Oct 6, 2017

Ex-Zenefits CEO David Sacks raising VC fund

Former Yammer and Zenefits CEO David Sacks appears to be raising a venture capital fund, according to an SEC filing.

Why it matters: Sacks created one tech unicorn in Yammer, which was sold to Microsoft for $1.2 billion. He then took over another, Zenefits, amid scandal, and appears to have helped right the ship a bit before stepping down at the end of 2016. He also is part of the fabled PayPal Mafia and co-authored Peter Thiel's controversial book The Diversity Myth.

Light on details: No target amount or strategy is listed for the effort, which is called Sacks Ventures. He declined comment via email.

Preview: Sacks earlier this year briefly changed part of his Twitter bio to read "unemployed VR enthusiast," which he said at the time was just a joke. He also seems to have become increasingly interested in cryptocurrencies.

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Axios

Updated 26 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 6,889,889 — Total deaths: 399,642 — Total recoveries — 3,085,326 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 1,920,061 — Total deaths: 109,802 — Total recoveries: 500,849 — Total tested: 19,778,873 — Map.
Public health: Why the pandemic is hitting minorities harder — Coronavirus curve rises in Florida — How racism threatens the response to the pandemic — Some people are drinking and inhaling cleaning products in attempt to fight the virus.
Tech: The pandemic is accelerating next-generation disease diagnostics — Robotics looks to copy software-as-a-service model.
Business: Budgets busted by coronavirus make it harder for cities to address inequality — Sports, film production in California to resume June 12 after 3-month hiatus.
Education: Students and teachers flunked remote learning.

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Rebecca Falconer, Orion Rummler, Rashaan Ayesh

Updated 53 mins ago - Politics & Policy

George Floyd updates

Protesters in Washington, D.C. on June 6. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are rallying in cities across the U.S. and around the world to protest the killing of George Floyd. Huge crowds have assembled in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago for full-day events.

Why it matters: Twelve days of nationwide protest in the U.S. has built pressure for states to make changes on what kind of force law enforcement can use on civilians and prompted officials to review police conduct. A memorial service was held for Floyd in Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born. Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all flags to fly at half-staff to honor him until sunset.

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Rashaan Ayesh, Rebecca Falconer

Updated 3 hours ago - World

In photos: People around the world rally against racism

Despite a ban on large gatherings implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, protesters rally against racism in front of the American Embassy in Paris on June 6. Photo: Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people have continued to rally in cities across the world against racism and show their support this week for U.S. demonstrators protesting the death in police custody of George Floyd.

Why it matters: The tense situation in the U.S. has brought the discussion of racism and discrimination onto the global stage at a time when most of the world is consumed by the novel coronavirus.

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