Daily Tech Roundup: March 12, 2021

Key developments include a Republican senator’s stance on Amazon’s labor situation, a security concern reported by Microsoft regarding Exchange, and an analysis of ByteDance’s approach to the gaming market. This summarizes the essential tech news for March 12, 2021.

Senator Rubio Supports Amazon Workers

Senator Marco Rubio voiced his support for the Amazon warehouse employees in Bessemer, Alabama, who are pursuing unionization through an opinion piece published in USA Today.

While unusual for a Republican senator to advocate for a labor union, Rubio’s position appears rooted in his concerns about Amazon’s practices rather than traditional labor politics. His article cautioned against both the potential risks of powerful unions and what he described as Amazon’s “uniquely malicious corporate behavior.”

Tech Industry Updates

Microsoft alerts users to a security flaw in Exchange servers being exploited by hackers to deploy ransomware – potentially endangering tens of thousands of email servers with destructive attacks.

ByteDance’s strategy for entering the gaming sector involves a diverse game portfolio, aggressive recruitment, established monetization methods, and a dual focus on domestic and international markets.

A lawsuit has been filed against Elon Musk and the Tesla board, alleging that his “erratic” tweets breach his fiduciary duty and violate a prior settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding oversight of his social media activity.

Startup Funding and Venture Capital

Assembled, a platform designed for support teams, has secured $16.6 million in funding. The investment round was spearheaded by Emergence Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in enterprise-level startups.

BMW is investing in Boston Metal’s technology for carbon dioxide-free iron production, aiming to enhance the sustainability of its supply chain. This investment completes Boston Metal’s targeted $50 million funding round.

Legl has received $7 million to assist law firms in transitioning to digital workflows. The Legl platform provides tools to optimize essential business functions, including client onboarding, due diligence, and payment processing.

Extra Crunch Insights

Guidance is offered on how individuals without technical backgrounds can successfully enter the deep tech industry, covering strategies for identifying, contacting, and collaborating with deep tech companies.

US-listed Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) are increasingly targeting technology firms based in Latin America, following a surge in initial public offerings (IPOs) of tech companies on the Brazilian stock exchange.

Alex Wilhelm explains his decision to temporarily shift focus away from Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)-centric coverage, citing repetitive feedback from various companies.

Additional News

Arisha Hatch of Color of Change argues that large technology companies cannot be relied upon for self-regulation and that Congressional intervention is necessary.

Updates are announced regarding new features and an enhanced virtual Startup Alley experience for TC Disrupt 2021, designed to maximize benefits for participating founders in a virtual setting.

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