Check out the big data news stories you need to know about this week:
1. A BETTER COMMUTE.
Swiftly is a transit startup that wants to arm commuters and transit operators with data. The software integrates directly with GPS systems of public transit to collect reliable real-time data, Inc reported. On the enterprise side, Swiftly helps cities identify problems faster by giving them quick insight into their vehicles. For consumers, Swiftly integrates with apps like Google Maps in 45 cities to let commuters know when their trains and buses will arrive.
2. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Nokia may be remembered best for its clunky flip-phones, but lately, it’s been taking part in sophisticated tech partnerships. The Finland-based company has a plan to give people in remote areas access to mobile connectivity through the Internet of Things. By partnering with the Swiss cryptocurrency startup Steamr, Nokia’s networks “will transfer data from internet-connected devices in these remote areas to the blockchain,” CCN reported. “Sensors have been installed in places like farms to regulate irrigation and predict weather patterns.”
3. PIPELINE PROBLEM?
It’s a common refrain in male-dominated venture capital: it would be great to invest in more female founders, but there’s a pipeline problem. A new initiative led by Britain’s Diversity VC and the state-owned British Business Bank aims to expose the data behind that claim, Forbes reported. Ten British VCs have agreed to give researchers anonymized demographic data of everyone who pitches to them.