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Jeff Wang, Windsurf's interim CEO, shared details about the company's acquisition by Cognition following a failed deal with OpenAI and the departure of key executives to Google DeepMind.
The initial news of the Google deal and executive departures led to a demoralized team, but Wang and Cognition executives negotiated an acquisition that prioritized employee payouts, waived cliffs, and accelerated vesting for Windsurf equity.
Wang highlighted the complementary nature of the two companies, with Cognition's strong engineering team and Windsurf's go-to-market and marketing expertise creating a synergistic fit.
The acquisition was finalized quickly, turning what Wang described as "probably the worst day of 250 people’s lives" into "probably the best day."
Christine Hunsicker, the founder of fashion startup CaaStle, surrendered to authorities on Friday to address fraud charges.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has charged her with wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and lying to financial institutions.
Hunsicker is accused of defrauding investors of over $300 million. She resigned as CEO after allegations of misleading investors about the company's financial performance.
CaaStle, which raised more than $500 million in funding, filed for bankruptcy in June. The company is also facing lawsuits from an apparel company and an investment vehicle.
Two former employees expressed no surprise at the financial troubles, citing the discreet nature of executives regarding the company’s financial health.
Kesha, known for her pop hits, is now a startup founder with her app, Smash. This platform aims to help musicians connect, collaborate, and create artist-friendly contracts.
Smash differentiates itself with a built-in system for generating contracts, ensuring artists retain control and rights over their work. The app was motivated by Kesha's own experiences with exploitative record deals, particularly her legal battle with Dr. Luke.
The app is co-founded by Kesha's brother, Lagan Sebert, and CTO Alan Cannistraro, formerly of Apple. Smash intends to launch later this year, aiming to empower music creators and shift power back into their hands.
To test the technology, Smash hosted a remix contest for Kesha's song 'Boy Crazy,' with winners receiving an industry-standard remix fee and a release on Kesha's label.
SpaceX's Starbase facility has significantly higher worker injury rates compared to other company sites and industry averages. The Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) at Starbase reached 4.27 injuries per 100 workers in 2024, far exceeding the average for space vehicle manufacturing.
This high injury rate has persisted since 2019, raising concerns about safety protocols. Starbase is crucial for SpaceX's Starship program, and the rapid pace of development may contribute to the increased risk of accidents.
NASA, which relies on Starship for lunar missions, closely monitors SpaceX's safety practices. While the high TRIR doesn't automatically trigger contract penalties, it highlights potential safety issues that require attention.
Other SpaceX facilities generally have lower TRIR rates compared to Starbase. External investigations have uncovered numerous unreported worker injuries, further emphasizing the need for improved safety measures.
SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas has significantly higher injury rates compared to other SpaceX manufacturing sites and the broader aerospace industry. In 2024, Starbase's injury rate was almost six times higher than the average for comparable space vehicle manufacturing outfits. This high injury rate has persisted since 2019. The data suggests that SpaceX's rapid progress with Starship may be contributing to the safety issues. OSHA data reveals Starbase's TRIR was 4.27 injuries per 100 workers in 2024. NASA is closely monitoring SpaceX due to its reliance on Starship for lunar missions, but the high TRIR does not automatically trigger contract action. Other SpaceX facilities also report TRIR rates exceeding industry averages, though not as high as Starbase.