It's still Disrupt NY 2017, and there's plenty going on. But in the larger world there's also still news happening, including a record-setting Falcon 9 launch from SpaceX, more Instagram Snapchat feature clones and more. This is The Daily Crunch for May 16, 2017. 1. SpaceX rockets a big one SpaceX has successfully launched its largest payload into geostationary orbit, a satellite from client Inmarsat that will make up part of a constellation providing global broadband connectivity. The launch went off without a hitch, but the company couldn't recover the fist stage of the Falcon 9 due to the weight of the payload, which required configuring the thing in so-called "expendable" mode. Alas, it was always a one-way trip. 2. Instagram launches selfie filters, tests location filters Instagram is completing its cloning of Snapchat, with selfie filters launching today, and location filters in testing currently. Josh figured out the latter and surprised Instagram head of product Kevin Weil with his scoop on stage at Disrupt NY 2017. 3. UploadVR hit with sexual harassment and discrimination suit Virtual reality seems increasingly to be a magnet for bad behavior, Silicon Valley style. UploadVR, which is a combo cowering space provider, private educational startup and trade publication, has been hit with a lawsuit that outlines very problematic, apparently systemic behavior at the company involving sexual harassment and generally awful crap. 4. Karamba raises $12 million to protect against self-driving hacks If you want to make self-driving cars happen, it's going to require communication and that means vectors for potential cyber attacks. Karma Security is hoping to help prevent those from doing any real damage, and it just raised some new money to help it do that. 5. AngelList launches real venture funds AngelList, which acts as a kind of community and crowd sourcing platform for angel investors, is getting into true VC funds. Fund creation is invite-only for now, but that could open up in the future. 6. Pluto TV gets on-demand content TV from space?? No, Pluto TV sadly isn't anything so exciting. It's a streaming, ad-supported TV provider, but it's now also offering a library of on-demand movies and libraries from studios including MGM and Warner Bros. streaming TV grows apace. 7. Bill Maris closes first new fund with $150M Former GV chief Bill Maris just closed his first fund for his own firm, Section 32. It's a sizeable investment, at $150 million of committed funds, about $50 million over the intended amount. Makes sense that Maris can get all the investors' wallets to open up. |