Daily Tech Roundup: March 9, 2021

Significant developments occurred today in the tech world, including Dropbox’s acquisition of a document-sharing company, Sonos’s unveiling of a new speaker, and Google’s decision to offer free hotel listings. These are the key highlights in today’s Daily Crunch.

Dropbox Strengthens Document Management Capabilities

Dropbox has completed the acquisition of DocSend for $165 million. This move builds upon their 2019 purchase of HelloSign, an electronic signature provider.

By integrating DocSend – a platform enabling secure document sharing and tracking via unique links – Dropbox is establishing a comprehensive, secure workflow for document management.

Dropbox CEO Drew Houston stated the acquisition will broaden their toolset for remote work, providing customers with secure document handling and robust engagement analytics.

Interestingly, both companies initially gained prominence through presentations at TechCrunch events, albeit in different years.

Tech Industry Updates

Sonos has launched the Roam, a portable Bluetooth speaker priced at $169. Its design is more compact, lightweight, and durable, offering increased water resistance, aligning it with competitors like JBL.

Following similar actions with Shopping and Flights, Google is now providing free hotel listings. This change aims to offer users a more complete overview of hotel availability.

A French startup association has filed a complaint against Apple, alleging “privacy hypocrisy.” This marks another privacy-related challenge for Apple within Europe.

Startup Funding and Venture Capital News

Wefarm has secured an additional $11 million in funding to expand its network for independent farmers, which currently boasts 2.5 million users. The platform facilitates connection, idea exchange, and the buying/selling of equipment among farmers.

Wrapbook, a payroll startup focused on the entertainment industry, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by a16z. The investment includes participation from prominent figures in both technology and entertainment.

ForSight, a robotics startup specializing in eye surgery, has raised $10 million. The company intends to expand its operations internationally, contingent upon obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for robotic surgery platforms.

Extra Crunch Insights

An analysis suggests four key ways startups will accelerate the adoption of GPT-3 in 2021. The introduction of GPT-3 in 2020 represented a significant advancement in artificial intelligence.

Global-e has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) amidst a resurgence in e-commerce startups. The company experienced substantial growth in its business during 2020.

(Extra Crunch is a membership program designed to support founders and startup teams. Subscription details can be found here.)

Additional News

An auction of original memes is underway, organized by Chris Torres, the creator of Nyan Cat, and a collective of meme originators.

Arlan Hamilton, of Backstage Capital, discussed strategies for identifying the next unicorn company during a session at TC: Sessions Justice. The conversation covered founder vetting, the evolving role of venture capital, and the impact of funding sources on Backstage’s approach.

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