Amazon quietly bought up Mountain View image-analysis startup last year

SILICON VALLEY—Orbeus, an image recognition startup that I profiled in The Pitch in 2012, was quietly acquired last fall by Amazon.

The acquisition was kept quiet until this week, when unnamed sources told Bloomberg about the deal.

Orbeus offered photo-recognition software it called ReKognition that was based on neural networks artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Phototime, an app it  ...

No unicorn zombies: Why Portland's top VC is bullish on Oregon's brand of tech

PORTLAND—It’s a great time to be a tech startup in Oregon. Portland, Bend, Corvallis/Eugene all have a healthy and growing community of entrepreneurs who are either from Oregon or moved here for a great quality of life, the most capital efficient cities on the West Coast, and a fantastic collaborative ecosystem.

This last point is critical. Oregon really is “the network at work.” I know  ...

Crowdfunding veterans: 'It's like an intensive MBA program,' but worth it

COLUMBUS—Anyone launching a crowdfunding campaign expecting "Potato Salad" success for a product or new business will soon find it's no picnic.

The overnight viral sensation is more myth than reality, said three veterans of successful crowdfunding campaigns at Tuesday's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum. (In part they were defraying Columbus expectations raised by the homegrown exception to that  ...

Cedars-Sinai opens door to first Techstars Healthcare Accelerator class

LOS ANGELES—Some 11 healthcare startups have set up shop at Cedars-Sinai as the Los Angeles medical center kicks off its first Techstars Healthcare Accelerator this week. With technology ranging from virtual reality and artificial intelligence, to new devices and management platforms, to mindfulness and end-of-life care, this first class represents a diverse gamut of companies working to  ...

19 tips for being a good tourist when you travel abroad

“I’ve got to get away.”

As a successful businessperson, you probably have a vacation planned already. When the U.S. dollar is strong, the rest of the world often goes on sale.

How you should act as a guest in another person’s country?

A well-travelled friend said once, “When you travel, you are an ambassador for your country.”

This isn’t a bad point to keep in mind while  ...

Amy Schumer gets apology after calling b.s. on Glamour for plus-size magazine cover

NEW YORK—Glamour, which launched a special plus-size magazine edition with model Ashley Graham on the cover and a style guide for women “sizes 12 and up,” is taking heat from an unexpected source: comedian Amy Schumer.

Why? Because Schumer’s name is on the cover of the plus-size issue under a “Women Who Inspire Us” headline that also lists Melissa McCarthy, Adele and Ashley Graham.  ...

How rebels at work can use their power for good

If you see yourself as a rebel, you know you can cause a stir and force issues previously swept under the rug to be addressed.

But what you should be doing is transforming your power to the positive so you can become a community builder.

Ask any human resource executive. They will tell you that rebels at work are frustrating to deal with and cost the most energy in both time and money.

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