Why this business messenger isn't scared of Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO — There's no shortage of messenger products out there, but SF-based Intercom has carved out an enviable niche in the business world.

Since 2011, it's quietly built a popular communications product for business, now with thousands of customers that include tech startups and large public companies. It's grown to a staff of 300 across its San Francisco headquarters and engineering  ...

'The system is broken': Why this Twitter vet jumped ship for Tanium

SAN FRANCISCO — High-profile data breaches are accelerating, and Emeryville-based Tanium has emerged as a runaway leader in the white-hot cybersecurity space. With more than $300 million in funding from investors who include Andreessen Horowitz, a new CEO, and some of the world's most influential banks, retailers and governments as customers, Tanium has managed to attract top talent from the  ...

Serial entrepreneur aims to solve pain point in Kansas City: Early-stage funding

KANSAS CITY — Serial entrepreneur John Fein has rolled out a new venture fund, and the idea started with a pain point he saw in Kansas City.

For the past three years, the Overland Park resident has worked at the Sprint Accelerator led by Techstars as its managing director. The accelerator, which accepts 10 tech-focused startups each year, is a three-month intensive program that connects  ...

Internet-of-things technology is moving quickly; policy, not so much

SEATTLE — Puget Sound-area technology companies are pioneers in the development of the internet-of-things technology sector, but that doesn't mean the region doesn't still face a well known problem – a lack of education about nascent technologies in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash, co-chairs the Internet of Things Congressional Caucus to help educate policy makers about the space.  ...

Managing: My employees complained about the reward I gave them

Each week Alison Green, who also writes the "Ask a Manager" website, answers workplace and management questions from readers. Please comment or ask you own question by emailing her at alison@askamanager.org.

Question 1: My employees complained about the reward I gave them

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Tech startup enables doctors to shop around for hospital gigs

SAN ANTONIO — A longtime tech company executive and doctor team may soon see the fruits of their yearlong labor to develop a software company in San Antonio that enables physicians to be free agents in hospitals across the country.

The tech startup, called MedSpoke Inc., is a mobile app for doctors looking to streamline the paperwork that enables them to be recognized as certified physicians in  ...

Female-led startups have better shot at successful exit when female VCs participate

SILICON VALLEY — Venture capital-financed startups with female founders have a better shot at a successful exit if the investment firms that back their first rounds have at least one female partner.

The finding comes from a recent study by Sahil Raina, an assistant finance professor at the University of Alberta. Raina combed through CrunchBase, the startup data tracking site, to compare how  ...