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The Company That Will Take Bird Public
Ben Bergman

Bird Rides, the Santa-Monica e-scooter company that was once a startup darling but saw ridership plunge during the pandemic, is planning to go public through a so-called blank-check company, dot.LA Senior Finance Reporter Ben Bergman has learned. Get to know the special purpose acquisitions company that will take it public, Switchback.

SpaceX accepts dogecoin as payment to launch lunar mission next year.

YouTube TV slips past Roku ban by adding functionality into the main YouTube app.

California targets SoCal 'diesel death zones' with a new law.

Dozens of state prosecutors tell Facebook to stop its plans for a children's version of Instagram.

U.S. pipeline shutdown exposes cyber threat to energy sector.

Apple suppliers linked to Uyghur forced labor in new report.

Discord is rapidly expanding beyond gaming.

NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal Tesla crash in Texas.

Spotify now lets you share a specific timestamp from a podcast.

Ford reveals the name of its first electric pickup truck.

Exclusive: Bird Plans to Go Public at $2.3B Valuation

Bird is preparing to merge with Switchback II Corporation, a Dallas-based blank check company focusing on companies reducing carbon emissions, according to documents reviewed by dot.LA. Bird will receive hundreds of million in cash through the deal, which it can use to fund its operations as it struggles to achieve profitability, which it expects to do in 2023.

Meet the San Diego Startup That's Making Seafood from Cell Cultures​

The first cell-cultured hamburger — a five-ounce patty that cost more than $300,000 to produce — was made in 2013. BlueNalu aims to use the technology to help the seafood industry recover from overfishing and environmental pressures.

NBC Won't Air Next Year's Golden Globes

The stunning development comes amid growing controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's lack of diversity and questions regarding its policies.

Snap Sued Over Cyberbullied Teen Who Took His Life

The family of 16-year-old Carson Bride alleges Snap Inc. was negligent in safeguarding against cyberbullying after the Oregon teen committed suicide last year.

How Pacaso Makes It Easier for More People to Own a Second Home

The concept of co-ownership isn't new, but unlike "DIY" shared ownership arrangements among family members or friends, Pacaso manages all the details for potential home buyers and then handles ongoing maintenance, LLC oversight, bill payment and scheduling. Read more >>

Join Us at the Motivate SOCAL Emerging Mobility Summit

Southern California is beginning to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and new job opportunities in advanced industries, including mobility and transportation, are on the way. dot.LA is partnering with CoMotion to host "Motivate SOCAL," a half-day virtual event, set for May 19, 2021. Register here.

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