Uber throws its hat in the electric scooter ring
Uber has officially joined the booming electric scooter market, having announced the launch of its JUMP scooter service in Santa Monica. The company will allow users to rent its scooters, priced at $1 for initial access and 15 cents per minute for the duration of a trip. JUMP scooters are available for riders to use from Dewey Street on the south to San Vicente to the north. Uber acquired JUMP this year, and Santa Monica is the first city where the service is available. [JUMP]
Appetize is in the mix with Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Appetize, a provider of point-of-sale software for the entertainment, restaurant and sports industries, said Tuesday that it will partner with restaurant franchise Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The company plans to implement Appetize’s POS terminals, handheld devices and kitchen display systems into its services. “We’re thrilled to work with one of the fastest-growing and well-known fast-casual restaurants in the industry,” Max Roper, co-founder and chief executive officer at Appetize, said in a statement. “Our companies share the same vision of reducing friction in the guest ordering process while providing operators and franchisees with modern tools to run their business. We look forward to many years of driving innovation together with Tropical Smoothie Cafe.” [Press release]
Jam City wants to remind you to get out and vote
Jam City, a Culver City-based mobile game developer, will partner with When We All Vote to create PSA’s focused on getting its users to vote, the company announced Wednesday. Players of games like Genies and Gems, Cookie Jam and Panda pop can expect to see non-partisan voter registration reminders. “With this partnership, it’s also a platform for action and involvement. Jam City has a unique opportunity to serve the millions of people who play our games each day on their mobile device by connecting them with vital voter registration resources,” Jam City co-founder and CEO Chris DeWolfe said in a statement announcing the move. [Press release]
Tyffon grabs $2.7 in fresh funding
Santa Monica-based virtual reality startup Tyffon announced Wednesday that it has scored $2.7 million in funding. SEGA SAMMY Holdings, Mizuho Capital, Tokyu Recreation and Canal Ventures participated in the round. The company plans to use the new capital to bring its “hyper-realistic Tyffonium experiences” to the United States. Tyffon currently operates from Tokyo, Japan and develops location-focused virtual reality experiences that allow users to immerse themselves in the horror world. [Press release]
What’s Trending and ICO Watchdog team up to launch a new show
If you still find cryptocurrency and blockchain a mystery, ICO Watchdog and What’s Trending have teamed up to produce a new daily show called “Blockchain Report.” The show premiered on October 2, and is described as a cryptocurrency news show aimed at millennials. Chocolate Pains podcaster Taylor Nikolai will serve as host, and What’s Trending founder and CEO Shira Lazar will serve as a special contributor. “As the blockchain and crypto space becomes more mainstream, we're bringing viewers a quick look at the latest developments and important news for them to know about each day, so they can be more informed about a space that is unnecessarily complex and fraught with misinformation,” ICO Watchdog founder and CEO Shaun Newsum said in a recent statement. [Press release]
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