SuperAwesome, a platform used to power kid-safe technology, has raised $17 million in a strategic financing round led by M12, Microsoft's venture fund.
Why it matters: It represents a growing investment in kid-safe content and kids privacy compliant technology. Microsoft is one of the first major U.S. tech firms to take a stake in a kids tech company.
Bird has acquired European scooter rental rival Circ, founded by Delivery Hero co-founder Lukasz Gadowski, and has raised an additional $75 million for its Series D round (for a total of $350 million). Bird's pre-money valuation remains $2.5 billion, per a source.
Why it matters: After a growth-at-all-costs first couple of years, scooter companies now have to build a sustainable business, continue to expand, and cut their losses if it's not working. And the deal could give Bird a leg up in winning over European regulators by partnering with a local company.
While tech leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, had U.S.-China tensions top of mind, they also came looking to push their perspectives on climate change, antitrust and regulation of artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: Whereas once tech leaders were given a free pass (literally and figuratively) as the young darlings of Davos, they are now established leaders with heightened roles — and sharper scrutiny.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is inching toward a decision that could profoundly harm the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States under President Trump.
Driving the news: Johnson is expected to decide, as soon as this week, whether to defy Trump's request that he ban Chinese technology giant Huawei from the U.K.'s 5G wireless network.
