Archive for April 2015
RadiumOne, moving marketing into real-time
The advertising sector has undergone a fundamental transformation over the last 10+ years. Starting with Google’s adwords to Facebook’s social network/ad platform to Criteo’s leadershing in retargeting, technology and innovation have completely changed the game in advertising. As with Finance, advertising is now moving into the machine-to-machine world, with decisions around media mix moving quickly moving towards automation. We are […]
#ConnectedContest We're bringing 10 Startups to Connected Conference for free!
Connected Conference is only 6 weeks away and we’ve already announced dozens of great speakers, and 3-day program that will blow you away, and, oh yeah, a giant Connected Home in the middle of the venue. Inside our Exhibition Hall, in addition to a giant home, a giant 3D Experience powered by our Official Sponsor Autodesk, […]
INNOV8 acquires Ascendeo to create leading connected objects retail outlets in Europe
INNOV8, top European retail channel for smartphones and connected objects, has acquired Ascendeo, leader in the conception and distribution of smartphone accessories. Connected devices will the the principal focus, as the two plan to build on their €358M in revenues to create the top retail channel in Europe for connected objects. INNOV8 has already shown their […]
Nokia to acquire Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion
Nokia announced late yesterday that they’ll be acquiring Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion in an all stock deal. The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies, but will still need the ‘final ok’ from various regulatory authorities. Combined sales of the new company will be approximately €26 billion/year. IoT The IoT space is increasingly a […]
Magency raises €3m to fuel its product and international development
Magency announced that they just closed at €3m Series A round, led by Alliance Entreprendre and Sigma Gestion. In speaking about their new round, founder and CEO Vincent Bruneau adds: “This funding will allow us to accelerate our product development, as well as achieve our goal of becoming the leading mobile solution provider for events and training.” Bruneau, […]
Happn, Devialet & Marie Ekeland's new VC Fund – all this & more at #ParisFounders Spring Edition
#ParisFounders is just around the corner (April 29th), and tickets are selling so fast we’ve had to change venues, from Palais Brongniart to Dauphine. We’ve only got 800 tickets available this time, more than double what we were able to fit this time last year, when we were hosted by Google France – we had 150 people on […]
8 month after surgery, Carmat's 2nd artificial heart recipient speaks: alive & mobile
When Carmat announced last year that they had put their artificial heart in a patient, who survived 75 days after having a one week prognosis, it became clear the medical technology was on the brink of its next leap forward. Earlier this month, French publication JDD reported that Carmat performed another artificial heart transplant (which we […]
Europe's #1 Hosting Provider threatens to leave if latest French surveillance law passes
France’s latest proposed law may just scare off one of its biggest digital champions. After the French Government revealed a proposed law, nearly one year in the works, last month, critics jumped on what they consider to be an overreach of the government’s power without checks & balances. Among the critics, Octave Klaba, Polish-born founder of OVH.com, […]
20 Million members across 18 Markets: Blablacar acquires Carpooling.com & What's Next?
Blablacar, the number 1 ride-sharing platform, has acquired its largest competitor Carpooling.com, adding a variety of new markets and creating a pan-European ride-sharing platform. In addition, Blablacar also made an acquisition of Hungarian Autohop – the two acquisitions will bring Blablacar across all of Europe (“From Amsterdam to Prague,” as they put it), and will remove Blablacar’s […]
Time to invest in Japan?
I would posit that Japan is “the ultimate contrarian bet.” For entrepreneurs and investors in the West alike, the world’s third largest economy strikes me as being unfairly dismissed. Don’t get me wrong. At the macro level, the Japanese economy faces its share of challenges. The demographic trend is not moving in the country’s favor, […]