Ancestry.com launches DNA testing, gets $300M investment

Ancestry.com launches DNA testing, gets $300M investment

updated
The Generations Network, operator of Ancestry.com has just received $300 million from Spectrum Equity Investors, a Silicon Valley buyout firm, which will take a majority stake in the company.

Ancestry.com has also just launched DNA testing of its 5 billion records, so that family members can… Continue Reading

Roundup: Virtual sex bed suit, Geni, Gay.com, Netvibes, Helio and more

Roundup: Virtual sex bed suit, Geni, Gay.com, Netvibes, Helio and more

Here’s the latest (ahem) action:

Second Life avatar sues another avatar, over virtual sex bed — We should have predicted this. Second Life entrepreneur Kevin Alderman has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Second Life resident Volkov Catteneo. This is apparently the first time an avatar has… Continue Reading

Geni raises $10M at whopper valuation, to let you create family tree

Geni, the fast-growing Web site that allows people to create family trees, has raised $10 million second round of financing, led by Charles River Ventures. The Los Angeles company says the company company is valued, after the investment, at $100 million, a significant jump from… Continue Reading

Roundup: USA Today stiffs Google, and Google gossip, Reuters, Geni, Rockyou…

Roundup: USA Today stiffs Google, and Google gossip, Reuters, Geni, Rockyou…

Updated

Here’s the latest action:

USA Today launches new social networking features, but stiffs Google — The newspaper has offered an array of new features, letting registered readers have their own profile pages, where they can recommend articles, solicit comments — and there’s more. Alas, the new content… Continue Reading

Geni aims to build family tree for whole world

Geni aims to build family tree for whole world

Geni, a new start-up in Los Angeles, wants to do for families what LinkedIn does for business contacts: Create one giant tree that shows you who is connected to who.

The world may be getting smaller; Geni, if successful, will make it tinier still.

Geni has just… Continue Reading

SOMA’s return, Google’s smokescreen and copying, iTunes flatlining?

SOMA’s return, Google’s smokescreen and copying, iTunes flatlining?

Roundup of the latest tech action in Silicon Valley:

Young start-ups pouring into the South of Market (SOMA) area in San Francisco. Deja-vu? — The region’s real estate prices are lower, at least where large companies like Looksmart are able to sublet expensive buildings to new copycat… Continue Reading