Struggling electric van startup Canoo has placed its remaining employees on what it’s calling a “mandatory unpaid break” through at least the end of the year, according to an email obtained by TechCrunch. The company told employees they are being locked out of Canoo’s systems at the end of the day Friday, according to the…
Category: Exclusive
AI coding tools, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Y Combinator
After causing outrage on the first day of Y Combinator, AI code editor PearAI lands $1M seed
On the first day of Y Combinator the founders of PearAI got “cancelled.” They used the hate to launch a new product, raise $1 million. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Exclusive, femtech, Global IT News, Global Security News, SEC, Swizzle Fund, Venture, Women's Finance
Swizzle Fund raises $5M for inaugural fund addressing women’s health and wealth
There is a new venture fund in town. Swizzle Fund, founded by Jessica Kamada, former COO of the marketing agency Bamboo, has raised just a little more than $5 million for its Fund I, according to an SEC filing. There was no target raise amount. The firm, which quietly opened in 2023, is an early-stage…
Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Lerer Hippeau, SEC
Lerer Hippeau files to a raise Fund IX
Lerer Hippeau, one of New York’s most prolific and A-list VC firms, has filed to raise its ninth fund, according to an SEC filing made Wednesday. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, lawsuit, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian executives accused of harassment in previously unreported lawsuits
Four employees have sued Rivian in separate lawsuits this year over allegations they were harassed, in some cases by top executives, and that the company’s leadership did little to address their concerns, according to a TechCrunch review of court records. Rivian has also reached settlements in three other harassment and discrimination cases, TechCrunch has learned. …
Exclusive, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, TBC Group, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s mobile bank TBC bags $37M to expand with new AI and insurance products
Uzbekistan’s mobile-exclusive bank, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, has raised $37 million to bolster its footprint in the Central Asian nation. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, ai alignment, ai safety, Emmett Shear, Exclusive, Funding, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, startup, Startups
Ex-Twitch CEO Emmett Shear is founding an AI startup backed by a16z
Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch, is launching a new AI startup, TechCrunch has learned. The startup, called Stem AI, is currently in stealth. But public documents show it was incorporated in June 2023, and filed for a trademark in August 2023. Shear is listed as CEO on an incorporation document filed with the…
a16z, AI, AI coding tools, Anysphere, cursor, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Thrive Capital
In just 4 months AI coding assistant Cursor raised another $100M at a $2.5B valuation led by Thrive, sources say
Anysphere, the developer of AI-powered coding assistant Cursor, raised $100 million Series B at a post-money valuation of $2.6 billion, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. The round is being led by returning investor Thrive Capital, the person said. This new funding comes just four months after Anysphere raised its $60 million Series…
3d printing, a16z, AI, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, markforged, Startups
Backed by a16z and NEA, Backflip raises $30M Series A to turn text into AI-generated designs
Led by Markforged veterans and backed by a16z, Backlip has raised $30M to democratize product design thanks to AI. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Crypto, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, meme coin, Neverless, Revolut, Startups
With Neverless, former Revolut execs want to make meme coins easy to buy
There’s an ocean of meme coins beyond Dogecoin, and a new startup called Neverless wants to make it easier to get started with trading crypto, with a particular focus on providing access to small-cap tokens. This is an interesting new crypto startup, founded by three former executives at Revolut, the London-based fintech juggernaut. Phuc To…
AI, AI training, Exclusive, gemini, Global IT News, Global Security News
Exclusive: Google’s Gemini is forcing contractors to rate AI responses outside their expertise
Internal guidelines passed down from Google led to concerns that the AI model could be prone to inaccurate outputs on topics like healthcare. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Cybersecurity, data breach, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, location tracking, Security
Tracker firm Hapn spilling names of thousands of GPS tracking customers
A security researcher found customer names and workplace affiliations spilling directly from Hapn’s servers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Gusto, Hauler Hero, SaaS, servicetitan, Startups, TC, waste management
Hauler Hero wants to bring waste management software into the 21st century
After nearly four years of working in sales at tradesperson software company ServiceTitan, Mark Hoadley (pictured above) was looking for a change and to potentially start something of his own in a similar industry. Hoadley’s brother-in-law, and now co-founder, Ben Sikma, was working on M&A in the waste management space at the time. Sikma discovered…
AI, doj, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Perplexity, Startups
The DOJ wants a Perplexity executive to testify in its Google antitrust case
The US government is calling on a Perplexity executive to help make its case that Google is a monopolist. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Databricks, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Insight Partners, TC, Venture
Insight VC describes Databricks’ wild $10B deal and the bad advice the CEO ignored
It’s been a wild week for investors clawing their way into Databricks’ record-breaking $10 billion fund raising, one of the VCs told TechCrunch. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
celebrity VCs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, stephen curry, TC, Venture
Stephen Curry’s Penny Jar Capital files to raise a Fund II
Penny Jar Capital is the early-stage firm founded by Bryant Barr and Richard Scudellari and where basketball star Stephen Curry serves as a special advisor. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Exclusive, Focused Energy, fusion power, Global IT News, Global Security News, lasers, nuclear fusion, Startups
Focused Energy buys two of the world’s most powerful lasers for its fusion quest
The massive lasers will be installed in the startup’s future facility, which it is building in the San Francisco Bay Area. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, ai models, Cohere, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Palantir
Cohere is quietly working with Palantir to deploy its AI models
The Canadian AI startup has quietly partnered with Palantir to put Cohere’s models in use with unnamed Palantir customers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Jay Z, Marcy Venture Partners, roc nation, Venture
Jay Z’s Marcy Venture Partners merges with investment arm of Pendulum Holdings
Jay Z’s venture capital firm, Marcy Venture Partners, has merged with another Black-owned investment firm, Pendulum Holding’s investment arm Pendulum Opportunities, to form MarcyPen Capital Partners, a MarcyPen spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. The newly formed MarcyPen Capital Partners has $900 million in assets under management, according to Pitchbook. MarcyPen’s spokesperson declined to comment further on…
Cybersecurity, Enterprise, enterprise startup, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Prequel, startup, Startups, venture capital
Prequel is building a community-driven approach to finding software bugs
Cybersecurity practitioners take a community-driven approach to solving problems. Security researchers share the vulnerabilities they find with the broader cybersecurity community, which allows companies to patch up their security holes before something catastrophic happens. Prequel is looking to bring that same approach to software. The startup is building a database of software failure patterns or…
Crypto, Exclusive, fbi, feuds, Founders Fund, Global IT News, Global Security News, Kalshi, Polymarket, presidential election, social media, Startups, Venture
Kalshi CEO admits enlisting influencers to dis Polymarket in a now-deleted podcast segment
Kalshi’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, confirmed on a podcast interview that his employees did ask social media influencers to promote memes about the FBI’s raid on the home of his arch rival, the CEO of Polymarket. Both of these companies offer competing events-betting markets, a new kind of betting industry where people wager about the outcomes…
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI chatbot, Cybersecurity, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Optum, Security, UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare’s Optum left an AI chatbot, used by employees to ask questions about claims, exposed to the internet
Optum’s AI chatbot was found exposed online at a time when the healthcare giant faces scrutiny for its use of AI to allegedly deny patient claims. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
accelerators, activate, Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, The Engine
Activate and The Engine Accelerator team up to train scientists to become founders
Two prominent programs, Activate and The Engine Accelerator, have decided they can give founders an advantage if they team up. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.