Here’s a review of the technological aspects of the latest stimulus package, Lockheed Martin’s significant acquisition in the rocket engine sector, and Google Cloud’s continued expansion. This is your Daily Crunch for December 21, 2020.

Key development: Stimulus package allocates funds for broadband and energy

The recently agreed-upon $900 billion pandemic relief bill contains several provisions with potentially substantial effects on the technology sector. Specifically, it dedicates $7 billion to improving broadband access, including providing $50 monthly subsidies to eligible households for broadband service.

The legislation also earmarks $1.9 billion for the removal and replacement of equipment originating from Chinese companies ZTE and Huawei. Furthermore, $35.2 billion is designated for energy projects, with photovoltaics, advanced transportation technologies, and energy efficiency solutions expected to benefit the most.

While lawmakers across the political spectrum have reached a preliminary agreement on the stimulus, it still requires final approval from both Congress and President Donald Trump.

Major technology companies

Lockheed Martin completes the acquisition of rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4 billion amid growing activity in the space industry — Aerojet Rocketdyne is based in El Segundo, California, and employs approximately 5,000 individuals.

Google broadens its cloud infrastructure with the addition of new regions in Chile, Germany, and Saudi Arabia — Currently, Google Cloud operates a total of 24 regions encompassing 73 availability zones.

IBM acquires Nordcloud to enhance its multi-cloud consulting capabilities — Nordcloud employs 500 consultants holding certifications in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

Startups, funding, and venture capital

Bolt secures $75 million in Series C funding as competition intensifies in the online checkout space — Bolt provides a suite of interconnected services, including checkout processing, payment solutions, user account management, and fraud prevention.

OneTrust raises $300 million in Series C funding at a $5.1 billion valuation to further develop its privacy platform — The company has amassed $710 million in funding within just 18 months, including during the pandemic period.

Eneba, a gaming marketplace, obtains $8 million from Practica and InReach following increased demand due to lockdowns — Founded in 2018 by two Lithuanian friends, Eneba reports having attracted 26 million unique users.

Insights and analysis from Extra Crunch

Three venture capitalists discuss space debris and their current investment priorities — The discussion centers on the risks posed by orbital debris, the potential of space-based manufacturing, and an assessment of the U.S. government’s support for space innovation.

Fintech companies are increasingly prioritizing profitability — Several companies revised their 2020 plans to concentrate on building sustainable businesses.

Funding for space startups remains strong despite the economic slowdown — Further coverage from TC Sessions: Space 2020.

(Extra Crunch is our subscription service, designed to provide accessible information about startups. You can register here.)

Other news

Citizen Lab reports that dozens of journalists’ iPhones were compromised by NSO Group’s ‘zero-click’ spyware — Journalists targeted include London-based Rania Dridi and at least 36 individuals associated with the Al Jazeera news agency.

Commercial human activity in space is anticipated to expand rapidly in the near future — Darrell Etherington observes that the number of people working in space is poised for potentially exponential growth.

Original Content podcast: A review of the pandemic thriller ‘Songbird’ suggests it could have been significantly improved — However, the review indicates it is not a particularly well-made film.

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