Highlights of the Week (November 19, 2021)

As I write, one of the top stories is the jury's ongoing deliberation in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. The trial involves a white teenage boy who went to a BLM protest with an AR-15 assault rifle in Kenosha, Wisconsin and killed two unarmed protesters. The trial has been a fascinating display in white privilege, gun advocacy vs. gun control, and both sides' media breakdowns. The defense's case relies on the concept of self-defense while the prosecution has argued the carrying of an assault-style weapon at a constitutionally protected protest ratcheted up the violence rather than deter it. Meanwhile, the trial continues against the men who shot Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black jogger, in February of 2020. Both cases bring up questions around self-defense and vigilantism. 

Let's take a look at the week's top stories from PrivCo:

• We examined the future of Web 3.0 and its building blocks in VR and crypto. Big Tech continues to expand its reaches in the metaverse while regulators are still trying to catch up with Web 2.0. Find out more here.

• Zillow has given up its iBuyer business model, moving to sell thousands of homes they've purchased at a $500MM loss. We looked at the internet conspiracy theories and competing offers. Check it out here.

• Instacart faces stiff competition in the grocery delivery business as exclusive contracts end and more retailers look to control their delivery business. Find out what's happening behind the aisles here. 

• Naming rights are an effective way to turn a business into a household name. The Staples Center in LA is getting a new name in a historic deal with Crypto.com. Check out the latest deals in arenas and esports here.