Your World This Week, Jan. 17 – 23

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox
Published January 18, 2016

Layoffs, Dropped Fundraising On The Rise In Silicon Valley

Startup

Startups are flailing, according to USA Today. Image Source: Wikipedia

The tech paradise might be coming to an end, according to USA Today.

The news outlet writes that funding for venture capitalist-backed companies is in “free fall,” while the rate of private startups gaining a valuation of $1 billion or more is grinding to a halt. Stocks of Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Apple, Google and Facebook have been taking a beating, with layoffs becoming more common at startups.

“There is definitely an era of reckoning,” venture investor Chris Sacca told USA Today. “Reality is setting in.”

5 Events To Know About This Week

Gandhi Glasses

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • January 18, 1948: Because Muslim-Hindu fighting ends, Gandhi breaks a fast of over five days.
    • Edgar Allan Poe

    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • January 19, 1809: Edgar Allan Poe is born in Boston, Massachusetts.
    • George B Mclellan Jr

    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • January 20, 1908: The Sullivan Ordinance bans only women from smoking in public places. After just two weeks of the failed experiment, the ordinance is repealed by Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. (above).
    • Reagan

    Ronald and Nancy Reagan at a January inauguration. Image Source: Wikipedia

  • January 20, 1981: Ronald Reagan becomes oldest U.S. president ever elected to office.
    • Lenin

    A portrait of Vladimir Lenin. Image Source: Wikipedia

  • January 21, 1924: Vladimir Lenin — the man who led the Bolsheviks to victory over the Czar and established the first Communist government — dies of brain hemorrhage.
    • author
    All That's Interesting
    author
    All That's Interesting
    Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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