Voices

The Birth of Art Tech: How a Centuries-Old Tradition Is Being Adapted for Today’s Always-Connected Consumer

Today, the purchase of art based on a digital image has become the norm, not the exception.

News Byte

Peter Thiel Leads $20M Round for ZestFinance’s Big-Data Underwriting

ZestFinance, which analyzes data to help get loans to people with bad credit, has raised $20 million in Series C funding led by Peter Thiel. The 65-person, Los Angeles-based company, which previously made its own loans but now works with partners, said it is lowering default rates and cutting the cost of credit by crunching data on borrowers.

Pressure Is on Stealth Payments Startup Clinkle as It Raises $25 Million From Big-Name Investors

The biggest seed round in the history of Silicon Valley!
Lucas-Headshot

Khosla’s Keith Rabois Talks About Going From Internet Ops to VC-Land (Video)

A view from the not-so-cheap seats.

Accel’s Breyer Leads Forbes Midas List of Top Tech Investors Again, While Kleiner’s Doerr Leads in Media Scrutiny

It’s hard being — and staying — king of the VCs.

Google Ventures Leads $17 Million Round in On Deck Capital

A fast-growing startup that uses big data to make small-business loans.

Sympathy for Peter Thiel

I feel sorry for Peter Thiel. Did he really want flying cars? Flying cars are not a very efficient way to move things from one point to another. On the other hand, 20 years ago we had the idea that information could become available at your fingertips. We got that done.

— Bill Gates, in an interview with Wired magazine’s Steven Levy

Exclusive: PayPal Co-Founder Levchin Launches New Payments Startup, Affirm

He’s back, and this time the well-known entrepreneur wants to give you a digital charge card.

To VC or Not to VC: Former Square COO Rabois Leaning Toward Khosla Ventures Job

A Silicon Valley choice.

Voices

After IPO, Facebook Insiders Make $775 Million

Facebook Inc. has been trading below its $38 offering price since shortly after its IPO in May. But that hasn’t stopped insiders from selling shares valued at more than $775 million in the past five months.