Ukraine’s tech diaspora races to mobilize Silicon Valley in war with Russia

Oakland, Calif. Ukrainians working in Western tech companies are banding together to help their besieged homeland, aiming to eliminate misinformation websites, encouraging Russians to go against their government, and medical The speed of supply is to be accelerated.

They are seeking to persuade firms such as Internet security company Cloudflare Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Amazon.com Inc. to do more to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through email campaigns and online petitions.

“Companies should try to isolate Russia as soon as possible,” said Oleksiy Oreshko, a Google employee software engineer and a Ukrainian American. “Sanctions are not enough.”

He was one of nine tech workers interviewed by Reuters who are of Ukrainian heritage or are Ukrainian immigrants and answering a call by Kyiv to create a volunteer “IT army”.

Several companies have severed Russian ties because of new government trade sanctions, but activists are demanding more.

They are especially appealing to cybersecurity companies, asking them to spare Russian subscribers, especially publishers, of what they say is propaganda. If this happens, publishers will be more vulnerable to online attacks.

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Igor Seletsky, chief executive officer of Palo Alto-based software maker CloudLinux, has requested Cloudflare to drop several Russian news websites.

“Given that Switzerland also took sides, I think it will be an important statement if Cloudflare will do the same,” he wrote in an email to top executives, which he shared with Reuters.

Cloudflare said it has terminated some customers due to the restrictions and began reviewing the accounts flagged in Celetsky’s email, saying it was proceeding with caution because cutting ties could jeopardize customer security. There will be danger.

Inspired by the bombings outside his parents’ home last week and concerned for the safety of some of his Ukrainian colleagues who hadn’t checked in recently, Vlad Goloshuk asked a group of companies to help put pressure on Russia. appealed to.

More than a dozen of those security and web hosting providers said they would do what they could. Some have given up on Russian customers or were considering doing so, according to answers shown to Reuters by Goloshuk, CEO of BrightestMinds, a company that helps businesses generate sales leads.

Philip Lipnyakov, who works for Spanish delivery app Glovo and has backed efforts to take down Russian websites, said he hopes the “IT war” will protect Ukraine.

The disruptions will “send a message, from average citizens to higher officials, that, ‘Hey, this is unacceptable,'” he said.

Ukraine’s deputy minister for digital transformation told Reuters on Wednesday that the online forces now number more than 250,000 people who put forward their ideas. Officer Alexander Bornyakov said this “IT army” has reached more than 50 million in Russia, partly through 100,000 phone calls using an automated recording seeking Moscow’s retreat.

requested for suspension of services

At Google, hundreds of workers, including Ukrainian heritage, have signed an internal letter addressed to CEO Sundar Pichai, which, according to a company software engineer, called Search to provide more support to Ukraine and modify services such as Maps and advertising tools. Calling the Giants. Condition of anonymity.

Google declined to comment. In recent days, it has banned Russian state media from advertising and distribution tools and increased security measures for users in Ukraine.

Activists are also looking at ways to disrupt the lives of Russian citizens, with the aim of undermining support for the war within Russia.

An online petition organized by Stas Matvienko, CEO of restaurant order-forward company Allset in Los Angeles, has called on US developers of entertainment, payments, dating and other apps to block access to Russia.

Big Tech’s financial and supply chain muscle could also help.

Silicon Valley-based humanitarian aid group Nova Ukraine has urged Amazon to donate worker time as well as space for straps and other vital supplies on its cargo planes and vehicles headed to neighboring countries such as Poland.

“They have the scale that no one else has,” said Igor Markov, a director at Nova Ukraine and a technical research scientist.

Amazon declined to comment. This week it said it would donate up to $10 million to organizations providing aid in Ukraine.

Organizing online aid for Ukraine has consumed Julia Nechaeva, product director of Amazon’s live streaming unit Twitch.

“I’ve only opened my work computer three times since last Wednesday,” she said. “To let my manager know I’ll be shut down and use charity matching.”

Originally published at Pen 18

Ed-tech firm Scaler acquires online learning platform AppliedRoots for $50 million

Mumbai: Ed-tech firm Scalar has acquired online learning platform AppliedRoots for $50 million in a cash and stock deal.

A senior company executive told ET that the deal will enable it to strengthen its data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

The acquisition, the third in the last 12 months, comes two months after raising $55 million in Series B funding from investors led by LightRock India.

Last year, it acquired Coding Minutes and Coding Elements.

Launched in April 2019 by Anshuman Singh and Abhimanyu Saxena, Scalar’s parent entity InterviewBit commands a post-money valuation of $710 million, as previously reported by ET.

“This acquisition will help us grow rapidly in the AI ​​and ML space,” Saxena told ET. “We have a long runway and the capital raised will try to take the business further through organic and inorganic routes.”

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Applied Roots was bootstrapped by Srikanth Varma Chekuri, Murali Krishna Warri, Naveen Reddy Bade, Brahma Reddy, Srinivas Reddy and Sathish Atcha.

It offers an online diploma course in AI and ML.

The platform also provides GATE CS preparation and applied coding tracks to technical professionals. The company said its team has served more than 40,000 learners over the past four years. The entire team, along with its founders, has joined Scalar.

“Our immediate goal will be to support the efforts and projects being undertaken in the Data Science & ML team. We will also include a separate Data Analyst sub track within the Data Science program,” said Chekuri, co-founder of AppliedRoots.

Sklar has raised about $76 million to date. It would like to acquire more companies this year. “We are open to smaller acquisitions, where we are looking at large scale for access to talent, distribution or geography,” Saxena said.

Scalar is currently looking at an annual revenue run rate (ARR) of $60 million.

“We expect to reach an ARR of $150 million by the end of FY13,” Saxena said.

The company is looking to expand its presence in software development programs for beginners and data analytics/engineering.

“Our business is cash flow positive and profitable and therefore we are not worried about the runway of the company as we have cash. “We are not looking to raise a fresh round of capital immediately,” Saxena said.

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Originally published at Pen 18

Hotels and restaurants upbeat on hiring, salary increments

After nearly two years of struggle, the hospitality sector is likely to recover rapidly, and wage hikes and hiring, which were stalled two years ago, are making a comeback.

Riding on the overall positive sentiment due to resurgence in the economy, decline in Covid-19 cases and easing of restrictions, executives of companies like Hyatt, PVR Group, Oyo, Wow! Momo Foods and Light Bite Foods that ET spoke to are excited about the hiring and are planning some great hikes.

According to professional services firm Aon, hotel and restaurant staff received minimal or no hikes in 2020, although the situation improved somewhat in 2021. “In 2022, hotels and restaurants are likely to see a growth of around 7-8% or even more, which comes as a welcome relief to their employees,” Roopank Choudhary, partner at Aon, told ET.

Aditya Mishra, CEO of recruitment services firm CIEL HR Services, is also seeing rapid improvement and 5-7% growth in these areas. Mishra said some companies are also planning to give bonus as a token of appreciation.

Hospitality tech firm OYO is currently actively pursuing technology and product roles from colleges such as ISB, IIM, IIT, NIFT, MIT Institute of Design with focus on AI, ML, Data Science, Cloud and DevOps, Product Engineering and Product Design. Hiring since. Pune) and Industrial Design Center (IDC) at IIT-Bombay.

Chief Human Resource Officer (Technology, Products, Global Actions and International Markets) Satyadeep Mishra said, “One could say that technology and innovation are driving the new OYO growth story.”

WOW is recruiting! Momo Foods, a homegrown quick-service restaurant has three brands and more than 400 outlets in the country.

Wow! Sagar J Daryani, Founder and CEO, said, “Our recruitment has grown by 30-40% in the last two quarters. Our recruitment is at an all-time high and with a very bold expansion target.” Momo Foods. Like Oyo, Whoa! Momo is also hiring from campus and focusing on hiring through its newly launched internship program. The first two waves of the pandemic brought unprecedented challenges for multiplexes including the PVR group.

Originally published at Pen 18

IPL ad sales set to cross record ₹4,000-cr mark

Ad sales of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are set to cross the Rs 4,000 crore mark for the first time since its inception 15 years ago. Disney Star, the league’s media rights holder for this season, has already sold 85% of the inventory on TV (Star Sports) and the full set of properties on Disney+Hotstar, the video streaming service, including Super 4, Super 6, ‘Fall. wicket’ and ‘milestone’.

The broadcaster has closed deals with 15 sponsors on TV and 13 on Disney+ Hotstar, and media buying executives are saying rates were at least 10% higher than last year and with additional inventory — 60 instead. 74 matches – the overall increase is very high.

Disney Star’s head of advertising sales, Nitin Bawankule, declined to divulge exact details, saying, “It is going to be the biggest IPL ever in terms of both viewership and revenue.”

He added that IPL has established itself as a major asset and is now a well-known platform for brand building.

“Given the addition of two new teams, player reshuffle and the fact that the tournament will take place in India, there is a lot of anticipation for the upcoming season. There is a positive sentiment among advertisers, and we are thrilled with the response we have received so far. Found, significant inventory has already been sold,” Bawankule said.

With the IPL taking place in the regular March-May window, summer categories like consumer durables, paints, beverages and retail are back in large numbers. Star executives say interest in emerging technology categories is high, apart from the regular IPL categories like BFSI, FMCG, auto and telecom. The interest from online services is no longer limited to categories like ecommerce, fantasy gaming, ed-tech, etc., as new tech categories like fintech, payments, hyper-local delivery services, streaming platforms are showing more demand.

Star Sports sponsors include Dream11, Tata Group, Byju’s, CRED, Kamala Pasand, Asian Paints, PhonePe, Swiggy Instamart, WhiteHat Junior, Meesho, Spotify, Pepsi and Mondelez. Whereas, Disney+ Hotstar has Dream11 as co-presenting sponsors, Tata and CRED as ‘co-operated’ sponsors and Swiggy, Pristine Care, Zepto, Ather Energy, Niyo, Parle Agro, Spotify, Livspace, L’ Oreal and Spinny as associate sponsors.

A Disney Star source said the 10-second spot was priced above ₹14 lakh. Also, this season more than 100 brands have confirmed their participation.

ET first reported on February 25 that Disney Star was capitalizing on the IPL buzz with the inclusion of the two big TV and IPL markets (Gujarat and UP), an increase in the number of match play days and an increase in the number of primetime matches. was ready for

Originally published at Pen 18

Fashion Community Signs Open Letter to Condemn Russia’s Invasion – WWD – Pen 18

Fashion Units: 1 Granary, a global support network that connects, promotes and educates fashion graduates from universities around the world, was founded by Ukrainian Central Saint Martins graduate Olya Kurishchuk, to condemn the Russian invasion Has issued an open letter to “fashion businesses and their leaders”. Stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

The letter calls for “continuing to strengthen sanctions and contributing to aid to governments” to assure “independence, democracy and sovereignty” of Ukraine.

1 Granary’s letter reaches out to the fashion community – and in particular, fashion houses with great influence – asking them to “not shut up, use their platform and offer to help”.

So far, about 1,350 people have signed the open letter, including fashion designers Christopher Kane, Kiko Kostadinov, Lutz Huel, Richard Malone, Phoebe English, Duran Lantink and John Alexander Skelton.

Charlotte Knowles, who signed the letter with her partner Alexandre Arsenault, shared an Instagram post announcing the brand’s endorsement for Ukraine as well as a link to 1 Granary’s open letter.

Industry veterans such as Carolyn Rush, Angela Missoni, Sarah Mower, Susie Lau, Fabio Piras, Alister Mackie, Eli Grace Cumming, Hugo Comte and Nick Knight have also joined the petition and declared their support for Ukraine.

Kurishchuk said on Instagram, “Public pressure can save Ukraine. Ask your governments to close the flight zones, impose tough sanctions and cut Russia off SWIFT to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Europe.”

“The idea, that in the 21st century bombs are going to be dropped on a European city, is unbelievable. I’m scared I’m terribly angry. But I am proud of my people and their fight. A struggle that everyone thought would go on for hours is already going on for days. We must help support Ukraine. We must act now,” she said.

Olya Kurishchuki
Courtesy

1Granery is also using its Instagram to highlight the live experiences of Ukrainian fashion talent, including fashion designer Masha Popova, who collaborated with Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Billie Eilish, as well as past Yeezy color design director Khristna Fomenko Dressed in the clothes of his choice.

Two Ukrainians shared with the world how the invasion is affecting their lives and the lives of their loved ones, expressing their current feelings and fears.

Olga Kuzmenkova, who previously worked for independent Russian media outlets, shared her perspective as a Russian under 1 Granary’s Instagram post, emphasizing how “Russians’ voices against invasion in Ukraine have been suppressed.” It may seem, but there are millions of Russians who want this war to stop”.

1 Granary is posting useful information on Instagram that brands can refer to to support Ukraine, as well as tips on how African students can flee Ukraine to Poland.

Originally published at Pen 18

Oil hits soars above $113 per barrel as Ukraine conflict continues

Oil prices rose above $113 a barrel on Wednesday and natural gas hit a record high before closing its peak, as investors worried about a sharp attack from major producer Russia on Ukraine.

European benchmark Brent North Sea oil rose to $113.94 a barrel, its highest level since 2014, while New York-traded WTI hit a nine-year high of $112.51, as both rose nearly 8 percent on the day. and then gained about 4 percent.

Gas prices also rose further, with the Dutch TTF hitting an all-time high of 194.715 euros per megawatt hour in European terms, still hitting a third, before settling back at 168.77 euros.

British gas prices jumped to 463.84 pence per therm on fresh fears of a supply disruption, from a record close of 470.83 pence in December.

Aluminum also edged higher to a record high of $3,597 a tonne after Russia, a major producer of the industrial light metal, launched a major military attack on its neighbour.

As energy prices enjoyed a struggle-driven Chinese rush, global equities also edged in the green with Wall Street closing 1.7 percent in the two-hour session and major European markets with similar solid gains. marched boldly along.

Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, said: “I’m not sure if market sentiment has improved in any way since yesterday given the invasion of Ukraine and the rise in oil prices – but equity markets are showing some respite. Is.” If the “gulf” remained between the positions of Kyiv and Moscow.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other top oil producers in the meantime may only tap the taps, despite growing fears that prolonged price hikes could cause the world’s economies to worry about signs of already runaway inflation. Agreed to open slowly.

At its meeting in Vienna, the 23 OPEC+ members decided to “reaffirm the production adjustment plan only …

Analysts tried to paint a broader picture as the Ukraine crisis showed no sign of ending.

“It is too early to say how this will end. The range of possible consequences is enormous. We may be in the early days of a long process of restructuring the global order,” said Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics.

Predictions of the conflict could affect the extent to which the Russian economy fell from the world’s 11th-largest to 14th, he said, which “tells us little about how the conflict may affect the global economy in the long run.” Is”.

But he said it would likely focus governments’ minds on the need to upgrade energy security and, at least in Europe, accelerate their transition from fossil fuels.

SEB Chief Commodities Analyst Bjarne Schildrop said that “the global economy is facing energy starvation right now,” while “demand destruction will eventually set a limit on the upside,” due to sanctions tightening the physical oil market towards Russia. .

US President Joe Biden said earlier in the week that the United States would join a 30-nation deal to release 60 million barrels of oil to help cushion a jump in crude prices, although analysts have warned that such steps would have limited impact.

Originally published at Pen 18

Rochas RTW Fall 2022 – WWD – Pen 18

A photograph of Helen Rochas, wife of founder Marcel Rochas, with a fake bird draped over her torso, dominated the third collection for Charles de Vilmorin’s storied French home.

Aiming to create for a woman she described as “quite intellectual and an artist”, she said she was more in translating the home’s heritage into a mood and lifestyle rather than a reference to any particular design features. were interested. “This collection talks about freedom and something ultra sophisticated,” he said before the show.

The emphasis on the waist and plies were the main elements she used to define the silhouette of the season, executed in a mostly black palette to highlight texture and lend an evening dress to the collection. Was. The feathered ornamentation of Madame Rochas was referenced in the prints of feathers and birds, but also in the way the broad sleeves and floor-grazing gowns were fanned in motion. They looked especially striking on the runway.

Three seasons in, the lineup contained compelling and commercially viable pieces—always a plus for a current artistic director. But it also felt like he went too far in this attempt to cut it into an essential expression of Rochas’ identity, stripping away the distinctive flavor that his own beauty had to bring to the process.

Originally published at Pen 18