Bird, Uber tariff relief requests denied; AppOnBoard buys BuildBox; Pluto TV links with Comcast
Sawtelle-based app design software developer AppOnBoard Inc. acquired Palo Alto-based mobile game development software firm BuildBox for an undisclosed sum June 14. Socaltech reports Buildbox CEO and co-founder Trey Smith will join AppOnboard as chief growth officer, and BuildBox co-founder Nik Rudenko will be AppOnBoard’s new VP of technology. AppOnBoard has raised $34 million to date.
Reuters reports Santa Monica e-scooter company Bird Rides Inc. lost its bid to be exempted from tariffs on imported Chinese goods. Ride-share company Uber Technologies Inc. filed a similar request and was also denied. Both companies are facing a 25% tariff on their imported electric scooters and bikes, and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office said both “failed to show that the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm.”
Pluto’s Orbit Expands With Comcast Deal
Carthay-based Pluto TV, which operates as a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., brought its free TV service to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 cable boxes today. Pluto’s ad-supported service is now available via Comcast nationwide, expanding the reach of the company, reports Variety.
Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.
