Jacob Cohen
Contributing Writer, The Hustle

In 2021, messaging apps are looking to send a message about monetization

For years, messaging apps have focused on user growth. Now -- with billions of users -- they’re looking to monetize.

Jacob Cohen • March 17, 2021

Stripe just became Silicon Valley’s most precious gem

Whether or not they realize it, nearly every adult in America has used Stripe. This week, the payments platform raised $600m.

Jacob Cohen • March 16, 2021

Looking to the future, Nintendo leverages its past

Nintendo’s beloved characters and enduring hardware have seen massive success. Now, it’s gearing up for the future.

Jacob Cohen • March 12, 2021

Neeva — led by Google vets — raises $40m to build an ad-free search engine

Neeva is trying to build a privacy-first search engine from scratch. It’s got the right team for the job.

Jacob Cohen • March 11, 2021

SpaceX’s rapidly expanding satellite business, explained

SpaceX is leading the way in an internet-beaming satellite space race… for now.

Jacob Cohen • March 10, 2021

Coursera’s IPO signals big changes ahead for higher ed

Coursera is going public. Here’s what that means for the future of higher ed.

Jacob Cohen • March 9, 2021

Indie.vc shut down, but its vision for venture capital lives on

Indie was a venture capital firm focused on profitability before scale. It just closed its doors.

Jacob Cohen • March 8, 2021

Sorry, parents, ‘influencer’ is a real job

New platforms and regulations are pushing the influencer economy to new heights.

Jacob Cohen • March 3, 2021

Google’s gaming platform struggles, explained

Last year, Google was planning to hire thousands to make video games. It just shut down its in-house gaming studios.

Jacob Cohen • March 2, 2021

David Dobrik’s $200m photo app Dispo, explained

David Dobrik’s new photo app is shaking things up in Silicon Valley.

Jacob Cohen • February 26, 2021

Shippo raises $45m to be Amazon for small businesses

Shippo is trying to equip SMBs with the same logistical shipping prowess of Amazon Prime.

Jacob Cohen • February 25, 2021

Better late than never: America is speeding up its broadband strategy

America has a long history of limited internet access for steep prices. 2021 may be the year of real progress.

Jacob Cohen • February 24, 2021

Everyone thought Toast was toast. Now it’s planning an IPO.

When COVID hit the restaurant industry, Toast was in trouble. But things have turned around and now it’s prepping an IPO.

Jacob Cohen • February 23, 2021

This entrepreneur built a $1m SAT-tutoring business from his bed

Young entrepreneur Adam Shlomi scaled a $1m online tutoring company during college.

Jacob Cohen • February 22, 2021

What NASA landing on Mars means for business on Earth

NASA’s Perseverance rover just landed on Mars. Since the 1960s, missions like this have spurred disruptive innovation on Earth.

Jacob Cohen • February 19, 2021

Eavor looks to (literally) heat up the renewable race with $40m investment

Chevron and BP are diversifying their portfolios by investing in geothermal startup Eavor.

Jacob Cohen • February 18, 2021

Nextdoor is the pandemic’s latest information battleground

Vaccine discussions are taking over the hyperlocal social platform.

Jacob Cohen • February 17, 2021

For the next big ecommerce trend, look down and east

Livestreamed ecommerce is taking China by storm. Here’s how.

Jacob Cohen • February 16, 2021

Apple has a plan to disrupt the $10T auto industry… that no one knows much about

Apple has a car in the works and plans to enter a global auto market, but few know what that actually means.

Jacob Cohen • February 12, 2021

Facial recognition has come a long way. Its problems have a long way to go.

Over the last 80 years, facial recognition tech has gone from pen and paper to large-scale automation. But at what cost?

Jacob Cohen • February 11, 2021

Celebrities are taking shots at the liquor market

Actors, athletes, and celebrity chefs are eyeing massive payouts in the lucrative liquor space.

Jacob Cohen • February 10, 2021

WFH has caused a massive chip shortage. And it’s costing car companies billions.

The world needs more semiconductors. That’s a problem for the automotive industry, which may hold back 1m vehicles due to the shortage.

Jacob Cohen • February 9, 2021

Chipotle’s growth plan: Fill your face with burritos via online orders

Chipotle had a big year, with an assist from its cleverly-named drive-thrus (Chipotlanes)

Jacob Cohen • February 7, 2021

To go to space in 2021, just launch an ecommerce site

SpaceX is looking for people to go on its next mission, and pretty much anyone is eligible.

Jacob Cohen • February 5, 2021

Databricks raises $1B (at a $28B valuation!) to build ‘data lakehouses’

Founded by Berkeley academics, Databricks just raised $1B at a $28B valuation to build data lakehouses.

Jacob Cohen • February 3, 2021

How Imprint Engine built a $7m+ business disrupting print and promotional products

In 2012, frustrated marketers set out to build a platform to make coordinating promotional products easier. It’s on track for $7m+ in revenue in 2021.

Jacob Cohen • February 2, 2021

Apple’s privacy features are triggering Zuck

Facebook calls Apple one of its “biggest competitors” and hits back at its privacy features, which are somewhat confusing.

Jacob Cohen • January 29, 2021

With fresh $1.3B valuation, Melio aims to digitize SMBs

Israeli payments platform Melio raised $110m to help SMBs take check-writing online.

Jacob Cohen • January 29, 2021

An MIT lab managed to grow wood. Wait until you see how.

MIT researchers designed a method to grow wood in a lab, but selling lab-grown tables is a long way off.

Jacob Cohen • January 22, 2021

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