Cold Comfort
In India, nearly 40% of all produce goes to waste due to a lack of proper refrigeration during transport and storage. Veera, a startup led by a trio of UNC undergrads, is tackling that big problem with a small-ish solution—portable cold storage units that run on renewable energy. You can read our full story here, and you should also watch this video of CEO Varun Jain telling the Veera story in his own words in 60 seconds at last month’s Carolina Challenge Pitch Party.
All-Seeing Eyes
Security cameras are always watching, watching, watching and recording your every move. Except, of course, when they’re knocked sideways, or blocked by a big truck, or go blurry. That’s where Durham's Ai-RGUS comes in. The startup’s software uses AI to enable companies or institutions that have hundreds or even thousands of security cameras—such as initial customer Duke University—to continuously monitor all their cameras to make sure their all-seeing eyes maintain 20/20 vision. Read our full story on Ai-RGUS here.
Et Tu, CompTIA?
Good news: Raleigh is back in the No. 2 slot in the second annual “Tech Town” rankings from tech trade group CompTIA, meaning that the Oak City beat out every darn city in the country except one. Bad news: the one that topped it is Triangle archrival Austin. Boo! It also doesn’t seem fair that CompTIA cruelly ripped apart the Triangle, as “Durham-Chapel Hill” ranks No. 13 on the list. Surely if the Triangle combined its powers, it would ascend to the top spot, right? We demand a recount!
Barista vs. Barrister
Despite my vast and well-documented experience as a juror, I’m pretty sure I’d get excused from serving on the case of Teamworks v Starbucks if it ever comes to trial. After all, I’ve written about Durham tech startup Teamworks multiple times, and I go to Starbucks multiple times per week.
Though to be clear, it’s a real case. Teamworks is suing Starbucks for allegedly infringing on its trademarks by calling its own scheduling and operations platform “Teamworks,” causing confusion that has led to some baristas downloading the wrong app and even leaving negative reviews meant for the coffee giant’s software on pages for the Triangle’s Teamworks. Maybe Teamworks could take a page from Kramer’s book and settle for free coffee for life for the whole company?
Prometheus Unbound
Raleigh-based unicorn Prometheus Group isn’t done growing. Prometheus has announced its acquisition of Netherlands-based software company Roser ConSys, roughly six weeks after completing the purchase of UK-based Engica. Prometheus, which makes software for asset-management firms, anticipates buying as many as four more companies in 2020. Here’s more from TechWire and TBJ.
Spinning Wheels
Remember when a not-super-friendly Raleigh City Council basically ran Lime and Bird scooters out of the city? Well, there’s a new sheriff in town—sorry, a new incoming mayor, Mary Ann Baldwin—who may be bringing them back, along with four newly elected Council members. Baldwin tells TBJ that she’s responding in part to feedback from tech companies that their employees really liked the scooters, so she’s willing to work with Lime and Bird on new regulations.
Waking Dream
Lucid Dream, a Durham-based VR/AR startup that we profiled back in January, is continuing to grow like gangbusters. The increasing demand from the healthcare and life sciences industries are leading Lucid Dream to add roles in engineering, project management, and sales. You should also wave to the Lucid Dream team if you walk past the big picture windows of their ground-floor offices at the American Underground @ Main location in downtown Durham. Tell them we said to say hi!
Stepping Back
You might think Scot Wingo stays plenty busy as the CEO of Spiffy, and you’d be right. So it should be no surprise that he has stepped back slightly from one of his former companies, ChannelAdvisor. Scot will step down as Executive Chairman of the company that he co-founded and led for more than a decade as CEO, though will remain on the Board. Now stop reading and get back to work, Scot!
Extra Bit
The Launch Place is holding a full-day “Becoming an Investor-Ready Entrepeneur” workshop in Danville, Va., on Thursday Jan. 16, with Revibe Technologies CEO Rich Brancaccio as the keynote speaker. The early-bird admission fee is $30 ending Dec. 10, then $50 thereafter.
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