Great technology — however cool — isn’t always enough
Ten years ago, Plastic Logic looked like it had all the elements in place to become a world-beating startup. Now it's ditched its attempts to become a household name and decided to focus on licensing its technology instead. So where did it all go wrong?
How mobile networks are policing the web — badly
Mounting evidence suggests Europe's mobile operators are becoming increasingly censorious, thanks to haphazard adult content filters that are applied to millions of users. The result? De facto, unregulated censorship that screens out thousands of legitimate websites, including GigaOM.
So who got hosed when Facebook bought Lightbox?
The team behind London-based photo app developer Lightbox are joining Facebook. But it's a long way from Instagram's billion-dollar deal: in fact, while the company's employees are rejoicing, users and investors appear to have been left out in the cold.
iZettle, Europe’s rival to Square, hits the UK
Swedish payments startup iZettle is making its most significant since coming out of beta last year, with a pilot program to enter the potentially huge British market. Until now the company, billed as Europe’s equivalent to Square, has so far only made its product — a [...]
2.6 million join Free Mobile’s French revolution
After just three months of operation, France's disruptive Free Mobile -- which has upset the market with an innovative and controversial offering -- has won 2.6 million subscribers, an unprecedented number for a new European launch.
With Yelp cash-rich and hungry, Qype steps up its game
Qype is Europe's answer to Yelp, and it's grown to more than 25 million users around the continent. But is a new publicity campaign touting its expansion a prelude to further investment -- or is it shopping around for a sale?
British dotcom vet UpMyStreet sold, again, to Zoopla
Britain's fourteen-year-old local information website UpMyStreet has changed hands again, bought by property website Zoopla in a small deal that appears to mark the end of the line for the veteran brand.
Are Europe’s startups and investors defeatist?
Neil Rimer of Index Ventures thinks one of the big problems for European startups — the lack of local exit opportunities — is all of its own making. But who has the guts to take up his challenge and go public in London?
Why Facebook and Silicon Valley owe it all to Moscow
Russian investor Yuri Milner plans to sell $1.5 billion of Facebook stock when the company goes public later this month -- making more than a billion in profit. But it's Silicon Valley that should be thanking him, not the other way around.
Britain looks at ISP block for adult content — again
Britain looks set to re-open the question of how adult internet content is regulated, as embattled Prime Minister David Cameron scrambles for ways to shore up support from the conservative heartland.
Five lessons from London’s hardest working VCs
A year into its life, Passion Capital has established itself as one of London's premier seed investors. Here's what the trio behind the business have learned since making the change from entrepreneurs into serious investors.
Rdio sneaks into UK and France. Will you be using it?
Without any fanfare, Rdio just launched its music streaming service in the U.K. and France -- taking on major rival Spotify on its home turf for the first time. But is its offering enough to make users switch?
