If you’ve ever forged a connection with someone because you had the same favorite movie or TV show or book, a new startup called Tastemates has built a social network around that experience. Or as CEO Jon Vlassopulos put it, “We’re trying to codify serendipity” — those surprising moments of, “Oh my God, I can’t believe anyone else likes that as much as… Read More
Epic Foundation is a nonprofit aiming to improve charitable giving — an approach that encompasses the way people select, monitor and “experience” their donations. Founded by serial entrepreneur Alexandre Mars (among other roles, he was CEO at Phonevalley, a mobile marketing agency acquired by Publicis Groupe, where Mars became head of mobile), Epic is trying to bring a more… Read More
Epic Foundation’s new app helps donors understand where their money is going
Facebook’s “family of apps” strategy is a wild success. While some might have expected it to roll Instagram into Facebook and leave chat in its main app, keeping Instagram independent and splitting off Messenger into a companion app has helped it solidify itself as more than just a ubiquitous utility, but as a downright addiction.
Today on the Q1 2016 earnings call, Mark… Read More
Users average 50 minutes per day on Facebook, Messenger and Instagram
Podcasts and audio books are enjoying tremendous popularity at the moment, and the fresh-off-the-app-presses app Rightspeed is a $2.99 iOS app that’s here to help you speed-listen your way through your audio library. Have you ever wondered how quickly you can really listen to an audio book? That was the starting point for Max Deutsch, the app’s creator, and the idea behind the app. Read More
Rightspeed helps you devour audio books at a terrifying pace
Redwood City-based Naya Health has raised $3.9 million in seed funding to make a breast pump that is sleeker, quieter and more comfortable for moms than the devices already on the market. Investors co-leading the round were Tandem Capital and Bojiang Capital, who were joined by S-Cubed Capital, Astia Angels, Stanford’s StartX and individual angels. According to married co-founders… Read More
Naya Health raises $3.9 million to build a better breast pump