The short-term rental company Sonder went bankrupt after Marriott terminated their partnership, leaving guests locked out of their rooms mid-stay. Travelers reported being stranded during winter storms and unable to retrieve belongings as the $1.9 billion startup collapsed.
The edge computing and IoT landscape is getting crowded with innovative newcomers. CRN has identified four standout startups founded in 2019 or later that solution providers should have on their radar for 2025.
Payment tech company Pine Labs saw its shares jump 14% on debut despite a lowered valuation. The company, backed by PayPal and Mastercard, is now expanding beyond India into 20 global markets.
The traditional MVP approach that dominated Silicon Valley for over a decade is being replaced by AI-powered development. New tools let founders build full-featured products in weeks instead of months. The era of ready-to-pivot products is here.
Europe is narrowing the gap with the US in AI application funding, with startups reaching $100M in revenue in years instead of decades. The region’s software ecosystem has matured significantly over the past decade, creating a fertile ground for AI-native companies across various industries.
Czech startup Flowpay has launched in the Netherlands backed by a €30 million credit facility from Fasanara Capital. The FinTech aims to close Europe’s massive SME financing gap through AI-driven embedded lending solutions. This marks their first Western European expansion after establishing presenc
Short-term rental company Sonder Holdings is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and winding down US operations. The collapse follows Marriott International abruptly ending their booking collaboration, causing massive financial losses.
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff says he survived on minimal sleep while building his video doorbell company into a billion-dollar success. The entrepreneur, whose company was acquired by Amazon for $1.15 billion, argues that true work-life balance isn’t realistic for founders committed to their vision.
Dutch startup SAIA Agrobotics just secured €10 million in Series A funding for its revolutionary approach to greenhouse automation. Instead of sending robots into greenhouses, they move plants to stationary robots for scanning and harvesting. The system promises 20% yield increases and 50% labor red
Airbnb’s blockbuster December 2020 IPO saw shares soar 113% on day one, valuing the company at $103 billion. But CEO Brian Chesky describes the experience as profoundly lonely and isolating. He’s now rebuilding personal connections after taking advice from an unexpected mentor.
