Veracode to be acquired for $950M
As the market for application security grows, so does the money fueling the industry. This week, app security firm Veracode announced that they are getting scooped up by private equity firm Thoma Bravo for a cool $950 million. Thoma Bravo, which aims to grow its portfolio of cybersecurity vendors, is purchasing Veracode from Broadcom. [Boston Business Journal]
Salsify acquires Austin-based chat startup
Chatbots: They’re all the rage. Product experience management platform Salsify is making moves to deliver new chat technology to its customers by acquiring Austin-based Welcome Commerce this week. Welcome Commerce provides chat technology that helps brands connect directly with consumers on e-commerce sites like Target and Walmart. Post-deal, Salsify will be offering 50 complimentary chats per month through Welcome’s chat technology — now known as Salsify Chat. Just in time for the holidays, shoppers will be able to use Salsify Chat to initiate conversations with product experts in real time. [Press Release]
Cardi B and Reebok announce partnership
Not exactly tech news, but, “If you don’t know, now you know.” That’s how rapper Cardi B dished the news that she’s collaborating with Boston-based sneaker giant Reebok on her Instagram feed. We’re not sure of the official line’s name, but Reebok posted the news to their own feed with the tag “CARDIBOK.” If you’re interested in picking up your own Cardi-inspired attire, it will cost you: pairs of Reebok Aztrec sneakers are listed at $90 a pop. [The Boston Globe]
Boston’s Neurala shares its platform with AI developers in academia
According to Massimiliano Versace, co-founder and CEO of Neurala, there are only 300,000 AI engineers, yet millions are needed. That’s why artificial intelligence company Neurala is sharing its Brain Builder platform with AI developers at institutions like Boston University and the Chinese Software Developer Network, in hopes of closing the AI skills gap and promoting AI education. For the unfamiliar, Brain Builder is a SaaS platform that helps developers use data to build AI applications. By using Brain Builder as part of this coursework, Versace said developers can gain the skills they need to become adept at building AI in real-world scenarios. [Press Release]
