9.17.14

Entertainment:

·         A recipient of the ‘Genius Grant’ has allegedly proved that Hollywood is sexist

o   http://www.businessinsider.com/bechdel-test-creator-wins-macarthur-grant-2014-9

·         KKR is buying Pioneer’s DJ audio equipment business for $550MM

o   http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/abenomics-meets-ibiza-in-k-k-r-s-latest-investment/

·         Sony is warning of a $2.2B net loss for its current fiscal year

o   http://www.cnbc.com/id/102007662

o   http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/sony-expects-2-billion-loss-for-fiscal-year-1201307413/

·         Jamie Foxx is set to release his first new song since 2010 called ‘Party Ain’t a Party’

o   http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/jamie-foxx-releases-first-new-733720

·         Samsung is launching a six-episode web series featuring K-Pop stars about working at Samsung called ‘The Best of Future’

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/6251702/samsungs-sitcom-about-samsung-will-feature-k-pop-stars

Tech:

·         Y Combinator releases its curriculum as a Stanford class, and it’s also online

o   http://recode.net/2014/09/16/y-combinator-releases-its-curriculum-as-a-stanford-class-and-online/

·         Roger Ver, also known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’, is offering bounties to hunt down hackers and thieves as they’ve broken into his email account

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/09/bitcoin_bounty/

·         PayPal has launched an attack ad against Apple Pay to inspire fear in customers

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/09/paypals-attack-ad-shows-apples-power-inspire-fear-loathing/

·         JW Player raises $20MM in its Series C to help video publishers look beyond YouTube

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/17/jw-player-series-c/

·         A GuitarHero founder, a co-founder of Palantir, and others launch a smart home startup called Leeo, which has raised $37MM in funding

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/17/guitarhero-co-founder-raises-37m-to-jump-into-smart-home-market/

·         iOS 8 is available today

o   http://mashable.com/2014/09/17/ios-8-review/

·         MIT invents a lens that combines all of your screens into a single experience

o   http://www.fastcodesign.com/3035809/mit-invents-the-ultimate-super-mario-tech

Deals:

·         Mesosphere has acquired OrlyAtomics in what appears to be a straight talent acquisition deal

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/17/mesosphere-snags-orlyatomics-in-acquihire-deal/

·         Spirit Music Group has received $50MM in capital from Fortress Credit Corp.

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/6251677/publishing-briefs-spirit-music-group-nabs-50m-in-funding

·         Cisco to acquire Metacloud, a private cloud vendor

o   http://recode.net/2014/09/17/cisco-to-acquire-private-cloud-vendor-metacloud/

·         Hudl to acquire Ubersense, the slow-motion video coaching app

o   http://recode.net/2014/09/17/hudl-acquires-ubersense-the-slow-motion-video-coaching-app/

Business:

·         NASA has awarded two multi-billion contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to develop a spacecraft that will shuttle astronauts to and from the International Space Station

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/09/nasa-boeing-spacex/

Exec Moves:

·         Akin Gump has added 22 Bingham McCutchen partners to its overseas offices

o   http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/akin-gump-adds-22-bingham-mccutchen-partners-at-overseas-offices/?_php=true&_type=blogs&module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Legal/Regulatory&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0

·         Kevin Grayson to Head STX Entertainment’s Domestic Distribution department

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/robert-simonds-stx-kevin-grayson-835157/

Retail:

·         Sears is the first major retailer to allow customers to return or exchange items without leaving their car through Sears’ app ‘Shop’In’

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/17/sears-becomes-first-major-retailer-to-allow-returns-exchanges-from-customers-who-wait-in-their-cars/

·         Lightspeed, a retail startup that helps brick and mortar stores increase sales, has raised $35MM from iNovia in its Series B, with participation from Accel Partners

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/17/lightspeed-35m/

Startups:

Government:

·         The FCC has received roughly 3.7 million net neutrality comments

·         http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/16/the-fcc-received-3-7-million-net-neutrality-comments/

Other: