Aura, a digital photo frames company founded by early Twitter employees, is introducing its latest model, Aspen, which adds new technology to the device and its accompanying mobile app. In addition to hosting your digital photos in its 12-inch HD display, the device now also allows you to add captions to your photos when they…
Category: Startups
AI, Global Security News, IPO, M&A, PitchBook Data, recession, shutdowns, Startups, Venture
Startup funding hit records in Q1. But the outlook for 2025 is still awful.
Startups attracted $91.5 billion in venture capital funding in Q1, according to the latest report from data provider PitchBook. This figure not only exceeds the previous quarter’s allocation by 18.5% but also represents the second-highest quarterly investment in the last decade. Despite this seemingly positive news, Kyle Stanford, lead U.S. venture capital analyst at PitchBook,…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, infinity ventures, Startups
Deck raises $12M to ‘Plaid-ify” any website using AI
Deck, a startup that claims to be building “the Plaid for the rest of the internet,” has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round — about nine months after closing its seed financing, it tells TechCrunch exclusively. The new raise, led by Infinity Ventures, brings Montreal-based Deck’s total raised since its January 2024…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Less than a month left to claim your brand’s spotlight at TechCrunch Sessions: AI with an exhibit table
TechCrunch Sessions: AI is right around the corner — and the deadline to reserve your exhibit table is nearly gone. If you’ve got an AI innovation worth shouting about, now’s your moment. Don’t sit on the sidelines while others take the spotlight. Put your product where it belongs — in front of the leaders and…
Apps, Exclusive, Fintech, Global Security News, Ryan Breslow, Startups
Bolt’s Ryan Breslow pins his hopes on a new app that takes on Coinbase, Zelle, and PayPal
Ryan Breslow is officially back. While the founder of one-click checkout company Bolt re-assumed its helm as CEO in March, Breslow is unveiling Wednesday a new “superapp” that he hopes will formally mark his return as the fintech’s leader. He describes the new product as “one-click crypto and everyday payments” in a single platform, in…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
TechCrunch All Stage: Full agenda revealed
The ultimate founder summit returns — now bigger than ever! Formerly TechCrunch Early Stage, TC All Stage is bringing together founders and VCs from every stage, not just early stage. We’re thrilled to unveil the full breakout session lineup at TC All Stage. Packed with scaling pioneers and top-tier VCs, these sessions are designed for…
AI, Enterprise, Funding, Global Security News, Series A, Startups, Video Editing
Capsule captures $12M to build the next version of its AI video editor for brands
Capsule is upgrading its AI-powered video editing assistant for marketing, sales, and media teams following the close of a $12 million round of Series A funding, the company announced on Wednesday. The upgraded editor will include new features like AI suggestions and support for real-time collaboration. The new version of its studio software will feature…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, StrictlyVC, StrictlyVC London, TC, Venture
TS Anil, CEO of Monzo, is joining our StrictlyVC London lineup
StrictlyVC, the boutique brand powered by TechCrunch and known for evening events that invite headliners into smaller rooms to connect with live audiences, is headed back to London on May 13 — and its latest speaker lineup is one of its strongest yet. Joining the stage is TS Anil, CEO of Monzo Bank, the digital…
Figma, Global Security News, Startups, Venture
Figma, ignores the fear, files paperwork for an IPO
Design software startup Figma announced Tuesday it has filed its confidential paperwork for an IPO. We won’t know more until that paperwork becomes public, which, best-case scenario would be in about a month. However, with the stock market in groundhog mode — seeing its shadow with every new gyration of the Trump Administration’s trade policies…
Emerging Tech, EV, Gensol Engineering, Global Security News, India, Startups, Transportation
India’s BluSmart swept up in Gensol investigation alleging misuse of EV loans
India’s market regulator launched a probe Tuesday into Gensol Engineering after finding alleged misuse of electric vehicle loans. BluSmart, a ride-hailing startup connected to Gensol that was once seen as an emerging Uber rival in the South Asian market, has also been swept up into the investigation. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)…
AI, Figma, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, vibe coding
Figma sent a cease-and-desist letter to Lovable over the term ‘Dev Mode’
We may be witnessing the makings of a new tech industry feud between competitors. Figma has sent a cease-and-desist letter to popular no-code AI startup Lovable, Figma confirmed to TechCrunch. The letter tells Lovable to stop using the term “Dev Mode” for a new product feature. Figma, which also has a feature called Dev Mode,…
AI, Global Security News, openai, Startups
OpenAI hires team behind GV-backed AI eval platform Context.ai
Context.ai, a startup building evaluations and analytics for AI models, announced Tuesday that its co-founders will join OpenAI. Context.ai plans to wind down its products following the acqui-hire, per a message on the company’s website. When reached for comment, OpenAI declined to reveal the terms of the deal. “Evals are a requirement to building high-performing…
Deel, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups
Deel’s CEO is now in Dubai, complicating Rippling’s lawsuit
Rippling’s efforts to serve Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz have been significantly complicated by the fact that Bouaziz and his lawyer are now in Dubai, according to internal correspondence seen by TechCrunch. The UAE is a country with a reputation of being a safe haven for those wanting to avoid extradition. Rippling is trying to serve…
Climate, Exclusive, fusion power, General Catalyst, Global Security News, nuclear fusion, Pacific Fusion, power plant, Startups
Here’s how Pacific Fusion plans to build a fusion power plant
Pacific Fusion also announced the hiring of a key executive from competitor Helion.
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Exclusive, Global Security News, Startups, Venture
Former Tesla supply chain leaders create Atomic, an AI inventory solution
Tesla famously struggled to scale up production of the Model 3 sedan in 2018 — so much so that CEO Elon Musk said his company was weeks away from collapsing. That near-death experience helped spawn a whole new company called Atomic that’s built around using AI to streamline supply chains. Co-founded by former Tesla employees…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Reach 1,000+ AI leaders: Host a Side Event during TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Looking to position your brand in front of the brightest minds in artificial intelligence? Hosting a Side Event during TechCrunch Sessions: AI Week is your opportunity to do just that. Reach 1,200+ attendees and the surrounding Berkeley tech scene. From June 1 to June 7, TechCrunch invites startups, investors, and builders to bring unique and…
Enterprise, Global Security News, gmail, Google, Notion, skiff, Startups
Notion releases an AI-powered email client for Gmail
Notion released Notion Mail, an AI-powered email client for Gmail that integrates with the rest of Notion’s workflow management platform, on Tuesday. Notion Mail connects to Notion users’ Gmail accounts and uses AI to help users organize their emails, draft responses, schedule meetings, and search across messages. Any Notion user can sign up, and Notion…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
Final days to apply to speak at TechCrunch All Stage
The application to speak at TechCrunch All Stage closes this Friday, April 18 — don’t miss your chance to share hard-won insights with 1,200+ startup founders and VCs. If you’ve been in the trenches and cracked tough growth problems, now’s the time to step up and share your scaling strategies onstage at TC All Stage,…
girls who code, Global Security News, media, Media & Entertainment, Meghan Markle, reshma saujani, Startups
Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani spills business tea with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Reshma Saujani, founder of the non-profit Girls Who Code, got straight to the point. “If I had applied to be the CEO of Girls Who Code, I wouldn’t have gotten the job,” she told Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on the latest episode of the duchess’ podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder.” “I didn’t code,” Saujani…
Deel, Global Security News, Startups
Rippling is trying to serve Deel’s CEO, but bailiffs can’t find him
HR tech startup Rippling is trying to serve Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz with papers as part of a blockbuster lawsuit against its competitor. There’s just one problem: French bailiffs hired by Rippling can’t seem to find Bouaziz, Irish newspaper Business Post reports. Rippling sued Deel earlier this year in Ireland alleging the company paid one…
Apps, Global Security News, Startups
Meet Neptune, a TikTok alternative where creators can hide likes and follower counts
Neptune is one of the newest short-form video apps on the block seeking to compete with major players like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The app, currently in beta, has attracted attention from hundreds of thousands of users, with 970 testers participating and 400,000 people on the waitlist, per the company. Neptune announced Monday…
electric vehicles, Exclusive, Funding, Global Security News, Startups, Transportation, Venture
Conifer locks down $20M seed round for its ‘drop-in’ electric hub motor
A handful of engineers who worked at Lucid Motors and on Apple’s electric car project have launched a new startup that puts a fresh spin on electric hub motors. The new startup, called Conifer, has developed its motor to be free of rare earth elements by using more abundant ferrite magnets, which the company says…
AI, Global Security News, Ilya Sutskever, safe superintelligence, Startups
OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence reportedly valued at $32B
Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the AI startup led by OpenAI’s co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised an additional $2 billion in funding at a $32 billion valuation, according to the Financial Times. The startup had already raised $1 billion, and there were reports that an additional $1 billion round was in the works.…
Biotech & Health, fertility tech, Global Security News, Next Ventures, Offline Ventures, Startups, Venture
Cofertility’s radical model for women: Freeze your eggs for free by donating half of them
In recent years, focus on career and delayed marriage age is driving some women to consider preserving their fertility through egg freezing. But the steep cost of the procedure, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000 per attempt, means many women can’t afford it during their most fertile years: 20s and early 30s. Cofertility, a startup founded…
forerunner, Global Security News, IPO, Startups, StrictlyVC
Forerunner’s long game: As startups stall before IPO, all options are on the table
Thirteen years ago, Forerunner Ventures began helping to usher in a new era of consumer startups, including Warby Parker, Bonobos, and Glossier. None has gone through a traditional IPO process. Warby Parker was taken public through a special purpose acquisition vehicle. Bonobos was acquired by Walmart. Glossier is still privately held, along with many other…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google Cloud Next, Hebbia, Startups
The most interesting startups showcased at Google Cloud Next
Google Cloud announced a long list of impressive AI startups as customers during its Cloud Next conference this week
Asia Pacific, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Startups, Tariffs, TC, trump's tariffs
38 consumer startup founders lobby over Trump tariffs: One faces a surprise $200K bill
Small businesses could be crushed under President Trump’s increased tariffs, according to an open letter by 38 female consumer product founders. While Trump paused his tariff increases for 90 days for various countries – setting the rate at 10% for now – China’s was raised to 145%, which includes the previous 20% levy. In the…
Fintech, Global Security News, patrick collison, Startups, stripe
Stripe CEO says company management regularly asks customers for ‘candid feedback’
Digital payments platform Stripe invites customers to join its management team meetings on a bi-weekly basis so it can get “candid feedback,” according to co-founder Patrick Collison. In an April 8 post on X, the fintech giant’s CEO said the company has a customer join for the first 30 minutes of the meeting, which is…
Fundraising, Global Security News, Hardware, North America, SpaceX, Startups, supply chain, Transportation
Parallel Systems is building autonomous electric rail for short-distance freight
The business of moving goods in the United States is dominated by trucks, which handles about two-thirds of the 20.2 billion tons of freight that’s transported annually. Parallel Systems founder and CEO Matt Soule wants to change that by putting a modern autonomous and electric twist on the centuries-old railroad system. The Los Angeles-based company…
Climate, Exclusive, Global Security News, heat pumps, hvac, Matt Rogers, Nest, quilt, Startups
Why Nest co-founder Matt Rogers is still bullish on HVAC
Matt Rogers says Quilt is picking up where his old startup, Nest, left off.
evergreens, Global Security News, Layoffs, Startups, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap, Venture
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI, Venture
Less than a month to get your exhibit table for TechCrunch Sessions: AI
TechCrunch Sessions: AI is fast approaching. So, what does that mean for you? It means exhibit tables are nearly gone — and now’s your chance to grab one before they’re all sold out. If you’ve got a game-changing product to showcase to the AI world, don’t keep it quiet. Exhibit your brand in front of…
evergreens, Global Security News, Layoffs, Startups, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap, Venture
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
Fundraising, Global Security News, newsletters, Startups, Startups Weekly, venture capital
Startups Weekly: Enjoying the reprieve
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. Startups aren’t isolated from the world. But this week, funding news felt positively uncorrelated from the overall news cycle, offering somewhat of a reprieve — or perhaps…
Fundraising, Global Security News, Startups, StrictlyVC, StrictlyVC London, TC, Venture
Leaders from Accel and Paladin Capital Group join the stage at StrictlyVC London in May
Mark your calendar — StrictlyVC London is just around the corner on 13 May. Designed for founders, entrepreneurs, and investors, this exclusive gathering promises deep VC insight and high-value connections. We’re thrilled to welcome our first pair of confirmed speakers: Nazo Moosa, managing director of Paladin Capital Group, and Sonali De Rycker, partner of Accel…
Fintech, Global Security News, patrick collison, Startups, stripe
Stripe CEO says he ensures his top leaders interview a customer twice a month
Digital payments platform Stripe invites customers to join its management team meetings on a bi-weekly basis so it can get “candid feedback,” according to co-founder Patrick Collison. In an April 8 post on X, the fintech giant’s CEO said the company has a customer join for the first 30 minutes of the meeting, which is…
AI, entrepreneurship, food tech, Global Security News, robotics, Startups
How Chef Robotics found success by turning away its original customers
A few years ago, Chef Robotics was hurting. But founder Rajat Bhageria turned it around by doing something that early-stage founders fear to do.
Department of Justice, E-Commerce, Fintech, Global Security News, Startups
Fintech founder charged with fraud after ‘AI’ shopping app found to be powered by humans in the Philippines
Albert Saniger, the founder and former CEO of Nate, an AI shopping app that promised a “universal” checkout experience, was charged with defrauding investors on Wednesday, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Founded in 2018, Nate raised over $50 million from investors like Coatue and Forerunner Ventures, most recently raising…
Biotech & Health, fertility tech, Global Security News, Startups, Venture
Cofertility lets women freeze their eggs for free through its donor-matching program
In recent years, focus on career and delayed marriage age is driving some women to consider preserving their fertility through egg freezing. But the steep cost of the procedure, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000 per attempt, means many women can’t afford it during their most fertile years: 20s and early 30s. Cofertility, a startup founded…
Global Security News, Hollywood, Meghan Markle, Startups
Meghan Markle has made another angel investment
Meghan Markle is stepping further into the world of business and entrepreneurship. In an interview with Fortune, Meghan revealed that she is an angel investor in the healthcare company Midi, which provides a virtual platform to help treat women experiencing menopause and other health-related concerns. She joined the company’s $63 million Series B round last…
Global Security News, Hollywood, Meghan Markle, Startups
Meghan Markle has made another angel investment
Meghan Markle is stepping further into the world of business and entrepreneurship. In an interview with Fortune, Meghan revealed that she is an angel investor in the healthcare company Midi, which provides a virtual platform to help treat women experiencing menopause and other health-related concerns. She joined the company’s $63 million Series B round last…
Global Security News, glossier, In Brief, Startups
Glossier might lose its unicorn status, report says
Glossier is reportedly fundraising again, aiming to raise $100 million with a valuation “south of a billion dollars,” according to Puck. Glossier, still one of the more popular beauty brands, was last valued at $1.8 billion nearly four years ago, but has struggled with profitability and scale these past few years. Glossier did not immediately…
Global Security News, glossier, In Brief, Startups
Glossier might lose its unicorn status, report says
Glossier is reportedly fundraising again, aiming to raise $100 million with a valuation “south of a billion dollars,” according to Puck. Glossier, still one of the more popular beauty brands, was last valued at $1.8 billion nearly four years ago, but has struggled with profitability and scale these past few years. Glossier did not immediately…
Coinbase, Exclusive, Global Security News, Inventex, patents, Startups
Inventex founder, an engineer for Coinbase at 14, wants to revolutionize patent applications
Daniel Ruskin started his career when he was a mere 14 years old as an engineer for Coinbase. As he tells it, he was a teenager “who knew how to code and wanted to build cool things.” Obviously too young to get a bank account, Ruskin did freelance development work he found on reddit in…
Emerging Tech, Global Security News, Startups
Drafted uses AI and video resumes to help early-career professionals land jobs
As the job market continues to get more competitive, it’s taking months for new grads to land employment, with many settling for roles that don’t align with their goals. To address this problem, Drafted, a new startup emerging from stealth, has built a jobs platform for students and early-career professionals, a subset of people who…
defense tech, Global Security News, mach industries, Sequoia Capital, Startups
How a hydrogen explosion led a teenage founder to become Sequoia’s first defense tech investment
As Sequoia Capital’s first defense tech investment, Mach Industries is an industry darling, raising over $80 million since its founding in 2023. Its founder, Ethan Thornton, now 21, began Mach as a teenage MIT student before dropping out to focus full-time on his startup. But a few months before landing a seed investment from Sequoia…
Exclusive, Global Security News, initialized capital, laundry service, LG Electronics, NoScrubs, Rinse, Startups
Tired of doing laundry? These startups want to help.
Doing laundry can be a chore. It takes time and is tedious. Few of us like to do it. So it’s no surprise that startups have emerged to take that load off your back — literally. And investors are lining up to fund new and older players alike. Eleven-month-old NoScrubs has just raised $2 million…
AI, AI agents, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups
Artisan, the ‘stop hiring humans’ AI agent startup, raises $25M – and is still hiring humans
It’s been a tough but exciting year for 23-year-old Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of AI sales agent startup Artisan. Artisan just raised a $25 million Series A led by Glade Brook Capital, Carmichael-Jack exclusively tells TechCrunch. Y Combinator, Day One Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, Oliver Jung, Fellows Fund, and others participated as well. A year…
autonomous vehicles, Fundraising, Global Security News, nuro, Startups, Transportation
Nuro’s $106M raise backs its shift from delivery robots to licensing autonomy tech
After months of hearty marketing efforts and large-scale technology demos across the U.S., Nuro has secured $106 million in fresh funding to help scale its autonomous driving technology and advance commercial partnerships. The Series E round brings Nuro’s total funding raised to $2.2 billion and its valuation to $6 billion. That’s a drop from the…
AI, Biotech & Health, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI, Transportation, Venture
The complete agenda for TechCrunch Sessions: AI unveiled
It’s been a couple of years since our last topic-focused, one-day event — but with AI transforming the tech landscape, we couldn’t miss the chance to gather 1,200 founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone shaping the future of AI for a deep dive into what’s next. On June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley,…
Global Security News, Security, Startups
A 25-year-old police drone founder just raised $75M led by Index
If you ever call 911 from an area that’s hard to get to, you might hear the buzz of a drone well before a police cruiser pulls up. And there’s a good chance that it will be one made by Brinc Drones, a Seattle-based startup founded by 25-year-old Blake Resnick who dropped out of college…
AI, Global Security News, reasoning, Startups
Deep Cogito emerges from stealth with hybrid AI ‘reasoning’ models
A new company, Deep Cogito, has emerged from stealth with a family of openly available AI models that can be switched between “reasoning” and non-reasoning modes. Reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1 have shown great promise in domains like math and physics, thanks to their ability to effectively fact-check themselves by working through complex problems step…
Biotech & Health, Climate, Global Security News, Startups, synthetic biology
Does Colossal Biosciences’ dire wolf creation justify its $10B+ valuation?
On Monday, the “de-extinction” startup Colossal Biosciences announced its most ambitious results to date: the dire wolf. These are creatures that have been extinct for more than 12,000 years made famous by the HBO show Game of Thrones. These white, fluffy animals live on a 2,000-acre preserve in a location so secretive that journalists, including…
autonomous vehicles, Global Security News, robotaxis, Startups, Transportation, zoox
Amazon’s Zoox begins robotaxi testing in Los Angeles
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit, is deploying a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles on the streets of Los Angeles starting Tuesday – a modest, yet meaningful step as the company inches toward offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. The data-collection effort marks Zoox’s entrance into its sixth city…
Disrupt 2025, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Venture
Take the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Apply to speak now
If you’re reading this, consider it your signal: the opportunity to influence the future of tech is here. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is now accepting speaker applications. Join us on stage this October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco and share your ideas with 10,000+ tech leaders, VCs, and innovators shaping what’s next. Apply to…
Disrupt 2025, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startup Battlefield, Startup Battlefield 200, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Founders, TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 is calling! Apply to enter!
Founders, the battlefield is calling! Startup Battlefield 200 applications are now live — and the race has begun. If you’ve got a groundbreaking idea and the guts to pitch it to the world, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is your arena. You’ll face elite VC judges. You’ll compete against 199 of the world’s most promising startups. And…
EWA, Exclusive, Fintech, Global Security News, Prosus, Rain, Startups
Los Angeles-based Rain raised a $75M Series B in another good sign for fintech
Rain, a startup offering employer-integrated earned wage access (EWA) app coupled with financial-wellness features like overdraft alerts and spending trends, has raised $75 million in an all-equity Series B round. The round was led by Prosus at a post-money valuation of $340 million. Rain plans to use the new funds to help it add credit…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Volunteer your time for a free ticket to TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Join us for an unforgettable opportunity at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, happening at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on June 5! We’re on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to be part of this exciting event. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the making of tech gatherings, now’s your chance to find out firsthand. Apply here by…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Meet the new Audience Choice winners to lead breakouts at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
You voted. They rose to the top! Meet the two Audience Choice winners who’ll take the breakout stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley to share their insights with 1,200 AI leaders and enthusiasts. We sifted through hundreds of Call for Content submissions and narrowed them down to…
AI, Global Security News, Mira Murati, Startups, Thinking Machines Lab
Mira Murati’s AI startup gains prominent ex-OpenAI advisors
Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new AI venture, Thinking Machines Lab, has gained two new prominent advisors: Bob McGrew, previously OpenAI’s chief research officer, and Alec Radford, a former OpenAI researcher behind many of the company’s more transformative innovations. Thinking Machines Lab’s website was quietly updated with McGrew and Radford’s names sometime in March. A spokesperson…
blockchain, Crypto, Fundraising, Global Security News, payments, Restaurants, Startups
Blackbird gobbles up $50M for its blockchain-based payment-loyalty app for restaurants
A founder who has carved out a name for himself building products to help restaurants connect better with would-be diners has raised $50 million for his latest startup: a new take on the idea of customer loyalty. Blackbird Labs has built a payments-meets-loyalty-meets-blockchain platform for restaurants to grow repeat business while reducing some of the…
food delivery, Fundraising, ghost kitchens, Global Security News, seed funding, Startups
Sizl raises $3.5M to expand its cook-to-order food delivery service
Dark kitchens– also referred to as ghost kitchens, cloud kitchens, or virtual kitchens– often receive criticism for their food quality. Sizl, a cook-to-order delivery service based in Chicago, seeks to change this perception by delivering meals made with fresh ingredients in around 30 minutes flat. The company announced its recent $3.5 million seed round on…
Climate, electrical grid, energy storage, Global Security News, renewable energy storage solutions, Startups, XL Batteries
XL Batteries is using petrochemical infrastructure to store solar and wind power
The startup has commissioned a demonstration unit of its organic flow battery.
Flexport, Global Security News, Startups, StrictlyVC SF
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen’s high-stakes test amid tariff turmoil: ‘You can’t be freaking out’
At 11 a.m. in California last Thursday, the day after President Donald Trump declared sweeping new tariffs under what he dubbed “Liberation Day,” Ryan Petersen was live on camera, fielding questions from a virtual room packed with more than 2,300 anxious customers. The founder and CEO of Flexport, a now 12-year-old global logistics and customs…
Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups
Deel’s comms chief departs amidst spying lawsuit from Rippling
Elisabeth Diana, head of communications at human resources Deel, is no longer with the company, according to her LinkedIn profile. Bloomberg first reported the news that Diana had resigned from Deel, which was recently accused of planting a spy at rival company Rippling. TechCrunch reached out to Diana but had not heard back at the…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, San Francisco, Startups, TC
SF Mayor Lurie to tech CEOs: ‘How can we get you back?’
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to bring his city back to its glory days. And he’s convinced tech leaders — who often pitch utopian ideals of their own — can help him deliver. “I’m a mayor that is picking up the phone and calling CEOs,” said Lurie during TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event on Thursday night.…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, StrictlyVC SF
Mach CEO on building defense tech company in your 20s
Mach CEO Ethan Thornton has been building weapons systems of varying shapes and sizes since high school, but his ambitions have turned into a company that recently landed a contract with the U.S. military and a plan to develop cross-functional factories. TechCrunch’s Charles Rollet interviewed Thornton during the StrictlyVC 2025 event in San Francisco, exploring…
Fundraising, Global Security News, newsletter, Startups, Startups Weekly, venture capital
Startups Weekly: Stay tuned for the Rippling espionage movie
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week reminded us that different startups share a different approach to news: Some choose to remain quiet for a very long time, even about their acquisition…
Fintech, Global Security News, limited partners, liquidity, secondaries, Startups, Venture
Turbine raises $22M to help VC investors get cash without selling their stakes
Since IPOs slowed to trickle a few years ago, limited partners who invest in venture capital funds have had one giant problem: a dearth of liquidity. Lack of cash returns has been especially troublesome for wealthy individuals or their small family offices – who manage the assets of the wealthy – that made substantial investments…
evergreens, Global Security News, Layoffs, Startups, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap, Venture
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
TechCrunch All Stage: Learn how AI can supercharge your MVPs with Chris Gardner
TechCrunch All Stage, our big event for founders of startups at all stages of funding (see what we did there?), is coming up July 15 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. And it’s our pleasure to announce that Underscore VC’s investing partner Chris Gardner will join a loaded lineup of speakers by leading a breakout session…
evergreens, Global Security News, Layoffs, Startups, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap, Venture
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
Global Security News, Startups, StrictlyVC, StrictlyVC London, TC, Venture
StrictlyVC is heading to London this May
StrictlyVC is crossing the Atlantic! On 13 May, London will play host to an exclusive StrictlyVC evening, delivering the same high-caliber VC insider content that has made these events a must-attend for investors and startup leaders alike. If you’re a venture capitalist or founder looking to exchange insights with peers and dive into powerful, no-filter…
Cybersecurity, deepfakes, Global Security News, openai, Security, Startups
OpenAI just made its first cybersecurity investment
OpenAI just co-led a $43 million Series A into deepfake defense startup Adaptive Security.
Cybersecurity, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Security, Startups, Venture
Ted Schlein’s Ballistic Ventures is raising $100M for a new fund
Ted Schlein’s cybersecurity-focused Ballistic Ventures is raising $100 million for a new fund, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.
Global Security News, Startups, teen
Teen with 4.0 GPA who built the viral Cal AI app was rejected by 15 top universities
Zach Yadegari, the high school teen co-founder of Cal AI, is being hammered with comments on X after he revealed that out of 18 top colleges he applied to, he was rejected by 15. Yadegari says that he got a 4.0 GPA and nailed a 34 score on his ACT (above 31 is considered a…
Exclusive, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Healthcare, Index Ventures, Startups, Thatch
Thatch raises $40M to give employees more control of their health care choices
Thatch, a startup that aims to transform the health insurance experience for employers and employees alike, has raised $40 million in a Series B round of funding, it tells TechCrunch exclusively. Index Ventures led the financing, which included participation from existing backers Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), General Catalyst, SemperVirens, PeopleTech Partners, The General Partnership, and new…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
Call for speakers: Showcase your knowledge at TechCrunch All Stage
Calling founders, VCs, and startup experts — share your scaling strategies! TechCrunch All Stage 2025 is assembling top minds in startups and venture capital on July 15 in Boston. If you have valuable insights on scaling, now’s your chance to share them with 1,200+ founders, investors, and entrepreneurs. Lead thought-provoking sessions, interactive roundtables, and actionable…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
New session at TechCrunch All Stage: Jahanvi Sardana on how top startups reshape markets
TechCrunch All Stage — the ultimate founder summit — is shaping up to be a powerhouse event where 1,200 founders and VCs across all stages will come together to forge meaningful connections and gain practical insights they can immediately apply to scale their startups. Join us on July 15 at SoWa Power Station in Boston…
Deel, Global Security News, Startups
The affidavit of a Rippling employee caught spying for Deel reads like a movie
Rippling released the affidavit of the its employee who admitted he was spying for Deel.
Exclusive, Founders Fund, Global Security News, Keith Rabois, Khosla Ventures, Real estate, Roam, Startups
Khosla’s Keith Rabois leads $11.5M Series A for startup Roam, calls it ‘the future of the housing market’
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage interest rates dropped to historic lows — as low as 2.5%. Fast-forward a few years and rates soared — to highs nearing 8% in 2023, with the national average 30-year fixed mortgage APR as of April 1 still at 6.84%. The whiplash has left many people seeking to buy homes…
AI, Exclusive, Global Security News, Startups
Actively AI raises $22.5M to offer sales ‘superintelligence,’ says AI SDRs failed
Actively AI argues that most AI sales reps have “failed.” It just raised $22.5 million.
AI, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global Security News, Startups
Parasail says its fleet of on-demand GPUs is larger than Oracle’s entire cloud
Cloud infrastructure is dominated by several large industry players: AWS, Microsoft’s Azure, and Google Cloud. While to some it may look like AI is headed in a similar direction, the founders of Parasail think AI infrastructure will look very different — and are betting their company’s fate on it. Parasail works with dozens of providers to…
Fashion, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Startups
CaaStle board confirms financial distress, furloughing employees
CaaStle, a startup that launched in 2011 as a plus-sized clothing subscription service and later became an inventory monetization platform for clothing retailers, is facing financial difficulties, the company confirmed to TechCrunch following a report by Axios. Citing a letter from the board, Axios reported that the company is almost out of money, CEO Christine…
Apps, Global Security News, skylight, Social, Social networks, Startups, TikTok
Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky’s underlying technology
Skylight, a startup taking on TikTok with a more open alternative, is launching its mobile app to the public on Tuesday after just ten weeks of active development. The app, which is backed by Mark Cuban and others, is now one of many to build on top of the AT Protocol — the same technology…
Global Security News, Harlem Capital, Ponte Labor, Startups
Meet Ponte Labor, a startup matching Hispanic immigrants to jobs using WhatsApp
While working on their MBAs at Harvard Business School, Colombian immigrants Stephanie Murra and Lorenza Vélez noticed that most of the workers in the cafeteria were Hispanic. In conversations with them, a common theme kept coming up: how difficult it was for people who legally moved to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries to find their…
Fashion, Global Security News, In Brief, Startups
Fashion startup CaaStle appears to be in trouble
CaaStle, a startup that launched in 2011 as a plus-sized clothing subscription service and in 2018 became an inventory monetization platform for clothing retailers, is facing financial difficulties, reports Axios. The company is almost out of money, CEO Christine Hunsicker has resigned, and law enforcement is investigating alleged financial misconduct, Axios reported, citing a leaked…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
Less than 24 hours to save $300+ on founder and investor passes for TechCrunch All Stage
Last chance! Less than 24 hours left to grab your $300+ discount on TechCrunch All Stage founder and investor passes. Planning to bring more than just you? Bundle tickets for even greater savings! Don’t wait — prices rise at 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. TC All Stage is the ultimate event where founders turbocharge growth, and…
Enterprise, Exclusive, Global Security News, microservices, open source, Startups, Temporal, tiger global
Temporal lands $146 million at a flat valuation, eyes agentic AI expansion
Seattle-based Temporal has made its name over the last several years in the world of microservices — specifically providing a platform to orchestrate the messy business of building and operating integrations and updates across disparate services and apps in the cloud. But the AI boom has come at the company fast. Now, Temporal has raised…
AI, Global Security News, Perplexity, Perplexity AI, Startups
Perplexity CEO denies having financial issues, says no IPO before 2028
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas recently took to Reddit to address users’ product complaints and reassure them that the company is not under serious financial pressure. Srinivas seemed to be responding, in part, to a user theory that the company is “doing horribly financially” and “making lots of changes to cut costs.” As an example, the…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
Just 2 days to secure your founder or investor pass with $300+ off for TechCrunch All Stage
Time is running out! Less than 48 hours left to lock in your $300+ discount for TechCrunch All Stage founder and investor passes. More than just you? Save even more with bundle tickets. Rates increase on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. TC All Stage is where founders accelerate their growth and investors discover their…
AI, Global Security News, Ilya Sutskever, Mira Murati, openai, sam altman, Startups
Sam Altman firing drama detailed in new book excerpt
An excerpt from the upcoming book “The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future” offers new details about why OpenAI’s board briefly fired CEO Sam Altman back in 2023. Written by Wall Street Journal reporter Keach Hagey, the book claims the nonprofit’s board members became increasingly concerned after learning about issues…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
Only 3 days left to save $300+ on investor and founder tickets for TechCrunch All Stage
The final countdown is here! This is your last weekend to lock in Early Bird pricing for TechCrunch All Stage founder and investor tickets. Save up to $320 before the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. PT on March 31. Founders, charge ahead. Investors, power the mission! On July 15 at SoWa Power Station in Boston, 1,200…
Africa, evergreens, Global Security News, Startups
Here are Africa’s biggest startups based on valuation
Last year, funding into African startups edged past $2 billion, returning to pre-pandemic levels and presenting a mixed bag as expected. Signs suggest 2025 will follow the cautious trends of the past two years. A sharp decline in mega-deals, mirroring global venture capital tightening since the boom of 2020-2021, pushed local and international investors to…
Fintech, fraud, Global Security News, jp morgan, Startups
Javice found guilty of defrauding JPMorgan in $175M startup purchase
Charlie Javice, the founder of student loan application startup Frank that was purchased by JPMorgan for $175 million, was found guilty on Friday of defrauding the bank by greatly inflating the customer count. After a five-week trial, the jury found Javice guilty, agreeing with prosecutors’ claims that she fabricated the vast majority of Frank’s customer…
Fundraising, Global Security News, newsletters, Startups, Startups Weekly, venture capital
Startups Weekly: Mercury more than doubled its valuation, and other news
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week reminded us that creative accounting doesn’t only happen in Hollywood. Some hopes were dashed, but startups are delivering on all sorts of promises, from nuclear…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC All Stage, TechCrunch All Stage, Venture
4 days left to lock in $300+ savings for investor and founder tickets for TechCrunch All Stage
Time’s running out — 4 days left to save over $300 on Founder and Investor Passes for TechCrunch All Stage! Founders, accelerate your journey. Investors, fuel their success. Join us on July 15 at SoWa Power Station in Boston, Massachusetts, for TC All Stage, where 1,200 founders and VCs come together to scale from seed…
electric vehicles, EV, Global Security News, lucid gravity suv, Startups, Transportation
Lucid to ramp customer deliveries for Gravity SUV by end of April
Lucid Motors plans to resume customer deliveries for its new all-electric Gravity SUV at the end of April. Getting the Gravity into customer hands is a big milestone for Lucid, whose success will hinge on being able to offer vehicle types popular with American drivers. The Gravity is Lucid’s second vehicle and its first SUV…
Biotech & Health, Exclusive, Global Security News, Startups, Y Combinator
YC-backed Taxo raises $5M to slash healthcare admin with its AI ‘reasoning engine’
YC-backed startup Taxo has raised a $5m seed round to save doctors time and money on admin work.
Gaming, Global Security News, India, Krafton, Krafton India, Nautilus Mobile, pubg, Startups
Krafton acquires controlling stake in Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile for $14M
Krafton, known for its titles PUBG and BGMI, has acquired a controlling stake in 12-year-old Indian mobile gaming studio Nautilus Mobile.