It's been seven months since Travis Kalanick gave up the helm of Uber, but what did those last days or weeks look like for the disgraced CEO? Brad Stone, Senior Executive Editor for Technology at Bloomberg News and Author of "The Upstarts" joins The Hive to discuss the strange world of Travis Kalanick.
Stone describes an insider's account of when Kalanick was shown the video of himself yelling at an Uber driver. The source said Kalanick rolled around on the floor muttering "This is bad." Stone also explores what took the board so long to realize that Kalanick was the company's main problem.
So is Kalanick fiercely loyal or unbelievably stubborn? Why did it take so long for him to relinquish control? Stone says what he was most surprised about was Kalanick's decision-making towards the end of his time at Uber. The first few years were filled with good decisions that forced the company to expand. However, at the end, Kalanick's decision-making took a turn and was ultimetly his demise.
Technology-driven sustainable waste management platform, RoadRunner Recycling, recently raised a $70 million Series D round from BeyondNetZero, the climate investing venture of General Atlantic. RoadRunner says it creates and manages end-to-end waste and recycling solutions for businesses of all sizes and that its proprietary technology can boost cost savings and improve recycling rates for companies, which in turn drives sustainability for the waste industry and our world. RoadRunner Recycling founder and CEO Graham Rihn joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Tech giant Microsoft is rolling out a platform designed specifically to help retailers manage their logistics on the cloud, amid some very trying times. Shelley Bransten, Microsoft CVP for global retail and consumer goods, joined Cheddar to explain how the cloud-based solution is meant to support retailers, workers, and the supply chain. "It's never been more important with all the challenges that we're seeing with the global supply chain that demand and supply come together," Bransten said. "And we use AI technology to help better predict that old adage of getting the right product to the right place to the customer at the right time."
Apple TV+ is in serious talks for the rights to stream MLB games next season, the first foray into sports content for the platform, according to the New York Post. Lee Berke, president and CEO of LHB Sports, sat down with Cheddar to discuss how such a deal might impact the tech giant and the sports content industry. "Quite often with new media platforms one of the quickest ways to create and implement a programming strategy — and actually one of the most expensive ways — is to offer up sports content," Berke noted. "So, with this package available, it puts Apple literally in the game and gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in offering up a major league sport."
A.I.-enabled fintech company Qraft Technologies recently closed a $146 million investment from SoftBank Group Corp.
The companies say they are entering a partnership to accelerate artificial intelligence in the asset management industry. Qraft has already developed A.I. solutions that have been used by major financial institutions and says its new approach to asset management maximizes investment efficiency. Qraft Technologies U.S. CEO Robert Nestor joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
