Audio chat app Clubhouse launches special audio to make chats more life like

In a statement audio-only chat app Clubhouse said, it will launch a spatial audio feature to make voices sound as if they’re coming from different directions, in efforts aimed at making virtual conversations and performances feel more life-like. Backed by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz Clubhouse, jumpstarted the social audio trend last year and became…

Electric-truck startup Rivian Automotive Inc chasing $70 billion valuation in potential IPO

Rivian Automotive Inc, an electric-truck startup is targeting a valuation of around $70 billion in its potential initial public offering later this year. Earlier this year in January, Amazon.com Inc and Ford Motor Co-backed Rivian had a valuation of $27.6 billion, following a $2.65-billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price. Rivian has hired advisers including…

Indian short video sharing app Josh raises more than 100 million in funding round

An Indian short-video sharing app, Josh, has raised more than $100 million from investors including Microsoft, and Google, in a growing space that further eats into TikTok’s market share. Josh is one of several short video platforms have cropped up after India blocked the Chinese consumer data harvesting app in June. Josh has drawn global…

Latin American SoftBank-backed startup Kavak is Mexico’s first unicorn

In a significant development, SoftBank-backed used-car platform Kavak has become Mexico’s first ever tech “unicorn”. The startup was valued at $1.15 billion in its latest funding round last month, said its CEO Carlos Garcia. Since its founding in 2016, Mexico City-based Kavak has raised more than $400 million in total funding with SoftBank, Greenoaks Capital…

Chinese EV maker Xpeng increase size of U.S. IPO to 1.5 billion, retains greenshoe option allowing it further raise $224.4 million

According to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter at hand, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng XPEV has increased the size of its U.S initial public offering (IPO) to around $1.49 billion. “The company will price its shares at $15 each, after initially indicating they would be sold for $11 to $13 when…

SoftBank-backed Indian hospitality startup Oyo to raise $1.5 billion in new funding

The new funding round will see the startup’s founder pump in $700 million while another $800 million will come from existing investors. On Monday, SoftBank Group Corp-backed Indian hospitality startup Oyo stated, it aims to raise $1.5 billion in a new funding round led by Ritesh Agarwal, its founder and other existing investors. In a…