Facebook makes a billion-dollar acquisition, we learn more about Twitter's clubhouse-style functionality, and Moderna requires emergency clearance for its COVID-19 vaccine. This is your Daily Crunch for November 30, 2020.
The Big Story: Facebook Acquires Kustomer for $ 1 billionKustomer says it can provide customer service teams with better data and a more unified view of who they interact with. So with this acquisition, Facebook can improve its offer for companies that have a presence (in some cases, their primary digital presence) on the social network.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but ProWellTech confirmed that the deal price was around $ 1 billion.
Facebook isn't the only social media company making acquisitions to improve customer service features. Earlier this month, Snap purchased Voca.ai, a startup that creates AI-based voice agents for call centers.
The tech giantsAlphabet's DeepMind Reaches a New Historic Milestone in AI-Based Protein Structure Prediction - Advancement in DeepMind's AlphaFold capabilities could lead to a significant leap forward in areas such as our understanding of the disease, as well as future discovery and development of drugs.
Twitter's Audio Spaces test includes transcripts, speaker controls, and reporting features: Earlier this month, Twitter announced that it will soon begin testing its rival Clubhouse, called Audio Spaces.
With an eye to the future, longtime operator and VC Josh Elman gets involved with Apple - Elman said he will focus on the company's App Store and help "customers discover the best apps for them."
Startups, financing and venture capitalHungryPanda Raises $ 70 Million for a Food Delivery App Targeting Overseas Chinese Consumers: HungryPanda builds a Mandarin language app aimed specifically at Chinese consumers outside China.
Materialize Gets $ 40 Million Investment in SQL Streaming Database: CEO Arjun Narayan told us that every company must be a real-time business and it will take a streaming database to make it happen.
Curio Wellness Launches $ 30 Million Fund to Help Women and Minorities Own a Cannabis Dispensary - The new fund, initiated by Maryland-based medical cannabis company Curio Wellness, aims to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs enter the cannabis market.
Extra Crunch Tips and AnalysisDoorDash Aims To Add $ 11 Billion To Its Valuation During The Public Offering - The delivery platform provided a range of $ 75 to $ 85 per share.
Strike First, Strike Hard, Mercilessly: How Emerging Managers Can Win - Investors at Fika Ventures say "Cobra Kai" offers valuable lessons for VC.
The road to smart city infrastructure starts with research: the right technology can improve any city, but we need to understand its impacts.
(Extra Crunch is our membership program, which aims to democratize startup information. And until November 30, today, you can get a 25% discount on an annual subscription.)
All the restModerna claims 94% efficacy for COVID-19 vaccine, will ask FDA for emergency use today - If permission is granted, Moderna will be able to provide it to high-risk people such as operators health at the forefront.
FCC president Ajit Pai will step down to make way for the Biden administration: Pai's tenure has been controversial.
Original Content Podcast: Don't Watch Netflix's Holidate With Your Parents - But if you avoid parental embarrassment, it's a perfectly adequate Christmas-themed romantic comedy.
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