Airbnb ramps up security with compulsory verification for all listings

In a bid to stop scams and prevent deadly incidents, like what that happened in California earlier this month during a Halloween party, Airbnb has decided to verify all of its seven million listings. The listings will be verified on the basis of the accuracy of photos, addresses, safety details, and amenities, among other factors.

Listings that meet the requirement will be clearly labeled before December 15^th, 2020. Airbnb is also going to launch a 24/7 Neighbor hotline that will give access to an Airbnb employee from anywhere, at any time. Airbnb is just months away from completing its either initial public offering or direct listing.

Kepler becomes the world’s first company to provide 100Mbps connectivity to the Arctic

Kepler has become the world’s first satellite-based company to provide high-bandwidth connectivity to the Arctic. Keppler, a small satellite startup, has recorded 100Mpbs of network speed through its nanosatellites while providing network connectivity to a German icebreaker sea vessel which is a mobile lab for the MOSAiC research expedition.

This is the first time ever that there’s been a high-bandwidth satellite network for any central Arctic ground-based use, Kepler says. Kepler has demonstrated 38Mbps down and 120Mbps up speed on the icebreaker floating research ship.

Sleep fitness company “Eight” raises $40M

New York-based sleep fitness company Eight has raised $40 million in funding, bringing its total haul so far to $65 million. The company makes high-tech mattresses that measure sleep and recovery time while providing healthcare insights and analytics. “We’re a sleep-fitness company. The night is a moment for you to recharge and really wake up at your peak,” 38-year-old CEO and cofounder Franceschetti told Forbes.

The round was led by Founders Fund and joined by Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Craft Ventures, 8VC, Flexport Founder Ryan Petersen and Eventbrite Cofounder and Chairman Kevin Hartz.