Chinaccelerator Daily Digest 1/16/2019

Overseas:

1. Another huge database exposed millions of call logs and SMS text messages

2. Twitter’s de-algorithmizing ‘sparkle button’ rolls out on Android

3. Mozilla shutters Firefox’s Test Pilot program

4. Microsoft continues to build government security credentials ahead of JEDI decision

5. AWS makes another acquisition, grabbing TSO Logic

6. Instagram caught selling ads to follower-buying services it banned

7. Campaign Monitor acquires email enterprise services Sailthru and Liveclicker

8. Facebook launches its first US podcast with a series focused on entrepreneurship

9. Ahead of IPO, Airbnb achieves profitability for second year in a row

10. Blue Apron is confident it will achieve profitability this quarter

11. Amazon upgrades its Fire TV Stick with the new Alexa Voice Remote

12. Vision Fund to lead $700M funding round for construction startup Katerra

13. Riding the RV revolution, Outdoorsy fuels up with $50 million in fresh funding

14. GBatteries let you charge your car as quickly as visiting the pump

15. Opendoor competitor Knock raises $400M

16. The Square Off chess board melds the classical with the robotic

17. Sensel’s pressure-sensitive display tech works underwater

China:

1. WeChat wants to rate users based on payment behavior

2. Weimob’s successful landing on the HKEx opened at HK$3.1, up 10.7% from the issue price.

3. TikTok is giving China a video chat alternative to WeChat

4. Xiaomi and Huawei’s war means better cheap phones for everyone

5. Liaotianbao(聊天宝) with China Mobile and Fetion, Alipay, Ant Financial to collaborate

6. Reconfigurable Computing Helps AI Chips, and “QingWeiZhiNeng(清微智能)” has been financed by nearly 100 million angel rounds.

7. With Thromboelastograph to enter the 60 billion IVD market, “Wodeshengming (沃德生命)” has received tens of millions of dollars in financing from Bank of Australia Capital.

Mobile:

1. Apple’s battery cases return for the iPhone XS and XR

2. Doogee is launching a rugged modular smartphone

3. In 2018 Apple replaced 10 times more iPhone batteries than the average

Emerging Market:

1. New ‘independent’ player Asia Accelerator opens to startups in Singapore

2. Glassdoor to enter Singapore, eyes opening a regional hub

3. Mobile-based food order-ahead startup Eatsy secures US$550K from East Ventures

4. Indonesian tech startup Automo offers not just bike and car rentals, but private jets and Yacht too

5. Grab users can now buy insurance in-app following ZhongAn investment

6. Indonesian fashion e-commerce site Sale Stock changes its name to Sorabel

Cover picture credits from TechCrunch