Facebook shut down accounts belonging to two academic researchers late Tuesday, cutting off their ability to study political ads and misinformation on the world’s biggest social network. The company accused the academics of engaging in “unauthorized scraping” and compromising user privacy on the platform, claims that Facebook’s many critics are slamming as a thin pretense […]
Dear Sophie: Which immigration options allow me to launch my own startup?
I’m appreciative that I made it through the H-1B lottery, but I’m stuck in a rut. I really want to start something of my own. Are there any immigration options that would allow me to do that?
YELA secures $2M to reproduce Cameo’s celebrity success with an app for the Middle East
The Cameo app, where celebrities send video messages to paying fans, has taken off globally. But now the concept is set to come to the Middle East and South Asia. Tech startup YELA has secured $2 million in investment to support its launch, and will — similar to Cameo — offer users the opportunity to […]
As the delta variant surges, a nonprofit app lets hospital patients call home for free on any device
COVID Tech Connect, a nonprofit created during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, is launching a free app aimed at helping hospital patients call home. As the delta variant drives a new upward surge in critical COVID-19 cases, the new offering is, sadly, well timed. COVID Tech Connect originated as […]
Cybersecurity trainer HackerU acquires Cybint for $50M, say sources
Florida-based HackerU, which creates cybersecurity and other digital skills programs, is acquiring Cybint, a SaaS-based cyber education company. TechCrunch sources understand this to be a $50 million acquisition, though both companies declined to comment on the price. HackerU provided digital workforce training to students, post-graduate professionals and the community in the U.S., Europe and Asia […]
Heatworks opens pre-orders for its plumbing-free countertop dishwasher
Heatworks has at long last opened pre-orders for the Tetra, a countertop dishwasher that debuted at CES 2018. The Tetra doesn’t require any plumbing, just an electrical outlet.
Reserve Trust raises $30.5M to become the ‘Stripe for B2B payments’
Reserve Trust, a Denver-based financial services provider, has raised $30.5 million in a Series A round led by QED Investors. FinTech Collective, Ardent Venture Partners, Flywire CEO Mike Massaro and Quovo founder and CEO Lowell Putnam also participated in the financing, which included $17.9 million in secondary shares. It brings the startup’s total raised since […]
Third Wave Automation raises $40M to bring its autonomous forklifts to warehouses
The California-based startup, which was founded in 2018, has raised $40 million in a Series B round led by Norwest Venture Partners.
When the goals of PR and journalism don’t align
Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For our Wednesday show this week, Natasha and Alex hosted a PR roundtable. Yep, our promise back when Alex Konrad came on the program to chat funding rounds is being fulfilled. Here’s who joined us: Amy Widdowson, VP Corporate Communications at […]
Apax to combine three social impact software companies in deal valued at $2B
Who says there is no big money in software aimed at helping people? Private equity firm Apax Funds announced this morning that it is combining three social impact firms to create a platform of sorts in a deal valued at $2 billion. To build this social good juggernaut, Apax went out and purchased EveryAction from […]