The banking industry now makes up over 40% of Warren Buffett’s portfolio

Berkshire Hathaway reported its Q3 holdings last week, and half of Warren Buffett’s top 10 largest holdings are in the US banking industry.

Lindsey Quinn • November 21, 2018

Taylor Swift’s new record deal sounds so good even her rivals will sing along 

Taylor Swift negotiated a deal that will give her future rights over her music -- and will help other artists take a larger chunk of their streaming profits.

Conor Grant • November 21, 2018

The company Airbnb is using to help nomadic tribes host guests

Airbnb’s wants to help rural communities — often neglected by Big Tech — use the platform as a form of “economic empowerment and community development.”

Zachary Crockett • November 20, 2018

Wonolo raises $32m to help big companies find good ol’ gig workers

Staffing startup Wonolo raised another $32m to expand its platform for gigs in manufacturing, retail, and shipping.

Conor Grant • November 20, 2018

Photo editing startup raises $60m to help us turn our faces into smooth, featureless eggs

Lightricks, the developer behind photo editing apps like Facetune, has raised a massive $60m round to help us blur acne out of existence.

Lindsey Quinn • November 20, 2018
nissan ghosn

Nissan’s chairman was arrested, and now his auto-cratic empire could crumble

After one of the most powerful execs in the auto industry was arrested for fraud, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance he built could crash and burn.

Conor Grant • November 20, 2018

Beyond Meat files for an IPO hoping to become the biggest beefless burger maker 

Beyond Meat filed for a $100m IPO, becoming the first animal-free meat maker to go public.

Conor Grant • November 19, 2018

Out with the old: BlackBerry looks to buy cybersecurity firm Cylance for $1.4B

BlackBerry is looking to get out of the smartphone shadow, as it acquires Cylance, an AI-based company that specializes in autonomous vehicle technology.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 19, 2018

Schwan’s Co. will sell to the largest food manufacturer in South Korea

Schwan’s Co. will sell to South Korea’s largest food manufacturer, for $1.8B to bring their Korean products into more US grocery stores and restaurants.

Conor Grant • November 19, 2018

Everyone’s talking about the Weather (Channel)’s hardcore mixed reality reporting

Under new ownership, the Weather Channel’s bet on immersive mixed reality seems to be paying off.

Conor Grant • November 19, 2018

‘Low-code’ coding platform Airtable’s valuation increased 8x in 8 months

Airtable raised $100m at a $1.1B valuation just 8 months after it was valued at $152m -- all in spite of competition from tech’s biggest heavyweights.

Conor Grant • November 16, 2018

Will people still buy luxury goods without their brand names? Italic hopes so

Italic launched a brandless luxury platform, but the value of brands to luxury consumers could cause its business model to backfire.

Conor Grant • November 16, 2018

Forever in blue jeans: Levi’s preps an IPO at a $5B valuation

Levi’s preps an IPO at a $5B valuation, its second time going public in its 145-year tenure.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 16, 2018

The FDA moves to ban menthol cigarettes instead of flavored e-cigarettes

Falling short of their threat to ban flavored e-cigs, the FDA has decided to instead ban flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 16, 2018

Lime will drop its first carsharing service on Seattle street corners this week

Lime announced its plans to drop its new carshare service on the streets of Seattle this week, and wants to have 1.5k cruising the lanes by early 2019.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 15, 2018

ServiceTitan raises $165m to end bummers for all the plumbers

ServiceTitan, which provides software to home services providers like plumbers and electricians, has raised $326m and has a $1.65B valuation.

Conor Grant • November 15, 2018

Can you keep a secret? Victoria’s Secret’s stock has plummeted in the last 3 years

Victoria’s Secret’s stock has plummeted more than 72% in the last 3 years as women’s standards of female empowerment have shifted from Victoria’s Secret angels, to body positivity.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 15, 2018

Can small cities like Tulsa pay ‘digital nomads’ to put down roots?

Tulsa is the latest city to offer digital nomads $10k to move there, but it faces an uphill battle.

Conor Grant • November 15, 2018

To hang on to eyeballs, Facebook wants to match users with jobs (and partners)

Facebook is expanding its tools for job posting in an attempt to insulate itself from slackening growth.

Conor Grant • November 14, 2018

Sweetgreen raises $200m to pursue blockchain salad bars

Sweetgreen just became a unicorn after raising $200m, as it looks to dabble in Blockchain and double down on its delivery game.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 14, 2018

The business of self-care: Meditation app Simple Habit raised a $10m Series A

The wellness industry is taking off, with companies like Simple Habit and Calm looking to branch out, as well as some interesting new business models.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 14, 2018

The age of autonomy starts this December, with Waymo at the wheel

After years of hype, the self-driving future is scheduled to arrive this December in Phoenix -- with Waymo at the wheel of the industry.

Conor Grant • November 14, 2018

As America’s soy stockpile bursts at the beans, growers take a gutsy gamble

American soy farmers are saving their soybeans in the hopes that prices will soon rise -- but the ongoing trade war makes their bean bet a risky gamble.

Conor Grant • November 13, 2018

As funding rounds grow larger, fewer startups are able to raise money

The rise of mega-funds has increased the overall amount of funding available to startups, but decreased the number of startups that actually raise money.

Conor Grant • November 13, 2018

Clearing out the well: The world’s largest liquor company is selling its bottom shelf

Diageo, the world’s largest alcohol distiller has decided to sell 19 of its bottom shelf brands, because US consumers are only drinking the good stuff these days.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 13, 2018

Survey company Qualtrics was acquired by SAP for $8B, days before hitting NASDAQ

SAP agrees to acquire research and survey software company, Qualtrics, for $8B mere days before the firm was set to hit NASDAQ.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 13, 2018

Alibaba broke its Singles’ Day sales record, selling $30.8B despite its trade-war slump

Alibaba broke its own single-day ecommerce record during its Singles’ Day yesterday despite slowing growth and trade war tensions.

Conor Grant • November 12, 2018

Takeda set to win approval from the EU to acquire Shire

According to reports, Takeda is set to win conditional approval from the EU to acquire Shire PLC for a whopping $62B.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 12, 2018

Greece’s economy has dried up — and it’s great for saffron sales

The saffron industry in northern Greece is growing rapidly even as the rest of the economy continues to shrink.

Conor Grant • November 12, 2018

Sir David Attenborough leaves the BBC to Netflix and binge

As Netflix looks to batten down the hatches in anticipation of Disney+, the company announced iconic host sir David Attenborough will be voicing a new 8-part original series.

Wes Schlagenhauf • November 12, 2018

Join 2.5M+ professionals getting the Hustle daily news brief