craig McLuckie has launched Stacklok, a cybersecurity startup providing a supply-chain management ledger called sigstore. His partner is Luke Hinds, who developed sigstore’s open-source cryptographic signature tool for supply chain transparency. McLuckie thinks supply chain security is a priority, with this the most straightforward route for enterprise systems to be infiltrated.

    Fact

  • 👨‍💼 Craig McLuckie, Kubernetes co-founder and former VMware executive, partnered with Luke Hinds, creator of an open-source supply-chain cryptographic signature tool, to launch Stacklok.
  • 👩‍💻 Hinds founded the sigstore open-source project as a supply-chain ledger, which forms the basis of Stacklok’s core product offering.
  • 💼 McLuckie posits that enterprise IT supply-chain security is lacking, with companies’ heavy use of technology – despite the complexity that could compromise supply chain integrity.
  • 🧑‍💻 Open-source industry ecosystems, including supply-chain management, require much work to be made more accessible, and developers, despite their good intentions, also require more support to ensure secure usage.

    • Source: You can now hail an Uber by calling a number

    Summary
    Uber has made it easier to hail a ride for people who are not aware of smartphone apps. People can now dial a toll-free number to request a ride on-demand or reserve one for a future trip.

    Fact

  • 📞 People can now hail Uber by calling 1-833-USE-UBER.
  • 🚗 Customers can request a ride on-demand or reserve one for future trips.
  • 💳 Existing customers can use their payment method on file, and the agent can also help create new accounts and process payments over the phone.
  • 📲 Uber notifies customers about the driver’s name, picture, license plate number, and estimated time of arrival via text message.
  • 💰 Booking via phone doesn’t allow tipping, but riders can opt to tip by giving cash to the driver.

    • Source: Uber launches private chartered boats in Mykonos

    Summary
    Uber announced at its Go-GET product event that it will launch a new boat travel option in Greece, starting with the island of Mykonos, allowing up to eight people to privately charter boats directly through the Uber app.

    Fact

  • ⛴️ The boating option will allow up to eight people to cruise to destinations around the island of Mykonos.
  • ⛴️ Uber had previously offered a boat service in London with Thames Clippers, but Uber Boat in Mykonos is unique because it is a private charter for the customer and their guests and not owned by a third party.
  • ⛴️ Uber is aiming to expand into new markets even as ride-sharing rebounds post-pandemic.

    • Source: Uber puts family (even teens) at the center of its new products and features

    Summary
    Uber has launched a variety of new products and features aimed at a younger audience, including the ability for families to link accounts and teen accounts for those aged 13 to 17. The company has also launched new family safety features, allowing parents to monitor their children’s trips and communicate with drivers directly.

    Fact

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families can now link multiple Uber accounts and centralize payment.
  • 👩‍💻 Uber will launch teen accounts in over a dozen U.S. cities and in several Canadian cities.
  • 🚙 Highly-rated, experienced drivers are assigned to teen accounts, and parents can track their children’s progress during trips and report issues to Uber.

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