HotelRuner partners

with Wix

Istanbul-based HotelRunner, an online sales, marketing, and channel management platform for hotels and travel agencies, has partnered with Wix.

Wix is a cloud-based web development platform.

It's a smart partnership that taps into the best in both startups and promises to have a significant impact.

Watch this space.

Vroom, vroom: Estonia's self-driving strategy

Estonia has revved up the race to the self-driving car. The country's government has approved the testing of self-driving cars on public roads, so long as there is an actual driver in tow. This news comes on the heels of the troubles Uber has had in testing on U.S. roads. Following a crash in Arizona, Uber suspended testing. They're back on, but American Officials are still weary. Thats why this news is in Estonia is significant. It's also a great model to consider: government support of innovation. Imagine.

Sprouting in Beirut: Lebanon Seed Fund

Our friends at Flat6Labs are shaking up the Beirut startup scene. In March, the incubator/seed fund announced the launch of a $20 million early stage fund.  Investors include Arabnet and Banque du Liban. Ticket sizes will range from $30k to $50k and include a 16-week mentorship program. The fund will also offer $100k to $500k to early stage startups. Flat6Labs has invested in 110 startups across Eqypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Houston: Is that a Turkish microscope?

When NASA sets out to map surfaces, it will do so with Turkish technology. The National Aeronatics and Space Adminstration has begun purchasing powerful microscopes from Nanomanyetik, an Ankara-based nanotechnology company. Nanomanyetik already exports its powerful microscopes to Brazil, Chile, France, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, and Spain. In South Korea, it supplies Samsung.