Dell sells software unit for reported $2B
In order to cover its $67 billion acquisition of EMC, Dell is selling off its software division to a private equity firm Francisco Partners and activist hedge fund Elliott Management for a rumored $2 billion. The deal for Dell’s security, systems and information management services would bolster the growing tech portfolios of Francisco and Elliot. The EMC acquisition is expected to close next month. [Austin Business Journal]
UberEATS expands in Austin
Uber as a ridesharing service may be out (for now) in Austin, but that doesn’t mean the company has completely abandoned the area. This week, the company added UberEATS availability to both the north and south of the city. The Arboretum, The Domain, Anderson Lane and William Cannon are all part of the delivery area now. [Press release]
EY names Entrepreneur Of The Year winners
EY named the Entrepreneur Of The Year winners this week recognizing entrepreneurs leading innovation in their markets while providing a great work environment. AffiniPay CEO Amy Porter won the Entrepreneur Of The Year title in the financial technology sector, while Kinnser Software CEO Chris Hester took home the award for Technology Services companies. Q2 Software CEO Matt Flake and founder Hank Seale shared the award in the general technology category. [Press release]
Where are Austin’s new residents coming from?
SpareFoot crunched the numbers on where the newest Austinites used to call home. While most newbies are coming from elsewhere in Texas, the largest out-of-state influx is from the Chicagoland area. Los Angeles and Orange County in California round out the top three. As for in-state transplants, they aren’t traveling far — more than 11,000 people came from neighboring Williamson County in the last five years, while barely 3,000 came from Dallas County. [SpareFoot]
Austin named among top cities for women-led startups
If you’re a woman looking to start a business, Austin may be among the best places to do it. Dell ranked the city 12th in its 2016 Women Entrepreneur Cities Index. The study looked at where local policies foster the most growth for women-led firms. New York City, the San Francisco Bay area and London led the list, but Austin beat out many international powerhouses like Tokyo, Milan and Sao Paulo. [Press release]
ScoopMe looking for drivers as it enters crowded Austin ridesharing market
The vacuum left by Uber and Lyft pulling out of Austin is still sucking in new companies. Georgetown-based ScoopMe is the latest ridesharing company to announce it’s entering the market and started looking for drivers this week. While it’s going up against about a dozen services already running in the city, it may have a smoother start thanks to a longer runway. However, it also ran into trouble with getting insurance, a necessary step under Austin’s new rules. [Austin Business Journal]
Charity Charge converts credit card points to charitable gift
Cutting a check to a charity can be hard for many Americans, but finding some loose change for someone on the street is something most people are willing to do. With Charity Charge, a new Austin-bassed credit card startup, whenever you use your special World MasterCard credit card, one percent of each purchase is donated to a charity of your choice. Instead of earning points toward free airfare or hotel stays, you can earn money for people and organizations that need it most. [Press release]
Underground ridesharing seeing increased scrutiny
With major ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft pulling out of Austin after a de facto ban was passed, a gray market has popped up on social media to get people to their destinations for cheap. But those rides may stop short with the Austin Transportation Department cracking down on unsanctioned rides organized through Facebook. [Austin Business Journal]
Crowdfunders unite: MassVenture acquires Equity Brick
MassVenture, a crowd investing platform, has acquired real estate crowdfunding company Equity Brick. While the Equity Brick team will still focus on the real estate industry, both companies will operate under the MassVenture name. That will allow MassVenture’s current community to get into real estate investing right there on the platform. [Press release]
Umbel buys fan engagement platform Lodestone
Data software company Umbel is bolstering its product for sports, media and entertainment customers with the acquisition of Lodestone. The acquisition will leverage Lodestone’s ability to quickly launch campaigns targeted toward existing fans of a brand. Umbel will then use its existing tech to capture data on the results of those campaigns. Umbel has raised nearly $25 million to date, while Lodestone’s Crunchbase profile lists $100,000 in funding, but terms of the deal were not disclosed. [Press release]
Stamps.com to purchase ShippingEasy for $55 million
Shipment software maker ShippingEasy is set to be acquired for $55 million by Stamps.com. The startup, which started in Australia but moved to Austin in 2012, builds software that helps companies organize shipments to customers. The company will continue that work, led by the same management team, as a division of California-based Stamps.com in Austin. [Press release]
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