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Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, faces backlash after falsely accusing a Palestinian student of a mass shooting. Authorities later identified the actual shooter, and Brown University clarified their actions. Maguires history of inflammatory posts, including targeting Muslims and pro-Palestine activists, has drawn criticism. Sequoia Capitals managing partner defends Maguire, valuing his spiky personality and connections. The Council on American-Islamic Relations calls for his termination, highlighting the challenges for venture capital firms when partners engage in controversial public statements.

Resolve AI, a startup automating software system maintenance, secures significant Series A funding, valued at one billion dollars, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The companys autonomous SRE tool addresses the challenge of complex software systems, reducing downtime and operational costs. Despite the headline valuation, the actual blended valuation was lower due to a multi-tranche structure. Founded by former Splunk executives, Resolve AIs annual recurring revenue is around four million dollars.

Googles Android system faces new rules: Developers must enroll in specific programs for alternative billing and external content links by January 28th, incurring fees for app installations and in-app purchases. Google offers a discounted billing solution but requires integration of their tracking system and transaction reporting. The future of these fees and requirements hangs in the balance as Judge Donato reviews a proposed Epic-Google settlement.

American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, acquire majority stake in TikTok, averting US ban. New US-based board to oversee data protection, algorithm security, and content moderation. TikToks algorithm for US users may change, potentially impacting user experience.

Rokus New Year Streaming Deals: Get Apple TV for Free, Howdy for $1, and More!

Stravas Year in Sport feature, once free, now requires an annual subscription, causing user discontent. The apps core benefits remain free, but the added insights and storytelling are now part of the paid package. This move follows a trend of popular digital services moving free features behind a paywall.

Rocket Lab secures record-breaking $816M contract from U.S. Space Development Agency, marking a significant expansion into defense sector. The companys subsidiary, Rocket Lab USA, will design and build eighteen satellites for the agencys Tracking Layer Tranche three program, enhancing missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities. This deal, combined with an existing $515M agreement for the Transport Layer-Beta Tranche two program, totals over $1.3B in contracts, solidifying Rocket Labs role in both commercial space and national defense.

This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen delves into the complexities of building startups in regulated industries. She interviews Gabriel Sanchez, CEO of Enspectra Health, who shares his decade-long journey to FDA clearance for a groundbreaking skin biopsy device. Gabriel also discusses financial stability and team motivation during lengthy regulatory processes. Later, Isabelle speaks with Tom Harries, co-founder of Earth Funeral, who pioneered a new process to transform human remains into soil. Despite not needing FDA approval, Earth Funeral faces legislative challenges, requiring public acceptance and lawmaker support for expansion. New episodes drop every Thursday.