DC Inno Beat 4/9: LinkedIn Makes Edtech Move, Apple Watch Craze and SOI

By Chris Bing

April 09, 2015, 06:04pm EDT

The Big One

Chris: LinkedIn will expand its education offerings this year thanks to the acquisition of education startup lynda.com, which helps people learn business, software, technology and creative skills. The deal, which is for $1.5B, is expected to close this quarter. LinkedIn will scoop up most of Lynda's roster. It is LinkedIn’s third acquisition of the year, following Careerify andRefresh.

Eric: It sounds like a big gamble by LinkedIn, but it does at least set it apart from other social media websites. If LinkedIn and its educational tools start getting integrated into the training used by tech companies, it would definitely count as a successful one.

Apple News

Chris: SF-based Do, developers of a meeting productivity platform, are preparing to become one of the few business apps to launch on the Apple Watch app store. Founded in '13 and serving more than 5,000 companies, Do recently raised a $2M seed round led by NEA. The company’s development experience on the Watch’s UI felt immediately “restrained,” but over time it proved to be a “cleaner and more streamlined” total experience. There are roughly 1,000 submitted applications currently on a short list on the AppWatchList and it is becoming a venue for early developers and startups to jump into a high potential market, early. The Apple Watch will be available for pre-order and by appointment for try-ons starting tomorrow [April 10th].

Eric: The Apple Watch will need something to set it apart and making meetings more productive might help. That said, it doesn't exactly sound like a killer app and the name could definitely lead to confusion when it's on the tiny Apple Watch screen.

Chris: Data shows that the interest in the Apple Watch has risen and fallen dramatically in the six months from when it was first announced through now, according to a new report provided to DC Inno by market intelligence firm Argus Insights. Simply put: Unlike early smartphone and tablets at launch, Apple’s first wearable is not considered a game changer by the majority of prospective customers, according to the report. Strong 2014 holiday sales led by Fitbit, Jawbone, Moto and LG, could negatively affect Apple’s early sales figures.

Eric: It's too early to really say if the Apple Watch is a game changer. I'm skeptical because I've yet to see how it would fundamentally make my life easier. It was much more obvious with theiPhone and iPod. Of course, that doesn't mean they won't immediately sell out.

Community:

Chris: State of Innovation (SOI) is back! Purchase your Inno Insider ticket now and join us for the interactive conference on Wednesday, May 6 at Artisphere from 4:15 to 8:00 p.m.

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