Chinaccelerator Daily Digest 5/2/2019

Overseas:

1. Tech, Media Job Cuts Rise Again in March, due to Reorganizations and Shutdowns, and Ongoing Cutbacks at Disney

2. Google launches CallJoy, a virtual customer service phone agent for small businesses

3. Hulu gained twice as many US subscribers as Netflix at the start of 2019, with 3.8m and 1.74m million respectively

4. Fitbit beats Q1 revenue expectations as smartwatch device sales increased 117% year-over-year

5. Epic Games is buying Psyonix, the studio behind cross-platform game Rocket League

6. Online training platform Pluralsight will acquire GitPrime, a team productivity tool for $170M in cash

7. Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group launches $100M acceleration fund, investment focusing on the Series B and C stage 

8. Walmart’s Vudu shows off original content and shoppable ads, hints at interactive shows

9. BenevolentAI starts AI collaboration with AstraZeneca to accelerate drug discovery

10. Like ‘Uber for Organs’: Drone Delivers Kidney to Maryland Woman

 

China:

1. ByteDance faces global learning curve as TikTok runs afoul of local regulators

2. Alibaba’s grand strategy to feed China’s middle class by sourcing $200 billion in overseas products over the next five years

3. Chinese EV maker CHJ seeks to raise up to $500m, eyes listing next year

4. ZTE Corp expects US$178m first-half profit as it boosts R&D spending for 5G development

5. Second-hand book sharing and trading platform Pandacase 熊猫格子 raised $10m from series A fundraising

 

Cross-border:

1. Samsung Ventures’ first investment in Southeast Asia is HR startup Swingvy

2. Airbnb-backed OYO moves into Europe, buys Leisure Group from Axel Springer for $415M

 

Mobile:

– Huawei smartphone sales surge 50% as Apple and Samsung struggle, and now captures 19% share of the global smartphone market

 

Emerging Market:

– BlackBuck raises $150 million to digitize freight and logistics across India

 

Image credit: The Information

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