TikTok says it’s hiring 10,000 U.S. employees. TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are facing increasing scrutiny at a time when the United States government is tightening restrictions on Chinese-owned tech companies. Amid the criticism, the company announced its plan to hire 10,000 employees for its U.S. offices, including its office in Mountain View, over the next three years. We previously reported on the company’s hiring efforts in the Bay Area in April. [CNBC]
Bay Area tech VC activity increased in Q2. Despite the pandemic, a new report from CB Insights and PwC showed signs of resilience when it came to the amount of VC funding for tech companies in the Bay Area. Though the amount of VC funding for the region dipped 7 percent from Q1, the number of funding rounds closed rose 11 percent. SF-area companies also dominated the top five largest funding rounds nationwide in Q2. [Built In SF]
Snap premieres mini-apps. Snap announced its new Minis last last month, and its first offering is Headspace Mini. The app within an app is intended to address users’ mental-health challenges by offering a space to practice mindfulness, and send encouragement to friends. [The Verge]
Bay Area’s digital divide presents healthcare challenges for seniors. Seniors are most at risk of death from the novel coronavirus, and many of them also lack access to safer telehealth alternatives to in-person doctors’ appointments that are getting canceled. Some non-profits are working to address the issue. [Cal Matters]
Hims & Hers thinks an IPO is for them. The buzzy digital health startup is reportedly planning to go public by merging with a “black check” company, a strategy known as the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) route. The direct-to-consumer company offers treatments for hair loss, acne and other health concerns. [SF Business Times]
Differentiating the digital whiteboards. SF companies Miro and MURAL are among the most popular digital whiteboards on the market right now. But what sets these companies apart? We spoke with leaders at three different companies [Built In SF]
