THE NEWS WRAP: Amazon to re-launch its on-demand services marketplace next week

Amazon will launch its new on-demand services marketplace on Monday in order to compete with US-based crowdsourcing startups such as Angie’s List.

 

TechCrunch reports the platform, which has been rebranded from ‘Amazon Local Services’ to ‘Amazon Home Services’, has recently expanded its service categories as well as the cities it will be available in.

 

The new platform will offer services including lawn mowing, gardening, automotive services and one-on-one lessons.

IoT startup raises $US38 million in Series B funding

August, a startup which produces smart door locks, has raised $US38 million ($A48m) in Series B funding in order to launch new products and expand its San Francisco-based team.

 

The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and brings the startup’s total funding to date to $US50 million.

 

Co-founder Jason Johnson said in a statement the latest capital injection will allow for a runway much larger than he ever anticipated.

 

“With this new financing, our team will define a new product category in the smart home, aiming to solve what we call the ‘last five foot problem’,” he says.

 

“With our smart lock, mobile apps, and cloud-based access control, we offer homeowners, property managers, and guests a sophisticated and trusted way to control home access, bridging the gap between service providers and homeowners.”

Facebook launches new service for marketers

Facebook has announced a new tool that will allow marketers to analyse how successful their campaigns are based on aggregated social data.

 

The service – called Analytics for Apps – will allow users to see how their marketing campaigns performed across different demographics such as age groups or gender, according to TechCrunch.

 

Previously, marketers using Facebook to analyse their marketing efforts could only view who clicked on an ad instead of being able to see which demographics they could best target.

Overnight

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 292.60 points, falling 1.62% overnight to 17,718.54. The Aussie dollar is currently trading at around 78.4 US cents.

 

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