KKR invests $500M into Box – Fundingnewsasia

Field will get some monetary ammunition in opposition to an activist investor, Samsung launches the Galaxy SmartTag+ and we take a look at the historical past of CryptoPunks. That is your Each day Crunch for April 8, 2021.

The massive story: KKR invests $500M into Field

Non-public fairness agency KKR is investing into Field that ought to assist the cloud content material administration firm purchase again shares from activist investor Starboard Worth, which could in any other case have claimed a majority of board seats and compelled a sale.

After the funding, Aaron Levie will stay with Field as its CEO, however unbiased board member Bethany Mayer will change into the chair, whereas KKR’s John Park is becoming a member of the board as effectively.

“The KKR transfer might be an important strategic transfer Field has made because it IPO’d,” mentioned Alan Pelz-Sharpe of Deep Evaluation. “KKR doesn’t simply deliver some huge cash to the deal, it offers Field the power to shake off some naysayers and put money into additional acquisitions.”

The tech giants

Samsung’s AirTags rival, the Galaxy SmartTag+, arrives that will help you discover misplaced objects by way of AR — This can be a model of Samsung’s lost-item finder that helps Bluetooth Low Vitality and ultra-wideband expertise.

Spotify stays quiet about launch of its voice command ‘Hey Spotify’ on cell — Entry to the “Hey Spotify” voice characteristic is rolling out extra broadly, however Spotify isn’t saying something formally.

Verizon and Honda need to use 5G and edge computing to make driving safer — The 2 firms are piloting completely different security eventualities on the College of Michigan’s Mcity, a take a look at mattress for linked and autonomous automobiles.

Startups, funding and enterprise capital

Norway’s Kolonial rebrands as Oda, luggage $265M on a $900M valuation to develop its on-line grocery supply enterprise in Europe — Oda’s purpose is to offer “a weekly store” for costs that compete in opposition to these of conventional supermarkets.

Tines raises $26M Collection B for its no-code safety automation platform — Tines co-founders Eoin Hinchy and Thomas Kinsella have been each in senior safety roles at DocuSign earlier than they left to start out their very own firm in 2018.

Yext co-founder unveils Dynascore, which dynamically synchronizes music and video — That is the primary product from Howard Lerman’s new startup Surprise Innovations.

Recommendation and evaluation from Additional Crunch

4 methods for getting consideration from buyers — MaC Enterprise Capital founder Marlon Nichols joined us at Fundingnewsasia Early Stage to debate his methods for early-stage investing, and the way these classes can translate right into a profitable launch for budding entrepreneurs.

Tips on how to get right into a startup accelerator —  Neal Sáles-Griffin, managing director of Techstars Chicago, explains when and the best way to apply to a startup accelerator.

Understanding how fundraising phrases can have an effect on early-stage startups — Fenwick & West accomplice Daybreak Belt breaks down a few of the phrases that journey up first-time entrepreneurs.

(Additional Crunch is our membership program, which helps founders and startup groups get forward. You may enroll right here.)

All the pieces else

The Cult of CryptoPunks — Ethereum’s “oldest NFT venture” might not really be the primary, nevertheless it’s the wildest.

Biden proposes gun management reforms to go after ‘ghost weapons’ and shut loopholes — President Joe Biden has introduced a brand new set of initiatives by which he hopes to curb the gun violence he described as “an epidemic” and “a world embarrassment.”

Apply to Startup Battlefield at Fundingnewsasia Disrupt 2021 — All you want is a killer pitch, an MVP, nerves of metal and the drive and willpower to tackle all comers to say the coveted Disrupt Cup.

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