Los Angeles accused rental startup Blueground of price gouging following the city’s wildfires.City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office filed a civil action against the company, alleging it drove up the prices of its rentals by more than 10% and up to more than 50% in some cases, in violation of Los Angeles’ anti-gouging law, according to a Tuesday (Feb. 4) press release. The law is automatically triggered when the city declares a state of emergency during a natural disaster.“It is not only unconscionable for Blueground to take advantage of Angelenos when they are at their most vulnerable, it is illegal and must stop immediately,” Soto said in the release. “Our prosecutorial offices at the state, county and local levels are united in this effort to fight price gouging and hold accountable individuals and businesses who prey on our residents during this unprecedented emergency.”Several Blueground rental properties’ prices rose on or after the emergency was declared Jan. 7, per the release. For example, one apartment that had been advertised for $2,000 per month on Dec

Unicorn companies are crucial drivers of innovation, economic growth, and technological progress in Europe. Often, they introduce groundbreaking technologies, creating new industries or transforming existing ones. Their presence signals a mature and investable tech landscape. By generating significant revenues, these companies contribute to national GDPs, tax bases, and regional economies.Unicorns emerge from a strong startup ecosystem and, in turn, support it by fostering innovation and enabling global market access. They also drive knowledge spillover, talent circulation, and shared infrastructure, creating a continuous cycle of growth and entrepreneurship.In 2024, the European tech ecosystem collected €74.4 billion over more than 3.700 deals. Excluding debt funding rounds, 91 companies (2.4 percent of all companies) closed deals worth over €100 million (each)