*By Carlo Versano*
Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates and went on to become one of the country's most prolific philanthropists and technologists, died Monday at 65.
His company Vulcan released a [statement](http://www.vulcan.com/News/Articles/2018/Statement-on-Paul-G-Allen) saying the cause was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which Allen had battled on and off for years.
Allen and Gates famously started Microsoft ($MSFT) in 1975 after dropping out of college and partnering to write computer code for early PCs. The break that would elevate their tiny company ー whose name was a *portmanteau* of "microcomputer software" that Allen came up with ー and make both men fabulously wealthy came when IBM ($IBM) chose it as the software supplier for that company's first personal computer.
Allen left Microsoft in the early 80s but remained on the board until 2000. Current CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement: "As co-founder of Microsoft, in his own quiet and persistent way, he created magical products, experiences and institutions, and in doing so, he changed the world."
As Allen became one of the world's richest people ー Forbes [estimates](https://www.forbes.com/profile/paul-allen/#7bd56f414417) his estate to be worth at least $20 billion ー he became known for his charitable largesse, nowhere more so than in Seattle, where he lived. He also bought sports teams ー he was owner of the NFL's Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers ー turning them into billion-dollar franchises, opened cultural institutions, donated to local STEM non-profits, and re-developed a Seattle neighborhood that is now home to a booming science and tech industry, including the headquarters of Amazon ($AMZN). He was regularly [listed](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferwang/2018/10/15/the-greatest-givers-meet-americas-top-philanthropists/#42fc98bd1af1) among America's most generous givers.
Allen is survived by his sister Jody, who [said](http://www.vulcan.com/News/Articles/2018/Statement-on-Paul-G-Allen): " While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend."
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, turned heads on Tuesday when it announced it will block some ad-targeting, specifically those of a political and religious nature.
This is one of the most direct moves the company has made in order to minimize ad-targeting by advertisers on its platforms. Hastie Afkhami, Head of Digital at S-3 Group, joins Cheddar News to discuss the impact of this move.
Sotheby's is getting into the crypto game. The auction house announced it will now be accepting bids in increments of ETH, marking the first time that an auction will field live bids in crypto. This announcement comes just a week ahead of Sotheby's contemporary art auction 'The Now Evening Auction' for two works by Banksy: Trolley Hunters and Love is in the Air. Alex Branczik, Sotheby's Chairman for Modern & Contemporary Art joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss what went into this move.
Autonomous tech developer Embark made its Nasdaq debut on Thursday via a SPAC merger, making its CEO Alex Rodrigues, the youngest chief executive of a publicly-traded company at the age of 26. He joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to discuss what led to the IPO and what it means for the trucking industry as it looks to navigate ongoing supply chain issues. "I think there are really three major benefits to autonomous trucks. You think about the benefit from an efficiency perspective, from a safety perspective, and from an environmental perspective," Rodrigues noted.
AppHarvest CEO Jonathan Webb joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to talk about the company's Q3 earnings, stating sales data showed the indoor farming tech firm remained on track with its 2021 outlook. Webb also discussed a new campaign called "Fight The Food Fight," to encourage consumers to support a more resilient, sustainable food system.
SpaceX and NASA have collaborated on another successful launch sending four astronauts to the international space station. The international crew will stay in orbit aboard the ISS for six months.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Yat Labs Co-Founder breaks down how a 'Yat' is changing the way people think about their online identities; Scythe Robotics CEO explains how it's bringing innovation to the landscaping industry with its autonomous, all-electric mowers; Founder of California Cowboy discusses how its creating clothing designed for creating in-person connections with others with features like a beverage pocket, bottle opener, and conversation cards; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Beyond the Spotlight' biography series.
Jack Morrison, CEO and co-founder Scythe Robotics, joins 'Cheddar Innovates' to discuss how it's bringing innovation to the landscaping industry with its autonomous, all-electric lawn mowers, and how this is addressing the labor crisis in the landscaping industry.
Naveen Jain, Co-Founder of Yat Labs, joins 'Cheddar Innovates' to discuss how a 'Yat' is changing the way people think about their online identities, and why artists like Questlove and G-Eazy are backing this idea.
Mike Proulx, VP and research director at Forrester, joined Cheddar to talk all about Disney's lackluster Q3 earnings after the company reported a slowdown in Disney+ subscriber growth. Proulx discussed a Forrester study that found 45 percent of U.S. adults subscribed to streaming services because of the pandemic but 26 percent had plans to cancel a service over the next two years. "We're always going to look at growth, and we also have to look at engagement," he said. "But both of those metrics come down to having either original or exclusive content that will offer value to the subscriber base."
