Airbnb Gets $1 Billion Loan, Bringing Virus Funding to $2 Billion

Airbnb Inc. secured a $1 billion loan from institutional investors, the company said, the second funding round for the home-sharing marketplace since the coronavirus pandemic devastated the global travel industry.

Driverless vehicles in the age of the novel coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to different outcomes for different businesses. While some have stood to benefit (think Zoom, Facebook and bidet startup Tushy), others have been hit hard and laid off employees in order to survive. But there are some that fall somewhere in the middle. Autonomous driving startup Voyage believes it is not explicitly benefiting, but it’s not at risk of going under either, says CEO Oliver Cameron….

What your workplace might be like when you return

Pressed by swiftly falling revenue amid the coronavirus pandemic, corporate America has begun looking for ways to enable U.S. workers to return to factory floors, warehouses and offices.

Electrical worker safety startup launches a COVID-19 workplace distance and contact tracker

A startup that created a dedicated gadget to help ensure the safety of electrical industry workers has turned their talents to addressing the need for similar workplace protections in the face of another threat: COVID-19. Vancouver-based Proxxi is launching Halo, a wrist-worn wearable device that can provide a vibration notification to alert someone of the presence of another band within 6 feet – the recommended span of separation to ensure proper social distancing….

Co-Working Suddenly Feels Like the Office of Yesterday

Only a few months ago, much of the property world was betting the future of the office was one where strangers shared limited space. Now, many are wondering if that model is too rooted in the past. With the pandemic forcing more people to work from home and many tenants unlikely to renew short-term leases, co-working companies like We Co.’s WeWork and peers have been forced to lay off workers and try to restructure leases to stay afloat.

The Economic Reopening Will Be Fragile, Partial and Slow

Walt Disney Co. reached a coronavirus milestone of sorts last month when it reopened a portion of its Shanghai Disney Resort as China’s pandemic began to ebb. But a trip to Tomorrowland may never be the same. Guests at the Shanghai resort must wear masks at all times, removing them only for eating. Hours and capacity are limited.

Homebound Buyers Ask: Is a Picture Worth $1 Million?

Closing The Tech Talent Gap In The Commercial Real Estate Industry

With over 20 years working in companies that range in size from start-ups to publicly-traded corporations, I know from experience that finding the right talent can be hard…and hiring tech talent can be even more challenging. In a tight labor market where companies are in growth mode, talent is at a premium. The United States job market was continuing to experience slow, steady and strong employment growth as of February 2020, which means hiring likely remained competitive….

In Case You Missed it, read the highlights from CREtech Talks: Financial and Operational Assistance For Startups

In the midst of the recent pandemic and global economic crisis, real estate tech startups have been faced with extraordinary financial and operational pressures. In a recent CREtech Talks: Financial & Operational Perspectives to Assist Startups During the Pandemic webinar, Matt Barbieri of Wiss, Joseph Theis of Goodwin, and Dan Allred of SVB shared their views on how the new loan program can help businesses mitigate operational expenses and discussed strategies around baking, accounting and …

US department stores most likely to default, S&P says

America’s department store chains have seen their odds of defaulting escalate more than any other consumer-facing companies over the past month, according to a new analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence.