Startups

For those of us who aren't named Branson, the $200k price tag isn't really all that much money for the ultimate bucket list check-off.

The D.C. taxi lobby's effort to force Uber to charge five time the taxi rate makes for the first time the car service startup's rates have looked inexpensive.

There is a ton of skepticism here about whether the startup, acquired by Microsoft/Skype, can really build a seamless, mobile, group-travel planning experience and whether or not people will care if it does.

A dream deferred no longer -- maybe. Kayak can almost taste the public markets now, but as its IPO roadshow kicks into gear, this is not yet a done deal.

CasaHop might be called social tech rather than social travel because it is a heavy tech play in the home-exchange arena.

Give Gogo credit. The WiFi provider has to get working on its international expansion and can't wait for its IPO try to be sorted out. That may be the reason behind a $135 million debt-financing agreement.