Facebook’s Strategic $1 Billion Kustomer Acquisition Headlines Tech News
The Big Deal: Facebook Bolsters Business Services with Kustomer Buy
Facebook has made a strategic billion-dollar move to enhance its business offerings by acquiring Kustomer, a customer service platform that provides:
- Unified customer data views
- Advanced CRM capabilities
- Enhanced support team tools
While official terms remain undisclosed, TechCrunch sources confirm the deal closed at approximately $1 billion. This acquisition positions Facebook to better serve businesses relying on its platform as their primary digital storefront.
Industry Context: This follows Snap’s recent $120 million purchase of Voca.ai, signaling social platforms’ growing investment in customer service technology.
Major Tech Developments
1. DeepMind’s Protein Folding Breakthrough
Alphabet’s AI division achieved a historic milestone in protein structure prediction, potentially revolutionizing:
- Disease research
- Drug discovery
- Medical development
2. Twitter’s Audio Spaces Takes Shape
Twitter’s Clubhouse compe***** is developing features including:
- Real-time transcriptions
- Advanced speaker controls
- Enhanced reporting tools
3. Apple’s Strategic Hire
Veteran VC Josh Elman joins Apple to focus on App Store discovery algorithms, helping users find relevant applications.
Startup Funding Highlights
- HungryPanda: $70M for Chinese-focused food delivery abroad
- Materialize: $40M for real-time SQL streaming database
- Curio Wellness: $30M fund for minority ******** entrepreneurs
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Moderna submitted its 94% effective vaccine for FDA emergency authorization, potentially enabling distribution to high-risk groups within weeks.
Policy Shift at FCC
Chairman Ajit Pai announced his resignation, paving the way for new leadership under the Biden administration.
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