Google’s Sergey Brin defends Book Search settlement
The New York Times just published an op-ed piece from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, in which Brin defends the settlement between his company and a group of authors and publishers over Google’s right to scan books and publish excerpts on its Book Search site. That deal hasn’t fared well, with the Justice Department asking courts to reject it, and with what The Times earlier described as an “army” of opponents trying to block it.
Brin addresses… Continue Reading
Does Google Wave mean the death of Gmail and Google Docs?
The question and answer session for the unveiling of Google Wave, the search giant’s attempt to reinvent communciation, just wrapped up. My biggest impression is that many journalists drank the Kool-Aid — they really believe that Wave has the potential, at least, to become the center of users’ communication. Not that I can blame them. I believe it, too.
I don’t want to repeat all the cool features that we’ve already listed, but I will say… Continue Reading
Roundup: Brin backs Parkinson’s study, iPhone gets shakable ads, and more
Google co-founder backs major Parkinson’s study – Sergey Brin says he plans to contribute money and DNA to a study run by his wife Anne Wojcicki’s startup 23andMe.
Dockers introduces shakable iPhone ad — Users can shake their iPhones to make urban street dancer Dufon perform his moves. The ad was created by mobile ad company Medialets.
Twofish launches analytics platform for social games — The company’s Elements platform will help social game and virtual world developers understand and make… Continue Reading
Mark Zuckerberg, top VCs drop off Forbes’ billionaire list
Financially, it’s been a tough year for almost everyone, even the absurdly rich. Some of the tech world’s richest men are billionaires no more, according to Forbes’ new list of the world’s billionaires. Among the most notable dropoffs (for VentureBeat readers) are Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Sequoia Capital’s Michael Moritz and venture capital pioneer Arthur Rock.
Last year, Zuckerberg (then 23) was estimated to be worth $1.5 billion, making him the world’s youngest billionaire. Now he’s lost… Continue Reading
Roundup: Facebook growing around the world, inventor tests jetpack and more
Here’s the latest action:
Facebook growing quickly all around the world — The social networking site is seeing rapid growth in Latin America (it’s growing fastest in Chile, with 2,197 percent growth in 2008) as well as continued expansion in Europe. Inside Facebook has more numbers.
New Zealand inventor tests “world’s first practical jetpack” — Glenn Martin has spent 27 years developing the device, and hopes to starting selling it next year for $100,000 per jetpack. Apparently, he has… Continue Reading
Could a big geothermal energy play be next for Google.org?
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has taken a number of stakes in solar and wind startups over the past year, most recently joining a $115 million investment in solar thermal firm BrightSource Energy. It now seems to be focusing its attention on the bustling geothermal energy sector, with Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently expressing a strong interest in Ormat, a geothermal startup headquartered in Reno, Nevada.
During an interview with the Israeli newspaper, The Marker, Brin confirmed… Continue Reading
Google invests in biotech company, 23andme, to form genetic database
Updated
In one of the more eye-opening investment moves we’ve seen lately, Google has invested $3.9 million into a biotech company run by Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s new wife.
VentureBeat’s life sciences blogger, David Hamilton, who formerly covered biotech for the WSJ, has done some digging and has the full story (see here).
Called 23andme, the Mountain View, Calif. company is run by Anne Wojcicki. It lets people take DNA tests to find out about themselves, and even… Continue Reading
Google, Genentech fund personal-genetics startup 23andMe
(UPDATED: see below.) 23andMe, a stealthy Mountain View, Calif., “personal genetics” startup, has raised a first round of funding from some heavy hitters — Google, Genentech and two blue-chip VC firms, Mohr Davidow Ventures and New Enterprise Associates.
That’s some significant megatonnage for a low-profile and potentially controversial startup, although it all starts to make sense once you realize that Google co-founder Sergey Brin is newly married to 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki. In addition, Genentech CEO Art… Continue Reading
Story of Sergey Brin
A long piece from Moment, entitled The Story of Sergey Brin, has just been published.
It is a tale about the Google co-founder, from his birth in Russia and move to the U.S and, finally, success at Google. Nothing earth-shattering, though we think the theme of chutzpah is stretched a little far. Keep in mind, Moment is a literary magazine for the American Jewish community. From the piece:
Does any company founded by two Jews, no… Continue Reading
Roundup: Genetics, Semel’s choke, Wikiseek, MySpace story and more
Round-up of the latest in Silicon Valley tech stuff:
Google-funded genetic start-up? — Anne Wojcicki, the biotech analyst who is reportedly engaged to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has co-founded a Mountain View personal genetics startup, 23andMe, according to ValleyWag. According to the company’s site, it develops “tools and producing content to help people make sense of their genetic information. Our goal is to take advantage of new genotyping technologies and help consumers explore their genetics, informed by… Continue Reading