Startups

Gumloop lands $50M from Benchmark to turn every employee into an AI agent builder

As companies race to adopt AI, Benchmark general partner Everett Randle believes the key to success lies in empowering every worker with AI superpowers, and Gumloops intuitive agent builder is an example of the kind of tool that will unlock that potential.

Alexa+ gets a new adults only personality option that curses but wont get into NSFW content

The new Sassy style can curse and roast you, but the fun ends there.

Wonderful raises $150M Series B at $2B valuation

The funding round, led by Insight Partners, comes just four months after Wonderful raised a $100 million Series A.

Rivian R2 launch: Heres what $57,990 gets you

Two years after revealing what its affordable next-generation EV would look like, Rivian has shared all of the pricing, colors, and performance specs for its upcoming R2 SUV. And like so many new car releases, its complicated. The bottom line: Rivians bid to sell a more affordable EV that is accessible to a broader market []

Uber, Wayve, and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo this year

Nissan will integrate Wayve's self-driving software into the Leaf with the goal of making the vehicles available on the Uber app in Tokyo.

Disney+ is rolling out its TikTok-like Verts short-form video feed

Following the success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, Verts is designed to boost daily engagement and reach mobile-first viewers, all while increasing discovery across Disney+'s catalog.

Google is using old news reports and AI to predict flash floods

A new way to solve data scarcity: Turning qualitative reports into quantitative data with an LLM.

Google Maps is getting an AI Ask Maps feature and upgraded immersive navigation

The tech giant says the Immersive Navigation launch is the biggest update to Maps in over a decade.

Group14 opens factory to produce battery materials for flash charging EVs

The startup's new BAM-3 facility can make enough silicon anode material annually to supply about 100,000 long-range EVs.

When startups become a family business

This season on Build Mode, were diving into what it takes to build a world-class founding team.This week were exploring different kinds of co-founder dynamics and what it takes to build a startup with your family.

Chinese brain interface startup Gestala raises $21M just two months after launch

This is the largest early-stage funding in Chinas brain computer interface industry.

AI actor Tilly Norwood put out the worst song Ive ever heard

This song is an AI actor's rallying cry to other AI actors, urging them to keep going despite the naysayers who doubt their humanity. Literally no one can relate to this.

Nuro is testing its autonomous vehicle tech on Tokyos streets

Nuro began testing its self-driving software on public roads in Tokyo, marking the first international expansion for the AV startup.

Google Play is adding new paid and PC games, game trials, community posts, and more

The updates indicate that Google is focused on transforming Google Play into an enhanced gaming hub.

Ride-hailing inDrive acquires Pakistans Krave Mart to bolster grocery delivery

inDrive has closed its acquisition of KraveMart, expanding grocery delivery in a market dominated by Foodpanda.

Zendesk acquires agentic customer service startup Forethought

Forethought was years ahead of its time and the 2018 winner of TechCrunch Battlefield.

India neobank Fi winds down banking services on its platform

Fi, founded by former Google Pay executives, is discontinuing banking services over four years after launch.

Netflix may have paid $600 million for Ben Afflecks AI startup

This deal could rank as among the streaming giant's largest acquisitions ever.

Lovable says it added $100M in revenue last month alone, with just 146 employees

Swedish vibe-coding unicorn Lovable crossed $400 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in February.

Quince hits $10B valuation with giant $500M round led by Iconiq

E-commerce company Quince has raised another massive round, less than a year after its previous raise.

Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the fediverse

AltStore PAL now supports the fediverse, using its own Mastodon server to let iOS developers share app updates and alerts across platforms like Mastodon and Threads.

Drivers in fatal Ford BlueCruise crashes were likely distracted before impact

The National Transportation Safety Board released documents ahead of a March 31 hearing that help show how and why two drivers crashed into stationary vehicles in 2024, leading to three deaths.

Pro-Iran hacktivist group says it is behind attack on medical tech giant Stryker

The hacktivist group claimed the attack was in retaliation for a U.S. strike on a Tehran school that killed more than 175 people, most of them children.

Rivian spin-out Mind Robotics raises $500M for industrial AI-powered robots

The startup, which was created by Rivian founder RJ Scaringe, is looking to train on data from, and deploy in, Rivian's factory.

EV startup Harbinger reveals a smaller work truck with electric and hybrid variants

The LA-based startup is trying to corner the commercial truck market with its electric and hybrid trucks that offer a lower cost of ownership and a better driving experience.

Meta didnt buy Moltbook for bots it bought into the agentic web

Metas Moltbook acquisition may look odd at first, but the deal could signal how Meta sees AI agents shaping future advertising and commerce on an agentic web.

WhatsApp is launching parent-linked accounts for pre-teens

WhatsApp is rolling out parent-managed accounts for under-13 users, limiting features to messaging and calls while giving parents PIN-protected controls, alerts, and approval over contacts and groups.

Amazon expands a program that lets customers shop from other retailers sites

The changes allow more merchants to participate in Amazon's Shop Direct program, which sends Amazon customers to other retailers' websites.

Meta rolls out new scam detection tools to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger

The tech giant says the new features are designed to alert users before they engage with something suspicious.

Lucid Motors ships Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Gravity SUV owners

The update comes after a rocky first few months of software problems on the electric SUV.

Former Apple engineer raises $5M for a note-taking pendant that only records your voice

Taya is trying to address privacy concerns around note-taking wearables with its device that can be worn as a pendant and records only the user's voice.

TikTok now lets Apple Music subscribers play full songs without leaving the app

TikTok, which is known for shaping music trends and viral songs, said the new feature is designed to make it easier to go from the moment of discovery to deeper listening.

Google wraps up $32B acquisition of cloud cybersecurity startup Wiz

Google has officially acquired Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion in all-cash, a full year after the companies announced the deal. This marks Google's biggest acquisition in its history.

Zoox plans to put its robotaxis on the Uber app in Vegas this year

The purpose-built robotaxis will be available on Uber's app in Las Vegas this year, and Los Angeles next year, if Zoox gets the federal approval it's been seeking.

Health insurance startup Alan reaches 5B valuation

French health insurance startup Alan is now valued at 5 billion approximately $5.83 billion, up from $4.5 billion in 2024.

Google brings Gemini in Chrome to India

As part of the rollout, Gemini will support languages including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil.

Google and Tesla think were managing the electrical grid all wrong

The duo have teamed up with other companies to launch Utilize, which seeks to change how the grid is used and regulated.

Mandiants founder just raised $190M for his autonomous AI agent security startup

Mandia, who sold his previous company Mandiant to Google for $5.4 billion in 2022, has launched an agentic security startup.

U.S. military contractor likely built iPhone hacking tools used by Russian spies in Ukraine

Google found a series of hacking tools they said were used by a Russian espionage group and a cybercriminal group in China. Sources from a U.S. government defense contractor said some of those hacking tools were theirs.

Pokmon Pokopia is even better than Animal Crossing: New Horizons

While Animal Crossing is pure escapism, Pokopia gives you the sensation of actually rehabilitating a broken world.

AgentMail raises $6M to build an email service for AI agents

AgentMail provides an API platform that lets you give AI agents their own email inboxes, with support for two-way conversations, parsing, threading, labeling, searching, and replying.

Thinking MachinesLab inksmassive compute deal with Nvidia

The multi-year deal involves at least a gigawatt of compute power and also includes a strategic investment from Nvidia.

Google gives in to users complaints over AI-powered Ask Photos search feature

The option appears on the Google Photos Search screen and lets users pick which experience they want.

Legora reaches $5.55 billion valuation as AI legal tech boom endures

Legora, an AI platform for lawyers, is now valued at $5.55 billion following a $550 million Series D led by Accel to fuel its growth in the U.S.

Meta acquired Moltbook, the AI agent social network that went viral because of fake posts

Meta says that Moltbook's approach to connecting agents through an always-on-directory is novel.

YouTube expands AI deepfake detection for politicians, government officials, and journalists

YouTube's AI deepfake detection tool is becoming available to politicians, journalists, and officials, letting them flag unauthorized likenesses for removal.

This SpaceX veteran says the next big thing in space is satellites that return to Earth

The company's first demonstration mission is expected in early 2027.

Hyperscale Power is the latest startup to challenge 140-year-old transformer tech

Startup Hyperscale Power is developing technology that promises to shrink power transformers, freeing up precious space within data centers.

Google rolls out new Gemini capabilities to Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive

The idea behind the new features is to make the apps more personal and capable to help users get things done faster, right within the platforms themselves.

Zoom introduces an AI-powered office suite, says AI avatars for meetings arrive this month

Zoom is also introducing a real-time deepfake detection tech for meetings

Sandbar secures $23M Series A for its AI note-taking ring

Sandbar aims to ship the Stream, which can be used to take notes, chat with an AI assistant, and for media playback, this summer.

AI network startup Eridu emerges from stealth with hefty $200M Series A

Unlike a vibe-coded product built by a college dropout, Eridu's co-founder, Drew Perkins, has been inventing networking tech since the dawn of the internet.

Whoop launches a new blood test focused on womens health

The wearable maker is launching a new panel focused on women's health through its Whoop Labs blood testing service. It's also adding a new feature to its app that surfaces information about hormonal changes during menstrual cycles.

Uzbekistans Uzum valuation leaps over 50% in seven months to $2.3B

Uzum now reaches 20 million users and processes $11B in payments as it expands its e-commerce and fintech ecosystem across Uzbekistan.

Yann LeCuns AMI Labs raises $1.03 billion to build world models

AMI Labs, the new venture cofounded by Turing Prize winner Yann LeCun after he left Meta, has raised $1.03 billion at a $3.5 billion pre-money valuation.

An iPhone-hacking toolkit used by Russian spies likely came from U.S military contractor

Google found a series of hacking tools they said were used by a Russian espionage group and a cybercriminal group in China. Sources from a U.S. government defense contractor said some of those hacking tools were theirs.

Electric air taxi maker Archer hits back at Joby in countersuit alleging concealed Chinese ties

Archer's countersuit comes four months after Joby sued its rival for alleged 'corporate espionage.'

Founders Fund nears $6B close for latest growth fund, sources say

The fresh fundraise comes less than a year after Founders Fund closed its third growth fund, a $4.6 billion vehicle intended primarily for follow-on investments in its successful late-stage companies.

Electric air taxis are about to take flight in 26 states

The federal government has selected eight proposals to test electric aircraft across 26 states.

OpenAI and Google employees rush to Anthropics defense in DOD lawsuit

More than 30 OpenAI and Google DeepMind employees signed onto a statement supporting Anthropic's lawsuit against the Defense Department after the agency labeled the AI firm a supply-chain risk, according to court filings.

Anthropic launches code review tool to check flood of AI-generated code

Anthropic launched Code Review in Claude Code, a multi-agent system that automatically analyzes AI-generated code, flags logic errors, and helps enterprise developers manage the growing volume of code produced with AI.

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber steps down

Bluesky's board will search for a replacement while Graber becomes Chief Innovation Officer.

Slate Auto changes CEO months ahead of affordable EV launch

Former Amazon Marketplace vice president Peter Faricy is the new person in charge of the company.

Xprize founder Peter Diamandis launches new contest to manifest a new Star Trek

The famed author and investor has launched the Future Vision Xprize with sponsors like Google, Marc Benioff, Ben Horowitz, to fund optimistic sci-fi films.

Qualcomms partnership with Neura Robotics is just the beginning

Neura Robotics is going to build new robots on top of Qualcomm's new IQ10 processors that were released at CES.

Russian government hackers targeting Signal and WhatsApp users, Dutch spies warn

Dutch intelligence is accusing Russia-backed hackers of running a large-scale global hacking campaign against Signal and WhatsApp users.

Salt Typhoon is hacking the worlds phone and internet giants. Heres everywhere thats been hit.

Salt Typhoon is by far one of the most prolific hacking groups in recent years, breaching some of the top American phone companies. Here are all the countries that have been targeted.

Zoox starts mapping Dallas and Phoenix for its robotaxis

It's a precursor to launching robotaxis in those cities, though the Amazon-owned company is still waiting for federal approval to commercially operate its purpose-built AV.

The 2027 Chevy Bolt is the McRib of the automotive world

TechCrunch drove the 2027 Chevy Bolt and found that incremental improvements build on a solid basic recipe to deliver an affordable EV.

Flipkart moves its headquarters back to India ahead of IPO

Flipkart's headquarters shift comes as the Walmart-backed e-commerce giant reaches about $30 billion in GMV.