Top tech startup news stories you need to know this Tuesday, January 9

Good morning! Here are some of the top tech startup news stories today Tuesday, January 9.

Smart doorbell start-up Skybell claims rival Ring stole its technology. Irvine California-based doorbell startup, Skybell Technologies, has filed a lawsuit claiming its Santa Monica competitor, Ring, copied its technology and is profiting from advertising and marketing techniques rather than innovative software and hardware. The lawsuit stated that Ring.com knowingly copied technology from three Skybell patents after Skybell’s chief executive, Joe Scalisi, sent an email to Ring founder Jaime Siminoff that included a link to the company’s patent portfolio in the signature.

Salesforce acquires Attic Labs, the startup behind decentralized database Noms. Salesforce has acquired Attic Labs, the creator of Noms, the open-source decentralized database for an undisclosed amount of money. Attic Labs announced today on its website.

TD Bank acquires Toronto-Based Artificial Intelligence startup Layer 6. The Toronto-based TD Bank said Tuesday it has acquired AI startup Layer 6 Inc for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will help bolster the Canadian bank’s artificial intelligence expertise amid a broader push by financial services firms in adopting the technology.

Pittsburgh AI startup LegalSifter partnering with local law firm. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania-based artificial intelligence firm LegalSifter and Pittsburgh law firm Horty Springer & Mattern on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership to offer a product helping hospitals and health systems nationwide review contracts faster. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Turkish ticket startup Sinemia eyes US Investors. Sinemia, an online-movie ticketing business started by a Turkish developer, is in talks with U.S.-based venture-capital investors to fund an expansion in the world’s largest cinema market. Sinemia is a social platform for moviegoers and a service that provides a monthly movie ticket subscription for one low monthly fee.

German startup Smava raises $65 million to expand across Europe. Berlin-based startup Smava has raised $65 million in funding to expand its loan platform outside of Germany, the company announced yesterday. Smava is Germany’s leading loan portal and makes personal loans transparent, fair and affordable for consumers.

New travel Startup makes it easy to find ADA-friendly hotels. AbiliTrek, a new startup founded by Western Washington University grad Daman Wandke, aims  to provide comprehensive information about hotel accessibility and amenities for those with disabilities. Why? Wandke is wheelchair-bound and once traveled for work as a website accessibility consultant, frequently discovering that hotels do a poor job clearly stating what needs they can accommodate.