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Startup and Technology News
Site URL: techcrunch.com/
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Posts: 175
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Byju’s founder says his edtech startup, once worth $22B, is now ‘worth zero’
Published: October 18, 2024 06:44
Byju Raveendran, the founder of the embattled edtech group Byju’s, acknowledged on Thursday afternoon that he made mistakes, mistimed the market, and that his startup, once valued at $22 billion, is now effectively worth “zero.” Speaking to a group of…
The surprising way OpenAI could reportedly get out of its pact with Microsoft
Published: October 18, 2024 06:39
The New York Times on Thursday published a look at the “fraying” relationship between OpenAI and its investor, partner, and, increasingly, rival, Microsoft, reporting their five-year romance has cooled owing to financial pressure on OpenAI, the amount of…
Former watch trader is now building the AWS of grid storage, Terralyr
Published: October 18, 2024 04:00
The startup's technology is a twist on the virtual power plant concept, in which batteries are aggregated and portions of the whole are sold off to various customers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon indicates employees can quit if they don’t like its return-to-office mandate
Published: October 18, 2024 01:17
AWS CEO Matt Garman has harsh words for remote workers: return to the office or quit. The Amazon executive recently told employees who don’t like the new five-day in-person work policy that, “there are other companies around,” presumably companies they can…
Automattic offered employees another chance to quit — this time with nine months’ severance
Published: October 17, 2024 23:41
Days after 159 people accepted Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg’s offer of a six-month severance package to employees who wanted to leave, the company floated a new offer late on October 16 of a nine-month severance package to anybody who quit immediately.…
General Catalyst reportedly to back Saudi Arabian startup
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/general-catalyst-reportedly-to-back-saudi-arabian-startup/
Published: October 17, 2024 22:41
Despite Saudi Arabia’s record of human rights abuses, some investors are warming up to investing in the country’s startups. General Catalyst is planning to invest in a Saudi Arabia-based fintech startup, Lean Technology, the firm’s first investment in the…
Stripe in talks to acquire Bridge for $1 billion
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/stripe-in-talks-to-acquire-bridge-for-1-billion/
Published: October 17, 2024 21:52
Stripe is in talks to acquire stablecoin platform Bridge for a whopping $1 billion, according to Forbes. The talks are reportedly in advanced stages, although nothing has been finalized. Bridge, cofounded by Coinbase alumni Zach Abrams and Sean Yu, has…
Elon Musk’s X is changing its privacy policy to allow third parties to train AI on your posts
Published: October 17, 2024 21:18
On Wednesday, social network X (formerly Twitter) updated its Privacy Policy to indicate that it would allow third-party “collaborators” to train their AI models on X data, unless users opt out. While X owner Elon Musk trained xAI’s Grok AI chatbot on X…
Sam Altman’s Worldcoin becomes World and shows new iris-scanning Orb to prove your humanity
Published: October 17, 2024 20:10
Worldcoin, the Sam Altman co-founded “proof of personhood” crypto startup that scans people’s eyeballs, announced on Thursday that it dropped the “coin” from its name and is now just “World.” The startup also unveiled its next generation of iris-scanning…
All mobile phones must be hearing aid compatible under new FCC rules
Published: October 17, 2024 19:59
The FCC Thursday issued rules requiring that all mobile phones — including smartphones — sold in the U.S. be compatible with hearing aids. The news comes two years after the FDA made hearing aids available to all Americans without a prescription. The FCC…
Microsoft said it lost weeks of security logs for its customers’ cloud products
Published: October 17, 2024 19:06
Missing logs could make it more difficult to identify unauthorized access to the customers' networks during that two-week window. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Experts say OpenAI’s patent pledge amounts to little more than ‘virtue signaling’
Published: October 17, 2024 19:01
This week, OpenAI quietly published a statement on its website pledging not to use its patents offensively. Asserting its commitment to the principles of “broad access” and “collaboration,” OpenAI said that it would only use its patents in a way that…
Marc Benioff warns that AI, while useful, is overhyped and partly blames Microsoft
Published: October 17, 2024 18:23
One of the tech industry’s biggest hype men, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, is psyched about AI, but points out that it hasn't cured cancer. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Google replaces executive in charge of Search and advertising
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/google-replaces-executive-in-charge-of-search-and-advertising/
Published: October 17, 2024 18:23
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced on Thursday that Prabhakar Raghavan, the executive in charge of the company’s search engine and ads products, is leaving his role. Longtime Google executive Nick Fox will replace Raghavan, who will now take on the role of…
Feds arrest man who allegedly participated in hack of the SEC’s X account, boosting Bitcoin’s price
Published: October 17, 2024 17:12
Eric Council Jr. and unnamed co-conspirators were allegedly behind the hack of the official @SECGov account on X. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Beyond the hype: Why Tesla’s robotaxi future faces regulatory roadblocks
Published: October 17, 2024 17:05
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Kirsten is still out doing Kirsten things, so I (Rebecca Bellan) will continue to pass…
The 14 biggest take-private PE acquisitions so far this year in tech
Published: October 17, 2024 16:56
A roundup of the year's billion-dollar take-private deals in the technology sector. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
ChatGPT comes to Windows
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/chatgpt-comes-to-windows/
Published: October 17, 2024 16:56
ChatGPT is now on Windows. Today, OpenAI announced that it’s begun previewing a dedicated Windows app for ChatGPT, its AI-powered chatbot platform. Currently only available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users, the app is an early version,…
Waymo offers $3 credit for San Francisco riders going to public transit stations
Published: October 17, 2024 16:52
For the next month, Bay Area riders of Waymo robotaxis can earn a $3 credit whenever they travel to and from certain public transit stations. Riders will be able to take advantage of the offer through November 15, and they can use the credits earned…
Apple Music’s latest feature lets artists create dedicated playlists for concerts and tours
Published: October 17, 2024 16:35
Apple Music introduced a new feature for artists on Thursday to enable them to create playlists tied to their recent concert set lists. Dubbed “Set List,” the feature acts as a new promotional tool for musicians to engage with their fans. It allows…
Last-minute Expo+ 2-for-1 passes available for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024
Published: October 17, 2024 16:09
Time is ticking! We’re less than two weeks until the doors to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 open. To ensure no one misses this highly anticipated event, we’re offering Expo+ 2-for-1 passes for the final days leading up to Disrupt 2024. Bring a friend, colleague,…
Google’s NotebookLM now lets you guide AI-generated audio conversations, launches business pilot
Published: October 17, 2024 16:00
Google's NotebookLM has updated Audio Overviews with the ability to focus on a specific topic in the given content and has introduced a NotebookLM Business pilot program for organizations. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
With $11.9 million in funding, Dottxt tells AI models how to answer
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/with-11-9-million-in-funding-dottxt-tells-ai-models-how-to-answer/
Published: October 17, 2024 15:59
As we’ve reported before, enterprise CIOs are taking generative AI slow. One reason for that is AI doesn’t fit into existing software engineering workflows, because it literally doesn’t speak the same language. For instance, LLMs (aka large language…
French court blocks porn sites over age verification for child protection
Published: October 17, 2024 15:52
The Paris Court of Appeal ordered some pornography websites to be blocked on Thursday over failure to implement robust age verification systems that are capable of preventing minors from accessing the adult content, Politico reports. Porn sites Tukif and…
Databricks, Snowflake, and Battery Ventures discuss when to cash out or scale your startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024
Published: October 17, 2024 15:00
Navigating the complex decision of when to sell a startup or keep pushing forward is one of the toughest challenges founders face. In an era where IPOs are frequently delayed and acquisition offers arrive earlier, determining the right moment to either…
Subscription management firm Zuora agrees to be acquired for $1.7B
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/subscription-management-firm-zuora-agrees-to-be-acquired-for-1-7b/
Published: October 17, 2024 14:57
Zuora, a company selling software to help businesses manage their subscription-based services, has agreed to be acquired by private equity firms GIC and Silver Lake for $1.7 billion. The all-cash deal is expected to close in Q1 2025, subject to approvals…
Hackers are extorting Globe Life with stolen customer data
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/hackers-are-extorting-globe-life-with-stolen-customer-data/
Published: October 17, 2024 14:45
The insurance giant says an unknown threat actor has stolen data including SSNs and health information © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Apple says support for redeeming rewards coming to Apple Pay
Published: October 17, 2024 14:32
On Thursday, Apple celebrated 10 years with Apple Pay and announced how the service will evolve in the future, including the future addition of redeeming rewards and expanding installment loan options. In addition to Apple Pay’s newly added support for…
Announcing the final group of top VCs to judge the Startup Battlefield 200 Final at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024
Published: October 17, 2024 14:30
TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is just a week away. Our beefed-up Startup Battlefield 200 is a major highlight. Two hundred companies have been hand-selected by the TechCrunch editorial staff to grace the expo hall, 20 of which will launch their company for the…
UK digital ‘end-of-life’ services startup Farewill acquired for $16.8M
Published: October 17, 2024 14:13
Farewill, a U.K.-based end-of-life services provider that offers online tools for writing wills, organizing probate, and arranging cremation, has been acquired by funeral service provider Dignity in an all-shares deal valuing the startup at £12.9 million…
From Elon Musk to cop car chases, how a software engineer launched a police AI startup
Published: October 17, 2024 14:00
Abel creates AI that uses body cam footage and other data to fill out consuming police reports. For research, founder Daniel Francis shadowed the police. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Eclipse opens an NYC office with plans to bolster its presence on the East Coast
Published: October 17, 2024 13:00
After nearly a decade, industrials-focused VC Eclipse expanded out of Silicon Valley. The firm opened its second office in New York’s Soho neighborhood with plans to invest more on the East Coast. Eclipse backs startups in sectors including manufacturing,…
Can AI make us feel less alone? The founder of Manifest thinks so
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/can-ai-make-us-feel-less-alone-the-founder-of-manifest-thinks-so/
Published: October 17, 2024 13:00
Amy Wu, founder of the AI-based mental health app Manifest, has a bold prediction for the next wave of tech. “Separately from the AI trend, I think so many people are seeing this loneliness epidemic that’s happening with Gen Z,” she said. “There is no…
Permira completes Squarespace acquisition after upping bid to $7.2B
Published: October 17, 2024 12:41
Website builder Squarespace is no longer a publicly-traded company, after private equity firm Permira procured all remaining common stock in the firm. Permira first revealed plans to acquire Squarespace back in May, offering shareholders in the NYSE-traded…
India’s central bank orders Sachin Bansal’s Navi to halt loans
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/indias-central-bank-orders-sachin-bansals-navi-to-halt-loans/
Published: October 17, 2024 12:22
India’s central bank ordered four non-bank lenders, including Navi Finserv and DMI Finance, to halt loans from October 21, citing excessive interest rates and regulatory breaches. The Reserve Bank of India said (PDF) the firms violated rules on pricing,…
Elon Musk’s X boosts DSA info for EU users as bloc’s probe of its complaint handling continues
Published: October 17, 2024 11:50
An incoming privacy policy update to Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) will see the company making it clearer to users in the European Union that they have the right to appeal decisions under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), such as account bans,…
Casio says ‘no prospect of recovery yet’ after ransomware attack
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/casio-says-no-prospect-of-recovery-yet-after-ransomware-attack/
Published: October 17, 2024 11:10
The Japanese electronics giant says some of its systems remain "unusable" almost two weeks after cyberattack. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Instagram rolls out new safety features to protect teens from sextortion
Published: October 17, 2024 11:00
Instagram is introducing a series of new safety features to protect users from sextortion scammers, the company announced on Thursday. Most notably, the company is no longer going to allow people to screenshot or screen record ephemeral images or videos…
Cyera acquires Trail Security for $162M; Cyera is now raising at a $3B valuation
Published: October 17, 2024 10:17
Cyera, the Israel-founded, U.S.-based cybersecurity unicorn that uses artificial intelligence to build what’s known as data security posture management — a full assessment and picture of where a customers’ data has been created, where it is stored, and how…
Zepto eyes $100M from Indian offices in third funding in 6 months
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/zepto-eyes-100m-from-indian-offices-in-third-funding-in-6-months/
Published: October 17, 2024 07:00
Zepto is in advanced stages of talks to raise $100 million in new investment, its third in the last six months, as the leading Indian quick commerce startup looks to rope in more domestic investors, sources familiar with the talks told TechCrunch. The…
Accel eyes stake in India’s Truemeds at $330 million valuation
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/accel-eyes-stake-in-truemeds-at-330-million-valuation/
Published: October 17, 2024 05:16
According to half a dozen sources, Accel, the global venture firm, is in advanced discussions to lead a funding round of $30 million to $40 million in Truemeds, an Indian online pharmacy that’s focused on providing customers with more affordable generic…
Meta’s AI chief says world models are key to ‘human-level AI’ — but it might be 10 years out
Published: October 17, 2024 01:54
Are today’s AI models truly remembering, thinking, planning, and reasoning, just like a human brain would? Some AI labs would have you believe they are, but according to Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, the answer is no. He thinks we could get there…
Meta lays off employees across multiple teams
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/meta-lays-off-employees-across-multiple-teams/
Published: October 17, 2024 01:30
Multiple teams at Meta were hit by layoffs on Wednesday, the company confirmed in a statement to TechCrunch, noting these changes were made to reallocate resources within the company. The layoffs appear to have hit employees working on Threads, recruiting,…
ODD taps $27M for diamond chips to clear radioactive debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Published: October 17, 2024 00:00
Back in 2011, the world held its breath after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan suffered a failure of its cooling systems, in the wake of the country getting hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. The worry was not unfounded: the…
Apple reportedly worked with a Chinese automaker to develop a battery for its now-canceled car
Published: October 16, 2024 23:14
Apple worked with a Chinese automaker for years to design a battery system for its now-canceled car project. That’s according to Bloomberg, which reports that Apple was collaborating with BYD Co., a Shenzhen-based car company, to develop batteries using…
The Analogue 3D drags the fondly remembered N64 into the 21st century
Published: October 16, 2024 23:02
Who among us (and by “us” I mean elder millennials) does not remember the glory days of Goldeneye deathmatches after school? It’s one experience that has been difficult to reproduce despite the march of technology — but retro gaming hardware outfit…
OroraTech’s space-based wildfire detection brings in $25M to put more imaging satellites in orbit
Published: October 16, 2024 23:02
Wildfires aren’t going away, but our ability to detect and track them — and maybe catch them early enough to prevent serious damage — is getting better. OroraTech is taking a space-based approach to “wildfire intelligence,” and just raised $25 million to…
SpaceX sues California agency, alleging political bias against Musk and regulatory overreach
Published: October 16, 2024 21:31
SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against a California agency this week after the body rejected a proposal to increase the company’s launches from the state’s coastline to 50 per year. The California Coastal Commission (CCC) made its decision at an October 10…
Y Combinator-backed fintech CapWay has shut down
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/y-combinator-backed-fintech-capway-has-shut-down/
Published: October 16, 2024 21:14
Sheena Allen, the company's founder, told TechCrunch that CapWay had to close after it couldn't raise another round. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
After selling Drift, ex-HubSpot exec launches AI for customer success managers
Published: October 16, 2024 20:19
Elias Torres has achieved a lot for somebody who immigrated to the US from Nicaragua at 17 without knowing any English. He served as a VP of engineering at HubSpot before co-founding Drift, a company that sold to Vista Equity for about $1.2 billion in…
Apple debuts new business tools for managing presence across email, calls and Tap to Pay
Published: October 16, 2024 19:00
Apple on Wednesday announced an expanded series of tools that will allow businesses to increase their visibility on Apple’s platforms via its free service, Apple Business Connect. Launched last year, the online portal lets businesses manage their presence…
Fisker owners get help with recall repairs as court approves liquidation plan
Published: October 16, 2024 18:52
Fisker’s plan to liquidate its assets has been accepted by the bankruptcy court in Delaware. And with it, the issue of who should pay for labor costs associated with a pair of recalls on the bankrupt EV startup’s SUVs is finally settled. Fisker has also…
GM partners with startup Forge Nano to improve EV battery life, performance, and safety
Published: October 16, 2024 17:15
General Motors is working with Forge Nano, a materials science startup, to find new ways to enhance the performance and lifetime of electric vehicle battery cells. The automaker’s investment arm, GM Ventures, on Wednesday injected $10 million into Forge…
This Week in AI: AWS loses a top AI exec
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/this-week-in-ai-aws-loses-a-top-ai-exec/
Published: October 16, 2024 17:05
Hiya, folks, welcome to TechCrunch’s regular AI newsletter. If you want this in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. Last week, AWS lost a top AI exec. Matt Wood, VP of AI, announced that he’d be leaving AWS after 15 years. Wood had long been involved…
Are Cybertrucks too angular for Europe?
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/are-cybertrucks-too-angular-for-europe/
Published: October 16, 2024 16:40
Tesla’s Cybertruck is facing blowback in Europe, particularly over pedestrian safety concerns. Euro NCAP, a voluntary but influential car safety assessment program in Europe, has not in any way tested the Cybertruck, but based on a visual assessment alone,…
African crypto startup Yellow Card raises $33M led by Blockchain Capital to scale its B2B pivot
Published: October 16, 2024 16:36
Africa’s blockchain and crypto space is receiving a much-needed venture boost during a tough time for startups, some of which have retreated from specific markets or completely shut down due to issues like harsh regulatory environment, macros or downright…
Amazon jumps on nuclear power bandwagon by investing in X-Energy and promising small reactors
Published: October 16, 2024 16:36
The company revealed three deals, including an investment in a fission startup and two development agreements to add nuclear power to the grid. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
The FTC makes it easier to cancel subscriptions like streaming services, memberships and Prime
Published: October 16, 2024 16:20
Soon, it’ll be easier to end recurring subscriptions and memberships — if the FTC has its way. Today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced a final “click-to-cancel” rule that’ll require companies selling subscription-based products to make it “as…
Google will now help you find the cheapest flights available for your trip
Published: October 16, 2024 16:00
Google is introducing a new feature that will help you find the cheapest flights for your next trip. The company announced on Wednesday that it’s adding a new “cheapest” tab on Google Flights. Up until now, Google has displayed what it considers the “best”…
Glovo adds a side of social stickiness to its food delivery app
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/glovo-adds-a-side-of-social-stickiness-to-its-food-delivery-app/
Published: October 16, 2024 16:00
Do you want a side of socials with your fast food? Spain’s Glovo, a food delivery and quick commerce service where the bulk of orders are for ready-to-eat food, is experimenting with adding a bundle of social features to drive more in-app activity. It’s…
How Paladin’s drones helped Asheville during Hurricane Helene
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/how-paladins-drones-helped-asheville-during-hurricane-helene/
Published: October 16, 2024 15:01
When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, North Carolina in September, the city’s police department reached out to public safety drone startup Paladin for help. The startup’s 30-member team jumped into action working nights and through the weekend to assist…
Boston Dynamics teams with TRI to bring AI smarts to Atlas humanoid robot
Published: October 16, 2024 15:00
Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute (TRI) Wednesday revealed plans to bring AI-based robotic intelligence to the electric Atlas humanoid robot. The collaboration will leverage the work that TRI has done around large behavior models (LBMs), which…
Mistral releases new AI models optimized for laptops and phones
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/mistral-releases-new-ai-models-optimized-for-edge-devices/
Published: October 16, 2024 14:49
French AI startup Mistral has released its first generative AI models designed to be run on edge devices, like laptops and phones. The new family of models, which Mistral is calling “Les Ministraux,” can be used or tuned for a variety of applications, from…
Lightmatter’s $400M round has AI hyperscalers hyped for photonic datacenters
Published: October 16, 2024 13:01
Photonic computing startup Lightmatter has raised $400 million to blow one of modern datacenters’ bottlenecks wide open. The company’s optical interconnect layer allows hundreds of GPUs to work synchronously, streamlining the costly and complex job of…
Amazon revamps Kindle line with faster page turns, AI, and a new green color
Published: October 16, 2024 13:00
Amazon’s Kindle line seems to go longer and longer between updates. While e-readers aren’t quite the consumer electronics darlings they once were, however, the retail giant is still invested in the category. After all, according to estimates, Amazon…
Treehouse uses AI to help electricians install tech like EV chargers and heat pumps more cheaply
Published: October 16, 2024 13:00
The startup seeks to reduce inefficiencies for electricians, including from site visits while quoting jobs. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon Kindle finally gets color
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/amazon-kindle-finally-gets-color/
Published: October 16, 2024 13:00
It’s a big week in Kindle land. Along with refreshes to the base Kindle, Paperwhite, and Scribe, the company is introducing something many of us never expected in a devoted e-reader: color. Earlier this year, Amazon’s chief e-reader competitor, Kobo,…
Fable adds cognitive and hearing impairments to its accessibility tools with $25M round
Published: October 16, 2024 12:59
Fable has gained a reputation as the go-to startup for helping companies build digital products that are more accessible to people with disabilities. After raising $25 million in new funding, the Toronto-based startup is now expanding the communities it…
Elon Musk’s X dodges EU’s DMA as bloc decides platform isn’t important enough for fairness controls
Published: October 16, 2024 12:08
Elon Musk’s X won’t be regulated under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) the Commission decided Wednesday, despite the social media platform hitting usage thresholds earlier this year. The decision means X won’t be subject to the DMA’s list of…
Airbnb launches a network that lets hosts hire other hosts
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/airbnb-launches-a-network-that-lets-host-hire-other-hosts/
Published: October 16, 2024 12:00
Airbnb hosting has become a complicated business, from setting up a listing and managing the property to understanding price dynamics, communicating with customers, and tracking earnings. The tricky part is that the more properties hosts manage, the harder…
LatticeFlow’s LLM framework takes a first stab at benchmarking Big AI’s compliance with EU AI Act
Published: October 16, 2024 10:28
While most countries’ lawmakers are still discussing how to put guardrails around artificial intelligence, the European Union is ahead of the pack, having passed a risk-based framework for regulating AI apps earlier this year. The law came into force in…
Doctors complain of IT ‘in the stone age’
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/doctors-complain-of-it-in-the-stone-age/
Published: October 16, 2024 10:26
The United Kingdom’s NHS — the world’s largest public health service — is working on creaking IT infrastructure. In any sector, that’s a ticking time bomb. But when you consider that the NHS holds medical records for nearly 67 million people, a breach of…
Kenya’s Octavia gets $3.9M seed to remove carbon from air
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/octavia-gets-backing-to-remove-carbon-from-air/
Published: October 16, 2024 10:00
As calls for urgent climate action persist, technologies to help remove the heat-trapping greenhouse gases from the atmosphere are also emerging globally. In Africa, Octavia Carbon, a Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup is leading the efforts. Octavia,…
Long careers in luxury fashion led to a $17M raise for this supply chain platform
Published: October 16, 2024 09:35
The retail sector needs Inventory planning to maintain margins and meet demand. This is getting harder because there are now many distribution channels, more complex supply chains, and shorter sales cycles. Mid-market retailers and premium brands have less…
Support automation firm Capacity grows with new cash and acquisitions
Published: October 16, 2024 07:00
David Karandish has been busy. Capacity, his support automation company, was planning a $5 million “bridge round” to help the company reach the break-even point. But TVC Capital, Toloka.vc, and the venture’s other backers had something grander in mind. So…
Nordic entrepreneur-led VC firm Node.vc closes €71 million first fund
Published: October 16, 2024 06:30
From Switzerland’s Founderful to Italians Founders Fund and the Dutch Operator Fund, a new crop of European VC firms claim to operate as “entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs.” Although it might still be early to call it a trend, Swedish fund Node.vc has…
The woman who filmed Waymo’s honking robotaxis got an apology promo—then spent all day using it
Published: October 16, 2024 05:41
Sophia Tung set up a livestream this past summer, showing self-driving Waymo cars honking from the San Francisco parking lot near her apartment at all hours of the night. As a kind of apology for the nuisance, Waymo threw an ice cream party in Tung’s…
Storio is helping other businesses unlock more value from solar energy
Published: October 16, 2024 05:00
Meet Storio, a French startup that’s focused on providing smart energy storage for commercial and industrial customers. Founded in 2023, the startup raised a €5 million seed round earlier this year (around $5.5 million at current exchange rates) and has…
Former Palantir CISO Dane Stuckey joins OpenAI to lead security
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/former-palantir-ciso-dane-stuckey-joins-openai-to-lead-security/
Published: October 16, 2024 00:14
Dane Stuckey, the former CISO of analytics firm Palantir, has joined OpenAI as its newest CISO, serving alongside OpenAI head of security Matt Knight. Stuckey announced the move in a post on X Tuesday evening. “Security is germane to OpenAI’s mission,” he…
Our favorite startups from Pear VC’s invitational demo day
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/our-favorite-startups-from-pear-vcs-invitational-demo-day/
Published: October 15, 2024 23:49
Pear VC, a prominent seed-focused venture firm, invites about 20 startups per semi-annual sessions to its coveted PearX accelerator. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
How Tesla’s plans for ‘unsupervised FSD’ and robotaxis could run into red tape
Published: October 15, 2024 21:42
During Tesla’s much-hyped robotaxi reveal event last week, CEO Elon Musk said he expects Tesla to release an “unsupervised” version of FSD, the automaker’s advanced driver assistance system, in Texas and California in 2025 on certain Model 3 and Model Y…
Two more weeks to go: Connect with Meta, Dropbox, J.P. Morgan, and HP at Disrupt
Published: October 15, 2024 21:26
In just over two weeks, TechCrunch will gather some of the startup world’s leading companies at Disrupt in San Francisco. But our partners provide more than just financial support. Their presence at Disrupt gives startups at any stage the tools, knowledge,…
X rival Mastodon has started selling toys
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-has-started-selling-toys/
Published: October 15, 2024 21:20
If you like open-source, decentralized social networks that put the power in the hands of the people instead of billionaires, you can now support that cause…by buying toys. On Tuesday, Mastodon, a decentralized alternative to X, began selling its own…
Watch a robot dog run under water
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/watch-a-robot-dog-run-under-water/
Published: October 15, 2024 20:31
MAB Robotics Tuesday showcased the latest trick from its Honey Badger robot. In a video, the quadruped is seen running along the bottom of a pool. Legs don’t generally make more sense than propellers or other more standard methods of underwater robot…
Threads will start showing others when you’re online by default
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/threads-will-start-showing-others-when-youre-online-by-default/
Published: October 15, 2024 20:12
Meta’s X rival Threads is rolling out a new “activity status” feature that will let you see when someone on the social network is online. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the feature on Tuesday in a Threads post, noting that it’s meant to act as “a…
Keep’s AIOps platform helps ops teams reduce alert fatigue
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/keeps-aiops-platform-helps-ops-teams-reduce-alert-fatigue/
Published: October 15, 2024 18:27
Alert management for developers and ops teams may seem like a solved problem. Notifying an on-call engineer isn’t exactly difficult anymore, after all. But the real question has become when to alert the right person and how to help them when a service goes…
White House considers expanding Nvidia and AMD’s AI chip export limits to additional countries
Published: October 15, 2024 18:12
The Biden administration has privately discussed capping sales of advanced AI chips from Nvidia and AMD to certain Persian Gulf countries in the interest of national security, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The restriction could put a ceiling on export…
Elon Musk’s X still struggles to grow subscription revenue
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/elon-musks-x-still-struggles-to-grow-subscription-revenue/
Published: October 15, 2024 17:30
Elon Musk’s plan to reduce X’s dependence on advertising revenue by increasing paid subscriptions is still not taking off. According to a new, third-party analysis of the X Premium subscription service by app intelligence firm Appfigures, X has pulled in…
Internal blog post reveals Automattic’s plan to enforce the WordPress trademark using ‘nice and not nice lawyers’
Published: October 15, 2024 16:59
Matt Mullenweg, the WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO, has been embroiled in a very public and legal fight with WP Engine these last few weeks over the use of WordPress as a trademark, and fees Automattic believes WP Engine owes to the WordPress…
Some Americans are still using Kaspersky’s antivirus despite U.S. government ban
Published: October 15, 2024 16:07
Not everyone in the U.S. has given up on the Russian-made antivirus. Some Americans have found ways to get around the ban and are still using Kaspersky’s antivirus. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Google adds new features for Pixel along with Android 15 rollout
Published: October 15, 2024 16:00
Google is rolling out Android 15 today to Pixel devices. It is also adding new features through the October Pixel drop, including improved low-light photography on Instagram and support for underwater photography and video. Android 15 updates Android 15…
Instagram’s latest feature is a digital business card for your profile
Published: October 15, 2024 15:00
Instagram is rolling out a new “profile card” feature that is essentially a digital business card for your profile. The official launch comes a few months after the Meta-owned social network was spotted testing the feature with select creators. The new…
The New York Times has had it with generative AI companies using its content
Published: October 15, 2024 14:32
The New York Times sent a cease and desist letter demanding that Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity stop accessing and using its content in AI summaries and other output. The Wall Street Journal reviewed the document. The letter argues that Perplexity has been…
India backs Musk in satellite spectrum allocation row
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/india-backs-musk-in-satellite-spectrum-allocation-row/
Published: October 15, 2024 14:10
India is set to allocate spectrum for satellite services through administrative means rather than auction, a decision that aligns with recent comments by Elon Musk and rebuffs lobbying efforts by the country's largest telecom operators. © 2024 TechCrunch.…
New iPad mini brings support for Apple Intelligence and Pencil
Published: October 15, 2024 13:12
Apple Tuesday unveiled a new version of the iPad mini updated for the era of Apple Intelligence. The arrival is powered by the A17 Pro chip, bringing compatibility with Apple Intelligence, the company’s new generative AI offering. The new arrival marks the…
Amplitude buys Command AI to bolster its app engagement offerings
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/amplitude-buys-command-ai-to-bolster-its-app-engagement-offerings/
Published: October 15, 2024 13:00
Amplitude, a publicly traded company that makes digital analytics software, has acquired Command AI, an app user engagement startup formerly known as CommandBar. Most of Command AI’s 30-person, San Francisco-based team will be joining Amplitude. Command…
Google supercharges Shopping tab with AI and personalized recommendation feed
Published: October 15, 2024 13:00
After bringing generative AI to Search in 2023, Google is supercharging its Shopping tab with the technology. The company announced on Tuesday that it will use AI to help users shop for products based on exactly what they’re looking for. It also launched a…
Adobe’s Project Super Sonic uses AI to generate sound effects for your videos
Published: October 15, 2024 13:00
Creating engaging videos isn’t only about the visuals. So much of the appeal of good video content is about the audio, but finding (or maybe even creating) the right audio effects can be a time-consuming process. At its annual MAX conference, Adobe is…
The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/
Published: October 15, 2024 13:00
This story has been updated throughout with more details as the story has developed. We will continue to do so as the case and dispute are ongoing. The world of WordPress, one of the most popular technologies for creating and hosting websites, is going…
Career Karma founders launch OutRival to help companies build AI agents
Published: October 15, 2024 13:00
Ruben Harris and Timur Meyster, the founders of the upskilling platform Career Karma, announced today the launch of the company OutRival, which offers a service that hosts and lets businesses build their own customer service agents to take on customer…
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