Equity
The intersection of technology, startups, and venture capital touches everything now. That’s why Equity, TechCrunch's flagship podcast, digs into the business of startups for entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike. Every Wednesday and Friday, TechCrunch reporters keep you up-to-date on the world of business, technology, and venture capital. Equity is ranked the No.2 podcast in the Top 100 Venture Capital All time leaderboard on Goodpods—As well as No.17 for the Top 100 Finance All time chart and No.32 for the Top 100 Business News All time chart.
Wed, April 16, 2025
We've entered an era of Fintech Maximalism according to Mark Goldberg
After nearly a decade at Index Ventures, where he backed standout fintech companies like Plaid, Persona, Lithic, and Pilot, Mark Goldberg left to launch Chemistry , an early-stage venture firm. Founded alongside Kristina Shen and Ethan Kurzweil, the $350 million fund is part of a growing trend in venture capital: seasoned investors breaking out from large platforms to build more focused, boutique outfits. Today on Equity , Mary Ann Azevedo caught up with Goldberg about what led him to make the move, what Chemistry is all about, and how the venture landscape has evolved over the past few years. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: The state of fintech, a sector Goldberg has long had his eye on—and why he sees “a lot more tech-fin than fintech” these days Why those waiting for a wave of fintech IPOs might be in for a long hold What he’s watching for in 2025 and beyond, from the impact of AI on fraud to shifting deal activity, including a pickup in M&A and secondaries Equity will be back with our weekly news roundup on Friday, so don’t miss it! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 11, 2025
Meta's Llama drama and how Trump's tariffs could hit moonshot projects
Meta dropped three new models over the weekend: Scout, Maverick, and the still-training Behemoth, billed as the next evolution of “open-ish” AI. But instead of excitement, the response was mostly shrugs. Critics called the release underwhelming, saying it lacked the edge expected in today’s breakneck AI race. Meta’s clear attempt to claw back some attention quickly turned messy. Accusations began circulating on X and Reddit around benchmark tampering, a mystery ex-employee, and large gaps between the models’ public and private performance. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are unpacking Meta’s rocky rollout, the AI industry’s obsession with looking smart on paper, and why, as Kirsten put it, “creating something to do well on a test doesn't always translate to good business.” Listen to the full episode to for: A breakdown of Trump’s latest tariff push, what you missed and how companies are bracing for impact The secretive EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos , and whether it was Bezos’s Plan B Colossal Biosciences’ Dire Wolf discovery, and whether or not the breakthrough justifies the startup’s $10B+ valuation Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer rea
Wed, April 09, 2025
Why prediction markets are going mainstream with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour
Kalshi is the largest prediction market in America, building a unique trading economy around political, sports, and cultural events. While some states view it as an illegal operation requiring gambling licenses, others—including certain courts and members of the Trump administration—see it as a groundbreaking financial opportunity. On this episode of Equity , Max Zeff sits down with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour at the latest StrictlyVC event in San Francisco. Mansour shares why he sees Kalshi as a global source of truth. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How Kalshi is creating a new trading economy around political and cultural events. The regulatory challenges and opportunities that prediction markets face. Mansour’s vision for Kalshi as a global tool for decision-making and transparency. The controversy surrounding Kalshi’s status and its ongoing legal battles. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 04, 2025
Spy games in HR tech: Inside Rippling’s wild lawsuit against Deel
Rippling’s latest lawsuit reads less like a legal filing and more like the plot of a corporate espionage thriller, complete with secret crypto payments, an alleged mole, and a fake Slack channel trap. This week, the HR tech startup publicly named the employee at the center of its case against its rival Deel, claiming the company paid him thousands to spy from the inside. Deel, however, is not staying quiet. The company is denying the claims, calling it a dramatic distraction from Rippling’s own legal troubles. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are catching us up on the week’s headlines, including a breakdown of how this saga between two HR tech giants escalated from business rivalry to accusations of racketeering, and why, according to Max, smashing the phone you use for corporate espionage with an ax at your mother-in-law's house is “the oldest trick in the book.” Listen to the full episode to hear about: The startup that’s gamifying the tax filing process , and the copyright questions that continue to rise Circle’s IPO and what the move could signal for others in the crypto space. The latest in the AI race — from OpenAI’s record-breaking raise and GPU meltdowns to Anthropic’s AI chatbot plan for colleges and Google’s Gemini leadership shakeup . Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on <a href="https://twi
Wed, April 02, 2025
Startup Battlefield winner Salva Health is changing the game in breast cancer detection
Six years ago, while researching for a college entrepreneurship competition, Valentina Agudelo identified a troubling gap in breast cancer survival rates between Latin America and the developed world, with women in her native Colombia and the rest of the continent dying at higher rates due to late detection. Today, Agudelo is the co-founder and CEO of Salva Health , and recently took home the top prize at TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield . On the latest episode of Equity , she joins Rebecca Bellan to discuss how her company is using the Julieta device to revolutionize early breast cancer detection. But before we dive into that, a quick reminder: applications are now open for this year’s competition, so make sure to get yours in! Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How their flagship product, Julieta, is making early breast cancer detection more accessible and efficient. The unique hardware-as-a-service model and its impact on rural healthcare. Salva Health’s expansion plans and exploration of other medical conditions like osteoporosis and liver cancer. Valentina’s experience competing in TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield and the challenges of securing funding for female-led startups. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 28, 2025
OpenAI is shooting for AGI but landing in Studio Ghibli
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 26, 2025
Bradley Tusk says VC is dead. But the 'fixer' in him is just getting started
According to Bradley Tusk, co-founder and managing partner of Tusk Venture Partners , venture capital has been “effectively dead for the last four years." A self-proclaimed “ Fixer ,” Tusk recently made the decision not to raise a fourth fund. Instead, he decided to go back to his roots and launch an equity-for-services firm aimed at helping early stage startups navigate tech policy and regulation. Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan sat down with Tusk to explore his pivot from traditional VC to equity-for-services, when it’s worth the risk to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, and why he’s dedicated to scaling mobile voting. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: The limitations of the current VC model and its lack of liquidity. How Trump’s tariffs and other measures have spooked the markets. Tusk’s experience advising early-stage founders on regulatory climates, including the crucial role he played in Uber’s early growth. Insights into his mobile voting project aimed at increasing voter turnout through secure, open-source technology. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 21, 2025
Inside the Google-Wiz acquisition and the deal's biggest winners
It was on, then off, and welp, now it's on again — and this time for a lot more money. Yep, the Equity podcast dug into Google's $32 billion acquisition of cloud security startup Wiz. There was a lot to unpack: the why, the how, what it means. And of course, there was the "who wins" part. Sequoia is takes home the VC prize for total payout. But another plucky VC out of Israel called Cyberstarts had the largest percentage win. Tune in to find out just how much, plus the crew's other insights on the deal and the breakup fee if it fails. Listen to the full episode to hear about: What Max thought about Nvidia's GTC conference, plus a roundup of the important news from the event What the Equity liked, loved, and was wary about with the Klarna IPO The drama surrounding HR companies Rippling and Deel and an alleged spy Waymo's deal to begin mapping the roadways at the San Francisco Airport and what the autonomous vehicle company agreed to. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 19, 2025
'Every software company is an AI company now,' says AngelList CEO Avlok Kohli
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 14, 2025
OpenAI and Microsoft’s ‘frenemies relationship,’ and what you missed at SXSW
This week, OpenAI inked a five-year, $11.9 billion deal with CoreWeave , the GPU-heavy cloud provider, securing its own AI computing pipeline—and a $350 million equity stake in the company. With CoreWeave’s pending IPO and deep ties to Microsoft, OpenAI’s deal marks a significant shift in the AI cloud wars. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan are diving into whether or not the deal is a power move against Microsoft or just an inevitable step in OpenAI’s bid for more compute, key deals of the week, and what you missed at South by Southwest 2025. Listen to the full episode to hear about: What Kirsten and Rebecca are seeing on the ground in Austin , and which founders are making moves Who’s feeling the ‘vibe shift’ leading up to Y Combinator’s latest Demo Day, and why founders are raising less money Scopely’s $3.5 billion bid for Pokémon GO maker Niantic Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thu, March 13, 2025
Reimagining urban infrastructure with AI and Autodesk
Today on Equity , we’re taking you to Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest, where Rebecca Bellan caught up with Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer at Autodesk, and Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, to discuss how technology is transforming urban spaces and building the cities of the future. The panel dug into how cities today are using AI to improve traffic and safety, why digital twins can help make cities more resilient to climate disasters, and how cities can integrate data centers into the fabric of their urban landscapes, among other topics. It’s a timely discussion, especially in the wake of Autodesk laying off roughly 1350 workers —about 9% of their staff—following a restructuring to focus on cloud and AI initiatives. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 07, 2025
The California AI bill is back, and it lost its teeth
California’s most controversial AI safety bill of 2024 might be dead, but its author isn't backing down . State Senator Scott Weiner is back with SB 53, a new AI bill that strips away the most debated parts of last year’s failed legislation while keeping key whistleblower protections and a public cloud computing initiative called CalCompute. With the AI industry and even the federal government shifting away from AI safety regulation in favor of innovation, will the bill gain any traction? Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are unpacking the latest moves in AI regulation along with the week’s top stories in tech and startups. Listen to the full episode to hear about: What Kirsten is hoping to see on the ground at SXSW this year CoreWeave’s IPO , and why the founders’ latest moves are raising eyebrows. As Kirsten put it: there's nothing more fun than diving into an S-1 Ramp’s impressive growth, and how the fintech more than doubled its annualized revenue to $700M Alexis Ohanian and Kevin Rose’s team-up, and if the pair can really bring back Digg Which founders are raising in 2025 , and why deep tech has some investors feeling optimistic Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechC
Wed, March 05, 2025
Is Silicon Valley still the best place for startups? Insight Partners’ Ryan Hinkle doesn’t think so
Today on Equity , Julie Bort sits down with Ryan Hinkle a Managing Director at Insight Partners, the giant New York-based venture capital firm that invests in tech worldwide. It has $90 billion in assets under management and just raised a new $12.5 billion fund. The pair unpack the evolving landscape of startup ecosystems. They talk about the post-pandemic shift that saw many founders moving to cities like New York or Miami only for the rise of OpenAI and Cerebral Valley and the accompanying AI boom to reignite San Francisco and Silicon Valley in general. While some founders say that they are now relocating their companies to San Francisco , Hinkle disagrees with the necessity of doing so. He concedes that the Valley offers an unmatched talent pool but argues it also comes with steep costs and retention challenges, making it far from the only viable choice for startups. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Why startup success isn’t tied to a single location but rather to access to skilled, loyal, and affordable talent How Silicon Valley’s abundance of opportunities creates a "mercenary” hiring culture, making employee retention difficult The key differences between building in New York vs. Silicon Valley, including financial management and access to venture capital Equity will be back on Friday with our weekly news roundup, so don’t miss it! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d
Fri, February 28, 2025
Every year, it seems like there's at least one big YC controversy
Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are breaking down the week’s biggest stories, including the Optifye.ai controversy, the wider concerns about AI in labor, and why this demo could be a glimpse of what's coming next. Listen to the full episode to hear about: Amazon’s Alexa unveiling this week in NYC, and why an AI-enabeled Alexa+ could make the competition sweat Why the departure of Lucid Motors' CEO Peter Rawlinson is raising concerns about the company's future Bridgetown Research’s $19 million raise to automate due diligence Figure AI’s new funds and Helix plans . When asked if they’d want the humanoid assistants in their home, Kirsten was skeptical, but Max prefers the softer side of robotics. Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 26, 2025
How Gradient Ventures is Shaping the AI Startup Landscape with Eylul Kayin
Today on Equity , Mary Ann Azevedo sits down with Eylul Kayin , a partner at Gradient Ventures, to dive into the evolving AI startup landscape. The pair dig into what makes a successful AI startup, the importance of quality product offerings, and the fast-moving nature of AI innovation. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Key challenges founders face, from building strong customer relationships to navigating technical hurdles. Gradient Ventures’ approach to funding and supporting AI startups, especially how to strike a balance between vertical expertise and rapid product development. Eylul's experience as a judge for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 2024, and tips for entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to investors. And if you’re a founder interested in applying, the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 applications are officially open — so be sure to check it out! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 21, 2025
AI Wearables 1.0: Was Humane’s AI Pin too ambitious?
Humane’s AI Pin , which promised to replace your smartphone with a sleek wearable device, is officially dead. After a rocky launch, negative reviews, and returns outpacing sales, the startup is shutting down and selling its assets to HP for $116 million – less than half of what it raised. But what’s next for Humane’s tech? On today's episode of Equity , hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are breaking down the week’s tech and startup headlines, including what HP might do with Humane’s resources and talent and how, as Max put it, the AI Pin was clearly ahead of its time. Listen to the full episode to hear about: The people in Elon Musk’s DOGE universe , the AI behind it, and the potential future of AI-powered government initiatives The new AI lab contenders, Safe Superintelligence and Thinking Machines Lab , and whether VCs are putting more stock in talent than actual results The Uber v. DoorDash lawsuit over “anti-competitive tactics” And why Duolingo’s mascot getting killed off in a Cybertruck crash is oddly working in the brand’s favor Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. <
Wed, February 19, 2025
How Slow Ventures is giving the creator economy a rebrand
Last week, the team at early-stage VC firm Slow Ventures launched its new $60 million fund entirely focused on investing in content creators.Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan sits down with Lightcap to dive into YouTube remains the dominant platform for serious creators,how niche community trust translates into scalable businesses, and what this new fund means for the creator economy. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How this new asset class has the potential to scale. The firm’s success stories so far, including Marina Mogilko’s baby snack company and other ventures. The parallels between backing creators and traditional seed-stage founders. The “key man risk” and how investors navigate the challenge. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 14, 2025
Elon Musk and Sam Altman are basically in a rap battle
Tensions are running high in the AI world this week after Elon Musk made a staggering $97.4 billion bid to buy OpenAI , a move that would mark one of the largest tech acquisitions in history – if it actually happens. Sam Altman shut the notion down fast, even going so far as to fire back with a post suggesting he’d buy X for a tenth of the price. But Musk’s bid itself does raise questions about potential roadblocks ahead for OpenAI. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are breaking down the offer, the response, and what it means for the AI company’s future, plus other headlines from the week. Listen to the full episode to hear about: What you missed from the Paris AI Action Summit : who’s backing global AI opportunity and who’s calling it a missed opportunity . BNPL startup Tabby’s massive raise and $3.3 billion valuation, as well as its IPO ambitions in a turbulent fintech market. Archer Aviation’s $300 million boost , and why its eVTOL development is leaning into defense. Equity will be back with a new interview on Wednesday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: </str
Wed, February 12, 2025
Sheel Mohnot says the fintech market is ‘hot again’
“The fintech market is hot again,” said Sheel Mohnot, fintech investor and founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV). “And we are going to see some more exits in the near future.” According to recent reports , fintech funding is on the rise, with global investment hitting $60 billion in the first half of the year alone, marking a significant rebound from the previous year’s dip. Mohnot – whose X account you’ve likely come across if you follow fintech – has invested in over 100 deals throughout the years, primarily in fintech, and co-founded the accelerator program The Mint. On today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Mary Ann Azevedo is catching up with Mohnot to discuss why he thinks fintech is “poised to have a lot of outcomes in the near future,” the potential of AI in fintech, particularly in accounting and underwriting, and highlights the impact of DeepSeek on the AI landscape. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Mohnot’s journey from founder to investor after co-founding companies like FeeFighters, which sold to Groupon in 2012. Who’s getting it right in 2025? Mohnot highlights players in the accounting automation space such as Basis, Layer, and InScope The optimistic outlook for fintech, with potential IPOs from companies like Chime, Klarna, and Stripe. How Sheel built his impressive online following, and what a Taco Bell metaverse wedding and Justin Bieber have to do with it. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by
Fri, February 07, 2025
Are companies falling out of love with OpenAI?
Humanoid robotics company Figure raised eyebrows this week when it announced it would be stepping away from a partnership with OpenAI in favor of building its own in-house AI models. Figure CEO Brett Adcock alluded to a “major breakthrough” in their own process and plans to unveil “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid” in the coming month. Figure isn’t the only company experimenting with non-OpenAI solutions either. Just last week, researchers from Stanford and the University of Washington demonstrated that it’s possible to train a highly capable “reasoning” model for under $50 in cloud compute credits, a stark contrast to the costs often associated with OpenAI’s models. TechCrunch’s Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl, and Max Zeff are diving into the biggest news on today’s episode of Equity , including how the tide could be changing for OpenAI. Listen to the full episode to hear about: Notable new hires in startups and venture, from Stripe’s new lead for ‘startup and VC partnerships’ to Andreessen Horowitz’s controversial pick for its American Dynamism team lead. Two space startups teaming up to build the next generation of telescopes . Elon Musk’s latest play, and how Silicon Valley is reacting to the tech bros taking over the federal government . Equity will be back next week, so don’t miss it! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over liste
Wed, February 05, 2025
From fintech to space tech: Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt is betting on space solar
As the interest in both space and solar grows, one startup aims to merge the two industries. By tapping into the momentum of the commercial space industry and the increasing demand for renewable energy, Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt is on a mission to make space-based solar power a reality with his latest startup: Aetherflux . Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan caught up with Bhatt to talk about his transition from fintech to deep tech and why he believes now is the right time to scatter solar power-collecting satellites across the skies. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How Aetherflux approached funding as a bootstrapped startup (for now), and what investor interest in space-based solar looks like. The challenge of scaling tech that’s literally out of this world. And Bellan and Bhatt’s idea for a Burning Man light show. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, February 01, 2025
DeepSeek: separating fact from hype
Today, we’re bringing you a bonus episode zeroing in on DeepSeek , the Chinese AI lab that’s recently taken over the news and the app stores , beating out OpenAI's ChatGPT. Max Zeff is talking about it all with Ion Stoica , Professor of Computer Science Division at UC Berkeley and the cofounder and executive chairman of software startup Databricks. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Why Stoica believes the future of AI lies in "doubling down on open source." Microsoft's decision to host DeepSeek on Azure. What the U.S. can do to foster accelerated innovation – with a look back at SB-1047 and a look ahead to 2025. The controversy surrounding claims that DeepSeek used OpenAI’s models to train its own. Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 31, 2025
DeepSeek lights a fire under Silicon Valley
DeepSeek, DeepSeek, DeepSeek . We couldn’t escape the headlines around the Chinese AI lab this week. The startup -- which claims to have built its models more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost of competitors -- lit a fire under Silicon Valley after releasing its R1 “reasoning” model and displacing ChatGPT as the App Store’s top app. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl and Max Zeff are digging into the latest news, including the reactions from both tech giants and the U.S. government, which is increasingly concerned that China is pulling ahead in the AI arms race. Listen to the full episode to also hear about: Tesla earnings -- from promises made to robotaxi updates, and questions left unanswered. Don’t worry, Kirsten brought her bingo board if you want to play along. Nucleus Genomics’ $14 million raise for DNA sequencing and analysis. The demand for fusion, and Helion’s $425M raise to build its own fusion reactor for Microsoft . Equity has a special DeepSeek deep dive on the way for those who want more, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time . Lea
Wed, January 29, 2025
Forget ‘Founder Mode,’ what about Customer Mode?
You might have noticed in your time online that a lot of the services and the websites that you’re using are kind of getting…worse. The good news, though, is that this means that there are different sectors that are ripe for disruption. On today’s episode of Equity , Rebecca's joined by Ed Zitron —CEO of EZPR, host of the Better Offline podcast, and author of Why Everything Stopped Working —to dig into why this shift is happening and what it means for startups. Listen to the full episode to hear the pair discuss: Why it’s time to ditch ‘founder mode’ for what Ed calls ‘customer mode’ – a more sustainable, customer-first approach that beats the growth-at-all-costs mentality. The opportunities Ed sees for startups in what he sees as a declining market The long-term outlook for generative AI companies like OpenAI. (Note: this interview was recorded before the DeepSeek news broke, but don’t worry – Equity will have that update for you later in the week.) Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 24, 2025
How are founders positioning themselves for the next 4 years?
Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl and Anthony Ha are digging into the latest tech and startup news from inauguration week in the U.S., including the new administration’s approach to startups and the potential transparency challenges that come with it. Listen to the full episode to hear about: TikTok’s rapid return and which apps are waiting in the wings – just in case. What is Stargate, and why are OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle and others committing $100 billion to the project? Why some shareholders are walking away from Divvy Homes ’ acquisition with nothing. The IPO market for 2025 : Who’s planning to make their debut , and who’s reconsidering going public ? Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCru
Wed, January 22, 2025
AI's $100 billion impact: 2024’s venture capital surge and the road ahead for startups
Today on Equity , Julie Bort sits down with Crunchbase News’ Senior Data Editor, Gené Teare, to dive deeper into the year’s slight growth in investment , which reached $314 billion, up from $304 billion in 2023. The pair explores how AI became a dominant force in the landscape. As Teare puts it, “Tech rides on bubbles. What bubbles tell you is that if everyone's putting dollars into a certain sector, it means there are very big outcomes coming.” Listen to the full episode to hear more about: The surge of AI investment and what it signals for the future The challenges startups face in raising capital, particularly in Series A Regional concentration of venture funding, especially in the U.S. What’s next for the IPO market as we look toward 2025 Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 17, 2025
$200M woolly mammoths and a farewell to TikTok
The clock is set to run out on TikTok over the weekend, following the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the ban . So, what’s next for the video-sharing app’s 170 million U.S. users? On today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl and Anthony Ha dive into the week’s biggest stories, including where all the ‘TikTok refugees’ are heading. Many are flocking to Chinese apps like RedNote and Lemon8 , with some even turning to Duolingo to brush up on their Mandarin as they search for new digital homes. Listen to the full episode to hear about: How Maki and Synthesia are rethinking the recruitment process – and yes, it involves AI. Colossal Biosciences’ colossal raise . Where will the woolly mammoths go? Did we learn nothing from Jurassic Park? Powerset’s decentralized venture fund, and the challenges ahead for mid-size venture firms . And finally, are we stepping into risky territory with AI companions , from falling in love with ChatGPT to making an AI chatbot say it loves you ? Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , <a href="https
Wed, January 15, 2025
'Social media should be built on protocols, not platforms,' according to Mastodon's CEO
Last week, Meta announced changes to its content moderation policy, including the removal of third-party fact-checking across its apps in favor of a crowdsourced community notes feature, similar to X. Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan caught up with Eugen Rochko, CEO of Mastodon, to explore what these changes mean for users and how decentralized social media platforms like Mastodon could offer a viable alternative to mainstream giants like Meta. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Mastodon’s decision to transition to a non-profit in Europe The challenges of implementing interoperability with platforms like TikTok -- which is set to “go dark” in the US over the weekend -- and the importance of user choice. Which other decentralized platforms we should keep an eye on. (Hint: Pixelfed is in the mix.) Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We'd also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 10, 2025
$5B livestream shopping apps, Nvidia reveals, and the weirdest tech at CES
As CES 2025 comes to a close, TechCrunch’s Equity podcast hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl, Anthony Ha, and Max Zeff are back on the mic to discuss the week's top news, the tech that caught their eye, and the companies still figuring out AI . Listen to the full episode to hear: What's driving Meta's push for “more speech, fewer mistakes” as it ends its third-party fact-checking program . Livestream shopping app Whatnot's $265M raise , and which companies could be capitalizing on livestream shopping next. Who is Peterson Conway, and why is he defense tech’s wildest power broker ? Margaux couldn't wait to give us the inside scoop. Kirsten and Max's full CES review, from robot-arm Roomba competitors to smart glasses , and what Nvidia's Project Digits could mean for future startups. Equity will be back with a new expert interview on Wednesday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank our illustrator,
Wed, January 08, 2025
The future of AI on wheels, according to Jesse Levinson from Zoox
Today on Equity , we're taking you on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt for Kirsten Korosec's conversation with Zoox co-founder and CEO Jesse Levinson. The pair discuss building custom robotaxis, how Zoox's approach compares to that of Tesla, and the 'current and future landscape' of AI on wheels. It's also worth noting that Amazon-owned Zoox recently scooped up some of Tesla’s top talent , bringing on Zheng Gao late last month to lead hardware engineering. Equity will be back on Friday with a full CES recap , so don't miss it! Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We'd also like to thank our illustrator, Bryce Durbin, and the TechCrunch audience development team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 03, 2025
Robinhood’s 'comeback' and big plans for 2025 with co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev
Instead of our usual Friday news rundown, we’re bringing you a conversation about what Yahoo Finance dubbed the “ comeback stock of the year ” - Robinhood. TechCrunch Editor in Chief and General Manager Connie Loizos chatted with Robinhood’s CEO and co-founder, Vlad Tenev , about the company’s evolution. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Why Tenev believes the company is poised for significant growth. Robinhood's approach to prediction markets, sports betting, and wealth management. How the Robinhood plans to empower a younger generation of investors. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thu, January 02, 2025
What’s next for Bluesky? CEO Jay Graber on growth, community, and decentralization
Happy new year, Equity listeners! At the end of 2024, all eyes were on Bluesky's rapid growth . According to the social platform’s CEO Jay Graber, however, their goal is not just to recreate Twitter. Today, Rebecca is handing the reins over to TechCrunch senior reporter Max Zeff , who sat down with Graber at our last StrictlyVC event. Listen to the full episode to hear pair dig into the company’s success and why, according to Graber, people need to, “be able to control the social networks they communicate on," regardless of whether that continues to be Bluesky or another federated social platform. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 27, 2024
2024: Founder Mode, AI, and the 'Rise of the Broligarchs'
From AI advancements and CrowdStrike's crash to WordPress drama and which startups VCs have their eyes on next, TechCrunch’s Equity podcast is saying goodbye to 2024 with a look back at the year's biggest stories in tech. Listen to the full episode to hear hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl, Devin Coldewey and Anthony Ha dig into: 2024 in a headline. We asked, and you answered ! Where did all the venture funding go? In a year of massive turnover, Margaux reminded us of which VCs are playing musical chairs , the rise in mega funds and decline in early-stage investments. How Wiz is faring after its choice to walk away from Alphabet , and who else is playing Deal or No Deal? Who's joining the TechCrunch team's list of most disruptive startups ? Predictions for AI in 2025. Investors have pumped billions of dollars into AI - including $6.6 billion for OpenAI , $6 billion for xAI , and $4 billion for Anthropic . Devin was left wondering, "Is 2025 the year they'll finally see returns?" Before we head into
Thu, December 26, 2024
Empathy-driven investing with Erin and Sara Foster
Today, we’re bringing you a conversation TechCrunch senior reporter Dominic Madori-Davis had with Sara and Erin Foster along with their advisor at Oversubscribed Ventures, Phil Schwarz. Across their careers, the Foster sisters have co-founded the clothing line Favorite Daughter, co-led creative for Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF, and currently co-host their own podcast Listen to the full episode to hear: How the Foster sisters made their pivot to VC. Which investments excites Oversubscribed Ventures the most. How they balance all of the different facets of their careers. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 20, 2024
Are AI companies just defense tech now?
This week, the Equity pod gang — which included newcomer Max Zeff, Margaux MacColl, and Kirsten Korosec — noticed an emerging trend: the worlds of AI and defense tech are colliding. Listen to the full episode to hear about: A new fund is in town. And surprise, surprise, Humba Ventures' $40 million fund is focused on deep tech and defense . How enterprise AI startup Cohere is unlike all the other AI startups out there, and why they've been so quiet. Particularly in this new deal with Palantir . Dig into the great philosophical question of 2024: is it dumb to IPO in an election year? And, perhaps more importantly, will this IPO dry spell continue in 2025? Should founders be cautious of investors with foreign backing ? Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 18, 2024
Building physical tech is back in fashion thanks to AI, robotics, and defense
This week on Equity Wednesday, Rebecca Bellan is joined by Louis, co-founder of America's Frontier Fund, to discuss the pressing trends in tech innovation. From robotics and AI reshaping manufacturing to Silicon Valley's embrace of defense technology, plus Louis shares his main predictions for 2025. Listen tot he full episode for a deeper conversation on: Silicon Valley's deep roots in defense tech The advantages and challenges facing founders seeking government contracts rather than VC funding The role startups play in shifting American leadership from the digital world back into physical manufacturing Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 13, 2024
It's the end of the road for Cruise, and Bluesky is still taking off
Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha and Margaux MacColl are unpacking the week’s news, including GM’s decision to give up on self-driving startup Cruise . The choice initially came as a shock considering the $10 billion GM pumped into the company over the years, but it became clearer when examining Cruise’s tumultuous 2023 and 2024 . Listen to the full episode to hear about: Freysa.ai’s public challenge and what’s motivating users to make the AI chat bot fall in love with them . Why VCs are lining up to back Lumen Orbit’s moonshot of data centers in space. Which startups are stepping up amid a looming TikTok ban and if we’ll see another company capture Bluesky’s success . According to Anthony, it all depends on, "luck, timing, and something to do with critical mass." Who’s stepping up to fill Y Combinator’s place in Africa and where else we could see a pivot to local accelerators. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes <a href="https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/e
Wed, December 11, 2024
How much ‘government efficiency’ will Elon Musk be able to pull off?
While the idea that the government “should be run like a business,” is by no means a new one, with Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency, it's worth taking a closer look at whether business principles can be applied to government. Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan is discussing the intersection of tech, business and politics with Columbia Business School Professor Michael Morris . Morris is also the author of Tribal, how the cultural instincts that divide us could help bring us together, a nominee for the 2024 Financial Times Business Book of the Year award. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's new initiative plans to save $2 trillion in government spending. The impact of other tech leaders joining government and the potential for these leaders to influence decisions on crypto and AI regulation. What challenges lie ahead for startups bringing innovation to the military. Spoiler: higher costs of error and slower logistics chains are on the list. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 06, 2024
Who knew you could get a $500 million valuation without launching a product?
AI agent startup /dev/agents announced a massive $56M seed round , putting the company’s valuation at a whopping $500 million. The amount is impressive given the company won’t have a first version of its product available until at least early next year. The reason behind investors’ trust, however, becomes a bit clearer when you consider the founders’ pedigree: /dev/agents’ co-founders were both on Google’s Android team during the early days of the smartphone era. The round, as well as whether or not to include “slash” when pronouncing the company’s name, was the first of many deals discussed on today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. Listen to the full episode to hear hosts Margaux MacColl, Devin Coldewey and Anthony Ha dig into: How Yurts plans to become the DoD’s go-to AI integration platform and compete with AI chatbot the Pentagon is developing itself. Why ServiceTitan’s IPO keeps getting weirder and if it’s a sign of IPOs to come. The latest wave of VC turnover, including Brian Singerman’s choice to step back from Founders Fund and Sriram Krishnan’s departure from a16z , and where they’re going next. The crew was left wondering if we’ll see other investors following in Krishnan’s footsteps. Strange AI. Who is David Mayer? And why does ChatGPT hate him so much ? Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. Check out our full archive of episodes <
Wed, December 04, 2024
'If you build it, they won't come': Bison Ventures founders on scaling frontier tech
How can founders scale frontier tech? Today on Equity , Rebecca Bellan is finding out with Tom Biegala and Ben Hemani , the co-founders of early-stage venture firm, Bison. Bison invests in what they call 'frontier tech' companies building in the material science, robotics, biotech, climate, and sustainability verticals. Listen to the full episode to hear Rebecca and Bison's founding team discuss: Why AI isn't a 'silver bullet' for biotech companies, although it is central to modern drug discovery Which robotics startups are catching investors' eyes How - and how not - to find product-market-fit when building frontier technology When to seek out venture funding over grant funding Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes on TechCrunch . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 29, 2024
Found: Taking on Nvidia and betting on transformers with Gavin Uberti from Etched
We hope those of you in the U.S. had a Happy Thanksgiving! And as a holiday treat this week, Equity is bringing you an episode of our sister show, Found . AI startups are everywhere, but there can't be any innovation without proper computing power. Found hosts Becca and Dom sat down with Gavin Uberti, co-founder and CEO of Etched , an AI chip startup focusing on developing specialized chips. Gavin shares the bold bet his startup is making on transformer models for AI chips, aiming to take on industry giant Nvidia. They discuss how Etched is developing specialized chips that they claim will be an order of magnitude faster than competitors, and Uberti shares his insights on the future of AI hardware as models continue to rapidly scale up in size and capability. Found posts every Tuesday. Subscribe on Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to be alerted when new episodes drop. Check out the other TechCrunch podcast: Equity . Subscribe to Found to hear more stories from founders each week. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 27, 2024
Aerospace Corp's CEO talks literal moonshots and Space Agenda 2025
At this year's TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, President and CEO of the Aerospace Corporation Steve Isakowitz and Agency Chief Technologist at NASA A.C. Charanya Charania took the stage to discuss a literal moonshot : how to build a thriving lunar ecosystem. Today on Equity, we’re taking you behind the scenes of TechCrunch Disrupt once again, this time with Devin Coldewey at the helm. For those keeping track, Devin’s kept the Equity podcast crew up to date on space startups over the past few months, including Starfish Space’s $29 million round and, more recently, SpaceX’s second commercial deal for the Starship lunar lander with Lunar Outpost . Listen to the full conversation to hear Devin and Steve Isakowitz discuss: What the path ahead looks like for space startups The shift away from government-dominated space programs to a more commercial landscape And what’s in store for Aerospace Corporation in 2025. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate, and we’ll be back on Friday for a special episode from our sister podcast, Found . Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 22, 2024
The AI industry's 'next big bet,' and should we just buy Chrome?
Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl dig into the week’s tech and startup news, including what a new scaling method could mean for AI startups if it works and for chip providers if it fails. Listen to the full episode to hear about: The DOJ’s latest proposal for Google : it should divest its Chrome browser. While we wait for a break in the monopoly case and a better search alternative to arise, the Equity crew thinks that Wiz might’ve been on to something when they said no to Alphabet. Dual-use drone startup Tekever’s $74 million raise and its part in the European defense tech boom How Converge Bio plans to build an ’everything store’ for biotech LLMs . While on the subject of LLMs, Kirsten took us deeper into ServiceTitan’s S-1 , including its boilerplate warning about AI. Network states 2.0 . Margaux had the latest on Praxis’s unusual $525 million raise and the regions its founder is eyeing for a new city. Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about
Wed, November 20, 2024
Building trust in crypto with Jonathan Levin of Chainalysis
Late last week, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler said that he was “proud to serve” the agency, which some are taking as a hint at an upcoming resignation. Gensler has faced heavy criticism for his crackdown on crypto, including a recent lawsuit from 18 states, and is likely to be replaced under President-Elect Donald Trump who has vowed to oust Gensler. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is meeting with Brian Armstrong, the CEO of crypto exchange Coinbase, to discuss potential personnel appointments. Today on Equity, we're bringing you an interview between Rebecca Bellan and co-founder and CSO of blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, Jonathan Levin. The pair caught up at our Strictly VC event in New York shortly before the Gary Gensler news dropped to discuss: The imminent change for crypto in the wake of the US election Trends in crypto crime Chainalysis’s choice to run its operations in the US How to build trust in crypto Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 15, 2024
Ben Horowitz’s cozy relationship with the LVMPD - and why it matters
Over the last few years, VC Ben Horowitz has donated at least $7.6 million to fund police department purchases - including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s new drones from a16z-backed Skydio. Skydio is not the first of a16z’s portfolio companies to benefit from these donations, either. Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl dug into the implications of Horowitz’s approach and why others in the VC world should maybe hold off on praising the controversial move . Listen to the full episode to hear about: Elon Musk’s new role in the Department of Government Efficiency . The crew wondered how much change Musk and co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy will actually be able to enact. And yes, DOGE jokes were made. Klarna’s plans for a U.S. IPO . Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to wait for 2025 before we get another IPO, but Margaux has a theory about what might be behind the slowdown. Vecna Robotics’ $14.5 million raise and the CEO choice that caught Kirsten’s attention. Starfish Space’s latest round and impressive batch of contracts for its full-size Otter spacecraft. Who’s joining the unsolicited bidding war over Cursor-maker Anysphere . Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast .
Wed, November 13, 2024
Marc Benioff says it’s ‘crazy talk’ that AI will hurt Salesforce
Today on Equity, TechCrunch Editor Julie Bort is sitting down with Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce and one of the tech industry’s biggest hype men, about his latest work with Time Ventures and Salesforce Ventures, and why he thinks AI agents are the next big thing for enterprise software. Listen to the full episode to hear about: The impact of AI on customer experience The application of AI agents in the healthcare space - and what it could mean for data privacy Marc's thoughts on Salesforce competitor Microsoft's Copilot The range of gadgets that have piqued Benioff’s interest lately As always, Equity will be back on Friday with our news round-up! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 08, 2024
Trump's election throws tech regulation a curveball
A tech regulation shakeup is on the way with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January. Trump has made it clear that he plans to dismantle Biden’s AI policies on "day one," aligning himself with those who’ve pushed back against regulation . Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl dove into what Trump’s win could mean for AI policy and innovation moving forward. While AI is always on the mind these days, there was so much more startup and venture news for the Equity crew to get into this week. Listen to the full episode to hear about: OpenAI’s acquisition of Chat.com , the domain previously acquired by HubSpot co-founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah for a whopping $15.5 million. We’re not sure if this signals a brand change for the AI startup, but users’ trips to ChatGPT just got three letters shorter. DeepRoute’s $100 million raise and the startup’s race to get its automated systems out before Tesla FSD is available in China. Biotech startup Archon’s $20 million effort to power up drug development with its ‘antibody cages’ . Of course, we couldn’t talk about the news without a biochemistry lesson from Devin where we learned a new scientific term: thingies. Google’s new AI-focused data center and collaboration with the Saudi Public Investment fund. The move had the team thinking more about tech’s climate commitments at large, and who is walking back their pledges in favor of AI. The election bidding boom - from Polymarket to Kalshi and a potential $450 million payout. Equity will be back next week with a special interview between TechCrunch senior editor Julie Bort and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, so stay tuned. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and
Wed, November 06, 2024
How startups can get a foot in the door of government contracts, according to Dcode Capital
Today on Equity , we’re taking you backstage at TechCrunch Disrupt. Rebecca Bellan caught up with Rebecca Gevalt, Managing Partner at Dcode Capital following their onstage discussion about the boom in national interest startups . Also on the panel was Topher Haddad, CEO of satellite imagery startup Albedo , and Kai Klepfer, CEO of biometric gun startup Biofire . Tune in to hear Bellan and Gevalt dive deeper into how startups can get a foot in the door of government contracts. Check out the full onstage conversation here, and Equity will be back on Friday! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 01, 2024
Rocket Lab Founder Peter Beck's vision for the space industry's future
As the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, Peter Beck is a familiar face to anyone in the space industry. But the company's ambitions go far beyond its popular Electron launch vehicle. Today, we're bringing you an interview from TechCrunch Disrupt when Devin Coldewey sat down with Beck to discuss his belief that to thrive, perhaps even to survive, space companies will have to become fully integrated one-stop shops. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, October 30, 2024
Equity Live: Bret Taylor’s $4.5 billion startup and Waymo’s $5.6 billion round
The Equity crew was live at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 ! Hosts Kirsten Korosec , Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl took over the Builders Stage to kick off day 2 of Disrupt with no shortage of conference highlights, startups deals and venture news to chew through. Listen to the full episode to hear about: Devin’s plans to go to space thanks to his chat with Rocket Lab Founder Peter Beck . What Sierra, the AI startup co-founded by Bret Taylor, plans to do with its fresh $175 million funds. Waymo’s who’s who of Silicon Valley round , and why Kirsten’s routing for the robotaxis over the competition. How General Catalyst is breaking down its latest fund and setting its sights on European startups. Equity will be back with a special interview episode on Friday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 25, 2024
Stripe's biggest acquisition yet, and what's a16z doing with all of those Nvidia GPUs?
It’s no secret that Stripe has doubled down on its crypto offerings, enabling crypto purchases in the EU back in July and announcing a Pay with Crypto feature earlier this month. This week, the fintech giant made its dedication to crypto even clearer with its largest deal to date: its acquisition of stablecoin platform Bridge for an eye-popping $1.1 billion. Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha and Devin Coldewey kicked off the show with their thoughts on the deal – mainly how surprising it is to see anyone spending over $1 billion on crypto in 2024. But of course, there was so much more startup and venture news for the crew to get into this week. Listen to the full episode for more about: Mobileye founder and CEO Amnon Shashua’s latest startup A 3D metal printing startup’s $14 million round from Boeing’s AE Ventures and Nvidia Andreessen Horowitz’s plans to provide its portfolio companies with Nvidia GPUs And who we’re expecting to see at TechCrunch’s Disrupt 2024 . Equity will be live at Disrupt on Tuesday , so we'll see you there! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, October 23, 2024
The race isn’t over for European AI startups, according to Accel Parther Philippe Botteri
“It's a bit too early to say that the race is over,” said Philippe Botteri when asked about European startups’ AI progress. “I think we're just at the very early innings of this race.” Botteri is a partner at early-stage investment firm Accel with over 13 years under his belt at the firm, leading investments in DocuSign, UiPath and more recently Snyk and Chainalysis. Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, host Rebecca Bellan caught up Botteri to dive deep into Accel’s Euroscape 2024 Report . Tapping into Botteri’s experience in Cloud, SaaS security, and enterprise sectors, the pair discuss AI's rising influence, its impact on software and cloud investments, and how European startups can compete with the US. Listen to the full episode for more about: How AI is eating the software market, with AI and cloud funding predicted to hit $79.2 billion by the end of 2024. The challenges faced by traditional software companies as funding growth slows outside of AI. Why Europe’s strong talent pool gives it an edge in the AI race, even as startups on the continent struggle to compete with the ungodly amounts of money U.S. tech giants have. Increased M&A activity globally amid a slow IPO market. Why 2025 will be the year of the “agentic revolution” with AI significantly impacting software development and productivity. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 18, 2024
Investor FOMO is back, and what's happening with WordPress and WP Engine?
Today on Equity, Devin, Margaux and Anthony Ha are rounding up the week's startup and venture news, kicking things off with a look at the $400 million raised by Lightmatter , and the importance of fast networking within the fast growing datacenter industry today — not just in years to come — makes the impressive round a little more understandable. Our Deals of the Week continue with Paladin's drone play for first responders and police, and Abel aiming to reduce the substantial paperwork backlog that officers accrue in their everyday duties. Abel Founder Daniel Francis brings a chaotic energy (having landed a Twitter job from Musk after pretending to have been laid off) that could shake things up. Diving deeper, Anthony breaks down the complex back-and-forth that is the WordPress/WP Engine dispute - and we're left wondering why the obligations of and to the "open source community" are not entirely clear. What does it mean for an open source ecosystem when one person (in this case WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg) still seems to exercise tremendous influence? And could we say the same of Meta's Llama or other "open" AI solutions? Last, the "bummer" results from PitchBook showing that although founders are founding and investors are investing, there isn't a huge amount of money being made . Turns out they weren't just in it to change the world after all. What could this lack of liquidity be attributed to? Is it the macroeconomic climate, the sectors being invested in, the VC's strategies changing... or something else? At least defense and AI are doing OK, and Europe seems to be chugging along, so maybe it's specific to America? Check back in a month. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes o
Wed, October 16, 2024
Tesla’s bot non-disclosure and why humanoid robots are taking off
At Tesla’s robotaxi reveal event last week, several Optimus humanoid robots mingled with guests, pouring drinks and cracking jokes. Impressive technology, but the vocals and some of the gesticulations appear to have been remotely controlled by humans , something Tesla did not disclose. Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan chatted with TechCrunch’s hardware editor Brian Heater about Tesla’s Optimus bots, the market opportunity for humanoid robots, and other companies that are leading the charge in this industry. We'll dive into: A CBInsights report which found that funding in 2024 already reached new highs for humanoid robots and PitchBook data that suggests funding into humanoid robot companies has reached close to $1 billion as of October. Where we're most likely to see humanoid robot applications in the coming years. Automakers like BMW plan to deploy startup Figure’s robots at their plants, and Amazon , which has been a huge proponent of robotics for over a decade now, has tested Agility’s digit robot at its warehouses. When we could see humanoid robots enter homes. Some companies plan to have their robots help older folks with household tasks like Kind Humanoid . Equity will be back on Friday with our weekly news roundup, so we'll talk to you then! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunc
Fri, October 11, 2024
AI ‘no one wants’ and Google’s potential breakup
Did OpenAI really ask its investors to avoid backing rivals like Anthropic and xAI? That’s what hosts Devin Coldewey, Margaux MacColl and special guest Anthony Ha wanted to know on today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. The team kicked off the show with a look at OpenAI's $6.6 billion round , which is being called the ‘largest VC round of all time’. Devin broke down what the funding could mean for the company’s path to profitability, and debunked some of the rumors floating around post-announcement - especially given how unusual those investor restrictions would be in later-stage funding. OpenAI is not all that was on the Equity crew’s minds this week. Margaux wanted to discuss Dave Clark's new venture , Auger, which just raised $100 million to make supply chains more efficient with AI. Taking Clark’s Amazon and Flexport history into consideration, Augur could be on the path to success amid current global supply chain issues and the recent longshoreman strikes. To round out our deals of the week, Anthony set his sights on Impulse Space , which recently secured $150 million to develop and launch its orbital transfer vehicles. What about the AI that people don’t want? Margaux took us deeper into her coverage of Shield AI, AI weapons and ethics . On the subject of tech getting out of hand, Devin and Anthony closed out the show with an update on the ongoing antitrust case against Google , and what a potential breakup could mean for the tech giant and startups looking to disrupt search. Hit play to join the conversation, and Equity will be back next week! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pi
Wed, October 09, 2024
Investors are betting on user-generated content, and Gamebeast's founder explains why
Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan sat down with Zander Brumbaugh, the 22-year-old founder of Gamebeast , a startup that offers Roblox developers tools like A/B testing and LiveOps to modify games without needing to release a new version or interrupt a user’s ongoing game. Gamebeast recently raised a $3.7 million pre-seed round , led by J2 Ventures with participation from a16z’s Speedrun accelerator, which Brumbaugh graduated from in March. Brumbaugh said everything from his experience consulting for entertainment studios like Netflix, and writing a best-selling book on Roblox development, to chats with investors tell him that the future of video gaming is in user-generated content, or UGC. The two discussed the rise in popularity of UGC games, a sector that investors are increasingly looking towards as drivers of growth in the video game industry. Brumbaugh didn’t only get investment for his startup because investors see the value in enabling UGC game development. J2 Ventures’ thesis focuses on dual-use technology, and Gamebeast was able to demonstrate how its tech has applications both in commercial and defense. And indeed, we’re seeing a trend of companies going for that sweet military money to stay afloat. There are more insights about the future of the video game market and investor insights aplenty, so have a listen, and enjoy! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 04, 2024
YC takes a bite out of PearAI, and French startups have a new home
Kirsten Korosec , Devin Coldewey , and Margaux MacColl are unpacking another busy week in the tech world, kicking things off with Governor Newsom’s veto of SB 1047 , the controversial AI bill aimed at stopping real-world disasters caused by AI systems before they happen. This may not be the last we'll see of the bill, however, as its author has plans to return with a revamped SB 1047 next year. What else went down this week, you ask? Kirsten had us looking to the skies with Joby Aviation’s $500 million investment from Toyota. While Toyota seems to believe that the electric air taxi dream is finally taking off, the Equity crew is skeptical. Margaux argued that aeronautics startup Salient Motion is taking off, despite attempts from Palmer Luckey to shut it down. On the AI front, Devin wanted to discuss Poolside's massive round, the latest drama surrounding Y Combinator-backed PearAI and why it's making waves in the open source community. Speaking of community, Paris-based Motier Ventures . had the team feeling optimistic about the French tech scene with its announcement of its new startup hub, La Maison. Hit play to join the conversation, and Equity will be back next week! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits:
Wed, October 02, 2024
Found: Has Rippling won? with Parker Conrad from Rippling
HR software is big, big business. And no one understands that better than Parker Conrad the CEO and co-founder of Rippling, a global HR company that offers global payroll, onboarding, time tracking, benefits management and more. This week, Equity is bringing you an episode of our sister show, Found . The Found crew talk with Conrad about what goes into building a leading HR tech company—from what it’s like building out features companies love, to dealing with fierce competition in this ever growing landscape. Conrad also gets into the power imbalance that can arise between VCs and founders and the drama at his previous company that inspired him to build Rippling. Found posts every Tuesday. Subscribe on Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to be alerted when new episodes drop. Check out the other TechCrunch podcast: Equity . Subscribe to Found to hear more stories from founders each week. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 27, 2024
Green flags for defense tech and Silicon Valley's longevity obsession
Equity is closing out the week as always with a round up of the week's top startup and venture news. Kirsten, Devin and return guest host Margaux McColl had no shortage of themes to cover: VC karaoke, the SpaceX economy, no moats for AI, OpenAI versus open source. To kick things off, we weighed in on Caroline Ellison's sentencing and deals of the week from Reflect Orbital and Pyka . Of course, we had to dive deep into Y Combinator's Summer 2024 Demo Day cohort from there - including a highlight of a few non-AI and AI startups that got our attention. And on the non-AI point, we noticed another startup getting VC attention: Synex and its portable MRIs to test glucose. Clearly, we had much to discuss on today's episode, so press play and join the conversation! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 25, 2024
The hydrogen plateau and IRA funding crutch with Toyota Ventures' Lisa Coca
Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan sits down with Lisa Coca from Toyota Ventures during Climate Week NYC to discuss a key part of Toyota Ventures' $800 million portfolio - their Climate Fund. The fund's $300 million is laser-focused on climate innovation, but Coca says it casts a wide net beyond just mobility, backing startups from seed to Series A. So far, they’ve invested in companies like AM Batteries, which is cutting battery manufacturing costs by 40%, and Ecoletro, pioneers in green hydrogen production using hydropower. Together, Bellan and Coca are shedding light on the significant challenges in hydrogen, direct air capture, and methane reduction, and emphasizing that startups need to achieve cost parity with fossil fuels to drive real change. As always, Equity will be back with a news roundup on Friday. If you like what you hear, don't forget to leave us a review! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 20, 2024
'Super weird' is the best way to describe this startup's pivot
This week on Equity, the podcast crew discusses several weird things and at least one cool thing. Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey, and Rebecca Bellan first talked about the least weird thing of the week, how nice it is that Cohere co-founder Nick Frosst has a band that people really like . Then we get weird. First the good weird: a helmet that squeezes your head, but for a really good reason. It prevents hair loss from chemotherapy. Devin covered Luminate’s latest fundraise and news, and everyone was pleased that money was going to a startup that may really be helping people feel better about themselves during a difficult time. The company is hoping to improve at-home care as well. Next, Kirsten explained the weird phenomenon of Flink , the “quick commerce” startup that just recently was rumored to be on the block for about $106 million, instead raising $115 million. Quite a turnaround! But as the team discusses, it may be that investors see the possibility that the “tumultuous time” for this sector is ending and Flink may have a good grip on the German market. Still… Then the weirdness begins in earnest. Rebecca is at the “Principled Business Summit,” aimed at “reclaiming capitalism” from, apparently, itself. She is getting mixed messages from the crowd and the content, which seems to combine enthusiasm for doing the right thing with some fringe tendencies to do… other things. And weirdest of all, autonomous trucking startup TuSimple’s pivot to… AI-generated animation and video games. What?! Though there is some overlap between simulation and animation/gaming, it’s a wild and unexpected change for the company, and a lot of shareholders are not going for it. Apparently the new division is working on another adaptation of “The Three-Body Problem,” so that’s good… but what about the $450 million they were going to spend on trucks? That conflict is playing out before our eyes. Press play, and catch up! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on<a href="https
Wed, September 18, 2024
JP Morgan's head of startup banking says 'Founder Mode' won't get you a unicorn
Today on Equity, Kirsten Korosec is joined by J.P. Morgan’s Head of Startup Banking, Ashraf Hebela . Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Hebela spent 13 years at Silicon Valley Bank, a bulk of those years dedicated to serving as SVB's head of banking. With over a decade in the startup world, he’s got some serious insights to share. Following the recent release of J.P. Morgan’s Startup Insights report, Kirsten wanted to dive into what it really takes to build a unicorn in 2024, and what parts of the startup ecosystem are seeing success beyond AI and Silicon Valley. The pair discussed the changing landscape, from new startup hubs popping up in Seattle, Austin, and Miami to the resilience and passion required to thrive. Hebela also talked about the decreasing rate of unicorn creation since 2021 and what founders need to keep in mind today - including how ‘Founder Mode’ may do more harm than good. Hit play and join the conversation! Equity will be back with our weekly news roundup on Friday, so don't miss it. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 13, 2024
AI's tween years, who's taking over climate tech, and the latest for Fearless Fund
What could be more frightening than Friday the 13th? How about a realization that AI is in its awkward tween stage? At least, it was for the TC Equity pod crew, which this week included hosts Devin Coldewey and Kirsten Korosec along with TC reporters Tim de Chant and Dominic Madori Davis. AI is often a topic over here at Equity Pod; and this week was no different. It seems to be everywhere — and nowhere — all at once. Take Apple, for instance. As Coldewey noted on the show Apple has punted on AI. The tech giant is touting its AI capabilities, but for now, it’s all promise for the future and not quite a fully mature product. (get the tween reference yet?) As Kirsten and Devin discussed, it’s not all bad in AI land. Take the startup Someone Somewhere, a Mexico City-based startup that applies handcrafts on clothing and accessories and works with rural artisans in seven of Mexico’s poorest states to create “quality, on-trend products.” The startup used AI — specifically, Stable Diffusion’s text to images model — to show companies how some of their most iconic items might look if they were made with artisans from different regions. Let’s just say, the company got a lot of attention for the effort. See AI can be used for good? There were plenty of other non-AI deals and discussions to be had on Equity, including an eye-popping pivot from the venture-based autonomous vehicle delivery startup Nuro as well as Oura’s recent acquisition of metabolic health startup Veri. For the second half of the show, De Chant joined to provide his insight and expertise on an interesting trend around climate tech startups — hint it’s about hardware. Davis helped close out Equity with an important update on Fearless Fund and discussion of what the trickle down effect might be following a legal settlement and the shutdown of its contested Strivers Grant Program . Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes <a href="https://equity.simplecast.com/episod
Wed, September 11, 2024
AI illusions and navigating The Money Trap with Alok Sama
Today on Equity, Former SoftBank Group International President Alok Sama joins Rebecca Bellan ahead of the launch of his new book THE MONEY TRAP: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble. Here's what the pair got into: What Apple's AI announcements could mean for startup innovation and companies like ARM and Nvidia Concerns about the circularity of investments and unusual follow-on rounds led by VCs. IPO alternatives in a slow public market High valuations, the risk of over-investment and how to know when a bubble is going to pop. Equity will be back on Friday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 09, 2024
Equity Shot: Here's what you missed at Apple's 'Glowtime' event
Don’t have an hour and forty minutes to devote to watching the replay of Apple’s 'Glowtime' event ? As expected, the show was packed with AI announcements, from new chips to creative features. TechCrunch Minute's Amanda Silberling is taking over to catch you up in just a few minutes. Equity will be back with a deeper dive on how startups can compete with Apple's latest move, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 06, 2024
The AI secondary shares market is giving Beanie Babies economics
The Equity podcast crew is wrapping up another eventful week, with real estate, AI agents, gambling, and secondary markets — which are, of course, a form of legalized gambling. Mary Ann Azevedo , Becca Szkutak , and Devin Coldewey started off this Friday's episode with the acknowledgment that the X/Twitter ban situation in Brazil is possibly too complicated an issue to even have an opinion on. Let us cook on that for a bit. In the deals of the week, Devin first talked about You.com's $50 million play to take on more difficult AI tasks, things that can't be solved with a quick Google search. The company is hoping to be the go-to for complex stuff that mixes live search, coding, and natural language understanding — and unlike a lot of its competition, some of its customers actually pay for themselves! Becca, as someone who hazards a buck on a game now and then, is intrigued by DubClub , a startup that claims to systematize and legitimize professional betting handicappers. These are folks who claim to be able to beat the odds, but tend to offer their services by more informal methods. Can DubClub make a clean business out of this popular, but legally fraught, line of work? A 9-figure deal is always worth chatting about, and Mary Ann brings up Paylocity's acquisition of Airbase for $325 million — though, as she points out, the real value of the deal is probably considerably higher. It's a lot of money, yes, but compared with earlier valuations... no? Somehow we don't think founder Thejo Kote is shedding too many tears over it. Anyone who's bought a house or tried knows the sting of the realtor's fee. How many percent? Well, due to a recent court ruling overturning an established business practice in real estate, percentage fees may be on their way out — if startup Landian has its way. They want to make flat fees and pay-on-close the standard. Redfin is not amused ! But they aren't mad either, or so they'd like us to think. Investing in AI is so popular people are <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/24/vcs-are-so-eager-for-ai-startups-theyre-buying-into-each-others-
Wed, September 04, 2024
Inside startup shutdowns with the creator of Layoffs.FYI (re-run)
Today on Equity, we're throwing it back to when Mary Ann interviewed Roger Lee , an entrepreneur who’s spent the better part of a decade building tools for employees and employers alike. Lee is an angel investor as well the creator of Layoffs.FYI and co-founder of Comprehensive and Human Interest . Roger joined us on the show last year in the wake of 2022’s tech layoffs, but this week we’re focusing on the business of shutting down and why investors are lining up to back startups in the space, including Roger. We also talked about: Just how many more companies shut down in 2023 compared to 2022 (spoiler alert, it was a lot!) How many more layoffs we saw last year compared to years prior The types of companies winding down and laying off How his work is tied to all of it and the role of AI Press play and join the conversation! Equity will be back on Friday, but don't forget to keep up with us in the meantime on X and Threads @EquityPod. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 30, 2024
Telegram founder's arrest, and who's using acqui-hires to tip-toe around antitrust
Today on Equity, Devin Coldeway kicked off our Deals of the Week rundown with Piramidal , a startup which offers a foundational model for analyzing brain scan data that just raised $6 million, as his deal of the week. The premise behind the company is a fascinating one in that its technology aims to help complement the work of nurses and doctors in neural ICUs by helping identify signs of things like an epileptic episode, or a stroke. Mary Ann Azevedo wanted to talk about Comun, a neobank serving Latino immigrants in the U.S. with financial services and banking products. The fintech just raised $21.5 million a round led by Redpoint Ventures, not that long after closing its seed round. It’s seeing fast growth — as well as a higher valuation. Rebecca Bellan dug into a scoop she had about Fluid Truck and recent drama there. The startup, which was founded to disrupt the commercial vehicle rental industry, has apparently ousted its sibling co-founders — CEO James Eberhard and chief legal counsel Jenifer Snyder — in what is being described as a hostile takeover. We then moved into the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov , and whether or not tech executives can, and should, be held responsible for what happens on their platforms. And lastly, we dug into what’s going at Inflection after Microsoft poached its co-founders. That move has drawn attention from antitrust regulators in the U.S. and U.K., who are now investigating whether Microsoft was anticompetitive. The Equity crew discussed whether or not companies are using acqui-hires to get around antitrust regulation. Honestly, we had so much fun we could’ve gone on for a whole other episode. Give it a listen! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading
Wed, August 28, 2024
Are Google's monopoly cases 5 years too late or 2 years too early?
When US District Court Judge Amit Mehta found that Google had acted illegally to maintain its monopoly in online search, it was seen as a major defeat for Google. The decision could alter the way the tech giant does business, shake up opportunities for search startups, and even change the structure of the internet. While Google plans to appeal either way, there's another antitrust case coming up the pipeline: the DOJ and eight states are accusing Google of creating an advertising technology monopoly that squashes competition, forces publishers and advertisers to use Google's ad tech products. On today's episode of Equity , Rebecca Bellan is sitting down with lawyer, computer scientist, and head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, Neil Chilson. Join the conversation as we take a closer look at competition, a potential Google breakup, how to unwind a 16-year-old merger, and why these cases may actually be too early in the age of AI. If you want to dive deeper into the early wave of major legal cases regarding tech giants, their in-market heft and behavior, Rebecca Bellan joined Alex Wilhelm back in November to talk through it all. You can catch that episode here . Equity will be back on Friday with our weekly news roundup, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 23, 2024
AI talent managers, technocapitalist college towns, and a rise in defense tech acquisitions
In this Friday’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast Mary Ann Azevedo, Devin Coldewey, and Equity's newest voice Margaux MacColl are here to discuss three major deals of the week. First up is the $80 million round for Stor y, which is trying to apply that ol' web3 magic to AI and talent management. Next, Mary Ann attempts to untangle the knotty, weird term sheet for Bolt: $450 million . But is that real money or "marketing credits"? And the Margaux explained Balaji Srinivasan's private island "technocapitalist college town" where "those with a fondness for the current world order need not apply." Then the crew got into our two main themes. Devin talked about two AI companies that aren't just doing enterprise AI. Reliant AI is focused on researchers (especially in pharma) who need to analyze thousands of papers at once. And BeyondMath is working with Formula 1 companies to create a "digital wind tunnel" that does high-accuracy physics-based computational fluid dynamics simulations in near real time. When was the last time ChatGPT made a race car faster? Then Margaux wrapped us up with the i ncreasing activity level in defense tech acquisitions . Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development
Wed, August 21, 2024
Is there a right way to regulate AI? (w. Helen Toner)
What is the right way to regulate AI? There appears to be as many different answers to that as there are regulators. On today's episode of Equity, we're bringing you a live interview from TechCrunch's recent Strictly VC event. Equity co-host Becca Szkutak sat down with Helen Toner, the director of strategy and foundational research grants from the Center of Security and Emerging Technology and a former board member of OpenAI. The pair discussed companies' ability to self-regulate, what impact regulation could have on startup innovation and so much more. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 16, 2024
AI for landlords, Grok-2 unleashed, and the latest attempt at AI regulation
This week on Equity Kirsten Korosec and Mary Ann Azevedo were joined by one of TechCrunch’s resident AI experts, Devin Coldewey. They broke down their deals of the week: WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle startup, seeking an initial public offering in the United States at a $5 billion valuation, EliseAI, the company offering AI solutions to landlords, raised $75 million and became a unicorn, and Grok-2 is now available on X but it will cost you. Then the team got into a couple recent startup shutdowns: Tally and Score . Tally was a nine-year-old fintech that helped consumers manage and pay off their credit card debt. Score was a dating app for people with good to excellent credit that was only around for a few months before it got sunsetted. And last but not least, we did a deeper dive into a California bill known as SB 1047 that is aimed at stopping real-world disasters caused by AI systems before they happen. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 14, 2024
Found: Getting realistic about AI’s potential with Nick Frosst from Cohere
Enterprise AI is booming so it’s no wonder that, as companies figure out how to implement it, the industry of AI infrastructure is emerging. This week, Equity is bringing you an episode of our sister show, Found. Becca and Dom talk to Nick Frosst from Cohere , the AI company building natural language models for enterprise customers. They discuss why Frosst thinks the AI boom isn’t built on a bubble, whether or not AI companies are building toward a “digital god”, and how AI regulation could be a good thing. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 09, 2024
Maybe it's a good thing that we're not seeing too many AI unicorns
In this Friday’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Mary Ann Azevedo and Becca Szkutak kick off the show dissecting a bill which aims to regulate AI at the model level. Naturally, some VCs and founders as well as students and professors are in an uproar about it. But we have to ask, is regulation in the name of safety such a bad thing? Short answer: It depends. Then the trio got into the deals of the week, including OpenAI’s potential new investment in webcam maker Opal. We also discussed some major changes at the executive level within OpenAI and what that could mean about what’s going on internally. Becca then wanted to talk about a new startup called why?! , which was founded by ex-Clubhouse employees and aims to be a networking, messaging and dating app all in one. And Kirsten wanted to drill down on electric vehicle maker Lucid’s new $1.5 billion capital infusion from the Saudi wealth fund. We then shifted gears to talk about just how many new unicorns were born in the U.S. this year so far and the surprising diversity of sectors they were in. And lastly, we dug into a couple of notable M&A deals in the fintech space, including one this week in which Payoneer scooped up a five-year-old Singaporean startup called Skuad for $61 million in cash as well as Stripe’s latest buy . We had a blast this episode, so give it a listen! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also l
Wed, August 07, 2024
Flourish Ventures on repeat founders, emerging markets, and when not to hop on the AI bandwagon
In today’s episode of Equity Podcast, Mary Ann Azevedo talked to Flourish Ventures co-founders Tilman Ehrbeck, Emmalyn Shaw and Arjuna Costa about a variety of topics, including how their investment themes have evolved in the past 5 years and what trends they’re most excited about today. We also got their opinion on M&A deals in fintech, AI and founder wellness, among other things. The trio founded Flourish Ventures in 2019 and now the evergreen firm has $850 million under management, last raising a $350 million fund in October of 2023. Flourish invests all over the world, backing fintech startups in the U.S., and across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Notable investments include digital bank Chime , Brazilian neobank Neon , which was last priced at $1.6 billion; embedded finance startup Unit, and African payments infrastructure company Flutterwave. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 02, 2024
AI Friends, deepfake foes, and which Tiger Global partner is leaving now
On today's Friday news roundup, we just had to talk about AI hardware taking on a new shape with Friend’s $99 necklace . The pendant gives you an AI friend to talk to and…that’s about it. Friend’s pitch is that its wearable can help combat loneliness, but other AI hardware products that have come to market lately – like Humane’s Ai Pin and Rabbit’s r1 – have fallen short of expectations. Even OpenAI, the leader in the space, has come out later than expected with its hyper realistic AI assistant , and only today to a small “alpha group” of users, so it’s hard to assess the product’s capabilities. On the other side of the AI coin is, sadly, deepfakes and hallucinations. The team touched on this topic, noting how Meta’s AI assistant hallucinated when it said that there was no assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Rebecca asked Devin Coldewey if he thought AI companies should take greater care to block users from asking questions about sensitive topics until they could solve for hallucinations, and if they should block users from making deepfakes about certain A-list people, particularly during an election year. His answer? Yes, but it’s probably not as easy as it sounds. For our deals of the week, Kirsten kicked things off with Mary Ann's coverage of FranShares , a Chicago-based startup that lets people invest in franchise businesses starting with as little as $500 with a goal of providing passive income and portfolio diversification. Apparently, a lot of Gen Z and Millennials are investing in franchises through this platform, which just raised a $4.2 million seed round led by Chicago Ventures with participation from The Pitch Fund and Litquidity Ventures. Kirsten asked Rebecca if she, as a Millennial, would invest in a franchise, and her answer may surprise you. Kirsten and Rebecca also talked about Kennet of London, a 25-year-old growth equity investor that just raised $287 million for its largest fund to date, and it’s a growth fund. Kennet’s approach is interesting because they focus on B2B SaaS companies that are founder owned and bootstrapped, and thus potentially more capital efficient. Finally, the team discussed VC movings and shakings. Specifically, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/30/tiger-global
Wed, July 31, 2024
Global startup funding is picking up with AI still in the spotlight
Global startup funding was up 16% in the second quarter, according to Crunchbase data , led by an uptick in mega-rounds. That increase was led, unsurprisingly, by the AI sector. Funding to companies in AI made up 30% of all dollars invested and actually doubled quarter over quarter to $24 billion. On today's episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Mary Ann was joined by Gené Teare , a Senior Data Editor at Crunchbase and Crunchbase News, to talk through the numbers. Teare is a well-known analyst of the global venture capital market, and was instrumental to Crunchbase’s early life and remains one of its more tenured staffers. “I was actually quite shocked by the doubling in AI because we're six quarters in from the launch of Chat GPT,” Teare said. “I think part of that is that in venture, things take time to sort of filter through.” There were also signs that larger M&A deals increased in the second quarter, providing much needed liquidity in a continued dry IPO market. “We're definitely seeing a stronger M&A environment compared to 2022,” Teare said. “The big expectation is that M&A is going to pick up more significantly and I’m not sure we’ve seen that yet, partly because prices have come down. There's a lot of companies who might realize they're not gonna make it to going public in the next 3 to 5 years…So, I think it has improved but not as much as many in the bench community were wanting or expecting.” Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup. So come back then! Before we let you go, some disclosures: We invited Gené on the show because we wanted to get her valuable insights regarding the venture capital markets. We knew she’d be great on the topic, because Mary Ann worked with her for years at Crunchbase. During her tenure at Crunchbase, she was paid partially in stock options, and retains a minor stake in Crunchbase itself. We do our best at Equity to cite the best data source for whatever topic we’re looking at, which means we use Crunchbase data as well as information from its competitors at PitchBook and CB Insights. For instance, we had a PitchBook denizen on the show to chat through Q2 2023 results last year. We think we put together the best possible show for you on its merits alone, but did want to note some professional overlaps right up top. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFH
Mon, July 29, 2024
Stripe’s easy-peasy acquisition, and why is Twitch still losing money?
Today’s episode is packed with M&A talk, how one YouTuber succeeded at the creator economy, why Twitch is still losing money and an autonomous vehicle company that is making a comeback. First up, Rebecca took a look at fintech giant Stripe’s acquisition of four-year-old competitor Lemon Squeezy. The buy will allow Stripe to beef up its merchant of record selling “in a big way,” according to Stripe CEO Patrick Collison. Deal terms weren’t disclosed, but Lemon Squeezy has a reputation for turning down other offers, including a $50 million Series A. The company’s founder said he was holding out for the right partner to take the business to the next level, and apparently Stripe was it. This comment led Rebecca to explore the idea of M&A as an exit strategy. Does this practice create perverse incentives in venture capital, where investors are becoming more risk-averse and looking for a surer path to regaining capital, at the long-term expense of competition? Other startups have turned down such opportunities so they can go it alone. Just look at Wiz’s decision not to get acquired by Google for $23 billion, something we discussed on last Friday’s episode. Next, Rebecca touched on MatPat, the first big YouTuber to successfully exit his company , Theorist Media. Matthew Patrick turned his successful video series, The Game Theorists, into a full-fledged media business called Theorist, with 40 million subscribers across channels. But he was getting tired of the ceaseless content uploading, and found a way to convince investors that the business could go on without him. Now, he’s in Capitol Hill educating politicians about what creators need to succeed as small businesses. Speaking of creators and acquisitions, Rebecca pulled up a Wall Street Journal report that found that after 10 years, Twitch is still losing Amazon money. Amazon bought Twitch for $1 billion in 2014, but the company still isn’t profitable. And will it ever be? Twitch in 2023 generated about $667 million in ad revenue and $1.3 billion in commerce revenue, but that accounted for less than 0.5% of Amazon’s total 2023 revenue. Amazon defended its buy, saying Twitch has a long-term path to profitability. But broader trends that seem to favor short-form videos over watching someone play an entire video game live say otherwise. Finally, while we’re on the subject of comebacks, autonomous delivery startup <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/27/autonomous-delivery-startup-nuro-is-gearing-up-for-a-comebac
Fri, July 26, 2024
Alphabet is clearly looking to buy, so who's selling, and why did Wiz say no?
This week felt like two weeks rolled into one. To kick things off, Mary Ann Azevedo walked everyone through Clio’s huge fundraise . The Canadian legal tech company raised $900 million at a $3 billion valuation — a very large sum anytime, but especially in this market. Impressively, the company is still growing rapidly, which isn't easy to do when you’re at such a late stage. We talked about the drivers behind that growth and how Clio differs from other legal tech startups raising capital these days. Next up, Mary Ann and Rebecca Szkutak discussed Alphabet’s announcement this week that it would invest another up to $5 billion in Waymo . It’s an obvious vote of confidence on self-driving cars on Alphabet’s part, but both Becca and Mary Ann agreed on one thing: They’d prefer to stick with riding in cars with human drivers. We closed out our deals of the week with a lively discussion on a 17-year-old founder and investor who pitched investors out of the stall of his high school bathroom. He just raised money for his startup, Aviato, and his story is an inspirational and fun read. Next up was cybersecurity company Wiz turning down a $23 billion acquisition offer from Alphabet . We talked about potential reasons and looked at other examples of large M&A deals not working out. We wrapped up Equity with a look at digital banking startup Mercury abruptly shuttering its service to founders located in certain countries , such as Ukraine. Founders were naturally not happy, but another fintech was waiting in the wings to help affected customers. It was a super fun episode, so don’t miss giving it a listen! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over
Wed, July 24, 2024
Cracking the AI and consumer code with early Zoom-backer Maven Ventures
Maven Ventures General Partner Sara Deshpande has been investing in the consumer tech space for a decade. Over time, the seed-stage venture firm has backed the likes of Zoom, Cruise, Hello Heart, Perplexity and x.AI and has grown to over $200 million in assets under management. Now, with a new $60 million fund — and plans to write six to eight checks of up to $1.5 million each year — Deshpande joined TechCrunch senior reporter Mary Ann Azevedo on Equity to discuss the changes in the consumer landscape, how her firm is doubling down on artificial intelligence and what makes a startup stand out. When it comes to AI, Deshpande thinks that at the seed stage, AI's ability to improve life for consumers “is going to get here much more quickly than people think.” At the same time, she thinks that the peak AI frenzy was about 12 months ago. She also acknowledged that there is naturally going to be some “tumult” around the sector. Perplexity, for example, has been under fire amid plagiarism and web scraping charges . Equity will be back on Friday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 22, 2024
CrowdStrike’s fallout, where Harris stands on tech and Yandex’s rise from the ashes
On today’s episode of Equity, Rebecca Bellan did a deep dive into the CrowdStrike outage that affected around 8.5 million Windows devices around the world, causing disruptions in air travel, banking, hospitals, media outlets, federal agencies and businesses of all kinds. The outage began when CrowdStrike, a cloud security giant, sent out a defective software update . While CrowdStrike quickly identified the issue and deployed a fix, the fallout continued over the weekend and will probably continue into this week, particularly for the travel sector . United, American and Delta airlines all collectively saw thousands of flights canceled and delayed, which will have ripple effects into the week. Rebecca went into how this outage – despite not being a cyberattack – has provided the world with a stark example of just how vulnerable our critical infrastructure systems are, a big problem if our adversaries decide to get any bright ideas. She also discussed the reputational damage CrowdStrike experienced, the startups that have smelled blood in the water and are poised to strike, and the potential need to regulate monopolies that offer essential services. Moving on, Rebecca took a look at what U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on technology has been, now that President Joe Biden has stepped out of the race for the presidency and officially endorsed his right hand. Harris appears to favor oversight for big tech companies to protect consumer privacy, as well as AI regulation to stop companies from prioritizing profits over people and society. While some big names in the VC and tech world have backed former President Donald Trump due to his laissez-faire approach to regulating AI and crypto (something we talked about on last week’s Friday episode! ), others in the industry have shown support for Harris. VCs like John Doerr and Ron Conway were among her early supporters , and as a presidential candidate, Harris was quickly <a href="https://x.com/reidhoffman/status/1815103690912723274"
Fri, July 19, 2024
Silicon Valley's impact on the election and an acquisition making our HeadSpin
To kick off this week's news roundup, Kirsten walked us through Elon Musk’s recent declaration of his intent to move both SpaceX and X’s headquarters out of California to Texas . Whether or not he’ll see those plans through remains to be seen, but of course, the Equity crew had thoughts. We then got into the deals of the week. First up, we talked about Sequoia Capital’s emailing LPs in funds raised between 2009 and 2011 with an offer to buy up to $861 million worth of shares in Stripe . The move is notable for two reasons. For one, it’s evidence that LPs are increasingly antsy for liquidity in this dry IPO market. (2024 thus far has delivered just four venture-backed tech IPOs — Reddit , Astera Labs , Ibotta and Rubrik — in March and April.) The Equity team also discussed how Sequoia’s gesture reflects that the firm is confident not only of Stripe’s future, but in its ability to eventually exit in a way that will reward investors handsomely. Next up, Rebecca Bellan led a discussion as to how Andrej Karpathy, former head of AI at Tesla and researcher at OpenAI, is launching Eureka Labs , an “AI native” education platform. We had a lively discussion on Karpathy’s new initiative and when and how AI is appropriate in the classroom. We closed out the deals segment with Mary Ann’s scoop on PartnerOne’s acquisition of HeadSpin , a company whose founder was sentenced to prison for fraud earlier this year. Employees were upset that they got nothing for their options as part of the buyout, which Marina Temkin this week reported was valued at a mere $28 million . The group then got into an in-depth conversation about Silicon Valley’s involvement in the election this year. Former President Donald Trump this week <a href="https://techcrunch.c
Wed, July 17, 2024
If the music stops, what startup gets a chair? Renegade Partners' co-founders are finding out
Renegade Partners co-founders Renata Quintini and Roseanne Wincek have seen it all in their careers — notably over the past four years when they launched their first fund as the COVID pandemic took hold and navigated the economic roller coaster that followed. Now, with a second $128 million fund — and a plan to write checks of up to $10 million into 20 startups — Quintini and Wincek join TechCrunch editor Kirsten Korosec on Equity to discuss those early days of their first fund, what they look for in a startup and what’s driving the shift away from megafunds. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 15, 2024
Google’s talks to buy Wiz, and the gap between AI spending and AI revenue
On today’s episode of Equity, Rebecca Bellan explored Google’s reported talks to acquire Wiz , a cloud security company, for around $23 billion. Wiz provides an “all-in-one approach to cloud security,” pulling data from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and others, then scanning it all for security risk factors – something that Google might see as a good way to fortify its own cloud business, which grew 28% to $9.57 billion in Q1 this year. We also discussed a letter from OpenAI whistleblowers who say the AI company has placed illegal restrictions on how employees can communicate with government regulators. They say OpenAI’s NDAs prohibit and discourage employees and investors from communicating with the SEC over securities violations, and forced employees to waive their rights to whistleblower incentives and compensation, among other things. Bellan also talked about the paradox of how much money is being invested into AI versus how much money it’s making. In the first half of 2024 alone, more than $35.5 billion was invested into AI startups globally, per Crunchbase data. As these AI startups gain force, other companies hopping on the generative AI train want more than the assurance of trigger happy VCs and eye-popping valuations before they pull out their wallets. They want to know that this tech will improve business performance and revenue, as promised. Because after all, many experts say the promise of AI will take much longer to come to fruition than the current investment frenzy suggests, something that they also say could lead to an AI bubble bursting. Finally, we touched on the return of e-bike startup darling VanMoof, and how its new owners want to win over old customers. Their audacious strategy involves offering customers who never got their e-bikes before VanMoof went bankrupt a €1,000 discount off a new bike. Why not just refund those customers? Well, VanMoof’s new owners don’t have access to that customer money, which is tied up in bankruptcy proceedings. Will this strategy be enough to lure back jilted customers? We’ll soon find out. Equity will be back on Wednesday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on App
Fri, July 12, 2024
There's always something happening to OpenAI's board
Mary Ann was off this week, and Kirsten took the lead with Becca Szkutak and Rebecca Bellan in the co-host seats. This episode is packed with deals, antitrust musings, AI and more, so let's get into it! For our first deal of the week, one of the many lawsuits Musk faces after firing 6,000 Twitter employees after his 2022 takeover was dismissed . The result may be good news for Musk, but it doesn’t eliminate Musk’s legal troubles. Musk is facing at least one other lawsuit from CEO Parag Agrawal, who along with three other former Twitter Inc. executives are seeking $128 million in severance payments from X Corp. Next up, Rebecca broke down Microsoft’s decision to leave its observer seat on OpenAI’s board, after which the AI company will no longer host observers. The legacy tech giant said it has seen enough progress being made at OpenAI and is “confident in its direction,” but we’re not exactly buying that Microsoft would give up such a coveted spot so easily. We suspect that the decision was fueled by ongoing antitrust scrutiny of Big Tech’s influence over emerging AI players. After that, Becca talked about Duolingo’s deal to buy Hobbes , a Detroit-based animation and motion design studio. Hobbes is a company that Duolingo has worked with for years on several features, including Duolingo Music, so it’s interesting to see the acquisition happen at this stage. Maybe Hobbes was having money trouble and needed a lifeline? Either way, Duolingo is calling this an acqui-hire deal. While Hobbes isn't an AI company, we make a prediction that we'll see similar acquisitions of smaller AI startups as larger companies scoop up the AI startups they're already working with. We’ve been noticing a few stories lately that investigate what happens when a company’s founder or owner dies . Today, Rebecca went over the story of Unseen Capital, whose founder Kayode Owens passed away in 2021 just after raising $30 million. The VC’s mission was to help early-stage healthcare companies started by underrepresented founders. Pharma company Eli Lilly was one of Unseen’s LPs, and in a move to protect its own investment while signaling confidence in Unseen’s mission, has brokered a deal for <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/09/seae-ve
Wed, July 10, 2024
Floodgate's Mike Maples says startups that people 'don't like' may be the best ones to back
Mike Maples Jr. is a prolific angel investor and co-founder of early-stage venture firm Floodgate . Over the years, he’s taken a lot of bets. Some have paid off handsomely (Twitter, Twitch, Lyft and Bazaarvoice, for example). Others have not. On today's episode of Equity , Mary Ann sat down with Mike to dig into a number of topics, including some of his most memorable investments, the one that got away, what he looks for when evaluating startups that pitch him - and what Godzilla has to do with it. We also talked a bit about his new book that he co-authored with Peter Ziebelman called “Pattern Breakers. Why some startups change the future.” Press play and join the conversation! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 08, 2024
A new trend for Seed VCs, and the scariest part about OpenAI's data breach
On today's episode of Equity , we're taking a look at news you might've missed over the holiday weekend here in the U.S., starting with the recent OpenAI security breach. While it doesn't seem that people have to be too worried about what the hackers actually accessed, the fact that it happened is worth paying attention to. TechCrunch's Devin Coldeway argues that AI companies are treasure troves of data and will likely become more of a target for hackers. Companies that work with the large AI companies should pay attention. We also had an update on Fisker’s slide into bankruptcy. The EV startup, that you've already heard about on Equity, had a new update this week. The company asked its bankruptcy judge for permission to sell its remaining inventory for $14,000 a vehicle , a noticeable drop from the $70,000 Fisker was initially asking for. This has some fearing that this chapter 11 bankruptcy could turn into a chapter 7. To close out, we looked at a new trend of venture funds helping seed investors exercise their pro rata rights and avoid their equity stake being diluted. This is interesting because while it could be good for smaller funds to have a way to maintain their equity stakes, pro rata rights discussions can get contentious and bringing more capital to the table won't necessarily help that. Equity will be back on Wednesday with an interesting conversation between Mary Ann and angel investor and Floodgate Co-Founder, Mike Maples Jr , so we’ll talk to you then! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href=
Wed, July 03, 2024
Jon McNeill on VC 2.0 and creating startups in house
What’s the common thread between Tesla, building startups, General Motors, venture capital and Lyft? Jon McNeill , co-founder and partner of DVx Ventures, joins TechCrunch editor Kirsten Korosec on Equity to discuss how Elon Musk’s pay package has influenced founders, when it makes sense to go light on cash and heavy on equity, and his firm’s unique approach to investing that eschews the traditional management fee structure. McNeill describes DVx as VC 2.0. The firm comes up with business ideas and builds them into a startup within the firm before it goes out to find the leadership team. To date, the firm has started and invested in 14 portfolio companies that span EVs and AI, SaaS, consumer tech and climate tech. McNeill also walks Equity through the startup creation process, managing risk and how to spot opportunities that can disrupt the market. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 28, 2024
AI-powered drug development, VW teams up with Rivian, and DEI is 'bad'
Mary Ann, Haje and Kirsten are back on the mic for this week's episode, which was is jam-packed with deals, hot topics, and the latest dramaaaaaa in the tech world. For Deals of the Week, Haje wanted to chat about Formation Bio, an AI-focused drug development startup that just raised a whopping $372 million in Series D funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz . Next, Kirsten broke down the surprising partnership between Volkswagen Group and Rivian and how its initial $1 billion investment could grow up to $5 billion. To wrap up our deals, Mary-Ann highlighted Nubank’s acquisition of Hyperplane , an AI-for-banks startup. Moving onto our themes, Haje took us on a deep dive into the fediverse , a decentralized network of social media platforms like Mastodon, Threads, and even Trump’s Truth Social. The fediverse has seen a surge in popularity, especially after Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X). Mastodon, for example, has just about tripled its user base since Musk took over. The appeal lies in its decentralized nature, offering users more control and niche communities. Whether you’re a photographer, a journalism enthusiast, or just someone fed up with traditional social media, the fediverse has something for you. Last but not least, we discussed the ongoing debate around DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in tech in a more controversial segment. Scale AI’s founder Alexandr Wang recently sparked a debate by advocating for MEI (Merit, Excellence, Intelligence) over DEI. This has drawn support from big names like Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey but also significant criticism . The stats are troubling: new women recruit levels in the U.S. data industry have dropped dramatically, and DEI-related job listings are down. Equity will be back on Wednesday with a new interview episode, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episod
Wed, June 26, 2024
Y Combinator sets its sights on D.C. with Luther Lowe
Today, we’re bringing you a conversation from TechCrunch's StrictlyVC event in DC earlier this month, where TechCrunch Editor in Chief & General Manager Connie Loizos sat down with Luther Lowe, who serves as Y Combinator’s Head of Public Policy. Lowe joined the accelerator last fall from Yelp, where he was SVP of Public Policy. Connie and Luther touched on antitrust efforts to reign in big tech, Y Combinator’s impact, leadership and access to talent, and what competition, policy and regulation look like in the AI era. It’s a super interesting conversation, so press play and listen in! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 24, 2024
The EU's DMA is coming for Apple, and X bots are on the loose
In a press release this morning, the European Commission named Apple as the first of tech’s so-called “gatekeepers” to be charged for violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Apple is one of six tech giants named by the European Commission as “gatekeepers” last year, alongside Alphabet, Amazon, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft. While we continue to keep our eyes on the EU’s attempts to ensure a competitive marketplace, that’s not all we got into on the Equity podcast this morning. Rebecca Bellan led the show this morning and reported that X still has a Verified bot problem, but this time they came for TechCrunch writers (herself included). The experience had us wondering if X’s competitors will step up, and create platforms with more safety…and fewer bots. Rebecca also had an IPO update for our listeners this morning as Shein finally filed for its public debut in London, and we closed out our startup coverage with a look at Sir Jack A Lot’s startup for retail traders . The startup, which recently raised a $4.5 million seed round, had us hyped on the retail trading space and its continued growth. Finally, Haje closed out today’s show with a teardown for Feel Therapeutics . The startup recently raised a $3.5M seed deck to revolutionize mental health care with a science-forward approach that integrates wearable devices, mobile apps, and clinician dashboards. Hit play to hear how they did it! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like t
Fri, June 21, 2024
Ilya Sutskever's new AI venture, and time to BeReal about bankruptcy
This week, co-hosts Mary-Ann Azavedo and Haje Kamps were joined by the ever-insightful Kirsten Korosec to dive into the latest and greatest happenings in the startup world. Kicking things off, our trio of hosts break down three major deals of the week. First, there's Waabi, an autonomous trucking startup that just closed a whopping $200 million Series B round . Kirsten Korosec provides an inside look into how Waabi's AI-first approach is setting it apart in the crowded autonomous vehicle space and why investors are still willing to back big bets in this field despite the market's ups and downs. Next, they explore the intriguing case of Gynger, a fintech company that has raised $20 million led by PayPal Ventures. Mary-Ann explains how Gynger is shaking up the way startups handle tech purchases with its buy-now-pay-later model, working both with buyers and sellers to offer flexible payment terms. Kirsten and your trusty correspondent weigh in on the potential risks and rewards of this unique business model, especially in today's volatile economic environment. The third deal takes us into the realm of artificial intelligence with Safe Superintelligence. I'm delving into the story of OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s new venture , which aims to develop general AI with a focus on safety. We discuss the ambitious goals of this startup and the challenges of balancing rapid advancement with the ethical considerations of creating superintelligent AI. After dissecting these deals, the conversation shifts to a sobering topic: the wave of bankruptcies that have hit the startup world in 2024. Kirsten provides a detailed analysis of the factors leading to these failures, with a spotlight on high-profile cases like EV startup Fisker and fintech service Synapse . The team discusses the common pitfalls that led to these companies' downfalls and what other startups can learn from their mistakes. But it's not all doom and gloom—our hosts wrap up with an exciting discussion about the future. They dive into Voodoo's acquisition of social media
Wed, June 19, 2024
Do co-CEOs make sense?
Last week, Brex announced that it would be ditching its co-CEO model , and that got Equity hosts Haje Kamps and Mary Ann Azevedo wondering about co-CEO teams and the effectiveness of the structure overall. Brex, founded in 2017 by Pedro Franceschi and Henrique Dubugras, initially thrived under the co-CEO structure, with Pedro focusing on internal operations and Enrique handling external relations. However, as the company grew, this setup began to slow decision-making, prompting a shift to a single CEO model. Pedro will now lead as the sole CEO, while Enrique transitions to Chairman of the Board. We discuss the broader implications and challenges of co-CEO leadership, highlighting how this change aims to enhance agility and appeal to investors as Brex eyes a potential public offering. We also explore other companies that have adopted or abandoned similar leadership models, providing a comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons of shared CEO responsibilities in the competitive tech landscape. Equity will be back with a full rundown of the week's startup and venture news on Friday, but if you want more from TechCrunch podcasts until then, Darrell and Becca spoke to both Brex CEOs on Found last year about why the duo chose to go down the co-CEO path in the first place. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 17, 2024
Black founders are tailoring the ChatGPT experience, and crypto makes a comeback
This week on Equity, we discussed some big news that really matters: How Black founders are addressing the diversity gap in AI chatbots. We’ve all noticed how OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other AI chatbot tools struggle with cultural nuance, often coming up with answers that reflect a largely Euro-centric worldview. Now, a handful of Black-owned chatbots and ChatGPT versions – like Latimer.AI, ChatBlackGPT and Spark Plug – have cropped up to ensure Black POVs are included in the AI conversation, and that Black founders get a cut of this trillion-dollar industry. That’s not all Rebecca talked about on Monday’s show. We also looked at how different social media companies are playing around with what’s real and what isn’t, an increasingly salient topic in the age of AI. On the one hand, we’ve got TikTok’s introduction of generative AI avatars , which creators and brands can use to speed up ad campaigns and spread them out to a global audience. And on the other hand, YouTube is experimenting with a “Notes” feature that lets users add context to videos. It’s an attempt to combat misinformation as AI threatens to inundate us all with deepfake and misleading political content in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election. In IPO Land, Rebecca touched on Tempus’s 9% rise and $441 million raise on its Nasdaq debut last Friday. The genomic testing and data analysis company, started by Groupon’s founder, need have only hinted at its future genAI integrations for investors to throw money at it. Meanwhile, Chinese e-commerce giant Shein is struggling to get Beijing to approve its London IPO, reports the Financial Times . Shein’s executive chair reportedly angered Chinese regulators last month by saying its corporate values meant it “could be considered a US company,” so now the retailer is trying to walk back on those comments. Shein is trying to raise £50 billion (US$64 billion) from its London IPO, and it needs Beijing on its side to do so. Haje closed out today’s show with a teardown of Kinnect’s $250K angel deck . Founded just last year, the digital archive startup is already making wav
Fri, June 14, 2024
Musk v. OpenAI, and how can startups compete with Apple Intelligence?
Welcome back to Friday Equity! In today’s episode Equity podcast , Mary Ann , Haje and Becca dug into three very different but all super interesting deals of the week. Haje wanted to discuss Raspberry Pi’s debut on the public market , and we all agreed that what this profitable company has managed to build – a tiny affordable computer that fits into the palm of your hand – is very neat. Mary Ann then wanted to talk about InScope, a fintech which just raised a $4.3 million seed round of funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners to automate financial reporting. Becca got to riff on Meowtel , a niche – and also profitable – startup focused on cat-sitting that has raised just $1 million in venture capital over its nine-year life. The trio then talked about all the Apple news (largely AI-focused ) that came out of WWDC and its potential impact on the startup world. They then turned their attention to Elon Musk’s reaction to Apple’s announcement that it would be integrating ChatGPT into its iOS. While he clearly wasn’t happy about it, we discussed what his true motives for threatening to pull Apple devices from his companies might be. That’s it for this week, but we’ll be back bright and early Monday with more tech and startup news. Talk soon! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, June 12, 2024
NEA’s Vanessa Larco says generative AI will change the SaaS pricing model - and that’s a good thing
Vanessa Larco , partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), believes that Generative AI’s impact on the world of SaaS could be huge. The investor joined Mary Ann Azevedo on Equity to talk through, among other topics, her theories about how GenAI could alter the pricing models SaaS businesses use when charging customers. “I think where [SaaS] people aspire to get to is value-based pricing. This is really, really hard,” she said. But “I think it's a North Star for a lot of different SaaS products.” Larco also touched on how incumbents’ AI strategies may impact the startup world in general and in particular, what Apple’s new intelligence offering might mean for founders. The venture capitalist also gave us insight as to why despite being a big believer in the enterprise, she’s also still bullish on consumer investing and what she looks for when evaluating startups in the space. “I'm bullish on it. Look, I think the consumer is always going to spend. They just are,” she said. “It just depends on what they're going to spend on, what their priorities are.” In addition to discussing the SaaS and consumer spaces, the investor also shared her thoughts on what she believes the next wave of fintech will look like. (Spoiler alert: think less neobanks and more SMB focus). It was a super fun conversation, so press play and listen in! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 10, 2024
Byju's valuation shakeup and what's ahead for WWDC
Apple’s WWDC is just hours away, and we’re gearing up for big announcements on – you guessed it – AI. We're kicking off today’s episode of Equity with a list of what we can (and can't) expect from the highly anticipated developer conference. But that's not all we talked about this morning. Becca Szkutak also took a look at Byju’s alarming valuation drop . The Indian edtech giant, once valued at $22 billion, might now be worth nothing according to BlackRock. The news may not come as a surprise given the rocky year Byju’s has had, but as Manish Sing put it, its journey stands to be one of the most “spectacular startup slides in recent memory.” To close out, we had news of a new fund looking to give the Italian startup ecosystem a boost. We’re optimist about the Italian Founders Fund and what it could contribute to the market, so press play and join the conversation! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 07, 2024
Robinhood's crypto bet, AI-powered healthcare, and more on the fall of Fisker
As always, there was a lot happening in startup land this week, and the Equity team had so much fun breaking it down for you. On today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast , Mary Ann and Rebecca discussed Robinhood’s plans to buy European crypto exchange Bitstamp for $200 millio n in cash and why they weren’t really surprised by the news. The duo then dug into not just one but two exciting health-care related deals. Rebecca wanted to riff on Sword Health’s innovative AI-powered virtual physical therapy tech and recent fundraise and corresponding cool valuation bump . Mary Ann then brought up Eko Health, which just raised $41 million after getting FDA clearance to help detect the first signs of heart failure during a routine medical exam (really, how cool is that?!). From there, they got to grill transportation reporter extraordinaire Sean O’Kane about his in-depth investigation into the mess at electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker. Think hoods flying off and pinching parts from the production line kind of mess. Oof. From there, they talked about the drama at AI mortgage startup LoanSnap and how that company is being sued left and right among other things. On a more positive note, they then riffed about two very interesting fintech startups focused on Gen Z, Frich (which stands for ‘effin rich) and Fizz – the latter of which is a YC alum just raised $14.4 million in a seed round led by Kleiner Perkins. That’s it for this week, but we’ll be back bright and early Monday with more tech and startup news. Talk soon! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on<a href="http
Wed, June 05, 2024
Every startup has AI in their pitch deck and they should according to Forerunner Ventures' Eurie Kim
Consumer startups have taken a hit when it comes to venture funding. But according to Eurie Kim , partner at Forerunner Ventures and founding member of All Raise, consumer is where it’s at. The investor joined Mary Ann Azevedo on Equity to talk through the intricacies of the space. She pointed out that last year, just 7% of seed capital went to consumer startups. Yet, research shows that consumer company performance has outpaced enterprise, Kim contends. Forerunner itself has backed the likes of Oura, Chime and Prose, among others. Kim also talked about the advantages of being dedicated investors in a space that has seen a number of tourist VCs drift in and out. In addition to discussing the state of consumer investing and what consumer investors are looking for, the venture capitalist shared her thoughts on the investment landscape as a whole, what’s up with IPOs and why every startup should have AI in their pitch deck. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts.You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 03, 2024
Inside the demise of EV startup Fisker, and X's new rules allow adult content
Welcome to this week's Episode of Equity Monday. We're kicking off the week with a deep dive from this weekend into the demise of electric vehicle startup Fisker at the hands of its founders' whims. Fisker, which was founded by famed vehicle designer Henrik Fisker, is on the brink of bankruptcy after only having delivered a few thousand electric Ocean SUVs. Then, Rebecca Bellan talked about X's new rules to allow adult content (as long as it's "consensually produced," whatever that means), and why that's problematic for the safety of other users -- namely women, who are most often the targets of sexually explicit trolling and harassment. We also touched on Trump's TikTok debut , which came in the wake of the former president's felony conviction. To wrap up, Bellan also discussed a story that TechCrunch published over the weekend looking into the new trend of smaller, lesser-known investors getting shares of hot private AI companies like Anthropic, X.ai and Perplexity by using special purpose vehicles , or SPVs. The result has been a Wild West, high risk, buyer-beware situation, with SPV terms varying wildly. Haje closed out the show with another Pitch Deck Teardown, this time looking into the Angel pitch deck for RAW Dating App . RAW just raised a $3 million friends and family round to shake up the dating scene by shedding fake, TikTok-ified, heavily filtered photos and replacing them with a more genuine, unvarnished experience. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 31, 2024
Who's (not) IPO-ing and what's going on with BaaS?
Welcome back to Equity Friday! In this week’s episode, Mary Ann , Becca Szkutak ,and Haje Kamps tackled three deals of the week: xAI, Elon Musk has once again proven that his name alone can shake up the investment world, raising a staggering $6 billion for his AI startup . Solutions by Text, The Dallas-based company, which has been bootstrapped for over a decade, secured $110 million in funding . And WeatherXM, which is a company bringing Web3 into the weather forecasting space that raised $7.7 million in a Series A. Then they discussed the Synapse Collapse and what it means for the larger FinTech ecosystem. Synapse, a banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy leaving many startups and customers in the lurch. Lastly, the crew wraps it up by discussing Becca’s piece on who is (and is not) going to IPO this year and what that signals to the industry. That’s it for this week, but we’ll be back bright and early Monday morning with more tech and startup news, along with another round of Pitch Deck Teardown. Talk soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, May 29, 2024
Peering into the 'Series A chasm' with Everywhere Ventures' Jenny Fielding
It’s no secret that the bar for startups to land a Series A has risen, but has it risen too high? According to Jenny Fielding , a co-founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, startups are facing what she calls “The Series A Chasm.” In a post on X this month, Fielding said, “there’s a huge backlog of seed stage companies with nice traction – just not $3m ARR + 30% MOM growth kinda traction.” The post sparked a conversation online, and Fielding joined Haje Kamps on Equity to talk through it all. Looking beyond Fielding’s portfolio, we can see that the early stage storm has been brewing for quite some time. According to data from Crunchbase , seed companies have raised about $7 billion so far this year, which is down $1 billion year over year and down significantly in the later stages. Crunchbase has even taken to calling this a moment of “ extended adolescence ” for startups, with an increase in companies raising $5 million+ seed rounds instead of a Series A. Of course, this meant we had to address the AI elephant in the room, and the $135 million seed round Musk’s xAI raised last December. Note that after 6 months, the company behind Grok has already announced a $6 billion Series B round. It was an interesting chat, so press play and join the conversation! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, May 28, 2024
Musk’s xAI raises fresh capital while Synapse’s bankruptcy could impact millions
We’re kicking off the short week with news about Elon Musk, and no, it’s not about X or Tesla. Instead, we’re talking about Musk’s other other company, xAI. In a blog post this weekend, xAI announced it raised $6 billion in Series B funding , confirming earlier reports that the AI startup was looking to raise at a pre-money valuation of $18 billion. With Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and Valor among its backers, it looks like Musk is taking steps to catch up and compete with the likes of OpenAI, Microsoft and Alphabet. The ongoing AI race was only the beginning of what we covered on today’s episode of Equity . This morning, Becca Szkutak dove deep into the collapse of Synapse , a banking-as-a-service company whose bankruptcy could impact an estimated 10 million end customers and 100 fintechs, including teen banking-focused Copper . While this is not the only troubling headline in the fintech space, as our co-host Mary Ann Azevedo put it, “it shows just how treacherous things are for the often-interdependent fintech world when one key player hits trouble.” To wrap up this morning’s news segment, we also discussed a report from The Washington Post that election officials and researchers are considering a new approach to combating misinformation called “pre-bunking.” Companies like Google are testing it out in the lead up to the European Union election, but we remain skeptical about how successful the technique could be. Haje closed out the show with another Pitch Deck Teardown, this time examining Berlin-based Terra One’s deck . The startup just raised a cool $7.5 million to make sure Germany’s clean energy isn’t going to waste. Listen through to the end to hear how they made it happen! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="h
Fri, May 24, 2024
The new Equity crew on a proposed AI 'kill switch' and why it's rough out there for VCs
Say hi to the new Equity crew! To kick off today's show, Mary Ann invited her new co-hosts - Becca Szkutak , Rebecca Bellan , and Haje Kamps - to introduce themselves and shared a bit more about what they do here at TC. The team then jumped right into the news, starting with Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet announcing she is leaving the company , just weeks after TechCrunch reporter Dominic Madori-Davis published an in-depth investigative article on what’s been going on behind the scenes at the accelerator in recent years. (You can listen to Dom talk more about it here ). As always, there was plenty more to uncover in the world of startups and venture. Mary Ann, Rebecca and Haje dug into two funding deals, one straddling the lines of crypto and social media and the other in the fintech space. Rebecca wanted to talk about Farcaster, a blockchain-based social protocol that invites developers to build other apps on top of it. The startup raised a $150 million round , news that had the Equity team asking, “Is crypto back?” Mary Ann dug into immigrant banking platform Majority securing $20M in funding after notching an impressive $40 million in ARR as of April. Last but not least, our trio riffed on the fact that a bunch of tech majors made commitments to the safe development of their AI models, including a potential “kill switch .” While we felt the news was mostly positive, we are also skeptical, too. The team also discussed the challenging environment for emerging fund managers , and our surprise at just how many of them there are. That’s it for this week, but we’ll be back bright and early Tuesday morning (thanks to a U.S. holiday on Monday) with more tech and startup news, along with another round of Pitch Deck Teardown. Talk soon! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on <a href="https://itunes.app
Wed, May 22, 2024
Here's how startups can crack the US market, according to Australian VCs
Today, we’re listening back to not one but two interviews from the other side of the globe, thanks to our new co-host Rebecca Bellan , who spent three years in Auckland, New Zealand. Late last year, Rebecca hopped across the Tasman to Australia to report on the startup scene in Australia, and came back to us with a temperature check on VC in the Antipodes. Rebecca spoke to two Aussie VCs: Dan Krasnostein from Square Peg and Gabrielle Munzer from Main Sequence . Rebecca and our guests dug into why early stage funding is popping off in the region, the government's role in growing a startup ecosystem, fintech, climate tech, and what it’s like to compete and collaborate with Silicon Valley. In addition to these conversations, Rebecca wrote a few deep dive stories from her time in Australia, including a look at its burgeoning climate tech scene and some of the people who are fighting to lift women up in the ecosystem. Rebecca also chatted with Canva — the SaaS darling of Australia — to learn how the company is embracing generative A I at its core and pursuing more B2B clients. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 20, 2024
Maven takes the clout-chasing out of social media as Reddit teams up with OpenAI
Last week was a big one for AI news, and one thing that stood out to us was OpenAI's deal with Reddit . Per the terms of the deal, OpenAI will get to use content from Reddit like posts and replies to train its AI, and Reddit will get access to some unspecified AI tools. Reddit's stock soared 11% in extended trading following the news. That's not all we talked about on today's episode of Equity . This morning, Rebecca Bellan also walked us through a new social media platform called Maven that wants to do away with likes, followers and clout-chasing in favor of more serendipitous internet exploration. Maven was co-founded by OpenAI alum Kenneth Stanley and is backed by Twitter co-founder Ev Williams. Speaking of Twitter, X.com is officially live as a platform. Annoyingly for Elon Musk, so is Twitter.com. Bellan also covered some fresh cybersecurity consolidation. Israeli security firm CyberArk has purchased Venafi out from Thoma Bravo for $1.54 billion -- that's $1 billion in cash and the rest in shares. Before you go, don't miss the latest Pitch Deck Teardown from Haje Kamps. In today's segment Haje digs deep on Berlin-based startup Goodcarbon's deck. The startup just raised a €5.25 million (around $5.5 million) seed round to make its mark on the big business of carbon credits, and its pitch deck does a great job at showing traction, but is not so great its team slide. Listen to the end to learn more! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi
Fri, May 17, 2024
AI's busy week, and why the heck are so many VCs leaving their firms?
This week, Mary Ann , Becca and Haje dug into three funding deals, proving that bigger is not always better (or more interesting). Becca wanted to talk about Spoor , an Oslo, Norway-based startup using AI to help wind farms mitigate its impact on birds (how cool is that?) while Haje wanted to discuss how fintech Layer is looking to take on QuickBooks in the SMB accounting space . Mary Ann, meanwhile, was excited to look into one Kentucky-based startup’s decision to raise $27.5 million in venture capital after being bootstrapped for six years and achieving profitability. We then moved on to AI-land, and all the fascinating new features revealed by OpenAI and Google this past week. And of course, we had to riff on what all of that means for startups. Last but not least, the trio examined the trend of venture capital investors leaving their firms to do other things – including starting their own new firms, or going back to old ones, in some cases. We're still wondering what could be behind all the moves, but it doesn't look like the trend is not going anywhere anytime soon. That’s it for this week but never fear, we’ll be back bright and early Monday morning with your tech and startup news, along with another round of Pitch Deck Teardown. Talk soon! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with
Wed, May 15, 2024
Newchip's bankruptcy is a cautionary tale for founders
For months, TechCrunch Senior Reporters Mary Ann Azevedo and Christine Hall have been following the story of Newchip's bankruptcy and its impact on founders and today on Equity , they're joined by Haje Kamps to dig deep into how the accelerator’s fall from grace threatened the cap tables of thousands of startups . In some cases, companies suddenly were so high risk to banks and investors that they had to shut down. The trio also discussed the broader accelerator landscape as a whole, considering what also recently took place at Techstars . It's a lively and hopefully helpful discussion you won't want to miss! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 13, 2024
OpenAI gears up for a big announcement, and Apple Store workers authorize a strike
Last week was a busy one for some Apple Store employees. Over the weekend, workers at Apple’s Townson, Maryland store — the first Apple retail store to have a formally recognized union — voted to authorize a strike . While the date of the strike is still being determined, the union has been negotiating with Apple since January 2023 over work-life balance, unpredictable scheduling, and wages, among other issues. But that wasn't all we discussed on today’s episode of Equity . This morning, Rebecca Szkutak also broke down what we can and can’t expect from OpenAI’s livestream event later today. On Friday, Sam Altman put a stop to rumors that the company will release a Google search competitor, but he did say OpenAI could announce a search feature within ChatGPT. To close out, Haje took the reins with another Pitch Deck Teardown. This time, we’re highlighting Cloudsmith , which secured $15 million for its cloud platform. The startup's 2021 round was the largest Series A for a company from Northern Ireland since 2005, so clearly they got a thing or two right. Listen through to the end to find out how the company pulled it off! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 10, 2024
Acquisitions are heating up, and Mercury eyes the fintech crown
Finally, some good news! This week, we were pleasantly surprised to see that FTX victims would be getting some money back – even if it’s not as much as they might have hoped. That wasn’t all, though: Mary Ann Azevedo , Kirsten Korosec , and Alex Wilhelm had plenty else to talk about this week on Equity . We discussed why investors are drawn to the fact that Amae Health is building an in-person approach to mental healthcare in an increasingly digital space and also how one North Carolina startup that started out by building drones to clean windows in tall buildings has also become a robotics company . Kirsten helped us understand what was behind Motional’s decision to delay its commercial robotaxi plans amid restructuring , and the greater context around that. We then dug into digital banking startup Mercury’s plans to branch out into software , and how it now fits into the increasingly crowded spend management landscape. And, we riffed on the fact that we covered three M&A deals this week (read about them here , here and here ) and how refreshing that was considering M&A activity has been lighter than expected. (Spoiler alert: AI was involved in at least two of them). Last but certainly not least, we close out the show with an announcement. After 7 amazing years, Alex's time with the podcast, and TechCrunch, is coming to a close. We're excited to see what he does next, but we are sure going to miss him dearly. Thank you for everything, Alex! This is not, however, the end of Equity. We'll be back bright and early Monday morning with your tech and startup news, along with another round of Pitch Deck Teardown. Talk soon! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on <a href="https://itunes.apple.c
Wed, May 08, 2024
$450M for Noname, two billion-dollar rounds, and good news for crypto startups
Good news, crypto founders: Venture capital activity is picking up in your sector after falling to multi-year lows in late 2023. Put another way, venture folks appear more web3-bullish than before, even if recent tallies are far under highs seen in late 2021. But that was hardly the only news item we had to dig into on Equity this morning. Akamai is spending $450 million for API security firm Noname , a deal that TechCrunch previously reported was looking to get done at around $500 million. The transaction, notable for its size, is also worth considering given that Noname was valued at a unicorn price tag back in 2021. Wiz is another name in the cybersecurity space that could do deals, thanks to a recent $1 billion fundraise . It intends to buy both wounded unicorns and hot, smaller startups to bolster its business. The company is now valued at $12 billion, which is a lot. (Wayve also raised north of $1 billion , but is focused on the self-driving space instead of security.) We also saw Monzo snag $190 million more , bringing its full-year fundraising score to more than $600 million as TikTok fights a ban , and Oyo tries to raise new capital at a fraction of its prior worth. And to close, Haje is bringing Pitch Deck Teardown to Equity! If you have not read the series — start here — you are in for a treat. We're kicking the new segment off with a look at NOQX's deck , what worked, what didn't, and what's next. Chat Friday! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads<
Mon, May 06, 2024
Dorsey leaves Bluesky, tech giants do more with less, and the next IPO
News that Jack Dorsey is out at Bluesky caused a stir this weekend. After all, Dorsey is a former Twitter co-founder and CEO, so his investment of time into the rival social network carried weight. The decentralized social networking service said that it is looking for a new board member. But while we had to talk about Dorsey’s latest on Equity today, it was far from the only topic we got to chat about. Past a busy earnings week ahead of us, we also dug into the latest employment news concerning China’s tech giants. Like many large U.S. tech shops, they are shedding staff. Tech shops around the world are showing that they can do more with less. Sticking to China, the country is set to deliver another IPO , this time in the United States. Momenta could raise up to $300 million in its debut, meaning that its upcoming listing is is going to carry real weight. ( More on Momenta here .) And to close out we took a look at new capital that the U.S. government is putting into digital twins , and why alt-clouds are making real progress but could run into growth speedbumps in time . Equity is back on Wednesday — we’ll chat with you then! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.
Fri, May 03, 2024
Inside TC’s Techstars investigation and how AI is accelerating disability tech
Mary Ann Azevedo , Kirsten Korosec , and Alex Wilhelm had a lot to parse this week. We had notes on wallet-as-a-service’ startup Ansa's latest fundraise , and how Alex initially misunderstood its business model. Then Kirsten talked us through a simply massive deal in the self-driving space , while Alex wanted to riff on Beehiiv and its own funding round . $33 million is no small Series B in 2024! From there, we had a few minutes to discuss Anna Heim's recent reporting on disability tech and how AI is taking and industry and accelerating it. Even better, there appear to be a mix of business models approached by the startups we discussed. That means that there could be many avenues to making tech that works better for more folks into real, and large businesses. To close out, Dominic-Madori Davis joined us to chat about her reporting on Techstars. The company has been shaking up its operations for some time now, leading to certain departures from its ranks. TechCrunch's deep-dive into how it all went down is well worth your time . Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, May 01, 2024
A new venture capital supergroup is forming
Startups are not shying away from big projects. That’s my takeaway from news that The Browser Company’s Arc browser is now generally available for Windows users , just as Island raised a massive grip of capital for its enterprise-focused browser tool . It’s very encouraging to see startups going after core pieces of technology, and not just the apps that sit atop platforms. Of course, Chromium still reigns supreme, but unseating that horse might take a while. Elsewhere in startup-land this week on Equity, we dug into the Chowdeck round . It’s a Nigerian company that is putting up impressive growth with its food delivery business. Keep an eye on it, Nigeria is a big market and TechCrunch writes that no single company has its delivery business on lock. Yet, at least. On this morning’s episode we also took a look at the recent Corelight round , which given its valuation and revenue growth, is one to chew on. From the venture side of things, we discussed two stories. First, that Intuition is going after the consumer market . From Paris, the smaller fund is betting that going the opposite direction as most VCs is how to make the most money. And second, a new venture capital supergroup is forming. Axios reports that investors with backgrounds at a16z, Bessemer and Index are building a new firm. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also
Mon, April 29, 2024
Musk’s xAI shows there’s more money on the sidelines for AI startups
We’re off to an AI-heavy start to the week. OpenAI has a new deal with the Financial Times that caught our eye. Sure, it’s another content licensing deal, but there appears to be a bit more in the tie-up than just content flowing one way, and money the other. On this early-week episode of Equity, we also dug into the xAI news that TechCrunch broke recently ; namely that Musk’s AI enterprise is not looking to raise $3 billion on a $15 billion valuation. No, it’s now looking for $6 billion at an $18 billion valuation. That’s a lot of capital. But there was even more to chat about, including the EU handing Apple even more bad news in the form of placing iPadOS under its DMA rules that should force third-party app stores on the tablet line in time. And Tesla got some good news in China, though just how impactful it will prove is not 100% certain at this juncture. And to close out, the Times has a fascinating look at pace at which venture capitalists are putting money into AI startups. Given the ability of OpenAI to land big deals with Microsoft money, I wonder if it is enough? Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 26, 2024
Good news for Rubrik, bad news for TikTok, and encouraging news for Early Stage startups
Rubrik’s strong IPO pricing and warm reception by the public markets after its listing add more weight to the perspective that the public markets are not as closed to tech startups as some thought. If Rubrik’s result isn’t enough to break the logjam, well, maybe there’s something else going on. But there was a lot more that happened this week, which meant that the Equity crew had a pile of news to get through as always, with a little bit of our own mixed in. Happily it was all pretty darn interesting, so Mary Ann and Alex started with Rubrik before pivoting to Pomelo , a startup that has a very interesting twist on the remittances market. From there it was time to talk about TikTok. What was once an unfathomable result — TikTok being forced to divest from its parent company or face a ban — became reality pretty darn quickly . The United States is not the first company to ban the service, but we noted during the show that the company we are keeping is not the most enticing. Still, here we are, what does it mean for consumers? And to close, Early Stage. TechCrunch held its annual early-stage focused even this year, and it was a banger. Not to toot our own horn, but it was the second year in a row that our shindig in Boston was packed, useful, and lots of fun. The coffee was even good. At a tech conference. Alex had notes. Equity is back on Monday. Thanks for hanging out with us! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, April 24, 2024
The TikTok ban clears key hurdle while Perplexity AI continues to shake up search
Well, if you are a big TikTok fan and live in the United States, I have some bad news for you: A bill that would force a sale of TikTok or ban it in the United States passed the Senate . And the President is expected to sign it. Given that China has made noise that it will not allow a sale of the social media company that is headquartered in Singapore, but is owned by Chinese company Bytedance, it’s not looking good for TikTok in the States. But if that has you bummed out, don’t worry, we have lots of pretty positive news to discuss as well. News like two AI startups in Europe that are making a bit of noise that caught our attention. There’s a lot more AI in Europe than just Mistral, of course. And we had to discuss the latest from Perplexity AI , which just raised money and is shaking up its operating plans by raising even more money. It’s a good time to be an AI startup. Not that that is the only thing going on. The Framework laptops folks just raised more capital , Pony.AI is considering a U.S. IPO , and Volition Capital is expanding . Hit play, let’s have a chat! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Mon, April 22, 2024
Salesforce's silly deal dies as we keep our eyes on Ibotta and Rubrik
Today we dug into the latest markets news, including upcoming earnings, IPOs, and what impact — if any — the recent bitcoin halving had on its value. But the money news did not stop there. We also had two new venture capital funds to discuss, including a new vehicle from Seraphim focused on space, and TLcom Capital’s new Africa-focused fund . From there, it was time to chat EVs and what impact recent price cuts are having on the value of EV companies. To close out, we dug into the emerging startup cluster in vector databases and search . In short, normal databases are hot garb at the sort of queries we need for AI, while vector search is pretty good at it. Enter startups, enter venture capital. And, enter the biggest tech companies. May the startups win. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, April 20, 2024
Notable Capital's Hans Tung on the state of VC and the upside to down rounds
This week, Mary Ann talked to Hans Tung , managing partner of Notable Capital (formerly GGV Capital ), which is focused on investing in the US as well as in Europe and Latin America. Long-time listeners may recall that Hans, whose portfolio includes the likes of Airbnb, StockX and Slack, joined Equity last year to focus on down rounds, a term often treated like an evil phrase. Today, we're digging into why Hans still believes in down rounds, the importance of long-term thinking and the current state of startup investment. We'll also dive into: Why Hans is so bullish on fintech, and what sectors within fintech especially has him psyched. Recent changes at his own firm , and why there have been so many personnel changes at VC firms as of late And more! All right, sit back, hit play and have some fun with us. Equity will be back on Monday. See you then! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 19, 2024
Tesla’s busy week, and is fintech having a moment?
It’s been more than a minute since Tesla went public, but the EV company was inescapable on TechCrunch this week. From layoffs to pricing changes and more, it was a week dyed deeply in Tesla colors so we had to chat through the latest. But that was just one element of what we got into on Equity this week. We also dug into Mary Ann’s reporting about Ramp’s latest round — and up valuation — that fit neatly next to Rippling’s own impending fundraise . If you are handling money, it’s a good time to be a startup. The team also dug into Cherub, which wants to connect investors and founders, Maven Ventures’ consumer investing push , and touched on what Mercury is up to . All told, we were fortunate to have Kirsten Korosec along with us this week given the sheer volume, and diversity of transportation news to chew through, especially as it relates to Tesla. Equity is back tomorrow with a special interview between Mary Ann and Notable Capital's Hans Tung, so stay tuned! Until then, hit play and let’s have some fun. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, April 17, 2024
An $11B bonanza for space startups, and where is all that a16z money going?
What is worth $11 billion and wants to go to Mars to collect rocks? NASA’s mission to Mars to collect rocks that was expected to cost $11 billion and take ages. So, the U.S. space agency is throwing the doors open to get more input, and that means that startups are looking at an opportunity that is truly out of this world . But that’s not the only thing going on. Today’s Equity episode is focused on all things startups, which means we also got to chat through Two Chairs’ recent and massive Series C , Quilt’s heat pump work and fundraise , and several IPO updates. Here’s hoping that after Ibotta and Rubrik get out the door, more IPOs follow. Also on the show today was a grip of venture capital news. Bay Bridge Ventures is raising a $200 million climate fund — it has lots of good company there, given rising LP interest in climatetech more generally — and a SpaceX alum is building a new VC firm that we covered. To close, the massive, gobsmackingly big $7.2 billion worth of new funds from a16z . We dug into their breakdown on the podcast, but the short version is that it appears that the venture slowdown has not managed to impede the venture firm’s golden touch when it comes to fundraising. Hit play, let’s have some fun! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</
Mon, April 15, 2024
OpenAI plans new Tokyo office as Tesla layoffs arrive
It’s only Monday morning, but it already feels like Thursday given the sheer amount of news that’s flowing in. We have two critical headlines for you today: OpenAI is planning to open an office in Tokyo and launch a new GPT-4 model for the Japanese language. The U.S., EU, and China are all racing for leadership in AI, and OpenAI’s foray into Japan could expand the list of leading blocs and nations. Tesla is cutting more than 10% of its total global workforce . CEO Elon Musk told employees in an internal email that the cuts were aimed at eliminating role duplications, but the company has been seeing its sales start to slow down, and some concern around waning demand for EVs could be playing a part in the decision to slash costs. There’s lots more going on: The price ranges for Rubrik’s IPO have been leaked ; ShareChat has suffered a valuation beheading haircut , and global smartphone sales are picking up again . Hit play to catch up on what’s going to be the talk of Tech Twitter this week. We'll be back Wednesday with our mid-week startup and venture highlights! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 12, 2024
Beeper acquired by Automattic, fintech's decline and YC's lack of LatAm founders
Today, the Equity crew dug into Automattic buying Beeper for $125 million . Recall that the WordPress parent company bought Texts.com last year for $50 million . Elsewhere in deal-land, Proton bought Standard Notes , and we recently discussed the Wonderschool-Early Day purchase . More, please! In the Deals of the Week column, Mary Ann chose Payjoy’s massive new run rate , while Alex wanted to riff on the Proxima Fusion round that could help bring the next energy revolution a little bit closer to reality. And to close out, we looked at Anna Heim’s latest on Y Combinator’s evaporating number of participating startups from Latin America, which we posit could have something to do with fintech falling out of favor with investors — and fintech being the startup category that we most associated with Latin America founder activity. Not that fintech is dead, far from it. But certainly we are an ocean or two away from the heady days we saw back in 2021. Equity is back Monday morning to kickstart your week! We’ll see you then! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, April 10, 2024
A $60M venture fund with a twist, and more startup-on-startup acquisitions
Today on Equity’s startup-focused Wednesday show, we dug into the Multiverse-Searchlight deal that reminded us of the Wonderschool-Early Day transaction that we covered on the show a few weeks back. We also dug into the latest Guesty round , which was both large and interesting from a financial perspective, the Monad Labs transaction that led us to try and explain the difference between L1 and L2 blockchains, and Cyera’s quick recent megaround . Put more simply, startup news is feeling very busy, and very high-dollar again, and that’s a lot of fun for the show. To round things out, we also squeezed in a new venture capital fund targeting growth-rounds in Africa . That's it for us today, but join us on Friday for our roundtable news roundup! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 08, 2024
Spotify’s new AI playlists, the US’s latest chip deal, and a shot at data privacy
Now that we are finally past Y Combinator’s demo day — though our Friday show is worth listening if you haven’t had a chance yet — we can dive into the latest news. So, this morning on Equity Monday we got into the chance that the United States might pass a real data privacy law . There’s movement to report, but we’re still very, very far from anything becoming law. Elsewhere, the U.S. and TSMC have a new deal , there’s gaming news to consider (and a venture tie-in ), and Spotify’s latest AI plans , which I am sure will delight some and annoy others. Lastly, on the crypto front, trading volume of digital tokens seems to have partially arrested its free fall, which should help some exchanges breath a bit more easily. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, April 06, 2024
What we've learned from the women behind the AI revolution
The AI boom, love it or find it to be a bit more hype than substance, is here to stay. That means lots of companies are raising oodles of dollars, a healthy dose of regulatory concern, academic work, and corporate jockeying. For startups, it means a huge opportunity to bring new technology to bear on a host of industries that could use a bit of polish. But if you read the news, you might notice that men are the far and away most cited, and discussed players in AI today. So, TechCrunch’s Dominic-Madori Davis and Kyle Wiggers decided to go out and talk to women working in AI to learn more about their work , how they got into the world of artificial intelligence, and more. The series has been running for some time now, so it was the perfect moment to get the pair of them onto the show for a chat about the project. Thus far they have interviewed folks like Irene Solaiman , head of global policy at Hugging Face, Sarah Kreps , professor of government at Cornell, and Heidy Khlaaf , safety engineering director at Trail of Bits. See you bright and early Monday morning for more! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 05, 2024
From YC to IPO: Winter 2024 Demo Day, Rubrik and Ibotta
What a week, everyone. Two full days of Y Combinator demo day activity kept us busy , but the latest accelerator cohort’s launch was far from the only big story in startup-land. Today on the Equity’s Friday news roundup, Mary Ann , Becca , and Alex gathered to dig into favorites from the hundreds of new YC companies that pitched, and a new venture capital fund that wants to become “the investment and innovation arm of the autism community.” Becca wanted to talk about Seso and its fascinating fintech play in the agricultural space, while Alex brought Home From College and its recent Seed round to the mix. Then to close out, we chatted through the impending Ibotta and Rubrik IPOs . The latter deal could provide a fascinating heat-check for unprofitable unicorns that need to find some sort of exit, and quickly. All told we chatted through startups from their very earliest form all the way through their most mature. A very fitting capstone to the week! Hit play, and let’s have some fun. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <
Wed, April 03, 2024
Nvidia might be clouding the funding climate for AI chip startups, but Hailo is still fighting
This is our Wednesday show, when we take a moment to dig into a raft of startup and venture capital news. No big tech here! Keep in mind that Y Combinator's demo day kicks off today, so we're going to be snowed-under in startup news the rest of the week. Consider today's show the calm before the storm. AUDIO On the podcast this morning we have BlaBlaCar's new credit facility and how it managed to land it, how PipeDreams could be onto a new model of startup construction , GoStudent's rebound and profitability , Hailo's chip business and massive new funding round , and the two new brands that GGV calls home as it divides up its operations on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 01, 2024
Ads on Discord, AT&T passcode resets, and podcast changes for Android users
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Monday show, where we dig into the weekend and take a peek at the week that is to come. We’ll talk more about Wednesday, but this is Y Combinator Demo Day week, so expect a deluge of startup news. On the podcast today we dug into the latest news from Discord that indicates it is moving towards opening its gates for advertisements . As I wrote back in 2022 , this is the standard practice for tech companies that get big, even if we don’t love it as consumers. (Just look at YouTube’s ad load, for example.) We also got into this super-neat startup round concerning trucking, TechCrunch’s latest cybersecurity scoop which is big news for AT&T customers, and even upcoming changes to the Android podcasting ecosystem that will see YouTube Music gain even more prominence inside of Alphabet’s consumer empire. Hit play, and let’s have some fun! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full interview transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, read on, or check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 29, 2024
SBF's sentencing, Databricks' GPT rival, and who's investing in the "underdog" founders
As the week comes to a close, we're also shutting the book on the trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, the erstwhile crypto baron who is heading to prison for 25 years. But while the SBF news was a big deal, there was so very much more to cover on today's news roundup episode of Equity. With Kirsten Korosec , Mary Ann Azevedo , and Alex Wilhelm aboard this week, the crew dug into Robinhood's new credit card and what it can tell us about the strategy of major tech companies, Fisker's latest woes , and even Databricks' new AI model that it spent $10 million to spin up. But that wasn't enough. We also dug into two companies building startups focused around kids. One wants to help tots learn how to produce music , while the other is working to reduce waste and help parents care for their kids on a budget. Then, to wrap up, a look at just who unicorn founders really are , and a new $100 million fund that to back climate tech . Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thu, March 28, 2024
Why a16z-backed Wonderschool is acquiring EarlyDay
This is our interview show, where we sit down with guests, think about their work, and unpack the rest. This week, Wonderschool , a startup that works with individuals and local governments to spin up more childcare businesses by providing software and other support, has acquired EarlyDay . EarlyDay, another venture-backed startup, operates a early childhood educator marketplace. Alex caught up with EarlyDay’s two former CEOs, Emma Harris and Melissa Tran, and their new boss, Chris Bennett at Wonderschool, to chat through the deal, what’s ahead for their sector, and more. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 25, 2024
Spotify throws its hat in the edtech ring
Today on the show we had a lot of ground to cover: Stocks around the world are in retreat to start the week, while crypto prices have themselves given back some recent gains. The biggest news item that we covered this morning was the exit of Stability AI’s CEO , the company’s revenue growth and burn rate have come into question before, making the move all the more newsy. Over in the EU, a number of U.S.-based tech companies are under inquiry thanks to the new Digital Markets Act . At some point you have to wonder if tech giants are going to find a better working relationship with the bloc. And speaking of Europe, Spotify’s next push is another non-musical effort , which I had a few thoughts about. None of which were incredibly excited, I have to admit. The news from China, including it getting the Vision Pro next , and a push to get Intel and AMD chips out of state computers . And we closed with this beverage startup report ! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 22, 2024
A $700M SAFE, more IPOs, and how one venture fund is transcending borders
This week we had Mary Ann, Becca, and Alex aboard. Here's what the crew got into: Deals of the Week: Mary Ann wanted to talk about Onyx , a neobank aimed at wealthy early-to-middle career adults. It's pivoting to B2B and is not, despite what the Internet said, dead. Alex wanted to discuss Montauk Climate , a climate incubator set up by the former co-founder of Casper and the recent Marc Lore/Wonder deal . The climate isn't doing well, in case you've missed the news. So, projects like this are welcome. And Becca brought Ethos Fund to the table , allowing us to discuss cross-border investing. The upcoming Saudi AI push : What has lots of capital and is ready to pour it into AI investments? Sure, your local venture scene but also the Saudi Arabian government. Notable venture funds have been flying to the Middle Eastern state to raise capital, but perhaps in the future the capital will come for them. How some VCs are holding back an IPO rush : A recent Becca investigation unearthed an interesting finding, namely that it may not be the fault of late-stage founders that their companies are not going public. Their backers might actually be the ones holding the door closed. Oh, and Reddit started trading during our recording slot, and it's doing well ! We are back Monday with more! Chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryc
Wed, March 20, 2024
Astera Labs going public and the Inflection-Microsoft AI saga
Today we have a grip of startup stories, and a venture capital item that isn’t as bad of news as it seems at first blush. Here’s the rundown: Astera Labs is going public after pricing above-range . We’ll see how it trades today, but it’s good news that the first real tech IPO of the year set its share price at $36, higher than even its raised price interval. TigerEye’s $35 million round for business intelligence gives us a peek at how tech could help businesses navigate the future. There’s a YC connection as well, which is worth keeping in mind. Pocket FM’s mega round shows that consumer-focused technology plays can still pay handsomely . Even more notably, Pocket FM’s business model is contra-subscription, which is delightfully different. And then there’s the Inflection AI-Microsoft-saga , which is part startup story, part corporate venture capital story, and part antitrust story. We also touched on the boom in two-wheel electric vehicle companies in India , and why one pension fund’s move to lower its venture allocation isn’t as worrying as it might sound. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="htt
Mon, March 18, 2024
LinkedIn wants a piece of Wordle’s success
This is our Monday show, in which we take a look back at the weekend and what’s ahead in the week. We’re coming to the end of earnings season, which means that there are just a few weeks left in the first quarter. With spring in the air, here’s what we got into this morning: Apple may tap Google for AI : Sure, Apple is working on its own AI tech, but Google’s Gemini model could be headed for an iPhone near you. Bloomberg broke the news . Grok goes open source : As promised, xAI’s LLM Grok is out for people to play with. Most importantly, startup founders seem excited. Reddit’s IPO makes progress : Oversubscription is always a good signal, but is also no promise of IPO riches to come. Gumroad says ‘no thanks’ to NSFW content : Another year, another platform booting adult creators. It’s a tale as old as time! Gaming is coming to LinkedIn : Look I don’t know what to tell you other than that all platforms eventually become one. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</
Fri, March 15, 2024
How to avoid all the IPO work without annoying investors
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. The podcast turns seven this week, so in honor of its birthday drop us a review? More, newer reviews helps more folks discover the show, and makes our corporate parent happy! Today our beloved Mary Ann was off on well-deserved break, so our friend and fellow-podcaster Rebecca Szkutak was kind enough to bring her insight and humor to the podcast this fine Friday. Here’s what we got into: The latest in legal: The push to force a divestment of TikTok or ban it in the United States is making progress , as the EU finishes hammering out its new AI regulations . Deals of the Week: Peak XV’s new, fascinating fund vehicle and what it may tell us about the Indian startup market. And, Ad Ventures’ new $80 million fund that felt rather contra-narrative in the best possible way. AI, privacy: In the wake of AI getting booed at SXSW , we took a look at several new AI startups that are raising rounds for their audio-focused projects. These included Nijta and Tavus , not to mention a host of startups from the current Y Combinator cohort. What to do when there’s no liquidity? Becca has the answer , and the answer is not going public. That’s the bad news. The good news is that secondary transactions might be a way to resolve lots of founder-investor tension regarding exit timing. And with that, we are back on Monday! Chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://ope
Wed, March 13, 2024
Startups are hiring fewer workers and paying out less in equity comp
This is our Wednesday episode, in which we dig into critical startup news to stay abreast of what founders and venture capitalists are working on. Today on the podcast, we got through the following: New data from Carta digging into startup compensation, and how it is changing; How one startup is profiting off death , but in a way that is actually great; Bear Robotics, and its killer new round for cute serving robots ; New stuff from BlueSky ( all about moderation and choosing one’s own adventure ) and Brave ( getting a boost from the EU’s DMA ); And finally, some venture capital news that was a legit surprise . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 11, 2024
Musk’s Grok goes open-source and Reddit updates its IPO filing
This is our Monday show, in which we take a look back at the weekend and what’s ahead in the week. Over the weekend, we dropped an interview with Roger Lee that is well worth your time , and here's our take on Reddit's IPO financials . Here's what we got into today: Crypto is taking flight, with bitcoin and ethereum notching big gains in recent days as the crypto winter fades to a fresh spring. Reddit dropped a new IPO filing , which includes a price range target of between $31 and $34 per share. That values the company as high as $6.4 billion . Musk intends to open-source Grok , the LLM that subscribers of X's most expensive tier have access to. The move comes after a recent debate regarding AI tech and how open it should be. Bobby Kotick wants to buy TikTok ? Techstars' $80 million Advancing Cities Fund could be its first and last fund. In closing, Griffin Bank's $24 million Series A extension caught our eye, and we're reading Ron Miller's interview with Slack's new CEO . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn mo
Sat, March 09, 2024
How many startups shut down last year compared to the year before? A lot.
This is our interview show, where we sit down with a guest, think about their work, and unpack the rest. This week, Mary Ann interviewed Roger Lee , an entrepreneur who’s spent the better part of a decade building tools for employees and employers alike. Lee is an angel investor as well the creator of Layoffs.FYI and co-founder of Comprehensive and Human Interest . Roger joined us on the show last year in the wake of 2022’s tech layoffs, but this week we’re focusing on the business of shutting down and why investors are lining up to back startups in the space, including Roger. We also talked about: Just how many more companies shut down in 2023 compared to 2022 (spoiler alert, it was a lot!) How many more layoffs we saw last year compared to years prior The types of companies winding down and laying off How his work is tied to all of it and the role of AI Equity will be back on Monday for our weekly kick-off show, but don't forget to keep up with us in the meantime on X and Threads @EquityPod. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 08, 2024
What's the Deel with Remofirst, and why are VCs playing musical chairs?
Today on the pod, Mary Ann and Alex dug into a whole mess of news, including: Mews' massive new round is proof that vertical SaaS + payments remains a great way to build a big business, and earn a unicorn valuation at a time when those are growing rarer. The global companies taking on Carta , including QuotaLab in South Korea. An acquisition has helped QuotaLab expand its product remit to founders, investors and their LPs. Deel's purchase of Africa’s PaySpace got us talking about how acquisitive the HRtech company has been lately. We also dug into news that Deel crossed the $500 million ARR mark, a feat that other companies in its market have managed, like Gusto. ( Remofirst also raised more capital , showing just how competitive Deel's market is today.) Venture capital musical chairs : One Founders Fund investor has left the firm to go back to building things , while Benchmark lost a partner to their prior home at Thrive . Expect more, similar moves this year as venture resets from its last boom. We have an interview coming out tomorrow that we're stoked about, and will be back on Monday. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 06, 2024
OpenAI fires back at Musk, and Monzo raises a megaround
This is our Wednesday show, focused on startup and venture capital news that matters. If you are a founder or an investor, this one is for you! Here’s the day’s rundown: OpenAI fires back at Musk : In the wake of a lawsuit from former backer Elon Musk, OpenAI is bringing receipts and an argument that Musk wanted to run the company’s for-profit arm. Hard to argue against something that you wanted to run, yeah? Monzo raises megaround : Monzo’s latest round is proof that the worst of the fintech slump is behind us. All eyes on Ema : With $25 million and a launch from stealth, Ema’s work to bring AI to the enterprise is notable. But in such a crowded market, are many startups aiming too high on the stack? Accenture buys Udacity : The former unicorn’s final resting place is not what it had dreamed of before, but this deal does bring welcome liquidity to at least one venture-backed startup. A climate boost ? An upcoming regulatory choice could unlock a massive wave of demand for carbon-tracking startups. And the latest from OpenView : The Information reports that OpenView is returning most of its latest fund to backers. A weird and slightly sad final chapter for the firm. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience
Mon, March 04, 2024
Apple’s €1.84B fine, new AI rules in India, and the latest pre-IPO round
This is our Monday show, in which we take a look back at the weekend and what’s ahead in the week. Over the weekend we had a great chat with Nubank’s CEO, which you can find here . Ok, onto the show notes! Stocks and Crypto: With some indices reaching fresh record highs, the good times are also rolling along in crypto where token prices are also on the ascent. Apple and the EU: Apple has been hit by a massive fine in the EU , which it intends to appeal. Spotify, which was the progenitor of the complaint, hailed the choice . New AI rules in India: The Indian government has a new tune when it comes to AI regulation . Big tech companies are now going to need its nod to launch models in the country, which could shake up how quickly new €1.84BN artificial intelligence products reach the massive market. Self-driving wins: Waymo is able to charge for its self-driving service in more markets , and can now do airport runs in San Francisco for a fee. I cannot wait to try this out. Other key news: Salla raised a huge pre-IPO round , and with the market improving, why aren’t folks in tech walking with more swagger? We are back Wednesday, see you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch au
Sat, March 02, 2024
The tourist VCs in LatAm have gone home
This week, Mary Ann talked to David Vélez , the co-founder and CEO of Nubank, the $50 billion São Paulo, Brazil-based digital bank that offers credit cards, checking accounts and life insurance to consumers. How Nubank has managed to increase its market cap by over 40% in eight months’ time. Why some investors are sticking it out in LatAm, and why it’s a great place to still put venture dollars. Which startups in LatAm have been the most resilient and what other regions can learn from them. All right, sit back, hit play and have some fun with us. Equity will be back next Tuesday due to a U.S. holiday on Monday. See you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 01, 2024
Will we reach AGI before Stripe goes public?
Here’s what Mary Ann and Alex got into: Stripe’s valuation recovers : As part of a tender offer, Stripe is now worth $65 billion. The company’s valuation has been on an up-and-down path in recent years as the company works to make its massive bulk fit into the private markets. Alex has thoughts on when it should go public, as you might imagine. Fervo Energy’s $200M+ round : What if the solution to our energy problems was not in the stars, but beneath our feet? And no, I am not talking about carbon-based fuels. No, instead, what if geothermal energy is what we’ve been waiting for? Fervo wants to make that question into a reality. Why VCs are investing in companies that shut down companies : With more startups than usual heading for closure, there’s a mountain of work ahead for founders and backers to shutter companies. Now some angels and other investors are putting their own capital into several companies that specialize in helping other firms close. Grim, but necessary. AI and the law: Microsoft’s move to invest in French AI company Mistral is not a bad way to spread its bets. Or to potentially fend of regulatory scrutiny that is building . AI in general is having a bit of a time sorting out rights — or lack thereof — that some training data may retain. Coming up this weekend we have an interview with Nubank’s CEO, and we have another great interview planned for the weekend after! Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/found/id156105107
Wed, February 28, 2024
Microsoft invests in yet another AI company
This is our Wednesday show, focused on startup and venture capital news that matters. We pull the top stories from the week thus far, and give them the Equity treatment to put them into proper context. On the show today: Microsoft invests in Mistral AI : Sure, it's not the biggest check, but as regulatory oversight hovers over Microsoft's shoulder, the deal makes sense. Thrasio files for bankruptcy : What happens if you raise billions to pursue a market opportunity, but the market shifts under your feet? Glean raises $200M : It turns out that you can raise mega rounds in 2024, you just need to work in enterprise AI, have a few hundred customers, and collect checks from a host of VCs at once. And on the venture side of things: COTU Ventures has put together a $54 million fund , while Zacua Ventures has put together a $56 million vehicle . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 26, 2024
Why some VCs are pulling back from Europe, Google’s AI push, and who is the CEO of Byju’s?
This is our Monday show, which looks back at the weekend and ahead to the week. We are back bright and early this week, but we also had an extra episode this weekend digging into the Reddit IPO; you can find that here . On the pod this morning, here’s what we got into: Stocks are mixed around the world as crypto prices gyrate; it’s a big earnings week including data from Workday, Zoom, Unity, Coupang, Klaviyo, Salesforce, Snowflake, Okta, and Duolingo among other names. Google, and its work to bring Gemini to a host of hardware endpoints . How U.S-.based venture capitalists are taking on the European market — or not . Interview Kickstart is the latest startup to self-fund for a long time before taking on venture capital . In its case that meant a $10 million round. And to close, who is the CEO of Byju’s ? For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, February 24, 2024
Equity Shot: All about the Reddit IPO!
Hello, and welcome to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Weekend team, we have something both short and sweet for you: A dig into the Reddit IPO filing that came out just after we recorded our final, regular episode of the week. Since we could not wait until Monday to talk about the numbers, we have an overview here for your delectation. If you want to read along: Reddit IPO filing, first look , written by Mary Ann and Alex Inside Reddit’s AI revenues , written by Kyle Wiggers The Reddit S-1 filing , via the SEC The Reddit IPO could be this year’s public-offering starting gun, or it could be a wet blanket on the year’s liquidity cycle. We’ll see how it prices, and even more how it trades when it does list. For now, we’re counting down until we get an S-1/A! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 23, 2024
Match Group’s deal with OpenAI is just business with AI glitter on top
This week Mary Ann , Kirsten , and Alex gathered to chat through a massive sheaf of news. A note before we get to the rundown that Reddit filed to go public after we had recorded this episode, so notes on its IPO filing are not included in this particular episode. Don’t think that we won’t discuss its S-1, it just came too late for this particular entry. More to come! Here’s the rundown: Deals of the Week: PermitFlow raised $31 million to bring software to the construction permitting market, one man’s plan to keep Cake ebike’s alive for just a while longer caught our eye, and we had thoughts about Match Group’s tie-up with OpenAI . Fintech drama: With Reddit’s IPO in the hopper, eyes are turning to other companies that are expected to list this year. One such company is Klarna. And, the buy now, pay later company has been the latest recipient of governance drama . Former Sequoia leader Michael Moritz won this round, unsurprisingly. Video game startups could prove surprise 2024 winner: While the venture market retreats and venture funding for gaming companies slows, there’s good reason to expect fortunes to turn around for the startup genre . And while venture wallets might open for gaming companies this year, some others like Frost Giant are turning to their own community to raise . More to come, including Reddit IPO notes! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits:</str
Wed, February 21, 2024
Could Reddit’s upcoming IPO reward its power users?
This is our Wednesday show, in which we talk through the week’s leading startup and venture capital news. This is short week, but there’s still a lot to talk about: Loora’s $12 million round is a reminder that AI is going to find purchase in a host of new markets. The company wants to use AI for conversational language training. Sure, humans are good at that, but they are also expensive. Software aims to be more affordable. Dili is building an AI service to help investors handle their due diligence. Given that some accounting and financial work can be described as rote, the concept here makes good sense. The company just closed $3.6 million . Reddit may include a neat way to get some of its power users onto its ownership docket for its upcoming IPO. And from the venture side of the startup coin, Bluestein Ventures has a new foodtech fund , while Partech has put together the largest African venture fund out there . We’ll be back Friday morning! Chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, February 20, 2024
The regulatory clock is ticking for TikTok
This is our weekly kick-off show, coming to you Tuesday morning as yesterday was a holiday here in the States. Here’s the rundown: Crypto prices are up, and we’re looking at another busy earnings week. Palo Alto Networks, Sprout Social, Nvidia and Block will report this week. Planity has put together a $48 million Series C , which is a super neat vertical SaaS deal. Software and payments make for a tasty combo, and Planity wants to bring those benefits to salons in Europe. The EU is after TikTok under the DSA , which could have major implications for social media regulation. And Walmart is buying Vizio ; LockBit got smashed ; and MariaDB has a buyer on the horizon . In closing, this WSJ piece on San Francisco is worth your time. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 16, 2024
Foundry is shutting down in slow motion
On today's news round up, Alex, Mary Ann and Karyne are looking at: Deals of the Week: Rasa’s $30 million Series C had our tongues wagging. The startup is building finservice-focused conversational AI tools. Karyne wanted to talk about the latest round at the intersection of AI and crypto , while Alex wanted to riff on Hippo Harvest’s $21 million round for indoor robot farming . Venture capital’s year of transition: After OpenView called it quits, and Countdown Capital returned funds to LPs it became clear that venture is evolving. New news that Foundry is not going to raise another fund after its current $500 million vehicle added another name to our roster of venture firms that are taking a different direction in the future. YC’s new call for startups: Well-known startup accelerator Y Combinator has a new request for startup list . Given the weight that YC carries in startup-land, we had to dig into what it’s proposing. Though we’re a little skeptical of the near-term impact of spatial computing, the other updates made good sense to our minds. We’ll be back on Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 14, 2024
OpenAI board member Bret Taylor has a new AI startup
Welcome to our Wednesday show, in which we talk through the week’s leading startup and venture capital news. Today we have an absolute pile of material, so let’s get to work: Bret Taylor’s new startup is turning heads : Known for his work at Facebook, Salesforce and OpenAI, Taylor’s new startup Sierra is building conversational AI agents. It has raised a mountain of capital to date, which it might need given that it’s not alone in its niche. FlowFi’s counter-cultural decision : FlowFi is building software to help startups keep their books more intelligently. But it’s not going to try and replace human inputs into financial work. Instead, it’s pairing its software with a labor marketplace so that startups can blend human and computer intelligence. If this means more GAAP accounting for startups, we’re here for it. Bold and Antithesis snag new capital: Bold raised $50 million for its Latin American fintech business, in good news for the sector and region that once went together like peanut butter and honey. Meanwhile Antithesis raised $47 million for its software testing service. Homebrew up, Foundry out: Homebrew is putting together an interesting new $50 million fund , while Foundry has announced that after its current, $500 million fund, it’s out of the game . We also talked mushrooms — it’s PG-13, I promise — and Earlybird Health’s latest fund . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/found/id156105
Mon, February 12, 2024
Peak XV's AI field trips, and why we don't set self-driving cars on fire
This morning we have an interesting mix of stories, which bring technology, politics and AI together in interesting ways. To work: Stocks: It’s another big week for earnings, including Hubspot, Instacart, Monday.com, and Cisco. We should learn a lot about the state of software and hardware sales as last year ended, and what some critical tech names see for the rest of the year. Crypto: Prices are up in the crypto world over the last week. Coinbase reports this week as well, which should give us a feel for how optimistic the leading North American crypto company is feeling. Waymo: Some folks set fire to a Waymo car in San Francisco . Which is so goddamned dumb that I would pull my hair out if I had any. Bugcrowd: A $102 million round ? You love to see it. Mega-rounds have become less common in recent quarters, so when bug-bounty-focused Bugcrowd put together just such a round, we had to talk about it. AI field trips: No matter where you are founded, you are going to need to keep tabs on the AI work going on in Silicon Valley . We are back on Wednesday morning at the latest! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 09, 2024
Adam Neumann's bid for WeWork's scraps
Here’s the rundown: Deals of the Week: Adam Neumann wants to buy WeWork from bankruptcy , Starship Technologies raised $90 million for a product that 100% of the crew love , and Ambience Healthcare’s massive $70 million round also got a warm reception for its target market. LatAm Rising: We love Latin America here at Equity, but have been a bit puzzled why its venture capital totals have fallen as far as they have. New data makes it plain that startups in the region are doing rather well . What gives ? And to close out, earnings, ad spend, and the state of the economy. Advertising can operate a bit as a ‘ canary in the coal mine ‘ for economic health, Kirsten points out . Alex also brought up AI as a potential growth catalyst for tech companies . All told? Things aren’t perfectly sunny, but when we consider the tech forecast there’s no rain to be found. We’ll be back on Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 07, 2024
Fintech, edtech, and SaaS are not dead
This is our startup-focused Wednesday episode, so we’re taking a deep look at a number of startup fundraisings, and the latest from the world of venture capital itself. Startups and capital, it’s our jam! Here’s what we got into on the show today: Goodshuffle raised $5 million , showing that vertical SaaS is far from kaput, even if software valuations remain under strain. SUMA Wealth put $2.2 million into its own accounts , showing that audience-tuned fintech products still have legs. SUMA Wealth’s target Latinx demographic seems to be resonating with what the startup is building. Behold! A crypto startup showing hella consumer traction . On the social media side, Bluesky is now open to everyone and growing quickly , and Blush raised $7 million more to keep its dating app invite-only. And then there were more rounds! Finally closed $10 million , while Klas put together $1 million for its edtech efforts. In closing, Episode 1 has a new early-stage UK fund that we wanted to talk about. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet,
Mon, February 05, 2024
Yandex takes a big hit to get rid of Russian assets
This is our Monday show, in which we look back at the weekend and the week ahead. A big thanks to Maggie for stepping back into the Equity seat while Theresa is out today. Here’s what we got into: Stocks are mixed around the world as investors digest the possibility of high interest rates persisting for longer. Crypto price movements seem to have eased in recent weeks in the wake of bitcoin spot ETF launches . Yandex’s parent to exit Russia : At a huge cost, it turns out. Given Russian sanctions, owning tech assets inside the country is not a good proposition. But when you sell, you will take more than a haircut. Everbridge is going private : For $1.5 billion, we hasten to add. Not a bad price bump for the 2016-era IPO, but still far from the value it commanded in 2021. And from Startup Land, Wonder Ventures has two new funds , Naboo raised $8 million , and ProducePay put together $38 million to tackle food waste. We closed out with this fascinating CNN story about how a finance worker was scammed out of $25M after a deepfaked conference call . We’ll be back on Wednesday morning! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choice
Fri, February 02, 2024
The feast and famine cycle of tech
The amazing Mary Ann Azevedo was out this week, so Kirsten Korosec, Karyne Levy and Alex Wilhelm took to the mics to chat through the most important tech news of the week. And if you haven't already, head here to listen to our interview with founder and former VC Anshu Sharma about building competitive products and defining new markets. Here's what we got into on the show today: The latest Congressional hearing went about as expected: Poorly . Deals of the Week: Zum has raised $140 million for EV school transit ; Ramp is still out there buying smaller companies despite a slew of layoffs across fintech ; and Metronome's usage-based billing software is growing fast . Speaking of fintech layoffs: Job cuts at Block and Paypal underscore the fact that we are not out of the tech layoffs era. Indeed, it's getting worse. And in closing: Cap VC is building AI tools for venture investors . How much of a venture capitalist's work can be automated? As with every industry, we're going to find out. We'll be back on Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thu, February 01, 2024
Why one founder thinks the Apple Vision Pro is going to make it
This is our interview show, where we sit down with interesting, knowledgeable folks and dive deep into what they are building, designing, or thinking about. Today, we have Anshu Sharma back on the podcast. Last time, the Skyflow CEO riffed with us on interest rates and business cycles. This time, we wanted to talk to him about a theory he recently wrote up for TechCrunch: The Innovator’s Dilemma . Or perhaps, a partial solution to that dilemma. The gist is that instead of using lower-cost products to take on incumbents, you might want to start at the top end of the market. This comes to bear today with the Apple Vision Pro headset, which is very expensive, and is entering a category replete with big investments and occasional returns. Equity will be back tomorrow with our regular news roundtable, so we’ll chat with you soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, January 31, 2024
Meet the startup taking on Nvidia
This is our startup-focused, Wednesday episode, so today we’re counting down important venture rounds and chatting our way through other startup and VC news. Here’s the rundown: Plex raises $40M, targets profitability : The media streaming company thinks that it can reach black ink by the end of this year, or early 2025. Not bad for a very expensive industry. Rebellions raises $124M to take on Nvidia : What is designing new AI chips and is partnered up with Samsung? Rebellions, which is now quite a lot richer in cash terms thanks to a new round. Nile is building a new data system for SaaS : Multi-tenancy is tricky, but why should SaaS companies have to reinvent the wheel? Aurora Solar joins the layoff parade : Solar is booming, but that doesn’t mean that vertical SaaS companies in the space are growing as fast as they planned. And on the venture front, Giant Ventures raised $250 million for two funds, Poland’s SMOK Ventures closed a new $25 million vehicle, while Ubiquity Ventures proves that solo GPs are not dead yet, want to go for a walk. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch
Mon, January 29, 2024
How a browser startup is taking on Google search
Here's what we got into today: Massive earnings week ahead: Big tech companies are dropping their quarterly results in the coming days, so we'll hear from Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet and Amazon. Other companies are reporting as well, but the bigger the market cap, the bigger the splash. Arc's new mobile app is a cool search concept : Best known for its desktop browser, The Browser Company has a new mobile app that could change how we search on the go. Reddit could target $5 billion valuation in its IPO : The number makes a lot of sense given what we know about Reddit's revenue history. More on that here . And in closing: Meta and Apple , what Garry said , and OpenAI vs. the EU . We have a packed week coming up, so check your favorite podcast app soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, January 27, 2024
How can venture capital survive a three-year liquidity drop?
This is our interview show, where we sit down with an interesting, knowledgeable guest and dive deep into their favorite topics. For this weekend’s Special Equity Edition, we invited Gené Teare to come back on the podcast. Longtime listeners will recall that we’ve had Gené on a time or two to chat venture capital data with us, and she’s back to do the same this week! We’re back to dig into Q4 2023 venture capital results and what’s coming up this year. For backing data, here’s Gené’s Crunchbase News author archive , and here are a few posts that I have put out on the same set of topics. On the show we looked into stages, sectors — including both AI and web3 — and where we are seeing both weakness and strength. Gené was a treat to have on the show, and we’ll have her back this year as 2024 comes into sharper focus. Equity is back on Monday, so see you in a couple days! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 26, 2024
Brex and the curse of having too much money
Here’s what we got up to on our Friday show: Deals of the Week: Plural has a new $432 million fund , Vroom is no longer in the car selling business, oddly , and we chatted through the Fantuan-Chowbus deal . From there we turned to fintech ( generally ) and Brex ( more specifically ). In short, Brex is a big company today but not one that is having a lot of fun at the moment, it appears. With reports indicating that its growth has slowed and its burn remained sticky, it recently cut staff. To close, we dug into why edtech might not be in the dire straits that many presume that it is. A recent TechCrunch+ investor survey finds notable pockets of enthusiasm in the sector. AI, as you may have heard, is a big deal. That’s our week concluded! We start back up on Monday morning! See you there. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, January 24, 2024
Who knew M&A would be the thing we couldn’t shut up about?
This is our startup-focused, Wednesday episode, so today we're counting down important venture rounds, and chatting our way through other startup and VC news. Here's what we got into: Artisse AI's seed round caught our eye for two big reasons: First, its selfie app is cool; and second, despite competing in a crowded space, it's seen revenue climb rapidly. It's gotta be doing something right. Elsewhere, Bilt Rewards is proof that fintech is still alive and kicking , and Kittl is another example of a European startup taking on a massive global market. And Bulk Exchange has raised $4.5 million , and I'm still shocked at how far Byju's has fallen . In Venture Capital Land, General Catalyst might buy an Indian venture capital firm — further evidence of just how critical India might prove in the coming years for tech companies. Also: some former Xerox investors have their own new fund to report. We'll be digging into the Brex situation on Friday, so stay tuned for more about fintech soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 22, 2024
It’s 2021 for AI while the rest of the startup market is stuck in 2024
Here's the rundown: The Q4 2023 earnings cycle will kick off this week with names like Intel and Visa reporting results. The largest tech companies will start to report next week. Crypto is not enjoying a post-ETF boom for reasons that are yet to be nailed down. Then again, when have crypto price movements ever made complete sense? ElevenLabs is the newest AI unicorn . With $80 million in fresh capital, the synthetic voice startup now has oodles of cash to try and run its market. Canva is big ! Who knew? Elsewhere, Crunchbase News reports that cybersecurity fundraising fell again last year. Given the number of breaches in the market, that feels off, yeah? Developers and Apple Vision Pro are not seeing eye to eye. Perhaps Apple should work to rectify its developer relationships ? And in closing, it turns out you can slow down TikTok . That's all for this morning, and we'll be back on Wednesday. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 19, 2024
The other side of AI hype
This week, Mary Ann Azevedo and Alex Wilhelm took to the mics to chew through funding rounds and trends galore. Enjoy, and don’t forget that our interview with Aileen Lee is here . Pomelo : $40 million more dollars for Latin American fintech? It’s the perfect Mary Ann story. Even better, we got growth data from the company to noodle on. It turns out you can raise up rounds in 2024! Tandem : Alex chose the Tandem Seed round for his deal of the week, even if he doesn’t want to use it. In short, couples of all types have different money management needs, making Tandem a potential hit. Briq : Mary Ann has been covering this company for some time, making its recent extension round well worth our time. AI and the enterprise : AI is going to change everything, AI is going to make your job irrelevant, AI is going to eat your lunch. So we hear. The enterprise, however, is singing a slightly different tune. Valuations, and their potential recovery : Sadly it doesn’t seem too likely that we are about to see a massive rebound in startup valuations this year. The good news? It doesn’t seem too likely that we are about to see massive price erosion, either. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience de
Thu, January 18, 2024
Back in the Unicorn Club with Cowboy Ventures’ Aileen Lee
This is our interview show, where we sit down with interesting, knowledgeable folks and dive deep into their favorite topics. This time around, we invited Cowboy Ventures’ Aileen Lee to chat through her massive new article concerning the unicorn world . If you didn’t know, it was Lee who initially coined the term “unicorn” in a TechCrunch article back in 2013 . Lee talked us through the data and taught us all sorts of new terms. You can sort of understand what one means when they say “unicorpse” or “zombiecorn,” but apparently there are even more exotic unicorn forms out there. We even wound up comparing venture capital returns to peaches in a bucket of piss (her words, not ours!). We also talked about where unicorns are based today (19% in New York, for example), and why seed rounds are getting bigger. But really, you should read her post while you listen so you can have all the context while we chew through the numbers! And for those of you who are here for the answer to our question, “How are Fortune 500 companies ranked?”, well, the answer is revenue and not market cap. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, January 17, 2024
AI versus SaaS, EV charging, and a new $250M fund
Here’s what we got into this morning: Vertice raises $25M : The bet here is that companies are willing to pay to have another company, Vertice in this case, to help them find savings in their existing software and cloud spend. Electra snags $330M : Charging EVs is big business, and Electra is wagering that building out its own charging network will pay dividends for a long time into the future. Build a Rocket Boy collects $110M : This is a big round for a company with unlaunched gaming titles. That said, it must have a few super-cool things cooking to raise that kinda of cash in today’s market. We also looked at rounds from Onera , Weavix , Long Story Short , and Xyte . There’s a lot going on! Thomvest raises new fund : Another day, another new fund, that’s the $250 million Thomvest story. We closed with what could be good news for African startups . And with that, we’ll see you back here bright and early on Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://
Tue, January 16, 2024
See? Fintech isn’t doomed, it just needs more time
Here's what we got into: Stocks are down around the world to start a week that only features a single key earnings report, TSMC this Thursday. Next week really starts the tech reporting deluge, so get ready. In crypto, bitcoin's price failed to pump after its ETF products launched , which surprised some. Also surprising was the value jump that the Ethereum blockchain offers. Buy the rumor, sell the news? (Elsewhere, a crypto exchange raised around $100 million . In 2024! Who would have expected that!) Uber is killing Drizly : You can still get booze delivered to your house, but Axios notes that the $1.1 billion acquisition by Uber has run its course. Pour one out. On the deal front, Spot Technologies raised $2 million , while TechCrunch reports that Kuda raised $20 million last year at a flat valuation . That's pretty solid a result for a fintech startup that last raised in 2021. To close out, Apple is the world's smartphone king and has found a way to sell its Watch product sans legal issues , while Microsoft is very busy with AI . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, January 13, 2024
When it comes to startups’ flight to quality, have we swung too far in the other direction?
This is our interview show, where we sit down with a guest, think about their work, and unpack the rest. This week, we talked to Jenny Fielding, co-founder and managing partner at Everywhere Ventures , a founder collective and early-stage (think pre-seed) venture firm. Jenny and I discussed a wide variety of topics, including startups’ flight to quality in 2024 and how smaller firms are competing with larger firms in the current investment landscape. We also dug into the “great VC resignation” so stay through to the end for that. Jenny was a great guest – not afraid to speak her mind and share valuable insights. Besides founding her own venture firm, Jenny previously worked as a managing director for accelerator Techstars and founded several companies including mobile software company Switch Mobile, which was acquired by Via One. Equity will be back next Tuesday due to a U.S. holiday on Monday. See you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 12, 2024
CES, Circle-ing back to IPOs and why we're over the moon about Overmoon
Today, Alex Wilhelm and Mary Ann Azevedo dig through the key stories from the week. Then, Kirsten Korosec and Haje Jan Kamps are aboard to bring us the latest from CES! Deals of the Week: Shimmer raised $2.2 million to bring one-on-one ADHD care at a lower price point; Alex chose this one because mental health care startups that try to expand access are cool. Overmoon's recent fundraising and business progress were Mary Ann's choice for the week, showing that proptech is not dead yet! Circle is going public: Yep, the company behind the USDC stablecoin is once again heading for the public markets . The company's confidential IPO filing follows an aborted SPAC attempt in the past. Alex is bullish on the deal, though we'll need to wait for the full details before we can actually make some predictions. And speaking of IPOs, we're really far behind on how many exits are needed to clear the venture capital decks. CES: We went over a ton of cool stuff this year, including this Bane-style mask , ChatGPT in cars, eVTOLs and more! Equity will be back next Tuesday due to a U.S. holiday on Monday. See you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adcho
Wed, January 10, 2024
AI hardware, fintech woes and venture capital's shedding phase
This is our newly revamped Wednesday episode, and we’re going to be digging deep into critical startup and venture capital news. If you are a long-time Equity listener, you will note that this is not the same interview show that we used to run mid-week! Don’t worry, we are still going to do interviews, so keep an eye out for those on Saturdays. Here’s what’s we got into on the show today: PhotoRoom is raising more money . French startup PhotoRoom is raising $50 million to $60 million at a $500 million to $600 million valuation. The round marks another potential win for AI in France, a market that is working to set itself apart in the EU. Treasure Financial cuts 14 staff members . The reductions in personnel represent a material percentage of the startup’s headcount, which feels a little weird given that the company raised $7.5 million last year, and reportedly saw its AUM soar. Tier and Dott are betting that 1+1=3 . Two micromobility companies are tying the knot to try and use scale to their advantage. The moves comes in the wake of U.S. scooter company Bird filing for bankruptcy. AI Hardware, Part 1 : The new rabbit r1 looks super cool, and is surprisingly cheap. I dig it. AI Hardware, Part 2 : Humane trimmed staff before shipping its AI hardware. On the venture capital side, Keith Rabois is heading back to Khosla Ventures , and Seedstars Africa Ventures added $30 million to its upcoming fund . We’ll be back on Friday with our weekly roundtable! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOm
Mon, January 08, 2024
Equity Monday: Bitcoin ETFs, Carta’s latest mess, and let’s go to the Moon
Here’s what we got into on the show today: Stocks and Crypto: Tech stocks aren’t moving too much this morning as the market digests the Boeing mess. In crypto-land, the price of bitcoin is up. Bitcoin ETFs: And this is why. A rush of new filings this morning showed that bitcoin spot ETFs are targeting a very low-fee structure as they compete for investor dollars. These investment vehicles are expected to get approved this week, or at least some of them, so expect a little market turbulence ahead. Carta is once again in trouble: Carta, which makes cap table software for startups, is in trouble after some of its sales people used internal information to try and broker trades without customer consent. Guess how well that is going over. The ULA managed to get its rocket into the sky ! This is great news for space launch competition. And for going back to the Moon. And the GPT store is supposed to come this very week . All that and more, we promise. Talk to you in two days! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 05, 2024
Are megafunds squeezing out small VCs and distorting the seed market?
Here’s what we got into: Deals of the Week: Ruth Foxe Blader is leaving Anthemis , albeit slowly; Exponent has a second fund set up , but without a pure fintech focus; and Alex wanted to talk about why 2024 could be a pretty alright year for crypto . Layoffs, shutdowns: Frontdesk laid off 200 people and is shutting down , which makes for a good conversation about its business model. Countdown Capital is also throwing in the towel , due in part to larger multi-stage funds inflating the entry point for hot seed deals. It’s a trend worth keeping an eye on. Helping one another: Israel is working to support its startup industry which has been disrupted by the Israel-Hamas war, and how the new Tech for Palestine group was formed . And that’s Equity for this week! We’ll be back on Monday! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPod, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a hr
Wed, January 03, 2024
How Duly is shaking up the Indian sexual wellness market
Today — ahead of the relaunch of our Wednesday episode that we discussed earlier this week — we have an interview to share featuring TechCrunch’s very own Morgan Sung and Shruti Dwivedi, the co-founder and CEO of health-tech startup, Duly . Duly took part in TechCrunch Disrupt’s 2023 Battlefield cohort, showing a global audience its contraceptive care platform that is initially targeted at the Indian market. Why India? The company cites a large, young population in the country with more than 700 million people under the age of 30. However, Duly also reports that fewer than 15% of Indians have access to sexual education. Even more, the startup notes that condom usage in the country is modest at best, and nearly half of young, unmarried women felt “judged when seeking contraception.” Put that all together, there’s a massive market gap that Duly wants to bridge. Sexual wellness is not a small market, naturally, and other startups are active in the space. News broke late last year, for example, that Evofem Biosciences — which makes Phexxi, a non-hormonal contraceptive gel — found a buyer after financial struggles . Changes to American law regarding abortion make it clear that access to contraceptive care is critical for women around the world . A big thanks to Morgan for the interview, Mary Ann for the intro, and Theresa and Kell for the edit and production! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, January 02, 2024
AI versus copyright, and why you shouldn't put all your eggs in one NFT basket
We're covering the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. This being the first week of the year, we had to go over a thing or two that broke just as 2023 gave up the ghost. Here's what we have on deck for you! Financial updates: Global stock market news, and the latest from crypto. On the decentralized front, strong price movements are driving trading volume. That's good news for exchanges around the world. AI versus Copyright: The New York Times suit against OpenAI that dropped in the final days of 2023 is still the biggest story in tech at the moment. If major LLMs are built on shaky grounds, what does that mean for the generative AI boom? X's value continues to fall , further evidence that social media is hard to monetize for nearly anyone who isn't Meta. Climatetech job growth could bode well for the startup genre . And, to close out, this Times story is fascinating if you want to understand where venture dollars are flowing. That’s it for today! More on Wednesday and Friday! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPod, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 29, 2023
The Equity crew predicts we'll see a lot less VCs in 2024
It's time to brush the dust off of an Equity tradition that stretches back into the years: our predictions episode. As we try to do every year, we brought in a number of voices to ensure that we covered a good amount of ground. And, we went back and vetted our predictions from last year as well, in case you wanted to see how off we were! Who took part? Alex Wilhelm , Mary Ann Azevedo , Kirsten Korosec , and Becca Szkutak . The voices you heard the most on the podcast this year! (A big thanks to Theresa Loconsolo for getting the whole gang together!) We bucketed our predictions into a few categories, including startup trends, media, proptech, AI, and transport. Mary Ann expects venture to continue contracting in personnel terms, Alex wanted to talk about AI at the OS level, Becca had notes on media, and more. There are other themes mixed in as well, but find your headphones and get ready for some Hot Takes, yeah? That is a wrap on Equity in 2023. We recorded something around 150 episodes, racked up seven-figures worth of downloads, oodles of streams, and more. But most importantly, we got to spend time with you. Thank you, for being you. Hugs, and more soon! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPod, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 27, 2023
Equity down under: How Australian startups can crack the US market
Today, we’re spinning the globe with not one but two interviews, thanks to our friend and colleague Rebecca Bellan , who’s been in Auckland, New Zealand for the past three years. She recently hopped across the Tasman to Australia to report on the startup scene in Australia, and is coming back to us with a temperature check on VC in the Antipodes. Rebecca spoke to two Aussie VCs: Dan Krasnostein from Square Peg and Gabrielle Munzer from Main Sequence . Rebecca and our guests dug into why early stage funding is popping off in the region, the government's role in growing a startup ecosystem, fintech, climate tech, and what it’s like to compete and collaborate with Silicon Valley. In addition to these conversations, Rebecca wrote a few deep dive stories from her time in Australia, including a look at its burgeoning climate tech scene and some of the people who are fighting to lift women up in the ecosystem. Rebecca also chatted with Canva — the SaaS darling of Australia — to learn how the company is embracing generative A I at its core and pursuing more B2B clients. We have one more episode to share before saying goodbye to 2023. It's a fun one and a tradition: Equity's 2024 predictions. Stay tuned! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPod, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more
Tue, December 26, 2023
VCs are entering 2024 with “healthy paranoia”
Today, Alex got Deepka Rana from Northzone on the mic to chat through a bevy of key topics for the new year: Where venture capital is heading in the new year The prognosis for startups at different stages of maturity Why 2023 was the year of adjustment, and 2024 could be the new venture-startup normal And, the fate of AI in the EU where regulation is afoot. (n.b. When we recorded this, the EU's first-draft of AI regulation had not yet dropped). We think that every person in startups and venture is hoping that 2024 brings a warmer macroeconomic environment, and lots of exits. We'll see. What was clear from our chat with Rana, however, is that the new year is going to be anything but boring. We have two more episodes headed your way before we officially wrap up 2023, so stay close to Equity! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 22, 2023
SVB, SBF and (more) OpenAI: The 2023 chronicles, pt. 2
This is the second of a two-part series looking back at 2023. Mary Ann and Alex called on two colleagues to help us chat through some of the year’s biggest events. Here’s what we got into! The decline, fall of SVB: It’s a bit hard to believe, but the chaos at Silicon Valley Bank happened earlier this year . Yes, much has happened since, but the sudden, and shocking collapse of what was effectively the family bank of tech sent waves throughout the global technology landscape. Venture was impacted. Public companies were impacted, and some startups actually got a boost ! Chaos at OpenAI: Another weekend-powered period of high-drama in tech this year was the defenstration of Sam Altman from his role at OpenAI , only for the tide to entirely flip in short order, Altman back the co , and most of the folks who wanted him out gone themselves. This one is still developing, so we had Devin Coldewey on to help us understand what is coming next. SBF’s trial: It was long. It was tedious. It was occasionally very interesting. But in the end, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was found super-duper guilty for various financial crimes relating to his now-failed crypto exchange. We invited Jacquie Melinek back on the show to tell us more. You can find part one of our year-end roundup here if you need even more! And don’t forget, Equity has even more great stuff coming your way, so stick close to your favorite podcast app. Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto ,
Wed, December 20, 2023
AI-driven gaming with Hilary Mason from Hidden Door
Today, we’re bringing you a special mini episode led by TechCrunch senior reporter and co-host of our sister podcast, Found , Dominic Madori-Davis. During this year’s Disrupt, Dom caught up with Hilary Mason from Hidden Door , an AI-driven narrative game engine. Dom and Hilary got into how generative AI is changing online gaming, building a team of creatives, fundraising in the gaming space, and more. Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 18, 2023
Startup Shutdowns and AI Showdowns: The 2023 chronicles
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is the first of a two-part series that we built for you going back over critical themes from 2023. It was a very, very busy year in the worlds of technology, startups, and venture capital. This is the first of a two-part series that we built for you going back over critical themes from 2023. It was a very, very busy year in the worlds of technology, startups, and venture capital -- so busy that we asked for your 2023 in a headline , and you delivered ! Mary Ann and Alex dug into a host of key topics: Venture capital in 2023 : The numbers started off the year poor, but got a bit better as time went along. In part as year-over-year comps became less onerous as we got deeper into the year thanks to 2022's own results having a downward tilt. Still, there's a lot of capital still in the market so we are closing out the year far from a freeze. Elsewhere in venture? California's new diversity reporting rule made an appearance, we discussed which stage of startups are struggling the most , and even riffed on some new fintech unicorns . Then there was fintech in 2023 : Despite a hot start to M&A in the fintech realm to start the year, deals slowed as the year went on. Though we did see a handful of critical transactions . Alex brought up some fintech-adjacent deals that he felt were notable as well, to round out our recap. Then we had to touch on the creator economy in 2023 : Recall that this was the year that we saw the writer's strike , the mess at Reddit , the brouhaha at Twitch , and the rise of several Tw
Fri, December 15, 2023
Cruise layoffs, exosuits, and why French startups are bubbling up
This is our very last regular news roundup of the year. We still have a lot planned for you, though, with special interviews, guest appearances, and predictions. But that’s all to come. This time ’round we once again had Mary Ann Azevedo and Alex Wilhelm together to hammer through the key news from the week: Cruise layoffs: Breaking as we went to record, self-driving company Cruise is cutting a simply massive number of staff . Deals of the Week: Prevu’s $6 million Series A and why proptech is Not Dead Yet, and why Verve Motion just raised $20 million for supportive lifting suits. What’s up with France? With Mistral AI making waves, other French startups are also snagging our attention. This includes Pivot which just raised $21.6 million , and what’s going on with startup studio Hexa . And then there’s AI: We can’t not talk about it, yeah? Sorry if you are a bit over AI, but while deals keep happening and founders keep building, it’s going to be in the rundown. This time we’re digging how a few mega-deals are changing the numbers , and also how AI might need to pay for itself. We are back Monday with some really fun stuff! Stay tuned, we have done work just for you! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loc
Wed, December 13, 2023
Why Automattic spent $50M on Texts.com
This week we brought Matt Mullenweg , the CEO of Automattic and co-founder of WordPress onto the show, along with Kishan Bagaria , the founder of Texts.com. Automattic bought all-in-one messaging app Texts.com for $50 million back in October . Well, we had questions, not only about the deal, but also the state of the written word online. A few notes before you hit play. First, Automattic is more acquisitive than you thought. A look at its history of purchases is critical context for our conversation. And, second, TechCrunch uses WordPress. We in fact are WordPress VIP customers. Neither fact is news, and of course had no bearing on our choice to bring Mullenweg and Bagaria on the podcast, but felt worth noting all the same. Alright, sit back, hit play, and have some fun with us! We’re back on Friday with our news roundup! Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 11, 2023
Equity Monday: TikTok loves ecommerce and VCs think Mistral AI will be fine (potential EU regulatory overhang or not)
Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here's what Alex got into: The end of earnings: With just Adobe and Oracle from the tech world reporting this week, we have finally (mostly) wrapped up earnings season for Q4 2023, and thus the year. Crypto’s doing things again: Recent price appreciation is driving another massive spike in trading activity. TikTok forms joint venture : Teaming up with Tokopedia, the Bytedance company has its eyes on the Indonesian ecommerce market. But the tie-up comes at a stiff price. EU&AI: Last Friday the EU got its regulatory plan in place for AI . Criticism followed. Then on Monday Mistral AI raised a bunch more money . So is European AI work kaput, or just getting started? Elsewhere, don’t forget that the chip war is still raging, there are more fintech unicorns being born lately than before , and SumUp raised again. That’s it for today! More on Wednesday and Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, December 09, 2023
Chain Reaction: Crypto VC space may be on the cusp of recovery (w/ David Pakman)
This week on Chain Reaction, Jacquelyn interviewed David Pakman , managing partner and head of venture investments at CoinFund . Before CoinFund, David spent 14 years at the venture capital firm Venrock. He also led the Series A and B rounds at Dollar Shave Club which was acquired by Unilever for $1 billion. And in 1991, David co-created Apple Music when he was a part of Apple’s system software product marketing group We discussed the state of the crypto VC environment, areas he’s focusing on for investments and what he thinks investors are missing. We also talked about: AI compared to crypto Future of NFTs Regulatory impact on investors 2024 outlook Advice for startups Chain Reaction comes out every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET, so be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite pod platform to keep up with the action. Connect with us: Twitter TikTok Newsletter Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 08, 2023
SaaS goes to space as some software startups are in a race to survive
This week Mary Ann Azevedo, Kirsten Korosec , and Alex Wilhelm gathered to hash out the news over some coffee and good times. Here’s what the gang got into today: Deals of the Week: Simply Homes raises $22 million for an interesting property play, SoftBank buys majority share of connected-vehicles company Cubic Telecom , and OurSky raises $9.2 million for its space-viewing software system. Troubles in Fintech: With ZestMoney shutting down , and layoffs at Navan (fka TripAction) it seems that fintech is not out of the woods yet. That said, Alex has some notes on enthusiasm in one area of financial technology . What’s up with software? TechCrunch coverage of tech earnings is leading to a mess of mixed signals for startups , and VCs to interpolate; are valuations rising again, or will 2023 end as it began? For more on the software market today, head here . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 06, 2023
No-code for creators and how regular folks can build an online business
Today, we’re bringing you another conversation from TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, when Alex sat down with Serhii Bohoslovskyi , the founder of no-code app-builder Trible . Trible is a no-code software product that helps folks construct online courses. We love Disrupt because it gives us lots of room to chat with founders that we might otherwise have missed. We even had a dedicated podcasting area! Expect even more of this sort of chat in the future. Here’s what we got into with Bohoslovskyi: The state of the creator economy now that the hype has somewhat worn off the product category. How are creators doing today? The use of no-code tooling today, and how it is received by non-technical creators. And the state of startups that have roots in Ukraine, given that the nation is currently defending itself from external invasion. Talking to founders never, ever gets boring. That’s all for us today, and we’ll be back on Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 04, 2023
Equity Monday: Bitcoin is on the move as Spotify cuts staff, and more money floods AI
Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. And we had a lot to cover this morning! Crypto prices are rising, which is good news for the decentralized economy, as increasing prices track with heightened trading activity and consumer interest. We have another busy week of SaaS companies reporting quarterly results, which will hopefully provide a useful temperature check for tech valuations. CoreWeave's new $7 billion valuation had our tongues wagging, as did delays at Google's AI project . And then there was Spotify cutting staff in light of economic conditions . The company can't outgrow its core market forever, and with largely static gross margins, the only lever it can really pull is its cost base. That's it for today! More on Wednesday and Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 01, 2023
Big wins for Latin America, climate tech momentum and Rover’s $2.3B sale
Here's what the Equity crew got into today: Self-driving setbacks: Cruise is set to slash its costs in the wake of a safety mess, and greater scrutiny from regulators. Alex hopes that the current set of news items doesn’t slow down the progress of self-driving tech. Webull snaps up Flink: Free trading is not just a business model that is popular in the United States. Webull is taking the Latin American market more seriously with its purchase of Flink . Uber What are London’s iconic black cabs doing on Uber’s platform ? And how long does it take to go from enemies to frenemies? Rover finds the exit: Who would have guessed that dog walking would be worth $2.3 billion ? IPOs are heating back up (a little): With Shein and Reddit targeting the IPO market in the coming months , it’s time to get our S-1 boots back on and prepare for some new debuts. Venture downturns are not death sentences: EU venture funding levels are down, but not out . And what’s going on Down Under ? We are back on Monday! Chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</
Wed, November 29, 2023
What founders can escape venture's no-man's land? (w. Anu Hariharan update)
Anu Hariharan , who previously led YC Continuity, has partnered with two of her former colleagues and former Brex executive Lucas Fox to launch a new fund, Avra . The fund aims to raise about $350 million and operate a program that some are referring to as a “YC for growth.” In light of the news, we’re throwing it back to a conversation we had with Anu earlier this year: Alex spoke to Anu back in August, after she tweeted about how "great" founders were successfully guiding their companies towards cash flow positivity. Since that very interesting post, both Instacart (a former Y Combinator company) and Klaviyo have filed to go public . And both have super strong cash flows. Our chat could not have come at a better time. We dug into how early- and late-stage startups should approach growth and cash conservation (in her view), the future of venture as an asset class, and how healthy the unicorn herd really is. We had a blast recording this one! Enjoy! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 27, 2023
How soon can I get a computer-brain implant?
You might be glad to know today was not all about OpenAI. Instead, we took on a bunch of news from the weekend that had to do with other companies: It’s a big earnings week for software companies, which means we’re about to get a bushel of information on how things are shaping up for SaaS startups in the latter half of 2023. On the crypto front, price movements have slowed as the industry digests the recent Binance verdict . Neuralink has raised more capital , which is great news for nerds like myself. Gaming layoffs are still coming in hot and heavy , adding to a long list of cuts this year. In the wake of a massive shopping weekend, how did e-commerce hold up? Here’s data from the U.S. , and from around the world . China-linked groups are coming for your industrial secrets , and Meta is again in regulatory hot water . And that’s that! We'll be back on Wednesday, but keep up with us in the meantime @EquityPod . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 24, 2023
Special Episode: Who's betting on fashion tech?
Today on Equity, we’re bringing you two bonus conversations all about sustainability in fashion from TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. First up you’ll hear our very own Harri Weber sit down with three guests: Jim Ajioka from Colorifix , Beth Esponnette from unspun and Julie Willoughby from Circ . They are all powerhouses in sustainable fashion and they all happened to join Harri on the Sustainability Stage. Watch their full conversation here . In part two, we have a great conversation between TechCrunch’s Morgan Sung and Jemima Bunbury from BLEND , a curated fashion app that is changing the way we shop online. BLEND uses AI-powered personalized recommendations to help customers quickly and easily find products that suit their style, size and budget. Their goal is to prevent impulse purchases, and of course, make it possible to stay trendy and shop sustainably. Here's what our guests are diving into: Fixing the fashion supply chain so all the materials are created in a sustainable way Helping consumers find products that will last Enticing larger brands to shift to sustainable practices Why a holistic approach to sustainable fashion is crucial when trying to eliminate waste in the industry That's all for us today, but we'll catch up again on Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, November 21, 2023
Will the OpenAI chaos boost open-source models?
We’re discussing the recent turmoil in the AI market today. OpenAI has kept the journalistic corps busy, but we also need to consider what the latest twists and turns in the l’affaire Altman may bring for startup founders. So, I rallied TechCrunch’s own Kyle Wiggers , and Supervised founder and former Equity host Matthew Lynley to help me dig into the latest. Here’s the show rundown: What has happened to OpenAI since Monday morning when we last recorded the podcast? What do the two experts think will happen to OpenAI’s staff in the coming weeks? What should startups that use OpenAI technology do to lower their platform risk? And, does the OpenAI mess provide a boost to open-source AI models? We had a really lovely time. A big thank you to our ever-busy producer Theresa Loconsolo for getting an extra episode out on a holiday week! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 20, 2023
Catching up on OpenAI’s wild weekend
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts . Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. This past weekend was all about the massive shakeup at OpenAI, and the high-impact machinations that the last few days brought. We discussed the following: The timeline that brought us to today regarding OpenAI, from the firing of Sam Altman through all the recent activity. The latest, including Emmett Shear being appointed interim CEO of Open AI , Sam Altman and others heading to Microsoft , and a seeming recantation of everything that happened by Ilya Sutskever at OpenAI. The situation remains far from settled, but you only have to stick close to TechCrunch to stay updated. The above podcast is going to age quickly, so we may have extra episodes in the coming days. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 17, 2023
The future of M&A and why founders are getting whiplash
This week Mary Ann and Alex covered a host of news events. Here's the rundown: Fintech + AI = ? News that Ramp and Brex are working to lever AI in the wake of reporting that Brex's growth this year on a sequential-quarterly basis slowed had us thinking. Can AI help fintech startups grow more quickly? The fintech sector could use a boon at this juncture, perhaps this is it. Help I drink too much : Alex dug up a recent venture round in the sobriety space. This time it was Sunnyside, which just raised $11.5 million for its subscription service that helps folks cut back on their drinking. We've discussed other players in the space before , including Reframe. What's ahead for the startup M&A market ? The Getir-FreshDirect deal had us thinking. Becca Szkutak thinks that it represents the sort of deal that we'll see next year. Even more, we may see more, similar deals next year . Will AI help startups regain their former value ? A recent report from Battery Ventures had Alex thinking about how AI-powered automation could help startups spend less as they grow; Rule of 40, here we come! Hormonal health will be is big : The Equity team dug into Allara the other week . Now we're adding Inito, which just raised $6 million, to our list of startups that are building in the hormonal health market. Natasha was right . And that was the show! Next week is a holiday week here in the United States, so expect something special from us next Friday. We'll be on our regular schedule Monday and Wednesday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simpleca
Wed, November 15, 2023
What you need to know about Google's search antitrust case
This week we brought TechCrunch’s own Rebecca Bellan onto the podcast to help us better understand Google’s search-related anti-trust case that is currently ongoing in the United States. There are a number of major legal cases involving tech giants and their in-market heft and behavior, from Google v. Epic to what’s going on in the EU and the U.S. government’s adtech-related suit against Google , but our focus is search. Catch up on the state of affairs with Bellan’s reporting here . Now, the startup angle. Why is this a topic for Equity? A few reasons: If Google’s current methods of maintaining its domestic search market share are forced to change, it could create a more competitive search market, full stop. That could change up where startups advertise, and how much they pay for those ads. More competitive search results amongst emboldened rivals could also lead to search results that lean more towards organic information instead of paid insertions. That would be good for startups looking to get the word out, without having to get their wallet out. We could go on. But hit play and hang out with Rebecca and Alex for more. We’ll have her back on when the verdict comes down. Talk to you Friday for our news roundup! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</
Mon, November 13, 2023
Equity Monday: Are we at the start of a new crypto bull cycle?
Here’s what we got into on this very cold November morning: Crypto’s melt-up is continuing, with rising trading volumes following in the wake of the price gains. For web3 believers, it’s great news. The FT has a great interview with Sam Altman about how AI training is going to stay expensive for a long while; Microsoft is probably not worried about the costs, however. Didi’s earnings dropped , kicking off a busy week for Chinese tech companies including Alibaba, NetEase, and Tencent Music. The Block is getting its cap table into shape . And Shekel Mobility raised an interesting round that we just had to talk about. Don’t forget that next week is a holiday week here in the United States! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 10, 2023
OpenAI's DevDay, reinventing the REIT and good actors in crypto
This is our Friday show, and we’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news. This time ’round we had Kirsten Korosec , Mary Ann Azevedo , and Alex Wilhelm on the job to chat through a massive pile of news: For everyone who listened to our fintech deep-dive, here are Affirm’s results . Deals of the Week: $105 million for May Mobility , $3.6 million for Mogul Club , and Microsoft’s latest startup wooing trend . WeWork is bankrupt , and we are Not Shocked . All things from OpenAI’s developer day , and how its latest news is a good example of platform risk . It’s raining IPOs ! Here , there , everywhere! And with that, we’re going to go rest for the weekend and come back Monday at full steam! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn m
Wed, November 08, 2023
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such positive signals in fintech
Today, Mary Ann and Alex dove deep into encouraging signs from the fintech startup market: Solid results from Klarna are on top of Alex’s mind . The company’s ability to continue growing while staying profitable is a reminder that one down-round does not a company kill. Fintech fundraising results were on Mary Ann’s mind as we wait for venture capitalists to re-accelerate their investments in the space. Sure, no one wants to return to 2021-era insanity, but after so long in the valuation doghouse, perhaps fintech has reached its nadir? And we leaned on data. Here’s the American consumer debt information Alex referenced , Affirm results will drop here , and the CB Insights venture data we cited is here . More to come in our Friday news roundup! Talk to you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 06, 2023
Equity Monday: The race to build tomorrow’s AI models, and signs of life in the crypto markets
Here’s what we got into on this fine morning: Stocks and crypto: Stocks are higher in Asia, lower in Europe, and nearly flat in the United States. More interestingly, crypto prices are continuing their ascent. Even NFTs are picking up a little bit ! It’s another busy week on the earnings front, meaning we’ll hear from Uber and Lyft and Hubspot, among others. On the AI front, TechCrunch is tracking 01.AI in China , which is now a unicorn, and the latest offering from Elon Musk’s X.AI service. The latter will have some sort of tie to X, formerly known as Twitter. In India, a former Sequoia group is racking up impressive results . Elsewhere in technology-land, OpenSea cut staff , and China’s government is still writing big checks to chip firms. Let’s see how the latter plays out this time. Equity is back in Wednesday! We’ll see you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 03, 2023
'Buy now, pay later' is just another way of saying 'debt'
We’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news with Mary Ann, Becca, and Alex. Here's what we got into: What happened to WeWork? As the shared office space company struggles to stay alive , we had a lot to say . Deals of the Week: Mary Ann wanted to chat about Charlie , which is building a neobank for seniors; Alex wanted to talk about an interesting non-profit-ish model to get startups and others access to H100s; Becca brought Almouneer to the table , an interesting healthtech play in the Middle East. From there we dug into massive fintech rounds, which are seemingly back. For more, you can read up on QI Tech , Tabby , and Next Insurance . And, finally, what to do when founding teams break up ? Becca has notes . As always, Equity is back for you on Monday, but you can catch up with us in the meantime on X and Threads @EquityPod. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is
Wed, November 01, 2023
When does a startup know it’s time to spread its wings?
This is our Wednesday show, where we sit down with a guest, talk about their work and dive deep into the rest. Mary Ann and Alex invited Marisa Warren onto the show. You may remember that we discussed her new fund — ALIAVIA Ventures’ first — on the show the other week. We wanted to talk with her to go over a few key topics that we care a lot about: The current state of venture investment in women; why the numbers aren’t changing, and what she thinks could make a difference. When startups should target their second market, and how. The two themes are not as far apart as they may initially seem. ALIAVIA invests in startups based in the US and Australia that have at least one female founder, and also helps their portfolio companies tackle new markets. It was a really interesting, and fun conversation. Enjoy! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 30, 2023
Equity Monday: Governments are getting their AI-regulating boots on
Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here’s what we got into today: It's a massive earnings week, unlocking a massive wave of new data concerning the performance of tech public tech companies. We're hoping to learn more about the market that startups are selling into in the process. The recent crypto rally is helping bolster spot trading results, good news for Coinbase ahead of its own earnings report. The Biden administration's executive order regarding AI is out, as G7 countries look to create a code of AI conduct for companies. X users that want to make a little money from their engagement will now have to avoid getting hit with community notes . And Web Summit has a new CEO . That's all for today! We have notes coming on Wednesday all about international startups and selling cross-border! Talk then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, October 28, 2023
Bonus episode: What we learned from SBF's testimony with Jacquelyn Melinek from Chain Reaction
Happy Saturday! We have a special bonus episode for you from our sister pod, Chain Reaction. Alex joins Jacquelyn Melinek go over the FTX/Sam Bankman-Fried trial before getting into his testimony from Thursday and Friday. They talked about: Why the judge had the jury leave the courthouse for SBF’s testimony Thursday The general feeling of the courthouse on the fourth week of the trial A possible timeline for next week and what to look out for as the prosecution gets a chance to cross examines defendant Keep up to date with Jacquie's coverage at techcrunch.com For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 27, 2023
AI is going to make Big Tech even bigger, and richer
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Friday show, and we’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news. Mary Ann and Alex were lucky enough to have Kirsten aboard for the roundup, which means we got to tackle an even wider array of stories than usual: Updates from the trial of former FTX CEO SBF, more here from our own Jacquie . Deals of the Week: Mary Ann was very interested in I Own My Data , while Alex wanted to talk more about AgentSync's latest venture round . Carta's CEO tried to beat back criticism , but wound up making more noise about his company's missteps. Cruise hit a roadblock with its self-driving program ; we dig into how to handle a crisis and how not to handle a crisis. And to close out, notes on earnings from Alphabet and Microsoft and what they may portend for startup-related AI software demand. Equity comes out thrice-weekly for your delectation. We are back early on Monday with our weekly kickoff, see you there! P.S. Pay attention to our sister podcast Chain Reaction, we have more coming on the FTX trial that you will not want to miss. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience develop
Wed, October 25, 2023
The Theory Ventures venture theory with Tomasz Tunguz
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we sit down with a guest, talk about their work and dive deep into the rest. This week, we had Theory Ventures founder Tomasz Tunguz on the show. As long-time readers of his work , having the former Redpoint investor on the show was a no-brainer. While it would have been fun to spend our time chatting about the ups and down of writing or the Internet, we instead explored a wide range of topics: Why Tunguz left Redpoint and started his own fund; Why seed deals do not get smaller over time; The thesis that underpins Theory Ventures’ investments and the future of machine learning; Why Tunguz is bullish on Ethereum; The value of software, the health of software companies, and why venture math still holds up at lower valuation multiples. And more! It was a great chat; Equity will be back on Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 23, 2023
Equity Monday: Here’s hoping genAI can make Siri better
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here’s what we got into today: Stocks are down around the world, while the value of crypto tokens is heading higher. Crypto trading volume is also trending north . It’s a huge week for earnings with names like Microsoft, Alphabet, Spotify, Snap, Meta, IBM, Amazon and Mobileye reporting, among others. Apple is spending big on generative AI , and TechCrunch has notes on just where the company intends to bring the tech. ZenML is proof that startups are not dropping the ball when it comes to generative AI more generally. Foxconn is under investigation , which is notable for its timing. And venture capital raised by Black American founders has fallen sharply in recent quarters. And that’s that! We have a cracking episode coming on Wednesday, so stay tuned! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 20, 2023
We're sending a cake to the next fintech startup that goes public
This is our Friday show, and we’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news. Mary Ann and Alex ran as a pair this week, and here's what they got into: Deals of the Week: Allara raised $10 million for women's hormonal health , Agnikul raised $26.7 million for its orbital launch technologies . Beef in the (leased) boardroom: WeWork is irked by Codi , which is hammering the well-known shared-office giant in an advertising campaign. Meanwhile, Anyplace raised more capital to fund its digital-nomad friendly home rental business. Plaid wants to get Paid: News that Plaid hired a CFO kicked off a predictable cycle of speculation that it will go public. Yes, but when is the question, and our view is not for a while . Finally, ChatGPT is online , and VCs are pretty darn bullish about the current AI wave . In case you missed it, we had a great chat with a Crunchbase analyst earlier this week about all things Q3 VC ! As always, Equity is back on Monday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on X and Threads . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great
Wed, October 18, 2023
The venture market is overcorrecting
This week Gené Teare from Crunchbase and Crunchbase News joined the podcast. She's a well-known analyst of the global venture capital market, and was instrumental to Crunchbase's early life and remains one of its more tenured staffers. So, what did the three of us get into? Here's the rundown: The big picture: What should we think about when we consider the Q3 2023 venture capital market as a whole. (More on Latin America here , Canada here , and global data here from TechCrunch+.) Here's Gené on Q3 data as well . Stage-level health. Which level of startup maturity is seeing the most capital? The least? And, venture capital flows around the world. As always, where venture dollars land is nearly as important as their total number for any particular period. Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup. Chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 16, 2023
Equity Monday: Investors have not given up on web3 gaming
Here's what we got into today: Earnings season is here, and we'll hear from Tesla and Netflix this week. Expect a lot of new data to drop in the coming weeks. If we bundle a number of headlines together, it's clear that running a social media company in the modern era can be a very expensive proposition. Though, what you think about regulation may color how you view the situation. Funding to web3 gaming companies declined in Q3, but it's not all that bad . The U.S. may not see IPOs happening, but the rest of the world is not similarly bereft . Creative Force's Series A was too cool to not mention. Equity will be back Wednesday with a killer episode on all things venture capital in Q3. See you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, October 14, 2023
The FTX co-founder and Alameda CEO didn’t hold back at SBF’s trial (Chain Reaction)
This week, we have a bonus mini episode where Jacquelyn talks with TechCrunch+ editor-in-chief Alex Wilhelm to dive back into the Sam Bankman-Fried trial and what has transpired in its second week. Major witnesses who were involved in the downfall of FTX and its sister company Alameda testified like Gary Wang, CTO and cofounder of FTX, and Caroline Ellison, CEO of Alameda. The two of them plead guilty to a number of charges and could face maximum sentences of 50 to 110 years, respectively. It’s also worth noting Wang and Ellison testified as part of a cooperation agreement for pleading guilty. Jacquelyn and Alex talk about key points from the trial, anecdotes that you can’t read on a transcript and what she anticipates from both the prosecutors and defense going forward. Want more? Here’s the latest on the SBF trial: Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison explains how FTX hid losses, sandbagged lenders Alameda Research allegedly paid Chinese officials around $150M to regain $1B worth of exchange accounts Alameda Research’s ex-CEO Caroline Ellison testifies, claims SBF directed her to commit crimes Alameda had a $65B line of credit and ‘unlimited withdrawals’ As SBF’s trial heads into its second week, here’s what we know so far Chain Reaction comes out every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET, so be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite pod platform to keep up with the action. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 13, 2023
How do you pronounce IaaS?
Mary Ann and Alex were joined by Kirsten once again to parse the week’s news and call out the biggest stories in startups and venture: California passed a law that will require venture firms to disclose certain market data concerning whom they are investing in. Some investors and venture groups are opposed to the law. ALIAVIA Ventures has put together a new fund to invest in women building tech companies in Australia and the United States, with a focus on helping Aussie companies reach the American market. Canopy Servicing raised a $15.2 million Series A1 . Alex caught up with the company, hoping to learn what it took to raise a fintech round in 2023. Things have changed since the go-go days of 2021 when every round felt like a fintech round and every fintech round felt like a pre-IPO deal. And rounding out our deals of the week, Kirsten brought a fascinating $200 million deal between a private equity group and EVPassport. If the world is going to move more toward electric cars, then we’re going to need more plugs in more places. From there, we worked to draw a connective line between the startup turbulence we’ve seen recently, with Braid shutting down, Shift and IronNet going under, and Blue Apron selling for a fraction of its former value. And to close, can technology solve a labor shortage in construction ? And if so, what role will startups play in that work? We had a great chat with the CEO of Medium earlier this week, and have a packed agenda for you including another interview that we’re excited about. More soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at
Wed, October 11, 2023
Why Medium is opting out of AI
This week we had Medium CEO Tony Stubblebine , the CEO of Medium.com, a publishing platform that he has helmed for more than a year. Medium has gone through a number of versions over the years. Pivots, if you will . But what has been a steady focus in Medium's life in recent years has been its subscription business . Medium offers a paid membership tier that costs $5 per month or $50 per year. And, Tony was willing to share, it's growing once again and is heading toward a pretty key milestone. We also got into: The business of the written word. Medium's stance on AI and what its posture says about how the company views the value of writing. ( More on the matter from TechCrunch here .) Why Medium thinks that everyone has something worth saying. There's a little bit of media insider chat during this podcast, which we hope you enjoy. As always, we're back with our weekly roundup on Friday. Talk then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 09, 2023
Equity Monday: The AI race, crypto doldrums, and the future of fake fish
This time around we had a bit of a theme. See if you can spot it: Stocks are down around the world in the wake of Hamas' attack in Israel. Crypto is similarly in the red. China is working to bolster its national computing and data infrastructure . You know, the things that make AI function. In other words: the AI race between China and the United States is far from over. This Anthropic paper is a potentially big deal. The more that we understand LLMs, the better we can use them, right? Changes at YC ! And from Startup Land: Wanda Fish Technologies just raised $7 million to make fake fish , and Lottie raised $21 million to keep tackling the UK care home market . That's our show for today! We have some really fun interviews coming up, so make sure to tune in on Wednesday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 06, 2023
The whole venture merry-go-round is decelerating
This week, Mary Ann and Alex had the pleasure of having TC reporter extraordinaire Dominic Madori-Davis as a guest on the show. Here’s what we got into: A quick update on the SBF trial , which quite frankly, has us all riveted. An Atlanta-based fintech startup called Rainforest’s $8.25M equity raise and how it is hoping to take market share away from the likes of Stripe. A bunch of new fund raises this week, including At One’s $375M climate-focused raise ; Section 32’s $525M fund close and Greylock’s $1 billion haul . With so much capital flowing to VCs, it is more than a little mind-boggling that venture funding declined for yet another quarter in the three-month period ending September 30. But it did. Dom came on to talk about Fearless Fund’s being barred from awarding grants to Black women founders and how how data can help improve social impact investing . Equity is back next week bright and early on Monday. And we have a lot of really cool interviews coming up. So make sure that you are tuned in and caught up! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio produ
Thu, October 05, 2023
SBF's trial has started, and here's what you missed (Equity x Chain Reaction crossover)
This time, we teamed up with the Chain Reaction podcast and Jacquelyn Melinek to talk about the ongoing trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF. The rise of FTX and its later implosion rocked the crypto world when the formerly massive crypto exchange went under last year. In the aftermath, the company's executives have been charged with financial crimes. Many have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the government. SBF is not. Here's TechCrunch's reporting on the trial thus far that we went over on the show: SBF’s trial has started, this is how he and FTX got here SBF’s trial promises to be just as riveting as the rest of the FTX drama US government confirms it didn’t offer any plea deals to Sam Bankman-Fried Meet the 12 jurors on Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial Was FTX an empire ‘built on lies’ or a startup that ‘grew too quickly’? That last entry goes over the opening statements, which we got into during the show. Jacquie, of course, hosts TechCrunch's Chain Reaction podcast, which is focused on all things crypto. We're lucky to have her back on the mic. More to come on the SBF trial. Stick close to TechCrunch! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http
Mon, October 02, 2023
Equity Monday: Where fintech is strongest as SBF heads to court
Welcome to Q4 2023, the period in which we are all going to pretend to have gotten enough done this year. Here’s what we got into on the show today: Stocks are mixed around the world while crypto tokens are enjoying a nice price-upswing in recent days. A recent article argues that Apple has all the ingredients it needs to build a search engine to take on Google and Microsoft. At issue? The fact that Apple makes so much money not having a search engine. For startups, more competition here could be good. EU telcos want to get paid twice , unsurprisingly. While the Amazon-FTC case is still big news , this week we’ll see the trial of former FTX maven SBF kick off. TechCrunch is ready. And to close out, why are we seeing so many Seed-stage fintech deals? Here’s the answer. Stick close to TechCrunch this week, it’s going to be busy. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 29, 2023
YC, OpenAI and the trough of disillusionment
Here's what Mary Ann, Alex and Kirsten got into this week: The writer’s strike is over, and we have thoughts about its implications on AI . OpenAI is allowing some shareholders to sell stock , and the resulting valuation could be pretty darn high. Electric boat startup Arc has raised about $70 million ? We aren’t about to drop the coin needed to buy one of those, but the idea is neat nevertheless. Alex wanted to talk about fluctuations in the venture and stock markets . Is the mini-tech recovery already fading after a dismal September? Mary Ann wanted to talk about YC . Kirsten broadened the conversation to include the role of accelerators in the startup world more generally. Are the vibes shifting? Finally, the tech labor market: As layoffs subside — though new cuts are still being announced — it may be a great time for startups to hire key talent . And before we go: check out the UpFlip Podcast where you get to unravel how great businesses are built, how they are run behind the scenes and how their success can be replicated. We think you'll love episode 79 where they featured this guest who transformed his passion for gardening into a $7.3 million-a-year venture. You can find the podcast on Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that intervie
Wed, September 27, 2023
Don't forget to jargon check your AI
This week on Equity, Alex was joined by Nathan Baschez , the CEO and founder of Lex, an AI-infused online writing tool that recently raised capital . Together, we're talking through a few key topics that have been top of mind in recent months: How many AI-powered, or AI-using writing tools can the market support? How far into the generative AI moment we are, and how much we should anticipate in the form of technology improvements? And then we discussed the nuts and bolts aspects of pricing an AI-powered service and other financial matters related to building a service today that leans on artificial intelligence. The last question is far from idle. Recall that back in 2020 there was conversation amongst venture players about the economics of AI startups, with the perspective at the time indicating that while the cohort might have more difficult early economics, that their numbers (gross margins, really) would improve over time. But what about when a startup is using, say, an OpenAI API for its core AI work? Will similar efficiencies bloom? Equity is back into its regular groove now that Disrupt is behind us — more to come! And before we go: Check out the UpFlip Podcast where you get to unravel how great businesses are built, how they are run behind the scenes and how their success can be replicated. We think you'll love episode 79 where they featured this guest who transformed his passion for gardening into a $7.3 million-a-year venture. You can find the podcast on Youtube or where ever you listen to podcasts. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 25, 2023
Equity Monday: Everyone loves Anthropic
Equity is back from Disrupt and fired up for the rest of the year. Here’s what Alex got into today: Stocks are not peppy to start the week, while crypto prices have also moderated in recent days. Alex could not not talk about the Cisco-Splunk deal , mostly to promise that he’ll finish that post today come hell or high water. The Amazon + Anthropic news is the biggest item of the day. A $1.25 billion deal that could stretch to $4 billion is no small fee. And with Google and Amazon and Anthropic tied up and Microsoft buddied to OpenAI we could be seeing big tech choosing sides in the LLM model war. Meta is building AI chatbots , while Apple is working to build more stuff in India . To close out, Correcto’s neat round, and the finalists from Startup Battlefield 2023 — more on the winner of Battlefield here. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 22, 2023
Are you feeling Disrupted?
The Equity crew is back with another live recording from the Moscone Center in San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 . Alex , Kirsten and Becca sat down to recap a very busy (and dare we say successful) event, and walk through our favorite moments for the listeners who couldn't make it out this year. Here's what we got into: Providing early liquidity to founders and employees What advice VCs are giving their early stage founders Why Cruise might join the call to ban human drivers in city centers And why Shaq can do whatever he wants . We recorded shortly before the winner of Startup Battlefield was announced, but you can get caught up on that here . Now, it's time to fly back home. Equity will be back to our regularly scheduled programing bright and early Monday morning! Talk then. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 20, 2023
Equity Live: Self-flying helicopters, AI and the battle of the features
We were live at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 ! Yes, even though our dear friend and colleague Mary Ann had to handle a family emergency, the larger Equity family rallied to put on a rollicking early-morning show at the venue. From the Builders' stage where Alex had to introduce himself, Kirsten Korosec and Becca Szkutak rounded out our hosting crew and we had a blast. Here's the rundown: Instacart went public ! Finally, at last, at long last, Instacart is a public company. It priced at $30, the top-end of its raised range, and then went on to trade higher. More here, but a solid result. Joby is all-in on the Buckeye state : What has batteries and goes straight up? EVTOLs, apparently, even if that acronym is a big of a mouthful. Kirsten reports that a TechCrunch scoop was born out when Joby picked Ohio for its manufacturing hub. A lot of state-derived help did not hurt, either. Eldertech is a growth market : Becca wanted to talk about her latest Deal Dive, which was all about getting senior citizens to move for. Exercise is a pretty massive hack for a healthy body and life. We also had to point out that a graying world means that elder tech is only seeing expanding TAM. Writer brings back nine-figure joy ! And to close out, Alex wanted to riff on the latest Writer round, which is building a generative AI service for other companies. With some demonstrated traction, and a model that we think seems well rounded, Writer is one to watch. Whew! The Equity crew is all over Disrupt for the next few days so make sure to say hello! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://o
Fri, September 15, 2023
We'll probably retire before Databricks IPOs
Here's what Mary Ann , Alex and Kirsten got into: More layoffs at Divvy Homes : More cuts at a company that was once richly valued and heavily venture-backed. Rising interest rates are having a ripple effect across startup-land. Databricks is big, and now richer : With $500 million in a new Series I, Databricks is now worth more money and has fresh capital to continue working on AI. Lime, just go public already : What is profitable and private and a tease? Lime. Well, that last bit is a stretch, but really you can only ring us up and tout profits and growth so many times before we expect an S-1. More data is good : Venture capital firms, however, seem to disagree. If you want groceries in 15 minutes, here's where to live : Brazil, for one. Or India. Differing labor costs around the world appear to be the axis around which quick deliveries are feasible, or a financial mess. We are back next week for a busy run at Disrupt! We'll see you there! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 13, 2023
What’s more venture capital than space lasers?
This week, we brought TechCrunch+ senior climate reporter Tim De Chant on to talk climate tech, hardware breakthroughs, and why we have a whole stage this year at Disrupt focused on sustainability . On that last point, perhaps you have gone outside recently. Extreme weather around the world, warming oceans, fires — it's a mess out there. That's the bad news. The good news is that a number of startups are working hard to build new technologies that could shoothe our struggling planet. And perhaps make a lot of money in the process. Here's what we got into on the show: Climate tech venture capital activity. Why aren't we seeing more capital despite some interesting activity . The question of fusion . Is it really around the corner (this time)? Why we're both excited about potential hardware breakthroughs, even if LK-99 was not the real deal . Dread about our changing world. Tim is not only a great journalist, he's also very good at the whole science thing, so he was a treat to talk to! We're back on Friday for our last recording before we're on stage at Disrupt! Talk soon. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 11, 2023
Equity Monday: Instacart, Klaviyo and the art of the unicorn haircut
Here's what we got into on the show today: Instacart IPO: We have a first price range for Instacart ! And the company is going to take a roughly $30 billion haircut on the valuation it raised at back in 2021. Still worth north of $7 billion by our math , Instacart is set to raise a lot of money at a multi-billion price. Hard to get too worried about that. (Even more, the company's fully-diluted valuation range is, if we are doing our sums correctly, $8.6 billion to $9.3 billion.) Klaviyo IPO: Also taking a price cut is Klaviyo , which also dropped its first IPO price range this morning. It is taking a smaller cut in both absolute and percentage terms, but in aggregate the two companies show just how much room there is for 2021 prices to come down. What we worry about is what less-strong startups will have to endure, as Instacart and Klaviyo are both very healthy. Coinbase and India: Coinbase is not leaving India , contrary to reports. What it is doing is shuttering some accounts in the country. Crypto and regulation continue their long, and twisty path. Cheap, shared satellites: What raised $50 million and wants you to share a LEO satellite? This startup ! Disrupt is literally around the corner and by that we mean next week ! We'll see you there. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 08, 2023
Who shuts down the shut down-ers?
Here's what Mary Ann, Alex and Kirsten got into: Mentra wants to help neurodivergent jobseekers find ideal jobs : We love a startup that is doing good for itself and doing good for others. This deal that Mary Ann wanted to chat through seems to check both boxes. SimpleClosure raises $1.5 million : What happens if your startup dies, and you need to wind down? You might need a simple way to close things up, right? Enter SimpleClosure. Argo AI founders are building something new : What just raised more than $1 billion to take another crack at self-driving trucks? This company. All Things YC: You can find demo day favorites from day one here , and day two here . And, for an overview of sectors, here you go . EU x Regulation : We wrapped with a quick look at regulation from the EU that will impact a bunch of major tech companies. It led to a conversation of what sort of market regulatory structure is most conducive for startup growth. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pick
Wed, September 06, 2023
Y Combinator is still paranoid (re-run)
While the Equity crew prepares for another Y Combinator Demo Day, we're throwing it back to when Natasha and Alex caught up with current YC Partner and Managing Director of YC Early Stage, Michael Seibel . The main question on the pair's mind was how is YC evolving to meet a changed market? Seibel doesn't often do press -- and neither does YC -- so the interview was used to connect the dots on news from the accelerator, cross check top trends from the 2022 summer batch and ask about some of the biggest critiques people have about the institution. We went a bit long, but figured it was worth it given the way the conversation was going. As always, we'll be back with our weekly roundup on Friday, and don’t forget that Equity is opening this year’s Disrupt . We’ll see you there! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, September 05, 2023
Equity Tuesday: Arm's IPO won't resurrect private-market liquidity
Here's what Alex got into this morning: Earnings Season Never Ends: Gitlab, Asana, UiPath, Docusign, Rent the Runway and others will report this week. Crypto Down Bad: Prices for major cryptoassets are flat this morning, while the crypto venture picture is looking up to some degree . Arm Sets IPO Range : Shares of Arm are expected to sell for $47 to $51 per share, according to the company. The question for investors is whether to value the company on its trailing results, or future profits. More on the impact (or lack thereof) of Arm's upcoming debut can be found here . The Catalyst Fund : The Africa-focused venture fund has reached a first close, and intends to invest in climate-focused startups on the continent. Elon Musk Is Mad And to close out, a new Chinese semiconductor fund is potentially coming, while India wrestles with net neutrality . Don’t forget that Equity is opening this year’s Disrupt . We’ll see you there! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://mega
Fri, September 01, 2023
What’s the opposite of a lean startup?
Here’s the show rundown: Teamshares: Here’s an interesting one . Teamshares has raised a lot of money and is buying a lot of SMBs. But that’s just the start. It also plans to allow employees of those companies to buy most of their stock over time, while serving up centralized fintech services to all its sub-companies. Who doesn’t love to chat about a new model? MoonPay’s new venture arm: Crypto payment infra company MoonPay is getting into the venture game , with a focus on crypto, gaming, and fintech. The union of those three is crypto games, of course, but we have two eyes fixed on what MoonPay decides to invest in. New crypto-thematic, or crypto-adjacent funds are rarer these days, making the MoonPay news exciting. Rent Butter and Kiki : Now that the zero interest rate period is over, and the experiment in building new iBuying and mortgage service startups has partially concluded, renting is hot again. And thus, so too are rental-focused startups. The IPO drought has lasted longer than you anticipated: Working off a Crunchbase dataset, Alex has notes on just how long we have been waiting for real tech IPOs. The good news? They are (partially) back! What happens when you bring lean startup ideology into the AI world ? A lot of experiments, it turns out. And that is us until next week. Due to an American holiday, Equity will kick off on Tuesday next week instead of Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more!
Wed, August 30, 2023
What founders can escape venture's no-man's land?
This week, Alex spoke to Anu Hariharan , who’s previously worked with a16z, sits on Brex’s board, and more recently has been investing in later-stage companies at Y Combinator. She's also working on something new. Hariharan recently tweeted about how "great" founders were successfully guiding their companies towards cash flow positivity. Since that very interesting post, both Instacart (a former Y Combinator company) and Klaviyo have filed to go public . And both have super strong cash flows. Our chat could not have come at a better time. We dug into how early- and late-stage startups should approach growth and cash conservation (in her view), the future of venture as an asset class, and how healthy the unicorn herd really is. We had a blast recording this one! Enjoy! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 28, 2023
Equity Monday: IPOs are back and the Equity crew is feasting
As a small heads up, we had a bonus show over the weekend that is well worth your time! Alright, here’s what’s on the show this morning: Stocks are up around the world: A good note to start the week on, of course. In the meantime, the crypto market is still dragging. We’re back to minimal week-over-week price movements. Tech IPOs are back: After a drought that will be talked about for years, it’s raining tech IPOs again! Instacart and Klaviyo have filed their Form S-1s to go public, and we are busy digesting the numbers. On the Instacart front, read our first impressions here . In short, the company’s trailing performance is super solid, but the question is, how much it can scale total transaction volume in the future. We are still getting our boots on when it comes to Klaviyo , but the business seems strong. Is it the champion that software companies have waited for ? We’ll have to see. More to come on the site later today. And Didi is selling part of its business to Xpeng . This is not the first time we’ve seen a ride-hailing company divest non-core assets. Don’t forget that Equity is opening this year’s Disrupt . We’ll see you there! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, August 26, 2023
Gen-Z is rewriting the rules of the Internet, and here's how startups should respond
Why the extra edition? Because Battery Ventures dropped an interesting report on Gen-Z and we wanted to talk about it. Alex got Courtney Chow, a vice president at Battery and one of the report's authors to chat about it. You can read the report itself here . This is what we got into: The fracturing of culture: Gen-Z is large, and very diverse. The trend away from monolithic cultural primacy that began years ago has accelerated with the generation, making culture itself more personal, and more distinct. For startups, this means branding will become a different challenge if they want to reach this demographic slice. Everything is short-form video: Given massive usage of TikTok by Gen-Z and the popularity of other platforms that feature short-form video, we were curious how smaller companies can compete with incumbents that already have a Reels strategy, if you will. Ethical capitalism: One of the most interesting areas of the Battery report was its notes on how entrepreneurial Gen-Z is, and how diverse they are. Gen-Z also has expectations around goods and services they purchase relating to the actions of the companies behind the sale. So, if you want to sell to Gen-Z, you might need to care about climate change, for example. Now, that's officially it for us this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and we'll catch up on Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 25, 2023
Startups that are Ramp-ing up, and startups that are full of sh**
This is our Friday show, and we’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news. Here's what Mary Ann, Alex and Kirsten Korosec got into: Nvidia blew the doors off with its earnings report . We talked through some of the high-level numbers and marveled at the company's growth. TechCrunch has more on the matter here . Ramp raises $300M : In this market, a multi-billion-dollar valuation is a win for a fintech, even if Ramp's new price tag is a bit lower than it was previously. So, while Ramp likely doesn't love that it raised a down-round, it does have fresh capital and is worth $5.8 billion. That's simply not that bad. Lex raised $2.75M : Alex covered AI-powered writing tool's Lex seed round. Kirsten got to give the app a try, and we all had nice things to say about the nascent startup. Northvolt is bringing its volts to North America : The global battery-building boom includes Swedish company Northvolt building a new facility in the United States. The company raised $1.2 billion from BlackRock. Better.com went public : Mary Ann interviewed the company's CEO ahead of its SPAC-led public market listing, which got panned . In the transit world, Cruise got its wings clipped in San Francisco after an accident involving a fire truck. Alex is annoyed. Mary Ann is not. This year's TechCrunch Battlefield 200 companies feature a lot of startups focused on excrement . We're not kidding. That’s all from us this week. We are back Monday morning, chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplec
Wed, August 23, 2023
LatAm 'plays on hard mode' according to VC Mercedes Bent
This week, Mary Ann spoke with Mercedes Bent , Partner on the early stage team at Lightspeed Ventures and co-lead of Lightspeed’s LatAm region and angel fund. The pair chewed through a number of topics, including: How and why Mercedes started investing in Latin America, and why she thinks the region is more resilient than others Why we're early in the hype cycle when it comes to the intersection of AI and fintech Why generative AI and fintech aren't always the best combination and much more. Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup! Talk to you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 21, 2023
Equity Monday: Robotaxis hit a speed bump and IPOs are back on the menu
Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here’s the rundown from this morning, with real news from the crypto-front, and even a neat startup round to round it out! Stocks are up in most of the world, China apart. The Chinese economy is a real topic of conversation lately, mostly centered around concerns regarding credit appetite, debt levels, housing costs, and government activity. In the crypto-world, prices are sharply lower compared to a week ago, and Recur is no more . The partial retrenchment of Cruise in San Francisco is a bummer , but given how poor human drivers are here's hoping that progress doesn't slow on the self-driving front. IPOs are back ? Kinda, maybe, and perhaps. The good news is that recent data from Instacart and Databricks indicate that we could see some filings soon. And to close out, Threads is coming to the desktop web while Enough put together a big round for mushroom-based proteins. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 18, 2023
Some good news, some Better.com news
This week Mary Ann and Alex were joined by our regular guest host Kirsten Korosec. Here's what the gang got into: FTX's former CEO SBF is heading to jail : We struggled to find much pity for the former celebrity executive. Better.com is going public : After much controversy Better.com's SPAC merger is a go. The deal is a fundraising mechanism by our understanding, though we had a bit of a tough time coming up with a bull case for the company in the present moment. Monday.com's growth : Alex has kept tabs on the earnings cycle as always, which led him to write rather kind things about Monday.com's most recent quarterly results. In short, the former startup is posting quick and cutting its losses and generating lots of cash. What's not to like? Vinfast went public, and investors are stoked : Another SPAC deal for the list today is the Vinfast debut. Vietnamese EV company Vinfast is now worth more than many major auto companies, despite falling revenues and massive unprofitability. So what, says the market. The IRA turns one: The Inflation Reduction Act's impact on American manufacturing is big, and growing. Europe might have been irked to start , but it appears that fans of domestic production have found their champion. The fundraising market: To close out the show we chatted about Becca's recent article on new venture funds raised by women , and a quick look at the pre-seed market for all the founders out there . That's all from us this week. We are back Monday morning, chat then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscr
Wed, August 16, 2023
The software market, AI moats, and when to go public with Amplitude CEO Spenser Skates
This week, Alex had Amplitude CEO Spenser Skates on the show to talk about the SaaS market journey since his company went public in late 2021, which happened to be right before investor sentiment changed . After a successful IPO, Amplitude warned analysts and investors alike in early 2022 that it was seeing some macroeconomic pressure, which led to its stock being sharply repriced. (That happened to most companies eventually, to be fair.) Since then, the digital analytics company has shaken up its organizational structure, launched new AI products, and has continued to grow while becoming cash flow positive. All that made Skates the perfect person to talk about: The current state of the business software buyer , and when Skates expects demand for digital goods and services to improve. When to charge for AI products , and when not to; also, the power of data moats in AI, and how they may be more durable than they are in other areas of SaaS. How to know when you have to cut staff. And, critically, how much Baldur's Gate 3 Skates has played so far . Equity will be back with our news roundup Friday morning! We'll see you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 14, 2023
Equity Monday: Another $100M for AI, why not
Here’s the rundown from this morning: Worries about the Chinese economy dragged down Asian shares this morning; the equity picture was more mixed in Europe and the United States. Meanwhile, why is crypto so slow lately? What happened to price volatility? On the earnings front, we're looking ahead to Monday.com, Getty, Cisco, Bill.com and Palo Alto Networks this week. News that Anthropic is raising another $100 million got us talking about a few other AI rounds that are in the pipeline; the gist is that there is a lot of money flowing around AI startup-land these days. Indian electronics manufacturing is making real strides , Mastercard is buying some African fintech , and the better.com SPAC is a go . It's going to be yet another busy week, so strap in and let's go! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 11, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen: the dregs of the SPAC boom
This week Mary Ann and Alex got into a mix of growth stories, and some less-than-winsome on the startups that are not having the best 2023: How Lula went frugal and set itself up for a massive up-round in 2023 : Mary Ann's recent reporting on Lula was perfect Equity material as it dealt with capital in motion, and a quickly-growing startup. Even more notably, Lula is in the insurtech space, part of the fintech world that has had an up-and-down few years. Weights & Biases raises $50M : Back in the day if a startup raised a big round, and then a smaller round afterwards, we would have worried a little. Today's venture market feels a little bit different. So, MLOps startup Weights & Biases has added $50 million more to its coffers, and we didn't fret too much on the round coming in light compared to its previous tranche. Summing our views, anything ML and AI is hot today, and Weights & Biases is well known. This round was not a shocker. BlueJeans folds : Remember when Verizon bought a Zoom competitor during the pandemic? It seems that customers didn't, either. Sendy shutters , Proterra reaches for bankruptcy help : While insurtech and MLOps are showing vigor, Kenyan logistics startup Sendy is over, and an EV startup that went public via a SPAC is trying to shake up its accounting so that it can keep going. Not the best news, frankly. And we closed with the latest from WeWork (not so good) and its erstwhile bestie, SoftBank , which is getting busier with its checkbook again. What a strange week and one that went by so quickly. More on Monday! Talk to you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts ,<a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equ
Wed, August 09, 2023
Maybe we shouldn't sue away DEI in venture
This week, Dominic-Madori Davis came back on the show to chat with Mary Ann and Alex about two of her latest pieces: A lawsuit targeting a grant program that provided small checks to Black women small-business owners. The context here is that there's a movement in the United States to curtail programs that seek to provide access, or opportunity to underrepresented peoples in business and education. Given venture's somewhat embarrassing investment demographics, we struggled to understand the seeming animus behind the suit. Some countries are taking a different track, including the United Kingdom. Dom has more on that topic here . Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup! Talk to you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 07, 2023
Equity Monday: Have we reached peak smartphone?
Here’s the rundown from this morning, which saw Alex catching up from a few days off last week: Earnings season is slowing down, while global stocks slip to start the week. Crypto is not doing too much to start the week, but do recall that Coinbase earnings came last week . Peak smartphone? In the wake of Apple earnings , questions linger regarding just what is ahead for smartphones and what could get that market moving again. Thankfully for Apple shareholders, the company has done yeoman’s work to build out a services and subscription business. Enough to compensate? Perhaps. A controversial privacy-Internet law in India passed . Triller’s IPO is going to be fun , though your humble podcast team have yet to fully dive into it. And, finally, how do you get a shareholder off your cap table while respecting their upside? Like this ! We may be deep in Disrupt prep , but the show continues! We’ll see you Wednesday (and on day one, when Equity will kick off our major event in San Francisco)! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 04, 2023
Chain Reaction: Ripple’s chief legal officer talks SEC lawsuit, XRP ‘win’ and future regulation (w/ Stu Alderoty)
Today, we're bringing you an episode of our sister podcast, Chain Reaction. Chain Reaction unpacks and dives deep into the latest trends, drama and news in crypto with some of the biggest names in the industry to break things down block by block for the crypto curious. Jacquelyn interviewed Stu Alderoty, chief legal officer of Ripple Labs. Stu spent most of his career working for traditional financial institutions in legal roles at firms like CIT Group, American Express and HSBC and left that world in 2019 to join Ripple. Ripple has been around since 2012, but has been making headlines lately for the recent federal court ruling that stated the XRP token, which is linked to Ripple, is not a security when sold to the general public but can be treated as a security for past XRP sales to institutional clients. We broke down the nitty gritty details of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York federal court ruling for Ripple and what it means for the company, XRP token and crypto ecosystem. We also talked about: Securities vs. commodities Ripple’s SEC lawsuit Future regulation and clarity Advice for other startups Need to catch up before you listen? Read these for a quick overview: Federal court rules Ripple’s XRP token can be treated as a security… sometimes Ripple’s XRP case ‘underscores the need for regulatory clarity’ Chain Reaction comes out every other Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET, so be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite pod platform to keep up with the action. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 02, 2023
Yeah, but is that venture backable?
This week, Alex and Mary Ann had Sara Mauskopf on the show, the CEO and co-founder of the childcare marketplace, Winnie, and a former Postmates and Twitter denizen . Here’s what we got into: The progress of Winnie over time , and how it found its niche in the childcare market The state of care as a venture-backable category, and where startups can find the most impact and business results The reported issues at Papa and the pressures of fundraising-driven growth in care-oriented markets And, of course, why care work is not given its full due and value in our society. We had a blast with this one. Thank you for sticking with Equity for all these years. We’ll see you live at Disrupt! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 31, 2023
Equity Monday: Twitter's rebrand is a go, and we're Blazing Our Collective Glory
Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here’s the rundown from this morning! Stocks are higher around the world today, but the real story in equities is earnings. This week we are going to hear from AMD, Uber, Pinterest, Shopify, PayPal and Block, Apple and Amazon, Alibaba and Airbnb, Coinbase and Cloudflare. It’s a lot. In crypto-land, things are muted, but it appears that the Coinbase-SEC lawsuit had a bit more behind it than we first realized. Tiger is out of Flipkart , selling its remaining stake to Walmart for $1.4 billion. The American investor did well on its Flipkart investment. Fidelity has cut the value of its investment in Gupshup, but remarked its Reddit, Discord and X investments up some. So, the news is not all bad. Twitter’s rebrand is a go on the App Store and the social app has a new tagline that we alluded to in today’s episode title, while Shein and Temu fight it out for global domination of the fast-fashion market. Whew! What a start to the week, yeah? For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 28, 2023
It's always earnings season if you look hard enough
We had our friend and colleague Kirsten Korosec on the podcast this week, meaning that Mary Ann and Alex got to stretch their legs a bit and talk things that move and beep and boop. Here's what we got into: Deals of the Week: AngelList bought Nova, taking the well-known venture service into the more traditional private equity realm; Waymo is focusing on self-driving cars instead of trucks , which has Mary Ann worried; and Alex wanted to talk about interest rates. On the subject of Earnings: Guess what? AI costs are here, AI revenues are coming as the ad market recovers . For big tech earnings thus far have generally gone well, though not perfectly. Do not miss GM news from the transit desk , of course! And we wrapped with some interesting analysis from the TechCrunch+ team on how funds of funds might be one way to get more LP capital into diverse venture funds. Whew, what a week y'all. It's hot and we are tired, but we had a blast recording this for you. Talk more Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, July 26, 2023
What’s next for social media from someone who’s Extremely Online
This week, Alex had Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz on to chat about her upcoming book, Extremely Online , the history of online platforms, and the rise of creators. We've covered the creator economy a few times on the podcast over the years, but this addition to our historical coverage is more than worth inclusion. Here's what we got into: All the cool kids are pre-ordering Lorenz's book, which you can find here . Why online work has always been treated like a sideshow: While culture is often created -- or born -- online, there's a disconnect between historical centers of authority and influence, and where it's bubbling up today. The rise and fall of Vine: Vine's massive rise and later implosion is a technology story, a startup story, and the saga of how a platform's userbase and its leadership can often be on different pages. In a sense Vine was a warning of what we'd see later on when it came to platforms winding up at odds with the very folks driving attention their way. New formats, new platforms: It's worth understanding the progression of online influence shifting from text (blogs) to pictures (social media) to video (TikTok, et al). When new formats have come to the fore, they often bring new platforms along with them, or vice versa. Alex wanted to know what might be next! And we wrapped with quick notes about AI and Twitter, er X, whatever it's called. As always, we're back on Friday with your news rundown. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn mo
Mon, July 24, 2023
Please re-xeet this podcast episode
Here’s the rundown from this morning: Stocks are mixed around the world: Chinese equities sold off while American shares were set to rise at the open. A massive run of earnings this week should shake up the stock market for tech companies and their traditional brethren alike. In crypto-land, prices are back to where they were pre-XRP decision . I don't know what to make of that, but do know that Worldcoin is still a thing and is now actually out . Twitter's new brand: All hail X , I suppose. Musk's work to defenstrate what we all knew about Twitter, the company is being rebranded to X, which the company intends to be a superapp of sorts . Cool if it works, embarrassing if not. Spotify is finally raising prices , and all I can say is thank god. It was getting weird to get all the world's music for what felt like a song. I want to pay more making the price hike welcome, if still far smaller than it should be. SF really is the new AI hub . Ahead we have Disrupt , which is taking up more and more of my time. See you there! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 21, 2023
That's capitalism, baby!
Here's what we got into today: Deals of the Week: Layoffs at Cameo , where fintech valuations are today and where they are going , and Egnyte's slow-burn path to an IPO . The end of VanMoof: Raising a lot of money doesn't necessitate a startup's success. Such is the case with VanMoof, which raised nine-figures and built and sold e-bikes. Now it is no more, and we have questions . CEO turnover: As the CEO of OnlyFans steps down , the gang dug into when a CEO can or should step down. Certainly some companies do best, for example, with long-term leadership by a founder . But not all. Generative AI and the writer's strike: It turns out that we're bigger South Park fans than we knew as a group, but that's not really the point. What matters is that a recently released 'AI-generated' episode of the show is driving a conversation today concerning how critical — or not — humans are to the creative process. Google is also busy here . And that's the end of the week! Equity is back on Monday! Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, July 19, 2023
Venture's Q2 was calm (and that's not good)
So, what happened in venture capital-land during Q2 2023? A lot, and not very much. We got PitchBook venture guru Kyle Stanford to come back on the podcast to riff with us on the good, the bad, and the late-stage. Here's what we got into: How did American venture perform in Q2 2023? Welcome to the new normal , and why that's actually bad news. How are Seed deals faring, and what about later-stage transactions? How bad is the slow pace of exits today, and what impact will they have on venture capital fundraising itself? More on the topic here . And, any green shoots popping up? Here's a rundown of what could be considered good news . You can read the underlying dataset we were riffing on here , and we are back on Friday with the news roundup! Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 17, 2023
Equity Monday: Intel backs robotics startup, Twitter loses money, and fintech shows signs of life
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Our Monday show covers the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Here’s the rundown from this morning! Stocks are largely down around the world following weak Chinese economic data for the second quarter. We’re also heading back into an earnings cycle, so get ready to hear from Tesla and Netflix this week, among other major names. In crypto-land, the XRP/Ripple partial victory drove a short-lived boomlet for many crypto tokens; XRP is the clear winner from last week. Twitter is cash-flow negative, per its CEO , but the company intends to double-down on paying individual tweeters for their high-view activities . While Twitter molts, Threads continues to grow like a weed . Speaking of Meta, the company is in trouble in Norway . On the startup front, Intel invested in Figure , which we think is quite neat, and Thunes is now nearly a unicorn ! We will be back on Wednesday and Friday. Talk to you soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell
Fri, July 14, 2023
We're in the pruning phase of tech layoffs
Here's the rundown from Mary Ann and Alex : A new Chinese AI model had us wondering who is really going to win the AI war and whether governments will play a role — perhaps not the role that they are expecting. A founder that Founders Fund funded is now funding other founders at Founders Fund: Yep . Sticking to the venture theme, is it possible for AI models in venture to actually create a less biased landscape for entrepreneurs? Connetic Ventures thinks so! Two bits of good news: Tech layoffs have dramatically slowed , and slowing inflation could herald the end of interest rate hikes , which could bolster tech valuations. Or at least cut some of the pressure. Finally, as Twitter does what it usually does when a rival service takes off , we asked ourselves how other social media services are doing. We are more familiar with some than others. As always, Equity will be back for you bright and early Monday morning. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, July 12, 2023
Is ChatGPT the iBeer of LLMs?
This week we had a very special guest on the podcast: Matthew Lynley, one of the founding hosts of Equity and a former TechCruncher. Since his Equity days, Lynley went off and started his very own AI-focused publication called Supervised . We brought him back on the show to ask him questions in a format where we can all learn together. Here’s what we got into: From Transformers to GPT4: How attention became so critical inside of neural networks, and how transformers set the path for modern AI services. Recent acquisitions in the AI space, and what it means for the “LLM stack:” With Databricks buying MosaicML and Snowflake already busy with its own checkbook, a lot of folks are working to build out a full-stack LLM data extravaganza. We talked about what that means. Where startups sit in the current AI race: While it’s great to think about the majors, we also need to know what the startup angle is. The answer? It’s a little early to say, but what is clear is that startups are taking some big swings at the industry and are hellbent to snag a piece of the pie. Thanks to everyone for hanging out with us. Equity is back on Friday for our weekly news roundup! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 10, 2023
Equity Monday: People like Threads
Here’s the rundown from this morning: The global stock market is looking mixed, with the leading piece of financial news dealing with inflation data in the Chinese market. On the crypto side of things, there are no massive price movements in key tokens to examine. That said, the NFT market has been turbulent in the last few days due to incentive changes as a key marketplace. An FYI: We are back in earnings season, but there’s little to report on the tech side of things this week. Expect the pace to pick up next week. Ant has a new valuation thanks to a choice to offer share buybacks to existing backers. It’s still worth nearly $80 billion, just a lot less than it might have been valued at back in its 2020 IPO that got scuttled . People like Threads: The new social service from Meta has reached the 100 million sign-up mark rapidly . More on threads here on the TC Podcast . In Startup-Land: FrontRow is shutting down in another blow to Indian edtech , while Propel raised $2.7 million to connect African tech talent to global employers. And that is our show! We are back Wednesday, and Friday this week! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
Fri, July 07, 2023
Hey, stuck startups, reducing growth could make you less fundable
We're switching things up and bringing you two interviews this week, so let's niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. Mary Ann took the lead this time, and she sat down (virtually) with Immad Akhund , the CEO and co-founder of Mercury . For those who are unfamiliar, the fintech made headlines earlier this year for how it stepped in to help fill the business banking void left in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse. Here's what the pair caught up on: Mercury's impressive growth in the months since SVB crashed Lessons learned from Immad's angel investing experience What Immad calls the "Startup Death Spiral" and how to escape it As always, Equity will be back for you bright an early Monday morning. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, July 05, 2023
Steering through venture's global correction with the GPCA's CEO
Long-time Equity listeners and TechCrunch readers should be familiar with LAVCA , and association of capital managers in the Latin America region. We have reported on its data a number of times . Well, it turns out that LAVCA is part of the larger Global Private Capital Association , which keeps tabs on a host of markets that we're working to cover more carefully as startup activity becomes an increasingly global phenomenon. So to cap off the second quarter, and to get our claws into what is going on around the world, we had Cate Ambrose, the CEO of the GPCA on the show to riff with us about Asia and Africa and Latin America and Central and Easter Europe. Here's what we wanted to find out: How wild was the 2021-era venture peak in less mature startup markets? How resilient are smaller startup ecosystems in a more conservative venture and macroeconomic environment? Are we seeing green shoots anywhere in the world? Or put another way, where is the rebound kicking off? We closed with a short discussion on the role of government in startup markets and squeezed in an AI question because how could we not! We have another interview coming your way Friday, so stay tuned! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 30, 2023
Well done, Pismo and Visa! You gave SoftBank a win
Mary Ann and Alex are back for another busy news week chock full of deals to chew through. Here's the rundown: Deals of the Week: We think that the idea behind the recently-funded Honey Homes is excellent , but we're split about the cost. We also went over Gusto's latest financial achievements and its plans to team up with Remote. Fintech M&A: The biggest deal of the week in fintech was Visa's purchase of Pismo . We haven't had unicorn-level acquisitions lately, so this one was welcome. Elsewhere in the space, Brex has brought on board a former SVB and a16z denizen , and Ramp bought Cohere.io (not this Cohere , the other one). Other M&A: But those weren't the only deals. Databricks bought MosaicML , IBM bought Apptio , and ThoughtSpot has acquired Mode Analytics . Help, my unicorn is starving: We closed with Alex's look at the declining funding to unicorn and web3 startups , as well as Rebecca Szkutak's latest on the secondary market in the process. Equity will be back on Wednesday as we head off into yet another holiday weekend here in the U.S. when Alex will finally put his PTO to use. In the meantime, let's catch up on Twitter @EquityPod . Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id12154
Wed, June 28, 2023
Nubank's CEO explains what the US could learn from LatAm fintech
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. Mary Ann is taking over today's interview with David Vélez , the co-founder and CEO of Nubank, the $35 billion Sao-Paulo, Brazil-based digital bank that offers credit cards, checking accounts and life insurance to consumers. Equity listeners know that digital banking has been on our minds for some time now, so naturally we were excited to have David on the show. Here's what we got into: How Nubank has achieved -- and maintained profitability -- in this challenging macroeconomic environment How not only the LatAm fintech market differs from that of the U.S., but how founders in the region operate their businesses differently from their U.S. counterparts The state of digital banks in general and how David sees banking evolving in the next few years from the lens of both a founder and former investor (he once led Sequoia Capital's Latin American investments). Mary Ann and Alex are back on Friday with more Equity, but as always, you can keep up with us on Twitter @EquityPod. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 26, 2023
Equity Monday: Crypto ticks higher, fintech gets interesting again and fraud is still bad
Here's the rundown for the very last Equity Monday of Q2 2023: Crypto's mini-boom in the last week comes after a brutal few weeks of negative headlines ; for the crypto-faithful, it must be a breath of fresh air. Startups: IRL was a digital fraud , Vanta is a unicorn to watch after quick ARR growth and a resulting valuation has grown into, and TreasurySpring is riding a changing macroeconomic climate to rapid fintech growth . As Amazon pledges more investment in India , we're seeing a lot of other big economic pieces move. Other American companies are pledging big dollars to the country as Japan looks to buy one of its domestic chip companies , and American investors are putting capital into their own domestic silicon players. Finally, Apptio is selling to IBM for $4.6 billion . Whew! That's a lot, but we had a good time and will see you back here on Wednesday! All the cool kids are filling out the Equity listener survey . We want to hear from you! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team
Fri, June 23, 2023
Dropbox hearts AI, the creator-platform wars and why we’re bullish on fake booze
Mary Ann and Alex are back, and once again this week they tapped the TechCrunch roster for expert input. This week were lucky enough to have Kirsten Korosec back on the podcast. She's TechCrunch's mobility lead, hosts a podcast of her own , and is one of our favorite humans. Here's the rundown: Deals of the Week: Mary Ann wanted to talk about Robinhood buying X1 , a deal that seemed inexpensive but we lack enough numbers for full confidence; Alex wanted to riff on Dropbox's new AI fund , even if it does feel a little small; and Kirsten had notes for the team on Cruise's latest app rollout . Even if Mary Ann and Alex cannot find a way to agree on self-driving cars, we all thought that the Cruise bus is cute. Twitch and Reddit try to balance corporate requirements with community power: Building off our recent show digging into the creator economy, the crew tackled the latest from Twitch (a new creator-corporate revenue split of sorts) and Reddit ( where the battle between the company and its power-users continues to blaze ). It's feeling more hot war than cold war lately on the Internet, with platforms struggling to find a way to keep revenue growth coming while not estranging the folks who make their services tick. The power of Not Boozing: How big is the market for non-alcoholic drinks ? Smaller than the market for vodka, certainly, but we're curious. Also there's a new app in the market that is helping folks find non-booze bevies, which we dig. Before we let you go, don't forget to fill out the Equity listener survey . We want to hear from you! A big thanks to Kirsten for swinging by, and we'll chat with you Monday morning. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity dro
Wed, June 21, 2023
The startup boom failed to build a creator utopia
Before we get started: all the cool kids are filling out the Equity listener survey . We want to hear from you! On today's episode, Alex had Eric Silver , Head of Creative at the podcast collective Multitude on the show to help us sort through: What the hell happened with Spotify's big podcast push, and its resulting layoffs . Why tech platforms have not yet found a way to make creative work lucrative enough to engender a new 'creator middle class.' The state of the ad market, and its impacts on creative work more generally. Towards the end we had a moment to comment on AI, but we kept that somewhat far from our central theme. Long-time Equity listeners will recall that we've covered the creator economy a few times on the show and the blog, including: Yeah, funding for creator-focused startups is drying up [blog] F*ck creator funds, we need a creator index fund [Equity] Not every creator economy startup is built for creators [blog] And if you need even more, this investor survey from 2021 on all things creator-economy is a great look-back in time! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the au
Tue, June 20, 2023
Alibaba shakes up its leadership, OpenAI lobbies EU regulators, and the late-stage market is a mess
This time 'round we are here on a Tuesday due to an American holiday! Here's the rundown from Alex : Stocks are mixed the world around as central banks tinker with interest rates to try and tune their domestic economies. The crypto world remains muted. Alibaba's shakeup : The CEO of the Chinese tech conglomerate is leaving that role to run its cloud business, which is one of the pieces of the company that will be spun out. Intel managed to extract a handsome package from Germany in exchange for building a plant in the country. OpenAI is working to limit the impact of EU AI regulation on its products and services. No one wants to buy Tiger's startup stakes en masse , so it is reduced to selling loosies to anyone who wants them. Go-Ventures is now Argor Capital , and it has a new $240 million fund. And funding rounds from Yellow and ElevenLabs as Byju's cuts more staff . Don't forget, all the cool kids are taking our listener survey. Head here to make your voice heard! We are back bright and early tomorrow. Talk soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin
Fri, June 09, 2023
Sequoia does to itself what the Biden administration wants to do with Google
All the cool kids are filling out the Equity listener survey . We want to hear from you! It was a hectic week, with little in the way of the traditional Summer Slowdown making itself known. So, here's what Alex and Mary Ann covered with some help from our dear friend Jacquie Melinek: WWDC in a nutshell : In case you missed it, Apple had a big event this week. On tap were the usual run of software updates, and improved computers in both laptop and desktop format. And, you know, that other thing. Affirm partners with Amazon (again): This is not Affirm's first tie-up with Amazon, but investors are pretty excited that the pair of companies are once again linking arms. As we continue to wait for mega-unicorn Klarna's IPO — more notes here — we are keeping our ears close the BNPL ground. Cava's IPO continues to delight Alex : What has an IPO coming up and has this little podcast in a tizzy? Yep, it's Cava, the fast-casual chain that, thanks to a dollop or two of venture capital money, we get to cover! All things SEC and Crypto : The SEC broke into its hammer closet so that it could go play whack-a-mole this week with crypto exchanges both foreign and domestic. Sequoia does to itself what regulators want to do to Google : What has three parts and is now competing with itself? Sequoia. Think of it like an inverse Google, if you will. How real estate will affect the climate crisis : It turns out that construction is not so good for the planet. And with a commercial real estate crisis brewing, can we add one to one and get five? Next week, Equity is on vacation! We're taking a breather before launching into another massive run of shows, but we'll be back before you know it. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast
Thu, June 08, 2023
Charting the future of the early-stage venture market with Carta’s CEO
This week, we had Carta CEO Henry Ward on to chat through the early-stage market with us. Alex had a grip of data and a sheaf of questions, so here's what we got into: The current state of the early-stage venture capital market: From Ward's perspective, the early-stage market is in better shape than many folks think. It's the later-stages of venture capital that are the most moribund. We also riffed on the quality of startups that are raising today, and how much pain is coming for young tech companies that can't quite attract more capital. Carta's new Seed and Series A product: Carta is offering a mostly-automated method of closing early-stage rounds; we wanted to better understand the economics of the effort, and what the unicorn hopes to achieve from the work. We closed with a look ahead, and a series of fun closing questions with Ward. That's just the high-level summary. We also discussed entrepreneurship more broadly, the importance of LLCs, and even how to construct a podcast interview. Don't forget: our listener survey is back! Take a moment to let us know what you want more of, what you want less of, and how we can make this the kind of podcast you want to come back to every week. Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 05, 2023
Equity Monday: Revenge of the Mutual Funds
Here’s what Alex got into today: Stocks are mixed around the world this morning while crypto stays pretty flat. Earnings this week that we’re excited about include Gitlab, Couchbase, Yext, Smartsheet, and Hashicorp. (We’re also keeping an eye on the Atomic Wallet hack .) Reddit’s proposed API changes (charges, more like) are having a pretty big impact on the service’s userbase; there are calls for a blackout of certain forums in response to the proposed updates. Reddit, on the other hand, is a business and needs to make money. Sticking to social media, news broke this morning that Twitter’s revenues are down sharply compared to year-ago totals, at least when we consider its American advertising incomes. Twitter does more than just ads in North America, but given that it’s likely a pretty big chunk of its total top line, it’s not good news. Canva’s valuation was slashed by a mutual fund ( something that we have seen a lot lately ), the latest in a string of similar headlines for other unicorns. Closing, WWDC is today . Get. Hype. Don't forget: our listener survey is back! If you can, please take a moment to let us know what you want more of, what you want less of, and how we can make this the kind of podcast you want to come back to every week. Equity will be back on Thursday this week, but in the meantime, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
Fri, June 02, 2023
Okay startup names and why fintech is rebounding
Mary Ann and Alex were a busy pair this week, so much so that they tagged in Dominic-Madori Davis from the TechCrunch+ crew to help out. Before we kick things off, our listener survey is back! If you can, please take a moment to let us know what you want more of, what you want less of, and how we can make this the kind of podcast you want to come back to every week. Now, here's what we got into: Fraud is bad: Elizabeth Holmes is in jail , and the SEC wrapped insider trading charges against a former Coinbase staffer. Our take? Breaking business law is bad and perhaps people should not do it. Controversial, we know. Deals of the Week: Alex is enamored with Web Roulette , while Mary Ann wanted to talk about Stripe's deal to buy Okay . Klarna's Q1 2023 results led Alex to share some enthusiasm that the fintech market could be rebounding , a topic that he's been going on about for some time . QED's plans to invest its new funds carefully is a clear example of the new investing climate , Mary Ann argued. The show also touched on our latest check-in on the a16z early-stage strategy . And we closed, thanks to Dom, with a chat through the Atlanta startup scene in advance of our upcoming City Spotlight. Equity will be back on Monday, but in the meantime, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod . And for the early-stage founders out there, don’t forget to apply for the Startup Battlefield 200 cohort at TechCrunch Disrupt 2
Wed, May 31, 2023
SecureSave's secret weapon: Suze Orman
This week, Mary Ann hopped on the mic with number one New York Times best selling author, producer, personal finance thought leader, and host of the Women & Money podcast, Suze Orman . We’re following up on Suze’s not-so-surprising-startup debut with SecureSave , what the company’s been up to and how Suze is thinking about protecting employees in today’s economy. Here’s what we got into: How little money many Americans have saved for emergencies and how SecureSave wants to change that How inflation may be making it harder for people to save when they have less money to do so We ended, as always, with a “lightning” round Q&A in which Suze revealed her secret weapon for success For the startup founders listening, today is your last chance to apply to the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023! Fill out those applications while you still can, and Mary Ann and Alex will be back Friday to close out your week with a special guest. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, May 30, 2023
Equity Monday: AI can do everything, but can crypto do something?
This week, crypto prices are static, unlike a particular valuation and Alex is still mad about SPACs. Here's the rundown: Stocks around the world are happy that America is once again going to avoid a default; congrats, United States. At the same time, the crypto market is a bit boring right now, due in large part to muted trading volumes as the crypto winter tests new low temperatures. No one knows what Byju's is worth, but Blackrock is marking its price in one consistent direction . Serve Robotics is having a good run as a startup , partnering up with its prior parent company. The WSJ has some great data on SPACs that drove us nuts. Whew. What a way to start the week! We are back tomorrow! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 26, 2023
Daylight's sunset and Meta's year of focus
Mary Ann and Alex were a dynamic duo this week, and here's what they got into: The fascinating backers of Checkmate , and the future of online shopping: Mary Ann covered a very interesting Series A for Checkmate, a startup that not only has shown real legs on the competitive App Store, but also on social media platforms far and wide. Cava's IPO won't save the IPO market , but it could help all the same: Alex is so IPO-deprived that he's drawing connections between anything that files and the startup market. This time it's not even that much of a stretch! Daylight calls it quits : From the 'not a huge surprise' category comes the end of Daylight, a neobank aimed at the LGBTQ+ market that has been struggling for a while yet. This begged the question are themed neobanks going to make it? Layoffs , Layoffs, Layoffs : Soundcloud is cutting staff to get to profitability, which we can understand. Meta is cutting staff because it, well, wants to conserve capital for more share buybacks? Anthropic's massive funding round and who is going to win the AI war ? When is $450 million not that much money? When you are building foundational AI models that are taking on OpenAI and others. Also in this section: Cold War metaphors. And with that, we're heading off into a holiday weekend here in the US, so Equity will be back next Tuesday. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a <a href="https://podca
Wed, May 24, 2023
When will the paper unicorns fold?
This week, Alex sat down with GGV Capital's Jeff Richards , an investor who has perspective on the last venture boom and the resulting dénouement of that particular saga that we've been covering since the end of 2021. Richards has been an investor since 2008, so he's seen a business cycle or two, which convinced us that he'd be the perfect person to discuss the diverging fates of late-stage startups. Here's what we got into: The idea that all unicorns are in trouble is wrong ; some late-stage startups got it right. What this means for some eventual IPOs, and for those that didn't, likely some liquidations as well (some examples here , but the list is longer than that post outlines). We also talked about the existence of unifying characteristics at late-stage startups that are doing well, and how to note early signals that the venture climate is about to molt. As always, Equity will be back on Friday with your weekly news round up, but until then, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 22, 2023
Equity Monday: Meta and data, chips and dips, and crypto and meltdowns
Today, we are talking about Meta’s latest fines, what’s new in chips, and a few startup rounds that caught our eye! Stocks aren’t moving too much this morning, which could change if the American government voluntarily defaults over some bullshit. Crypto hasn’t moved too much lately, though we are keeping tabs on overall trading volume . Meta was hit with a record fine over how it handled EU user data. Data residency is a big deal and will likely crop up in future conversations concerning generative AI models and where they source their own data and from whom. China has banned some Micron products , irking the United States. The two economic powerhouses are working to distance themselves from one another in key technology areas. Elsewhere in chip-land, Applied Materials is investing in the United States and there are labor concerns regarding the sheer number of chips projects kicking off here at home. Patient21 raised a massive round for its software-and-services healthcare business, while Infinite Uptime raised more money for its “predictive maintenance solutions for machinery.” Whew! And that’s just the start! See you back here Wednesday for more! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. </p
Fri, May 19, 2023
The billionaires are trying to live longer… again
This week Mary Ann , Becca , and Alex gathered to chew through the biggest news of the week. Here’s what the gang got into today: Vice goes bankrupt : Now is not a great time for media companies. The advertising market is in the toilet, layoffs are rampant, and the end of Vice is like a cherry atop a trash sundae. Mary Ann points out during the show that some operational difficulties were at play at the company. Here’s a real unicorn death for us to stare at. Deal Dive : AI. AI coaching. AI human relationship coaching? It’s a thing, and whether or not it is the future, we have questions. Freshly-Nestle : How often do you see a venture firm sue an acquirer? Not very often. We dig into the what and why of the Freshly suit. Why is Musk buying other companies? What do you do if you buy a company and fire most of its staff? You buy a tech jobs platform, it turns out. NewLimit and the limits of life : NewLimit is a company that Alex likes. Why? Because he doesn’t want to die before he can go to space. Mary Ann and Becca noted that the company’s setup is more than non-traditional. For NewLimit, the proof will be in the pudding. What’s ahead for venture debt? Becca’s work on the venture debt landscape has been critical reading since the SVB crisis unfolded earlier this year. Her latest venture survey helped us understand where founders will be hunting up capital in the back half of 2023 and beyond. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, May 17, 2023
In a more conservative venture capital market, will big tech step up?
This week, Alex spoke to two guests from the world of Microsoft for Startups - GM, Hans Yang , and Senior Director, Tom Davis . We're working to figure out how big tech corporations are playing in the startup sandbox, starting with the launch of Microsoft's Pegasus program . Here's what we got into: Why programs like Pegasus are particularly helpful for startups in a conservative VC market The mutually beneficial relationship between the large tech players and startups The close relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI As always, Equity will be back on Friday with your weekly news round up, but until then, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 15, 2023
Equity Monday: Vice files for bankruptcy, Foxconn's investment in India, and two fascinating startup rounds
This week we talked about media, startup rounds and some Big Money Moves: Stocks are mostly up to start the week while crypto remains within the bounds of its recent trading range. Again. Vice has filed for bankruptcy , again highlighting how hard the media game can be. The company's eventual selling price looks like it will be a fraction's fraction of its once great worth . Foxconn is investing more in India , underscoring how critical it is for major electronics supply chain companies to diversify out of China — and the immense costs involved. Brex took a shot at buying part of SVB's portfolio , TechCrunch reports. Startup rounds: Smart raised $95 million at a slight discount to its 2021-era valuation and M-KOPA secured a pile of equity and debt fundraising . And we closed with the interesting sale of Forbes . Equity will be back on Wednesday and Friday! We'll see you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 12, 2023
Venture-backed everything for real world problems, please
This week Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex celebrated one final episode as a three, and here's what we got into: Deals of the Week: Alex wanted to talk about the slowing of growth amongst tech companies , Natasha had notes on a brace of new Mayfield funds , while Mary Ann brought Wellthy to the table . Next we discussed pessimism in fintech , if it is near its peak, and how companies like Petal are still forging ahead regardless of market chop. From there we dug into AI, how it will impact certain creative work, and what it could mean for tech workers who traditionally have not organized . And we closed with a very Natasha topic: Accelerators . Natasha led us out of the show with a final Equity sign-off as she announced her time with the podcast, and TechCrunch, is coming to a close. We are going to miss her awfully, but are also her biggest fans and cheering her on! Equity will be back before you know it, but in the meantime, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod . And for the early-stage founders out there, don’t forget to apply for the Startup Battlefield 200 cohort at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-te
Wed, May 10, 2023
How do you know when it’s time to shut down?
This week, Natasha spoke to Kristen Anderson , the co-founder and CEO of Catch, an app to provide payroll benefits for people who are self employed, that recently announced it would be shutting down . We're talking about vulnerability, shut downs, building in public and on ramps and off ramps that come with the wild choice to be an entrepreneur. Here's what we got into: Venture capital's role in how a founder builds Making the difficult decision to shut down, and why Catch chose to do so publicly We end with Anderson's return to building, in fintech, despite what her Twitter followers wish. Seems like being close to peak pessimism in fintech is a good thing for forever builders. As always, Equity will be back on Friday with your weekly news round up - and a big announcement - so don't miss it! Until then, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 08, 2023
Equity Monday: Shrinking unicorns and the embarrassment of meme coins
Alex is back with the latest in tech news from the weekend and what’s making headlines early in the week. Today, we are talking about meme coins, unicorns and the latest from India! The global stock market started the week on pretty good footing. Also, the crypto world is suffering modest indigestion thanks to a new meme coin. On the regulatory front, it appears Coinbase is going to stick with the U.S . Elsewhere in Industry Land, Qualcomm is going shopping , Alibaba's logistics IPO is targeting the Hong Kong market, and the UK is digesting the fact that a local legend is going to list in the United States. From there, it was time to check in on some news, bad and good , from India. We are going to see some interesting earnings results this week, so stay tuned! Equity will be back Wednesday morning! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 05, 2023
Aaron Burr’s tech angle, blue skies, and no photos at this time
This week Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex got right into it with: An update on a startup banking partner collapse that wasn't the First, and probably won't be the Last A section dedicated to sunsetting Poparazzi and a Databricks acquisition (points to whoever can guess how we transitioned from one deal to the next) Next up, we spoke about Finix's latest announcement to go head to head with Stripe , before talking more about the rise of down rounds We ended with BlueSky. Although some of us feel grey about it. And regardless, this piece by Morgan Sung will have you thinking smartly about the new Twitter competitor started by the ol' Twitter boss. We'll be back before you know it, but in the meantime, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod . And for the early stage founders out there, don't forget to apply for the Startup Battlefield 200 cohort at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. </
Wed, May 03, 2023
The outside advantage that your investor may be interested in
This week, Natasha Mascarenhas interviewed Sam Chaudhary , the founder of ClassDojo , and Chris Farmer , the founder and CEO of SignalFire , a venture firm that recently announced a $900 million fund to back tech startups. This interview is structured a bit differently as it was actually recorded as a TechCrunch Live session, our weekly show that focuses on helping people start better venture backed businesses. We'll hear from the trio about: What an outsider advantage looks like in startups, per a top investor Why ClassDojo doesn’t see itself as an edtech company How Sam landed early traction with a difficult-to-capture consumer How both Sam and Chris are thinking through the AI question brewing in every office If you want to check out the full video of today's conversation, including a round of Pitch Practice hosted by Matt Burns , head to our YouTube channel and stay tuned for more TechCrunch Live! As always, the full Equity crew will be back on Friday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime @EquityPod . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 01, 2023
Equity Monday: Hey look, OpenAI is even richer now
Alex is back on the mic for your Monday rundown and digging into OpenAI, earnings, First Republic Bank, and ARM. Oh, and startups as well! It's another big earnings week, and we're excited to see how Uber, Coinbase, Apple and Hubspot have performed! First Republic Bank is no more . It wasn't shocking to see JPMorgan swooping it up, but we are once again seeing a small bank shutting shop and a big bank getting bigger. Not good! OpenAI is now even richer thanks to a $300 million investment from venture capitalists. It's amazing that the company sold just 1.1% of its equity for nine figures. And Alison raised capital just as AMD filed privately to go public . It's a busy start to the week! Hugs, and we'll be back Wednesday and Friday. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 28, 2023
Is First Republic just a victim of SVB’s collapse?
This week Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex were especially chattery as they waded through a busy week in tech and startups. We're talking AI. We're talking layoffs. And we're talking coffee. Here's what we got into: Three deals of the week from copyright requests around "-GPT" to Ansa, a wallet ready to make you even more loyal to your local cafes to First Republic Bank's tanking share price and all the thoughts that feel all too reminiscent of our reporting just six weeks ago. Fintech venture layoffs, and the state of startup hiring more generally. Based off of Mary Ann's scoop , we got into the nitty-gritty of just how much staff a venture firm needs, and why. Earnings! Alex has spent more time than is healthy reading through recent financial disclosures from tech companies big and small. The result? Decent news for startups . We end with notes on coffee. How does coffee fit into Equity? Well, when it's venture backed and growing , we don't care if it powered by beans or AI. We'll be back in your ears again on Monday to catch up on the weekend's headlines. If you miss us in the meantime, follow us @EquityPod and check out Alex and Natasha's cameos on TechCrunch Live ! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together</a
Wed, April 26, 2023
A modern take on what an entrepreneur can, and should, spend their time on
This week, Natasha interviewed Ankur Nagpal , the entrepreneur behind Teachable , Ocho , and Vibe Capital - Ankur's $70 million venture fund, raised last year from over 200 investors. Today, we're talking about: The future of Solo GPs and Ankur's choice to shrink Vibe Capital's fund size How Ankur built, sold, pivoted and launched in public The upside of building in public vs building in private The importance of brand and succession Of course, we ended with a lightning round of questions - including the meaning behind Ankur's tattoo. As always, Alex, Natasha and Mary Ann will be back for our weekly news roundup on Friday, but you can follow us on Twitter @EquityPod for live updates and more. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 24, 2023
Equity Monday: Unpacking the Twitter blues
Today Alex Wilhelm is talking about Twitter Blue, Lyft, a few startup rounds, and what could kick off the next crypto supercycle. Several major tech companies are reporting earnings this week, strap in for some big news and perhaps even bigger share price movements. The Twitter Blue saga took new turns this weekend , with Musk's personal social network staying in the news once again. If the overall result of said news for the company is good or not remains to be seen. Alex had a few thoughts on what has happened to a number of tech-enabled companies that went public, and have since seen their value evaporate. More here . And then it was time to check in on Super.com's big new round , and the latest from Span ! Equity is back Wednesday and Friday! Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 21, 2023
Early Stage 2023: IRL is B-A-C-K
This week we recorded at Early Stage , TechCrunch's event for founders who are building startups from the ground up. Sadly, our dear friend Natasha Mascarenhas took ill, and we had to lean on Alex for the episode. Happily, though, Darrell from the TechCrunch team was sitting next to us on the show floor so we tagged him in for some rocket knowledge. Anyhoo, here's the run of show! All things Early Stage: Notes from the show floor, what we can infer about attendance and a vibe check. Elon's new, larger rocket went up (very good) and then went "boom" (not as good). Happily for the space race, the overall result of the launch was good. Rockets have a tendency to go boom when they are new, and it's a bit of the, well, testing process to have them do so. Sure, a non-boom result would have been better, but SpaceX wasn't planning on trying to reuse the parts anyway. Tesla's earnings came out and investors are not that pleased . While there was some good stuff in the numerical set, price cuts at the company and moderating cash flow indicate that profitability gains could be harder to reach in the future. And layoffs . Meta is cutting staff. Insider is cutting staff. BuzzFeed is cutting staff. It's a mess out there. We are back at full strength next week — and no longer on the road — so expect regular service to resume. Hugs! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. <
Wed, April 19, 2023
Who captures the most value after the SaaS-acre? Enterprises or Startups?
Alex invited Janelle Teng from Bessemer Venture Partners on the program to riff with us on the state of the cloud. That's also the title of Bessemer's latest data dump concerning cloud stocks, startups, AI, and more. Teng, a co-author on the report, walked through some of key bits with us to better explain her firm's perspective, and to answer our critical commentary regarding Figma and why startups should always kill Goliath, instead of joining him for a round of grapes and lounging. You can find the report that we chatted about here, and our early notes thereof here . Finally, a rundown of topics: Is the valuation massacre that startups have survived since late 2021 finally over? Why is investor preference swinging back towards growth from profitability? What is the state of runway at late-stage startups? Is the M&A pause nearly over? And, naturally, AI and SaaS and where VCs see the pair heading! See you at Early Stage tomorrow! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 17, 2023
Equity Monday: What's an Angry Bird worth?
Today we are talking about space, birds and startups! Here’s what Alex got into: Earnings season is coming back! That means Netflix and Tesla this week, and a huge number of big tech companies next week. Data cometh. We were very excited about the launch of SpaceX's massive rocket . It got scrubbed after we recorded, but you can still enjoy our hype about the potential event. We'll have more on the matter when the rocket actually does go up. Rovio is selling to Sega . Yeah, we had to digest that one as well. The sale price shows just how tough it is to be a games company. There's a lot of regulation going on out there in the world. And we wrapped with notes on Loopin and Fleet ! See you at Early Stage later this week ! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 14, 2023
Unicorns are rare, but what about real?
This week Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex enjoyed the warming climate and the fact that there are some positive vibes in the venture market as well. Hell, we even had a nine-figure round to chew on! Here's the show rundown: Alex wanted to discuss the latest FTX docs and the recent X.com (formally known as Twitter) news . Natasha brought a new edtech venture fund to the table. Mary Ann wanted to talk about Clear Street's impressive fundraise . From there, we discussed that while the pace at which unicorns are being funded is in freefall , there are still some mega-IPOs coming from select late-stage startups. We will relish the return of S-1 season when it comes. From there it was time to chat AI. Natasha recently went to an AI event in San Francisco, helping us grok the on-the-ground dynamics at play. That, when crossed with different regulatory postures around the world made for a pretty darn interesting segment. And we closed with the opportunity that opportunity funds may afford venture firms. While Lux is still pursing a multi-stage approach, other firms are taking a more focused tack . Lastly, there are just a couple days left to place your Webby Awards votes for our friends at Found and Chain Reaction. We are back Monday morning, see you all at Early Stage ! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts ,<a href="https://ov
Wed, April 12, 2023
Founders shouldn't have to choose between mental health and grit
This week, Natasha spoke with a founder, a psychiatrist and a venture capitalist about founder mental health, a topic that has been a conversation in Silicon Valley for as long as we can remember. The theme has gained renewed momentum due to the startup and venture downturn in general, and exacerbated by a bank failure that still has some folks reeling. It's time for a check-in. Here's who we spoke with for today's show: Pioneer Mind's Naveed Lalani gave us the founder perspective on how to "hustle responsibly" with The Founder Mental Health Pledge , a call to action for investors to support founders in looking at their mental health as a business priority Psychiatrist Dr. Saumya Dave reminded us of the differences between - but also overlap of - therapy, executive coaching and group sessions Graham & Walker's Leslie Feinzaig helped us close out the show with the VC perspective and her own tools for wellness This is, of course, a conversation we want to continue. If you have a story you want to share, or if there's an angle that you think we missed when it comes to talking about mental health in the entrepreneurial world, you can email us at equitypod@techcrunch.com . As always, Alex, Natasha and Mary Ann will be back for our weekly news roundup on Friday, but follow us on Twitter @EquityPod for live updates and more! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio
Mon, April 10, 2023
The petty shall inherit the pennies
Today, we are talking about crypto, Uber, and how to be petty at scale. Here's what Alex got into: Around the world of capital, we're most confused at certain bits of price stability in the cryptocurrency markets. It feels a bit faux, if that makes sense. Where prices are less steady is the world of YC startups , where, once again, there's complaints amongst venture investors about the valuations that some of the earliest-stage tech companies out there are commanding. Perhaps a greater discount given the state of the world was anticipated. Uber is selling part of Careem in a deal worth $400 million . Uber wants to do things on wheels. A super app company, at least in the Middle East, it is not. But it is about to have a huge new bankroll. The Musk v. Substack battle took up much weekend oxygen, showing that it is often hard to retain one's free speech bonafides when you just don't want to anymore. All that and there are new FTX docs! Huzzah! Let's have a good week, y'all. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 07, 2023
Don’t ever leak data, but especially if you’re building this type of startup
This was Y Combinator week in a sense, with the well-known accelerator showing off hundreds of startups over a two-day period. We had some thoughts about that. But! There was a lot more for Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex to dig into, so we have a little something for everyone today. Here's the show notes, enjoy: First, support our sibling podcasts Found and Chain Reaction in the Webbys ! They deserve it, and we're voting for them too. For our Deals of the Week, we had: Monument and Tempest shared patients’ private data with advertisers , Acorns buys GoHenry , and Alex has notes on how the Q1 venture capital market is shaping up . Looking for all the Y Combinator notes your heart could desire? You can find our favorites from days one and two at those links, and read this Natasha piece on why the Bay is Back . We also took the time to discuss the term 'demo day' for an event where there are no, you know, demos. Latin America was back on the show thanks to Mary Ann , giving us a good reminder that we have not spent enough time lately looking at the region. We closed with Frank , a frank chat that frankly had us shaking our heads. Fraud is bad, and nearly doubly so when it comes to startups, where trust plays such a critical role. Equity will return to your ears Monday morning, cheers until then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simple
Thu, April 06, 2023
How hard was it to raise venture capital in Q1?
Alex filled in for Natasha as host this week, and to celebrate the end of Q1 2023 and the start of another earnings cycle, we invited PitchBook Senior Analyst Kyle Stanford onto the show. Stanford and his company are key providers of data concerning the domestic and global venture capital markets making him a perfect guest to help kickstart our look at recent venture results, and trends. We had a lot to talk about: Where early-2023 venture aggregates are trending, including a chat about different stages of startup size and how investors are approaching those groups. Sectors that are hot and sectors that are, well, not. When we might get an exit market that actually exists, again. And why Stanford popped our fading optimism that we could get more IPOs later this year. And we had a good time. We hope that this episode helps you form an informed posture towards fundraising for, and operating your company. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 03, 2023
Welcome to Q2, Equity family
Alex is back with the first episode of our Q2 run. Welcome to the new tranch of 2023! On the show today we riffed through the stock market and crypto sector. The gist? Shares are mixed here in the United States while major crypto tokens are not doing too much. In startup news, Paris is cracking down on e-scooters after a vote , Zamp Finance raised nearly $22 million for a neat way to keep startup cash safe and yield-friendly, and Fourthline reminded us that applied AI is a sentence that we are going to say again and again this year. Tesla's Q1 delivery and production numbers are out , and while the beat certain expectations the results come after price cuts. It will be curious to see what the new figures translate to in financial terms when we get the company's financial results. And then this a16z-Saudi Arabia thing that was a bit weird to chat about, but we took a stab at regardless. The show is back Wednesday and Friday, we'll see you then! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 31, 2023
Burn, community, burn
AI? Crypto? Equity crowdfunding and former startup founders trying to bribe China? We had it all this week, friends, so please strap in and get ready for another catchup with your besties Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex . Here's the show rundown in case you want to play along as you listen: Deals of the Week: How Seed Checks could disrupt early-stage fundraising, notes on StellarFi's latest capital raise , and the end of the Lyft founders' operational saga . All about Substack and its equity crowdfunding round , an event that we have lots of good things to say about, and one complaint . Then there was crypto. Let's see: We WTF'd about the latest from FTX's SBF , CZ is in trouble , and more. And we closed with notes on an open letter asking for AI development work to pause — ha -— and had some fun with ChatGPT! It was a hell of a week. We do it again starting Monday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce
Wed, March 29, 2023
AI's moral compass with the responsible AI expert behind CredoAI
This week, Natasha interviewed a Jack of all trades in the AI world with a focus on governance: Navrina Singh. Navrina is the founder and CEO of CredoAI , a governance platform helping organizations monitor, measure and manage AI-introduced risks. We're talking about: Navrina's wedge into the world of AI, and when governance went from a lonely conversation to a global focus. Her experience with Microsoft, observing how the EU AI Act's legislation is coming together, and her work as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC) - which advises President Biden and the National AI Initiative Office Regulation, responsible AI and getting over "AI hypocrisy" Casting fear aside as a motivator for change Navrina's thoughts on recent news in AI, including GPT-4's launch and Microsoft's ethical AI team layoffs . As always, Alex, Natasha and Mary Ann will be back for our weekly news roundup on Friday, but you can follow us on Twitter @EquityPod for live updates and more. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 27, 2023
Not all unicorns are in trouble, just a lot of them
Alex had a lot of ground to cover from the weekend, so let's get started. Here's the rundown: The global stock market is mixed today, if leaning positive. Some concerns about global banks appear to be settling. In contrast, things are quiet on the crypto front. Salesforce is getting a reprieve from certain activist pressure after it took a cleaver to its staffing . The Silicon Valley Bank crisis is slowly coming to a close. TechCrunch has the latest on the sale of the former startup-friendly bank's commercial banking operations. In other tech news: France is cracking down on TikTok and other social apps , and some of Twitter's source code made its way onto GitHub . Finally, Turo is doing fine and could, ahem, drive us toward a reopening of the IPO market. Maybe more unicorns than we thought are going to be ok? How about we have a relaxed week? That would be nice. Something slow and calm to end the quarter? We deserve it, after all! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 24, 2023
Not-so-fake dry powder, AI and the future of DAOs
What did Mary Ann and Natasha and Alex dive into? Here's the rundown: A quick update on TikTok: The CEO of the popular social media service went before Congress today . It was a pretty darn hostile meeting. Alex caught a chunk of it live, and also has a few thoughts on the matter . From there it was time for our 'deals of the week' section, which today included Duolingo's new music product , a new DAO fund , and the latest eToro investment . Then it was time to talk payroll. We started with the Rippling deal to raise $500 million during the SVB crisis , and then discussed the larger HR tech space , which is both bigger and valuable than we realized. We closed with AI . So, so much AI . Everyone and their least favored parental unit is building a large language model, and TechCrunch is busy covering in all their glory, or lack thereof . Whew! What a week. The show is back Monday morning. We'll see you there. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders ,
Wed, March 22, 2023
One of venture’s most iconic duos wants to have a word with you
Natasha interviewed one of venture's most iconic duos: Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein of Kapor Capital . The investors recently published a book, "Closing the Equity Gap: Creating Wealth and Fostering Justice in Startup Investing," connecting scrappy stories of entrepreneurs to their investment thesis to the returns that other venture capitalists are clamoring to land. In today's episode, we're talking about: Their book and why the pair chose to do it now Mitch and Freada's broader thoughts on impact investing criteria for success and investor due diligence. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 20, 2023
As banks totter, crypto is busy racking up gains
Alex is here to do our Monday show, a kickoff for the week that covers startup news, tech news and a little bit of the money that powers both. After a hectic few weeks, are we done with banking news? No, but there's some good news in the offing, at least. Banking stocks are whipsawing this morning, in the wake of the UBS-Credit Suisse deal , and First Republic's continued woes . The crypto markets have had a good few weeks, leading to asset price appreciation that has reignited crypto-Twitter. News that TikTok is now more popular than ever is compounded by massive gains in the popularity of other Bytedance apps in the United States . The CEO of TikTok goes before Congress this week. Parker is taking on the corporate card market with a focus on ecommerce, and neat repayment periods, while PitchBook wants to predict which startups are going to exit . And, interest rate hikes could cool in the coming quarters, which could help tech companies recover some value. We're off! Another week stretches before us. Get your dancing shoes on, surely the surprises are still coming. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbi
Fri, March 17, 2023
Don’t use Sam Altman and AI hype in the same sentence
This week, Alex and Natasha took the mic to talk about the slowest news cycle we've had since the beginning of the grocery delivery wars and WeWork. Just kidding. Here's what we got into: The M&A spree that includes updates from Qualtrics , Cvent , and Mint Mobile . We're happy to see some M&A, even if we'd rather see more startup deals and IPOs. GPT-4. GPT-4. GPT-4. What's in a name and more from the world of AI, including where we're seeing companies race to build the new tech into their products. SVB collapse update, including what we are looking for next. And what Y Combinator's round of layoffs tells us about the accelerator scaling back from late stage . (More on the trend here .) Busy few weeks, yeah? Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @EquityPod for live updates, and Alex will be back bright and early Monday morning with the latest. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 15, 2023
One founder's account of what is left behind from SVB's crash
This week, Natasha interviewed Series CEO Brexton Pham , who has been building a full-stack enterprise platform for institutions and enterprises since March 2021. Brexton was pushed out of stealth this week in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's crash, which of course was the main topic of our conversation. What else did you expect? Here's what we got into: How much trust do our banks deserve today, and how much has reasonable trust fallen in recent weeks? How startups can (and should) start diversifying their banks What questions Series and its competitors are getting from investors today The long-term impacts beyond SVB Brexton also did a fantastic job of helping us zoom out and take a look at the past week from a refreshingly non-tech angle. Follow us on Twitter @EquityPod for live updates, and as always, the Equity crew will be back to unpack the week's headlines on Friday. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 13, 2023
The one where Alex and Natasha catch the Equity audience up on SVB
This is Alex and we are here to do our Monday show, a kickoff for the week that covers startup news, tech news and a little bit of the money that powers both. Given how bonkers the last few days have been, this is not a normal show. Sure, we're talking money up top, but I also dragooned Natasha into running us through her amazing reporting from over the weekend on all things SVB. (Please excuse the Friends joke in the headline, we are very tired!) Here's what we got into: The stock market is suffering around the world, kinda. In the United States things when we recorded were somewhat positive. Since, shares have sank some. Put simply, the equity markets don't know how to trade the news. And it shows. Cryptos, in contrast, have had a great last day . From the news docket, Qualtrics' deal to sell for $12.5 billion is a go , and Rivian might get a little bit of breathing room from Amazon . And then Natasha and I dug into SVB. The first warning signs, the fear , the takeover , and the resolution . And then there's this . The story continues, expect a busy week and perhaps a few more to boot. Equity will be back shortly, but in the meantime check out our upcoming TechCrunch Live that just got a bit more spicy. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and mor
Fri, March 10, 2023
Flat is the new up, down is the new flat, dead is the new down
This week Mary Ann Azevedo , Natasha Mascarenhas and Alex Wilhelm gathered to riff through the week’s biggest startup and venture news: At the top of the show, we riffed about the situation at Silicon Valley Bank - which, of course, kicked off a little more after we wrapped our recording. So, more to come there. But we had other stories to get into: Deals of the Week: Roami (taking on Airbnb), Qualtrics (will it finally find its forever home?), the latest on the VC-AI affair (Upfront Summit recap). ADHD startups are a big thing now: From a browser to gamified help with to-dos, there's a host of startups in the market today looking to help folks get their work done, and life organized. We're big accessibility tech fans here at Equity, so this was right up our alley. How fintech investors are coping in the new venture climate: Mary Ann spoke to seven different fintech investors about the coming year, and where they are putting capital to work. The answer from many of them? B2B payments. It does look rough out there for fintech companies generally, but some VCs are still bullish. Bias, women, and how to brand in venture: We then discussed Natasha and Becca's excellently reported piece tracking h ow women VCs navigate bias through branding . That's it for this week! Thanks, as always, for listening in. Until next time, you can catch us on Twitter @EquityPod . For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders ,
Wed, March 08, 2023
Dear startups, your developers and engineers are on an island
This week, Natasha interviewed Lizzie Matusov , the co-founder and CEO of Quotient, which wants to fix the "leaky pipeline problem" in tech onboarding that doesn't set up engineers for success. Yes, that's right, this week we're talking about the work needs, habits and aspirations of developers. Here's a few topics we get into: The stereotype of a coder, and where collectivism contrasts with those characteristics. How Quotient is using research, not just aspiration, to fuel its onboarding process The status quo of tech jobs and if we're seeing employers question some of their pre-conceived notions Developer resistance to change and if engineers really do want to work together more For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . As always, the full Equity crew will be back on Friday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on Twitter @EquityPod. Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 06, 2023
Equity Monday: We'd give an arm and a leg for an ARM IPO filing
Alex is here to do our Monday show, a kickoff for the week that covers startup news, tech news, and a little bit of the money that powers both. Sound good? Here's what we have for you this morning: Money: Stocks are mixed around the world, and the crypto world is muted after some price swings last week. IPO news: ARM, the chip design concern, may go public in the United States this year , raising $8 billion in the process. Given the importance of chips these days -- you may have heard! -- the company's debut could be a very big deal indeed. Startup news: Abound raised a simply massive fintech round that had our head snapping around in surprise, Wunderkind put together a big Series C for its marketing tech, and several African fintech companies have had better weeks . Finally, Tesla: More price cuts . It will be fascinating to see what impact recent price reductions at Tesla have on the company's gross margins in the first quarter. More when we get those numbers. And that is our show! Hugs, and talk to you soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editin
Mon, March 06, 2023
Bonus Episode: Say Hello to the Startup Battlefield Winner
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for—the winner is announced! In this episode, we get to know the winner of the 2022 Startup Battlefield competition. We’ll hear what’s next for their company and get insight from TechCrunch staff, VCs, and audience members on why they were the right choice. Be sure to check out all of the other podcasts in the TechCrunch Podcast Network: Found , Equity , The TechCrunch Podcast , Chain Reaction and The TechCrunch Live Podcast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 03, 2023
Why hasn’t generative AI come up with something easier to say than “generative AI”?
Mary Ann, Becca , and Alex gathered to riff through the week's biggest startup and venture news. A big thank you to Becca for stepping in while Alex was on leave, and a note before we dive into topics that Natasha Mascarenhas will be back on the podcast next week! Now, here's what we got into: Deals of the Week: Divert's $100 million round to tackle food waste , Trust & Will's $15 million round , and what's happening in the land of NFT sales . Boston: TechCrunch held a Boston City Spotlight this week, so we took a look at a few pieces that we wrote about the lovely city to our North. Boston for example has a pretty good list of reasons why it's worth considering as a place to build a startup, and investors in the area are pretty hyped about its resilience . AI, crypto, and venture hype cycles: The crypto venture capital boom has collapsed; but is there a new AI bubble forming ? Not in the way that we expected, it turns out. Amazon and Better.com: Of all the things that we didn't expect to see this year, the latest Amazon-Better tie-up is up high on our list. We had more than a few thoughts. And that is all we had time to chew on, friends. We will talk to you soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify an
Wed, March 01, 2023
This is fintech's 'Noah's Ark Year'
Mary Ann is taking over while Natasha attends a summit in LA, and this week, she interviewed Mark Goldberg , partner and fintech lead at Index Ventures . Since 2015, Mark has spent his time investing in - and sitting on the boards of - financial services companies including Plaid, Persona, Lithic, Cocoon, and Pilot. The duo talked about: The party that was 2021 and the hangover that was 2022 Mark's Twitter prediction that raised some eyebrows on Twitter Why 2023 will be a survival of the fittest Alex, Mary Ann, and Becca are back Friday with more Equity, but as always, you can keep up with us in the meantime on Twitter @EquityPod. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity's Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 27, 2023
Equity Monday: Who still loves fintech?
Alex is back! After taking some time to learn how to care for tiny humans, he's returned and is more than fired up to get back to podcasting. That means early mornings to get the Monday show off the page, and into your ears, made worth it thanks to the startup economy proving incredibly interesting thus far in 2023. Now, what did we get into? The following: Stocks are largely up today, but only after a terrible week last week. So, a little plus/minus there. Cryptos are not too changed in the last day, but NFT trading results are rising again which is good news for folks into the tokens. News broke recently that the United States is also taking a hard look at the Adobe-Figma deal , more evidence that the mega-transaction could fail to consummate. This is notable as we have some historical notes regarding what happens when a huge deal falls apart before it can get done. Hello, Plaid. In more business-friendly news, the fintech market is not dead and two venture firms are taking pole position. Moving along to startup rounds, we took a look at ProsperOps and Flock . And to close, more layoffs at Twitter . More soon, as we are back Wednesday and Friday! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity's Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience
Mon, February 27, 2023
Bonus Episode: Getting to know the Battlefield 200
Inside Startup Battlefield is back in our feed with episode three. There are 180 companies solving crucial problems that didn’t make it to the Disrupt stage, but that doesn’t mean they’re making any less of an impact. TechCrunch writers Devin Coldewey and Harri Weber take us on a walk through the Expo Hall and let us listen into their conversations with a handful of the most interesting companies in the Battlefield 200. New episodes of Inside Startup Battlefield drop every Monday. Be sure to check out all of the other podcasts in the TechCrunch Podcast Network: Found , Equity , The TechCrunch Podcast , Chain Reaction and The TechCrunch Live Podcast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 24, 2023
Scooters and social media companies are surprising IPO candidates
This week Natasha, Mary Ann , and Becca Szkutak were joined by the returning Alex Wilhelm , back from paternity leave. Yes, we had the whole gang back together today to dig through the week's pile of news -- and you can definitely tell how exciting it was by how fast we all talked through news (sorry to our dear producers!) Now, the news. Here's what we got into: Amazon has invested heavily in an Indian meat delivery company. No, not lab grown meat or plant-based meat. Just meat, delivered. Also in our Deals of the Week category was news form a former WeWork denizen that wants to help you plan a tiny home, and notes on how Klarna has wound up finding a huge market in the United States. Then it was time to talk money. Reddit could go public later this year though we have heard that story before, Lime is apparently standing on its own two wheels and could pursue an IPO at some point, while Coinbase is at once doing poorly and better than expected. Then we chatted how layoffs could lead to a founder boom, and the results of one venture group's effort to fund recently separated tech denizens. And to close, we took a look at Rebecca's piece on the importance of early founder and venture accountability. A big thanks to Rebecca for spending so much time with the Equity crew over the last few months while also hosting Found. We are back Monday with Alex! Chat soon! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity's Simplecast website . Equity drops at 7:00 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href="https://podca
Wed, February 22, 2023
Female check-writers alone aren’t enough to close the female fundraising gap, data shows
Hello, and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Kaisa Snellman , an economic sociologist and an associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Academic Director of the INSEAD Gender Initiative. We know, we know, it's a flex. We’re going to talk about: Kaisa’s recent Harvard Business Review piece with Isabelle Solal: For Female Founders, Fundraising Only from Female VCs Comes at a Cost. The duo's research asserts that women-led startups whose first round was raised exclusively from female VCs were 2x less likely to raise a second round regardless of initial funding round size, industry, geographic location, or prestige of the investor. Listen to the whole conversation before you jump to conclusions, but let's just say that this conversation really got into the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. The data is both revolutionary, and provocative. Here's what we got into: How people see female founders who just raise from female investors, and the pitching bias that continues to exist in the world Why the answer to imbalances is more complicated than getting female check-writers to the table And finally, we talk about how diversity quotas and funds may have unintended consequences that are worth thinking a bit more about. Equity will be back on Friday with a familiar voice you may be missing, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on Twitter @EquityPod. For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity's Simplecast website . Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience develop
Mon, February 20, 2023
Bonus Episode: Making the Pitch Perfect
Inside Startup Battlefield is back in our feed with episode two. In the second episode of Inside Startup Battlefield, we take a trip to TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 to hear pitches from the top five companies: Aaron Hall from Intropic Materials , Elizabeth Lawler from App Map , Chad Mason from Advanced Ionics , Sheeba Dawood from Minerva Lithium, Tim Lichti from Swap Robotics . We get to know the companies and the unique problems they’re solving through their pitches and the judges’ follow-up questions. Plus we hear from our host and Battlefield Editor, Neesha Tambe, about what working with each company was like. New episodes of Inside Startup Battlefield drop every Monday. Be sure to check out all of the other podcasts in the TechCrunch Podcast Network: Found , Equity , The TechCrunch Podcast , Chain Reaction and The TechCrunch Live Podcast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 17, 2023
Outsized seed rounds, neobanks and booming M&A? Well hello, 2023
Natasha, Mary Ann and Becca got on the mic to talk startups, pet peeves and focaccia. What else did you expect? Here's what we got into: Descope landed a $53 million (!) seed round , a Phenomenal new venture fund and a neobank out to make credit more accessible to young people in Mexico. Then we pivoted to talk about buy now, pay later (BNPL), which included some chatter about Affirm's recent woes and which areas of BNPL that do seem to be growing despite questions around whether this is the end of the BNPL boom as we know it. Tech layoffs are as widespread as ever so we talked about what advice some VCs have for those laid off workers considering launching their own startups, and what we thought of that advice. Finally, we ended with a jump over the pond to talk about EU's tech scene . Mostly about the fact that it is far more put together than the U.S., and all that jazz. With that, we'll be skipping the upcoming week's Equity Monday due to the holiday and back with more on Wednesday, led by Becca! For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity's Simplecast website . Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-techcrun
Wed, February 15, 2023
Caretakers, ageism and other topics venture needs to stop overlooking
This week, Natasha interviewed Elana Berkowitz , founding partner at Springbank Collective and an early-stage investor working to close the gender gap. Following with our theme of covering the silent changemakers in tech, Berkowitz has done much more than invest: she’s an advisor at Eric Shmidt’s office, a social entrepreneur who was a former innovator in residence at CARE, former Obama Administration technology policy official across the Obama-Biden Transition Team. We spoke about: Building a venture firm that wants to disrupt the way the world thinks about care What people are missing when they talk about women's health The big opportunities out there to keep women in the workforce (and the low hanging fruit that we should all be thinking about) As always, the full Equity crew will be back on Friday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on Twitter @EquityPod. For more on Plume, check out Found's interview with the company's co-founders Jerrica Kirkley and Matthew Wetschler! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 13, 2023
Bonus Episode: The Startup Battlefield Basics
Check out the newest podcast from the TechCrunch Podcast Network: Inside Startup Battlefield, the four-part series that takes you behind TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield competition. In this episode, our host and Startup Battlefield Editor Neesha Tambe breaks down how the Battlefield companies are selected for the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. Then we take a deep dive into what makes a pitch perfect with pitch coach and TechCrunch writer Haje Jan Kamps and Startup Battlefield judge and VC Nisha Dua. You’ll also hear from: Julia Somerdin from Labby, Young-Jae Kim and Tara Peters from Anthill, Quddus Pativada from Digest AI, Blessing Adesiyan from Mother honestly, Hikari Senju from Omneky, Mitch Tolson from Ally robotics, Elizabeth Lawler from App map, Aaron Hall from Intropic materials. Sheeba Dawood from Minerva. New episodes of Inside Startup Battlefield drop every Monday. Be sure to check out all of the other podcasts in the TechCrunch Podcast Network: Found , Equity , The TechCrunch Podcast , Chain Reaction, and The TechCrunch Live Podcast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 10, 2023
Wait a secondary
This week, Natasha, Mary Ann, and Becca got on the mic about: Our deals of the week included a look at a large new fund focused on Africa, a startup raising big bucks to address the nursing shortage and Rebellyous raising in a crowded and struggling space toward its effort to 'rethink the nugget.' We took a few to chat through the latest around FTX, which is attempting to take back its political donations at the same time Robinhood is trying to buy back the 7.6% stake that an SBF entity acquired last year. We also marveled at how low Twitter Blue numbers really are. To throw it back for a second, Mary Ann walks us through the latest with Stripe AND all of our questions around its financial backing at the current moment. Becca reminds us that secondaries , dear friends, may be quiet but are livelier than ever. We end with notes on AI and inclusion, based on Dom's recent piece looking at the data behind the disparities. Reminder to use code EQUITY for 50% off annual TC+ memberships! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come to
Wed, February 08, 2023
The individual mistake that tech startups are collectively making
This week, Natasha interviewed Cleo ’s former CEO and current chief business officer, SJ Sacchetti. We spoke about nearly every theme most founders and chief executives are too scared to talk about: ego, setting boundaries, stepping down and becoming a "statistic" and why a company needs to succeed without you. We talk about failure - or the fear of it, at least - and really, where things go wrong when we talk about how success is celebrated in tech. As always, the full Equity crew will be back on Friday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on Twitter @EquityPod ! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 06, 2023
Equity Monday: SoftBank's vibe shift is using silence loudly
Here's what Natasha got into: Big tech: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will be skipping the Japanese conglomerates' earnings call, reports the Economic Times. We knew the flashy presentations were going away, but the silence may signal just how seriously SoftBank wants to shift its external perception. Speaking of perception, there's nothing quite like a delisting warning to get people talking about you. I talk about Getaround's less than $1 trend, and why it may be off the public markets if it doesn't get its act together in the next six months. Big idea: It's time to gamify benefits, and then think about wellness in more than just silo'd ways. At least that's how I imagine Minu's founding story to have played out - the startup is an HR tech meets edtech meets fintech meets health tech tool. Interesting stuff. Big innovation: The serial entrepreneur spree, in which notorious founders return to the early stage stomping grounds with fresher ideas, is a tried and true part of the tech world. Still, it surprises me to see just how many recent examples we have. Natasha talks about Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta's new health tech company, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's new health tech company , as well, and the return of co-founders from Instagram and Zenly making their way back into the social consumer space. We end with a nod at Natasha's latest Startups Weekly column , which looks at the data behind startup offices. Ok, that's all. Let's have a good time this week. And by that we mean, tell us all your secrets! Equity drops at 11:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.
Fri, February 03, 2023
The impact investor and climate correspondent walk into a bar
This week Natasha Mascarenhas and Becca Szkutak took to their mics to sing a duet about this week's startup news. Just kidding! But we did highlight some fun companies raising capital and talked through some VC themes that look likely to be relevant throughout 2023. Here's what we got into: For our deals of the week we talked about Artifact , the new startup from the previous co-founders of Instagram, Spill , a new Twitter alternative that raised pre-seed funding, and Disclo , a startup looking to make it easier for individuals to seek accommodations for their disabilities at work. Then we chatted about the recent flurry of new venture funds and what the timing of these announcements says about where the VC market is at right now. Last, we talked climate tech and how the recent wave of startups in the sector is a promising sign. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 01, 2023
Be relevant, or get downturned
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Mary Ann interviewed Hans Tung , prolific investor and managing partner of GGV , a venture firm with more than $9 billion in assets under management. The pair had a great conversation on: How Hans is advising portfolio companies to weather this downturn What he’s looking for in new investments How startups can stay relevant no matter the economic environment What he’d be if he weren’t a VC (hint: Mark Cuban follows a similar playbook) His new initiative around embedded fintech With two decades of experience in investing in companies such as Affirm and Airbnb, Hans has been through more than one cycle and his calm, steady approach to handling challenging macro environments comes through. We're excited to share this conversation with you, but please note: there were technical issues and the audio quality is not up to our usual standard. Thanks for your understanding, and we hope you enjoy the conversation anyway. As always, the full crew will be back on Friday, but keep up with Equity in the meantime @EquityPod on Twitter! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 30, 2023
Equity Monday: If (and only if) McDonald's had an appetite for acquisitions
Here's what Natasha got into on today's Equity Monday: Big tech: Marqeta's nine-figure acquisition of a two-year-old fintech , and which bucket of deals I think it falls into. Plus, Stripe's whole 12-month timeline thing and my edit for your incoming thought pieces. Big idea: Natasha's latest Startups Weekly column is all about the latecomer advantage . She talks about the idea, and its nuance, in the context of building startup rivals. Big innovation: We end with a look at Atomos, which landed $16 million to tug vehicles through space , and a bright spot of an analysis, coming from the TC+ world, on Black Web3 founders. As always, follow us on Twitter for more @equitypod ! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 27, 2023
You could be Wasted and not even know it
This week, Natasha, Mary and Becca got into: For our deals of the week, we talked about why tracking app Strava's purchase of Fatmap , a high-resolution 3D global map platform for the great outdoors, seems like a smart move, how Wasted wants to make port-a-potties less gross and more useful and All Raise CEO's decision to step down after less than one year in the role. Then we got into how the feds are scrutinizing Google's alleged ad tech monopoly and the implications for startups, before moving into different ways the downturn is impacting the way companies are hiring . And lastly, we discussed femtech's very good 2022 (even though we all agreed we don't love the term 'femtech'). Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, January 25, 2023
All is fair in love and moderation
This week, Natasha interviewed Sarah Oh, the co-founder of T2, a Twitter rival, and Twitter's former Human Rights advisor. We get into a lot, not limited to but including: What her job title really encompasses The danger of going viral Re-building a clone Generative AI We also talk about what moderation 3.0 looks like and T2 daring to dream when building a Twitter-like company with safety at its core. Oh is clearly is a change maker, considering that the 30 minutes Natasha spent with her already expanded our understanding of how platforms think about - and invest in - trust at scale. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 23, 2023
Equity Monday: All that VC dry powder is damper than you think
Here's what Natasha got into now that she's back in The Bay: Big tech: Real quick, you should know that Elliott Management took a multi-billion stake in Salesforce , while Thoma Bravo scooped up a digital forensics company for $1.34 billion . Beyond that, the big tech news this week is Microsoft's multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment in Open AI. The extended partnership comes with lots of resources, quirks and legal headaches. Big idea: we're still thinking about this Anna Heim analysis, "The mirage of dry powder." Natasha talks about wet capital and failed capital calls, as to contextualize (not shut down!) some of the optimism in the market right now. (Use code "EQUITY" for 50% an annual TC+ membership). Big innovation (or in this case, reductions): Google's in-house incubator, Area 120, was severely impacted by Alphabet layoffs and Spotify cut 6% of staff, two layoff stories that had us thinking all about the fact that tech seems to have forgotten its umbrella. We end with tongue-twister note on Quordle, which just got scooped up by Merriam-Webster. As always, you can support Natasha by following her on Twitter and Instagram. The show also tweets from @equitypod , so follow us there! Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details h
Fri, January 20, 2023
Gas, Slay, what’s next? Fire?
Natasha Mascarenhas, Mary Ann Azevedo and Rebecca Szkutak had fun on this week's recording: Deals of the week included a new Trust Fund , a $29M raise from a proptech started by the co-founders of cloud computing company DigitalOcean and a $27M bet by some U.S.-based VCs on an African gaming startup, Carry1st. Then we got into the state of fintech funding in 2022. Spoiler alert: It wasn't pretty. We compared fintech's year to that of global startups as a whole, and Becca gave us a lesson on the difference between structured rounds and down rounds . We had a blast discussing a new trend of compliment-based teen social media apps, including Gas, which recently got acquired by Discord , and Slay, a German startup that just raised $2.63 million . And finally, we discussed Microsoft's latest round of layoffs , which we found both unfortunate and a bit perplexing. On that note, we appreciate you all and thank you for the refreshing flood of feedback and compliments to start off the year. It always makes our days, and we hope we can lighten up and inform yours. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that <a href="https://podcasts.appl
Wed, January 18, 2023
What's next for the entrepreneur behind Layoffs.FYI
This week, Natasha interviewed Roger Lee , an entrepreneur who's spent the better part of a decade building tools for employees and employers alike. Lee is the creator of Layoffs.FYI and co-founder of Comprehensive and Human Interest . Here's what we got into: Roger's introduction to entrepreneurship during the dot-com bubble How the pandemic de-stigmatized layoffs How Comprehensive - described as the inverse of Layoffs.FYI - is helping employees level-up The importance of crowdsourcing and to monetize, or not to monetize...transparency We ended, as usual, with a lightning round and learned where Lee's career could have gone if he didn't take the founder path (hint: it's not VC). Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, January 17, 2023
Equity Monday: Twitter rivals, unicorn trivia and valuation homework
Here's what Natasha chatted about today: Big tech: Good news for Bitcoin and Ethereum, even as late-stage companies in the space cut to stay afloat. Big idea: I had two ones to get through. First, Africa had no new unicorns last year , despite record fundraising raising. What's that all about? Second, I want to talk about Stripe's internal valuation cut , yet again, and what that news means on the outside. Big innovation: I talk about yet another Clearco executive shake up and yet another Clearco round of layoffs , as well as the energy for the fintech moving forward. We end with a look at freshly-backed T2 , which is opening up its game plan in a spreadsheet format. We love to see a Twitter rival, love even more to see one utilize the beauty of read-only spreadsheet features As always, you can support me by following me on Twitter and Instagram. The show also tweets from @equitypod , so follow us there and turn on notifications to never miss a new update from your favorite podcast team in tech (ugh, you shouldn't have). Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices"
Fri, January 13, 2023
Frank-ly, the Kardashian method won’t work for SBF
This week, Natasha was joined by Mary Ann Azevedo and Rebecca Szkutak to talk about the latest and greatest in tech: Deals of the week include Inflow , which has developed a self-help app designed to help people manage their ADHD, Cartograph Ventures , a new venture fund run by an ex-Juul operator, and the latest lawsuit and layoffs happening over at Carta The plethora of fintech M&A that took place this week, including Fidelity's acquisition of a startup called Shoobx (we couldn't pronounce its name either) and Deel's buyout of Capbase. Microsoft's deal with ChatGPT OpenAI which, we'll admit, has a structure that stumps even us. Plus, we talk about how Pittsburgh's expertise in AI may help give its startup scene a boost. There's Sam Altman, and then there's Sam Bankman-Fried, which brings us to our last theme. We talk about SBF's new Substack , the Kardashian method of distraction and why the legal world isn't a fan of levity. As Becca said so aptly, maybe billionaires (or former billionaires) should stop trying to be cute. We'll end with a reminder that the TechCrunch podcast network is now a machine that produces content, daily, from the most diverse slate of hosts in the tech pod world. Proud of our fellow co-hosts, and for those of you who may be starting a resolution or habit-stacking to start 2023, consider giving our other shows a try. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews foun
Wed, January 11, 2023
Will what happened at CES stay at CES?
This week, Natasha chatted with Haje Kamps and Brian Heater about CES which took place last week over in the ever-exciting Las Vegas area. All of our fantastic CES coverage can be found on the site , but for the purposes of today's show, we tried to keep it analytical, chatty and, at times, even a bit robotic. (You'll see what we mean). Here's what we got into: Post-CES feelings and why the show has stayed relevant after all these years How expectations of the show compared to the reality , robot pillows and all Who did and didn't show up Brian's new suggestion for what the conference should be called The energy of innovation on the showroom floor, from sustainability to big swings to over-engineered blenders Batteries! And finally, how the downturn and COVID-19 may have impacted the way startups are pitching themselves to the public. Selection bias, it's a thing! You can follow Haje through his work on the Daily Crunch , Brian through his work on Actuator and as always, catch up with us on Twitter @EquityPod. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 09, 2023
Equity Monday: Generative AI's Magic Leap
Here's what we got into for this week's Monday episode: Big Tech: Vista Equity Partners scooped up Duck Creek for $2.6 billion , and that's not the only billion-dollar figure we've seen from them over the past twelve months. Enterprise deals to start off the year? Take notes, startups. Big Idea: I'm thinking all about generative AI, especially thanks to Rebecca Szkutak's latest piece: "Whoops! Is generative AI already becoming a bubble?" I talk through the thesis of the piece, why venture always needs a buzzword, and why that's not necessarily a bad thing. And Big Innovation: We end with our roots in the world of startups. I'm talking Magic Leap's comeback story and a can't miss Dominic-Madori Davis piece tracking Black founder funding trends. And with that, goodbye until Wednesday! You can follow me on Twitter @nmasc_ or on Instagram @natashathereporter. And, as always, follow Equity on Twitter @equitypod. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 06, 2023
CES, NYE, SBF and FTX. Lol.
To start off the year, we are welcoming Rebecca Szkutak as a returning host who will be joining us while Alex is out on paternity leave. We're lucky to have her for a few months, so give her a warm welcome! With that, Natasha , Mary Ann and Becca returned to the mic to unpack the latest and greatest on this first week back. 2022 was a dreary, relentless storm at times, but it also surprised us with how much innovation continues to brighten up this downturn. The start of 2023 has been no different. Here's what we got into: Some early standouts from CES, the annual consumer electronics show that is taking over Las Vegas right now. Yep, we're talking comfort pillows that are even more comfortable than you think, a smarter smart laundry machine and a security dash-cam for ride-sharing drivers. Then we jumped into deals of the week, which included Doorstead and USV's $200 million climate fund . Our first theme got into the latest development in the FTX and SBF saga. If you're like us, there's been so much happening that it's hard to keep track of all the twists and turns. But it's also evermore important to, as Becca gives us a Real Housewives angle to consider. We end with a conversation about layoffs, which rolled in this week to impact employees at Stitch Fix, Amazon, Salesforce and others. We dug into Natasha's latest feature story, in which she explores how laid off talent is rethinking risk for their next jobs. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders ,
Tue, January 03, 2023
Equity Monday: Remember how this whole working thing works?
Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! As promised, Natasha is taking over Equity Monday for the beginning of this year as Alex is out on paternity leave. Big hugs to his growing family! We're starting the year with big post-PTO energy, because there's no other way we know how to do it. Here's what we chatted: Tesla missing expectations, Meta doing its let's-just-acquire-smart-talent thing, and a debut in the S&P 500 that caught our attention. A big idea that is running around over at Matrix. TC's Paul Sawers looks into how messaging apps may become more interoperable thanks to a fascinating new protocol. To us, this screams the ideas of decentralization from crypto last year, but with a more understandable pitch. Catch me Slacking you on WhatsApp! Finally, we end with a look ahead at CES this week. We have reporters on the ground catching the moonshots, and we'll have updates for you with the full crew on Friday! As always, there's more to come, so follow us on Twitter @EquityPod Equity drops at 10 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 30, 2022
2022's best and worst dinner guest: Elon Musk
In honor of 2022 finally coming to a close, the Equity crew is getting reflective. We dug through the archives, and this week, we're listening back to Alex, Natasha and Mary Ann's coverage of the biggest stories of the year as they unfolded. Here's what the trio got into with help from guest hosts, Becca Szkutak and Anita Ramaswamy : How Alex jinxed us from the start when he asked for more tech drama (TC+) back in January Early signs of the downturn to come with Better.com and the human cost of layoffs The will-they-won't-they courtship of Elon Musk and Twitter The downfall of FTX (TC+) and why you should never let FOMO guide your investments (TC+) Some of these stories are still evolving as we type, but don't fret - we'll catch you up in the new year. Of course, we can't sign off without saying thank you to all of you for sticking by us during this rollercoaster of a year, and we can't wait to see you in 2023! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 28, 2022
Failure is a choose-your-own adventure for startups (re-run)
Following a parade of headlines and news that Fast shut down back in April, Natasha and Alex asked: What are we missing when we talk about startup failure? The question comes after one of Natasha’s Startups Weekly columns, where she looked into the complexity of startup failure , fallacy of takedown stories, and importance of diversity in newsrooms. Here's an excerpt: "There’s the argument that startup tensions are inevitable and common, so should we spotlight every time something bubbles to the surface, especially at the cost of an underrepresented founder who may just be doing their best? There’s also an argument that the business is messy, so we should report on the issues as we hear about them; and there’s the narrative of the female takedown story, in which people believe that women are targeted by the press more than men due to unreasonably high standards." We discussed our own definitions of failure past Theranos and WeWork, examples of rising tensions, and what this means for early-stage startups and historically overlooked founders. We took a closer look at another wave of layoffs, some notable valuation cuts, and the implosion of Fast to weigh against 2021's strident startup optimism. don't forget to take our listener survey and enter for a chance to win a free year of TC+! Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, December 27, 2022
Special episode: Augmenting creativity with Alice Albrecht from re:collect (Found)
The Equity crew is kicking off your week with a special episode from our sister podcast, Found, the stories behind the startups. Co-hosts Darrell Etherington and Becca Szkutak spoke with Alice Albrecht from Re:collect, a software tool that augments creativity by helping people focus, recall, and connect their ideas. The conversation covered a lot of ground from how to hone your pitch when your product is so cerebral, how technology can help creativity but Alice argues will never replace it, and how developing AI requires building safeguards from the jump. If you want to hear more from Equity and Found, don't forget to take our listener survey and enter for a chance to win a free year of TC+! For more from Found, connect with us: On Twitter On Instagram Via email: found@techcrunch.com Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 23, 2022
Special episode: How to pitch a Series A (TechCrunch Live Podcast)
This week, the Equity team is spotlighting one of our sister podcasts: TechCrunch Live . Matt Burns hopped on the mic with Jenny Lefcourt from Freestyle Partners and Guillaume de Zwirek , CEO and co-founder of WELL Health, to talk all about raising a Series A and specific steps for founders to follow. As you’ll hear from Lefourt and de Zwirek, there are notable differences between raising a seed round and a Series A round. Investors look at different aspects of the company, and the founder must prepare for the fundraising differently. Rather than selling a story, they’re selling a company. To help even more founders, Lefcourt prepared a blog post to go along with her TechCrunch Live appearance that goes even deeper into raising a Series A. If you want to hear more shows like this, don't forget to take our listener survey and enter for a chance to win a free year of TC+! Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 21, 2022
Brex's 2022 reality
This week, Mary Ann is taking the reins with another favorite from the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. She sat down with Brex CEO and co-founder, Henrique Dubugras, and Anu Hariharan, YC’s managing director for continuity and an early Brex investor, to expose the context around this whirlwind of a year. The conversation candidly uncovers details behind the fintech's pandemic pivot, layoffs, and going remote. If you love the conversation, share it with a friend. And if you want more on Brex, Mary Ann dove deeper into the conversation last month . Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 19, 2022
Special episode: SBF doesn't need SPF where he's going and other TC news (The TechCrunch Podcast)
Darrell talked with Tim De Chant about his coverage of fusion energy and what feels like a rare hopeful story in renewable energy tech. And Jacquelyn Melinek walks us through Sam Bankman-Fried’s alleged crimes and confirmed arrest. Plus he goes over the top stories in tech from the week. And as always, Darrell breaks down the biggest stories in tech. Articles from the episode: World-record fusion experiment produced even more energy than expected FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been arrested in the Bahamas US attorney says ‘we are not done’ charging individuals for FTX collapse Other news from the week: Instagram adds text updates with new Notes feature OpenAI’s attempts to watermark AI text hit limits Elon Jet, the Twitter account tracking Elon Musk’s flights, was permanently suspended Don't forget to take our listener survey for a chance to win a free year of TC+ at bit.ly/tcpodsurvey. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 16, 2022
Equity's 2023 predictions on the future of building, crypto and AI
To end the year, we are bringing back our predictions episode with the entire Equity crew: Alex , Natasha , Mary Ann , Theresa , Maggie , and Becca . Grace couldn't make the mic but we have a feeling she'd agree with at least 2% of our predictions, anyways. Let's not ruin the episode, but to give you a taste, here's what topics we based our predictions on: Startup building and culture trends M&A and the return of secondaries The future of media and how social will shift Deep tech and generative AI And, of course, crypto We end on an earnest note. Good luck to Alex as he embarks on parenthood, welcome to Becca, who will be joining Equity in the new year, and, of course, thank you to all of you for sticking by us during this rollercoaster of a year. And with that, chat in 2023! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 14, 2022
The impact of hype with Clubhouse's Paul Davison
This week, Natasha is bringing one of her favorite panels from Disrupt to your ears. She sat down with Clubhouse co-founder and CEO, Paul Davison, to talk about the core of Clubhouse, competition, and the impact of hype. The conversation touches on the company's hyper growth, celebrity power, and navigating social platforms and social patterns, with a round of questions from the audience at the end. If you love the conversation, share it with a friend. And if you want more on Clubhouse, Natasha dove deeper into the conversation here. Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 12, 2022
Special episode: AI art? More like AI fart and other TC news (The TechCrunch Podcast)
Hey, Equity family! While we're off preparing more end-of-year special episodes for you, we wanted to share an episode from our sister pod: The TechCrunch Podcast. This week Darrell Etherington talks with Taylor Hatmaker on to talk about Lensa AI and the possible ramifications for artists. Then we’ll hear from some attendees at the TC sessions: Space event And as always, Darrell breaks down the biggest stories in tech. Articles from the episode: Lensa AI, the app making ‘magic avatars,’ raises red flags for artists UPDATED: It’s way too easy to trick Lensa AI into making NSFW images Read all of the stories from TC Sessions: Space Other news from the week: Meta won’t let staff discuss topics like abortion, gun control and vaccines at work Amazon will give your overworked delivery driver $5 if you ask Alexa to say thank you Confirmed: Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield stepping down in January The FTC is suing to block Microsoft from buying Activision Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 09, 2022
2022: The good, the bad, and the wake-up calls
We are nearly at the end of the year, so your friendly, local podcast crew is trying to make sense of just what happened in 2022. We started the year on a venture capital high which quickly turned into a downturn. Startups kicked off the year hiring and wrapped the year shedding staff. The stock market kept going down. A crypto winter kicked off. We saw some PE deals but very few IPOs. And the world saw a bit more geopolitical upheaval than we might have anticipated. There were elections and shutdowns and frauds and mistakes and big wins. It was, well, a lot. Thankfully Mary Ann, Natasha, and Alex were able to collate the news into a few distinct categories, so that we can all look back at 2022 with a bit more clarity. And we even got to hear from a bunch of you, thanks to your dozens and dozens of great taglines you sent in concerning the year and how it felt from your chair. We have even more good stuff coming, including our yearly predictions episode. Get hype, and we'll talk to you soon! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 07, 2022
Ego-ish: how tech's main characters are all a bit different
This week, Natasha chatted with Alex about ego, how recent news from Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes gives us a window into how it works, and impacts on the tech and venture landscape. We talked about: What Holmes and Bankman-Fried have in common, from centralized ownership to a cult of personality The differences between the two entrepreneurs, and why their stories tend to blur together How Adam Neumann, Elon Musk and others fit into the conversation Learning lessons from startups from a chaotic, and main-character-driven year We have a lot of really fun stuff coming up in the next week or two. Thanks for sticking with Equity in 2022, and we cannot wait for 2023. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 05, 2022
Is this what good news feels like?
Stocks in China are ripping higher on news that its drastic COVID-related policies could be starting to ease . It's a long way from a reopening, but after years of hard-edged lockdowns, Chinese tech companies are breathing a sigh of relief — at least in valuation terms. Shares are down in Europe and the United States. How much are Chinese equities rallying? Bilibili is in the lead, up around 16% in pre-market trading. The day's gains won't cover all prior losses, but for the nation's beleaguered tech industry, the valuation gains are beyond welcome news. And sticking to the good news vibe, the fact that the U.S. central bank may slow the pace at which it raises interest rates could provide some useful tailwinds to tech companies. The Circle SPAC deal is off . Giraffe360 raised new capital , which surprised us, given our perspective on the housing market. And we closed with notes on ChatGPT , the thing that everyone on Twitter cannot stop playing with. Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 02, 2022
Are we bullfighting in Spain? Because that's a red flag
For the last time in 2022, the whole Friday gang got together to chat through the latest and greatest in the world of technology and startup news: ResortPass raises money. Mary Ann explains the business model. Post.News raises money. Alex digs into what he likes and doesn't like about the new Twitter competitor. SBF wants you to know he had no idea what was going on . We are not so sure . Venture red flags are great in hindsight , but would have been more useful last year. Layoffs at DoorDash and Kraken are a reminder that we're still in a risk-off environment when it comes to tech spending today. Plus, the latest regarding Pipe, and Alex's notes on Series A and C rounds. Equity is not done for the year, but we are settling into our final 2022 holiday groove. This is Alex writing this, and I wanted to take the moment to thank you for sticking around with us this year. Really. I think we broke a bunch of records in terms of downloads and the like. Wild that the show just keeps getting bigger. Hugs. Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell.
Wed, November 30, 2022
How tech PR's job changed in 2022
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Vijay Chattha , a startup comms leader who has spent over 20 years in the storytelling world. Chattha is the CEO and founder of VSC and founding partner of VSC Ventures, a $21 million investment vehicle to back startups. Here's what we spoke about: How his clients are reacting to the downturn in terms of their openness, vulnerability, and general hunger to tell their story The difference between pitching a VC and pitching a journalist (lol) How startup's goal with media coverage can sometimes inherently clash with the media's goal to cover a startup (and why we disagree on the importance of disclosing valuations) The best framework for the different types of media form out there, from Twitter to billboards to earned media. How the #MeToo movement impacted leadership styles and changed accountability for the better If we're getting closer to a more transparent ecosystem, or more opaque one And of course, we end with a lightning round - including but not limited to Chattha's biggest pet peeve with journalists. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 28, 2022
What's next on crypto's chopping block?
It's me! Hi! (I'm not the problem, just the podcast's host, here to bring you the latest greatest in startup and tech news this fine Monday morning). Welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. And for those of you who hummed the first sentence of this post, extra points to you. I'm starting things off this week as a test run before Alex heads on paternity leave. We have lots to get to, so shake off the holiday feels and let's remember how this ecosystem works? Here's what we got to: The markets are broadly down, due to COVID-19 protests breaking out in China. Blockfi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Our crypto reporter Jacquelyn Melinek has more on what happened - and she explains just how intertwined this universe is. I'll also get to notes I took from our recent crypto conference and how the reality may be looking like Web 2.5 before it looks like Web 3.0. We also talk about Amazon's three-pronged retreat , and the common thread of India between them all. After that, some good news from all-women led venture firm Pact and its debut fund. More funding for climate startups, please. Tim keeps writing about really cool ones. We end with a note on Pipe, a $2 billion fintech that announced all of its co-founders are stepping down from their roles last week. Soon after that decision was announced, rumors and allegations began flying about tensions under the hood at the fintech. Mary Ann Azevedo has the story and keep reading the site today for the follow up. As I said on Twitter, on one end, when three founders step down in a single moment, people are undoubtedly going to talk and worry (out loud) about the stability of the company. That was fun. Thanks for letting me spend a bit of your Monday with you. More to come! You can follow me on Twitter<a href="h
Fri, November 25, 2022
Party rounds are either the dinner party of your dreams or the one where no one shows up (re-post)
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. While the Equity crew unwinds from Thanksgiving here in the U.S., we're bringing you one of our favorite conversations from this year: Natasha , along with Alex 's help, asked: Who should be raising Party Rounds? The episode was inspired by Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, “When the party has confetti but no allergen-friendly appetizers" and the companion TechCrunch+ piece with Anita, “Investment clubs are cool again, and maybe community is, too.” Here's what we got into: The definition of party rounds, boundaries and the fact that we don't entirely agree on if there needs to be a lead or nah How has party round funding changed? What place do they hold in the ecosystem? Is this vehicle better for experienced founders versus first-time founders? The pros and cons of each side Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 23, 2022
Tech’s homogeneity problem
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Karla Monterroso, a long time leadership coach, racial equity advocate and the founder of Brava Leaders. We talked about her route into the leadership coaching space, but mainly sought to answer questions about the challenges facing executives today. Here are some of the topics we touch on Diverse leadership and the unique semblance of power on a person of color How she's thinking through the second-order impacts of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover and what signal it sends to the industry. Tech's homogeneity problem and if it's getting better or worse How leaders can cultivate a workforce that leans into conflict And of course, we end with a lightning round - including but not limited to how Monterroso would define 2022 in a headline. We'll be back Friday with a festive rerun of an old episode. For those celebrating, happy Thanksgiving and, needless to say, we're very thankful to have you here. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 21, 2022
Good morning, assets are selling off
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Note: Equity will be back on Wednesday, and Friday in some capacity. But keep in mind that this is a holiday week in the United States, so things are going to be a little bit slower than usual. Here’s what we got into on our Monday episode, a weekly kickstart to your week! Stocks are largely down around the world, and crypto prices continue to deflate. Watching both these asset classes lose value in tandem feels like the worst horse-race in history. No matter what you hold, it's a bad Monday. Twitter CEO Elon Musk decided to bring former American president Donald Trump back to Twitter . Ironically, the former president is so far declining the option and wants to stick to his own social network, Truth Social. FTX owes $3.1 billion to its 50 largest creditors. In more positive news, Wove just raised a nearly $3.85 million Seed round , and SponsorUnited's big Series A proves that nine-figure early-stage valuations are not dead ! In closing, Natasha will host the Monday show next week as we get ready for my parental leave! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 18, 2022
Pick your poison: recruitment or retention?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This week, Alex and Natasha discussed the latest and greatest of this consuming news cycle. Our goal with the episode, as always, is to go beyond what you may see in a 140 character-take on [insert big story here]. And in today's recording? That wasn't hard at all. We started with our good news segment: 1) Maven, now valued at $1.35 billion, is answering a countrywide demand: More fertility benefits and 2) Alibaba eyes logistics growth in LatAm as China commerce slows . We love a chance to talk about growth, despite all odds and even trends! Then, right off the heels of our amazing debut crypto conference, we take a minute to talk about the FTX Fall out. Yep, we're talking about how one African Web3 startup got screwed over and why SoftBank joined Sequoia in marking down its investment in the crypto exchange. We then turn to the latest in layoffs: Amazon's 3% cut, cuts at Morning Brew and Protocol, and Musk's latest attempt to recruit (or retain?) Twitter employees. We still don't know what's happening there, don't ask us. Ok fine, you can. And we'll end by throwing this gem here, with little to know context: I volunteer as tribute. And that's wrap. As always you can follow the show on Twitter , leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts and, most importantly, be kind to your people. Talk soon! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-rea
Thu, November 17, 2022
Corporate comms for the startup soul
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch's venture capital focused podcast where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Today we have something a bit different for you. In light of the never-ending Musk-Twitter saga, and news that the new social media CEO had cut its corporate communications staff to the bone -- and then some. So to get more perspective on the role that a corporate comms team plays in both startups and public companies alike, we wrangled two folks who have just that experience set: Kelly Boynton , senior director of communications at Gusto Keyana Corliss , until recently the head of global communications and PR at Databricks The pair discussed the role that comms plays in companies both internally and externally, and why it deserves a seat at the decision-making table. Given the media furor surrounding Musk himself, you can imagine that we had a lot to talk about. Oh, and Keyana has a podcast that Alex was a guest on , in case you want to hear more from her! Regular service returns tomorrow! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 14, 2022
Cleanup, aisle FTX
Hello, and welcome back to Equity , the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Here's what we got into on our Monday episode, a weekly kick-off of sorts: Stocks are mixed around the world, up in parts of Asia and Europe, but down sharply in the United States to start the week. Crypto prices have recovered modestly, but remain sharply depressed from the last week. The FTX damage continues to reverberate. Speaking of crypto, the FTX saga continues. The latest includes a hack on Friday , and a massive emission of new FTT tokens that was so poorly received that major exchanges pulled deposits of the now-radioactive security. All the exchange drama has led to other exchanges taking fire , and Coinbase looking great in contrast. Elsewhere in tech-land: Fake meat raises a bunch more money , Klarna is doing some neat product work , India has unbanned VLC , which was a head-scratcher to begin with, and e-commerce infra startups are still raising capital ! And that’s all the time we had this morning! More Wednesday! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who m
Fri, November 11, 2022
It’s not a rug pull if it’s an accident
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. We thought that last week was a lot. It was, but this week was somehow more. More chaotic, rapid-fire change at a number of massive tech companies kept us on our toes. So, while our beloved co-host Natasha was out, we couldn't do the recording down a set of hands, so we brought Becca aboard with Mary Ann and Alex . The list of news was so long that we were cutting entire sections up until we hit record, and even still we went over time. If you like longer episodes, this one is for you. Deals of the Week: What's going on with the former Peloton CEO's new rug startup ? And how is Tellus going to offer much better consumer savings rates ? And, finally, how wrong can Alex get the Harmonic business model until he figures it out live on the show ? Mega-layoffs: From there, we had to sit down and discuss the massive Meta layoffs . Our read is that the company is doing right by the folks it is cutting, which is not as much as we can say about some other companies in the world also undergoing massive staffing cuts. Naturally, this brought up Twitter to a degree , the smaller social network being the Main Character in tech news up until, well: WTF FTX? Ah, FTX. Last week it was worth $32 billion and its founder was arguably the face of crypto around the world. And now Sequoia has pulled its on-site hagiography , SBF is a pariah, and FTX may be going to zero . There's going to be a mini-series about this, isn't there? We are back Monday! Have a lovely weekend! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Ov
Wed, November 09, 2022
Tech layoffs may get worse before they get better
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work, and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Nolan Church , the CEO and co-founder of Continuum, about his perspective on the tech layoff wave. While we do indeed get into how his vision of fractional work fits into this conversation, we start with the fact that Church helped conduct Carta's layoffs in 2020 (a low of his entire career, he says) and what that experience taught him about the importance of being direct. Here are a few of the topics we get into: Twitter's recent layoffs, Jack's silence and who should take ownership for what The generic CEO statement on macroeconomic challenges Stripe's recent layoffs What is the best way to conduct a layoff, and how should you communicate with staff? How does that change based on stage? Is the rumor that all startups should just cut 20% of staff to extend runway accurate at all? If Church could go back in time, would he change anything about the way that Carta conducted its layoffs? What executive role is most likely to be disrupted and why Q1 may bring more doom and gloom into the tech sphere And finally, Church's attempt to summarize all of 2022 in a headline (I don't disagree with his final answer, by the way). From Natasha: I'll fully take ownership for the fact that my column from just two weeks ago (!) has poorly aged . If you or someone you know is whipping up a cool program - like this - to support those laid off, hit me up on Twitter and I may just create a good news show. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.co
Mon, November 07, 2022
One day all tech news will merely be updates to Twitter moderation policies
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Stocks are up around the world, which is a nice thing to wake up to. Crypto prices are down a smidgen, but nothing major There's FTX-Binance drama afoot , in case that's your jam. On the Twitter beat, in the wake of rehires Musk is tweaking his work on moderation policies regarding impersonation, verification appears to be on hold , and more. PhotoRoom raised $19 million , the Unity megadeal is complete , no matter what we thought about it, and Yassir just raised $150 million from Bond . Has Bond been quiet lately? Not sure but dang, this round was a big one. There's an election tomorrow in America. And that’s our show! More Wednesday! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 04, 2022
Most of the unicorns aren’t
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Oh what a week. What a week. Things are busier than ever at TechCrunch, where we're coming out of our post-conference stupor and charing straight back into a packed news cycle. Sure, Musk is still making waves, but there are startup rounds to cover, layoffs to chew on, earnings coverage, unicorn reports, new data, and more. After cutting back sharply on material and still going long, here's what Mary Ann, Natasha, and Alex got into this week: Rewind wants to help people with their memory. We talk about how the startup, which launched this week, uses recording technology to help you get what you see, hear and say at your finger tips. We talked about Onward , a startup that wants to help divorced or separated parents fight less about money and how it just raised nearly $10 million despite being pre-revenue. The somewhat odd, possible Byju's IPO-spinoff of Aakash , a tutoring company that it bought the other year. Our views can be summarized in meme format: An edtech IPO? In this economy? Unicorns face an incredibly uphill journey to get public , which may explain in part why Byju's is not itself going public (recall that it had had plans, but like with so many other companies those are on hold). And then there was Brex, which announced a new partnership with Techstars despite a big push into the enterprise space. Stripe revealed that it has cut 14% of its staff , or over 1,100 people, and its CEO and co-founder Patrick Collison admitting that the payments giant had "overhired for the world we're in." And finally, there's a new VC ratings company in the neighborhood. How do we feel? Better than some VCs, at least. Got all that? Good. More Monday morning. Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.
Wed, November 02, 2022
Investors are either ghosting, quiet quitting or rewriting their entire playbook
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex interviewed one of their favorite reporters, Business Insider's Melia Russell! The trio chatted through how the role of a venture capitalist is changing. That means we spoke about emerging fund managers , seasoned operators , and, of course, Russell's latest story about how some investors are re-writing the playbooks when it comes to maternity leave policies at their firms. I don't want to tease out all the hot takes, but let's just say that this dispatch is a tad blunt. For one, apparently, no one thinks that venture firm M&A is a thing other than us. Anyways, we think you'll love the episode, learn something new about how venture is changing, and probably have a take on whether this is natural job cycle stuff or true structural changes. We're back Friday with our weekly roundup, which, as you can imagine, is going to be packed. Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 31, 2022
Elon Musk and Twitter Close Deal: Hot Takes (Bonus Episode)
It's official - Elon Musk has sealed the deal on Twitter, and we're bringing you a bonus episode to talk through it all. In case you missed it, Alex took to Twitter Spaces on Friday with Darrell Etherington, Amanda Silberling, Anita Ramaswamy, and Taylor Hatmaker to process some of what’s gone down, and what comes next on a special joint Equity/TechCrunch Podcast episode, so have a listen and be sure to read all about the Elon era at Twitter on TechCrunch. We'll talk to you again on Wednesday! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 31, 2022
Twitter is a startup again, I guess
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Stocks are mixed around the world, notably lower in China on the back of some negative economic data, and down in the United States ahead of what is expected to be another rise in interest rates thanks to the Federal Reserve. Crypto prices have held onto recent gains. A busy weekend of Twitter leaks lead the news cycle . Precisely if, and if yes, how much, Twitter can charge for verified accounts to keep their badge is now a point of conversation. Other reports of development deadlines with termination held as a threat if they are not met are likely doing great things for staffer morale. It turns out that self-driving cars are still far away . I am crying. Startups Zebra Labs and Invygo raised money , showing that the global startup investment market has not frozen, and that there is still funding for more future-facing efforts like Zebra in the metaverse. Finally, we're keeping close tabs on the Q4 venture capital cycle. If we don't see a rebound soon, how many unicorns die? And that's our show! More Wednesday! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 28, 2022
I regret to inform you that Elon has something to do with this
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. We hope that you are in good form this Friday, alive, well and ready to rock. We certainly were. And in a change of pace, as our dear Mary Ann was off this week, the excellent Anita Ramaswamy joined Natasha Mascarenhas and Alex Wilhelm on the mics. (Theresa, as per usual, held down the production front!) What did we merry three get into? The following: Quick Hits: Launch House is shaking up its legal team as it sifts through what is left of its reputation; Sequoia India is still making big edtech bets ; and BeReal is wealthy and, in our view, pretty cool. But does it have the staying power it will need? Twitter layoffs: When we prepped for the show, it seemed that massive Twitter layoffs could impact up to 75% of the company's staff . Since then, the figure has come down some. How much? That's not clear, but what is is the fact that Twitter's new chapter is supposed to begin, and soon. King Apple: The multifront war attacking Apple's massive and pervasive demand that it gets 30% of all transaction value on the App Store continues to rack up detractors. This time? NFT and other crypto fans. China: We closed on a brief riff on Chinese startups! We are back Monday for a spooky episode! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto</a
Wed, October 26, 2022
Yes, Chief
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha is bringing one of her favorite Disrupt panels to your ears. She sat down with Chief co-founders Lindsay Kaplan and Carolyn Childers to talk about the future of their private membership club for women in leadership positions. (Shout out Bryce for this amazing live illustration he did while we were all on stage!). The conversation touches on outlasting competitors, pandemic-defined community, the duality unicorn valuations and the word girlboss. If you love the conversation, share it with a friend. And if you want more on Chief, read a recap post that my colleague Ron Miller wrote about all things membership community and waitlists. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 24, 2022
Seeing startups tackle the health of our planet is giving me life
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. We are back from Disrupt, which means we're picking up the pieces of our work lives, getting back on track. Equity is now on its regular schedule, which is good. A big thanks to the entire podcast production crew for making last week happen. Now! What did we get into this morning? The following: Stocks rallied around the world, but fell in China. Chinese equities suffered under investor pessimism at the cementing of Xi Jinping's authority over the country's economy. Elsewhere, hope that central bank policies would not carry as much teeth in the future as we have seen in recent months sent stocks higher. The finalists from the recent Startup Battlefield competition were all pretty freaking great, especially the focus that several had on making our home planet a bit cleaner, or better. Commercial solutions will be required for us to do any damn thing about the planet, so, here's to the companies working on it. Minerva Lithium wound up winning , which seemed legit given the sheer need we have as a people for lithium these days (it figures in battery production). Other points of conversation: No Instacart IPO coming , Yat Siu is still bullish on crypto games , and it is earnings season! Ok, chat soon! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , one that details how our stories come together , and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Dur
Fri, October 21, 2022
Will your company cut your benefits or your coworkers first? (re-post)
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. While the crew recovers from an incredible week in SF for TechCrunch Disrupt, we dug through the archives for a conversation you may have missed. Natasha was joined by TC+ reporter Rebecca Szkutak to wade through the news of the week. It was frantic, it was full, and forgettable it was not! Here's what we got into: Quick note from Becca on Neumann's return and if follow-on funding will be a possibility for Flow -- given some investors reactions. Our two deals of the week include an innovative step for hearing aid startups and a new take on international money transfer . For hearing loss tech, a new FDA ruling allows hearing aids to be sold over the counter. We dove in to how this regulatory change helps open the door for startups to innovate in the category . Speaking of regulatory pains, we spoke about how employee-benefits startups might escape cost cuts as companies seek to retain talent. Don't know about you but I'd prefer to lose free food over mental health support. We ended with notes on two geographies. Looking at the Midwest, we talked about how LPs aren't backing funds in the region this year despite many VCs considering it to be one of the safer areas to invest right now. Comparing the Southeast and Midwest, we spoke about how lower valuations are helping fuel both regions to have a good year. And that's all for now. We'll catch you next week, and in the meantime if you're feeling up to it, consider leaving us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. It goes a long way. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify a_nd all the casts._ Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin i
Wed, October 19, 2022
Well, that was Fast: Equity Live at TechCrunch Disrupt
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. And for the first time in the history of the show, the TechCrunch pod that opened up Disrupt on the big stage. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann got to be together to record in person for the first-time ever, and it went exactly as wild as you thought it would (we forgot this is what make up feels like!). We started with a deal of the week, which, in typical Equity style, had to be about a snarky comeback story and inequity. Then we spoke about our three themes of the year, ranging from reputation checks to scrappy requests to, of course, grace as a leadership style. Natasha wanted to talk about, in her own words, the nuance of reputation but more importantly when it matters versus when it’s ignored. Alex wanted to riff on starting being forced to learn how to be scrappy, after a long period of being perhaps over-stuffed. And, finally, Mary Ann wanted to discuss the importance of humility. Which, frankly, is not something that we talk about enough. Thank you to everyone who came out to our live show, and for those who didn't, hope you enjoy and meet us next year. Onward! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 17, 2022
Good morning! We regret to inform you that the wealthy are at it again
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don’t forget that the code “EQUITY” can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! Hell yeah, this is our Monday show. And heck yes, we are recording Equity live tomorrow morning at Disrupt. Get super stoked, because we are hype. That said, we did have a lot to get news done for you this morning. Here's what Theresa and Alex went through this morning: Stocks are up in many parts of the world, including the United States, where software shares are ripping north as the week begins. Very kind of the market to kick off Disrupt with some good news. Crypto is quieter, with prices not changing much and the general vibe of the market not evolving a whit. Kanye West , also known as Ye, is buying niche social network Parler in a deal that will see the musician, fashion mogul, and controversy generator buy the service — but not the infrastructure that powers it. Parler is not very popular at the moment and has stiff competition from other various celebrity-owned (or soon-to-be celebrity-owned) social networks Truth Social and Twitter. It is worth noting that West bought Parler after running into trouble with mainstream social services over his antisemitic posts. Ambi Robotics raised new capital , as did Byju's , and the Chinese chip industry is in turmoil after the United States kicked it in the shins. Woo! That's our show. We will see you tomorrow morning at Disrupt! Come and get an Equity pin and be The Coolest. Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href="https://podcas
Fri, October 14, 2022
What’s the TAM of the 1%?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Before we get into this week’s show notes, some programming items: First up, use code “EQUITY” for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We’re mere days away, and you should come hang out with us when we record on opening day! We also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt’s Expo! That behind us, what did Mary Ann, Natasha and Alex get into today? A whole host of things. Here's the rundown: Getaway and Pacaso: What happens if you mix Airbnb, vacation homes, timeshares, and REITs? A very interesting startup cluster, it turns out. These two companies brought Mary Ann and Natasha into the same reporting space and gave us a good chance to discuss the luxury market. The Muse gets acquisitive: One of the most interesting deals we saw in the last week was The Muse buying Fairygodboss, a recruiting platform aimed at working mothers. The deal got us thinking about roll-ups in various sectors of the startup market, and where we might first see more activity. As Natasha recently put it in Startups Weekly, here's three words to consider about the market right now: Toil, Trouble, Startup Acquisitions. Party/Hangover: Mary Ann's weekly column, The Interchange, is a brill focused look at the latest (and sometimes the not-so-greatest) in fintech. We talk about her recent interview with Index's Mark Goldberg , and why he's talking about the party being over and crypto a side character. Q3 VC: Alex is digging through Q3 venture capital data as quickly as possible, working to get an understanding of where things are. It appears that United States-based venture activity is hanging in there, while the picture is a bit more dire globally. Elsewhere, fintech investment is falling, as is dealmaking in crypto-land. Ownership for all: We end with a look at some recent efforts to challenge venture's traditional structure. Shout out to Chattanooga's Brickyard, which recently raised a $17 million fund, on giving founders 10% of the GP's carried interest in the new fund. Sharing is caring. And really, it's just fair.</li
Wed, October 12, 2022
Sarah Guo isn’t late to the AI party
Sarah Guo isn't late to the AI party, but she did just raise a $101 million fund to bet on the appetizers. Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work, and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex interviewed Guo, who worked at Greylock for nearly a decade, and her launch of Conviction. We spoke about the self-correcting venture market, what made her leave Greylock, and even rewound to her last episode with us (recorded almost exactly three years ago). There was also an especially fruitful conversation about the opportunity in artificial intelligence right now, and how she's defining Software 3.0. (Warning: We talk about SaaS!) We also dug into why she started a fund, the LP market, and more. The conversation ran a bit long, but it felt reasonable to keep going given the sheer breadth of stuff that we wanted to get through. Don't forget that Equity is going to be live at Disrupt next week , on Tuesday morning. It's going to be a blast. And before we go, two programming notes (that help your wallet, too): First up, use code “EQUITY” for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We’re less than one month away! We also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt’s Expo. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank th
Mon, October 10, 2022
It would be nice to not talk about Elon Musk for a bit
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don’t forget that the code “EQUITY” can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! We're gearing up to take the show on the road in short order, but don't worry about that this week. Service will continue as usual until we kick off Disrupt next Tuesday ! Today, we got into the weeds about: Markets: Stocks are down in most of the world, albeit somewhat mixed in Europe. Crypto is mostly flat, with the XRP breaking the trend by being interesting. The Block reports that crypto volumes ticked higher in September, which could bode well. Startups: Clerkenwell Health just raised a couple million pounds for testing alternative medications for mental health conditions. We're excited about that. And Trendsi raised a $25 million Series A , which is no small deal, as we had expected to see smaller early-stage rounds this year. Good on Trendsi! Quick Hits: Kanye West and Elon Musk once again took over the news cycle, this time after the former got into trouble for anti-Semitic posts on Instagram and Twitter. In between, Musk welcomed Ye back to Twitter . Also Tizen is not dead , and PayPal is having a hellish start to the week . Don't forget: We are live next week on the first day of Disrupt! Come hang! More to come Wednesday, and Friday. I can't wait! Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a <a href
Fri, October 07, 2022
Musk and Kardashian remind us to stop crying for the wealthy
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Before we get into this week’s show notes, some programming notes: First up, use code “EQUITY” for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We’re mere weeks away, and you should come hang out with us when we record on opening day! We also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt’s Expo! Alright, throat clearing aside, here's what we got into this week: $700M water ? Yeah, the Liquid Death round was a big deal in the news this week because everyone had an opinion on the matter. Us included. While there's good reason to doubt the DTC model today -- cough cough, public markets -- Alex was on hand to stand up for the, er, near unicorn. How much should you pay your staff ? From there it was time to chat about fair compensation, and how a startup called Comprehensive wants to take a crack at the question. It just raised $6 million. Duolingo goes shopping ! Yes, we've covered this company before. And, yes, it is now public. But Duolingo snapping up another company gave us the chance to yammer a bit about edtech more generally , and we're always going to take that chance. Naver, Poshmark, and Depop : Naver's move to swoop up Poshmark is the story of two major companies finding union. But since the Poshmark deal was similar to the 2021-era Depop deal, it fit into our remit. After all, Poshmark and Depop were both venture darlings once upon a time. Twitter, Elon, round 472 : Since we recorded this podcast, there's been even more Elon-Twitter news. God we're tired of it. Kim Kardashian's crypto issue : F
Wed, October 05, 2022
What's next for creator-focused startups now that the venture boom is over?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Alex asked: How are platforms responding to the new creator landscape? (Don't worry, the Wednesday show is still Natasha's to lead, she was just a little under the weather this week!) Happily, Alex was not running solo, as TechCrunch's own Amanda Silberling was with the show this week -- not for the first time ! -- to chat through the key questions we wanted to parse our way through: What is the new creator landscape? How did we get to today from the go-go 2020/2021 period of creator-focused venture deals? What are creator-focused platforms focused on today? And, finally, what options do creators have today, based on our understanding of the market? The idea for the episode stems in part from our reporting, including this recent look at the amount of money that creator-targeting startups have raised in recent quarters. (Also in the news? Substack , Patreon , and others !) Before we say goodbye and come back on Friday, two quick notes from the team: You can use the code “EQUITY” for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We’re just weeks away! And we also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt’s Expo. See you there, and chat you Friday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show
Mon, October 03, 2022
Welcome to Q4, crypto fans and Tesla stans
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don’t forget that the code “EQUITY” can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! Markets: Stocks are largely down around the world, yet set to rise here on American exchanges. Perhaps the domestic selloff is pausing? Elsewhere in the world of money, cryptocurrencies are boring in the last week. Startups: Big news from TikTok, including notes on how quickly it has been adding revenue in Europe and the fact that the social network is forging ahead with a new social shopping effort in the United States . And, Talk360 added even more dosh to its recent funding round, which TechCrunch dug into here . Quick Hits: Kim Kardashian is in trouble for crypto promotions past , to the tune of a seven-figure settlement. That's a lot of capital, frankly, and we're curious who will be next under the SEC's hammer. Oh, and Tesla delivery numbers are in , and the markets are not happy. Don't Forget: Equity is kicking off Disrupt in just a few weeks. Come hang out! Woot! We are out of here for now. Catch you soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickav
Fri, September 30, 2022
We’re all just a Hop, Skip and a Drive away from a better Hustle
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Before we get into this week's show notes, some programming notes: First up, use code “EQUITY” for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We’re less than one month away! We also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt’s Expo. Ok, now to the show. This week, Natasha , Mary Ann and Rebecca took the mic, with Theresa on production duty, to talk through quite a diverse news cycle. Our deals of the week were Scout , HopSkipDrive and Hustle Fund's new fund (so I think you finally get the headline of this show). Then we jumped into the human side of the layoff story, as Mary Ann and Christine dug into four stories of those impacted by the Better.com layoff spree. https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/better-com-employees-detail-their-experiences/ After that, we debated whether or not the Adobe/Figma dea l will spur more M&A considering the lack of companies going public and the state of the venture market. Speaking of the venture market, we ended with a discussion about how VCs are funding again , but focusing on certain stages, and then looked ahead at what Q4 might look like. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a <a href="https://podc
Wed, September 28, 2022
Building startups in public has an end date
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: How does the "build in public" mindset impact the way that startups are built? Alex and Natasha chatted through the difference between building in public, going direct, startup PR, and just straight-up hype. We spoke about the challenges in community and recent examples that show the difficulty of building in public ( and then clamming up ). The conversation included Launch House, Copy.ai, On Deck, Egnyte, and even Databricks. While we have very biased reasons for more companies to build in public -- we love to learn things! -- we tried to expand the conversation to include more perspectives. We'll be back on Friday with our regular news roundup, an episode that may include a voice that you'll hear more frequently in the coming months! Before we go, two programming notes (that help your wallet, too): First up, use code "EQUITY" for a special listener discount for Disrupt tickets . We're less than one month away! We also have a special for those impacted by layoffs . If you were laid off, go here to get a free ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt's Expo. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet,
Mon, September 26, 2022
Hey, look, some startups are still raising money
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don’t forget that the code “EQUITY” can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! Markets: Stocks are mostly down around the world today, taking especially large hits in Asia. U.S. shares are set to fall as well when they begin to trade. Major cryptos are also off in the last 24 hours, but not enough to make a fuss about. Startups: Today we took a look at new fundraises at Vendease, an African logistics company in the food space , and Disperse, a U.K-based construction tech company that wants to map building sites . That market, it turns out, is huge. Quick Hits: Do Kwon has been hit with a red notice , which means that he will likely soon be in custody. However, some are irked that he's in trouble for causing a financial meltdown and losing a lot of folks' money. What's the argument there? That he wasn't being malicious, and instead was merely, we presume, stupid. Not a great argument in terms of making Do Kwon look good, but that's where we are. Also in the mix: The new iPhone is being built in India and TikTok may find regulatory reprieve . Closing Riff: Goodbye Q3 2022, hello Q4 2022. This is the last Equity Monday of the third quarter, a period that few of us are going to look back on and miss. That's our show! We are back Wednesday and Friday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto , a show that interviews founders , a show th
Fri, September 23, 2022
When VCs fund the thing you didn't think they'd ever fund
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Coming to hang with us at Disrupt, where Equity is kicking off the entire event? Use code 'EQUITY' to save 15% on your tickets . Hell yeah, and see you there! Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann jumped on the mic, with Theresa running production, to talk through the biggest headlines from the week! Deals of the Week! This time 'round we had Polywork raising $28 million , Block Party raising $4.8 million , and Remofirst and its own recent fundraise . Naturally we had to leave 234 deals on the cutting room floor, but these were the ones we could not wait to chat more about. Also, don't Polywork, Block Party and Remofirst sound like fun people to get dinner with? Just us? Insurtech goes Niche: From there it was time to riff on a series of stories from Mary Ann , focused on specialized insurtech companies, and the fact that Pie just proved that it is still possible to raise nine-figures as an insurance-focused startup. The Great Delivery Wars: Next up was News From Instacart, including the fact that its IPO is still underway , and that it is busy launching products as it meanders towards the public markets. It turns out as well that a bunch of companies would love more than a slice of its business. Doordash, for one. Layoffs and more: And then layoffs. Layoffs at Metafy , layoffs at Sundae , and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/19/softbank-backed-ola-to-c
Wed, September 21, 2022
Network isn't a dirty word
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: What does breaking into venture capital look like today, and how is it changing? Alex and Becca jumped on the mic to discuss this and start with a refresh on our latest op-ed: "4 views on unpaid venture internships." We talked through three buckets of venture onramps: the traditional route, the new wave and the tourist strategy. Each has their own pros and cons, and includes everything from rolling funds to the real definition of partner. We also covered more on the value of certain on ramps, and if network is the right thing to disrupt (or if its more track record based) We tried not to gang up on Dorm Room Fund too much, but did chat about why their $12.5 million fund that's run by unpaid students irked us and other initiatives we thought were better for those trying to break into VC. For more stories on this topic, read our bevy of coverage: 7 first-time fund managers detail how they’re preparing to thrive during the downturn Emerging managers should take advantage of the slower fundraising market by courting LPs VC fundraising gets weird as autumn nears Some institutional LPs have started pulling back from VC, but most won’t Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="htt
Mon, September 19, 2022
Line goes down
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don’t forget that the code “EQUITY” can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! Here's what we got into this Fine Monday Morning: Stocks are down around the world, while crypto-assets are down even more; post-Merge you might have anticipated better performance from tokens, but it has not yet come to be. The WSJ has some juicy notes on the upcoming Instacart IPO, namely that it is not expecting to sell a lot of its own stock in the transaction. Why does that matter? It tells us that the company is not burning that much cash -- a useful thing to know ahead of an anticipated IPO filing coming this year. From startup-land: Ola is cutting jobs , two delivery logistics startups are merging in Sweden , and Byld Ventures is putting together a venture capital fund to watch. Finally, Do Kown is a wanted man , shares of TakeTwo are down quite a bit following a massive leak. And that is our Monday show! Chat you on Wednesday and Friday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, September 17, 2022
Chain Reaction x Equity talk the Ethereum Merge
If you are into web3, the biggest news of the week in tech was not the massive Figma-Adobe deal . No, the leading story of the last few days -- arguably even the last few weeks -- has been the Ethereum Merge . The Merge, an upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain that moved it from a proof of work (PoW) to a proof of stake (PoS) system of consensus was a long-awaited shift that finally took place this week. And as the change in technology is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the popular blockchain by ~99%, we had lots to get into. https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/15/now-that-the-ethereum-merge-is-behind-us-whats-next/ But we didn't just want to riff on the startup angle, or the web3 perspective, because the Merge had huge implications for crypto as an industry and its place in the world of emerging tech. That's why we got together our startup and blockchain podcast teams for a collab episode to hit both angles: Anita and Jacquie from Chain Reaction, and Natasha and Alex from Equity. This also gave us a 50-50 TechCrunch-TechCrunch+ split, which was good fun. We started by setting the scene with how the anticipation around this monumental event in web3 has affected token prices and dug into what factors had been fueling optimism. Then we broke down the mechanics behind why proof-of-stake is greener, but may be less decentralized than proof-of-work (though each us had different takes on whether that's a fair assessment). Pulling off the Merge was an event requiring such technical coordination and rigor that it's been compared to the moon landing. Now that it's happened, what will be the impacts on web3 startups? What about the rest of the tech industry, or large financial institutions , or Chinese crypto miners ? We walked through all these questions and more, trying to address both what the Merge is and why it matters through as holistic a lens as possible. Just as there are tons of different stakeholders affected by the Merge, who all think differently, so do we. This episode had lots of back-and-forth as the team unpacked some quirky pieces of crypto jargon like the term "baker" and what it means in a proof-of-stake ecosystem as well as the timeline of what comes after the Merge, which includes the Surge, Verge, Purge and Splurge. No joke -- we explain what those mean in this episode. We'll do mor
Fri, September 16, 2022
Where's the center of the startup world? Depends on which VC you ask
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann jumped on the mic, with Theresa on backup, to talk through the biggest headlines. We started with a look at the Figma-Adobe deal, worth some $20 billion. TechCrunch's news coverage is here , and Alex has more notes here . Deals of the Week: Maven , Patreon , and Modulous . We also spoke about the Launch House issue , and what to make of the model, and management of the company. The conversation naturally landed us on just what community is. From there, Europe! Which is seeing a wave a new venture funds , leading to some notable intra-continent competition . And then we wrapped with a short note on the latest on the Twitter-Musk deal. If you are coming to Disrupt, use the code “ EQUITY ” to save 15%. It makes us look good internally, and gets you a cheaper discount to our first Disrupt live show in the history of the podcast. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 14, 2022
Y Combinator is still paranoid
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: How is YC evolving to meet a changed market? The question is fresh off of Demo Day last week, where Team TC and TC+ banded forces to cover the twice-a-year event that sees hundreds of startups launch to the public. These days, Seibel doesn't often do press -- and neither does YC -- so the interview was used to connect the dots on recent news from the accelerator, cross check top trends from this past batch and ask about some of the biggest critiques people have about the institution today. We went a bit long, but figured it was worth it given the way the conversation was going. Equity has a live show on Thursday, and lots more to come. Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 12, 2022
The ETH merge cometh
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Don't forget that the code "EQUITY" can save you money on Disrupt tickets and TechCrunch+ access . And it makes us here on the show look good! Now, what did we get into today? Stocks are higher around the world, while major cryptos have risen sharply in the last week. The Ethereum update known as the 'Merge' is just around the corner . The change in consensus model at ETH is a big darn deal. How the tech change goes, and what the market reaction is to it, will be key events this week. And speaking of crypto, the SEC is getting even busier in its efforts to have more oversight of the space. From the startup front, Gotham Greens and Diveplane both raised money, $310 million and $25 million respectively. Each are a part of neat, growing sectors in startup-land, making their fundraising a bit more impactful than individual rounds tend to be. And then quick takes: Everyone's worried about TikTok , Amazon's content budget is bonkers , and EQT has a huge new fund . We are back Wednesday, and our Friday show will be taped live on Thursday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, September 10, 2022
Stanford moonshot promises near-term profitability with no-code magical mushrooms, ft. Plaid of X
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. As you can tell by the headline of this episode, this is a bonus episode all about Y Combinator Demo Day (and the terms we heard most often during the two-day affair). Natasha and Alex jumped on Twitter Spaces to talk through our favorites of the batch, geography changes, and diversity shake-up that included less women getting funded batch over batch. Below are some of the posts we pulled from: The biggest moonshots in YC’s S22 batch Our 11 favorite companies from YC’s S22 Demo Day: Part 1 Our 10 favorite startups from YC’s S22 Demo Day: Part 2 Delving into YC’s diversity data following a category shakeup Where is Y Combinator startup-hunting in 2022? Y Combinator week is busy, but we made it through! Talk Monday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 09, 2022
Kim Kardashian and the financialization of trendsetters
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. What. A. Week. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann jumped on the mic, with Theresa on backup, to talk through the biggest headlines. For our Apple coverage, click here . For our YC coverage, click here. All that aside, here's what we got into on today's episode: Kim Kardashian surprised us all -- yet again -- with the news that she is co-founding a private equity firm . We also talked about how Userpilot raised $4.6 million to help SaaS companies offer a more personalized user experience and Varjo - an early mover in building XR headsets and software for enterprises - landing $40 million in new funding. We pivoted to riff on a couple of acquisitions in the grocery delivery space, both of which thought were pretty cool and made sense. Instacart acquired Rosie (gotta love the name) in an example of not putting all its eggs in one basket, and Misfit Markets announced it is buying Imperfect Foods . Next, we talked about a couple of venture firms -- Kapor Capital and Countdown Capital -- raising new, second funds. Notably, both firms are looking to back historically overlooked founders and industries, which we -- and their LPs -- are 100% here for. And lastly, we had a lively debate on AI and its impact on the creator economy -- discussing topics such as AI-generated porn and whether AI-driven art is truly art. If you are coming to Disrupt, use the code " EQUITY " to save 15%. It makes us look good internally, and gets you a cheaper discount to our first Di
Wed, September 07, 2022
As the economy falters, tracking the money behind the money
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic and unpack the rest. Today we asked: How is the economic downturn and startup slowdown impacting VCs, and the folks who finance venture capital funds? Unlike our usual mid-week episodes, Natasha was not at the helm. Instead, Alex stood in for her and brought along TechCrunch+ venture capital reporter Rebecca Szkutak in the co-hosting slot. Rebecca is an ace when it comes to the mechanics of venture capital, making her the perfect voice for the day. To start, Alex and Rebecca riffed on the state of startups in today's market -- and if things are as bad as some make them out to be. From there, the Equity crew talked through the venture capital response to changing market conditions. And the conversation wrapped with notes on what LPs are doing, whether they should be or not. While we largely focus on startups and founders on the pod, it's also good to step back once in a while and talk about the money behind the money. That's what we did today. Enjoy! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, September 06, 2022
Welcome to YC and Apple week
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. We are back on a Tuesday instead of a Monday thanks to an American holiday, which means we are looking at a compressed week. But don't let the shorter window for news fool you -- it's going to be busy. Stocks are largely higher today, but off the back of some rough trading weeks so don't read too much into the bounce. The world of crypto appears pretty quiet, as it has for some time now. Y Combinator Demo Day is this week, which means a flood of startups and other news is in the offing. TechCrunch will be all over the news, naturally. Strap in. And there's an Apple event this week as well, possibly bringing new iPhones and other related consumer gear. How excited you are about that will depend on how old your current phone is. From there, it was time for economic concerns and worries about how a worse, or lesser macroeconomic picture could impact startups. We talk a lot about market size, and venture investment. But what about the macro-climate itself? And to close out, what is Binance doing ? No live show this week, but we are back tomorrow and Friday! Hugs and talk soon. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 02, 2022
We Reali don't know when real estate will get Better
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This was a Live Week, meaning that Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann recorded the show on Twitter Spaces, hanging out with a bunch of the Equity family. Good times were had! We also disclosed that we are recording live at Disrupt this year! Yes, so come hang out as we tape the show on opening day, full of coffee and enthusiasm. Now, to the show notes. Here's what we have in store for you: Deals of the Week: Stacked , which is taking on Twitch with a web3 twist; Astro , which wants to help connect Latin American developers to American companies; Anchor , which is building a BaaS platform in Africa. From there we riffed on the big changes at Y Combinator , and what it means for an early-stage venture firm managing over $3.2 billion in assets. The executive shift touched down just in advance of next week's demo day. Next week is going to be busy. Then Mary Ann walked us through issues at real-estate focused fintech startups , namely that they are burning too much money . Naturally this meant that we had to mention Better.com , again. And we closed with layoff news from Snap , and Clearco. Both stories are vastly different but compare in the layoffs, retraction in international presence, and promise for more focus in the future. If you are coming to Disrupt, use the code 'EQUITY' to save 15%. It makes us look good internally, and gets you a cheaper discount to our first Disrupt live show in the history of the podcast. And, speaking of the pod, Equity is back next Tuesday, not Monday, due to the American holiday. Ok! Bye! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, s
Wed, August 31, 2022
Party rounds are either the dinner party of your dreams or the one where no one shows up
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, along with Alex 's help, Natasha asked: Who should be raising Party Rounds? The episode was inspired by Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, “When the party has confetti but no allergen-friendly appetizers" and the companion TechCrunch+ piece with Anita, “Investment clubs are cool again, and maybe community is, too.” Here's what we got into: The definition of party rounds, boundaries and the fact that we don't entirely agree on if there needs to be a lead or nah How has party round funding changed? What place do they hold in the ecosystem? Is this vehicle better for experienced founders versus first-time founders? The pros and cons of each side Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 29, 2022
Does venture capital need a shot in the arm?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This week Alex was back with Grace and our new producer Theresa Loconsolo to kick off the week. This Monday morning we recorded right before Garry Tan announced that he was heading back to Y Combinator as its President. Dang. But we still had a good sheaf of things to talk about! Stocks are not having a good day around the world, after having a pretty tough last Friday. It's hardly bullish for the IPO market. Things weren't much better in crypto-land, where bitcoin and ether are off from their week-ago prices, and NFT volumes remain muted. And speaking of quiet, startup news -- Y Combinator apart! -- was modest over the weekend. It appears that the August slowdown is both real, and here. Frankly startups could use a shot in the arm to get venture back closer to 2021's level of insanity. Can the Instacart IPO that we expect be the needed catalyst? Another potential catalyst of Good Vibes that we are tracking is whether, and when Tether's audit finally does happen . Also in the news: Honda is going to spend big to build batteries in the United States ; Indian mobile connectivity is set to improve in the next year ; and Meta and Indian conglomerate Reliance are teaming up for ecommerce . Equity is back Wednesday Thursday for a live show! Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 26, 2022
Press and Law v. Adam and Elon
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Want to save some dosh on TechCrunch+? Use the code 'EQUITY' at checkout for a big discount on annual subscriptions! Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann are back and as a three were in good spirits with more than a bit of news to parse. Grace, Theresa, and Kell made the magic happen, for which we're thankful. Here's what we got into: Just what OrangeDAO is, and why it matters. Our deals of the week this time 'round had a particular flavor. See if you can spot it! Next up was Spectral's $23 million raise (web3 credit scores), and Mural's latest, a $6.5 million round for DAO treasury managemen t. Scooting along, we looked into Alex's reporting on shrinking late-stage rounds , a surprisingly strong seed market , and what's good with the unicorn crew . Then it was time to talk Stripe layoffs before pivoting over to the latest issues stemming from Adam Neumann's latest startup , and the Musk-Twitter dustup . To close, we noted the latest from Instacart and the fact that Zoom is not having the best of times lately . That's our show! We are back Monday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5D
Wed, August 24, 2022
Black Girls Code's developing story offers a complicated look at lots of different things
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: What happens when a Black founder was ousted? Alex was back on the mic after a week away, and we brought on Dominic-Madori Davis (follow her on Twitter and Instagram ) to talk us through the topic. After all, the core question was inspired by her latest TC+ column . Here's what we got into: The growing tensions at Black Girls Code, which began last December with Bryant's "indefinite suspension." Bryant's eventual ouster, which happened earlier this month, and the outpouring of public support for the leader. That conversation brought us into the reality of who gets to speak up publicly, and who can only do so off the record and without attribution. Davis piece about the symbolism of a Black founder being removed from a position of leadership Inherent bias and how to navigate that in the stories we hear and tips we receive. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 22, 2022
What's a crypto exchange worth?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This week Alex was back with Grace and our new producer to kick off the week. Now that we are through earnings season, things are a little quieter on the forecast front, but that didn't mean that we were short on material: Stocks are down around the world, while crypto prices remain depressed in the last week; NFT volume continues its negative drift. CNBC got FTX revenue numbers ! Only through the first quarter of 2022, sadly, meaning that we have a good idea of what the company did through March of this year. That is good, but not great. Why not? Q2 is really the turning point for crypto exchanges, Coinbase data indicates. So we got the stuff that makes FTX look good. We need more. The Socar IPO was kinda meh, in the end. While we welcome any and all IPOs at this point, hopes may have been for a stronger welcome on the South Korean stock market for the SoftBank-backed company. TechCrunch has more . And from the Quick Hit folder, Tesla is raising the price of its driver-assist system , Amazon is looking to buy more healthcare assets , NSO may reform , and SPACs are kaput . Equity is back Wednesday and Friday this week, as we do not have a live show. Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choice
Fri, August 19, 2022
Will your company cut your benefits or your coworkers first?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This week, Natasha was joined by TC+ reporter Rebecca Szkutak to wade through the news of the week. It was frantic, it was full, and forgettable it was not! Here's what we got into: Quick note from Becca on Neumann's return and if follow-on funding will be a possibility for Flow -- given some investors reactions. Our two deals of the week include an innovative step for hearing aid startups and a new take on international money transfer . For hearing loss tech, a new FDA ruling allows hearing aids to be sold over the counter. We dove in to how this regulatory change helps open the door for startups to innovate in the category . Speaking of regulatory pains, we spoke about how employee-benefits startups might escape cost cuts as companies seek to retain talent. Don't know about you but I'd prefer to lose free food over mental health support. We ended with notes on two geographies. Looking at the Midwest, we talked about how LPs aren't backing funds in the region this year despite many VCs considering it to be one of the safer areas to invest right now. Comparing the Southeast and Midwest, we spoke about how lower valuations are helping fuel both regions to have a good year. And that's all for now. We'll catch you next week, and in the meantime if you're feeling up to it, consider leaving us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. It goes a long way. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
Wed, August 17, 2022
Let's officially stop comparing Adam Neumann and Elizabeth Holmes
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. And, I mean, are you surprised what we're working with this week? Of course we're talking about Flow, Adam Neumann's a16z-fueled return to real estate that is already reportedly valued above $1 billion. This week, Natasha asked: Is the return is a result of vision, track record, or Adam Neumann-privilege? She's joined by Anita Ramaswamy , the co-host of TechCrunch's crypto-focused podcast Chain Reaction. The duo wrote a piece about the tech community's reaction to Neumann's new startup , so consider this episode a mic'd up follow-up: The news, what we know, and what we still don't - including how much of that $350 million check is cash The reporter's notebook take on how to cover news that is sensationalist in nature. Do we give oxygen to something that is meant for a reaction? And when is something worth capturing versus worth waiting to see materialize? Why folks get checks, and Neumann's background in vision, track record and ability to raise money. After all, to succeed in becoming a venture-backed founder, all you need to be able to do is be good at getting venture backed. How this fits into the female founder takedown story - and why people need to stop comparing Neumann to Elizabeth Holmes. Fraud, my friend, is complicated. https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/15/tech-industry-reacts-to-adam-neumanns-a16z-backed-return-to-real-estate/ Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 15, 2022
Startup yachts, Adam Neumann and wait what year is it again?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Natasha took over Equity Monday this week alongside Grace, as Alex enjoys some always-deserved vacation. Thankfully, there was way too much to get into. So much so that I recommend you listening to this podcast immediately before a whole news cycle breaks. Here's what we got into: Morning markets update, which is somewhat a story about reaction to China's slowing economy For our big tech news item to start the week, Amanda Silberling dropped in to talk to us about Unity saying 'thank you, next' to a $20B merger offer from Applovin. I'll add in that it's not the only billion-dollar+ merger that fell through recently. How's that for Unity? I talked about Adam Neumann's new startup, which just landed Andreessen Horowitz's largest check to date at a billion dollar valuation. Deep breaths, friends, the reaction is part of the point. https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/15/a16z-andreessen-horowitz-backs-adam-neumann-wework-new-venture-flow-real-estate/ Then I got into a WebMD alternate with quality as its differentiator. I end with bad news for Peloton employees, and good news for Atlanta's early stage entrepreneurs. https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/12/the-silicon-peach-is-still-ripe-atlantas-venture-ecosystem-stands-strong/ As always, you can follow Equity on Twitter @equitypod , and me at @nmasc_ . We are back Wednesday! Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryc
Fri, August 12, 2022
So, when is the SoftBank Execution Fund III dropping?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann worked with Grace to record yet another weekly round up on all the tech news that may have flown past your radar. Or bumped into it so hard that you're still dizzy and looking for more information. Regardless of where you're at, here's what we got into: For our deals of the week, we spoke about QED making its first African investment, backing Nigerian fintech TeamApt in $50M+ deal and why Muon Space's custom Earth observation satellites remind us of Build-a-Bear. Plus, Founderpath secured $145M in debt and equity to help B2B SaaS startup founders avoid dilution - a reminder that non-dilutive capital is always in vogue. Then we got to a big theme all about bets. Yep, we're talking Axios gets scooped, Haus gets put up for sale and ByteDance gets... hospitals? We end with chatter about SoftBank's losses and redemption arc, as well as Coinbase's earnings. You're all the best, and if you're thinking, 'you know what, right back at you!' why not leave us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. If you disagree, erm, let's try again next week? Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 10, 2022
Founders, whales, and the sea change in the entrepreneurial energy
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: Despite all the dollars and deals out there, does a drop in activation energy change how many entrepreneurs we'll see in the early-stage market? But, we're not alone! Found co-hosts Jordan Crook and Darrell Etherington hopped on the mics to do a rare cross-over episode with us. They spend every week on Found talking to early-stage founders about everything from origin stories, to pivots, to some of the hardest decisions that leaders need to make these days. Big thanks to the duo for joining us, and without further ado, here's what us four got to: Who is succeeding right now, and what are the types of founders that we're seeing more often? Is there anything that can be done differently when it comes to activating unlikely founders? How do you square up a need for more business fundamentals, with an asset class designed for rocketships? Risk, luck and what the heck whales and fizzy water have to do with this Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 08, 2022
How to lose money, SoftBank edition
Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest and most interesting technology, startup and markets news. This morning was a fun mix of stuff that we don't always get to, so strap in for the following: Stocks and cryptos are mostly higher today, meaning that most listeners of the show are now richer than they were Friday. Congratulations! Coinbase earnings on the horizon, but we got word today from Palantir and SoftBank . Palantir's stock is off due to a guidance miss, while SoftBank reported massive losses from its Vision Fund efforts. Also, it turns out that SoftBank is of the perspective that startup founders are not yet willing to accept valuation cuts to bring the value of their startups in line with market conditions. That's not good. And there was a huge PE deal today, Avalara being taken over by Vista Equity Partners in a $8.4 billion deal. What else? Self-driving cars from Baidu are now taking passengers in China, Lyft is building a media business , and India is cutting back on buying Chinese smartphones . We are back Wednesday! Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 05, 2022
Robinhood's hangover, YC's reduction and Uber's return to form
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann got together with Maggie and Grace this week for our weekly roundup show, and per usual, there was a lot to talk about, including the fact that there were even more topics than usual to pick from as the summer slowdown seems to be fading away. What else did we get into? The following: To kick off our Deals of the Week, we discussed the fact that a startup which focuses on depression, suicidality and related mental health conditions is buying a company called KetaMD in an effort to extend its telehealth prowess and, in particular, to expand its tech-facilitated ketamine-based treatments. Don’t know what ketamine is? You’re not alone. From there, it was time to talk about a new $100 million fund , which boasts some high-profile LPs and partners, that is out to invest exclusively in Latino(a) startup founders. We then dug into the hows and whys of a fintech company that aims to get consumers to deduct everyday expenses directly from their paycheck – a concept that took us a bit to wrap our heads around. We then moved on to Robinhood and the news that the retail investment behemoth had laid off 23% of its staff – just 3 months after letting go of 9% of its workforce. The three of us had thoughts on CEO Vlad Tenev’s acceptance of responsibility for the layoffs, and of course, on just how much dang news has surrounded the company in the past 18 months or so. https://twitter.com/bayareawriter/status/1554598033756667905 Next up? We chatted about Y Combinator’s somewhat surprising decision to shrink its cohort by 40% – what that could mean for the early-stage venture scene. We also get into its increased check size and in-person return. So many variables! Only one experiment! Lastly, we riffed about Uber and how the company both reported positive free cash flow and yet wa
Wed, August 03, 2022
Is it the bootstrapper’s time to jump on the venture treadmill?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: Is it the bootstrapper’s time to jump on the venture treadmill? The episode was inspired by Natasha's recent Startups Weekly column, " The bootstrapped are coming, the bootstrapped are coming " and the companion TechCrunch+ piece, "Will once-bootstrapped startups turn to venture during a watershed moment?" But, of course in classic Equity style, we continued the conversation with nuance and numbers as a focus. Here's what we got into: The definition of bootstrapping, and our own additions and subtractions The trend of more bootstrapped companies taking on venture, or at least more venture capitalists being interested in bootstrapped companies What the heck is a venture treadmill, and what to drugs have to do with it? We ended by both agreeing that we are, indeed, the best. There's ample history when it comes to bootstrapping companies eventually raising money. We just want to know if it is going to happen more often today, and earlier. Let's chat! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 01, 2022
Public tech's espresso shot is quite literally The Cloud
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Last week we said that you needed to pay attention to the public markets, and we weren't kidding. It was a huge week for earnings -- with notes from all over including the ad market and cloud spend. But this week's Monday show was more than just another entry in the series, it was an experimental live show! Natasha joined Alex for the fun, and this is what they got into: Stocks up, crypto mostly flat after a solid week of gains. Will Alibaba delist, or not? That question matters more than just what happens to the singular Chinese tech giant. The question really belies a larger query regarding the ability of Chinese tech companies to access foreign markets more generally, places where the capital can flow at a high clip. Given China's economic woes, cutting off that particular liquidity pipe might be risky. From there we went to Clearco layoffs , UiPath buying Refiner , and Oui's first close of its new fund . And then we wrapped with a dive into Big Tech earnings. The key gist? These companies are too big to summarize, and without the cloud they would be struggling. Amazon’s shares rise on earnings beat, despite $2B loss Apple’s services revenue growth slows to $19.6B in Q3, reaches 860M paid subscriptions Microsoft misses expectations, points to foreign exchange rates and weakened PC market Meta posts its first ever quarterly revenue decline And via CNBC, Alphabet misses on earnings and revenue for second quarter So, what'd you think? Should we go live again? Next time with Equity-themed espresso cups that no one can enjoy othe
Fri, July 29, 2022
Crypto and securities, back of the postcard version
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann got together with Grace once again this week for our weekly roundup show, and hot dang was there a lot to talk about. So much so that we actually had to cut one topic from our notes, any guesses what that may have been? Regardless, here's the rundown: We had a big fintech theme this week, kicking off with the huge news that Jack Ma is giving up control of Ant Financial . Two specific tidbits stood out around Ant's origin story and Ma's flex of an ownership hold. From there, it was time to talk Guava , Pogo , and TomoCredit , our Deals of the Week. The focus here was around just how inclusive certain fintechs can be, so thank you to founders who remind us to raise the bar constantly. Next up? A new solo fund that broke out of a16z . Why leave to do a scary thing when risk is high? We talk about that, fintech innovation, and Rex Salisbury's LP base. (Plus, more on solo founders coming soon on TechCrunch+ ). Then we dug into Mary Ann's behemoth investor survey , and closed with a look at the Coinbase-SEC situation . And we had a great time to boot! Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Du
Wed, July 27, 2022
A niche facet of startup employee pay, explained
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Anita asked: When is a company taking internal valuation cut a good thing? Normally, when we hear about valuations going down, that's a red flag that things aren't going well at a given company or in the market at large. We wrote about Stripe's 28% internal valuation cut earlier this month and as we listened to different reactions to the news, we noticed some people had an unexpected take -- that this downward revision was actually a positive for the company's employees. That's because the cut came from an internal 409A valuation appraisal , which is totally different from the investor-led valuations we normally hear reported on in the news. So we brought on two experts -- Phil Haslett of EquityZen and Sumukh Sridhara of AngelList -- to help us unpack what this valuation cut actually means for startup employees and what else they need to know about their equity compensation heading into a market downturn. For more information, you can also check out our TechCrunch+ piece about the matter, "Stripe’s new and lower internal valuation, explained." Let us know if you want more Chain Reaction x Equity crossover episodes by tweeting at either of us or just sharing this episode with a friend. Numbers speak for themselves :) Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 25, 2022
Why you have to pay attention to the public markets this week
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest and most interesting technology, startup and markets news. Sitting as we are on the precipice of a huge data dump, we had lots to chat through! Stocks are mixed around the world, while crypto selloff modestly after some recovery gains. In general, the value of securities are down in recent weeks and months, and now, frankly, quarters. This is Earnings Week: Yes, friends, get ready to hear from Alphabet and Amazon and Meta and Microsoft and Apple. The Big Five are reporting this week, providing us a glimpse into the health of a host of businesses. Recall that we have seen the major slow hiring lately, perhaps a harbinger of the (meager) feast to come? Cartona is building something neat in Egypt , TechCrunch reports. And there is still venture capital money flowing in China , despite, you know, all the stuff going on there. Zomato is sinking , Voyager is biting the hand that wants to feed it at least a little , and it turns out that the grocery delivery war is only heating up . No live show this week, just three episodes! Hang in there we got you! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 22, 2022
Thanks to Amazon, One Medical and Whole Foods are on the same dang shelf
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann got together with Grace once again this week for our weekly roundup show, and as often happens, news broke as we were gearing up to record. So we had to touch on the huge Amazon-One Medical deal to get started. Naturally we all had thoughts. What else did we get into? The following: Crunchbase raised $50 million! Yes, our former employer has raised a new, large round that had us all thinking about its health, our history thereof, and our love for its news team and other parts of the company we remember fondly. Just what is Arkive building , and are we in favor of its work to build a sort of NFT-powered, decentralized IRL library. There is a DAO involved as well. ForSight is building eye-surgery robots , just raised a stack itself, and we are hype about it. It reinforces a key learning from Natasha's recent robotics panel, which was part bullish, part bearish. From there, it was time to talk the bevy of new venture funds that came out, the end of Modsy -- or is it? -- and a few stories that touch on the Ukraine situation, including a huge Russian fine of Google, Preply's latest funding round , and how solar power can combat fascism. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is pr
Wed, July 20, 2022
OK, don't fear: the long shots are still getting venture funding
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: How do founders hold two ideas in their heads: both that there is an economic downturn, but also that things are looking up for many industries? After a series of episodes about the tensions within the downturn, this is a "good news, despite" episode. We started with a vibe check based on recent interviews with recently venture-backed founders, before getting into the bright spots from Q2 2022 data. Then we spent some time talking about specific sectors enjoying fresh cash right now, including climate and European edtech . Geographically, Africa continues to be one to watch . The continent is set to have its best year yet. In the second half of the show, lean back and enjoy the riffing: we talk VC vacation homes, good news, and somehow end with tater tots. We had a great time, and hope you like this show. We’re back Friday with our regular news roundup! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 18, 2022
When will India make up its mind about crypto?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, and most interesting technology, startup, and markets news. Today was a fun day in that we didn't start off with just bad news -- what a change! Stocks are up around the world, and cryptos have rallied in the last week. The positive price movement in crypto-land, however, doesn't appear to be lighting a fire underneath the NFT market, for example. Robots! Yes, our robotics-themed event -- Free! And online! -- is this week, which means that I have robots on the brain. That made the Syrius round all the more interesting . It appears that ecommerce will remain a key driver of robotic innovation for some time to come. Podcast deals are still happening, kinda. Acast is buying Podchaser , which may or may not mean a lot to you. What does matter in this deal is that Spotify wasn't involved. That's a change! Quick Hits: India may ban crypto , at least if its leading bankers get there way, Missfresh's implosion got a small lifeline , and Modsy is no more -- and the way that it is going out leaves quite a lot to be desired. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, July 16, 2022
Building the future of robotics
Hello and welcome to a special edition of Equity ! Today, Alex sat down Brian Heater , a long-tenured TechCrunch denizen, our hardware editor, podcast extraordinaire , and genial chap. He also put together a really neat robotics-focused event that we're hosting next week. The event is online, and free, which means that everyone can come and hang (that means you!) The confab was also a good excuse to snag time with Heater, and have a bit of a natter about robotics, how the self-driving hardware stack has an impact on more than just automobiles, and why we are going to need AGI for robotics to, you know, become the thing we know from the Jetsons. In short, robotics is improving rapidly, but we might continue to see more industrial applications than personal for some time. Still, there's still a lot of activity in the market, including labor policy, e-commerce applications, and a host of other topics. Enjoy! Equity is back Monday morning, and if you want to come hang at the TC Sessions: Robotics 2022 , you can sign up here for free. See you there! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 15, 2022
Wordle, hurdles and Sally’s early retirement
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann enjoyed yet another edition of Equity Live this week, hopping on Twitter Spaces to chat everything from Musk’s meme suit to a new take on Wordle that landed Spotify’s attention. When we stopped recording the episode, news broke that Stripe is cutting its internal valuation by 28%. Luckily, we do this three times a week to stay tuned for our take soon. In the mean time, here’s what we got to in today’s episode: Spotify acquired Heardle , which felt like a throwback to trivia and of course a nod at its famous predecessor, NY Times-owned Wordle. Only one of us has played the music guessing game so far, so tweet @equitypod your thoughts on if it’s actually fun. We also spoke about a startup that is trying to address male infertility in a personalized, engaging way. It caught investors attention, and ours too. Our last deal of the week, Continuum, gave us a chance to talk about productizing one of the worst jobs in startups: laying folks off. The fractional work play feels even more important given the volatility of startups across all stages right now. Hopin, for example, conducted its second layoff within four months this week and parted ways with its COO, CFO and other executives. Medium had an executive shake up, with Ev Williams stepping down. The last two themes of the episode were built around Instacart and the future of grocery delivery, as well as the latest of the Twitter and Elon Musk saga. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch aud
Wed, July 13, 2022
Roe's reversal will shake up how startups are built
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: How does Roe’s reversal impact the ways that companies are built? The question was inspired by a recent TechCrunch+ column, "Roe reversal weighs heavily on emerging tech cities in red states." The reporters behind the piece, Dominic-Madori Davis and Becca Szkutak , joined Equity to talk about the story and help us get more of the nuance behind this huge setback. We chatted about the reappearance of geographic boundaries, selective silence from the money behind the money, and how founders need to rethink their growth strategy if they're coming from red states. We also chatted about how some founders have already started to react to the overturn of Roe vs. Wade and their sentiments revolving the legality of what happens next. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 11, 2022
Cost cutting, layoffs remain leading startup themes
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, boldest and baddest technology news. After some holiday weeks, we are back on an actual Monday! What a treat. Here's what we got into: Stocks are off around the world, partially due to government action, partially due to the complex web of negative factors that we've discussed for months now. Cryptos are more staid; if you like bitcoin at $20,000 this is your moment. Tiger's slowdown is no mere blip , TechCrunch reports. The investing powerhouse is going to slow its roll for the rest of 2022, and is looking to raise a new fund. Unacademy is looking to cut costs , go public in two years per TechCrunch. And Kadamos raised more capital , marking a pretty quick reload after raising a few months ago. Quick Hits: The Uber Files are a mess , layoffs aren't solving a talent crunch in Southeast Asia , and fintech staffing cuts are starting to pile up . Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 08, 2022
Cauldrons, Bolts and sour markets: Welcome to Halloween in July
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. It doesn't feel like a short week, does it? Alex , Natasha and Mary Ann got on the mic to bring an especially packed episode full of big news, fire transitions and even a pun or three. Deals of the week: Maolac raises $3.2 million to bring breast milk nutrition to adults, Peakflo raises a few million to scale its billpay tech in South East Asia, and Cauldron raises $6.6 million for its web3-themed gaming push. Declining drama at Bolt? A major lawsuit involving Bolt, the online checkout service, has been settled . We chatted through the company's numbers, and noted one more challenge ahead of the company. The unicorns aren't alright: Layoffs at Outschool and Loft are cutting staff, just as some venture capitalists reload . It's going to be a fascinating year. And we closed with some notes on the Q2 venture capital cycle ! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, July 06, 2022
Why build a tech mafia when you can just build each other?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: Why is tech full of copycats, and what’s the next full circle moment we can expect? The question was inspired by Natasha's recent Startups Weekly column: "YC makes a Product Hunt, Product Hunt makes an a16z, a16z makes a YC." As you can tell by that headline and this week's episode title, we're talking about how tech is full of copycats and what that means for the bar of innovation. Expect to learn about the overlap in mission between three of tech's most well-known institutions, what Prologue means for Future (literally and figuratively), and how a rising tide can both confuse and complement the founder fundraising journey. Also it was a good excuse to chat through some of the competitive dynamics that we see play out across the startup landscape. We had a great time, and hope you like the show. We're back Friday with our regular news roundup! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, July 05, 2022
Contrarian bets in a downturn
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, boldest and baddest technology news. We are back on Tuesday, as the United States was off yesterday. So a day late, but hopefully not a dollar short, here's what we got into today: Stocks are mixed around the world, and set to fall in the United States at the open. At the same time, the crypto market has been somewhat relaxed in the last day. Sequoia Capital China is raising $9 billion , a huge amount of money at a time in which we have seen venture capital activity in China slow . Speaking of slowing venture capital, Indian activity is falling . That deceleration comes as the country's crypto market is under pressure . At the same time, Twitter is pushing back against the Indian government bullying , which is good. But maybe less good for Elon Musk, who is buying the social network, and wants to sell imported cars in the country. Closing out, we touched on a potential database breach in China , struggles at Vauld , a new climatetech fund , and news from the quantum front . All that and we had a good time! We are back tomorrow morning, and Friday morning! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 01, 2022
When do layoffs matter? Trick question - always
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This was a live week on the podcast, meaning that Mary Ann and Alex and Natasha and Grace teamed up with the fine audio and visual folks from our mothership Yahoo to not only record the show, but to do so in front of, well, all of you! It's fun to record live, and we'll do it again in two weeks! What did we get into? The following: Deals of the Week: HomeLister wants to make selling your home more of a DIY affair, and cheaper; Degreed's co-founder is coming back to the company he helped found, via a different company that he helped found; and can chat bots not suck in the future? Coalition: What happens when you cross a small venture capital fund, a large operator network, and shared upside? Coalition wants to find out . Layoffs: Backstage has cut its staff to the quick , while we saw smaller cuts at Substack this week in percentage terms. Both rounds of layoffs were launching points for questions, and discussion on the show. Robinhood: Will the company, beleaguered with a rock-bottom share price and slipping consumer mindshare, sell ? Equity is off Monday for the holiday, but back three times in the following four days. Chat then! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience developme
Wed, June 29, 2022
Understanding the not-so-fine print of 2022 term sheets
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: What’s in the fine print for term sheets these days, and what does that tell us about who is going to be in control during the downturn? The question was inspired by a recent story by Becca Szkutak - one of TC's newest venture reporters - about how deal terms look different in a downturn. Of course that means we had to bring on Szkutak to talk about her story and dig into a further analysis of how founder friendliness is being challenged right now. Expect a tactical episode all about different terms that may start sneaking into term sheets, the cost benefit analysis of each, and why down rounds aren't the end of the world. https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/21/deal-terms-look-different-in-a-downturn-heres-what-to-watch-out-for/ Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 27, 2022
Leverage, red flags, and a changing venture landscape
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, boldest and baddest technology news. This week we are not recording on a Tuesday as it's a regular week. Though we would add that Equity will be live on Thursday, when we record our Friday episode. So if you wanted to come hang, make sure that you are following the show on Twitter. Right, so what did we get into this morning? Stocks are generally up, major cryptos are not doing too much this morning, and a Coinbase downgrade caught our eye. Backstage Capital is laying off staff as it focuses on only investing into existing portfolio companies. With less capital than before going to Black founders , seeing a fund that focused on investing into underrepresented founders struggle is a bummer. The Strapi startup round was a fun one to look at, fusing open-source tech and CMSs, a tool that we use here at TechCrunch rather often. And then there is the mess at Digital World Acquisition Corp. , the SPAC that wants to merge with former American President Trump's digital media company. It's in trouble with regulators. The chaos did not start there, however. 3AC is in default ( like Russia !), the BlockFi rescue deal had internal pushback , Klarna may only be worth $10 billion , MilkRun loses lots of money , and we're learning more about how In
Fri, June 24, 2022
All this startup news, and we didn’t even talk about Juul
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Today Natasha and Alex were on the mics, kicking back and riffing through the biggest technology stories of the week. Our dear Mary Ann was off this week, but will be back in short order. What did we get into? A bevy of blistering bromides, naturally: Accel has a new $4 billion fund, focused on the late-stage, which is at once a pile of duckets and a fascinating timing for such a large capital vehicle. FalconX doubled its valuation in a new round , which was also a huge pile of money at an odd moment in time. Oh, and Suze Orman was also on the show today, in spirit and story. From there we noodled on the big changes at Brex, the latest in executive turnover, and why the metaverse actually had some good news this week? All in all it was a good time and we are back Monday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, June 22, 2022
Fintech's fever can't make up its mind
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: After a multi-year fundraising boom, what is the current health of the fintech startup market? The episode was inspired by a rigamarole of news, including but not limited to Klarna's potential valuation haircut , Apple's BNPL announcement , Brex's partial market retreat and Wealthsimple's staffing cuts . The other reason that we're chatting fintech is that after attracting a simply huge chunk of venture capital in the last few years has gone into the sector. And that means that so very many startups are in play when we discuss the fintech niche. This is not just a few unicorns, and decacorns, but a flat-out fleet of companies that are now stuck waiting for the venture capital market to reignite. With Affirm and Klarna showing just how far prices for fintech revenues have fallen, what's ahead? How worried should founders be? We dug into all that and more! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, June 21, 2022
The fintech funding market is not dead
Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, boldest and baddest technology news. This is our Monday show, coming to you this week on a Tuesday as, hey, yesterday was a holiday for many American workers, in honor of Juneteenth. So, we're doing our weekly kickoff one day later than usual. Here's what we got into: Stocks are higher globally, while the crypto market is somewhat quiet after a tumultuous few weeks. We're coming up on the end of Q2 2022, which means that we're at once heading into earnings season (woo!) and another venture capital data set to parse. Get excited. Musk has been busy around the world, helping keep Ukraine online , seeing his cars come under some censure in China , and still talking his way through buying twitter . In startup-land: LeadSquared raised a huge round , and is now a unicorn. Platform.sh raised a huge round , but we aren't sure what it is worth. And Stashfin also put a huge amount of capital and debt onto its own books . The fintech VC market is still alive, despite warning bells from, well, everywhere. Magic Eden just raised for an NFT marketplace , we note. ( Though prices are, yes, coming down .) That's our show! We're back tomorrow and Friday! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho
Fri, June 17, 2022
This feels like a SoftBank deal from 4 years ago
Equity is back in the saddle this week, with Mary Ann and Alex and Grace powering through a busy week's news. And while much of the news in startup-land is a bit lacking these days -- you may have noticed a sentiment shift on Twitter! -- we did find some good tidings as well. Here's the rundown: Sesame, which operates an online medical care marketplace, raised $27 million to help people without insurance or those with high deductibles get affordable health care. Interestingly, its lead investor also previously put money in another startup in the space. Marc Lore's food creation, and delivery startup Wonder raised a huge stack of cash . We had mixed views on this particular deal. On one hand, we hate cooking. On the other, will the economics ever work? Investors really seem to think so. We're now waiting for the service to launch where we live so we can give it a try. Startups may be in better shape than you thought! That's the take that Index's Mike Volpi wrote in a letter that TechCrunch published . Alex dug into the matter as well . There are even more positive signs out there if you look. The real estate sector has taken a hit as of late, which led to Redfin and Compass laying off hundreds of employees . Yet one other proptech startup managed to raise capital and acquire a company this week. And to close, the crypto mess. Here's some layoff news . And here are some new problems . Finally, an attempt to find some understanding of what's going on. And that is a wrap! We will chat you all next week! Equity drops every Monday at
Wed, June 15, 2022
We're entering an era of, um, creative accounting in startups
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex brought on TechCrunch reporter Haje Jan Kamps , who, prior to and in between his journalism careers, spent years as a founder and a venture capitalist. Together, the trio asked: How might companies use math in the coming months to make our lives harder, and complicate their finances, aka the truth? From the historical grievance folder , to more recent news from MainStreet , we had a lot of grist for the mill. But we had even bigger feelings about what's coming this year, and how important it will be to chase down the truth. And given our general view that numbers don't lie, we had strong opinions about how things should be counted, and disclosed. A big thank to Haje for coming out and bringing his multi-viewpoint perspective. Chat soon! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 13, 2022
Crisis! On the blockchain
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex and Grace are back to cover the biggest, best, and baddest technology news. We are back once again here with your weekly kickoff! Here’s what we got into: Stocks are down around the world, with nearly every major index that we checked falling 2% or more. Crypto prices are in the tank, with bitcoin and ether losing double-digit percentage points in the last day; the mess in crypto-land is deep this morning. Celcius network is falling apart , despite huge recent fundraises. Precisely what happens next is not clear, but it doesn't look good for the company, judging by its imploding token price. In better news, the Latin American startup scene re-upped its capital reserves right before the world went risk-off, implying that the region could be well capitalized heading into the rest of the year. The Coinbase CEO's Twitter rant after some of the company's employees expressed displeasure was notable, in tone, and also in terms of PR strategy. So, yeah, not the happiest show that we have ever recorded but one that matches the moment. As we stressed on the audio version, you are not your net worth. We will get through this. Finally, Equity is live this Thursday, so come hang on Hopin or Twitter Spaces! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 10, 2022
Looking back at the venture market of one year ago
The show is largely off this week, which means that we don't have our usual deluge of new startup news covered for you. But, we didn't want to leave you with nothing at all on this lovely Friday, so we went to the time machine to see what we could find. The episode in the feed today is the same episode we put out nearly exactly one year ago today (June 11, 2021) to give some flavor and context to what was going on a now a year past. The idea was that we've spent so much time talking about how 2022 is shaping up to be different than 2021, so why not go back and show the distinction? https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/11/the-huge-tam-of-fake-breaded-chicken-bits/ We hope you like our fun little experiment. The show returns to regular form Monday. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, June 08, 2022
The early signs of startup layoffs to come
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. As the team takes a break this week, we decided to replay an old yet prescient episode from earlier this week. In February, Natasha and Alex asked: What can startups learn from the rise, and now struggles, of Hopin? For companies that grew like weeds, what’s next? Hopin was one of the first tech companies to conduct layoffs in 2022 ; and as we said then , while it is is perhaps a very visible canary, it is hardly the only startup that rode COVID-19’s economic disruptions to new heights. Tell us how the episode aged, and if you're on team reckoning or team re-correction? The market is changing. And while Hopin grew rapidly in 2021, a host of companies that thrived during COVID-19 are now resetting both internal, and external expectations . New year, new market. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 03, 2022
Sheryl Sandberg, Substack and the art of still raising money for groceries
This was another live week from the Equity crew, meaning that the towering Mary Ann , the inimitable Natasha , and the somewhat fungible Alex were all chatting in real time, thanks to Grace and Julio having the script and tech in place to allow for it. And as we were live, we also wound up taking a little bit more time per story than usual, which was good fun. What did we get into? A lot: The end of an era: Sandberg steps down from Meta COO role. Deals of the Week: Affirm ties up with Stripe, Felt raises $15 million for maps, and Astro proves that quick grocery delivery is still a thing. A new fund is coming from an alum of Precursor Ventures, a firm that we have covered extensively on the podcast. The latest from Substack , a startup that we nearly all use, but wonder about from a valuations perspective. And we wrapped with notes from our recent spotlight on Columbus, Ohio ! Equity is mostly off next week, meaning no Monday show, and some pre-taped stuff the rest of the week. We're going to breathe, and come back recharged. Hugs, and chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, June 01, 2022
How investors are playing offense right now (their words, our two cents)
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, we're trying something new. Natasha spent a good chunk of last week at the All Raise VC summit, an annual off-the-record event that brings together some of the best and brightest in the investment community. After the summit, she sat down with Mandela SH Dixon -- All Raise's new CEO -- to unpack what happened, and discuss how today's changing venture capital market will impact diverse founders. The first half of this episode is a conversation between Natasha and Mandela, and then we'll bring on Alex and turn to some on-the-ground clips from the summit. Sound bytes from Freestyle's Jenny Lefcourt , January Ventures' Jennifer Neundorfer , Rethink Impact's Heidi Patel and Union Square Ventures' Rebecca Kaden will get the classic Equity treatment. Or, put differently, Alex and Natasha will react to top investors talking about their game plans for the next market cycle. It's fun! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, May 31, 2022
Faster ML models, crypto M&A, and what's ahead for on-demand pricing
It’s Monday, which means that Alex and Grace were back as a team to cover the biggest, boldest and baddest technology news. We are once again back with your weekly kickoff! Here’s what we got into: More on the potential M&A boom this week, in light of this recent CNBC piece that got my mind turning. Sure, this is kinda like the CVC story we've been tracking but a bit more focused. China's venture capital market is taking body-blows , albeit from recent highs. Still, it is more than easy to track the country's regulatory crackdown to falling venture capital activity. Strong Compute raised money , highlighting the fact that early-stage companies can still raise, and that there could be huge unlocks coming in ML model training. Which would be good for all of us. And is on-demand pricing on the way out? Things aren't looking good for the model that once challenged the incumbency of SaaS. Woo! Equity is live this Thursday, so come hang with us on Twitter Spaces or Hopin, yeah? Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 27, 2022
A ping-pong match between bulls and bears
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Happily we were once again at full strength this week, with Alex Wilhelm, Natasha Mascarenhas and Mary Ann Azevedo chatting, and Grace handling production. You can tell from the topic list today that we are in an odd time. There are myriad signals that the startup market is slowing down. And there are some counter-narrative data points that paint a more complex picture. Where do you stand in your own viewpoint? Well, read on for some data to consider: Natasha gave us a brief update on All Raise's annual VC summit, but she'll get into more on an upcoming Wednesday show (stay tuned!) Monte Carlo just raised a unicorn round , worth $135 million at a $1.6 billion valuation. On the other hand, Bolt is laying off staff amidst a correction in the larger startup market, and perhaps its own space. If startup news is pointing in two directions, so too are data from the venture capital world. While Sequoia is warning founders about a downturn , a16z just raised a king's ransom to pour into the web3 market. Parse that as you will. There were other bits of news to consider as we work to understand where the startup world truly is today, including news from Zip and Nowports -- two newly-minted unicorns that Mary Ann recently profiled. And we closed on, what else, drama in fintech. As Stripe and Plaid gear up to battle, Finix is either in the fray, or about to jump in, depending on your perspective. What's clear is that increasingly overlapping fintech giants are going to rub up against one another. You can read more about that in The Interchange , out on Sunday. Hugs from us to you, and we will talk to you next week! Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=
Wed, May 25, 2022
We think founders need a quick Heart to Heart about the market
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: How are early-stage founders thinking about this downturn? The inimitable Alex teamed up with her to interview Joshua Ogundu , the founder and CEO of Heart to Heart about this timely topic. The question comes after Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, "Everyone is drafting their own startup Black Swan memo." The column looked at a series of memos that venture capitalist firms sent to portfolio companies about the market downturn. Some were hopeful, some were simple, and others were a vibe check as straightforward as, Can you tell us your ARR and cash-burn in writing? Pretty please? To flip the script, as we do here on Equity, we're bringing in the founder perspective to fact check these memos and tell us what it's really like to be a founder. Ogundu told us what he's rethinking, the importance of honesty, and what to do before considering a layoff. It's not too often that we have guests on the show, so when we do, you know it's going to be a good one. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 23, 2022
Will falling tech valuations kick off a M&A boom?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. It's Monday, which means that Alex and Grace were back as a team to cover the biggest, boldest, and baddest technology news. We are once again back with your weekly kickoff! Here's what we got into: The stock market may not vomit all over itself today, which would be a nice break from recent weeks. Broadcom is working on buying VMware in what would prove to be a mega-deal. Shares of Broadcom are off on the news, while VMware stock is up sharply. The transaction would be worth tens and tens of billions of dollars, if consummated. Paytm earnings had lots to like , and some elements that were less salubrious. Shares of the Indian unicorn have recovered somewhat in recent days, but remains sharply depressed from its IPO price. In the startup world: BUD raised $36.8 million , SyIndr raised $12.6 million , and 1K Kirana put $25 million onto its balance sheet . And we closed out with the fact that there is no free lunch, even in the crypto world. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 20, 2022
A Twitter Bot Wrote This
The whole team was back together this week, which was pretty darn good as there was a lot to get through. Alex Wilhelm, Natasha Mascarenhas and Mary Ann Azevedo were on the mic, with Grace handling production. What did we get into? A better question might be what did we not get into: We started with an update from the TechCrunch Mobility event, thanks to Natasha who is on-site and up in the air. From there it was time to talk deals, with the crew parsing Arrived's latest round , and why Kolkata Chai took some external capital, but very much on its own terms. Then it was time to chat Zenly's new mapping news , and why startups are critical when it comes to taking on incumbents. From there we had to ask if Elon Musk really wants to buy Twitter (seemingly no?), and how tired we are about the topic itself. Then we chatted through the recent unicorn vibe check that the market got , and the fact that most unicorns are not true IPO candidates. (Along with news from SpotOn , and Unit!) And to close, we asked about the responsibilities of tech platforms in the wake of a number of mass shootings in the United States; where should our expectations for content moderation on platforms start, and end? Hugs from us to you, and we will talk to you Monday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, May 18, 2022
Is there hope for digital health startups post-Roe?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha asked: How do digital health startups build in a post-Roe world? The question comes after Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, "When your startup’s core mission is set to be overturned." The piece explores the ripple effects of the looming Roe v. Wade overturn, specifically in how it impacts startups. But, let's not hypothesize. We brought on Kiki Freedman , the CEO and co-founder of Hey Jane , to answer our big questions about building, raising, and existing when so much regulatory scrutiny is weighing on your business. A direct-to-consumer health company that specializes in the delivery of abortion pills, Hey Jane about to kick off its fundraising process which makes for an interesting tension. The startup - especially today - really sits in the middle of two intense moments: an overturn to Roe v. Wade would threaten all of its work, and a toughening, risk-averse VC market could be a hurdle toward next financing. Enjoy the show, and let us know if you like this interview format. Also, here's the Found interview that we referenced during the show as well! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 16, 2022
What's ahead for crypto startups?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. What was on our minds this morning? The following: Global markets are generally down, albeit nothing too terrifying. The American stock market is trying to regain its footing after weeks of selling. What's ahead for crypto startups in the wake of the Terra/Luna meltdown ? Bloomberg wonders about a general slowdown , and we look at the Crunchbase data of who backed the ill-fated stablecoin. Startup layoffs are accelerating -- not as bad as before, but enough to warrant our attention. Layoffs.FYI is back, y'all! The Topship round , invested in by Y Combinator and Flexport, has our recent look at CVC hitting just right . It was an awful weekend in America, which leaked into the show somewhat. Take care of one another. A few housekeeping notes before we go: This is not a live-show week, so Equity will simply come out on Wednesday and Friday mornings. And this week is our TC Sessions: Mobility event, which you can learn more about here . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 13, 2022
How close are we to understanding what's going on?
This week we recorded live, which is always good fun, meaning that we took some questions from the audience. If you want that version of the show, we have a YouTube archive of it here. For those of you more into audio, we have you covered here. Natasha , Alex , and Grace teamed up with Julio and Yashad to host the shindig, allowing us to cover the following: The end of iPod , a time to reflect on technology trends . The exit of a Modern Fertility co-founder , and the MARA round bringing more money to Africa's fintech scene . From there it was onto the Terra crash , Coinbase's earnings , and the general sentiment shift in the crypto scene. Next up was Tiger and the downturn in startup valuations . And we closed on some personal notes. All told we had a blast. Mary Ann is back with us next week! Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, May 11, 2022
Tech layoffs don't happen to companies, they happen to people
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: What does the most recent wave of layoffs mean for tech workers? The question comes after Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, "The Great Resignation, meet the Great Reset." In the piece, which included a round up of recent tech layoffs , she explored the idea of employee whiplash, and why this moment in pullback is different than what we saw in March 2020. The goal of the episode was to humanize the tech layoffs we've seen ripple across the startup ecosystem, from buzzy, big names like Cameo, On Deck and Robinhood, to B2B platforms like Workrise and Thrasio. As our piece last week notes , the common thread between most of these layoffs, according to founders, is that there’s been a shift in the market and a serious pivot in business is required. A pivot, that is, that hurts the employees that built your product up after high demand. Let us know how we did? If you or a friend has recently been laid off, tip Natasha Mascarenhas or Alex Wilhelm on Twitter @nmasc_ and @alex. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 09, 2022
The dominoes are falling
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. Happily once again we did not start the day by talking about Elon Musk and Twitter, though the news was not really very good: Stocks are down sharply around the world. And crypto prices, which track larger asset prices, are also sharply lower in the last day, and week. Uber's CEO told his company that things are changing. Adjusted EBITDA is out, FCF is in. Hiring? Going to slow. Capital expenses? Those will get harder looks, and so on. During the show, we asked about the slowdown, and how it may, or may not impact the bouyant crypto startup market. Neat funding rounds from Pyramid, which raised $120 million , and Paymob, which raised $50 million . We are recording live this weekend, so catch the show on Thursday as we record our Friday episode! Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 06, 2022
Stripe is playing checkers with Plaid
The crew was back at full-speed, and maybe even full excitement meets exhaustion, this week. Alex Wilhelm, Natasha Mascarenhas and Mary Ann Azevedo were on the mic with moral and edit support from the wonderful Grace. If we had to give this episode it's own autobiography we'd call it: "Drama, tech twitter and therapeutic moments in between." We got into a whole ton of news including: Musk's new best friends back his $44 billion bid for Twitter - and why one of them are probably experiencing deja vu. For deals of the week, Natasha spoke about Line's play for more inclusive fintech , Mary Ann got into Truist paying attention (and money) to a fintech startup and Alex took us to the music world with the latest on SoundCloud's thought bubbles. Then we talked about how digital health startups are bracing for a Post-Roe world , and which companies to pay attention to. (Insider tip: We're taking about this topic in more depth on Equity Wednesday, coming up next week!) Next up, how early can early stage investor go? Recent news from Backstage Capital includes a milestone and a pause - and has us scratching our heads on what other pivots we may see from investment firms. Finally, we ended with our favorite part of the show and spoke about the latest Stripe and Plaid drama . The two companies went from partners to competitors this week, and we talk about the tensions that result. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PDT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PDT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast ,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOm
Wed, May 04, 2022
Ok, this one is for the crypto-curious
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: What do the crypto-curious need to know to be more savvy about the space? Better than our question, though, was our company: we brought on Anita Ramaswamy and Lucas Matney, the minds behind TechCrunch's newest podcast Chain Reaction. The crypto-focused pod launched a few weeks ago and already has a lot of folks' attention. We highly recommend a listen, and maybe start with the one that will glow up your retirement savings strategy. Back to today, though, us four chatted through some of the largest questions that entrants into crypto may be thinking about, including untangling web3's complex jargon around decentralization to examine whether it really is different from what other tech companies are already doing. We also took a reporter's notebook lens to crypto coverage, asking if journalists need to be investors in order to report and understanding just how hard conflicts of interests can be to extract. Super light topics, you know us! https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/24/techcrunch-debuts-chain-reaction-a-new-podcast-about-the-wild-world-of-web3/ Thanks again to our favorite duo for joining us and don’t forget that Equity is very present on Twitter these days, so follow us there for other mid-week musings . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 02, 2022
How to failwhale the blockchain
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. Thankfully we did not start this episode by talking about Elon Musk and Twitter! You are welcome! Instead we started with bleak Chinese economic news , that segued into falling venture capital totals for a key startup sector in that country . It turns out that a massive regulatory crackdown will have in-market impacts! From there it was time to chat Yuga Labs and its recent minting chaos. Bloomberg has more . Then it was time to chat neobanks, in particular the recent rounds from Open ($50 million) and Cogni ($23 million). This is not a live show week, so Equity will simply come out on Friday as usual. That said, we do have a Twitter space scheduled for today with our own Kirsten Korosec, so follow us on Twitter and we will see you there. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 29, 2022
Does it smell like teen spirit, or teen bankruptcy?
This was a live week! Which meant that Mary Ann Azevedo was on the mic with Alex Wilhelm , and Grace Mendenhall, our ever-trusty producer, helped us power through. A big shoutout to Dennis, Julio, and Yashad for getting all the tech working well. Right, what did we dive into during our live taping? A lot! The latest from the Elon Musk-Twitter saga, including the social media company's earnings and how it is somewhat sensitive to market sentiment ; Musk won't have infinite room with which to maneuver once he owns Twitter. For rounds of the week, Mary Ann chatted through the recent Umaro raise -- who doesn't love talking about bacon? -- and Alex picked the latest from the self-driving front . From there it was time to talk layoffs at Robinhood and other companies, focused around how some companies that did well in the pandemic are now suffering from what could be described as at least a hangover. And we closed with notes on Copper and Step and the ethics of teens investing in crypto . Which led us to question putting crypto in your 401k . Views vary ! Equity is back Monday! Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc
Wed, April 27, 2022
Yes, we're talking about Elon
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha was out due to a family matter, so Alex and Amanda came together to chat through the larger Elon Musk-Twitter saga . Yes, the TechCrunch crew got together on Tuesday for a very long, fun, and relaxed Twitter Space when the news broke. However, instead of going back through all that audio to just pull out the key bits, we decided to focus ourselves down to the core elements of that team chat and produce something a bit tighter. Here's our question set: How much of an active participant will Elon really be? What does the deal mean for Twitter employees? What impact will the sale have on security, and algorithmic transparency? The free speech question What does the transaction mean for users? In case you need more, our coverage of locked code changes is here , more on the privacy question here , and our larger tick-tock can be read here . Ok, we are live on Thursday for the live show! Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 25, 2022
What will Elon actually do if he buys Twitter?
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. Stocks are down, and cryptos not looking too impressive as the world gears up for a packed week of mega-tech earnings. The Twitter-Elon Musk deal could happen soon ? As soon as today? It appears that after Musk dropped a filing indicating that he actually had the funds to buy the deal, talks shook loose. What's ahead? I have precisely and exactly no idea. Hopin is perhaps enduring some turbulence, per the FT . The company, once riding a torrid wave of market demand, is seeing its business molt into a more steady form. That meant layoffs earlier in the year, and a decline in its share price on secondary exchanges. Startups! From the startup-realm this morning, new rounds for Zenda and Rooser . Not Rooster, mind, just Rooser. And there's a general climate of fear out there, which won't do much for market sentiment. Alas, 2022 is not 2021 when it comes to investor excitement. And we have a live show coming this week! Get stoked, details to follow. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 22, 2022
If you could go to Andreessen Horowitz or YC as a startup, which would you choose?
This week was a good week because we had the full team back together. Natasha Mascarenhas was on hand, Mary Ann Azevedo was on the mic, and Alex Wilhelm was around as well. Grace, our ever-trusty producer and lead on the Friday show, was on the dials. As with nearly every week this year, we had to cut and cut to make the show fit into its allotted time. This is what we got into: Brief updates on SoftBank , Better.com, and Elon's quest to buy Twitter. On the deals front, we talked about Mary Ann's coverage of Kindred , the latest from the Indian crypto scene and Chipotle. Why Chipotle? Because it turns out that it is cooking up more than lunch! From there we dug into Natasha's coverage of the latest early-stage effort from a16z , and what it could mean for competition with Y Combinator, among other entities. The theme of large funds going earlier and earlier-stage will be with us forever, it seems. Shares of Netflix took a hammering this week . Why? Growth at the company is on hold, at least from a user perspective. We took the chance to chat about the pandemic's tailwinds tailing off. This impacts a host of startups, both big and small. From there we kept the cheery note afloat by talking about live audio apps and their future . There's some tremors afoot, even if everyone likes to talk. And with that we are back next week! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry
Wed, April 20, 2022
More money doesn’t mean more growth, and other startup myths
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, fresh off of a reunion that included pasta and green rooms, Natasha and Alex asked: What are some startup assumptions that get it wrong? The question comes after one of Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly column, "Let’s stop pretending there are silos in startup land." In the piece, which was teased out in her newsletter , she talked about how separations between late-stage and early-stage companies aren't as iron as investors may try to sell. Of course, that spiraled into an op-ed about what other startup notions we have, and the difference between a silo and a semblance of one. Here's an excerpt from the piece: You don’t need to be a web3 company to benefit from the growing mindshare around decentralization and alternative assets; just like you don’t need to be an angel investor to adopt the idea that your advice is worthy of equity in a company; and, as I’ve hopefully shown above, you don’t need to be a late-stage company to refocus on and prioritize profitability. Our podcast continues the conversation, getting into five specific myths that we're about ready to bust. I won't ruin what we specifically get into, but phrases like "Web 2.5" and "IPO pricing" and "poetry magazines" certainly make an appearance. It's the perfect episode for people starting out in tech, or folks who are in the mood to unlearn some of their assumptions. Don’t forget that Equity is very present on Twitter these days so follow us there for other mid-week musings . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 18, 2022
Are poison pills really that bitter?
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. We are sitting on the precipice of a very busy few weeks, so let's get right to work! Stocks are mixed around the world to start the day, cryptos are off a little more but nothing too scary. Didi will vote on leaving the US public markets this May , and has promised to not list anywhere else in the interim. This saga is nearly behind us, but what a mess it will leave in its wake. The Beanstalk exploit was bad news this weekend , but my hunch is that so long as votes are tied to economic might, many neat ideas in crypto-land will remain open to exploit. Zambian fintech startup Union54 raised a $12 million Seed extension , led by Tiger, that caught our eye. And over in India, food-delivery rivals Swiggy and Zomato are both backing UrbanPiper . Finally, it seems that some private-market investors are not stoked about poison pills, a defensive setup by public companies to prevent a hostile takeover. Which makes me laugh, as dual-class shares that many VCs either back, or at least help fund amongst hot startups are similar in that they are also designed to prevent changes of control. To close, we have a live show this week! Yes, a live show. So come hang out with us on Thursday as we record our Friday episode! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 15, 2022
‘The Ultimatum’ and social fintech have more in common than you’d think
This week was TechCrunch Early Stage, so Natasha and Alex got together - in person - to record the episode for the very first time. Shout out to Grace for somehow helping us figure out a tech set up in the middle of a sold out event. We started with a recap of TechCrunch Early Stage so far, but check out TechCrunch+ for posts about every single panel next week. Pro listener tip: use code "EQUITY" for a solid discount, for your TechCrunch+ subscription. Then we of course pivoted to Elon, who is still making news about his newest fixation Twitter. This time, we led with the fact that he's trying to buy the whole darn thing. Deel made news with an ARR number that actually had some weight behind it, which got us thinking more about remote work bets. We had to talk about Braid, a new social fintech startup that wants to make shared wallets easier. We got into crypto culture without the coins, and then it took a turn when we started getting into Love is Blind and The Ultimatum. Finally, we ended the show with SoftBank's latest pivot: a spin out of its early-stage LatAm fund into a new firm called Upload Ventures. And with that, we are back Monday morning. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, April 13, 2022
Venture needs crypto more than crypto needs venture
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, given a parade of headlines and news that Fast shut down, Natasha and Alex brought on our new senior TechCrunch+ reporter Jacquelyn Melinek to ask: How is ‘Web3’ blowing up venture’s traditional playbook? The question comes after Jacquelyn and Natasha looked into how crypto companies are altering the investing landscape for even the most disciplined VCs. Use code "EQUITY" for a sweet, sweet discount. Here's an excerpt from that post: The main difference between web3 cap tables and traditional startup cap tables is the structure of a company, because the way a C-corp would provide investors with equity would differ from the way a decentralized organization or DAO would, Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky said. Today, Celsius owns half of its CEL tokens and only sold investors tokens in its initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017 when the company first launched, he added. “We don’t need to give tokens anymore,” he said. “If you can raise money through equity, you want them as equity investors because they’ll stick with the company for a long time. Sometimes when you give tokens they sell them quickly because it’s like easy money, it’s not like equity.” In today's episode, we walked through fresh PitchBook data on crypto funding, a crash course in web3 vernacular, and what crypto cap tables are the loudest about. Don’t forget that TechCrunch Early Stage is happening this Thursday, so snag some last minute tickets here . Natasha and Alex will be there recording a live episode and hopefully meeting some listeners in real life! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 11, 2022
Did we learn anything from the Elon-Twitter brouhaha?
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. This week was big-tech heavy, as the startup market had a slow start to the week. Sign of the times or one day fluke? We'll see in time, I suppose. Here's what we got into on the show today: Stocks are down today, and cryptos are doing even worse in recent days. Elon Musk's flirtation with becoming a Twitter board member is over, the company said . Precisely why Musk backed out is not entirely clear, though the social media company's statement might hold some clues. Shopify is splitting its stock , and changing up its corporate governance structure; crypto volumes are tanking in India following a legal change -- and Coinbase is struggling in the country ; SailPoint is selling to private equity for $6.9 billion . Turning the clock back, the Ellevest round is very cool . And to close things out, NIO's production is on hold in China due to COVID issues . Such much for supply chain recovery. This week is TechCrunch: Early Stage, which is going to be good fun. See you there! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 08, 2022
Startups in 2022 are indeed ‘harder, Better, Faster, stronger’
This was our live show week! Yes, Mary Ann and Natasha and Alex got together with Grace for our Friday recording on Thursday, meaning that we gathered on Hopin and Twitter Spaces to yammer through the week's news. It was a very busy week, with breaking news up to the minute before we recorded -- including this piece from the Better.com saga . Square’s Better.com name Block is Butter-y smooth Failure is a choose-your-own adventure for startups Will rising interest rates decimate startup valuations? Is today's market sad or sane? So! What did we get into? A lot: How Conceive is helping people manage the matter of infertility, Cottage raising $15 million to make ADUs more common, and how Tandem is taking on the hybrid work future . Next up was Austin, Mary Ann's home turf. We held an event there this week that we touched on, but the main thrust of our chat circled around this piece . From there it was time for the bad news -- including layoffs at Workrise , Better.com , and the implosion of Fast . The startup market is changing, and not every company is going to make it out the other end of 2022 it appears. And we closed out with our take on all things Elon and Twitter, including this three views piece and why it's hard to build a single-person social network . And with th
Wed, April 06, 2022
Failure is a choose-your-own adventure for startups
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, given a parade of headlines and news that Fast shut down, Natasha and Alex asked: What are we missing when we talk about startup failure? The question comes after one of Natasha’s recent Startups Weekly columns, where she looked into the complexity of startup failure , fallacy of takedown stories, and importance of diversity in newsrooms. Here's an excerpt: "There’s the argument that startup tensions are inevitable and common, so should we spotlight every time something bubbles to the surface, especially at the cost of an underrepresented founder who may just be doing their best? There’s also an argument that the business is messy, so we should report on the issues as we hear about them; and there’s the narrative of the female takedown story, in which people believe that women are targeted by the press more than men due to unreasonably high standards." In today's episode we discussed our own definitions of failure past Theranos and WeWork, current examples of rising tensions, and what this means for early-stage startups and historically overlooked founders. There's been more layoffs recently, some notable valuation cuts, and the implosion of Fast to weigh against 2021's strident startup optimism. That makes this the perfect time to dig into the topic of failure, and how to cover it from a startup perspective. Finally, as promised, here's a look at our artsy depictions of the startup failure cycle: https://twitter.com/nmasc\_/status/1511365442249580548 Don't forget that Equity is live this Thursday, and you can you come hang out with us on Hopin (free, and you can ask questions) or Twitter Spaces (free, but you cannot ask questions) if you'd like! See you then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 04, 2022
Equity Monday: Elon's Twitter stake and the fate of rival social networks
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. After last weeks super startup-heavy show, we were back to our regular Monday grab-bag of news! Here's what we got into: A strong start to the week from global stocks, and a general updraft to crypto prices in recent days. Elon Musk buying a huge stake in Twitter , the popular American social network. The move comes after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO tweeted that Twitter was not allowing enough free discourse. Naturally we look forward to yet another idealist learning about content moderation , but we're also tracking Twitter rivals, making the situation both complex, and entertaining. PrimeBlock is going public via a SPAC! The deck hadn't dropped in time for the show, but the initial release is here . From the rest: Tesla deliveries were hot , lemon.markets raised $17 million , and Jumia is working with UPS . Equity is live this week, so swing by to hang out if you want to this Thursday . Else we are back on a regular cadence! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 01, 2022
Instacart now delivers market trends
Welcome to our Friday show! Our regular co-host Natasha was off this time, so Mary Ann and Alex linked arms with our producer Grace to blast our way through the news of the week. As always, we had to pick and choose what seemed to matter the most. Here's what we got into: All Things Y Combinator: Here's our first set of favs , and our second . Here's a rundown of fintech companies from the batch , and our look at the Indian participants , and those hailing from Africa . Instacart as trendsetter: The well-known grocery delivery company has lowered the price at which it will value employee equity comp, something that could become a trend . It seems so, with Instacart leading a potential vanguard of similar actions from other companies in time. Also we're thinking about how startup valuations could regain their shine . Gaming: With the huge Axie Infinity hack making headlines , we talked about the matter and how other startups are tinkering with the play-to-earn market . And we closed with the topic of social networks , what Elon Musk is up to , and how Facebook managed to confirm everyone's suspicions about its ethics . Whew! What a week, y'all. Chat Monday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the
Wed, March 30, 2022
Demo days definitely amplify a brand, but not the one you'd think
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, in light of Y Combinator's bi-annual demo day, Natasha and Alex asked about the utility of the parade of pitches. Our big question: Are demo days outdated? The question comes after Natasha’s latest Startups Weekly column, where she looked into the trend of everyone constantly trying to re-invent startup accelerators . We've seen everything from in-person events, to virtual pitch-a-thons, to record efforts, and more. Name it, it's been tried. Today's show is a continuation of that conversation, specifically digging into how demo days served founders in the past, and how they amplify in the present. There's a good bit of factors that jolted things up, including the proliferation of accelerators, a boom in pre-seed funding and the pandemic forcing programming to go remote . We also ask for whom are demo days really for? Listen in to hear what we landed on, disagreed with and picked for founders to focus on today. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 28, 2022
Gearing up for demo day
Every Monday, Grace and Alex and Kell scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. This week had a theme. Which was startups. Lots and lots of startups. Here’s the rundown: Markets are mixed this morning, with strong crypto trading results and big news from Tesla . The weekend’s leading conversation in the tech and startup world was about this analysis regarding crypto upstarts not giving out board seats to investors. Call it peak founder-friendliness? It’s also a huge risk, as investors have taken board seats for a reason, historically. All the same, you gotta win those deals. Y Combinator Demo Day is this week: We are going to see hundreds of startups make their pitch in rapid-fire fashion. Sure, many will have already raised capital, but the capitalist confab is still worth watching. I am looking for API-led startups and any hints about where DAOs are heading, personally. Zepto raised , which TechCrunch covered here, and I had a few thoughts about. The big tech landscape is quiet this week thus far, which means we can focus in on startups. See you at demo day tomorrow! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 25, 2022
It's a fintech world, and we're just living in it
It was a live recording this week, which was good fun. Our co-host Natasha was off, so Mary Ann and Alex teamed up with Grace to hammer our way through the news of the week live, with friends on Hopin, Twitter Spaces, and other locations on deck to hang out and ask questions. Down a co-host or not, we tackled a whole slew of topics, including: Katie Haun's new mega crypto fund , and why the blockchain world seems to be so capital hungry. The simply bonkers pace at which Jeeves, a fintech startup, has accreted value in successive funding rounds. Ramp's latest round brought up the question of fintech vs. the world, and how startup commentary can at times miss the mark slightly. From there we pivoted to CEO changes at Kickstarter ( here ) and Cityblock Health ( here ). The changes were a jumping off point to the never-ending question of when startups should think about replacing their founders as CEOs. And we closed with a look at Forge's neat SPAC launch , and what its positive debut could mean for unicorns more generally. Also you can snag Mary Ann's fintech newsletter here , which is going to launch in short order. Get hype! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 23, 2022
The $2B dollar baby
We had an illness on the team, so instead of recording our usual Wednesday deep-dive, we reached into our recent archives and pulled the audio from a Twitter space we did the other week. In short, it's a Friday-style episode covering a host of topics, but just a little bit late, and on a different day. The Equity team -- Natasha , Mary Ann , Maggie , Grace , and Alex -- were not about to cut back on feeding you the latest and greatest from the startup world. (Oh, and we have a live show on Thursday , see you there!) What did we talk about? The following: Venture capital rounds for WorkWhile ( $13 million ) and Alloy Automation ( $20 million ). Mary Ann's reporting on Forage , focused around where its founders worked before building the fintech startup. Hint: Grocery delivery. Then we dug into the changes at Clearco , and what happens when founder dynamics shift. And we used the story to chat a bit about how the growth focus amongst young tech companies is changing. It was a very good time. Back soon, so chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 21, 2022
When is an accelerator not an accelerator?
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. Markets! The stock market is a bit up and down around the world, but nothing to cause too much concern. Crypto is neutral as well, but with some gains made in the last week. Big news! Anaplan is selling to PE for more than $10 billion . Notably the deal is not cheap, which means that we're seeing private equity get its checkbook out as software company prices come down and become, well, targets. Unicorns! FTX is heading to Australia , more indication that some crypto trading platforms are going to every market that they can. What will happen to smaller crypto platforms? And when does that consolidation land? Startups! Powered by People raises $5 million , CommerceIQ raises $115 million , and Sequoia debuts Arc, which is a non-accelerator accelerator . Our live show is this week! Which means you can come hang out while we record our Friday episode on Thursday. Snag a free ticket here , or tune in on Twitter spaces! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 18, 2022
Series B is the attention-seeking middle child of financing rounds
This week our comrade Mary Ann was off, so Natasha and Alex teamed up with Grace on the dials to chat through the week's biggest news. Here's what our dynamic got into: Webflow's new round: Nine-figures of capital at a revenue multiple north of 40x? What is this, 2021? Nope, just the latest capital infusion for the no-code website company. All Raise's new CEO : The work of diversifying the venture capital market is far from over, and one group working to move the needle not only has plans to change the industry -- but also her own team. Funds: Natasha's coverage of fund-of-funds fit into news that SoftBank is turning one if its funds into an evergreen-vehicle , and Alex chatted through the numbers about Series A, B, and C rounds in the United States . Funds are maturing, experimenting and evolving into interesting vehicles. Maybe it's time we start covering them more on the show again (and check out our latest Wednesday episode for a Tiger Global-themed chat ) What to know about China: From crashing stock prices to rocketing stock prices , it's been a week for Chinese equities. And startups appear increasingly caught in the crossfire . And then, crypto: From news about a hot new crypto deal to NFTs coming to Instagram , it feels impossible to avoid the blockchain world these days . We are back next week with our full team, and a live show. So, chat you Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday live! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pick
Wed, March 16, 2022
If Tiger Global shows up, will there be new stripes in early-stage?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: Will Tiger's second act live up to its first? The question comes after Natasha's latest Startups Weekly column, where she looked into one example of how Tiger Global's stamp of approval is coming for the early stage. Today's conversation is a continuation of that topic, but broadened with examples, context, and of course, some jokes as well. Before digging into the question, we walked through some historical venture shakeups, looking specifically at Andreessen Horowitz, SoftBank and ultimately Tiger Global's own jolt to the startup ecosystem. Remember when we weren't numb to mega-funds, and due diligence was contrarian? Then we get into why Tiger is turning to invest in early-stage companies, now of all times (hack: listen to our episode on market re-correction for some background ). We spoke about Tiger cutting a new check into AngelList, and the resulting window it gets. A new-ish AngelList fund has hella Tiger vibes , notably. There's also a conversation to be had about how Tiger's late-stage playbook scales to the early-stage, which made us talk about due diligence, ownership, and fund structures. And speaking of evergreen funds, here's an evergreen reminder to take advantage of code “EQUITY” when subscribing to TechCrunch+ for a hefty discount, and gratitude from your favorite trio of tech nerds. We somehow fit YC in too, because why not. All told the 2022 venture capital market is shaping up to be a very different beast than what we saw in 2021, and not only because Tiger is changing up its own posture. What we saw last year might prove a high-water mark for venture for a long time to come. So, stay tuned. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 14, 2022
The inevitable codification of Silicon Valley's relationships
This week, Natasha is running the show, which means we're returning to our private market focus and, for the fun of it, reminding you all that Pete Davidson is getting high soon. This is going to be a busy week for the team, so expect our sassiness to only increase as the days roll forward. Here's what I got into today: Markets have mixed feelings, thanks to the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, supply chain delays, inflation, and all around high tensions. This includes crypto, mind you. Instead of big tech, I talked about a big idea: Everyone is launching a fund to fund other funds, which is a reminder just how much relationships in VC have changed (and how much the appetite for emerging fund managers is growing). Experiments aren't just fun, they could bring big returns. I got into two top of mind deals: Sayso, which wants to change your accent , and Moove, which wants to bring car ownership from luxury to reality across the entire continent of Africa. And of course we have to end with the fact that it is Mary Ann's birthday, so follow her on Twitter but definitely don't e-mail her. We are so thankful to have you as part of the show, and a go-to friend for all things fintech and existential. You can find me on Twitter @nmasc_ and the show @equitypod. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 11, 2022
SPAC is a four-letter word again
This was saw Equity back on the live-taping game, with Mary Ann , Natasha , and Alex gathering with Grace and the TechCrunch video team (shoutout Julio and Yashad!) to chat through the week's news. Naturally we had to cut like all hell, but we had a simply terrific time traipsing through the following items: AngelList Ventures raising a $100 million round , and what the deal seems to mean. Mara snagging $6 million for a business that had us all hype , and the Public-Otis tie-up from earlier in the week were also on the docket. Then we worked through the history of the Better.com rolling fiasco, which took a fresh turn through well-trod ground this week by messing up layoffs . Can Better.com get better at being a dotcom? We wrote up a whole thread of what went down on our Twitter . Then we nattered on the recent Acorns and Kin Insurance rounds , following what happens when a company decides that a SPAC is no longer the proper fit for its fundraising and exit plans. Alex has more here. It reminded us of our recent Wednesday episode, when we asked if fintech is playing offense or defense these days. And we closed on a grip of news from Africa, where startups are raising more money , more quickly , and taking part in more accelerators than ever before. Make sure you follow Tage Kene-Okafor and Annie Njanja for fresh reporting on startups across the continent. We do live tapings every two weeks, so come to the next one! This time, we gave away a SXSW ticket, next time, who knows!
Wed, March 09, 2022
You can't buy a community, so make it worth it
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex connected a slew of seemingly-unrelated news items to answer a big question: How do we balance community and capitalism? The original question we sought to explore was "can you buy a community?" The answer to that question, after further exploration, felt obvious enough: no, so no what? Combining Epic Games' recent acquisition of Bandcamp , Commsor's latest raise , and Lolita Taub's new venture firm, community has a set of sharper standards around it. And nobody wants to let the buzzword go unchecked. Evergreen reminder to take advantage of code “EQUITY” when subscribing to TechCrunch+ for a hefty discount, and gratitude from your favorite trio of tech nerds. We're really enjoying using our Wednesday show to chat through trends and major topics. Tweet us with things you want us to hit on, if you have a particular bee in your bonnet! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 07, 2022
Is the AR and VR market only for trillion dollar companies?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. As before, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was top of mind, but lots of other things were going on so we had more than plenty to yammer about: The global stock market is taking more body-blows in the wake of rising oil prices and geopolitical instability. EA and Epic are pulling titles from Russia , as other companies have made similar moves; the tech industry has made its stance clear that doing business in Russia is off-limits for some time. FTX is moving into Europe , which struck me as big news, while Klarna reported earnings (more to come on that front). Circular.io raised $10 million for tech talent recruiting , and Founders Fund put together $5 billion for new funds . Closing out, there's an Apple event tomorrow! So, yeah, it's busy out there. Our live show is this Thursday, mind, and if you want to hang out with us while we record, head here to get a free ticket . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 04, 2022
As Equity turns five, we send our dear friend Chris Gates onto his next adventure
Since the birth of Equity in mid-March of 2017, Chris Gates has been part of the team. Indeed, he helped found the show, and over the next half-decade produced and edited hundreds of episodes. He was, in short, a pillar of the team, and a key driver of how show operated day to day. Which is to say that he brought kindness, and warmth, and care to our work. As one of our colleagues put it, TechCrunch's podcast history can't be written without his name as a huge part of it. Sadly for the Equity team, but equally good news for his new employer, Chris's last day was last Friday. So we gathered to record a special episode of sorts. Natasha , Alex , and Chris sat down and played back a number of clips from the show, including our first-every episode, the first time that Natasha was on the podcast. That sort of thing. And we said some nice things about Chris at the same time. Technically Equity's birthday isn't for a week or two, but we decided to hybridize our look-back with Chris's exit. After all, we're an earnest team that needed a minute (or 30) to sit and be earnest. If you are an Equity listener, don't worry too much. We still have Grace Mendenhall on the production team, so we are in good hands. And we've added Maggie Stamets in recent weeks as well, who has been doing an ace job thus far helping us write and record. Finally, Kell is helping edit our babble down into usable content. So as with prior Equity exits -- Matthew Lynley , Katie Roof , Connie Loizos , Kate Clark , Danny Crichton -- we are hugging it out, and getting back to work. More to come! We're not going anywhere! But we will miss Chris. A lot. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, March 02, 2022
Fintech TAM explained by dating apps
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex brought on Mary Ann for a special fintech episode, perhaps our spiciest of the year so far. We asked: Are fintech startups playing offense or defense today? To start, we spoke about Ramp and Pipe's latest moves ( here , here ), which include moving into the travel space and branching out into media and entertainment, respectively, and how they reflect the broader fintech competitive landscape. We even played out a scenario in which we decide if two of the buzziest fintechs will ever compete with each other. (Answer: Yes.) Before you go, make sure you subscribe to Mary Ann's new fintech newsletter and check out her recent TechCrunch+ investor survey from top investors in this noisy sector. Evergreen reminder to take advantage of code "EQUITY" when subscribing to TechCrunch+ for a hefty discount, and gratitude from your favorite trio of tech nerds. Equity drops every Monday at 7:00 a.m. PST, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 a.m. PST, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 28, 2022
Equity Monday: Fintech consolidation could be picking up
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. This weekend was yet another that was full of news from Ukraine, which meant that the tech market was slightly quieter than usual. But not so quiet that we didn't have lots to chat about, so here's the latest: The Russian startup market isn't huge -- data here -- but when we consider the number of startups in Ukraine as well , the impact of Russia's war and the world's sanctions will bite. Russia is also tangling with American tech giants, which isn't going well. Over the weekend, the American Republican Party bashed large American tech companies . Gone are the days when the GOP was a reliable simp for corporate power. Today it's more fashionable to pump SPACs like TMTG, or Rumble. Weee! raised a huge sum from the second Vision Fund , we report, and OneCard is set to raise a massive round in short order , despite how recently it announced its preceding round. (Oh, and this looks very neat .) And Zip is buying Sezzle, in more BNPL market consolidation. A sign of the times, we decide. That is our show! Lots more to come this week, so get ready! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thu, February 24, 2022
Equity Live: A short note about the ongoing situation in Ukraine
Today we gathered to do our live show, something that was scheduled a long time ago. Obviously, the world's condition has changed since. So, we sat down and tore up our notes doc and put most of the show on hold. What we wound up recording was short, and frankly a little bit raw and from the gut. But it just didn't feel right for us to sit and chit chat about funding rounds and executive shuffles when Russia is busy invading a democracy under false pretenses. TechCrunch has some notes on the situation for the tech world in Ukraine, which is worth a read . That's it from us. Equity will return in short order when we have our heads on straight. Hugs, and godspeed. Equity drops every Monday at 7:00 a.m. PST, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 a.m. PST, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 23, 2022
Recruit, retain, resign, re-skill, repeat
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: How has the great resignation changed the way startups hire? The conversation started with defining the Great Resignation and sharing numbers to back the sentiment that everyone can't stop talking about. As always, the flowed to naturally care more about the employees within startups, and their feelings, than employers and the power they've traditionally sat atop. To check our 'what about VC' box, we talked through what startups are facing today in terms of a labor market, how it has changed, and how they might be able to compete with big-tech's big dollars. After all, is any company going to be able to beat Meta on comp? Probably not. Alex thinks VCs are the new recruiters, which will help startups some. From the other angle -- putting labor in our remit and not capital, for once -- Natasha wants to ditch her 9-5 to represent Shopify employees, it seems. We won't let her, naturally. Closing, it appears that the forces driving more venture capital into early-stage companies are not too far from the causes of the labor shortage. Everyone is looking for return, either on their labor, or their capital. And that means a tight hiring market, and picky workers. https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/19/arlan-hamilton-wants-to-reroute-how-startups-hire/ Equity drops every Monday at 7:00 a.m. PST, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 a.m. PST, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, February 22, 2022
Equity Monday: Tensions go up, stocks go down
Every Monday, or Tuesday, Grace and Alex scour the news and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. We are a day late here thanks to the American holiday, which means that it's going to be a short week -- here at least. But that doesn't mean that things are slow. In fact, the opposite: Russian military aggression in Ukraine is hammering the global stock market, although not everywhere it's worth noting. Crypto prices are also flat to down, generally. Most crypto tokens are off sharply in the last week. SoFi is buying Technisys for $1.1 billion. The deal isn't receiving rave reviews from Wall Street, but for the consumer fintech the concept of bringing its own infra in-house does make pretty good sense. TRUTH Social launched, and struggled to handle early demand. Which is funny given how long it took to build. TechCrunch has more here . FTX.us wants to bring crypto to a game near you. The Verge has the key quote here , I will not, but it failed to lift my general skepticism. And we have so much more here, regarding startups. It's going to be a busy, hectic week. And one full of stress, given the state of the world. So, no rest! More coffee! We can do this! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, February 19, 2022
Will rising interest rates decimate startup valuations?
This is Saturday, which means it's not a usual day for us to drop an episode. But what are we if not try-hards at heart? So, we're back today. What do we have on store for you? I brought Anshu Sharma onto the podcast -- and a Twitter space, so make sure you are following the podcast, yeah? -- to chat interest rates, technology growth, startup valuations, and how they all tie together. Sharma was the right person to have on the show because he's been a big tech employee (Oracle, Salesforce), an investor (Storm Ventures, and as an angel), and he's a founder to boot. So he's been around not just the block, but several in the world of technology over time. TechCrunch has covered SkyFlow , his startup, a few times including its most recent fundraise . https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/16/welcome-to-the-post-pandemic-economy-startups/ Sharma finds some of the in-market worry about rising rates harming tech stocks silly. His thesis boils down to the value of growth on a longer time-horizon than what a DCF-tuned spreadsheet might tell you. That said, rising rates will impact some startup inputs, like venture funds in the medium-term, so there was a lot to chew on. We try to keep Equity pretty high-level, and focused on discrete events. But why have a show if you can't use it to scratch your own itches from time to time? The pod is back on Tuesday due to an American holiday this Monday. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 18, 2022
Do you want your paycheck in crypto?
This week, Natasha and Alex and Mary Ann got together with Chris and Grace to rock our regular Friday news roundup. This time, however, with extra zip as we're staring down a long weekend that, let's be clear, everyone needs. Regardless, here's the show rundown: Don't call us your metamate, friend . Startups news of the week: Ro raises even more , Airbase partners with Amex , and Deel wants to give employers a way to fund their payroll in crypto, no matter where their employees are based . The crypto regulatory world is heating up, with news from both India and the United States to chew on. Our read is that some regulation is good, but not every loss can be spun as a win. We also took a look at the mental health market for people of color through the lens of MindFi in the APAC region, and She Matters here in the United States . We had some startup-style questions, but are generally bullish about the companies. And we closed with the cannabis market of both Germany , and the United States . Alex and Natasha are bullish on, well, all of it while Mary Ann nurses a hemp allergy. Woot! We're off Monday, but back Tuesday. Hugs! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho
Wed, February 16, 2022
It's a boom! It's a bubble? It's a correction.
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex asked: What can startups learn from the rise, and now struggles, of Hopin? For companies that grew like weed, what’s next? In the show, we talked through Hopin's meteoric rise and why we called them the fastest growth story of the era, comparable or better than what Slack and other well-known growth stories managed during their own ascent. However, with Hopin now cutting staff after raising mountains of cash and buying a half-dozen smaller companies, it's clear that hyper-scaling has limits. The economy is changing, again, which is also going to shake up which startups have tailwinds, and which have headwinds. Just like it did before. Hopin is perhaps a very visible canary, but it is hardly the only startup that rode COVID-19's economic disruptions to new heights, which means it won't be the only company left to navigate a changed world when the winds shift. https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/12/its-not-a-startup-reckoning-its-a-recorrection/ Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 14, 2022
Equity Monday: Welcome to crypto game day
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news, and record notes on what’s going on to kick off the week. Today we had were reeling in the wake of the American football championship, and the fact that is once again snowing where Alex lives. Alas. But snow or not, the news was fascinating: We chewed on the Just Eat delisting situation , which appears to be a cost-cutting move. Delivery Hero is also struggling , and the value of Deliveroo is in the toilet. So it's not clear that European food delivery will wind up being the business that many expected it to be. What about in America? We get DoorDash earnings in due time, so we'll learn more but the news doesn't augur well. And shares of Splunk are set to rise sharply this morning in the wake of late Friday news that Cisco is interested in buying Splunk for around $20 billion . Normally such a deal wouldn't excite us much as Splunk hasn't been a startup for a long time, but the deal possibility does say that anti-trust concerns aren't stopping some major firms from pursuing big deals. From the startup world, two rounds: $20 million for Gaia , which Alex thinks has a brilliant idea, and TripleDot, which raised $116 million for its causal games . Don't sleep on the gaming market. It's just flat huge. And to close we yammered about crypto ads in the football game, which were expensive, but appear to be having a nice effect for the companies in question. More soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 11, 2022
How much is a pitch deck really worth?
We had the full crew aboard today for our live taping, headed by our killer production team Grace and Chris , and hosting crew Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex . Overall, it was a success? Our streaming tech took us to various Internet platforms, and people came to Hopin and asked questions. Thank you! It's always a risk to do something new, so thank you for making it a win. But enough of all that, what did we talk about? Here's the rundown: Funding rounds from Mos (edtech + fintech), Alchemy (blockchain infra), and Cooks Venture (patented chickens). The last round got the most attention during the recording, leading to questions about the ethics of eating meat. Peloton's news , and the pandemic effect on companies was up next. Or more specifically, the changing impact of the pandemic on companies. Peloton is suffering in the pandemic's wake (although some argue that is due more to mismanagement than the pandemic), but other companies are coming out of the dip in reasonable form . From there we dug into the ethics of venture capitalists having side hustles as consultants. Our read is that the setup is possible to be done ethically, and as the investing market grow a cohort of check-writers with smaller AUMs, some additional work to pay the bills can be unavoidable. The drama was illustrative, if more rude than it needed to be. And we closed with insurtech. After insurtech stocks got hammered , there's some optimism that better days are up ahead . Whew! We're back with another live show in two weeks. Until then, we're back to normal! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, February 09, 2022
Crawling toward the metaverse
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex crawled through the Metaverse, leaning on Facebook's latest earnings and Microsoft's newest appetite as somewhat of a map. Our question, after much thinking, gets into the heart of what the Metaverse is built for: Will the metaverse be for work, or for play? We’re not picking sides, necessarily, but exploring how two companies within Big Tech are staking bets in the digital world, and how we think those bets will shake out long term for them and the startups that look up to them. Facebook seems to be taking a work-styled approach, Microsoft is big in games, and startups are trying a host of different methods for building our digital next. Who is right? Who will win? And how will we get here? That's what we wanted to dive into. The Satya Nadella interview that we mentioned is here , as well as Natasha's piece on virtual HQs. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 07, 2022
Equity Monday: How many times must Spotify step on a rake?
Every Monday, Grace and Alex scour the news, and record notes on what's going on to kick off the week. Today we had a fun mix of news, and things that made us laugh. The Spotify-Rogan situation continued as last week ended, with more episodes of the show coming down. More apologies. And more of Spotify trying to straddle the difference between platform and publisher, while hoping to reap the rewards of both while not fully owning up to the responsibility. Wag is going public , and my body is ready. From the funding round front, we had quick notes on Swing, which raised a $24 million Series B , and Reliance Health, which raised a $40 million Series B . And to close us out, an analogy about Facebook through the lens of Alphabet's Other Bets line item. Lots of Equity is coming this week, including our first live show of the year . It's free and you can come hang out, watch us flub, and ask questions! See you Thursday ! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, February 05, 2022
Making sense of the Paypal and Alphabet earnings
Hello and happy weekend from the Equity crew! We had a busy week, including a Twitter Space with Natasha and Alex taking to the mics to dig into some tasty public-market news. Naturally our show is more startup-focused than public-market centered. But! We can learn a lot from the world of public companies that have a wide footprint inside particular tech niches that matter for younger companies. So when we digest PayPal's results and what investors did to its value this week , we are not super interested in PayPal per se, but more what its results can tell us about the fintech world more generally. After all, around a fifth of all venture capital dollars invested last year went to fintech startups. And Alphabet, it has deep ties to the public cloud space , and the advertising market, both places where startups live and play. https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/31/come-hang-with-us-for-live-recordings-of-techcrunch-podcasts-equity-and-found/ We do the occasional live taping on Twitter, so make sure you are following us on the Big Blue Bird App . Hugs! We are back Monday morning! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, February 04, 2022
Taxing crypto only makes it stronger
We had the full crew aboard today, headed by our killer production team Grace and Chris , and hosting crew Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex . Last week we promised Cute Farming Robots, and this week we delivered, along with a lot more. But first, the Equity team along with our sister podcast Found are doing live recordings starting soon. You can find out more here, but Equity will be live-taped on Hopin next Thursday. Come hang out, it should be fun! https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/31/come-hang-with-us-for-live-recordings-of-techcrunch-podcasts-equity-and-found/ Now, the show rundown: Funding rounds from Pluto (corporate spend in the Middle East), Free Agency (agents for tech talent), and Metafy (video game coaching) got us started. From a host of rounds this week, we chose the most interesting for your delectation. If you want more on gaming, check out our Wednesday show where we niche down into the universe, or in this case, the metaverse. The new Seven Seven Six fund got us into the crypto investing beat, which Alex explored here earlier in the week . In short: Expect more crypto deals. We also touched on the Indian crypto tax rule , which is a revelation of a regulation. From there we dove into the fintech realm through the lens of the Bolt fiasco/drama/truth-telling saga . More tweets, please. And then, we end with a section on autonomous vehicles, that has nothing to do with cars. Yep, we're talkinig Cute Farming Robots, including rounds
Wed, February 02, 2022
F*ck creator funds, we need a creator index fund
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex brought on the Most Online™ reporter at TechCrunch, Amanda Silberling to talk about one of her recent pieces, "maybe creator funds are bad." The column, mixed with the recent saga between Spotify and Joe Rogan, helped us ask a bigger question for this week's episode: What makes a platform economically viable for creators? It's no small question. Creators are a key plank in every platform's success, from TikTok to YouTube to Instagram to, well, wherever you watch or listen to stuff made outside of major studios. But the financial relationship between platform and provider -- creator, in other words -- is often fraught and broken. Creator funds are some proposed fix to the situation, but we find the to be more band-aid than holistic solution. Rev splits are good, and seemingly more sustainable, but with YouTube's ad load reaching truly epic proportions, they may not be a fix-all. So we sat down to chew the fat and try to work towards a solution. Which we mostly did, except for Alex, who decided that a return to feudalism is the only way forward. We're back Friday! Talk soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 31, 2022
Equity Monday: If you don't want to be criticized for your editorial choices, don't make editorial choices
This Monday show actually felt a bit old-school, in that the weekend controversy in tech has spilled over into the working morning, meaning that we need to talk about it. But first, markets: After the somewhat punishing start to last week, today's trading is somewhat more staid. Global equities are moving, but nothing suicidal, and cryptos are off a bit in the last 24 hours, but up in the last seven days. Naturally, given what has happened in recent trading sessions, all that could change in a moment but at least we're starting in un-choppy waters. The Joe Rogan furor continued. After several musicians decided to take their music off the service in protest of Spotify's decision to pay for material that those artists viewed as undercutting public health, Spotify made some of its rules public and said that it will append COVID-19 notes to podcasts that discuss the pandemic. We talk about why. In startup-land, FTX has raised another huge round , TCV is putting more late-stage money into early-stage rounds , and Bamboo raised . Closing out, changes are afoot in China's venture capital market . So yes, there's going to be a lot of Twitter drama this week. But don't worry! You can compensate for that by hating on people posting Wordle scores, as that appears to be the latest way to lose friends online. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 28, 2022
Membership, mentorship or just messy
What did we get into? Well, a host of pretty awesome stuff, even if we had to leave Cute Farming Robots in the tank for another few days: We had funding rounds from Anyplace , which is building a way to make the digital nomad life work in a WFH world, notes on Frost Giant's Series A, which Alex really needs to finish writing up, and Parthean , which Natasha covered and did a great job explaining. Here's to better financial literacy in general. We need it. Then we chatted through what Mark Cuban is doing with his generic drug play , which we think is at once great (cheaper meds for the folks who need them!) and somewhat sad (how did we get here as a society?). Which of course led us into a conversation about public and private money, and the role that billionaires play in reshaping society. Next up was a YC credit union DAO that is collecting money from graduates of the accelerator to invest in cyrpto startups . So its a founder rolling fund, right? Kinda. MENTOR COLLECTIVE And that's a wrap on another busy week. Good luck in the snow if it's coming your way! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, January 26, 2022
Is today's market sad or sane?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex brought on Bessemer partner Mary D'Onofrio to chat about the public market slump, but more importantly, its trickle down impact on private companies. Our big question was a broad and important one, built off of our most recent three views column for TechCrunch+. How is this change in market conditions going to affect startups? As a trio, we chatted about the obvious and non-obvious impact on startups as companies like Peloton, Netflix and indexes like the BVP Nasdaq Cloud Index, flash warning signs. We asked questions like what is ahead for startups that raised at premium valuations during the market peak and how the exit market may shape up in the coming quarters. D'Onofrio gave two particularly hot takes on the future of due diligence and the nearly-shuttered IPO window, so make sure to tune in. We don't do too many guests on the show these days due in part to our all-virtual recording setup thanks to COVID. But D'Onofrio was a blast to have on, so we'll be asking her back before too long. Enjoy! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 24, 2022
Is the party over?
If you own stuff, I am sorry to report that you are probably poorer today than you were on Friday, and even less wealthy than you were the Friday before. Things are selling off and we had to talk about it: Stocks are down, and cryptos are getting utterly hammered. It's a bad time to own equities, but worse if you are invested in digital assets. Bitcoin, ether, and Solana are taking body-blows while the stock market wilts. I guess this means that all our 401k contributions will be cheaper in February? Small wins, but still. Swiggy raised a huge round at a simply enormous price , which is good for the company but has us asking questions. OfficeSpace raised $150 million , which caught our eye, and the recent Spectrum Labs appears to make good sense . And to close out we asked is the party over? This MG Siegler piece was in our brain as we chewed over the situation. The dissonance between the public and private markets feels peak, and we aren't sure how quickly their diverging velocities can keep up the tension. Regardless of how the selloff is impacting you, we hope that you have a lovely week and stay warm. Hugs! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 21, 2022
Wordle's Blizzard of transparency
Despite the fact that it is a holiday week here in the United States, tech news was, well, as nuts as it usually is. At this point anything else would be a shock. So what did we get to? All of this and more: Rebundle's incredibly neat startup idea, and funding round . We love a Midwest startup here on the show thanks to Alex's roots, which means that when we got to talk about banana fiber, hair extensions, venture capital, and St. Louis all at once, we were hype. Wheel reinvented itself again with a $150 million Series C, while Gale Health played matchmaker with understaffed shifts and nurses. Plaid's buy of Cognito, a fintech startup, for around $250 million . The deal had us thinking about the power of APIs, the future of fintech, and why we don't hear about more startup M&A. Part of the why to that question could be anti-trust pressures, the sort of which that Microsoft is going to hit with its purchase attempt of Activision Blizzard, a gaming company . Microsoft already owns several gaming studios (Mojang, Bethesda), its own gaming platform (Xbox), and has long owned and operated the key PC gaming operating system (Windows). How much more does it need to own? We also touched on Wordle , free gaming, and the open web in our gaming chat, so lots to unpack there, frankly! Send us your go-to starter word. Finally, no time like the present to return to no code. At times tech is a bunch of shiny rebrands, but at other times, basic angles become non-negotiable strategies. No code, like AI and ML, is one of them. And companies like Walnut and Softr are snapping up the resulting rewards. Whew! What a week. If you are tired already, do not look at the calendar. It will only terrify you. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adc
Wed, January 19, 2022
How many unicorns are just piñatas filled with expired candy?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic, think about a question and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha and Alex dared to refresh perhaps the most common conversation in startups these days: the ubiquity, and resulting irrelevance, of unicorns. Our big question wasn't a simple one: Do we care that the meaning of unicorns has been hollowed out? The conversation ran the gamut, starting with information on unicorn creation rates, startup hit success and of course, funding booms leading to aforementioned ripple effects. The majority of our time was spent asking more meta questions about the moniker, like how the quality bar has changed for $1 billion dollar companies and why late-stage thinks it needs to act like early stage? On TC+, we've recently written about the changing characteristics of unicorns, and how public markets may bring a not-so-private reckoning to tech's stars. (For more on the software valuation thing, head here .) Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, January 18, 2022
Equity Tuesday: What to make of the Microsoft-Blizzard deal
This is our Monday (Tuesday) show, our short ramp into the week where we talk about the larger picture to get our feet wet. We're a day late due to an American holiday, and I can say later in the day with this thanks to my schedule. But, better late than never, here's what we got into: Yet another bad day for assets: Stocks around the world were broadly lower, with software shares taking yet another hit in the key US market. Microsoft wants to buy Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion dollars. It's a lot of money for a gaming studio that was so recently covered in, well, scandal? And really, does Microsoft need to get any bigger? Come on. It has already consumed several gaming companies, and is worth north of $2 trillion. At what point will regulators, you know, regulate? Clockwise raises $45 million! This is a very neat round from a very cool company, which Aisha Malik covered for TechCrunch earlier today. Her post is here if you need more . We're back to our normal schedule starting tomorrow, now that the new year and holidays are behind us. To work! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 14, 2022
Friends with benefits of the financial world
Happily this week, we did not talk about NFTs, and I don’t think that we even said “token” a single time. Instead, Mary Ann and Natasha and Alex got back to what we might consider the roots of Equity. Here’s what we got into: We started with a look at the recent Fertilis round . Fertilis is an Australian startup working to make the IVF process more reliable. We are big fans of the concept, though the startup has lots of work ahead of it before it moves the needle for couples hoping to conceive. Mary Ann brought together two very Equity topics: Fintech and SaaS , but more interestingly, fintech that only wants to serve SaaS startups. Even though we tried to define Arc’s relationship with the startups it serves, Alex landed on it being a friends with benefits for the financial world. Speaking of fintech, Brex made headlines (again) with its new raise and new executive – thanks to Meta. We keep returning to the hiring conversation, and that’s for good reason. Career Karma ( news here ) and SeekOut ( news here ) have two different strategies when it comes to empowering employees at companies -- and all of us agreed that retention, versus placement, is the future of hiring tech. We ended with a conversation on accelerators thanks to Y Combinator’s news , and venture reaction thereof . Plus, new AngelList and Dorm Room Fund remind us that staying niche in strategy continues to be the way that early-stage venture operations are winning deals. A big hug to you all for surviving the start to the working year during a COVID surge. We can do this! We’ll get through it as a big team, ok? Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechC
Wed, January 12, 2022
Would you marry your investors?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic and dive deep. This week Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex came together to talk about the changing nature of due diligence in the startup market. The chat was loosely centered around a piece that the three of us wrote as 2021 was coming to a close, but the conversation quickly broadened to include a host of factors that are impacting how startups fundraise, and build today. Mary Ann talked about the power of FOMO, and how that particular social factor is impacting how startups raise. Natasha brought up the importance of back-channeling, and how founders talk to one another. And Alex tried to tease out the difference in how funds of various sizes will approach doing their own diligence, or letting others take on the work. It was all very good fun! You can read the original backing piece on TC+ here , and we're back Friday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 10, 2022
Equity Monday: The end of cheap money, and Take-Two buys Zynga
This is our Monday show, our short ramp into the week. Yes, it's Monday again. No, you can't stay in bed. Things are already happening! Take-Two is buying Zynga : In a cash and stock deal worth around $12.7 billion (enterprise value), the transaction has delighted Zynga shareholders and bummed out Take-Two's own. Paytm is taking shots , as other 2021 IPOs slim down. The macro environment that startups exist in is about to change for the first time, from a monetary perspective. Pine Labs is looking to go public in the United States , China venture capital data is looking pretty strong , Assent Compliance raised a huge round , and Arive is apparently a thing . All that and we are just getting ready for earnings season, so stay hype as there is a lot of data coming in short order. Welcome to the week! The Equity team is entirely back from vacation now, and we are ready to freaking rock this year. Let's kick some ass! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, January 07, 2022
Can you build centralized islands in a decentralized ocean?
We're getting back up to full speed this week, so Mary Ann and Alex along with Grace behind the scenes took on our Friday show. Next week Natasha and Chris are back, and we'll do our regular three-show lineup. Today, however, despite a smaller team we had just as much as always go chew through: OpenSea's epic new fundraise: Alex did a little Fun Math on the company's trading volume and possible revenue totals . The gist is that OpenSea is a big business. But with NFTs as volatile as they are, charting regular growth will prove difficult. During our crypto chat, we also dug into the Web 2.0 vs. web3 debate that has been raging. From there we pivoted to fintech, with notes on Petal's funding round , Ribbit's new fund , and how Mexican fintech Bankaya is going after its target customers via offline methods. Then it was notes on the private and public markets' dissonance , and a few moments to complain about COVID. We are back Monday morning! Chat you then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, January 03, 2022
Equity Monday: Big Tesla numbers juice EV companies
It's the new year! Yes, welcome to 2022 from the Equity team. We hope that our holiday episodes kept you entertained, and warm. But it's now back to work, so let's get into the news: Global stocks are generally higher today, while cryptos are mostly flat. In the last week, major cryptocurrencies have lost value. Twitter banned Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene for "repeated violations of [its] COVID-19 misinformation policy." India is investigating Apple's payment system for iOS . Tesla Q4 deliveries came in above expectations , leading to the company's stock surging in pre-market trading. NIO also saw a bump, which means that EV startups are also having a good day. The Sensetime IPO happened while Equity was on break. Despite raising far less than it had once wanted, the company's Hong Kong IPO is now in the books, and doing well as a trading equity. And AIMMO raised $12 million in a Series A . The company provides data labeling tooling for enterprise customers building AI models. Whoo! The year is underway! The great gears of work have once again begun to spin. Let's get it! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 31, 2021
The Equity team's 2022 predictions
As is tradition on the show, we used the last episode of the year to make predictions about the next year. To continue an annual tradition, Grace and Chris joined Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex on the mic, a rare treat and one simply for your enjoyment. Expectedly, they had a lot to say. So what did we manifest for 2022? Here's a sampling: We're bullish on climate-focused startups: A notable theme from a number of us was the importance of climate startups, and how many types of startups are going to have a climate-flavor. In short, as the planet changes, it's going to touch just about everything. And if sustainability is not your entire pitch, it's going to be at least a strategy soon enough. We had a lot to say about crypto: Sure, we're all a bit tired of talking crypto, but there's also no chance that we could get away from the topic when considering next year. The classic tension between reinvention and regulation continues to be a dynamic we all care about, and predict will be full force over the next twelve months. We're not nearly as bullish on media: The Buzzfeed SPAC had some of us bummed out, but when it came to creators and not just writers, we were a bit more positive. Everything is media, even if everything doesn't make money. Space is controversial: We won't spoil it, but the space chat got a bit spicy. The argument wound up showing an interesting issue in the tech space, namely is all the money going to where it will have the greatest impact? A big hug from the Equity team for your continued listenership this year. Thanks for sticking with us, and we're back in a heartbeat with another year's shows - some of which may even be in person! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 24, 2021
Memes, money and madness: 2021 in tech
It's just about Christmas, which means you may be stuck with family at the moment. Regardless of what, if any, holidays you may celebrate, there's good chance that there are more people around you than normal. We're here to distract you from that. To ensure that you get respite from Actual Human Interaction, the Equity team has prepared a look-back at the year. Big numbers? Check. Big themes? You know it. Big moments of 'wait, that happened this year?!' Well, we'd have it no other way. Here's what we have in store for you: High-level venture capital stats from the year, from around the world including India, Latin America, and the United States. The rise of memes and money: Remember the Gamestop/stonk saga ? That was this year, amazingly. So too was the Robinhood IPO , the Coinbase direct listing , and a host of other related stories. Sure, by the end of the year we had moved on to other pieces of key news, but don't forget how wild the start of 2021 was from a trading perspective. The crypto boom: Love it or hate it, crypto was one of the key startup themes this year. Capital raced into NFT marketplaces, crypto infra projects, new blockchains, and more. It was a gold rush, but all the gold was digital. A changing creator economy: We had little choice but to talk talking, to chat chatting, to yammer about yammering. Yes, we riffed on the rise and fall of Clubhouse , and the larger live-audio market. Podcasts, videos, and the creator economy as a whole were pretty big narratives this year, so we talked through what went down. We also touched on remote work , fintech, insurtech mistakes, media startups, and a grip of topics that you, the Equity family, sent in via Twitter. Did we get to everything? Heck no. We didn't even get close. But that's because 2021 was a busy damn year. It started busy and never slowed down. What do we expect in 2022? Well, just wait for next week's episode! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <
Fri, December 17, 2021
You are the most influential person we know
To close out the year, Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex headed to the mic with Grace and Chris behind the scenes. We got to our favorite topics, and honestly, got a chance to just laugh our way through the final innings of the year. Here's what we got to: Factor raised a Seed round for up-chain logistics work , Phylagen is working to track airborne illness , and Notus wants to help you find the right influencer to buy . We also dove into the How Big Can Y Combinator Really Get discussion that Haje kicked off . We don't all agree on this one, so talk it through with us. Then we chatted about Course Hero, edtech, and when it can -- and may not! -- make sense to raise venture capital. To close we dove into Alex's SPAC story about the metaverse , touched on the Reddit IPO , and made fun of whatever garbage this is . And that's our last news round up of the year. Stay tuned for our 2021 look back episode that comes out on Friday, December 24 and our 2022 predictions-meets-manifestations episode that comes out on Friday, December 31st. You can check out our Twitter account for when they go live.Happy Holidays from the Equity family to you and yours. May your days be merry, even if they're in the metaverse. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, December 13, 2021
Equity Monday: Crypto hacks and a scuttled AI IPO
It finally happened, ladies and gentleman and our non-binary friends. The Holiday News Slowdown has arrived. Late, I might add, but still here at last. But that did not stop Grace and Alex from making you your weekly kickoff show! Welcome to the final Equity Monday of the year. Here's what we got into: The Indian PM's Twitter account was hacked , and used to promote bitcoin. Not a great look for the crypto world. The SenseTime IPO is on hold after the US government "added SenseTime Group Limited to the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List," per the company. The AI listing's delay is not a great look for Chinese tech market liquidity. Fuse added $25 million to its Series B , helping bring insurance products to Southeast Asia. Thirdweb raised $5 million to bring together no-code and Web3, which we think is pretty cool. Don't forget that Equity is back Friday for a final news roundup, and that we have two holiday eps coming during the last two weeks of the year! Talk soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 10, 2021
Your local trucker is giving us creator economy vibes
Friends, we're almost there: the end of the year that felt like a decade. This week, Mary Ann , Natasha and Alex put aside their 2021 fatigue and talked through a week full of news - and candidly, tensions. As always, shout out to Grace and Chris for producing the show and making us sound a whole lot better. We got into the Lyft mafia, garbage, and why our local truckers are giving us creator economy vibes. Or more specifically: Kenya’s Pariti raised $2.85M led by Harlem Capital to develop startup ecosystems in emerging markets , proving yet again how Africa's entrepreneurial scene is one not to miss. The empowerment trend continued with TrueNorth's $50 million fundraise to help biz-savvy independent truckers, and freshly-anointed unicorn AgentSync with news, as Alex reminds us, that insurtech is very much alive. Opensea got a new CFO from Lyft , which led to IPO rumors, denial, and rumors about why there's denial about going public. Plus, as Natasha notes, if you're not leaving Lyft to join crypto, you're leaving Lyft to join climate. The Trump Media SPAC is a mess , as we anticipated, frankly. Mary Ann is all over the Better.com saga as its comm, marketing, PR heads all submitted their resignations this week and CEO Vishal Garg issued a poorly-received apology for how badly he effed up the mass layoffs last week -- and as she hints, there's a lot more to come. We disagreed more than usual this episode, which is refreshing. So cheers to more of that next year, and we'll see you back here on Monday. Credits: Equity is produced by The
Mon, December 06, 2021
Equity Monday: When does a selloff become a rout?
Despite the advanced week, news is still coming in in hot and heavy, so strap in for today's busy episode: Cryptos have failed to recover from their weekend swoon, leading to most major crypto assets suffering from a double-digit decline in their value over the last week. Sensetime's Hong Kong IPO is set to raise less money than the AI company had hoped . BitMart got hacked , showing that even this deep into the crypto era we are still seeing embarrassing security lapses that deliver material consumer pain. Alibaba is reshuffling its leadership , though we are not sure at this juncture what the changes mean. Not to get speculative, but we're keeping an eye on the new leadership. A number of investors are considering pouring capital into Polygon , TradeDepot raised $110 million , and Stacked raised $35 million for its crypto-investing system. I would normally say that it's a holiday week, so let's relax, but instead I wonder if we're going to see a final push of news this week before things do calm down for the holiday period. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, December 03, 2021
Square's Better.com name Block is Butter-y smooth
It's Friday, which means the whole crew was aboard for this particular episode. We had Grace and Chris behind the scenes, and Mary Ann , Natasha , and Alex on the mics. And, frankly, we needed the full team because the holidays aren't slowing any news down. First up? Square becoming Block , which we wanted to make fun of but mostly found to be reasonable given the company's disparate interests. From there we chatted about Inpathy's neat take on social networking, Massive's $11 million funding round , and why Butter could help grease the skids of many a subscription business. Then it was time to trade startups for bigger companies, as we had to riff on Bret Taylor's quasi-ascension to the top of Salesforce along with a host of other executive exits. Alex calls it cold resignation winter, but Meta clearly has put some people on the hot seat. Better.com was also in our remit this week , due to its fundraising and layoffs. We debate if you should raise if it comes at the cost of your employees, and the morality of a Zoom layoff. And, finally, Sounding Board's Series B reminded us that executive coaching, even and especially for the folks above, isn't just a services business. It's a SaaS business. See you here next week, unless Jack shaves off his beard and we're forced to do a shot. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, December 01, 2021
Have we reached peak founder-friendliness?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday episode when we niche down to a single topic, looking to expand our understanding of one particular technology trend or another. Today? We discussed if the era of founder-led companies is coming to a close, and if we have reached the peak of founder friendliness. The decision to abdicate the CEO role by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey got us onto the topic. You can read our first take on the matter here, or listen to us geek out about it on an earlier Twitter Spaces. But Natasha and Alex decided that they didn't want to walk alone, so we got Floodgate's Iris Choi back on the show, along with recently venture-backed Fractional founder Stella Han to help us dig through the issue. Choi doesn't see a rapid change in the current market dynamic that has led to increased founder influence, and therefore control. Even more, she noted that as the public markets are willing to accept founder-friendly mechanics like dual-class shares, there's even less incentive to shake up the current dynamic. Han, meanwhile, spoke to the evolution of a founder's role over the lifetime of her company - as well as how she tries to build in decentralized authority (as the central source of authority) We end with the importance of being explicit about different roles, and how they are subject to change as a company hits different scale milestones. Equity is back on Friday with our news roundup. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 29, 2021
Jack's personal news
Well, so much for a relaxed post-holiday week on Monday. News broke this morning that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is stepping down from the company entirely . The company's CTO, Parag Agrawal , will be taking over at the helm. Saleforce exec Bret Taylor will take over as board chairman. So, Amanda and Natasha and Alex jumped into onto the mics -- and, ironically, a Twitter space -- to riff on all things Jack and future of Twitter. From the show: Crypto and the CTO, what can we read from the tea leaves? Jack's dual role, and its detractors. The fact that Twitter's product work has been great lately, which we don't want to stop. When is a good time to leave a company, is it on the up and up or when things are quiet? And, finally, Jack's somewhat biting words regarding founder-led companies, which are, frankly, a bit at odds with his own behavior until now. The show is back on Wednesday, unless some other major CEO resigns. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 29, 2021
Equity Monday: New unicorns kick off the week as India get cross with Starlink
With a holiday-impacted week behind us, we hope that you are ready for the next few weeks of busy news. Because starting in the back-half of December, the world is going to slow down dramatically. Make sure that you are following the show on Twitter , and let's get into it! No tech IPOs this week, though we will see earnings from select SaaS companies . That means that our information flow will slow over the next few days. India is irked at Starlink , telling the Elon Musk company to get its regulatory paperwork in order. Raspberry Pi is going public, it's expected . The micro-computer company could debut in Spring of 2022 on the London exchanges. And black Friday online sales dipped , though we have a guess as to why. Two acquisitions took place recently that caught our eye, including Booking Holdings buying Etraveli Group for $1.8 billion , and Clearlake buying Quest from Francisco Partners . From the startup world, two deals: Slice is now a unicorn thanks to Tiger Global , while Thought Machine is also now a unicorn thanks to its own six-figure round. Two new unicorns to start the week? Why not. And, finally, this essay on crypto. The show is back Wednesday! We'll see you then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 26, 2021
Found: Cellino
Find the Found feed here: https://pod.link/found Not only is this week's guest the TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 Battlefield winner, but Nabiha Saklayen is also democratizing access to life-saving cell therapies by using—you guessed it—lasers. Nabiha is the co-founder and CEO of Cellino which is a company developing the tech to automate stem cell production that will lower the cost of cell therapies and increase the yield of viable cells. In this episode, Nabiha tells Jordan and Darrell how she built a start-up beginning with the tech and finding a business fit, her evolving leadership style, and why this work is crucial to the biomedical field. Take our listener survey and let us know a bit about yourself and what you think of FOUND. Connect with us: On Twitter On Instagram Via email: found@techcrunch.com Call us and leave a voicemail at (510) 936-1618 Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 24, 2021
Financial flash mobs meet fundraising memes
This is our Wednesday episode when we niche down to a single topic, looking to expand our understanding of one particular technology trend or another. And this week, it was all about the ConstitutionDAO. For those who weren't online last week, here's what you missed: a not-so-subtle group of strangers on the internet banded together to try to buy one of the remaining thirteen copies for the constitution. With crypto. The bold bid eventually fell short, but many saw it as an inspiring onramp into how communities can mobilize around a shared goal in a Web3 world. The whole movement, from its meme start to its poetic, and billionaire Ken Griffin-themed, end, was just too interesting for Equity to not dedicate an entire episode to. So, Natasha and Alex brought on Lucas Matney and Anita Ramaswamy to unpack, decompress, and bond over our shared experience of witnessing this 'financial flash mob.' We talked about what a DAO is, and what they might be used for. We dug into the question of just how many folks the effort really brought to the larger "Web3" space. And, of course, we had to talk about gas fees, NFTs, and the pace of innovation in crypto more broadly. Lucas even broke out an excellent analogy to explain level-two chains! The crew were generally bullish on the blockchain economy, if skeptical of some of its current uses. In short, the potential remains potent in crypto even if some of its projects, today at least, are a bit more boring than breakthrough. Crypto, we're told, is going to shake up the world. More of that, we reckon, and less of the meme-wars wouldn't be amiss. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 22, 2021
Equity Monday: Paytm's rocky debut gets rockier
Happy Monday everyone, and welcome to a holiday week here in the United States. Yes, we here in the good ol' States will be off the second half of this week. TechCrunch won't grind to a halt, but we will certainly slow down a little bit. But, that doesn't mean that we didn't have a lot to talk about this morning: Shares of Indian fintech giant Paytm fell further today, after a very disappointing first-days trading last Thursday . The company now has lot of ground to make up just to get back to zero. Facebook is delaying the rollout of E2E encryption until 2023, which has us a bit bummed. Also in big tech news, ByteDance is calling it quits on edtech in India . Turning the page to startups, we chatted through three news items this morning: Jina.ai raised $30 million , Deliverr raised $250 million , and Lydia added equity and crypto trading to its French financial superapp . And we closed on the just what the point of a DAO is. Woo! We are back Wednesday morning. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 19, 2021
Co-founder titles aren't a formality, they're a morality
Good news, everyone: Mary Ann is back! Yes, after a short absence we have our third Friday host back where she belongs. Namely right in front of a microphone, talking to us. And it was good to have her back, as we had a small mountain of news to talk through: OpenSea could be worth $10 billion : Right before we recorded, news broke that OpenSea could raise new capital at a far-greater valuation than it did earlier this year. While we had some jokes, we also did a little math on why OpenSea could really be worth so much money. Other rapid-fire funding rounds: If OpenSea does raise again, it will join good company in putting together several rounds in under a year. Facily has done the same , as has Justt . In short, the old 18-month cycle for raising capital is so dated it might as well get delivered by telegram. Lambda School rebrands: Casper goes private : After a tough time as a public concern, DTC mattress company Casper is going private. Notably its issues have not dampened market interest in taking other DTC companies public. What makes a founder, a founder: We're entering the holiday period, so expect the usual disruptions to Equity's production calendar. We'll be taking short breaks as per usual, but will be recharging some ahead of what should prove to be a very, very busy 2022. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 17, 2021
Did Zillow get high on its own supply?
This is our Wednesday episode when we niche down to a single topic, looking to expand our understanding of one particular technology trend or another. This week? iBuying. Zillow made a decision to get out of the iBuying market, with huge costs hanging over its head and a grip of layoffs to manage. Natasha and Alex were curious what went wrong. So we brought along Ryan Lawler , one of TechCrunch+'s reporting team, who has covered the space for a chat. Ryan helped us use Opendoor earnings as a comparison point -- it turns out that the iBuying model can work, even if Zillow itself struggled with the model. (Opendoor went public via a SPAC , recall.) We also talked about what the situation could mean for startups in the real estate market more broadly. It turns out that merely having data is not enough to make money in the housing space. Equity is back Friday morning with our weekly news roundup, and if all goes well, also back on Saturday with something both special and fun. And if you haven't given our sister podcast, Found , a listen, check it out ! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 15, 2021
Equity Monday: Startups rush to announce news before holiday slowdown
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds, and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Tesla shares are off further this morning in the wake of declines following stock sales by Elon Musk. The company retains its $1 trillion market cap, per Yahoo Finance data, but is at risk of losing a comma if it keeps slipping. Elsewhere in Big Tech, Microsoft is making Windows worse , while bitcoin gets an upgrade On the startup front, we took a look at Writer.com , Zoomo and Rsquared . Up ahead, we have the Braze, Usertesting and Sweetgreen IPOs. Nubank and Paytm are also in the queue. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, November 13, 2021
Wall Street still doesn't get crypto
Friday afternoon the Equity team took to a Twitter Space to hit on a topic that we had to cut from our regular end-of-week show, namely crypto earnings and how Wall Street is digesting the results. And to bring in extra mental horsepower, Natasha and Alex lassoed new TechCruncher Anita Ramaswamy to help. We touched on Coinbase's Q3 financial results and what they tell us about trading incomes, and the company itself. Robinhood's own Q3 results were part of the chat as well, as they showed a similar pattern to what Coinbase disclosed. More companies than just those two, newly-public entities are reporting crypto trading declines. Square did as well, after its bitcoin revenues slipped in Q3. Simply put, consumers traded less crypto in Q3 than they did in Q2, and a number of companies that were recently riding high on that particular volatility cycle had to deal with a down-cycle period. We talked about what the results mean for the noisy world of crypto startups, many of which are looking to the highly-visible Coinbase as an indicator of what they can expect as they attempt to scale in a volatile market. Equity is back Monday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 12, 2021
Tiger's den of due diligence
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines! This is our Friday show, a roundup of the week's biggest and most fascinating stories from startups, venture capital and technology. Natasha and Alex along with Grace and Chris had to cut and cut and cut to get the show to fit this week, so if we didn't get to your favorite story, we wanted to. We just ran out of space! Here's the rundown: Twitter Blue : Natasha is not sold, but Alex is all-in on Twitter's new subscription service. What does it include? What do we hope it adds? We have it all for you. Seasoned raised $18.7 million for its frontline worker app and matching service, You.com raised $20 million to continue taking on Google's search hegemony, and Helsing.ai raised a huge pile of money for reasons that we like, even if the details of what it intends to do are still a little vague. INDIAN EDTECH Tiger Global's investing rush. Thanks to an act of journalism by our Twitter friend Sar Haribhakti, we had fresh perspective on just how the startup investing community is handling Tiger's race to win growth-stage investing. The Information has more , as does FT and Crunchbase News , And then we were out of minutes! Don't worry, however, Equity is back Monday morning! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 10, 2021
Vertically-farmed wasabi arugula isn't a hypothetical
This is our Wednesday show, the time of the week when we niche down to a single topic. Today we spoke about the revolution within agriculture otherwise known as vertical farming . Alex and Natasha spoke to Hardware editor Brian Heater , who recently wrote a TC-1 about Bowery Farming spanning over 11,000 words and topics such as the taste of sustainable turnips and produce sections at grocery stores. The core of his multi-part exploration, though, was built around a question: Can Bowery Farms bring the newest and most innovative technologies to bear on civilization’s oldest and most optimized industry? As a result, our episode went down a lot of tasty rabbit holes. We spoke about the current state of vertical farming, the challenges that come with commercialization and our struggling climate, and if your local dairy farm is actually thinking about adding a robot to their staff. There was more to chew on, including the balance between sustainability and profit, how to think about carbon footprints, the commercialization of vertical farming today, and how some folks are spending $30 on a strawberry. We had lovely time and will have Brian back on the pod. Here's the TC-1 if you're interested: Bowery Farming is forcing us all to look up at the future of vertical agriculture (3,500 words/14 minutes) — explores the evolution of vertical farming, it’s expansion in Japan and how Bowery Farming was started to bring indoor farming to the masses in the United States. Hacking lettuce for taste and profit (2,500 words/10 minutes) — evaluates how Bowery collects data from its farms in order to optimize flavor while also potentially expanding its produce line into new categories like strawberries and turnips. Can LEDs ultimately replace the sun? (2,100 words/8 minutes) — investigates two of the most important questions about Bowery Farming: Can it develop a competitive moat with its technology (which it dubs BoweryOS) and just how much environmental benefit can the company derive from its farms? The voracious fight for your salad bowl (3,000 words/12 minutes) — looks at the extremely competitive nature of the produce section at the grocery store and how Bowery intends to build a brand with consumers while finding a route to profitability. The Equity team will be back Friday morning with our weekly roundup. Our hearts go out to Mary Ann who will return to us in due time, and our general ire is reserved for Danny. Beca
Mon, November 08, 2021
Equity Monday: Elon Musk reinvents corporate governance
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . The stock market wasn't incredibly dramatic this morning, from an index-viewpoint. Crytpos were slightly more exciting but only moderately. A host of earnings results this week should provide us with fireworks, however. And on the subject of crypto regulation, news from Congress isn't great for fans of coins and chains . And the rising popularity of NFT games could put consumers in bad tax territory. The SoftBank Vision Fund 1 posted poor results , harming SoftBank's earnings, and leading to the company promising a huge share buyback. And Elon Musk made news not only for tweeting some sort of dick joke at an American Senator, but also for polling Twitter regarding whether or not he should sell 10% worth of Tesla shares. That's one way to do corporate governance, I suppose. Matter Labs raised $50 million , while H2O.ai raised $100 million . And weekend chat concerning this piece detailing Google's history with AMP underscores just how much trust is being lost between major American tech companies and their communities. We are back Wednesday! Hugs! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, November 05, 2021
Three quarters of record-breaking funding for female founders is a win
Equity , a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. And have fun! This week our very own Mary Ann was off -- we send her our best, as she is a living saint -- so Natasha and Alex and Grace and Chris got together to compile our news roundup. And oh boy was there a lot to corral. Up top this week, news from Indiegogo that the crowdfunding service is tightening up who gets to post projects on its platform. We view this as a general good, and one that could prove helpful to the long-term viability of crowdfunding. From the funding round rodeo, we riffed on the musical and potentially exciting Mictic ( which raised $2.5 million ), female-health focused illumigyn and what it might do for care access ( it raised $33 million ), and Martie, which wants to prevent food waste and perhaps provide low-cost foodstuffs to folks in need ( $3 million in fresh capital ). FEMALE FOUNDERS VSC And then we chatted for a minute on alternative investing. Namely what Aqua is building , and why Alex is writing columns on NFTs. Hugs and love from the team, we will chat with you bright and early Monday morning! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, November 03, 2021
The inherent tensions within Venture capital
This is our Wednesday show, the time of the week when we niche down to a single topic. Today? The issue of venture capital expectations in certain sectors where startups may not be the best fit. And what happens when they raise a mountain of capital. Natasha and Alex had former founder and present-day indie journalist Vincent Woo to come on the show with us. Why? Because he's written extensively about Lambda School, one of our subjects of the day. We started with Ro, and Natasha's excellent piece on the matter: Employees detail rising tensions at Ro as healthcare unicorn struggles to grow beyond first win. Next we chatted Lambda School, which has a well-documented history of raising venture capital and attracting controversy. Most recently, Woo published a piece about the coding bootcamp's misleading claims on job placement . The company is perhaps a cautionary tale of how venture-level growth can struggle in certain sectors. Education is hard and may not scale like software. At the heart of conversation was a question: In this time of high valuations and easy access to large amounts of capital, how can VC incentives lead some startups into a cycle of pain? We didn't land on a single conclusion, and that was kind of the point of the episode. Venture capital isn't inherently bad or good, but the money can come with a list of demands (and pressures) that cause risk-taking founders to make mistakes. A recalibration is necessary, but, as we talk about every week, the "up and to the right" market will take its time getting there. It was good fun to focus on a single topic, but we're back with our news roundup Friday morning! Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, November 01, 2021
Equity Monday: The beginning of the end of ‘996’
Today we had a goodly bag of things to dig into, including: The FT finds that major social platforms are taking a bath thanks to Apple’s new privacy rules. But is that such a bad thing? The Chinese labor standard of ‘996’ is losing its dominance in its domestic market. The Dell-VMware spinoff has finally happened . At last. Digital Currency Group raises $700 million , Mosaic Building Group raises $44 million , and When I Work locked down $200 million of its own . Looking ahead, we have AllBirds and NerdWallet IPOs this week! Sorry that the show was late! Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 29, 2021
The new alchemy is turning gold to crypto
This week Mary Ann and Natasha and Alex (along with our amazing production team Grace , Chris , and Kell ) took on a host of topics from the public and private markets alike. In our wheelhouse this week: An IPO rush : Sure, IPOs are still not keeping up with unicorn births, but the current pace of public offerings has us nattering. Paytm is coming . Sweetgreen as well . NerdWallet and Backblaze to boot . It's a crowd! Alchemy raised $250 million for its blockchain-infra work, reminding us that A16z has all of its eggs in the same ol' crypto basket. Heart to Heart raised $0.75 million for audio-focused dating. And even though we're not the targeted customer base, we were excited about the founder and his big bet on intention. Built by a student, Tasseled wants to help college students get their lives, and credits, together. More on the great Sequoia business model shakeup , building from our comments earlier in the week. We dig into exit timings, and other potential impacts of the change. And we got to riff on the Midwest startup-boom , which is a region near and dear to Alex's heart. And it turns out that Denver is not a Midwest city. While we're sad about Danny's exit, it's also edifying to have our new crew in place for 2022. Expect nothing less than more Equity than ever. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adcho
Wed, October 27, 2021
Divining the future of VC, saying goodbye to Danny
This is a special, if somewhat bittersweet episode. It marks the final official podcast with our own Danny Crichton , who is off to other pastures in short order. Danny stepped in when we lost a host a few years back, and has been both a staple and a pillar of the show since. We're going to miss the ever-loving heck out of him. But the show must go on, so we spent this episode discussing issues core to our remit: The venture capital market, startups, and the interplay between each. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Chris got together for this particular Wednesday edition of Equity, the part of the week when we niche down to a single topic and discuss it at length. This time 'round we tackled the very small of whether today's pace of venture capital investment is sustainable, and whether the current structure of venture capital funds will survive. It was the right time to do so, given that: Tiger is reloading with even more capital . Danny noted that its rising asset base is a good indicator of just where things are today. Venture capital is at all-time highs . Natasha and Alex riffed through the numbers, noting just how crazy things have become. And as we were collecting our notes, Sequoia announced ( after Primack scooped them ) that they are revolutionizing their firm into a new sort of vehicle. We also discussed the unicorn traffic jam , which gave Alex a chance to jump atop his favorite hobby horse one more time. With more money than ever bouncing around startup-land, the question of whether the sums, and their resulting valuations, make any sense is a conversation that we are not done with. But we hope that after this short podcast, you are at least up to speed. Bon voyage, Danny. We love you. And a regular shoutout to the folks who have helped host Equity in the past: Kate Clark , Katie Roof , Matthew Lynley , and Connie Loizos . You are very much still in our hearts. Here's the next few million downloads! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator.
Mon, October 25, 2021
Trillion dollar Tesla
Hark, all ye who pay attention to the stock market, for Elon Musk's wheels-focused company broached the $1 trillion market cap threshold today. Yeah, it finally happened, so the Equity team quickly scrambled for the microphones. Chris put together the show, allowing Alex and Kirsten to dive into the matter. Kirsten, in case you aren't familiar with her, is TechCrunch's transportation editor -- her crew handles everything that moves under its own power for the team. She's tremendous. Aside from the obvious market cap point, we got into: What news drove Tesla higher today, leading to its new valuation record? How is Tesla's overall financial performance looking ? Has the model mix at the company changed over time? And, because Alex was curious, why Telsa cars all look the same when will the Cybertruck will come to market? In short, it was a very fun Twitter shot. Cheers, and Equity is back Wednesday with our regular programming. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 25, 2021
Equity Monday: PayPal punts on Pinterest as Facebook's hell month continues
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Taking a look around the world, stocks were largely higher in Asia and Europe and are looking somewhat mixed in the United States. There are a host of technology earnings coming this week, mind. Facebook is taking all sorts of incoming fire from media reporting on a trove of documents that a whistleblower leaked. The company is not having a good month, let along quarter from a PR perspective. It reports earnings later today. Here's the NYTimes piece we noted , the Bloomberg article , the CNN piece , and the Verge entry . The PayPal-Pinterest deals is done for now. PayPal said so this morning. Its shares are up, while Pinterest shares are sharply lower. And from startup-land: Routine is a new app that looks slick , Billie raised $100 million , Tier raised a huge bloc of cash , and Groww just tripled its valuation . It's going to be a busy one, so strap in and get hype because it is earnings week. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 22, 2021
Another month, another billion dollars in value appreciation
This week Mary Ann and Natasha and Alex (along with our amazing production team Grace, Chris, and Kell) took on a bevy of topics from around the world of startups and technology more broadly. We naturally kicked off with news that Facebook intends to rebrand itself. Which we don't think will do much to detract from its various crises. But the news does underscore that Facebook is, in fact, serious about writing its next chapter. From there it was time to talk funding rounds. This week we picked Vertical Oceans and its fishy plans , Superplastic and its stable of rude digital critters , and Modern Age and its plan to help us all age a bit more gracefully. Vibe Capital, founded by Teachable's Ankur Nagpal, is a $60 million fund for international, scrappy founders. We spoke about the founder to investor pipeline, and why everyone wants eachother's jobs. And then Alex ran us through some data from the Chinese venture capital market , information that was far more positive than we anticipated. Given, you know, the country's regulatory crackdown on technology companies. We closed with a number of major fintech rounds, including new capital for Deel and a funding scoop on Brex. While we're in a bubble, it's easy to get lost in the same narrative: everything is booming! This week's episode was a good reminder of how diverse, and nuanced, this ever-lasting startup summer truly is. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, October 20, 2021
PayPal picking Pinterest puts us in a parsing pickle
Look, we don't get it either. Taking some time as a group to sit around and chat through the possibly impending PayPal-Pinterest deal , Natasha and Alex didn't wind up cracking the story. Which makes some sense, as investors sent PayPal stock down 5% on the news, implying that they didn't really get it either. Recall that PayPal has made a few other deals in recent years, including buying Honey ($4 billion) and Paidy (less than $4 billion). Regardless, the transaction -- worth potentially dozens of billions -- could scoot the social giant into the welcoming arms of PayPal, an American consumer and business fintech giant. Here's what we tried to sort out: Does Pinterest have a big enough ecommerce story to make the deal line up with our first expectations? We talked about Pinterest's historical stock performance, as well as a number of culture controversies it has been embroiled in. Why doesn't PayPal just buy Etsy instead? Here we dug into why a shop-able, searchable mood-board may satisfy customer demands, thus Pinterest's lag on fintech infrastructure - in comparison to Etsy - has been somewhat surprising. And if technology is all bundling, and unbundling, does it make some sort of sense for PayPal to join forces with a more e-commerce content focused business, now more than a half-decade removed from its eBay divorce? We ended with jokes about fintech's expected (and unexpected) consolidation, and we want your best guesses for what's next on Twitter. Frankly we had a good time. Mary Ann was going to join up but was thwarted by Apple's iPhone headphone design, while Danny was slightly busy trying to figure out why his spouse beat him at Settlers of Catan, his favorite board game. We are back Friday with our regularly scheduled programming! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, October 20, 2021
NerdWallet, Gen Z, and the value of the written word
Natasha and Danny and Alex got together to dig into the recent NerdWallet IPO filing, and what it can tell us about how the written word -- in its digital form -- can still be worth quite a lot. Here's an outline of the chat: NerdWallet shows the financial power of the written word , even if it isn't the precise form of writing that we know and love. Automattic is a large, startup bet on the written word, amongst other things. Danny had notes for us on the scale of its business, thanks to a new TC-1 all about the publishing empire. Here we talked about the importance of proving value internally, before going external with word power. And from Kindle Vella to Substack to Memberful from Patreon, there are more and more models for getting paid to write these days. Hell, you can charge for your tweets now. We were left with questions about if the return of text is inevitable, in an everyone-runs-to-video world. As Natasha notes, distribution is still a bottleneck and human attention is not entirely predisposed to sitting around reading things. But with Gen Z perhaps a little over screentime, perhaps there's good news ahead for writers of all stripes. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 18, 2021
Equity Monday: Welcome to bigtech hardware week
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . This week, the week of October 18, 2021, kicked off with a mixed markets picture. Asian stocks were mixed, down in Europe, and set to fall in the United States. China remains a concern. There are hardware events this week from Apple, Samsung and Google. Along with earnings from Netflix, IBM, and Qualtrics. Amazon is in hot water with American regulators , China may force its tech giants to allow for cross-platform search , and Facebook wants to hire lots of Europeans . From startup-land, Enpal landed a huge dollop of cash for its solar work, while OfficeRnD made bets on a hybrid working future. Notes to come shortly on the Expensify IPO filing. The show is back on Wednesday! Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, October 16, 2021
LinkedOut
In today's episode, talk our way through some big breaking news from the technology world so that we can better understand just what is going on. Danny and Alex got together late Friday on a Twitter Space to discuss Microsoft's decision to pull LinkedIn from the Chinese market , a move that lit up headlines around the world. That LinkedIn was still in China in 2021 may feel more surprising than the news that it will exit that particular market, but the moment matters all the same as it marks the end of an experiment -- could a mega-tech company have a US HQ and a first-party service live in China? Er, no, it turns out. Not really. Microsoft found itself jammed between its own ethics, and governmental censure. It was a lose-lose for the company, so pulling the plug was the smart move. The company isn't going to miss the revenue. For startups, the Microsoft decision is a good reminder that doing business in China is at a minimum very hard for non-Chinese companies, and perhaps impossible. Recall that Microsoft had to work with a Chinese company (21Vianet) to get Azure into the country at all, and that the Chinese government is using a few companies to build a new OS for the country so that it can replace Windows. Precisely how good that OS will prove is not yet clear, at least from a consumer perspective. And then we riffed on GitLab's IPO. My favorite topic of the week. You'll see why it came up when you hit play. Chat Monday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 15, 2021
Coinbase goes fishing for Opensea’s catch
This week was one of our strongest shows yet, with a wide diversity of news items that were genuinely fun (and complicated) to chew through. And even though we started off kind of grumpy, we laughed through tech difficulties, crypto puns, and fintech CAC. It's called coping. Here's what we got into: Magic Leap raised $500 million about which we have thoughts, Mindbody's acquisition of ClassPass caught our eye for obvious reasons (and the fact that it also raised $500 million), and we dug into SoWork's fascinating business proposition . mPharma and the race to horizontal, holistic mental health : Telehealth is great and useful but no panacea. However, in the realm of mental health it's potentially life-changing for millions. OpenSea went from being one of the main characters in our fraud show, to being the underdog that we're rooting for - now that Coinbase is building a copycat . Since we tried to keep the show tight, a ton of news was left on the cutting room floor. The good news, though, is that we're back tomorrow with a spicy bonus episode about Microsoft pulling LinkedIn from the Chinese market. Oof. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, October 13, 2021
How to sell clothes online and actually make money
This is our Wednesday show, the time of the week when we niche down to a single topic. Today? Fashion. Natasha and Danny and Alex got together to dig into the world of fashion resale and rental. It's no small market, giving birth to both public companies, unicorns, and startups. Most recently, well-known fashion rental player Rent the Runway filed to go public, giving us a window in its own numbers. Those figures led us to a few questions about how best to go about making money from clothes in a retail context. From our chat: Selling vs. Renting vs. Reselling: To start, we wanted to help you group startups into three buckets: those who sell customers to people, those who rent goods to customers, and those who resell pre-owned goods to customers. Rent the Runway's numbers: We had some issues with Rent the Runway's business model given that it appears that the company is simply underpricing its clothing items given its cost structure. How Wall Street will price the company, or whether Rent the Runway is hoping to sell to a larger company came into the conversation. Who else should we have an eye on: To close, Natasha detailed a number of startups including Queenly , Curtsy and Rebag. Oh, and Depop ( which recently sold to Etsy $1.6 billion ). Startups are tearing up old retail models, which we are here for. We are less here for adjusted EBITDA that reads like magical realism. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 11, 2021
Equity Monday: I hear this fintech thing is going to be big
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Markets were busy, with Chinese tech stocks rallying and the rest of the world posting a mix of gains and losses. If you are bullish on public markets, excellent. But if you are bearish, don't worry -- there are diverse enough signals out this morning to satisfy any investing thesis. Facebook goes on American political TV : To talk about changes it is going to make to its product. A product that it built. It wants point for fixing the thing it made broken. Sure. And Tesla, after delaying the roll-out of a beta for Full Self Driving , is also being asked by some in India to build cars in that country. CRED is raising even more money , at an even higher valuation. Mono gets the Tiger imprimatur , which matters as the startup could prove that the Plaid model will spawn regional players. French mobile gaming company Homa Games raised $50 million on the back of huge download numbers. And ahead we have the GitLab direct listing, and AvidExchange IPO. Chat you on Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 08, 2021
Community is the new AI
Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex were all aboard this week with Grace on the dials, which meant that we had a flat lovely time recording Equity for you. Of course, Equity is TechCrunch's venture capital focused podcast where we dig into the most critical funding rounds, and natter about the key news items impacting startups. Before we hop into this week's topics, you can follow the show on Twitter, where we rather often host impromptu Twitter spaces that sometimes become episodes. Come hang! Here's the rundown for this week: Chalo raises $40M to improve bus transit in India : This startup wins name (and startup) of the week. Chalo wants to tackle inefficiencies in India's bus system, so we noodle over why that makes sense and what challenges could be ahead. Masterworks raises $110M for fractional art ownership : Call it a Series A if you must, but the megaround that Masterworks just raised helps underscore the global shift towards alternative investing, and fractional ownership. How long until we get Masterworks on the blockchain? That would be the real IRL-NFT crossover we are kinda waiting for. CostCertified wants to save your next home reno project : CostCertified, which just participated in Y Combinator's summer cohort, raised $8.45M in seed funding. The Canadian company's end goal is to build the “Amazon for construction.” CostCertified allows contractors to send a shoppable interactive estimate to homeowners so that they can choose their selections during a project, and see the effect on price instantly. All about community : Community has been watered down, there's no doubt about it. But, there is still arguments for why it works - and we make them (often). Google invests in Africa : American tech giant Google is putting capital to work in Africa, but in the form of infra investment and early-stage investing. Frankly both make good sense given the advertising giant's business model. <a href="https://te
Wed, October 06, 2021
The metaverse is coming for Squid Game
Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch's venture capital focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, the time of the week when we niche down to a single topic. Today? Gaming. Natasha and Danny and Alex got together to discuss the gaming world from a few perspectives, including those of startups and the largest platform players in tech. Alex is a gamer. Danny is a board gamer. And Natasha isn't big on digital games. So, we had a good array of viewpoints. The goal of our episode was to understand why gaming is garnering more interest from Big Tech and startups alike, and how the business model and environment has evolved over the years. Here's what we got into: A new gaming fund from a16z , and recent venture capital totals, as compiled by our friends over at Crunchbase News . Amazon's new hit game, and Apple's epic gaming profits. It appears, by our read, that the gaming industry has evolved from single-sale titles to games with recurring incomes that studios have become venture-backable; this is testament to both business model evolution and general gaming popularity, as much as it is indicative of how much money it is possible to earn supporting the games industry as a tech shop as well. Still, we wanted to spend a few minutes on the challenges that still await those trying to spin up a game overnight. After we talked through the context and challenges, we riffed on the why! It includes just what a metaverse is, how NFTs can slot into the conversation, and more. All we need now is a release date for Royal Court , Paradox. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, October 04, 2021
Equity Monday: Byju's raises more money, somehow, as tech stocks fall
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Sorry that the show is so delayed today, it's utterly my fault. Regular service returns Wednesday, and we'll make to not be late on a Monday again this year! Here's what we got into on the show: Tech shares are falling in America in a larger domestic selloff -- but once again we're seeing high-valued technology stocks lose the most ground. Software companies are having a particularly rough morning. The Facebook whistleblower situation remains the biggest news item in the technology world this morning, dominating aggregators and conversation. Precisely what comes next isn't clear, I reckon, but Facebook shares haven't lost enough ground yet to be a worry for the firm; that could change with another few days' declines, however. What else was on our mind? Apple's epic gaming profits , new AI guidelines from China , and data concerning just how much money semiconductor startups are raising . It's more, but is it enough? Byju's raised $300 million , this time at an $18 billion valuation. Its upcoming IPO will help set the tone for global edtech valuations. Ladder raised $100 million , proving that the insurtech market is still active. Sure, shares of public insurtech startups have taken a pounding in recent quarters, but there's still plenty of private capital ready to make bets on the market. And the Vision Fund 2 is even more Vision Fund-y than we anticipated ! Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis
Sat, October 02, 2021
Why did the Zoom-Five9 deal eat %#*& and die?
To cap the week off, Danny and Alex and Chris got together live on Twitter to chat through the demise of the Zoom-Five9 deal . Those of you who remember how recently the deal was announced are likely a little surprised -- how did it fall apart so quickly? Well, a few reasons: There could be inherent risk in all-stock transactions provided a rapidly-changing market. It may be the case that Zoom simply did not bid enough for Five9. And there's a mix of anti-trust and national regulatory issues to the deal that never got fully hammered out. So, you can pick your poison, even though the answer appears to be some of each above point. https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/19/the-zoom-five9-deal-is-a-big-bet-for-the-video-conferencing-company/ Those of you who caught the Friday episode will wonder, and fairly, what the end of the Zoom-Five9 deal will have on other M&A activity. We talked about it. That's enough for now. Hit play and have a laugh with us. Thanks for sticking with the show! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, October 01, 2021
Here for influencer-branded mac and cheese
Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex were all aboard this week under the guidance of Chris and Grace , meaning that we were running full-strength for our roundup of this super busy week. Before we hop into the topics, you can follow the show on Twitter -- all the cool kids do! -- and keep in mind that on Mondays Equity provides a short kickoff to the week, we chat a single topic on Wednesdays, and Fridays are when we go through the full week. Make sense? Hell yeah: Fiveable Cobalt raised $2.8 million to help creators build and sell more stuff. As part of our continuing focus on creators more broadly, we had a few questions! Found came out of stealth with $32 million in total funding from GV, Atomic and Define Ventures. The startup is focused on "weight care management" and it's notable that the co-founder of Atomic, which incubated this company, also co-founded hims and hers -- which also has a telehealth component. Found's new CEO is the former COO of Bumble, who drafted its S-1 while getting chemo treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. From there we dug into trends! First up was the trend of startups going full-stack, which we kicked off with a look at AngelList's new Stack -- har har -- product . It's a bit like what Carta and Stripe offer, which gave us some good angles to chat about the news from. Next up was consolidation, which echoed our first conversation. Discussing a recent deal in the RPA space , the Equity team made predictions about which sectors in the startup world are the most likely to see consolidation in the coming quarters. And we closed with climate tech, a startup niche that could bring a small sliver of hope to our heating planet . WITTY CONCLUSION Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 29, 2021
Finding fraud in a world of fast-moving deals
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture-capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. We got the crew together — Natasha and Danny and Alex — this time 'round to talk fraud, one of our favorite topics. Sure, we've riffed on the ups and downs at Luckin, and we've spent more time talking about WeWork's implosion than we want to admit. But that's not the most recent stuff. There's been a raft of fraud lately which caught our eye. The heart of today's episode is a question about fraud, and what more of it might mean: Does more fraud indicate that we're in a growing bubble, or that we're in the later-stages of a bubble about to burst? Here's what we got into to help us understand our question: OpenSea admits incident as top exec is accused of trading NFTs on insider information -- NFTs are good fun until the market for them is bent in the favor of insiders! Goldman Sachs, Ozy Media and a $40 Million Conference Call Gone Wrong -- How to not get money from Goldman Sachs and possibly sink your company at the same time! App Annie and co-founder charged with securities fraud, will pay $10M+ settlement -- If you tell your customers that you won't use their data in a particular manner, and then you do, and possibly commit something akin to securities fraud at the same time, what happens? This! Turning to historical examples, we also brought up Nikola and Luckin and Theranos to help us draw a line around what its fraud, and what is not. With definitions out of the way, we ended this episode by trying to answer our complex, core question. We won't spoil the eventual conclusion, but here's a hint: checks are flying fast into startups with minimal due diligence, and it looks like there's much more money is coming. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 27, 2021
Equity Monday: Instagram pauses youth product as Amplitude, Warby Parker prep public offerings
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . A few things this morning: Instagram is pausing work on the kids-focused version of its social service. It claims that the product is the right thing to build, but that it wants to talk to folks about why, first. TechCrunch has more here . Shares of Box are up this morning, after the company endured a period of time in the wilderness. Google is cutting its cloud app marketplace take rate as marketplaces more broadly lose their ability to accrete economic value as middlepeople. Spotify is spending to advertise its advertising solution so that others can spend more money on Spotify. Swiss startup Frontify raises $50 million , more than double its previous round's size. And from Sweden, EV company Polestar may go public via a SPAC , as EV company Cake raises $60 million . Nice to see Sweden do so well in a key business category. Tesla is doing FSD stuff , which confuses us. And looking ahead, Amplitude will set a reference price this evening and direct list tomorrow. Warby Parker will set an IPO price tomorrow evening, and trade on Wednesday. And that's that! Chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 24, 2021
Winner of Startup Battlefield is...
And the winner of TC's Startup Battlefield is.... gonna have to listen to find out Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, September 22, 2021
Freshworks, Toast go public and we have Takes
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Today we got the gang together -- Natasha and Danny and Alex -- to chat about the most recent IPOs in tech-land, namely debuts from Freshworks and Toast. TechCrunch has covered their pair of firms somewhat closely during their IPO run, as they each have some notable characteristics: Freshworks' IPO provided a fresh window into how public market investors are willing to value growth-oriented software companies out the gate. The news is good. Which means that we could see more unicorns looking to list in coming months. Toast's IPO provided a lens by which we could gauge public-market sentiment for hybrid software-and-payments companies. The answer? That the stock market is pretty dang enthused about the companies in question. So it's a good news day for unicorns, for tech startups, and for Boston, a city that Danny has many thoughts about. Please send him your complaints, and not the show. We take no responsibility. It's Disrupt week, so we'll have more in a few days but until then we'll see you at the event! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 20, 2021
Equity Monday: A global selloff to kick off Disrupt week
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . A few things this morning: I shook up the show format a little, including how the script came together and how it was organized. Hit me up on Twitter if you have notes. Disrupt is this week , so strap thyself in for the best tech event of the year, coming to your living room. The Equity team is hosting -- between the group of us -- a zillion panels and one of the two stages. Come hang out with us. It's going to be on heck of a show. On the news front, the global stock market is taking a whacking. US stocks are set to fall after European stocks went lower thanks to concerns that the Chinese property developer Evergrande and its constituent debt issues could spread to other parts of the market, possibly leading to contagion. Cryptos are also off sharply in the last 24 hours, so there sems to be little refuge in today's markets. A French hosting company is going public , an Indian used-car marketplace raised a boatload of cash , and Amazon is investigating a bribe . And we are expecting IPOs from both Freshworks and Toast this week. It's going to be a very busy few days. Pour some extra coffee, and get hype. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 17, 2021
A knock against bootstrapping
Natasha and Mary Ann and Alex were all aboard this week under the guidance of Chris and Grace , which meant we had the full team. And speaking of teams, Mary Ann is joining the Friday show on a weekly basis now. She's been a friend for years, and a colleague now twice-over for Natasha and Alex and we could not be more excited. That personal news aside, here's the rundown for today's show! Funding rounds in the logistics and infra markets: We went physical-world with our funding round roundup this week. BridgeLinx put together the largest Seed round in Pakistan's history , Releaf is doing incredibly interesting agtech work in Nigeria , and Stord's huge round from earlier in the week brought us to Atlanta. And oh boy has Atlanta had a week . TechCrunch did a deep dive into the city's superlative startup fundraising in recent quarters, and, of course, one of its home-grown startups sold to Intuit for $12 billion just a few days ago. We had a few thoughts on the Intuit-Mailchimp transaction, even if we tried to steer clear of territory that we've already tread. For more about the controversy, Business Insider wrote about how some Mailchimp employees are reacting to the deal. From there we turned to a layoff story. Casper, the DTC mattress company that is now public, had another round of layoffs that cut three C-suite executives. It brought us into a conversation about how Apple's tracking updates are impacting startups in this category more broadly, and if more layoffs are on the horizon. And then there were IPOs to discuss . Natasha talked us through the news that Quizlet may
Wed, September 15, 2021
Why bringing you emergency toothpaste could be big business
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic. This time 'round we took a look into the world of on-demand delivery in Europe, with an especial focus on the so-called "instant" grocery sector, and delivered convenience items. To help Natasha and Danny and Alex get through the subject, we lassoed TechCrunch alum and present-day VP at Zapp , a company in the sector under discussion, Steve O'Hear to chat with us. We spent time chatting through the following: Recent news from the sector, including that Turkey's Getir has just raised a bucket of new capital , and that Weezy is looking to exit ; the latter item wound up being important we got around to discussing consolidation in the space. Steve gave us an overview of Zapp, and how its approach to infra could help its economics. We chatted about GoPuff and its economic fortunes, which in fundraising terms are solid, even if questions regarding future profitability are still in play. And regarding the ever-present pandemic question, Steve was bullish on consumer behavior staying where it is if -- when? -- the COVID-19 pandemic eventually leaves us. We are back on Friday! Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 13, 2021
The Equity crew riffs on the Intuit-Mailchimp news
We are back! From this morning, I suppose. But the news cycle doesn't wait for our publishing schedule, so the Equity crew got together to yammer all about the Intuit-Mailchimp acquisition . A $12 billion deal comprised of stock and cash, it's a big on. And as Mailchimp has both a history of boostrapping and a founding story in a non-Silicon Valley city we had lots to chat about. As a general reminder, if you do listen to the show, hit us up on Twitter as we are doing more and more of these Spaces. They are good and relaxed fun, so don't take them too seriously. We like to have fun. Alright, Equity is back on Wednesday with our regularly scheduled programming. Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, September 13, 2021
Equity Monday: Market pessimism, new iPhones, and IPOs
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Vacation was good, and a big thanks to Mary Ann and Natasha -- not to mention Grace and Chris! -- for keeping things flowing while I mostly sat around reading books and playing video games. But enough being maudlin! To the news! Investors are kinda thinking that the run-up in stocks needs to take a breather. And that the reset could land between 5% and 10%, with another 10% of respondents expecting a correction of more than 10%. Yowza. China may break up Ant , keeping the pace of its regulatory deluge going as this week starts. And the Chinese government thinks that its country has too many EV companies . If the market or central planning will wind up taking point on solving the "problem" is not clear. The Apple v. Epic decision is still driving conversation. Here's TechCrunch's coverage , and here's the MG piece I mentioned. Toast and Freshworks have new filings up. Which is good news if you want to dig into new S-1/A reports. Forge is going public via a SPAC. And Babyscripts and Commercetools raised rounds, while Jungle Ventures raised a fund . Got all that? Ok good. Chat you Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 10, 2021
BNPL is not a winner-takes-all game
Natasha and Mary Ann took over this week's show with Chris and Grace, which meant that our overdeveloped senses of curiosity filled up the script just fine (even on a somewhat short week). Unintentionally, today's episode was built around a theme of inclusion - from auto-insurance to women's health, and from payments to knowledge. But here are some more specifics on what we got into: For our funding round section, we discussed UK’s Marshmallow getting unicorn status for its more inclusive, big-data take on car insurance, Women’s health tech brand, Elvie, topping up its Series C to $97M, and an ambitious fintech play from Leap, which wants to give gig workers access to financial products by partnering directly to marketplaces. After getting past the dollars and the deals, I indulged by bringing up my latest piece: Edtech leans into the creator economy with cohort-based classes. The core of the story gets into a ton of tensions, the biggest of which I'd pose as a question to you: should anyone be allowed to be a teacher? Then we headed into Mary Ann's world of fintech to understand what I dubbed feels like national BNPL week. If I may, I'd argue that this is the can't miss segment of the entire show, as we made sense of why it's a global phenomenon, which markets are popping off, and what this means for the credit card industry. Below is a smattering of headlines we walked through. PayPal acquires Japan’s Paidy for $2.7B to crack the buy-now, pay-later market in Asia Zip acquisition of Payflex means Africa is ripe for BNPL disruption Addi raises $75M to advance ‘buy now, pay later’ in LatAm, nearly triples valuation And then we ended by talking about an adorable, but potentially dangerous robot unicorn. Yep. You read that right. Remember when we were all thinking about what 'the new normal'
Wed, September 08, 2021
Tik Tok, influencers on the clock
Alex is on a well-deserved vacation this week, so for the Equity Wednesday deep dive, we took the conversation to Twitter Spaces. Danny , Mary Ann , and Jonathan Metrick , Chief Growth Officer at Portage Ventures, dove into growth marketing. You can listen to the full episode on the Equity Podcast feed. This conversation was spurred by the TechCrunch Experts project , where we're looking for the best growth marketers for startups. Metrick had been recommended to us in July (you can read his featured recommendation in our growth roundup ) and we were eager to have the opportunity to learn from his experience. Help TechCrunch find the best growth marketers for startups. Provide a recommendation in this quick survey and we'll share the results with everybody. In this conversation, we cover: Influencers take on the marketing world Challenges marketers face with iOS 14 How Metrick sees trends develop geographically New capabilities with attribute in the past year What holiday advertising might look like in 2021 Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, September 07, 2021
Equity Monday: Women's employment drops, as Delta's drama continues
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff to catch up on weekend news and prep for the days ahead. We're here on Tuesday this week since us folks in the United States had off for labor day. You can follow the show on Twitter here, and while you're at it, throw me a follow too. Jobs report: Over the weekend, the US government posted the Jobs Report. It wasn't ideal, with a sharp drop in percentage of women rejoining the workforce. I give you the startup angle, and talk about a somewhat poetic unicorn. Instacart, meet Instagram: WSJ reports that new Instacart CEO Fidji Simo is expanding the grocery delivery store's consumer-product advertising business, with a goal of hitting $1 billion in revenue next year. I riff on why this makes sense and what challenges the business make come up against. Behemoths, beware: The largest Series A within Africa just closed, and it's not even close. Wave is taking on telecom-led mobile money , now with four-big name backers. It's not the only startup trying to take on a behemoth. I also gave a shout out to Glass, which wants to take on Instagram as a new go-to destinatio n for photographers to share their content. And that's a wrap. I have a fun edtech piece coming out on Extra Crunch this week, so keep your eyes out for it. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, September 03, 2021
Private equity giveth, and private equity taketh away
Natasha and Alex and Grace and Chris gathered to dig through the week's biggest happenings, including some news of our own. As a note, Equity's Monday episode will be landing next Tuesday, thanks to a national holiday here in the United States. And we have something special planned for Wednesday, so stay tuned. Ok! Here's the rundown from the show: Apollo completed its takeover of Verizon Media Group Yahoo : Yep, we have new bosses, and we have feelings about it. But mostly the TechCrunch news was a useful segue to Drift's majority exit to Vista Equity Partners at a price that made the Boston-based startup a unicorn. Terms were not disclosed, sadly, but Drift's revenues looked strong going into the transaction. That left us with questions. Then we chatted about Databricks, which raised a small country's GDP in a single funding round this week , valuing the data-and-ML company at a staggering $38 billion valuation. Why isn't Databricks going public? Because it doesn't have to, mostly. Hum Capital believes the future of startup fundraising requires a return to old school Wall Street. The startup helps founders and investors navigate the overly fragmented market these days, and just raised millions to scale this service. Form there we dug into two IPOs, including the very interesting story of Toast , another Boston-based company, and AllBirds . The AllBirds offering was less exciting from a numerical perspective, though Natasha and Alex both like their shoes from the company. And to close out, we discussed how Compound Foods wants to save the planet by making coffee sans beans. Which we are willing to try as soon as we can. That's a wrap from us for the week! Keep your head atop your shoulders and have a great weekend! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Hen
Tue, August 31, 2021
Lessons from Y Combinator's demo day
After a 17-hour marathon through nearly 200 startup pitches, the Equity team was fired up to get back on Twitter and chat through some early trends and favorites from the first day of Y Combinator's demo party. We'll be back on the air tomorrow, so make sure you're following the show on Twitter so you don't miss out. What did Natasha and Alex chat about? The following: First Impressions: We started by going through top-line numbers, geographic breakdown, and how the accelerator is doing when it comes to the representation of diverse founders. The last bit had a tiny bit of progress, but diversity continues to be an issue in YC's batches - even as cohort size grows. We also chatted about what startups pitching can work on: like better mics, which are cheap and good. Our early favorites: Metaphor, Lumify, Alex's favorite duo Indian real estate plays, Akudo, Reframe, and Playhouse. And some hmmm moments, including our thoughts on Writesonic, which Natasha has a potentially paranoid theory on. TechCrunch has extensive coverage of the day on the site, so there's lots to dig into if you are in the mood. More tomorrow! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 30, 2021
Equity Monday: Y Combinator Demo Day Approaches
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . We are heading into a simply crazy week, so make sure that you keep Twitter pulled up as often as you can. Why? This is Y Combinator Demo Day week , which means a zillion startups are going to be doing their best to make noise, stand out from their peers, and raise capital on uncapped notes sans discount. TechCrunch is going to be busy as bees tracking the accelerator cohort, and bringing our favorites to your ears and eyes. The Chinese regulatory story continues , with new gaming restrictions and fresh warnings about anti-monopoly action coming this morning. As before, the news is moving stocks. And the gaming news underscores that the Chinese state is not too bothered about directly undercutting its private sector to meet government goals. All that regulatory work is harming venture capital investment , it appears. Despite a rapid-fire July for Chinese startups, August is looking thinner from a foreign-investor perspective . Vietcetera has raised new capital , along with Urbanbase . In India, Ola Electric is looking to raise a huge amount of capital , we report. In public market news, Astra's rocket didn't go up high enough , so its shares are falling. And we are heading back into an IPO cycle, so get ready. Alright! That's our show! Let's get to work! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, August 28, 2021
The bar for behavioral health startups just got higher
After news broke that meditation app Headspace and on-demand mental health care platform Ginger were merging , we couldn't resist hopping on the mics to do a bonus episode. And, because we were in the mood for hot takes, Natasha and Alex held the conversation on Twitter Spaces. The special guests we had on, who we'll get to down below, did not disappoint. It's a quick show, but the tl;dr is that you want to listen if you're curious why a meditation app would get into therapy, the precedent by Lyra Health and Calm, and how consolidation looks for the sector going forward. Here's who helped us understand and contextualize the news: Lux Capital partner Deena Shakir (who is also coming to Disrupt, incidentally) Chrissy Farr of OMERS Ventures (who you may also know as a former CNBC reporter in the healthech space) 7WireVentures' Alyssa Jaffee (who needs her own podcast because she was shining during the Spaces) And, special shout out to Ginger CEO Russell Glass , who joined the Space but wasn't able to come up on stage due to technical difficulties. Twitter Spaces are fun, but the platform is still a bit nascent so goofs can bedevil live production. However, we managed to get some notes from him via email, so let's take a quick look at those: Glass said that he agreed with "what Chrissy Farr and others said about there simply not being enough therapists in the market today to meet the overwhelming demand," adding that there's "real global need today for what Headspace Health can offer - a scaled, comprehensive platform that can truly democratize mental healthcare." He also doubleclicked on the discussing regarding future "meaningful market consolidation," noting that he expects to see it "especially" happen in "areas that address higher acuity care for severe mental illness.” Make sure you are following the podcast on Twitter so that you catch us when we go live. These are meant to be spontaneous pop up shows, so your best bet is to turn on notifications to never miss our Spaces. Ok that's all. Thanks everyone! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 27, 2021
The pure hell of managing your JPEGs
Natasha and Alex and Grace and Chris were joined by none other than TechCrunch's own Mary Ann Azevedo , in her first-ever appearance on the show. She's pretty much the best person and we're stoked to have her on the pod. And it was good that Mary Ann was on the show this week as she wrote about half the dang site. Which meant that we got to include all sorts of her work in the rundown. Here's the agenda: Funding rounds from: Ramp, which raised $300 million at a $3.9 billion valuation ; NoRedInk which put together an impressive $50 million Series B ; and Playbook, which is building a sort of Dropbox for designers . Each company gave us something different to noodle on, be it the diverging strategies at Ramp and Brex , how NoRedInk is different from Grammarly, and why Dropbox is not the Dropbox for designers. Then we spun the globe to narrow our focus to Latin America, a booming startup scene that Mary Ann recently profiled for Extra Crunch . In a nutshell, venture capital is helping drive an enormous wave of startup activity in the region -- or perhaps a wave of startup activity is driving a boom in venture investment? -- leading to huge companies, and perhaps some tech-powered inclusion of more folks into the modern banking, and digital economy. (For more, here are notes on the Brazilian market's rising exit tally ! And Flink raised , which was worth chewing on as well.) We quickly pivoted to the hot button issue of the moment for every startup (and business): hiring. Natasha noted how startups used to focus on runway , and now they are looking to fill empty seats amid the gr
Thu, August 26, 2021
Politico sells, Forbes SPACs, and Vice cuts
The Equity crew felt that there was enough media news out recently that we simply had no choice but to fire up a Twitter Space and have a chat. The above episode is a discussion of a few things, in a loose and relaxed manner, so don't take any of the Verizon jokes too seriously, Verizon, as we still work for you. For a few more days. Regardless, here's what Danny and Alex got into: Politico sells for $1 billion : Its new parent company Axel Springer also buying the rest of Politico Europe and all of Protocol at the same time. This deal exploded everyone's Twitter feed due to its scale, and the fact that it was one heck of an exit for a media company. One billion dollars? For media? In this economy? Yes! Forbes is going public via a SPAC : Yep, the venerable Forbes magazing and its enormous digital arm are taking the blank-check route to the public markets, which means that we got its numbers and time to stroll through them. Our take is that Forbes has done massive work to take its IRL brand and extend it into the digital world. The company has big plans to boot, and will be worth more than $800 million when it combines. Layoffs hit Vice : As Vice turns its focus to video content — you've heard this story before — it is shedding some of its editorial staff. The layoffs were a stinkbomb on Media Twitter after the other news of the week, but were sadly not a huge surprise. The company's union decried them as something of a yearly recurrance. Not good, not good at all. And there's more media news to come. Our parent company Verizon Media is expected to close its sale to Apollo on September 1 or sometime soon after, which means we will either be hosting Equity regularly as always, or we'll be hosting the RUDE (Recently Unemployed Due to (Private) Equity) podcast. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 25, 2021
OnlyFans' policy change is a tale as old as the internet
For our Wednesday show this week, Natasha and Alex and Danny had colleague Amanda Silberling on the show to help us parse through OnlyFans' precedent-setting move to ban sexually-explicit content on its service. The decision was a bolt from the blue for many of its creators, a great portion of whom created and monetized adult videos and images through the subscription service. It also stirred up a ton of debate around fintech, crypto, venture capital, and the morality of decision-makers. We put all the facts in context for you, hitting the following points: OnlyFans' recently leaked financials. Of course, the company's historical, and projected revenues are now dated thanks to the platform's planned content changes, but all the same the numbers help put into context just how much money OnlyFans' adult creators were earning on its platform. The leaked financials were part of a pitch deck that the company was using on its plight to raise more capital - an endeavor that has apparently been challenging for the startup. This tension made us think about the role that venture capital plays in funding vice startups, and why a tiny clause may stop many from getting into the game. Let's just say, the money behind the money has a way of having weight. And finally, we wondered what might be ahead for adult-content creators . Per Silberling, the world of adult content has ever been in flux, with creators and other sex workers moving from platform to platform as corporate policies, and national laws evolved. To see OnlyFans wind up where Patreon and Tumblr previously tread is not a complete surprise. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 23, 2021
Equity Monday: Stocks up, cryptos up, regulation up
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . Today's show was good fun to put together. Here's what we got to: Global stocks are up to kick off the week. It's a great way to start Monday, frankly. Thinking broadly, the latest regulatory news from China regarding ByteDance is not super bullish for the nation's tech industry. And what the Indian government is doing to its own technology industry is not encouraging . But all of that and tension between the two countries, is not stopping deals . You can't stop deals! Facebook bowed to pressure , and released a content report that it had previously shelved. Zetwerk raised a $150 million Series E. The Indian startup scene is trucking right along, perhaps acting a bit as-if its government wasn't increasingly authoritarian. Shelf.io raised a $52.5 million Series B in what we're somewhat considering a classic Tiger-led deal. And the SPAC boom is not over yet , with yet another Virgin space company headed for the public markets. Woo! And that's the start to the week. Hugs from here, and we'll chat you on Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 20, 2021
Men are a niche demographic
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Danny was back, joining Natasha and Alex and Grace and Chris to chat through the week's coming and goings. But, before we get to the official news, here's some personal news: Danny is stepping back from his role as co-host of the Friday show! Yes, Mr. Crichton will still take part in our mid-week, deep dive episodes, but this is the conclusion of his run as part of the news roundup. We will miss him, glad that his transitions and wit will continue to be part of the Equity universe. Who will take the third chair? Well, stay tuned. We have some neat things planned. Now, the rundown: Funding rounds: Maven has built a women's health unicorn , Monte Carlo raised $60 million for data observability , and Launch House wants to scale venture community with a fresh $3 million in its accounts. The last round is probably the most controversial one of them all, so each of us took a side and discussed what's new and old about hacker homes. The next crop of key IPOs: Please say hello to the rising seniors of the startup world , companies that are the next IPOs that we are excited about. The list includes Discord, Databricks, Chime and Carta, which made headlines this week after setting its own valuation with its own tool. Will investors and startups turn to a third-party to value companies? What happens if secondary investors aren't as into your product as you are? We had a ton of questions. Brazil's burgeoning startup and exit market: In the wake of Nuvemshop raising a zillion dollars , it was time to sit down and talk about Brazil. Alex and Anna Heim have been rigorous in their reporting on the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/17/as-its-startup-market-accelerates-brazil-
Wed, August 18, 2021
The hottest fintech market you aren't paying attention to
For our Wednesday show this week, Natasha and Alex and Danny had colleague Tage Kene-Okafor on the show to chat about the burgeoning African startup scene. Tage has become TechCrunch's key correspondent in the area, chronicling the continents expanding venture capital totals, public company performance, and startup ecosystem. Given that we've paid attention to just how much money African startups are raising, we wanted to have Tage on to give us a better, deeper understanding of the continent's technology activity. Here's what we got into: The power of Y Combinator in Africa: Is the well-known American accelerator a kingmaker in Africa? Or are we merely seeing more of its activity thanks to our own information biases? Fintech as core focus: As in many markets, fintech investment and startup activity stand out in Africa. We wanted to better understand why that's the case in Africa, and what startups are building in the realm of financial technology. African ecommerce: The continent's ecommerce market is perhaps best known through the lens of Jumia, a public tech company that works in the sale of goods online, and their delivery. How quickly is ecommerce growing in Africa, and which startups could be the next breakouts? We asked Tage. Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup! Equity drops every Monday at 7:00 a.m. PDT, Wednesday, and Friday Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 16, 2021
Equity Monday: Hacks, IPOs, and the next generation of American tech giants
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here . I also tweet . It's a surreal day to talk about technology, but here we are. If you can pull your eyes away from the greater geopolitical tragedy that is our world today, here's what we talked about: T Mobile may have suffered a material breach. If this bears out, it could be a leading tech story for the week. Vice has confirmed that at least some of the data in the leak appears genuine . Indian travel service ixigo is going public . The company's IPO follows Zomato's own domestic debut. And speaking of IPOs, the Tencent Music offering in Hong Kong could be on hold until next year . And a trio of American tech companies raised a raft of capital as last week concluded. Carta put together $500 million in a huge deal, as Chime raised $750 million . And as the week closed, Discord was reported to be hunting up a new round at a $15 billion price tag. And stocks are set to open lower this morning. That's the morning report. Equity is back on Wednesday. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, August 14, 2021
Crypto's coming of age moment
This week Danny and Alex and Chris took to Twitter Spaces to chat about the current state of the crypto economy, and hang out with friends in a live Twitter Space. We're doing more of these, so make sure that you are following the show on Twitter. As a small programming note, I forgot to tell the folks who chimed in during the chat that we were recording it, so we had to cut most the Q&A portion of the show. We got Ezra's permission, thankfully. The mixup was a bummer as we learned a lot. In the future, we'll not make that mistake and keep all the voices. So, what did we talk about? The following: The current state of crypto regulation in America , and how the government may screw everything up. In short, tech moves fast, and government moves slow. This creates friction. Coinbase kicked the ever-loving shit out of its Q2 earnings . But as it turns out the future for trading-powered companies could include a few quarters of slower results. And everyone wants to fund the next Coinbase . You can understand why. The company is printing cash lately, helping drive more investment into localized exchanges in different markets. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 13, 2021
Don't give your weed dealer all your data
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Our beloved Danny was back, joining Natasha and Alex and Grace and Chris to chat through yet another incredibly busy week. As a window into our process, every week we tell one another that the next week we'll cut the show down to size. Then the week is so interesting that we end up cutting a lot of news, but also keeping a lot of news. The chaotic process is a work in progress, but it means that the end result is always what we decided we can't not talk about. Here's what we got into: A little URL to IRL update from Natasha, who just got back from an edtech conference . How one VC got hit by ransomware, and why stolen LP data could be a wake up call for investors. The crew chatted through some Cloud 100 numbers , and riffed for a minute on Figma, Gusto, and Mailchimp, companies all reportedly worth around the $10 billion mark. From the early-stage funding round side of things, we noodled on Surfside's $4 million raise , and the capital that Pave recently attracted . Felt also raised money to make maps more mainstream, which had us thinking about use cases galore. In unicorn-land, Trendyol raised a mountain of cash , while UpGrad became India's newest unicorn . Climate change is going to mean lots more companies needed to handle disaster prep, Danny argues . His recent EC-1 here about RapidSOS got into the deep and complex world of three simple numbers: 911. And we ended the show with a riff on <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/
Wed, August 11, 2021
When the economic tide goes out
This week we were back to full strength, with Danny Natasha and Alex joined by Chris to chat through the latest venture capital brouhaha. Namely whether or not venture capital is about to get shaken to its core, or if we're really parsing some long-term economic trends that will eventually revert. Here's a rundown: Sam Lessin kicked off the Twitter conversation by positing that venture capital as we know it is kaput, with software and later-stage investing possibly seeing the most disruption. Both Alex and Crunchbase News posted responses to the concept, which could best be summarized as yeah, but. However, the point that there is a lot of non-venture money flooding into startups is both real and material, and worth chewing on. So, masticate we did, parsing which areas of startup investing might be the most winsome for the VCs we spend so very much time talking to, The direction and future of the venture capital world has largely been lost amidst a sea of large numbers. New megarounds. New unicorns. That sort of thing. But inside the rising tide of capital available to private companies has been a mix-shift of sorts. The question is where that goes long-term. We tried to posit a few things that could happen next. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 09, 2021
Equity Monday: Apple's privacy flap continues as crypto regulation looms
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and me here . It's going to be a busy week, with a Samsung event and a host of earnings reports that we'll have to pay attention to. But more important there are a few stories still dominating the news cycle: Apple's privacy choices: The American hardware company's plans to scan iPhones for some illegal material is once again raising the issue of privacy versus safety. China's tech crackdown: The continued clampdown by regulators continued this weekend with Tencent once again under the spotlight . The American crypto regulatory push: This is still causing waves this morning as Congress works to pass a major bill that could include crypto regulations that are opposed by industry leaders. All that and we also riffed on the Siemens-Sqills deal , Cornerstone OnDemand going private , and Delivery Hero buying a piece of Deliveroo . And, for added flavor and fun, Canopy Servicing just raised a $15 million Series A , while Siga OT Solutions raised a $8.1 million Series B . All that, and we got to talk stocks! Hugs and love from the Equity crew — chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, August 06, 2021
Found: Sara Spangelo, Swarm
Sara Spangelo's startup Swarm now has nearly 100 of its satellites in orbit, but the journey to get here has had plenty of challenges. After a track record that included working at Google X, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and plenty more, Sara realized with her co-founder Ben that including low-bandwidth network capabilities on tiny satellites was not only possible, but offered massive cost-savings vs. the usual way of doing things. But our talk focuses on the challenges of being a first-time founder and CEO, and creating a whole new business model. Links for this episode: Swarm Swarm’s low-cost satellite data network is now available to commercial clients Connect with us: On Twitter On Instagram Via email: found@techcrunch.com Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 04, 2021
When the goals of PR and journalism don't align
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 Zeno Group and newsletter writer extraordinaire Kelsey Cheng , PR Director at Walker Sands Creighton Vance , Media Strategist at Mission North and maker of music We had a few things to chat about, so we broke the show into a few sections: Today's PR world: The impact of COVID-19, burnout, what their work entails, and some tips for startups. The sheer pace of news today: The evolution of client expectations, managing clients themselves, and burnout. Tech vs. Media: We chatted content marketing, sharing details with the press, and why the media never shares drafts of stories before they go out. Frankly it was a very good time and a fun chat. Shoutout to our guests for arriving early and being very put together. May all podcast guests in the future learn from such efforts. One guest was even wearing a shirt with a collar! In 2021! We were impressed. Recall that Equity is off the rest of the week so that we can recharge and retool a bit. Hugs! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, August 02, 2021
The tale of two edtech IPOs
Last week, Natasha and Alex jumped on Twitter Spaces to discuss the tale of two edtech IPOs: Duolingo, the consumer language learning company , and Powerschool, the enterprise K-12 software platform. It was a rare moment in the sun for the recently-revitalized sector, which saw two companies list on the NASDAQ on the same dang day. Special shout out to our producer Chris Gates for handling this impromptu live chat, tech difficulties and all, and bringing it to your ears on this lovely Monday. Don't forget that Equity is largely on break this week! Here's what we got into, featuring some edtech entrepreneurs nice enough to drop on by: China's edtech crackdown and how it is impacting startups both internationally and domestically. The regulations, one of which will force for-profit tutoring companies to turn into non-profits, are also getting the cold shoulder from U.S. edtech VCs, it seems. As Lightspeed Ventures investor Mercedes Bent so aptly put it, the news is somewhat ironic: "[T]he US edtech IPO market is on fire (after being dormant for so long) and the China edtech market is crumbling (after being on fire for so long)." Evidence of that can be found in the Duolingo IPO pricing arc. The company first posted a strong estimate of its worth , raised its range , priced above that raised interval , and still managed to trade higher. The company is still up more than $30 from its IPO price. Powerschool was a bit different. It priced at $18 per share, the low-end of its $18 to $20 range. The company is up from its IPO price, albeit a much more modest two, or three percent in today's early trading. In the second half of the show, we brought on the following host of edtech founders to share their hot takes about the current state of edtech: Philip Cutler , the founder & CEO of PAPER gave us an enterprise perspective. The startup recently raised $100 million in a Series C round led by IVP. <a href="https://tw
Fri, July 30, 2021
Growth is not enough
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. We were a smaller team this week, with Natasha and Alex together with Grace and Chris to sort through a week that brought together both this quarter's earnings cycle, and the Q3 IPO rush. So, it was just a little busy! Before we get to topics, however, a note that we are having a lot of fun recording these live on Twitter Spaces. We've found a hacky way to capture local audio and also share the chats live. So, hit us up on Twitter so you can hang out with us. It's fun - and we may even bring you up on stage to play guest host. Ok, now, to the Great List of Subjects: Robinhood went public! Yep, at long last, it is done. The company priced at $38 per share, the low end of its range , and had a medium-weak day of trading once it started to float. In short, Robinhood seems to have deftly priced its IPO, leaving zero fat on the table. So, it is now richer than ever, and public. More here . Earnings! We took a moment to chat about earnings reports from Alphabet , and Microsoft , and Shopify . Why? Because we care lots about the cloud and platform companies. So, we took a minute to chat about public cloud results, and what Shopify got up to. Batteries! Tesla is moving towards iron-based batteries , and is looking to source other materials direct . At the same time battery recycling is raising lots of cash , and Nikola is Not Dea
Wed, July 28, 2021
The mmhmm story and how it plans to spend its $100M
For our Wednesday show this week, Natasha and Alex Chris had prior Equity guest Phil Libin back for a chat. Libin was first on our show a while back to chat about his startup studio. But since then, he's been a little busy. You may recall that mmhmm, Libin's project to build a better video communication service, raised $100 million the other week . And we here on the Equity pod made a little bit of fun at the number. It was just so very much money for a roughly one year old company. What was the company going to use it for? Well, Libin's folks got in touch and so we decided to just have him on to chat. And we wanted him back because he was one of the most memorable guests on the show, frankly, thanks to his candor the last time around. So, what did we get into? A refresh on the mmhmm story, and notes from Libin about what's ahead for his company. It certainly has the cash to pursue its vision. But as we learned, building software for a variety of platforms comes with challenges. Challenges that are ameliorated by having lots of smart staff. So, that's where the money is going. Regardless, it was good sporting of Libin to come back for another chat. Equity is back Friday morning with our news roundup. Make sure to follow the show on Twitter, as we're doing the odd Twitter space that you won't want to miss. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 26, 2021
Equity Monday: China boosts pressure on its tech sector as Duolingo's IPO looks to raise a few more bucks
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . Ever wake up to just a massive wall of news? That was us this morning, so we had to pick and choose. But since this show is about getting you caught up, we decided to focus on the largest, broadest new information that we could: Asian stocks were down, European shares are lower, and American equities are set to open underwater. Bitcoin had a great weekend, however. China's edtech crackdown continued over the weekend , with the country's ruling party setting new rules for online tutoring companies; they can no longer go public and will be forced to become non-profit entities. Chinese edtech stocks around the world fell. China's larger tech crackdown continued over the weekend and into the week, with new moves against the present-day business models of both food delivery companies , and Tencent Music . The former must ensure minimum incomes, while the latter must give up exclusive rights deals. Shares fell. The Jam City SPAC is kaput . It will not be the last similar deal to fall apart. And we chatted about this bit of Rivian news , as it stood out to us. All that and we had a good time. Hugs and love from the Equity crew, chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 23, 2021
Duolingo's bellwether IPO
We were smaller team this week, with Natasha and Alex together with Chris to sort through yet another summer frenzy of a week. This time around we actually recorded live on Twitter Spaces, which was a first for the podcast. If you missed it, it's probably because we didn't promote the taping since it was just an experiment. Good news, though, is that it went well, and we're going to some more live tapings of the show with the entire crew on the mics. Make sure to follow the show on the Big Tweet to ensure that you can come hang with us next week. We'll also do some Q&A at the end, if we're in good moods. Until then, let's live in the present. Here's what we got into in today's show: The blisteringly-hot EU startup market : You can raise money anywhere, but you might want to do it in Europe where VCs are putting a acre-feet of capital to work this year. Hours before the taping, Index Ventures announced a $3 billion trio of funds (and TikTok strategy?), basically solidifying our earlier reporting. The huge round for crypto trading house FTX , and OpenSea raising again : Regardless of whether or not you are paying attention to the crypt market today, investors are still firing capital at startups in the space at an eye-catching pace. Duolingo's first IPO price range : It's a good-news week for consumer-focused, edtech startups, since the public markets will finally get a taste of an non-enterprise sector startup. Plus, Duolingo's upcoming finance event could lead to them finally bolstering areas like speech, cultural norms, and fluency. From the world of funding rounds, we had notes on Sololearn , Numerade , NewCampus , <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/20/mural-raises-50m-series-c-after-tripli
Wed, July 21, 2021
How WeWork's Adam Neumann made a pigeon look like a swan
For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha took a trip down memory lane to the great WeWork saga. We had WSJ reporter and author Eliot Brown on the show to chat about his new book, The Cult of We, written with his colleague Maureen Farrell. You can snag it here if you haven't already. Brown and Farrell were key reporting voices during WeWork's rise, and fall, covering the company's growth, hijinks, and demise. Recently, WeWork has filed to go public via a SPAC , bringing the co-working startup to the public markets years after it initially tried for an IPO. It will debut at a fraction of the value that it once commanded on the private markets. For fun, you can read the original WeWork S-1 filing here . The WeWork-SPAC deck is here . While we had Brown on the show, we took the time to dive into how he handled reporting the WeWork story, what his take is on today's startup market, and how the tech media in general can do a better job. It felt like a masterclass for journalists and founders alike, which we'd argue is Equity's sweet spot. What lessons can we take away from WeWork's rise and fall? At a very basic level, that companies with slim gross margins are not software companies and should not be valued as such. And that allowing founders to have monarchical control of their company goes against historical norms of good corporate governance, which isn't so smart. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 19, 2021
Equity Monday: Zoom buys Five9 as Robinhood sets IPO price range
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . It was a big damn morning, so we had to cut some stuff. Here's what we got into: Stocks and cryptos are off this morning, as inflation and COVID-19 concerns rise. Zoom is buying Five9 . The deal is not super expensive, nor is it cheap. But given the huge percentage of Zoom's market cap that it represents, it's a serious wager from the video conferencing startup. Carlyle is buying LiveU for around $400 million . TechCrunch broke this news. The deal shows that private equity interest in startups that aren't unicorns. Robinhood dropped a new SEC filing this morning! That means we have a price range and valuation target to play with. More from TechCrunch on the matter shortly. From India: A huge round for Lenskart , and a big Series A for GlobalBees . And we covered this round from Nigeria . A smaller transaction, but one that could prove to be quite neat, we reckon. Ok! Chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, July 16, 2021
The price differential for engineers is declining
The whole crew was here this week, with Danny and Natasha and Alex together with Grace and Chris to sort through a very, very busy week. Yep, somehow it is Friday again which means it's time for our weekly news roundup. Here's what we got to in our short window of time: The Jianzhi Education IPO: We have questions. The Chinese edtech company is looking to list in the United States after Chinese regulators clamped down on Didi and other China-based, American public offerings. Bravery? Stupidity? Brilliance? It's hard to say, but we'll be watching. Zomato's IPO and the Indian tech scene: As Zomato puts the final touches on its impending public offering , we chatted about the listing and what it may mean for the larger, red-hot Indian startup market. The AI conversation: ZoomInfo bought Chorus.ai this week , which we had lots of say about especially in light of Gong's epic valuation. And Discord bought Sentropy , which also uses AI, albeit for a very different purpose. The great AI startup marketing push of years' past has finally led to a few neat exits. Apple vs. Startups: That's the gist of our chat about the BNPL space and Apple's possible invasion of the hot startup market . In short, who's at risk? We have a few ideas. The TechCrunch List is dead — long live commodity capital : We get into how a list that separates VCs by sector and stage makes no sense into today's lawless investing world. Which brings us to a series of new funds. As Natasha pointed out , the scene for emerging fund managers has never looked more diverse. Nooks raised a seed round , which turned us back into the world of virtual HQs. And we closed with a quick digest of the latest morsels from the fake-meat startup smorgasbord , including <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/14/gourmey
Wed, July 14, 2021
Your funding round isn't special, but you might be
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha and Danny decided it was time to chat about funding rounds. Yep, everyone's favorite topic, just in time for the return of our wonderful producer Chris. To help us navigate these particular waters, we had our friend and friendly competitor Alex Konrad on the show. Konrad is a senior editor over at Forbes, and part of the founding duo behind the Midas Touch newsletter. We like him - and his puppy! With four of us around the Zoom table, here's what we got into: An overview of the venture capital market in Q2. You can read TechCrunch's coverage of the global numbers here , and our further exploration of the US market here. TechCrunch has more coming on the matter, so stay tuned. While the show includes the staggering statistics on the current funding frenzy, we soon broadened the conversation to why it all matters. Consider this a peek into the reporter's notebook! We spoke about the supply and demand for covering funding rounds, the imbalance in who receives what money, and how an overall reader ad writer numbness to that $2 million pre-seed impacts the headlines. Which landed us into our final section: how to stand out in the overall deluge of funding rounds. Here we all had a take, because all reporters find different things interesting. Here we answer questions about what metrics to pay attention to, how to be more than a number in your pitch, and the value of talking about topics other than your startup's success. Thanks again to Alex K. for joining the show! Find him on Twitter, https://twitter.com/alexrkonrad and check out his work at Forbes. Chat with everyone on Friday, a show that is already coming together to be a scorcher. A bit like the weather. Except in San Francisco. Natasha is cold! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, July 12, 2021
Equity Monday: Cybersecurity startups see deluge of capital as Microsoft looks to buy RiskIQ
This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . It was a busy weekend for everyone, regardless of whether you were watching the technology, what Branson was up to, or the footie. I won't take sides on the match, but I will say that it was gripping unto the very end and a great example of sport. Now, the news: Microsoft is said to be hunting up the purchase of RiskIQ , a cybersecurity firm. The deal is reported to be worth around $500 million. And this weekend, Twitter began to conform with new regulations in India , moves that come after it lost some legal protections during a scrap with the Indian government. China's tech market has been busy: News is out concerning ByteDance's IPO delay , Tencent is being forced to drop some music label exclusivity , and the Chinese government recently blocked a merger of streaming giants in the country . There's big news out from Flipkart this morning, thanks to its recent and huge new funding round worth $3.6 billion . And returning to the cybersecurity theme from earlier, startups in the sector are having a lovely time raising capital in recent months , it turns out. And don't forget that earnings season is just around the corner. It's a pretty important cycle. Why? Because startup valuations are hot, and could take a hit if earnings come up short. And the IPO market is pretty freaking active; poor earnings from major tech companies could crimp exit-prices for mature startups. Ok! Talk to you on Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is
Fri, July 09, 2021
Mmhmm, it’s the most ridiculous story we’ve ever heard
Danny and Alex were on deck this week, with Grace on the recording and edit. Natasha will be back with us starting next week. So, it was old times on the show with just two of our team to vamp on the news. And oh boy was there a lot of news to get into. Like, loads. What's going on with Didi? Didi's woes have continued this week, with the company seeing its share price continue to fall. The Equity team's view is that the era of Chinese companies listing in the United States is over . What's going on with facial recognition tech? With AnyVision raising a $235 million round , Danny and Alex tangled over the future of privacy, and what counts as good enough when it comes to keeping ourselves to ourselves. Nextdoor is going public: Via a SPAC, mind , but the transaction had our tongues wagging about its history, growth, and how hard it can be to build a social network. Dataminr buys WatchKeeper: In its first-ever acquisition, Dataminr bought a smaller company to help it better visualize the data it collects. It's a neat deal, and especially fun given taht Dataminr should go public sooner rather than later. Planet and Satellogic are going public: One week, two satellite SPACs. You can read more about Planet here , and Satellogic here . FabricNano and Cloverly raise capital: Satellites had us into the concept of climate change, so we also dug into recent funding rounds from FabricNano and Cloverly . It's beyond neat to see for-profit companies tackle our warming planet. Two new venture capital funds: Acrylic has put together a $55 million fund for moonshot crypto work</a
Wed, July 07, 2021
Tune in, SPAC on, drop LSD
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha and Danny decided that it was time to talk about drugs. No, not like drugs for fun, but instead drugs that you might have considered fun, but are now being redirected to help bolster your health. Yep, that's our theme today. As it turns out, there are a number of startups and even nascently public companies that are pursing using drugs that we might consider recreational for serious health purposes. Which is neat, as our habit of decrying any drug that makes you feel better as immoral has likely held us back from learning quite a lot about them. Venture capital investment in psychedelic start-ups, per CB Insights , rose from sub-$100 million results in 2018 and 2019 to $346 million last year. Vice clauses, however, can pause a legitimate issue for investors who might want to cut a check in the space. From the startup angle, NUE Life Health recently raised $3.3 million , and Osmind is up to some neat stuff regarding mental health . From the public markets, Atai Life Sciences, Compass Pathways, and MindMed are the companies worth watching. Frankly this was a fun one to record, even if the topic at hand is actually rather serious. Chat Friday morning! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, July 06, 2021
Didi gets hit by Chinese government, and Pelo raises $150M
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture-capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Tuesday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . What a busy weekend we missed while mostly hearing distant explosions and hugging our dogs close. Here's a sampling of what we tried to recap on the show: Didi vs. China: The Chinese government's crackdown on Didi continued over the weekend, after announcing a cybersecurity review of the company on Friday . That decision blocked new user signups. Now Didi has had its app removed from pertinent app marketplaces . That's going to hit revenue. Shares of the company are sharply lower in pre-marketing trading here in the United States. The company went public last week . Twitter vs. India: India's attempts to cow Twitter into not enacting its own content moderation policies continues. Now India has taken away legal protections from the well-known American company . It's not great news for India's growing technology sector, or the investors backing the upstarts. Funding rounds: Lots of companies raised money, including Byrd, with $19 million in a Series B , Pleo with a huge $150 million unicorn round , and Obviously AI, which just extended its Seed round . It's going to be a busy week! Chat tomorrow. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho
Fri, July 02, 2021
California has no water and lots of liquidity
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Danny, Natasha , and Alex were on-deck this week, with Grace on the recording and edit. But, if you want to hear more about Robinhood, this is not the episode for you. If you want to learn more about the consumer fintech company's IPO filing this is the episode you want. Basically, Robinhood filed after we had wrapped taping, so we had to do a special pod for the news. So, this is the everything-but-Robinhood episode. And here's what's inside of it: Startup and investor tensions at Bessemer and Hinge Health . Natasha has the latest. Didi's IPO , and what's going on with Chinese IPOs more generally . Also SentinelOne's expensive and notable debut . And then all things Duolingo, including TechCrunch's overview and more in-depth look . From the venture capital side of things, Zipline raised $250 million , Daylight raised $5 million , Articulate raised $1.5 billion , Acceleprise rebranded to Forum Ventures , and Peanut put together a micro-fund . We closed with Neeva, Brave, and other alternative search tools. Alex has a piece coming on the subject, once he
Thu, July 01, 2021
Robinhood is going public and we're very excited
It's a sweltering day here in New York City, and that means Wall Street is on fire, and so is Robinhood, apparently. The popular stock trading app officially filed its Form S-1 with the SEC a few hours ago to go public , where it will trade under the ticker "HOOD." The Equity crew has been yammering about Robinhood for years now, and we have been chomping on the bit to see those S-1 results for what feels like ages. Well, we finally got the numbers, we chomped that bit (or at least Alex and Danny did, since Natasha went on vacation about 15 minutes before the IPO hit the wires), and so here's a special Equity Shot to talk about all the highlights. We talked about so much in an itsy-bitsy 15-minute episode: crazy revenue growth, crazy revenue concentration from two major sources, regulatory hurdles that the company has been clearing up, better financials with a bit of nuance on the company's Q1 finances, and the company's special plan for its IPO. Wowza. Here's what we got up to: Historical growth and profitability. Revenue mix and revenue concentration, along with constituent concerns. The importance of options-related incomes for the company. Dogecoin. Why the company's adjusted income may help it assuage investors who have their eyes pop out of their skulls when they see its GAAP Q1 2021 results. And a lot more. Of course, if you hate Robinhood, we will be back with our normally-scheduled Friday episode of Equity tomorrow. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, June 30, 2021
Dear economy, creators aren't fragile plants
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha brought on Alexis Gay, a former operator at Patreon who now makes her living as comedian and podcast host , to talk about the creator economy - including our disdain for that horrid phrasing. You may know her from her cheeky, on point shorts about tech culture (and tech Twitter). https://twitter.com/yayalexisgay/status/1369346460911734784 Gay gave us an honest look into the life of creator helper turned creator actual, admitting that her current job path wasn't possible in 2018. Somewhere, somehow, a VC in the distance heard that admittance as an opportunity to back a creator economy startup. Here's what we got into: Gay's experience at Patreon, and why she left. Alex had some thoughts on the theme. It appears that growing list of creator-focused tools could increase the vapor pressure of folks who write, talk, art, and otherwise create, regarding their present-day employment. Why one size doesn't fit all when it comes to the diverse world of folks engaged in creative work. We also dipped our toes into the issue of indie creators needing to be CEOs as well as artists. We chatted on Vibely, a startup that wants to make interactions with creators ~ multi-directional~ and what it says about scaling time. We also got into what an average day looks like for a full-time creator-comedian-podcaster, why she's annoyed with how creators are discussed by founders and investors, and the tooling she hopes to see in the future. And, well, we had to ask her if she's starting a rolling fund too. All told, if you care about the economics of the creative world and want to add some nuance to your theories about it, it's a fun episode. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 28, 2021
Equity Monday: Big iPads, and Ballmer-era Google
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . First, happy belated birthday to Chris Gates, one of the founding members of the show. His birthday was yesterday, and while he's on vacation for two weeks, we still wanted to give him a shoutout. Chris is a very good person, a good friend, a good father, a good partner. He's kind, supportive, and hilarious. And he has a very good beard. But Equity waits for no single person, regardless of their merit, so on we went! Here's today's show: Stocks are a bit blah this morning, though set to rise in the United States. Cryptos are up a little. From the weekend, Venmo is getting into ecommerce , and Apple loves Surface . From this morning: Binance is beefing with the United Kingdom , and appears to be winning, which is somewhat humorous. On the funding round beat, Slice raised $20 million , Botrista raised $10 million , and Thursday raised $3.5 million . We wrapped with this . The Equity crew is back on Wednesday for our deep-dive, this week focusing on the creator economy which should be good fun. Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sat, June 26, 2021
Equity Extras: Q&A from the live show
Hey Equity fam, we have a small clip of extra for you today. After our live show - listen to the recording here , it was good fun - we got to take a few questions from the audience, audio that was not included in the main episode as we didn't have the time. But we've cut it out, given it a short polish, and have it for you today. If you wanted even more Equity, here you go! As a small note from the team, we know that this week's Wednesday episode didn't have the best audio quality. And to do a Twitter Spaces experiment the same week as a live show might have felt like a lot of change. Don't worry, it just worked out that way. Equity will keep tinkering and having fun, but we're back to normal next week. Enjoy the Q&A, and we'll see you at our next live show! - Grace, Chris, Natasha, Danny, and Alex Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 25, 2021
Equity Live: This is what leadership smells like
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This week we did something fun and different and good: a live show! A good number of people came, and asked questions, and altogether, it was a blast. Danny, Natasha , and Alex had a lovely time with the regular work, while Grace and Chris and Kevin made the whole operation function. We'll likely post a bonus episode of the Q&A on Saturday if people are interested in Equity After Hours. That aside, what did we talk about in a longer-than-usual episode? Here's the rundown: Buzzfeed is going public! Alex wrote about the news here, but the gist is that the media company is merging with a SPAC, buying Complex, and raising some capital at the same time. We have thoughts about it. Maybe neobanks will break even? We dug into some fintech news through the perspective of some recent news from the neobank market. MAJORITY raised MONEY for migrants to the United States, while MFast, a Vietnamese financial services app , got some funding of its own amid the neobank boom. Alex interviewed a leading venture capitalist . So, we talked about that. What's going on with the early-stage venture capital market? That's something we tried to parse. The gist is that the rapidly-evolving world of investing in startups is in the midst of a few trends that are worth understanding. Even if they are slightly contradictory. A16z tripled down on crypto with a new $2.2 billion fund, giving it a total of $18.8 billion in assets under management. Edtech leaders rallied around a memo of their own this past week. And then to close, we raced through some of our r
Wed, June 23, 2021
How many lives does bitcoin have?
For this week’s deep dive Danny , Alex , and a bunch of the TechCrunch crew took on the recent happenings in the world of bitcoin. In a break from our regular format, we recorded live from a Twitter Space -- it's like a Clubhouse, but closer to where your social network is -- so the audio quality is not going to be Utterly Perfect. But we think the conversation will more than make up for it! Before we get into the show notes, do not forget that we're recording Equity live on Hopin Thursday the 24th. Come hang with us and have some fun. It's free, of course, and should be a good time. Details here , sign up here ! So what did we get into? A lot! Recent price changes to the value of major coins The impact of China on the larger crypto ecosystem What's the latest from the NFT craze? Are DAOs, you know, actually a thing? And more. A big thanks to Romain Dillet and Lucas Matney for hanging with us, Drew Olanoff for hosting, and Chris Gates for snagging the audio and making it all work. See you tomorrow! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, June 21, 2021
Equity Monday: China hates crypto, and the Vision Fund's vision lives on
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . Our live show is this week! And we're very excited about it! Details here , and you can register here . It's free, of course, so swing by and hang with us. Back on theme, we had a lot to get through this morning, so inside the show you can find the following and more: The Chinese cryptocurrency clampdown is a big damn deal: With lots of the nation's mining capacity heading offline, there's a scramble to relocate rigs and generally figure out what a crypto market sans China might look like. In the wake of the news, the value of cryptocurrencies fell. As did shares of Coinbase this morning in pre-market trading. Facebook's Clubhouse rival is out . The American social giant follows Spotify into the live-audio market. You have to give it to modern software companies, who thought that they could be both leading tech shops and Kinko's clones at the same time? Revolut is unprofitable as hell but increasingly less so. That could be good news for fintech as a whole. Amber Group raised $100 million ; Forto raised $240 million . See you this Thursday at the live show! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, June 18, 2021
Owning the paycheck is the key to fintech success
Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This week, Natasha and Danny , otherwise known as your two new favorite Book influencers (inside joke, you'll get if you listen to the show), hopped on the mics to take everyone threw the news, with Grace and Chris in the background. Here's what we got into: Wise announced plans to go public via direct listing , making it the biggest company to use this route to debut on the London Stock Exchange. Andreessen Horowitz goes into publishing with Future, so Danny and Natasha took turns fawning over why everyone has hot takes about a blog, and what could be in the future for Future. Harry Stebbings turned up the volume on 20VC with new $140M fund. Natasha broke down why it matters for emerging fund managers, and why it might quiet some concerns about the growth potential of micro-funds. After we left our usually programmed media and venture conversation, we turned to community. Commsor bought Meetsy to build community tools for all for an undisclosed price. Danny found hobby-market fit with BookClub, a startup that just raised $20 million to make reading experiences more engaging with author-led discussions. Then, the edtech convo continued with Formative's $70 million financing event from this week. Danny had the scoop on Gusto's first-ever acquisition as well as Clair, a tool that is skipping the direct deposit and heading straight for the paycheck. To close out the funding round section, we spoke about Carbyne making emergencies more streamlined, and what Natasha argued is the headline o' the week: Neo4j raises Neo$325m
Wed, June 16, 2021
Every startup needs an in-house senate
Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For this week’s deep dive, Natasha and Danny unpacked the Expensify EC-1, which includes a ton of surprises, building tips, and, as we discuss in the show, some life lessons as well. This is our largest EC-1 to date, and is the result of six months of prodigious work from the inimitable Anna Heim. Of course, we had to add our Equity spin on the feature and boiled down our favorite musings into a succinct episode. Here's what we got into: Expensify's silent period as a fun dynamic to deal with as reporters There's always an Uber angle, and Expensify is no different when you realize its early roots are tied to entrepreneur Travis Kalanick's persuasion How Expensify manages to stay slim, focus in a rural town in Michigan, and achieve profitability Natasha asked if lack of structure negatively or positive impacts minorities and underrepresented folk, while Danny explained a nifty way that the company deals with promotions and raises. Danny explained how re-writing the playbook might positively impact recruitment, and how joining Expensify doesn't come with your classic SaaS pitch. And we end with a meta conversation on how society views work, and why neither of us went to spend the next 50 years with predictability. Once you're done listening to the episode, make sure to check out Heim's EC-1 below: Part 1: Origin story “ How a band of P2P hackers planted the seeds of a unique expense management giant” (2,400 words/10 minutes Part 2: Culture: “ How Expensify got to $100M in revenue by hiring ‘stem cells’ and not ‘cogs in a wheel ’” (3,120 words/12.5 minutes) Part 3: Expansion and remote work: “ How Expensify shed Silicon Valley arrogance to realize its global ambitions ” (3,250 words/13 minutes) Part 4: Engineering and technology: “ How Expensify hacked its way to a robust, scalable tech stack ” (3,300 words/13 minutes) Part 5: Business model: “ How bottom-up sales helped Expensify blaze the path for SaaS ” (4,200 words/17 minutes) And that's the show! Make sure to register for a seat at our FREE Equity live show next week, and follow us on Twitter @equitypod. Until Friday!
Mon, June 14, 2021
What does Uber and birth control have in common?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our morning coffee chat with you that is all about the weekend, what to expect this week, and some funding rounds you may have missed. I'm subbing in for Alex Wilhelm today, who is deservedly out on vacation. You can find me on Twitter @nmasc_ , and Equity on Twitter (turn on those notifications!) @equitypod. Biden and world leaders are congregating at the NATO summit , which kicks off this week. Also, the Dublin Tech Summi t is happening on Thursday with yours truly, other TC folks, and many entrepreneurs making a virtual appearance. Now, onto the news! The weekend: The seat next to Jeff Bezos as he launches into space just got filled for $28 million. Also, Elon Musk tweeted about how Tesla might start accepting Bitcoin as a payment once at least half of it can be mined using clean energy. The comment sent Bitcoin up more than a few percentage points, hovering at $39,173 at the time of the recording. This morning: The FT reports that Flagship Pioneering , which is responsible for incubating and launching Moderna, has raised a new venture capital fund at $3.4 billion. Flagship isn't your traditional VC. It forms teams around problem areas and brainstorms solutions, incubates the most promising ones, and then eventually spins out and finances those companies. Funding rounds: Byju's got a check from UBS and Zoom founder Eric Yuan, making it the most valuable startup in India. The company is now valued at $16.5 billion post-money. Plus, The Pill Club has raised an extension Series B round with former Uber exec Liz Meyerdirk newly at the helm of the company. Finally, please take the Equity Listener Survey. We want to make the show better for you, so spending a few seconds filling out our survey and we will be very grateful. And that's all. Be kind with yourself this week, and take more than a 5-minute lu
Fri, June 11, 2021
The huge TAM of fake breaded chicken bits
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. We're closing our survey soon, so this is your last chance (probably) to get your voice heard ! Despite it being a short week, as always, it was a busy, busy time. We had Grace on the dials today, and Danny , Natasha , and Alex making chit-chat about the tech world. As with every week this year, we had to cut and cut and cut to get the show down to size. Here's what made it in in the end: Medium saw more employees depart the company after CEO Ev Williams published a 'culture memo.' While the Medium memo doesn’t wholly ban politics, some allege that the undertone of the statement, timed weeks after a failed unionization attempt, created an unsafe environment. A week later, Natasha covered another controversy, this time at Y Combinator. We riff on the takeaway, and what this story looks like three months from now. The issue of company culture is attracting companies. Or more precisely startups, with Blendoor dropping a new report this week that TechCrunch covered, and Vault raising $8.2 million to provide a software solution to aid employees in reporting misconduct. On the funding round beat, we explored ChartHop's new $35 million round that Danny had many thoughts about, fake-chicken nuggets startup Nuggs raising $50 million , and Faculty's latest deal that will help power its vision for the future of male grooming. We also got into Lifted's elder-care focused round , a startup in the larger healthtech beat that Natasha is giving some of her attention to. And we wrapped with <a href="https://te
Wed, June 09, 2021
The imbalanced landscape of hormonal health
For this week’s deep dive, Alex, Natasha, and Chris dug into the world of hormonal health, a sub-sector within the massive (and booming) world of digital health. The show was inspired by Natasha's latest Extra Crunch piece: "Hormonal Health is a massive opportunity: Where are the unicorns?". To round out the show, we asked one of the featured founders, Dr. Elizabeth Ruzzo , to hop on the mic and help us understand if hormonal health is at its infancy, or at an inflection point, in tech. The tl;dr before we hop into the show is that hormones -- while constantly evolving and changing -- are center node for a ton of health conditions that disproportionately impact women. These can include mental health issues, infertility, diabetes, and more. If you're someone interested in the world of digital health and always read about the Ro's and Hinge Health's of the ecosystem, this episode will teach you what else there is that deserves equal - if not more - attention. Here's what we got into: We started with landscaping! We defined the term "hormonal health" and got a sense of market size, as to show the opportunity there is to innovate here right now. Ruzzo walked us through the opportunity in pro-active medicine, as well as how investors reacted to her pitch when she was first raising her seed round. We ping-ponged around different reasons as to why hormonal health is an underserved category, starting with stigma and ending with stigma. This post from a set of venture capital investors discussing the market opportunity that women's health may have for founders and VCs alike. Then we got into Modern Fertility's acquisition by Ro , and why Ruzzo and many in the digital health community were surprised at the outcome. That said, it’s still one of the rare exits, and as far as unicorns go, there are virtually no companies valued at over $1 billion that focus explicitly on women’s hormonal health. Shifting gears, the trio turned to startups working on PCOS, one of the most common hormonal conditions out there that impacts one in ten women. Former Ro director Rachel Blank announced today that she is starting a company in this world , Allara. To round out the conversation we touched on the recent
Mon, June 07, 2021
Equity Monday: Jeff's going to space, and everyone wants a piece of Flipkart
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . It's WWDC week, so expect a deluge of Apple news to overtake your Twitter feed here and there over the next few days. But there's a lot more going on, so let's dig in: The Weekend: A supercharged, supercharged Model S Tesla car is not coming out . Instead, a merely supercharged version will come out. It's still stupid fast and expensive. And Nigeria's war with Twitter continued , with new efforts from the African nation to limit access to the social media service within its borders. This Morning: Flipkart is raising $3 billion at a roughly $40 billion valuation The deal underscores not just how big the Indian tech scene is, but also how much investor interest there is in ecommerce bets more generally. And Jeff Bezos is going to space . Soon! Funding Rounds: Trulioo raised a $394 million Series D . The Canadian startup is now worth far more than $1 billion. And Chinese company Kanzhun is going public in the United States , which raised an eyebrow here amongst the Equity Morning Crew. Take The Damn Equity Survey : Take it! All the cools kids are taking it! And that's your start to the week. More to come from your friends here on Wednesday, and Friday. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages Te
Fri, June 04, 2021
Amazon is now open to getting sued
Despite it being a short week, as always, it was a busy busy time. Our regular Friday producer Grace was under the weather today, so Chris stepped in to help out. And as noted at the top of the episode, we're running a survey. The survey is here , dear Equity family. Please fill it out so that we can keep making the show better. That aside, here's what Danny and Natasha and Alex got into: Stack Overflow has a new owner , and a $1.8 billion sale price that is minting 61 new millionaires in the process. Katerra is dying, as in going to zero . As the company has been a regular feature of TechCrunch coverage, we had to discuss its end. You can also catch up on Greensill here if that's your jam. Back on the acquisition front, Etsy is buying Depop for $1.625 billion . Our take is that the deal makes good sense, even if it is not cheap . Amazon is now open to being sued after an overwhelming number of arbiration claims were filed. Also we get to talk about everyone's favorite judge's writing style. Unit raised money to help teams unionize ; Chipper Cash raised a huge round for its fintech product ; and One Concern underscores Danny's larger disaster tech thesis by raising $45 million . That's all we got! If you have heard Equity before, take the survey. Thank you! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
Wed, June 02, 2021
Why sports tech is bigger than a game
For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha dug into the burgeoning of sports media, sports gaming, and fantasy sports world today through the lens of some early-stage startups. Naturally, the Equity team is what comes to mind when you consider the correct and right people to discuss sports. We are here to back up your priors. Jokes aside, we had a good time digging into the following: THE GIST raised $1 million . Both Natasha and Alex were very bullish on the company's product, focus, and market. Especially in light of some recent media deals that have kept our hearts aflutter over the last few quarters. Blaseball raised $3 million . Whether it is blah-ZAY-ball, or BLACE-ball, the Equity team thinks that having fantasy fantasy sports is meta, good fun, and perhaps appeal-broadening the larger, somewhat hoary world of baseball. Also baseball could use more whimsy in general. And the fantasy talk continued as we got to cricket, which is a massively adored and obsessed over sport in India especially. Earlier this year, Dream11's parent firm raised $225 million at an over $2.5 billion valuation to build an end-to-end sports tech company around the sport. We'd venture out to say we are probably the only tech podcast this week that found an angle to riff on within sports and donuts, which is why we love our jobs and why we hope you love the show. Surprises keep things fun, and much love to our producers, Chris and Grace , for constantly sourcing creative material that may have flown under the radar otherwise. Back Friday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, June 01, 2021
Equity Tuesday: Everyone is raising money at the same time
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Tuesday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . We are back from a long weekend here in America. But not break here in the States can stop the flow of global tech news. So, here's the rundown: The Weekend: Tata bought BigBasket , setting up a fascinating ecommerce war in India. China is cracking down on edtech companies, leading to an IPO freeze . And Wejo is going public via a SPAC. You can read its investor deck here . This Morning: The are a zillion funding rounds in Europe and globally this morning, the start of what could be a super busy week's cycle. Private Equity is buying Cloudera , which is a surprise. Nio had chip shortage issues that impacted its delivery cadence . The Chinese EV company does expect to meet its Q2 delivery goal, however. Funding Rounds: Truebill raised $45 million . Chipper Cash raised $100 million . Zenyum raised $40 million . WeFox raised $650 million . Malt raised $97 million . Sennder raised $80 million . idwall raised $38 mil
Fri, May 28, 2021
The SPAC trash ticker is counting down
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This week had the whole crew aboard to record: Grace and Chris making us sound good, Danny to provide levity, Natasha to actually recall facts, and Alex to divert us from staying on topic. It's teamwork, people - and our transitions are proof of it. And it's good that we had everyone around the virtual table as there was quite a lot to get through: Team felt all kinds of ways about the Amazon-MGM deal . Some of us are more positive about than the rest, but what gists out from the transaction is that for Amazon, the purchase price is modest and the company is famously playing a supposedly long-game. Let's see how James Bond fits into it. Alex receives four points for not bringing up F1 thanks to the Bond-Aston Martin connection. Turning to the SPAC game, we chatted through the recent Lordstown Motors earnings results , and what we can parse from them regarding blank-check companies , promises, and reality. After launching last June with just $2 million, Collab Capital has closed its debut fund at its target goal : $50 million. The Black-led firm invests exclusively in Black-led startups, and got checks from Apple, PayPal, and Mailchimp to name a few. We talk about this feat, and note a few other Black-led venture capital firms making waves in the industry lately. We Resolved our transition puns and eventually spoke about the Affirm spin-out, which raised $60 million in a funding round for BNPL for businesses. There's bigger questions there around the accessibility and point of BNPL, and if its really re-inventing the wheel or just repackaging it with simpler UX. Next up, we got into a can of worms about the future of meetings thanks to Rewatch, which raised a $20 million Series A this week led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup helps other startups create internal, private Youtubes to archive their meetings and any video-based comms. We could only spend a second on this, so if you want our longer thoughts in the form of text, check out our 3 views on the topic on Extra Crunch! (Discount Code: Equity) From there we <a href="https:
Wed, May 26, 2021
Cataclysms are a growth industry
For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Natasha dug into Danny's latest mega-project: A long, fascinating, and deeply-reported series into the world of disaster tech. It's all about the market, startups, and their backers, so it was perfect fare for our Wednesday episode, in which we dive deep into a single topic. Part 1: The most disastrous sales cycle in the world Part 2: Data was the new oil, until the oil caught fire Part 3 : When the Earth is gone, at least the internet will still be working Part 4: The human-focused startups of the hellfire We were super curious why Danny had picked disaster tech to niche into, as we hadn't heard that much about it, frankly. But past the fact that it's a world where sales cycles can last as long as House Congressional tenures , there was quite a lot to get into: Consumer: Dorothy wants to to provide bridge loans to folks who get rekt by a hurricane . As government, and insurance money can take ages to arrive, the startup could be onto something. and Perimeter wants to take data, and help folks actually know where to go when there is am emergency. Data: Danny's deep dive into the world of data in the disaster space came with a provocative headline , but the market backs him up. In this space we took a look at Cornea, which just raised $15 million to help firefighters better understand conflagrations , and Gridware raised $5.3 million to install boxes on power lines . Very smart boxes, we should add. Mental health: We end with a riff on how companies are preparing humans to better handle disaster before and after it s
Mon, May 24, 2021
Equity Monday: Crypto's awful weekend, Apple v. Epic, and funding rounds galore
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . After a somewhat quiet weekend, things are kicking off in rapid-fire fashion this week. Here's what you need to know: The cryptocurrency selloff that was in full-swing on Friday continued over the weekend. Though bitcoin and ether managed to recoup some of their losses since they set new local minima, the value of popular cryptos is vastly depressed compared to recent highs. Looking ahead, it's the final day of arguments at the Epic Games vs. Apple trial . And we're seeing a smaller company try to crack some of the hold that a major tech incumbent enjoys over a huge piece of the digital economy. So, if you like startups, you might want to put aside your Apple fandom for a minute. More than a few funding rounds are cracking off this morning, including neat rounds from African fintech Mono , India-and-UAE-based Zeta , Emitwise raising $3.2 million , and Aurora Solar raising $250 million . With a busy funding market and a yet-busy IPO cycle, it should be yet another busy week. Strap in! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 21, 2021
LinkedIn is the reason Apple made the M1 chip
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This week was good fun not only because we had the whole team together to record, but also because we are still basking in the endless glory of our winning a Webby earlier this week. Frankly we are still shocked. But happy-shocked, like when you get a new toy and it is covered in static electricity. Anyhoo, we had a packed show with much, much left on the floor as we tried to shoehorn the week into our time slot. Here's what we got into: The world of connections: Fave raised $2.2 million to connect fandoms, Somewhere Good raised $3.75 million to build feedless micro-communities, and both Spokn ( $4 million ) and Spot ( $5 million ) are hoping to use the spoken word to connect companies and their staffs. Honestly we think that the overall connection-community world is super exciting. Piano, one of those startups we actually have the luck of using, raised $88 million for analytics , subscription, and personalization tools. We get into why the round makes sense, and why one investor stood out more than the others. Corporate media: Coinbase is building out a media-ish org (Alex wrote about it here on his personal blog ; Scrawler.co has more on the matter ), and with TheSkimm hoping to find a corporate home and The Hustle doing the same , we had to dig into the matter. Our take is that content marketing is a response to expensive social advertising. And that it's fine. And that it is not news. Shoutout Forbes and its new union effort . Well done. Uptrust raised $2M, which let us tal
Wed, May 19, 2021
What has four wheels and loses money?
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single topic and go deep. This time Natasha and Alex corralled TechCrunch transportation editor Kirsten Korosec to talk to us about the endless parade of EV SPACs, and more. Before we get into the show notes, you can follow Equity on Twitter here. https://twitter.com/kirstenkorosec/status/1394726967203667969 And, because we are proud, we won a Webby! Our show! How cool is that? Thank you for love listening, hate listening, all of it. We are so thankful. Ok, here's what we talked about: Why is every electric vehicle company going public via a SPAC, and why is there so much potential fraud in the space ? Kirsten has some notes on the matter, but it boils down to money in both cases. The Bird-SPAC deal in all its glory. You can read Alex and Kirsten's dive into the Bird investor deck here . We had questions like why was the shared scooter model ever considered viable, and, how did the company improve its economics during a pandemic? The SPAC world never, ever disappoints. Of course, we couldn't resist talking about the scooter barrage of news from years ago and how things have changed since. We end with her latest scoop, a series of exits at Waymo , and what that means for the future of the autonomous vehicle company. Plus, we didn't get to make a joke about it in the show but let's just say: Waymo has a waymore to go before it has driverless tech all over the streets. And one more thing: Kirsten gives a look at some of the speakers at our upcoming mobility event. Snag tickets here, and subscribe to her newsletter, The Station , for all things mobility every week. And that's that! We are back with our regular weekly news rundown Friday morning. Chat you all then! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, May 17, 2021
Equity Monday: Elon Musk Elon Musk's the crypto markets, while Indian startups raise huge rounds
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . There was lots to get through today, so, in order, here's the rundown: Early-stage founders can still apply for the impending Disrupt Battlefield even. You can sign up here if that's you. It's going to be a lot of fun tbh. From the weekend: San Francisco real estate is a mess ; Twitter Blue is coming and I am hype about it; Elon Musk roiled crypto markets by being himself, which doesn't speak too highly of the asset class. AT&T is getting out of the TV game to some degree , selling media assets to help pay down debt. Just like Verizon did by selling TechCrunch and family to Apollo . We also chatted about two Indian mega-rounds: Pine Labs raising $285 million and Moglix raising $120 million . From the early-stage front, two rounds this morning for your pleasure: Telda's super-cool pre-seed round , and recent Y Combinator-grad Houm's latest investment , which explains why the accelerator program is still so popular. Extra Crunch Live this week is Shaun Maguire (Sequoia) + Samir Vasavada (Vise) on Wednesday, May 19th, at 11:30AM PST / 2:30PM EST. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages
Fri, May 14, 2021
Hundreds of SPACs waiting in the woods
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. The fully-vaxxed and officially fully-immune took over the podcast this week, with Natasha and Danny co-hosting the show while the inimitable Alex is out from Shot #2. Grace and Chris, as always, were behind the scenes making sure we sound pretty and don't fall down too many punny board game rabbit holes after vacation. Here's the rundown of what we got into: Crypto crashed - thanks to either Elon or the guy who created Ethereum and then donated some to relief efforts for COVID-19. We debated how signal gets lost and rediscovered and lost again in this news cycle, and what that means for anyone in tech trying to get a pulse of. what's actually happening. One symptom of market craze and disconnected booms? A startup named Caplight that wants more people to buy and sell short positions on private startups. We then pivoted into the last bit of our 'The World Is Melting' section to talk about home ownership and the slow stink of real estate stocks right now. Ontop of that, Better.com, a digital mortgage lender, decided to SPAC after reportedly tabling an IPO. A mention of SPACs obviously opened up a can of worms, or should I say, oasis of woods. The world might be melting, but Softbank could be having the last word. The Japanese conglomerate shut us up with its recent profits - proving Danny's point in an old EC piece (use code EQUITY for a discount). We switched gears and talked about a neat new $20 million fund coming out of the Midwest, Sixty8 Capital, and <a href="https:
Wed, May 12, 2021
Duolingo swipes Tinder in a Clash Royale
For this week’s deep dive, Alex and Danny unpacked Natasha 's latest project: The Duolingo EC-1. The 12,000 word four-part series was published last week and is worth a read. But, until you get to it, enjoy our podcast that doubles-clicks into its most interesting bits. [caption id="attachment_2146587" align="aligncenter" width="482"] Duo, Duolingo's mascot, flying around. Image Credits: Duolingo [/caption] Here's how it went, after we got our morning allergy banter out of the way: What's an EC-1? A TechCrunch-style deep-dive into one of the startup world's most promising, and interesting companies. What's with the flying vermin up above? That's Duolingo's mascot. Which is a combination of hypercutness and modest menace. (You will have fun learning a language. Or the owl will visit.) Why did we write about Duolingo? No, it wasn't only because Duolingo is edtech. Natasha dug into the company's product-led growth mode, and its views on gamification , which were fascinating. What's up with today's show name? As it turns out, Duolingo has a Tinder angle. In fact, Duolingo leaned on some of the biggest companies out there when it came to design and monetization. And as with all edtech companies, we talked monetization and outcomes! The Duolingo EC-1 comprises four main articles numbering 12,200 words and a reading time of 48 minutes. Here’s what’s in store: Part 1: Origin story “ How a bot-fighting test turned into edtech’s most iconic brand, Duolingo ” (3,300 words/13 minutes) — looks at how Guatemalan immigrant entrepreneur Luis von Ahn pivoted from fighting bot attacks on login screens with squiggly text to building one of edtech’s great success stories. Part 2: Product-led growth strategy “ The product-led growth behind edtech’s most downloaded app ” (3,000 words/12 minutes) — analyzes the tactics and tradeoffs that an edtech company has to evaluate as it grows from thousands to 500 million registered learners. Part 3: Monetization “ How Duolingo became fluent in monetization ” (2,800 words/11 minutes) — examines how Duolingo experimented with a variety of different business models to match its unique community, and why it chose subscription in the end. <
Mon, May 10, 2021
Equity Monday: Dogecoin is passé, but student notes are big business
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . This weekend was all about memecoins. And I am sorry about that. But Equity doesn't run the world, sadly, it merely notes what is going on: Dogecoin dropped during Elon Musk's SNL appearance. Which was somewhat ironic. Also there's another memecoin that is skyrocketing. Palantir, DoorDash, Airbnb, Alibaba will report earnings this week, amongst others. Clubhouse is finally coming to Android . In the United States. By invite. So, if that's you, congrats, welcome to the app. A major cyberattack and ransom situation in the United States is a data point, yet again, that we're woefully unprepared for cyber risk. StuDocu raised $50 million which was cool, while Gojek raised another $300 million , which was the very opposite of surprising. This week's Extra Crunch Live is going to be really good. I will see you there! It is going to be a busy week! Already since we recorded this show there's more drama from Box, and more. Strap in! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, May 07, 2021
If 12% is the new 30%, 4% is the new 12%
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. The whole team was aboard for this recording, with Grace and Chris behind the scenes, and Danny , Alex , and Natasha on the mics. We had to cut more than we included this week, which should give you a good idea of how busy the startup and VC worlds are of late. Make sure that you are following the podcast on Twitter , where we post all sorts of memes and cuts and, perhaps, the occasional video here and there. That aside, here's the rundown: Investing legend David Swenson passed away. Twitter is buying Scroll (neat, very cool) as part of its subscription push, but also killing Nuzzel in the process (bad, very uncool). Natasha and Danny fill us in on why Nuzzel will be missed. Alex has thoughts on why Twitter-Scroll is good. Epic bought ArtStation and cut its marketplace take rate. This is the future, says Danny, who throws his own estimates in, too. Sony and Discord are tying up after the Microsoft-Discord deal fell apart. Edtech is doing the edtech thing in which it raises money and consolidates, as shown by Kahoot's latest scoop. A friend of the pod, Jomayra Herrera, is joining Reach Capital as its first ever outside-partner hire. Uber is teaming up with Arrival for ride-hailing designed electric vehicles. We're pretty bullish on the idea. Also Alex likes to say "microfactories." IVF startups are raising venture capital, and this time its Alife Health that we're talking about. WorkBoard raised again . Alex once again made us talk <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/2
Wed, May 05, 2021
The morality and efficacy of going public earlier
For this week’s deep dive Natasha and Alex and Chris dug into the world of the IPO. Not just the numbers and the metrics and the calculations of valuations at diluted, and non-diluted share counts. No. We wanted to talk about the morality and efficacy of going public. So to round out our conversation we enlisted Steve Cakebread , the CFO of Yext and Garth Mitchell , the CFO of Latch . Cakebread is known for being aboard the Salesforce, Pandora, and Yext's IPOs. Mitchell has sat on both sides of the table during the IPO process, and is currently helming the money equations as Latch approaches the public markets via a SPAC . For more context, Yext, a company that first launched at a Techcrunch event back in 2009 , provides data tooling and search software to businesses, while Latch builds software and hardware for rental-focused buildings. Yext is public. Latch will be in a few months. Back to our topic, we asked Cakebread to talk about his thesis on why going public earlier than later can help a company's maturity process and can help provide greater returns to the general public. The CFO has written a rather good book about the IPO process more generally and what it means for a company's internal processes, but his morality notes especially stood out because its an argument far less noisy than the POP critics. Baked beans comes up, somehow! We also asked Mitchell to talk about Latch's choice to go public, and what opportunities and challenges the SPAC route brings for the company. Of course, there's a SPAC joke in there (or two), but we get into broader "what's next" debates about if more companies will start to leave the private world, venture capital's role in this whole mess, and the financial lift of going to the public market. Hope you enjoyed the show, and get excited: Equity is going to have more guests on from time to time, and we welcome any suggestions you want to throw at us. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices"
Mon, May 03, 2021
Equity Monday: TechCrunch goes Yahoo while welding robots raise $56M
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . This morning was a notable one in the life of TechCrunch the publication, as our parent company's parent company decided to sell our parent company to a different parent company. And now we're to have to get new corporate IDs, again, as it appears that our new parent company's parent company wants to rebrand our parent company. As Yahoo. Cool. Anyway, a bunch of other stuff happened as well: Flywire, a Boston-based payments company filed to go public . More on the site about this shortly. Earnings this week are coming from Uber and Lyft and PayPal and Square and more. Dell is offloading Boomi to private equity as it wants to de-lever. Again . Cloud market share numbers are out , but what matters is that the growth of the cloud market helps explain the growth that we're seeing in the startup game. (Our own Ron Miller dug into some rival cloud metrics here .) The Chinese government's crackdown on its tech giants continues. And it's impacting valuations . And Wealthsimple raised an epic CAD$750 million round , while Ohio-based Path Robotics just raised a $56 million Series B . Super cool. We're back Wednesday with something special. Chat then! Credits: Equity is produced by
Fri, April 30, 2021
The second shot is kicking in
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. First and foremost, Equity was nominated for a Webby for “Best Technology Podcast”! Drop everything and go Vote for Equity ! We’d appreciate it. A lot. And even if we lose, well, we’ll keep doing our thing and making each other laugh. (Note: we are in last place, which is, well, something.) Regardless, the Equity team got together once again this week to not only go over the news of the week, but also to do a little soul searching. You see, some news broke yesterday, so we figured that we had to talk about it in our usual style. So, here's the rundown: Do you want to buy TechCrunch? Apparently you can ? Albeit probably along with a few billion dollars worth of other assets -- whatever is left of Yahoo and AOL -- you can now own an NFT. A non-fungible TechCrunch. What is ahead for us? We don't know. So if you do know, tell us. Until then we'll just yo-yo gently between panic and optimism, as per usual. We also dug into the latest All Raise venture capital data, and the results were abysmal. Next up was the news that fintech startups are setting records in 2021, raising more capital than ever before . That brought us to the latest from Brex . And then there was a suspicious trend when three fintech companies focused on teen banking raised in one exhale. We talk Step , Greenlight , and Current. Natasha talked about her last Startups Weekly post, in which she unpacked The MasterClass effect's impact on edtech. And to close, we discussed the latest cool-kid venture capital funds. Sure memes are cool, but did you know that they can help you raise a $10 million fund? They can! We are back Monday morning with our weekly kick-off show. Have a great weekend! Credits: Equity is produced
Wed, April 28, 2021
In a room with no smart speaker, Alexa can't hear you scream
For this week’s deep dive Natasha and Alex and Danny and Chris dove into the world of audio. Sure, you've heard of Clubhouse, but there's lots more going on than just a single app's cultural rise. So from the biggest companies to niche startups, we compiled all the recent audio news into a single show for all our delectation. Here's the rundown: Facebook is building a number of audio products , including a Clubhouse clone and a short-form audio service that we think could be neat. Reddit is also building a Clubhouse-like service , and Alex is excited about it. It's not just the established social networks that are trying out live audio. Peanut, a social networking app for women, added live audio "Pods" to its platform. It kicked off a conversation on what it takes to win this market, and what's a smart versus silly bet. While a drop in downloads doesn't necessarily mean a drop in active users, it's worth pointing out that Clubhouse's monthly downloads dropped 72% in March. Where is that gosh darn Android app? And Alex explained why the Clubhouse-NFL deal matters for the company, as it could molt into something more akin to a platform over time. Danny explained how Apple and Spotify are building paid podcast services -- more here , and here , respectively -- and we have thoughts about which service is being more fair with the money. Natasha tied in how sentiment around the creator economy might be driving some of these individual-friendly business models. Alex brought up TWiT's new business model . All told there's quite a lot of excitement around the spoken word. Which is good as Equity is a podcast? Right? Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 26, 2021
Equity Monday: Social media crackdowns, earnings, and a funding deluge
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . This weekend had a key story, earnings are on the way, and there is a huge number of funding rounds to talk about. Ready? The Indian government's move to remove a number of social media posts critical of its handling of COVID-19 was the key news item this weekend. As the country's healthcare system buckles, and deaths spike, the move by the current administration to censor the Internet was just about as bad a look you could imagine. At least in terms of a tech response. Also this weekend conversation continued about Substack's recent push to hire away well-known writers from traditionally-respected publications continued, with Insider reporting that six-figure offers to join the paid newsletter platform are the norm. This morning we're focused on the impending earnings deluge. Major American tech companies, along with some key social media and ecommerce names will report, giving us a look into how tech companies performed in the first quarter of 2021. We already know that the venture market was hot during the period. How business fared, however, is less clear. On the funding round beat, Mighty Networks raised $50 million , LEAD School raised $30 million , Kidato raised $1.4 million , StashAway stashed away $25 million , and Kyligence put together a $70 million Series D of its own. The Honest Company also set an early IPO price range after we stopped recording. More to come on the IPO front. Chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell.
Fri, April 23, 2021
No one is talking about remote work from space
First and foremost, Equity was nominated a Webby for "Best Technology Podcast"!!! Drop everything and go Vote for Equity ! We'd appreciate. A lot. And even if we lose, well, we'll keep doing our thing and making each other laugh. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Chris got together to chat through the week's biggest news. And like every other week in recent memory, it was a busy one. But we did our best to hit some M&A news, some unicorn news, and some funding news from smaller startups. Now, onto the show rundown, here's what we discussed: The Discord-Microsoft deal is done , and Danny has a hot take. Namely, in his view, the deal was mostly banker chatter more than a real possibility. More chaff than wheat, in other words. Agree or not, we're stoked for the Discord IPO in a few years (quarters?) time. Mastercard bought Erkata , and Danny was on hand to hand to explain why we care about the deal. Sure, it was $825 million in value, but some venture data from Finledger helped explain just how much capital is flowing into similar companies . Let's see how that math works out. Clearbanc rebranded itself into a fintech unicorn, providing services along with sweet, sweet capital. The UiPath IPO finally priced and started to trade. It had a good first day, and you can check out what we learned talking to its CFO here. Over in China, a country that we've not covered enough lately, Laiye raised $50 million more . Like UiPath it competes in the RPA world. Deel, for one, had a good 2020. It hit 20x growth in revenue last year, and recently raised at a $1.25 billion valuation. And then we closed with two seed rounds raised by recent Y Combinator grads: Here's <a href="https://techcrunch.com/
Wed, April 21, 2021
The rise of the next Coinbase, thanks to Coinbase
For this week’s deep dive Natasha and Alex and Danny wanted to chat crypto. No, not cryptography, but cryptocurrency. The topic has been hot in recent months thanks to Coinbase, recent weeks thanks to the rapid price appreciation in the value of many coins, and in recent days because dogecoin went crazy. Vote for Equity to win a Webby so that our parents are proud! So with our minds tuned to the future of money, and commerce, and content, here's the show's rundown: Recent crypto news has been more than busy, with Venmo adding crypto support , Brian Brooks joining Binance , and the Coinbase direct listing . But that's not all, there have been a host of NFT marketplaces that have raised millions in the past week. We talk about Rarible , SuperRare , OpenSea , and Dapper Labs. We talk about differentiation, UX, and if more than one marketplace can win. Dogecoin's to the moon moment had reached a new price high and come down some before our show recorded, but the cryptocurrency's joke apparently is still funny after all these years. Here's a tweet and an article about it. And the idea that Coinbase's successful direct listing will matter for investors betting on crypto-focused startups is true, at least according to investors. More on that here, and hit us up if you want a sweet discount code to get past that paywall. Equity is back on Friday with our weekly news roundup. It's going to be a treat. Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audi
Mon, April 19, 2021
Equity Monday: Clubhouse, UiPath, and the crypto flash crash
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . First, our news roundup from last week was probably the most fun I've had in a few months, so make sure to catch up on that if you haven't. That said, here's a rundown of what we got into on the show this morning: The new Clubhouse round has us thinking about what is a good venture-style bet, and what isn't. At least you can't fault the Clubhouse crew for not having conviction. UiPath raised its IPO range , as expected . There's an Apple event this week, which caused us to wonder why more startups aren't competing with the giant. Cryptos have recovered from the flash crash, which had us thinking. Druva raised $147 million as TechCrunch will report later today, and Razorpay raised even more capital at a newly refreshed valuation. Finally, DoNotPay had some news, but it's corporate ethos proved even more interesting. The week is here, everyone! It's Monday! We can do this! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, April 16, 2021
Do you need a SPAC therapist?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. It was yet another busy week, but that just means we had a great time putting the show together and recording it. Honestly we have a lot of fun this week, and we hope that you crack a smile while we dig through the latest as a team. Ready? Here's the rundown: The Coinbase direct listing! Here's our notes on its S-1 , its direct listing reference price , and its results . And we even wrote about the impact that it might have on other startup verticals! Grab's impending SPAC ! As it turns out Natasha loves SPACs now, and even Danny and Alex had very little to say that was rude about this one. Degreed became a unicorn, proving yet again that education for the enterprise is a booming sub-sector. Outschool also became an edtech unicorn , thanks to a new round led by Coatue and everyone's rich cousin, Tiger Global. The conversation soon devolved into how Tiger Global is impacting the broader VC ecosystem, thanks to a fantastic analysis piece that you have to read here. Papa raised $60 million , also from Tiger Global. What do you call tech aimed at old folks? Don't call it elder tech, we have a brand new phrase in store. Let's see if it catches on. AI chips! Danny talks the team through grokking Groq , so that we can talk about TPUs without losing our minds. He's a good egg. And, finally, Slice raised more money . Not from Tiger Global. We have good things to say about it. And that is our show
Wed, April 14, 2021
Why expensive workout gear is actually cheap
For this week's deep dive Natasha and Alex wanted to dig into the Tonal EC-1 , a huge document spread across a number of posts. Our goals were pretty simple: To better understand Tonal's journey, and also to get into the mind of its author. So we corralled JP Mangalindan into firing up his computer, microphone, and recording software for a chat. Here's what we covered: What is Tonal, why is it interesting, and why did JP spend so much time learning about the company? What did he have to leave out of the final report? His views on fitness gear, and the Peloton effect more broadly What was it like to write something so gosh darn long? The Tonal EC-1 comprises four main articles representing about 10,600 words and a reading time of about 43 minutes: How a homegrown experiment became one of the fastest-growing companies in fitness tech Millions of dollars and 3.5 years, and it all came down to this Building online communities for fun, profit and product Can Tonal become the luxury fitness market champion? As Natasha is currently -- shh, it's a secret -- working on an EC-1 of her own, we had more than a usual amount of interest in the project. Use code Equity for a super sweet discount to access this story and all of our premium content. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 12, 2021
Equity Monday: Microsoft buys Nuance, Uber isn't dead, and Austin has a new unicorn
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . It is good to be back! There was a lot to get through, so, in order that we discussed the topics on the show, here's our rundown: Microsoft is buying Nuance Communications today. The deal is worth around $19.7 billion . The transaction could be viewed as pretty good news for AI startups and the broader private healthtech space. That said, how much bigger should Microsoft be allowed to get by absorbing rival public companies? Tiger Global is making a wave of bets on Indian startups . And from the political realms, read this Buzzfeed News story on India and its tech ecosystem, this piece on what's happening with Alibaba , and, finally, this entry discussing the growing divide between the American business and regressive politics. This morning's headlines: Uber isn't dead ! Senator Josh Hawley has an idea . And Darktrace is going public . On the funding round front, make sure to read about The Zebra's latest , and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/12/nigerian-fintech-software-provider-appzone-raises-10m-to-expa
Fri, April 09, 2021
Creator economy’s slow burn
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s rigamarole of news. Alex took some well-deserved time off, but that meant we got to poke a little fun at him and create a Special Edition segment to start off the show. Jokes aside, this week was yet another spree of creator economy, edtech, and new fund announcements, with fresh and unexpected news hailing from Natasha's home state, New Jersey. Here's what we got into: Box got a lifeline in the form of a $500 million check from KKR , and as Danny mentions, Box CEO Aaron Levie shifts his role a bit, too. Patreon, an early startup in the creator economy space, has tripled its valuation to $4 billion. Another, not-so-old startup with the same reported valuation? Clubhouse. We threaded the line between the two, and gave some color on a new monetization feature rolled out. As an aside, looks like Clubhouse is everyone's favorite app to tweet about so much so that even Twitter is reportedly considering an acquisition. MasterClass raising new funding at $2.5 billion valuation. That is up from a $800 million valuation just last year, and shows that aspirational teaching packaged as celebrity-taught Youtube-like videos with Netflix-like quality is enough to be considered edtech. Speaking of edtech, a series of exits have caught our attention. The consolidation has begun! We spoke about two new funds. First, New Jersey is proposing a $10 million fund that would go to Black and LatinX founders. Second, I
Wed, April 07, 2021
Introducing: Found
For this week’s deep dive, the Equity team sat down not with external investors or founders, but with two of our own. Yes, this week, for the first time Natasha and Alex got to break a little internal news instead of focusing on the world outside. Why did we have Jordan Crook and Darrell Etherington on the show? Because we're jazzed to add a second startups-focused podcast to a slowly but surely growing TC podcast network: Found. Found lands April 9, so tune in! The show will focus on talking to early-stage founders about building their company, from the emotional rollercoaster moments to tactical insights no one tells you until you've raised your first dollar. Equity will keep its eyes on the news, with extra attention to all the dollar signs that are to be found in startup-land and the venture capital world. At the same time, Found will bring a number of startup founders aboard to talk about the more human, and procedural work of building the next great tech company. We hope you love a new show from our friends as much as we do, and remember Equity will be back on Friday with news, banter, and fun soon. In the meantime, here's where you can find Found: Spotify @Found on twitter Chat soon! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, April 05, 2021
Equity Monday: Edtech consolidation, and Amazon continues to make you like it less
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . This morning we took a global look at the news, trying to take in the latest from around our little planet: American stocks are set to rise as much of the world had the day off from trading; Indian stocks fell on the back of poor COVID-19 news. The biggest tech news was this bit of bad news from Facebook , if you are a fan of privacy. And the FT has data on the Chinese tech liquidity market that isn't great news. Amazon is in trouble after it illegally retaliated against workers . And there's more reporting on how low the company was willing to stoop to try and block union activity. Corporations, they're always letting us down. And edtech giant Byju's buying an IRL tutoring service for a billion dollars. On the funding front, Meesho is now worth $2.1 billion thanks to SoftBank Vision Fund 2, while Cresta now has $50 million more in its own coffers . And we wrapped with a peek at the Alkami Technology IPO , which was good fun thanks to where the company was founded. It's going to be a blast of a week. Talk to you Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. L
Fri, April 02, 2021
Clubhouse will create billions in value and capture none of it
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. It was a busy week on the IPO front, Danny was buried in getting the Tonal EC-1 out, and Natasha took some time off. But the host trio managed to prep and record a show that was honestly a kick to record, and we think, a pleasure to listen to! So, for your morning walk, here's what we have for you: The Substack conversation : Does the new $65 million check make sense? What is Substack? Does it have a moat? Why is Natasha's URL so much better than Alex's ? Cameo raised $100 million and none of us really have a bone to pick with that. Danny actually argues in favor of it. The Clubhouse conversation: Does every single product need to feature live audio? The answers appears to be yes, oddly enough. Discord comes up along with Spotify , as does LinkedIn. And somehow, Microsoft Excel and Miami? TechCrunch scooped that Pipe is raising more money at a huge new valuation , and we argue about what a derivative really is. Harlem Capital raises $134 million for its new fund. MaC VC raises $103 million for its new fund. It was a mix of laughs, 'aha' moments, and honest conversations about how complex ambition in startups should be. One listener the other day mentioned to us that the pandemic made it
Wed, March 31, 2021
Tips for founders thinking about doing a remote accelerator
For this week’s deep dive, the Equity team got ahold of three founders from the recent Y Combinator batch (more here , and here ) to chat through their experiences with a remote accelerator. TechCrunch was curious if the program lived up to founder expectations, how extreme timezone differentials were handled, and how easy it was to build camaraderie during a digital program. Oh, and how their demo day went. Here's who is on the show: Benjamin Croc , a founder at BrioHR (TechCrunch coverage here ) Trisha Bantigue , a founder at Queenly (TechCrunch coverage here ) Adam Alpert , a founder at Pangea (TechCrunch coverage here ) The short version is that the founders were generally happy with Y Combinator being remote, and that the setup allowing them to stay in their normal location was plus. We also asked the founders for learnings regarding how to best handle remote accelerators in the future. More from Equity on Friday, at which point we'll put Y Combinator aside for a good while. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 29, 2021
Equity Monday: Deliveroo, ServiceTitan, and Robinhood for everywhere
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . This morning was a fun mix of news, including some early-stage and late-stage startups entries, along with the latest from the public markets and the great IPO game. Here's the rundown: ServiceTitan's vertical SaaS success was enshrined in its recent funding round and valuation . Both of which were predicated on its revenue growth. The software market is just gigantic. It's kinda crazy. Deliveroo's IPO has hit market chop as it looks to price. Governance and how it treats workers were among the concerns that investors have raised. And then Chinese company BiliBili struggled during its Hong Kong IPO, while Chinese company Zhihu fell after debuting in the United States -- could the public markets bet ratcheting back their interest in tech stocks? On the funding round side of things, Ajaib extended its Series A , Singular announced its fund , and Cazoo is going public via a SPAC . It was a lot, but when have we started the week anything less than fully behind? Chat Wednesday! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 26, 2021
You can only invest if you promise not to read the fine print, ok?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. News was right back up to a dull roar this week, so we did our best to trim and hone and just bring you the most important things. Here's the rundown: David Dobrik stepped down from Dispo, the photo-sharing app he co-created, this past week after allegations came out about him. We talked about the venture capital angle, since early-stage investors in the app reactively distanced from their investments. Could this set precedent or have a chilling effect on celebrity-startups ? Robinhood filed privately to go public ! So, it's happening everyone. At long last, one of Silicon Valley's hottest companies is kicking off its IPO process. We're hype, you're hype, and we had some jokes. And in other mega-unicorn news, it appears that Microsoft is tempted to plonk down $10 billion for Discord . Why, you ask? Well why not. It's just $10 billion from Microsoft's $1,780 billion valuation. Or around half a percent. Sticking to the $10 billion-and-greater category, Plaid could be raising $600 million at a valuation of $10 billion to $15 billion . That's a lot of money. Danny, however, has some doubts. Also, Plaid has announced the inaugural cohort of its FinRise accelerator , a program focused on helping fintech startups led by underrepresented founders. And then there were a few rounds to chat about. Namely the intensely interesting Bevy deal , and Ro raising $500 million at a $5 billion valuation. And to wrap, Natasha and
Wed, March 24, 2021
Equity Crowdfunding is making the private markets public
Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. For this week’s deep dive, the Equity team brought on Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia and Hustle Fund General Partner Elizabeth Yin to talk about equity crowdfunding. It’s been about a week since the SEC increased the equity crowdfunding cap from $1.07 million to $5 million, creating the perfect opportunity to go beyond the dollar amount and understand how the change impacts founders, venture capitalists, retail investors, and future fund managers. Here’s a brief rundown of the show: We talk about the basics of this new SEC regulation , and understand which platforms might be leading the pack for these bootstrapped campaigns. Indiegogo’s founder wrote a n op-ed grading the new regulations on the site. Some banter on Gumroad’s 12-hour campaign that led to a successfully crowdsourced $5 million for the company . Lavingia talks about his decision to crowdfund a round in his company, why it made sense for the company, and what it will take to make this raise mainstream. Of course, Yin shared a ton of helpful nuggets around crowdfunding, providing a venture capital perspective that was still bullish on growing the amount of check-writers in the ecosystem. Some recent equity crowdfunding campaigns have shown that there are thousands of individuals willing to fund the enterprises they want to see succeed. Juked.gg is one such example . There are also notes on the Testing the Waters dynamic that could usher some wiggle room to early-stage founders thinking about this. Will equity crowdfunding supplant venture capital, or will it merely augment it? Our discussion leads us to ponder both possibilities. What seems clear is that equity crowdfunding could widen the band of companies that are "backable," if not the band of companies that traditional venture capital players find enticing. And we end with a whole bunch of meta debates, from the role of the platform in vetting campaigns. As with every innovation, including crowdfunding itself, there will be fraud and failure. But if there will be enough bad news to limit consumer interest is far from certain. This is one of those nerdy topics that gets us really excited about the future of dollar allocation and startup creation. We hop
Mon, March 22, 2021
Equity Monday: Deliveroo sets IPO price range as we gear up for Y Combinator week
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here . If you are paying attention to Y Combinator's demo day this week, our primer is here . And our Friday news roundup is here . With that, let's get into the news: Ironsource is going public via a SPAC . It's worth even more than eToro, which is also going public via a SPAC . It's a big quarter for Israeli tech. Sivo is a hot startup that you're going to hear more about . Also a lesson here for founders, if you want attention, share numbers. Deliveroo has a price for its IPO, and the company could be worth as much as £8.8 billion. Even more, the European delivery giant has seen huge demand gains thus far in 2021. On the month front, Nuvemshop has raised $90 million , M Capital Management has raised $30.85 million for a new fund , and Aldea Ventures has raised a €60 million investment vehicle . Remember Dispo? The hot photo-taking service? Read this . And finally. Happify Health has raised a $73 million Series D , while Clarify Health has put together a $115 million r
Fri, March 19, 2021
Forget medicine, in the future you might get prescribed apps
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. This time around we had whatever passes for a quiet week as far as news volume. But that still meant we had to cut stuff and move the rest around. But, once we got done editing the notes doc down, here's what was leftover: Snap acquires Fit Analytics , a fitting technology startup: A far-past TechCrunch Disrupt alone has found a new home inside of the LA's social leader. No price on this one, but a fun thing to talk about all the same. eToro is going public via a SPAC (cool), and as it competes with Robinhood it gave us a chance to dig into the market . And frankly there's a lot to like about eToro. And thus Robinhood? Probably. The co-founder of Siri and a scientist have teamed up to create Riva Health , a software solution that hopes to turn your phone into a blood pressure monitor accurate enough for clinical use. Copy.ai raised $2.9 million , a round that Alex would not shut up about because of GPT-3. More on that tech here. The future of cannabis is in the hands of retail shops, or at least thats what Dutchie, a Bend, Oregon-based startup, believes. The cannabis management startup raised $200 million at a $1.7 billion valuation this past week. Airtable raised another round . A huge one. Again. This time it was $270 million at a $5.77 billion valuation. How much more money could it need? Who knows! Squarespace, everyone's favorite podcast sponsor, has raised $300 million at a steep, $10
Wed, March 17, 2021
Pregame Y Combinator with Equity
This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down and focus on a single topic, or theme. This is our sweet spot: going beyond definitions and into the dirty and deep impact of how a phenomenon could impact startups and tech. We are hoping to explore more than answer, and debate more than agree. This week we're riffing on the impending Y Combinator demo day class, all hailing from the Winter 2021 cohort. As we stated on the show, we're not saying that these are the only startups worth looking at. They're simply the startups from the batch that TechCrunch has already covered, and some other favs from our eyes and those of a few investors.Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 15, 2021
Equity Monday: Stripe's epic new valuation, Deliveroo's IPO, and WeWork numbers
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and make sure to check out Friday's news-roundup with Danny and Natasha that included some neat notes on search startups. And their chances against Google. So, what did we chat about this morning? Here's the rough rundown: Stripe! Stripe raised new money at a new price and both were rather large. Would you believe that Stripe is still not public? It isn't! But it should be. Perhaps this is the last time it will raise before listing. Also from the recent past, Megvii filed to go public , and Nimble Robotics raised . The Deliveroo IPO is happening, and the £1 billion raise could value the company at £5 billion, Reuters reckons . Oh, and TechCrunch has the most recent WeWork numbers . DeepSee.ai raised a Series A , and we have questions about its product -- and hopes. Centrical also raised for its hybrid working software , which could come in demand after COVID ends. Extra Crunch Live this week is Emmalyn Shaw from Flourish Ventures and Adam Roseman from Steady. That's March 17th at 12 p.m. PDT and 3 p.m. EDT. See you there! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoice
Fri, March 12, 2021
Can you beat Google with Google's brains?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. Like every week, we had to leave a lot of great stuff on the cutting-room floor. But, we did get to touch on a bunch of news that we feel really matters. Also we do wind up talking about a few Extra Crunch pieces, which is where our deeper analysis on news items lives. If the paywall is a bother, you can get access while saving 50% with the code "EQUITY." Here's what we got into: Crypto-art and the NFT boom continue. Check out what Beeple just did . Danny has an opinion on the matter. The Roblox direct-listing does very little actually solve the IPO pricing issue. That said, well done Bloxburg . We talked about the Coursera S-1 , which gave us the first financial peek into an education company revitalized by the pandemic. The numbers needed context, so our follow up coverage gives readers 5 takeaways from the Coursera IPO. Language learning has a market, and it's big. We talked about Preply's $35 million raise and why tutoring marketplaces make sense. Dropbox is buying DocSend , which makes pretty good sense. Even if the exit price won't matter much for bigger funds. We're still witnessing Dropbox and Box add more features to their product via acquisitions. Let's see how it impacts their revenue growth. Zapier buys Makerpad . We struggled to pronounce Zapier, but did have some notes on the deal and what it might mean for the no-code space. Sticking the acquisition theme, PayPal bought Curv . If you were looking for more evidence
Wed, March 10, 2021
NFTs are changing cultural value creation
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down and focus on a single topic, or theme. This is our sweet spot: going beyond definitions and into the dirty and deep impact of how a phenomenon could impact startups and tech. We are hoping to explore more than answer, and debate more than agree. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, is this week's topic! This is something that you have nearly certainly heard of in the past few weeks but probably don't understand with perfect clarity. While we've all seen the Twitter threads of basic definitions, consider this episode the appetizer to your aperitif understanding. The Equity team put on our research caps, dug in, and found quite a lot to like. But we did not tread alone: our EIC Matthew Panzarino joined Chris and Alex and Danny and Natasha to help us out. Panzer was early to the NFT world and has contributed some of TechCrunch’s reporting on the matter . So, what did we get into? More than a little: We spent a few minutes on the NFT basics, including historical examples and how NFTs are minted, as well as some examples of how they have been used recently. From there we riffed on use-cases more broadly, and where we might find NFTs in the wild. Sure, we talked about visual art, but also music, tickets and sports moments. The NFT world has the possibility of a large remit if it plays its, ahem, tokens correctly. Then we talked culture. What could it mean that NFTs are in the market? Could residual incomes from the reselling of NFTs constitute a material revenue base for future artists, and how broad can the value-experiment go? Depending on which side of the NFT hype-cynicism divide you land, there’s plenty of room for discussion. A point made by Panzer: NFT's and the architecture of smart contracts and the way that social tokens work, these are all opportunities for the creators and originators of culture, to finally take part and participate in their rewards of the platforms of that culture -- you know, that hosts that culture. Because we've seen it over and over again: Artist blows up on TikTok, and you know, somebody does a dance to them, and then that video blows up. What does the artist get out of it? Sometimes they get a recording deal. Many times they get nothing. Right? In Vine, famously built on Black creators and brown creators and Latino creators and Latino creators. You know, TikTok, very much the same. Black Twitter one of the early driving forces of engagement o
Mon, March 08, 2021
Equity Monday: More money for fintech, Deliveroo's IPO, and AI startups
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and make sure to check out our Friday show that featured the Square-Tidal deal, some recent IPOs, and some super-neat rounds . Much like today's show, if I am being honest. Here's the rundown: Coursera filed to go public , which could help set the tone for edtech founders and startups regarding their own valuations and fundraising prospects. Bay Area startups did not leave . And the world of AI venture-capital funding shows that while there's plenty of capital, the number of startups being founded in the space is dipping. Starling raised a huge new round in the fintech space, and Deliveroo dropped some financial numbers on its path to going public in short-order. Postscript raised $35 million for its Shopify-SMS service; Praava Health raised $10.6 million to bring better healthcare to Bangladesh. A packed kickoff to what promises to be a packed week! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, March 05, 2021
SoftBank makes mountains of cash off of human laziness
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. It was yet another crazy week, but did our best to get through as much of it as we could. Here's the rundown, in case you are reading along with us! Square is buying Tidal in a deal that some are skeptical of, but one about which we found quite a lot to like. How capital-as-a-service can get you your first check in 2021, and a nod to Indie.VC, a pioneer in alternative financing for startups that announced it is shutting down net new investments this year. Oscar Health priced its IPO above its raised range , which was good for it in terms of fundraising. However, since its debut the company has lost pricing altitude. Its declines mimic those of other public neo-insurance proivders in what could be a new trend. And sticking to the insurtech beat, Hippo is going public via a SPAC. Because everyone else is? Compass filed its S-1 , which triggered a debate on how its different than OpenDoor. Coupang's IPO is also coming , replete with huge growth, an improving profitability picture, and a massive valuation. This is one to watch. There was also a whole global news circuit around grocery delivery startups, with Instacart raising at a $39 billion valuation . And we wrapped with the Surreal seed round that we found to be more than a little spicy. As it turns out, commercialized deepfakes are not merely on the way; they are here. And with that we are back on Monday. Have a rocking weekend! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch aud
Wed, March 03, 2021
$100 million for mealworms
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the number behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down and focus on a single topic, or theme. This week we're talking agtech, a surprisingly cool bit of the technology startup world. But Chris and Danny and Natasha and Alex were not alone in their quest to take a look into agtech, we brought alone TechCrunch climate editor Jon Shieber for the ride. With his help we got through a number of pretty damn interesting things, including: SESO Labor raising $4.5 million to help farms secure the labor they need, and navigate the American immigration system. Future Acres looking to raise $3 million for its farming robots. And Farmwise, which last raised $14.5 million and has an idea regarding how to rent robot labor to farms . We also chatted about Anuvia's epic $103 million raise that could help boost farm yields while cutting carbon emissions. And Better Origin, which wants to help farmers raise flies to feed to chickens . Which we had a few ideas about. And that's that! We're back on Friday with our long-form, newsy episode. Thanks to everyone checking out our newest show. Oh, and don't forget about TechCrunch Early Stage and TechCrunch Justice . They are going to rock. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, March 01, 2021
Equity Monday: More venture money for Europe, and public companies blast off
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and be sure to check out our most recent Friday episode , which featured news on Finix and Coinbase and Reddit, among others. (Also don't forget that Equity is growing ! And TechCrunch events are about to kick off and kick some butt.) Here's what we got into this fine Monday morning: Skydio raises $170 million , a huge sum for the drone company. Will its market prove large enough, quickly enough for the company to stay VC-ready? The UK government is putting together a venture fund of sorts ? That's mostly cool. Klarna raises lots of money at a new, bigger valuation . More here on its industry. Space SPAC one , space SPAC two And then on the funding round side of things, here's Axonius' very interesting round , and this fun pre-seed deal from Europe! And finally we chat Oscar Health, a company whose IPO is all sorts of confusing . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi
Fri, February 26, 2021
Why are we still dating LinkedIn in 2021?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. Before we get into this week's show, make sure to check out all the news here about how Equity is expanding, and becoming even more of a thing in 2021! We are beyond hyped about it. Coming on the back of such a wild news week, we had to cut and cut from the notes doc to get the show to size. So, here's what made the cut: Coinbase filed to go public. Alex wrote about its S-1 filing here , and Danny riffed on a fascinating nuance regarding its cap table here . Hopin is raising more money, at an even larger valuation . Every time we cover the latest version of this story, we think it must be the last time. And then it happens again. So, check back here in October for when Hopin raises again. Reddit also picked up more money . Again. Our take is that the capital must mean that Reddit is a better business than we anticipated. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian backed a new community tool proving the monetary value of the community. That led us into a conversation about a professional network for independent workers , and a collaborative workspace for interior design fans. Toast is said to be on the road to an IPO, and so we riffed on what Olo's IPO can tell us about the Boston-based unicorn. Shippo raised more money after a big 2020 ; can the company double again in 2021? Finix raised $3 million through an <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/24/fintech-startu
Wed, February 24, 2021
SpaceX is really just SPAC and an ex
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is our first-ever Wednesday episode. If you want to learn more about the latest edition of the podcast, head here for more. This week we talked about space, an increasingly active part of the global economy, and a place where we're seeing more and more young tech companies place their focus. We were lucky to have TechCrunch's Darrell Etherington join us for the show. He's our resident expert, so we had to have him on to chat about the space startup ecosystem. Here's the rundown: SpaceX has raised a bunch more money, at a far higher valuation. We chat about why it didn't raise more, and how much capital there is available for the famous rocket company. Starlink came up as well, as the satellite array just put another 60 units into orbit. What is it good for? We have a few ideas. The second crew member of first all-civilian SpaceX mission revealed, and of course there is an IPO and startup angle involved. Which brought us to a side conversation on which one of us are most interested in going to space commercially. It's the raised hands feature no one asked for, but take your guesses on who wants to go first and see if you're right. Regardless, Axiom Space raises $130 million for its commercial space station ambitions And then there was the Astra SPAC. You can read its deck here . What matters is that we get a look into how fast it plans to ramp future launches. And the answer is fast. As we get more comfortable in our Wednesday episodes, we'll tinker with the format and the like. As we do, we're always taking feedback at equitypod@techcrunch.com , or over on Twitter . Hit us up, we're having a lot of fun but are always looking for ways to sharpen the show! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mon, February 22, 2021
Equity Monday: Everyone is going public so what's wrong with your startup?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and be sure to check out our last main ep, in which Natasha coins a slogan for a16z that I both hate, and became the headline of the show ! But enough of all of that, we have a lot to get through this morning. Here's what we talked about: The Weekend: Coinbase at $100 billion ? More on that to come. Toast is going public ! Probably! Wait Toast the company that laid off staff last year? Yep that Toast! It's not toast! And new rules on online lending in China. This Morning: Oscar Health put together an IPO price range that is interesting, and Apex Clearing is going public via a SPAC . Funding Rounds: Gophr raises money ! Ageras Group raises money ! Promise raises money ! It was hard to pick just three, but each of those rounds has something notable about it. Enjoy! Deeper Dive/Riff: If the public markets will float even the most leaden of startup via a SPAC-balloon, any late-stage startup that doesn't take the ride out of the private markets must either be perfect or too heavy to lift. And if it's the second, we can write it off? Maybe? And, finally, this is precisely what I feel like this Monday morning. Chat soon and stay safe! Credits:</stron
Thu, February 18, 2021
A16z doesn't invest, it manifests
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. In very good Show News™, Chris is back! He's working on the next iteration of the show, something that you will be able to see starting Very Soon. Get hype! Today though, we had a delectable dish of dynamic doings, namely news items of the following persuasion: Bitcoin broke the $50,000 barrier , something that we wanted to talk about. Especially in light of Coinbase's $77 billion valuation . Natasha walked us through some growth metrics, and Alex was sad that he isn't already retired. Danny remains a full-on crypto bull. And on the blockchain thing, Blockchain.com raised $120 million , proving that there is huge amounts of capital available for the guts-and-bolts tooling of the bitcoin world. Li Jin, who coined the term 'passion economy', has closed her debut $13 million fund for startups within the same category. She joined other investors in our latest survey on the creator economy's changing tides. Off of $1 million in ARR, Circle has brought on $4 million in funding at a valuation north of $40 million. A16z invested in Stir, which helps creators manage and view their various income streams . The funding total was not disclosed, but is reportedly valuing the company, still in beta, at $100 million. TalkShopLive brought on new cash for live video shopping. Pipe17 closed an $8 million round that caught our eye. By building a service to help smaller ecommerce oper
Mon, February 15, 2021
Equity Monday: The electric car boom, tech regulation, and some sad American VC data
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and be sure to check out our riff on whether SoftBank has another 20 DoorDashes waiting in the wings . This morning was a more relaxed Monday than I can recall in months, thanks to a holiday in many parts of the world. But that didn't stop us from parsing the news: The Weekend: This investigation into Clubhouse's data security is getting results, while over the weekend Dispo got huge in a hurry, and the Apple-Facebook dynamic got a better explaining . Increasingly the tech giant world feels like ad engines (Facebook, Alphabet) in opposition to software-and-hardware shops (Microsoft, Apple). This morning: GM has new electric cars, TechCrunch reports . VW isn't worried about Apple. And every EV company in the world is going public via a SPAC. Who will win? You can place your own bets. And India is loosening some tech regulation . The American stock market is closed. Funding Rounds: We chatted about the recent Libeo round , and the latest on Nymbus , both of which are more than cool. And, finally, read this if you want feel let down by American VCs. (American media, to be clear, has similar issues .) Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. <p
Fri, February 12, 2021
Does SoftBank have 20 more DoorDashes?
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. This week felt oddly comforting from a tech news perspective: Facebook is copying something, early-stage startup data is flawed enough to talk about, and sweet DoorDash is buying robots for undisclosed sums. So, here's a rundown of the tech news we got into (as always, jokes aren't previewed so you'll have to listen to the actual show to get our critique and Award Winning Analysis*): Ethena raising $2 million more for corporate training that is not awful, and Zeta raising $1.5 million for couples' banking . Natasha has been killing the early-stage beat lately. How Seed data could be getting harder and harder to parse from Alex's desk , and why VC data in general is dicey, from Danny's . We discuss if directional data is useful, and why the limited numbers could have a cultural impact on signal. Reddit raises $250 million , but doesn't tell us who the investors are and what the money is precisely going to. Still, the company has had quite a year so far so the capital comes at an interesting time. Justo, an online grocery based in Mexico, raises $65 million as the pandemic continues to shake up the way we live and shop. DoorDash buys a salad robot , which brings Natasha nostalgia and Danny anger. The inverted SoftBank J-Curve thesis is a must-listen and read. And from the world of dating, a big M&A deal that caught our attention , and the latest from the Bumble IPO . In good news, long-time Equity produce
Wed, February 10, 2021
Equity Shot: What's next for the startup software market
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace noticed last week that we had a bevy of software-as-a-service (SaaS) stories that we wanted to chat about. So we decided to break them out into their own episode. What came out of the conversation is a mix of optimism, sarcasm, and healthy doubt regarding what's next for SaaS. SaaS matters as it is an incredibly popular business model for startups, a way to generate high-margin recurring incomes. Indeed, it's almost the default method for revenue generation amongst startups today. But precisely what SaaS is, and how it works, appear to be moving targets. This piece by our own Danny Crichton, for example, digs into a trend that he has noticed in the broader software space, namely startups taking a single task, or feature, and providing it in a manner that ascribes to best practices. For example, online checkout tech has been around since the dawn of the Internet. And yet Rapyd and Fast and Checkout.com and others are raising oceans of capital to provide checkout solutions to other companies. Why? They offer best practices-like services. From there we talked about the inclusion of humans into software , which isn't a radical concept but has new weight considering the information overload world we live in. The whole concept of having an Airtable hotline to answer each and every random question we have seems like music to our ears, what about yours? And finally we discussed the growing use of on-demand pricing over traditional SaaS. Danny asked if this is really something new, which we discussed. Perhaps we're seeing more on-demand pricing in modern software companies thanks to not only the success of companies like Snowflake, but also growing ranks of API-delivered startups. Overall it was fun to niche down to a single theme, something we rarely get to do on the main show. Expect more of this from us in the following months! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your
Mon, February 08, 2021
Equity Monday: Tesla buys bitcoin, Nexthink raises, and Bumble
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and be sure to check out last week's main ep that dug into Robinhood, Miami, and a host of other topics. This morning we had a pile of news to get through. Here's the rundown: Pony.ai raised another $100 million , which underscores our growing thesis that there is no amount of money yet that will produce the tech required for self-driving cars to work. Perhaps we will get there, but it is going to cost a pretty penny or two. Sticking to cars, the Apple-Kia tieup is kaput , which we should have known the moment it became known. Apple previously bought startup Drive.ai back in 2019, of course. Vroom, a 2020 IPO, bought a Super Bowl ad. Who would have expected that? Its shares are up, however, after the ad. Still on the car beat, Tesla bought $1.50 billion in bitcoin , and may accept the stuff as tender to buy its vehicles in the future. The move sent the price of bitcoin higher. Clubhouse got banned in China . Phable raised $12 million , Nexthink raised $180 million , and Bumble is targeting a higher share price in its impending IPO. And we may have figured out the ∆ between what investors are saying about the Seed market, and what data has largely said. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more a
Thu, February 04, 2021
A lake house architect, a Miami VC, and homeowner walk into a wine bar
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture-capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week's biggest tech happenings. The good news is that we managed to fit it all into a single episode this week. The bad news is that that means the show is pretty long. Sorry about that! So, what took us so much time to get through? All of this: Robinhood raised $3.4 billion after its trading hiccups, and we also chatted over what we know about the company's Q4 2020 numbers . In short, the company is growing nicely. RPA is big and UiPath is cashing in on the trend, raising $750 million at a $35 billion valuation . That's a lot of cash for very little dilution. Databricks raised $1 billion at a $28 billion valuation , after reaching $425 million in ARR. The company's growth is hot, but its valuation may be even hotter. Bumble is going public, so we chatted about its results , and how founder- and venture-friendly the dating market may be in the future. In a big exit for the Boston startup ecosystem, alcohol delivery platform Drizly has sold to Uber for $1.1 billion. Sticking to the alcohol beat, Danny talked us through the Vivino news , describing himself as a wine sophisticate with a distaste for sommeliers, which is just about the most Danny thing he has ever said. But the company really is neat. Divvy homes raised a $110 million Series C to make it easier to buy a home, after financing five times as many homes in 2020 as it did in pre-pandemic times. And then there were some neat early-stage rounds to chat about: Balance <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/03/lightspeed-and-max-levchin-bet-on-balance-to-bring-b2
Mon, February 01, 2021
Equity Monday: Rich tech folks chat rich tech things on rich tech app funded by rich tech investors
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. This is Equity Monday, our weekly kickoff that tracks the latest private market news, talks about the coming week, digs into some recent funding rounds and mulls over a larger theme or narrative from the private markets. You can follow the show on Twitter here and myself here — and make sure to check out last week’s main episode and companion chat about Robinhood . This morning we ran into quite a lot of the same material, with Robinhood back in the news and the stock market looming large. Here's what we talked about: American stocks are set to rise, bitcoin is flat, and meme-stocks are mixed. In India, news is out that a new law could ban bitcoin (whatever that means), and this morning India forced Twitter to take down some accounts that had been critical of government policy. That's a pretty bad look. And it comes as we see a coup in Myanmar leading to a decline in internet connectivity ; there is a clear link between authoritarianism and a desire for Internet control. Robinhood's CEO went on Clubhouse , where he was interviewed by Elon Musk about last week's mess; it turns out the National Securities Clearing Corporation, or NSCC, had asked Robinhood for $3 billion in deposit requirements. That number was reduced to $700 million, with Robinhood limiting some consumer behavior, allowing the company to open Friday morning. This morning the key news stories include the mess that is Facebook Groups , and the EU is appealing a tax decision that could impact tech company structure for years to come. Ben raised $2.5 million Pho
Thu, January 28, 2021
Why calendar invites are worth $3B
Hello and welcome back to Equity , TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace hopped online for our weekly show, sans Gamestop news (which you can find here ) to talk about all the other busy news happening in startup world right now. Here's a taste of what we got into: Qualtrics IPO pricing , and the future of major acquisition pricing schemes. This company's path to the public markets has been a long-time coming, so we had plenty to say. How Atlanta's Calendly turned a scheduling nightmare into a $3 billion company . This story was not only neat, but also operated as a sort of palate cleanser for the team. Rhino's interesting insurtech play , and how it is pre-IPO pretty damn early. Revenue questions, the power of insurtech, and public markets impacting startups? This story had it all! Alex talks about how Fast is raising fast money ($102 million to be exact). Even more, the Fast story fits into a broader narrative of online checkout startups raising a zillion dollars in recent weeks. A boom in food delivery and restaurant startups, and why Danny is bearish on a plastic-free play. Natasha is in favor. Alex gets a company's model mixed up with Spoon Rocket. Natasha explains how Clubhouse isn't the first company to raise millions off of millions of users with no known near-term monetization plan . Her piece on ClassDojo illustrates how a quiet edtech giant finally turned its 51 million users into a profitable base. There's also an investor survey for you to check out ( Discount code: EQUITY ). TCV 's record fund, and a female-focused angel fund coming out of Africa. As always, it was a ton to get through because there is just so much going o
loading...