Tech news and trends, from concept to commercialization
Two co-founders, one CEO and one EVP. One owned more than the other, got paid better, had bigger bonuses. How did this happen?
“We were always very clear with each other about who would have what role,” the EVP once told me. I observed that almost everything between them was consultative, even to a fault. …
Working capital is the lifeblood of a successful business. When running a startup, entrepreneurs sometimes rely on their own personal resources to fund the business. An alternative may be to borrow funds through a short-term or long-term loan. These loans offer flexibility to cover day-to-day expenses and support company growth. However, choosing the right option…
By 2050, the global population is expected to increase to 9 billion people — a dramatic increase of more than 35 percent. Given scarce natural resources and the uncertainties of climate change, feeding that growing population means food production will need to increase by 70 percent, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Florida, where…
The past few years have seen an uptick in new accelerator and incubator programs that are focused on helping startups launch and grow. Participating in one of these programs can be advantageous for an emerging business looking for expert insight, seed money, venture capital, or market exposure. But not all are created equal. While most…
At the most recent SXSW, Hanson Robotics, based in Plano, TX, debuted its latest personal robot – Sophia. With lifelike skin that is made from patented silicon, Sophia can emulate more than 62 facial expressions. Cameras inside her “eyes,” sophisticated computer algorithms, and a combination of voice recognition technology and other tools enable Sophia to “see” and “think.” Sophia is just the latest example of major advances in the development of machines striving to attain human “characteristics,” “intelligence,” and “awareness”.
Creepy? Maybe. Predestined? Definitely.
Life Imitating Fiction
Arguably, the notion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Cognitive Computing has been around since Frankenstein was published in 1818. For example, consider the Star Trek series, especially The Next Generation, where AI is prevalent. The android DATA was imparted with human-level intelligence and expertise by his creator, Dr. Soong. Albeit fictional, DATA is an example of a machine achieving human-level awareness. Conversely, Seven of Nine (or more specifically the Borg/Borg Collective) is essentially a human or humanoid that has been assimilated and made more machine-like, striving for efficiency and perfection of a machine. The Borg individual is given artificial limbs, eyes, and other body parts, as well as implants (for example, brain implants), so that each Borg individual can communicate with the Collective and the Borg Queen.Continue Reading Rise of the Machines: DATA vs. the Borg Collective
International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP represented client Vizo Inc. in its recent round of startup financing. Vizo Inc. develops and operates the “Vizo” mobile news application, delivering curated summaries of trending news stories to users, accessed through visual headlines, several times per day. The transaction provided Vizo with approximately $750,000 in funding, which it used to launch the Vizo application Sept. 28, 2015, on mobile devices.
Greenberg Traurig’s northern Virginia team, led by Corporate & Securities Practice Shareholder Scott Meza along with Associate Ryan P. Kelley, advised Vizo on the structure and terms of the transaction and assisted in negotiations with investors, many of whom were returning to Vizo after making initial seed investments in 2014.Continue Reading Greenberg Traurig Represents Vizo, Inc. in its Startup Financing