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Daily Crunch: November 2, 2021

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TechCrunch in the News

Greetings, and welcome to today’s Daily Crunch for November 2, 2021. The day proved noteworthy, primarily due to TechCrunch itself becoming a subject of news coverage.

While the circumstances weren't ideal, the ongoing digital separation between China and the rest of the world is demonstrably occurring. We experienced a direct impact from this trend.

The China-World Digital Decoupling

The increasing digital decoupling between China and the global community is a significant development. This process is actively unfolding and is having tangible effects.

TechCrunch found itself affected by this broader geopolitical shift. The specifics of this impact are important to understand.

— Alex

TechCrunch's Leading Three Stories

Here's a summary of the top three tech news items reported by TechCrunch today.

Yahoo's Departure from China

Yahoo is officially withdrawing from the Chinese market, discontinuing all remaining services within the region.

This decision impacts TechCrunch and Engadget, which are now inaccessible to users in China.

The move follows similar announcements from Epic Games regarding Fortnite and Microsoft concerning LinkedIn, both of which have also ceased operations in China.

Bird's Transition to Public Company

The merger between the popular scooter company Bird and a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has received approval.

The completion of this merger is anticipated later this week.

However, initial reactions from public market investors have been negative, resulting in a decline in the stock price of Bird’s SPAC partner.

The total amount of capital raised through this process remains uncertain, but TechCrunch provides detailed analysis of Bird’s financial performance.

Microsoft's Metaverse Integration

Microsoft has announced the integration of its Teams platform into the metaverse.

Unlike Facebook (now Meta)'s metaverse vision, Microsoft’s “Mesh for Teams” will focus on facilitating collaborative experiences within virtual and augmented reality environments.

This service will leverage Teams’ existing productivity tools to enhance shared experiences in these immersive spaces, as detailed in TechCrunch’s coverage.

Startups and Venture Capital Updates

Feeling overwhelmed by the numerous acronyms in the contemporary financial landscape? Don't be concerned; startups are actively developing solutions. For instance, Aqua aims to facilitate access to private equity investments for everyday investors.

Traditionally, these types of investments have been restricted to individuals with substantial net worth. However, as Natasha Mascarenhas notes, there's a growing interest in alternative investment products, potentially benefiting Aqua’s offerings.

Backblaze IPO Details

Amidst a surge of unicorn IPOs, Backblaze’s planned public offering stands out due to its relatively small scale. This isn't a criticism; it's encouraging to witness smaller technology companies entering the public market.

Successful trading of Backblaze stock could inspire other companies to follow suit, a development we anticipate with optimism.

The Growing Importance of App Monitoring

The significance of app monitoring is becoming increasingly apparent. This is highlighted by Lumigo’s recent $29 million Series A funding round, as reported by TechCrunch.

Lumigo’s product is evolving to encompass not only serverless platforms like DynamoDB and S3, but also containers and virtual machines.

An Unusual Investment: Vivoo

Renowned investor Tim Draper has spearheaded a $6 million Series A investment in Vivoo, a startup with a rather unique proposition. TechCrunch describes Vivoo as a “personalized nutrition and lifestyle startup” that provides at-home urine test kits paired with a mobile application.

While some may not require an app to remind them to hydrate, a gentle nudge could be beneficial for many.

Firefox Mobile Browser Enhancements

Firefox has released an update to its mobile browser focused on reducing clutter, catering to users who prefer alternatives to standard mobile software.

Nuro Secures Significant Funding

Concluding our startup news, Nuro has successfully raised $600 million in funding from Google and Tiger Global. This investment will support the development and deployment of their autonomous delivery vehicles.

The Implications of Netflix's Expansion into Gaming for Developers

Forecasts suggest Netflix may invest up to $19 billion in original and acquired content by 2025. However, this projection doesn't encompass a burgeoning new area for the streaming giant: the realm of video games.

The company appointed a gaming division head in July and subsequently acquired Night School Studio in September, thereby expanding its access to a wider pool of game development talent.

Sendbird CEO John S. Kim poses a crucial question: “To what extent will Netflix’s strategic initiatives impact game developers and studios globally?” He further asks, “Critically, how will developers adapt to Netflix becoming a player in this market?”

The entrance of a major player like Netflix is poised to reshape the competitive landscape for game creators.

Netflix’s approach to gaming remains to be fully defined, but its substantial financial resources and established subscriber base present both opportunities and challenges for existing developers.

Game developers will likely need to consider how Netflix’s content strategy aligns with their own, and whether collaboration or competition will define their relationship.

The acquisition of Night School Studio signals Netflix’s intent to not only distribute games but also to actively participate in game creation.

This move could lead to increased demand for developers with specific skill sets, particularly those experienced in creating narrative-driven or interactive entertainment.

(TechCrunch+ is a membership program designed to empower founders and startup teams with the resources they need to succeed. Registration is available here.)

Big Tech Inc.

Today’s focus is on Microsoft, and here is a summary of our reporting from their recent event.

• Microsoft has unveiled new solutions designed to facilitate the modernization of supply chains and manufacturing processes.
• The new Azure OpenAI Service from Microsoft is extending access to GPT-3 for a select group of developers.
• JavaScript functionality is now being integrated into Microsoft Excel.
• Microsoft Azure aims to simplify data management and utilization for its users.
• The reach of Microsoft Azure is being expanded to encompass more hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• A new Chaos Studio is being introduced within the Azure ecosystem.
• Microsoft is currently developing a product named Loop, which exhibits similarities to Google’s discontinued Wave service; anticipation for its release is high.

Beyond Microsoft, here are updates from other major technology companies:

• Netflix is continuing to invest in gaming, viewing it as a key component of its future strategy.
• A recent extended outage experienced by Roblox negatively impacted the platform.
• Zoom is exploring the introduction of an advertising-supported version of its video conferencing service.

Just as Spotify is striving to become a significant force in podcasting, Netflix evidently believes that games represent a crucial area for growth.

The company’s gaming offerings are now available to all Android users, starting this week.

The Roblox downtime proved beneficial to competing gaming platforms.

When a platform experiences interruptions, users readily switch to alternatives like Steam.

The surge in tech industry wealth is contributing to an advertising boom, which Zoom intends to capitalize on.

This is being achieved through the potential launch of an ad-supported version of their video chat platform.

TechCrunch Seeks Expert Recommendations

TechCrunch is currently soliciting input from its readership regarding software consultants they have utilized.

The request encompasses a broad range of expertise, spanning areas such as UI/UX design and cloud architecture.

Seeking Diverse Skillsets

Information is being gathered on consultants who have provided services in user interface and user experience development.

Additionally, TechCrunch is interested in learning about consultants specializing in the design and implementation of cloud-based systems.

How to Contribute

Readers are invited to share their experiences and recommendations through a designated submission form.

Details on how to submit your consultant recommendations can be found here.

• UI/UX Consultants: Professionals focused on enhancing user interfaces and overall user experience.
• Cloud Architecture Consultants: Experts in designing and deploying scalable and reliable cloud solutions.

Your contributions will help build a valuable resource for others seeking qualified software consulting services.