Gojek appoints Amazon, Microsoft veteran as its new chief technology officer

Indonesia-based ride-hailing company and “super app” Gojek said today that it has named a new chief technology officer. Severan Rault, who previously held leadership positions at Amazon and Microsoft, takes over the role from Ajey Gore, who announced last month he was leaving for personal reasons. In a statement, the company said Rault will oversee […]

Postmates Rolls Its Way Into London

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 02:  <> on November 2, 2015 in Seattle, Washington.  (Photo by Suzi Pratt/Getty Images for Starbucks) Postmates CEO Lehmann said today that Postmates would launch in London next year today at TechCrunch Disrupt London 2015. The service will launch sometime in the second quarter, Lehmann said. This helps Postmates get ahead of other startups as it starts to expand internationally. It’s dealing in a crowded on-demand market, with other startups like DoorDash and Sprig coming into delivery… Read More

Handy Raises $50M Led By Fidelity, Reportedly At $500M Valuation, To Clean Up In Home Services

handy 1099 There has been consolidation, collapse and other troubles among some on-demand home services startups, but others seem to be cleaning up in their wake. Handy — a platform for on-demand housekeeping and other services like furniture delivery and assembly via an app that connects tradespeople with customers — is announcing today that it has raised $50 million in new funding… Read More

Singaporean On-Demand Grocery Startup Honestbee Gets $15M To Expand To Six New Asian Countries

Honestbee shoppers Honestbee just raised $15 million for its on-demand grocery delivery service, but it has loftier aspirations. Head of marketing Shane Chiang says the Singapore-based company launched as a “social impact business” to give employment to people who can’t hold a regular job, such as stay-at-home parents, caregivers, and students. Honestbee’s part-time shoppers collect… Read More

Lugg, An App For On-Demand, Short-Distance Moves, Raises $3.8 Million

Screen Shot 2015-08-26 at 1.00.49 PM While Uber, Lyft, and similar ride-sharing services can help you get from one place to the next, they aren’t practical for hauling your large purchases – like those from an IKEA shopping spree, or a sofa you found on Craigslist, for example. That’s where a service called Lugg comes in. If Lyft is like your friend with a car, then Lugg is like your friend with a truck.
The… Read More

Amazon’s “Prime Now” Expands To Seattle Region, Adds Beer, Wine & Liquor Delivery Option

prime-now Amazon’s one-hour delivery service, Prime Now, is finally making its way to the company’s hometown with today’s launch in Seattle and surrounding regions. Included in the expansion are Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland areas, the company says. The move comes shortly after the service’s expansion outside the U.S. to London, which took place earlier this summer. Read More

On-Demand Massage Startup Soothe Unwinds With $10.6M In New Funding

Soothe founder Merlin Kauffman Soothe, which sends massage therapists to clients’ homes, is smoothing its expansion with $10.6 million in new funding. The startup’s new round was led by The Riverside Company and will be used to hire key employees, improve its platform’s technology, and acquire new users with the goal of turning Soothe into a ”trusted household name,” says founder and chief… Read More

Same-Day Shopping App Curbside Picks Up $25 Million More

Curbside-Best-Buy-023 Palo Alto-based Curbside, a company offering a mobile app that allows shoppers to buy from local retailers like Target and Best Buy then pick up items at stores without exiting their car, is today announcing the close of $25 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Sutter Hill Ventures, and includes participation from prior investors Index Ventures, Yahoo co-founder Jerry… Read More