Startups
30 articles
Startup Battlefield 200 applications due May 27
Only 200 hand-selected early-stage entrepreneurs will showcase their innovations at TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield, competing for $100,000 in equity-free funding.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass prices increase begins
For TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the 'Founder Pass' has jumped from $1,295 to $1,895—a staggering 46.
eSports startup raises $20M with AI pitch trick
Lucra Sports, an eSports startup, recently secured a $20 million Series B funding round.
ClickUp lays off 22% of staff amid AI integration push
ClickUp, a productivity software company, recently laid off 22% of its workforce, replacing hundreds of employees with thousands of AI agents, according to Moneycontrol and TechCrunch .
AI agents trigger untracked chaos engineering failures
Last week, a major financial institution suffered a 4-hour outage.
Dreamie alarm clock reduces phone use in bed for $250
At $249.99, the Dreamie Smart Alarm Clock demands a premium for its promise: keeping phones out of bed. The device aims to reduce in-bed phone use, a common goal for better sleep. However, its high pr
Robotaxis Gain Momentum But Profitability Remains a Major Hurdle
In Los Angeles, Waymo recently launched fully driverless rides, yet just months prior, Cruise recalled 300 vehicles after an incident in San Francisco, highlighting the industry's simultaneous leaps a
Peec startup revenue growth surges past $10 million
Just six months after securing $21 million in Series A funding, AI startup Peec AI has more than doubled its annualized revenue to $10 million, far outpacing typical growth trajectories.
Elon Musk's xAI Uses Natural Gas as Stopgap, Not a Full Shift
Elon Musk's xAI is powering its data centers with dozens of unregulated natural gas turbines.
Google AI Overview no longer shows 'disregard' definition
When searching Google for the word 'disregard' in 2026, the AI Overview responds with "Understood.
Apple Asks Supreme Court to Review Epic Games App Store Ruling
Apple faces a civil contempt finding after charging a 27% commission on external App Store payments, directly defying a court order to allow such links.
Spotify announces ticket reservation for top fans
Live Nation's CEO Michael Rapino confirmed that tech giants like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon have actively approached them to secure inventory for super-premium fan tiers.
Spotify launches AI audiobook creation tool with ElevenLabs
Spotify Technology (SPOT) share price surged 13% on Thursday, its best day in over three months, following the launch of an AI tool that lets authors create audiobooks with synthetic voices, according
Spotify AI Creates Personalized Podcasts From User Ideas
Premium Spotify users in the US, Sweden, and Ireland can now ask a chatbot questions about a podcast episode, receiving instant clarification or recommendations, according to Engadget .
Spotify's AI Suite Faces Google NotebookLM in New Comparison
Spotify users can now convert their personal notes and documents into synthesized conversational podcasts, marking a significant leap in personalized audio content creation.
Patina's AI platform enhances luxury fragrance creation
Fragrance tech company Patina just secured $2 million from investors including Betaworks and True Ventures, according to TechCrunch .
Google IO 2026 adds AI to Gmail inbox for conversational replies
At Google IO 2026, Google unveiled Gmail Live, a new feature allowing users to simply ask their inbox natural language questions to find information.
Google Unveils Gemini Omni Flash for Gemini App
Google's new AI Ultra plan will cost $100 a month, a stark contrast to the company's simultaneous move to embed AI agents directly into its core Search product.
YouTube Tests AI Conversational Search with Gemini
YouTube now lets Premium users ask complex questions to find videos and enables generative AI edits on other creators' Shorts.
Hustle Culture's Shelf Life in Startups Is Shorter Than You Think.
On his employee's wedding day, startup founder AJ Orbach messaged them about work, a screenshot he proudly shared on X.
Emerging Technologies Disrupting Markets in 2026
On 19 November 2025, the European Commission proposed targeted amendments to the AI Act, signaling that even regulators are playing catch-up to the breakneck speed of AI deployment across industries.
South Korea Expands Open Innovation Support for Startups
CHA Biotech plans to allocate 10,000 square meters within its CGB facility to the K-Bio-CIC Open Innovation Center, with full-scale operations expected to begin in the second half of 2026, according t
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 for Startups
At a time when many tech conferences feature repetitive speakers and sponsored messages from poor companies, TechCrunch Disrupt consistently draws figures like Sir Michael Moritz and John Doerr who ra
How to Implement Fail Fast, Learn Faster for Innovation in 2026
Of the 30,000 products launched annually, a staggering 95% fail to meet their objectives, according to Innov8rs .
Africa Finance Corporation commits $100M to boost African tech startups
Africa Finance Corporation has committed $100 million to tech fund managers, targeting significant capital for African startups.
Musk's OpenAI Trust Lawsuit: Jury Deliberation
Elon Musk is demanding a staggering $150 billion from OpenAI, claiming its co-founders 'stole a charity' and cheated him out of a fortune.
Apple's Siri revamp may auto-delete chats
Apple's upcoming standalone Siri app for iOS 27 will automatically delete user interaction history by default, a stark contrast to how most AI agents operate, according to Macworld .
LetinAR secures $18.5M for its AI glasses optics technology
AI glasses shipments are projected to surge by 300% to 8.
Ministry of SMEs and Startups funds strategic innovation
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will inject 15.
Niche Conferences and Hybrid Events Are Redefining Industry Connection in 2026
For just $500, any organization can host a hybrid event for up to 100 attendees.