Tech founder Ethan Agarwal, who has raised tens of millions of dollars from VCs across two startups, is running for the 2026 California gubernatorial seat, as reported by Axios. Axios described Agarwal as a “Democrat who believes in capitalism.” He told the outlet he’s mainly concerned about the increased cost …
Read More »Apple might opt for a curved glass design for 20th anniversary iPhone
Apple made a big splash in 2017 by introducing an all-screen iPhone with a notch and no physical home button for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. The company is now preparing to introduce another major overhaul for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, featuring a new curved glass design, according to …
Read More »Volunteer opportunities still open for Disrupt 2025
Volunteering at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 isn’t just about scoring free admission (though that’s a pretty sweet perk). It’s your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s biggest startup conferences gets built — and to meet the people shaping the future of tech while you’re at …
Read More »Robomart unveils new delivery robot with $3 flat fee to challenge DoorDash, Uber Eats
Robomart, a startup that builds self-driving delivery robots, is unveiling its latest robot with an ambitious goal of using it to make on-demand delivery profitable. The Los Angeles-based company announced its patented Robomart RM5 on Monday. The level-four autonomous vehicle can carry up to 500 pounds and is made up …
Read More »Silicon Valley is pouring millions into pro-AI PACs to sway midterms
Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman are among the Silicon Valley veterans putting more than $100 million into a network of political-action committees (PACs) that will advocate against strict AI regulations in next year’s midterm elections, reports The Wall Street Journal. The new pro-AI super-PAC network dubbed “Leading the …
Read More »Yottar wants to help energy users find capacity on the electrical grid
From AI to EVs, the world’s demand for power is soaring, and the electrical grid is feeling the squeeze. Enter Yottar, a startup that maps electrical grid capacity to help companies figure out where they can plug in new data centers, EV charging stations, and other power-hungry equipment. “The electrification …
Read More »Next set of VC judges locked in for Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt 2025
The Startup Battlefield 2025 judging panel is getting even stronger. Our first wave of VCs brought serious firepower, and now we’re adding more top investors who will grill founders, unpack the big questions, and help crown this year’s $100,000 champion at TechCrunch Disrupt, October 27–29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West. …
Read More »Former Meta exec Nick Clegg offers careful criticism of ‘cloyingly conformist’ Silicon Valley
Meta’s former policy chief Nick Clegg seems to be walking a tightrope as he promotes his upcoming book, “How to Save the Internet.” Unlike certain other Meta employee memoirs, “How to Save the Internet” doesn’t sound like a tell-all or a scathing critique. And in an interview with the Guardian, …
Read More »Pintarnya raises $16.7M to power jobs and financial services in Indonesia
Pintarnya, an Indonesian employment platform that goes beyond job matching by offering financial services along with full-time and side-gig opportunities, said it has raised a $16.7 million Series A round. The funding was led by Square Peg with participation from existing investors Vertex Venture Southeast Asia & India and East …
Read More »Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi over age assurance law
Social networking startup Bluesky has made the decision to block access to its service in the state of Mississippi, rather than comply with a new age assurance law. In a blog post published on Friday, the company explains that, as a small team, it doesn’t have the resources to make …
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