Uber UK Drivers Classified as Workers

Tech News Roundup: March 17, 2021

Significant shifts are occurring within the gig economy, as Uber adjusts its driver classification in response to a U.K. legal decision. Simultaneously, Facebook is intensifying its efforts to regulate problematic Groups, and Snap is expanding its e-commerce capabilities through a strategic acquisition. These developments form the core of today’s Daily Crunch.

Uber Driver Classification Changes

Uber is now designating all drivers operating within the United Kingdom as 'workers' following a ruling by the Supreme Court. This classification falls between traditional employment and self-employment, granting drivers entitlement to both a minimum wage and paid holiday time.

However, the matter isn't entirely settled. Uber’s calculation of working hours will commence when a driver accepts a trip request, deliberately excluding the period spent logged into the application while awaiting assignments. The App Drivers and Couriers Union characterized this revised approach as insufficient and belated.

Actions by Tech Industry Leaders

Facebook is implementing stricter penalties for Groups and their members that violate established guidelines. This represents an escalated effort to combat the spread of harmful, divisive, or dangerous content within Facebook Groups, though previous attempts have yielded limited success.

Snap has acquired Fit Analytics, a company specializing in fitting technology. This acquisition is intended to bolster Snap’s presence in the fashion and e-commerce sectors. Fit Analytics provides solutions that assist online shoppers in selecting correctly sized apparel and footwear.

Apple Maps has been updated to include locations offering COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the United States. Users can locate these sites via voice command by asking Siri questions such as, “where can I get a COVID vaccination?”

Funding and Venture Capital Updates

Incredibuild has secured $140 million in funding to accelerate software and game development through distributed processing technology. Established in 2000, the company serves clients including Epic, Microsoft, and Nintendo.

Policybazaar, an Indian insurance platform backed by SoftBank, has raised $75 million. The company aims to disrupt India’s insurance market, which is currently dominated by state-owned and bank-affiliated insurers.

The competitive landscape for Robinhood alternatives is heating up, with Invstr raising $20 million. Invstr utilizes social gamification to make financial education more engaging and accessible.

Extra Crunch Insights

“Dear Sophie” addresses the question of appropriate visa types for fundraising activities in Silicon Valley. This column provides expert guidance on immigration matters related to the technology industry.

Strategies for recruiting data scientists without offering premium salaries are explored. Many companies struggle with crafting effective job postings as an initial step in building a data science team.

Olo’s initial public offering (IPO) was priced favorably, valuing the company at up to $4.6 billion. Analysis is provided on the pricing investors were willing to pay for Olo shares prior to trading.

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

Additional News

The Voter Formation Project is employing innovative methods to reach first-time Black and brown voters. The organization utilizes a comprehensive digital toolkit to engage these demographics.

The European Union is poised to present startup-friendly legislation to its member states on Friday. The EU Startup Nations Standard seeks to establish the European Union as a premier destination for startup creation.

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