Tag: #Startups

Why this VC thinks 2026 will be the “Year of the Consumer”

Investment in consumer technology startups has been stagnant since 2022 as turbulent macroeconomic conditions and rising inflation have made VCs wary of consumer purchasing power. Over the past few years, most AI investments have focused on acquiring enterprise customers that offer fat checks, multi-year contracts, and rapid scale-up paths. But one venture capital firm believes […]

Get hands-on with a prototype of Clicks’ Communicator, a new BlackBerry-like smartphone

BlackBerry is back, sort of. Mobile keyboard maker Clicks Technology last week announced its debut phone with a physical keyboard, the $499 Communicator. The company also offers a separate $79 sliding physical keyboard that fits any device. At CES, TechCrunch spoke with Jeff Gadway, chief marketing officer and co-founder of Clicks, and got a hands-on […]

Former Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla’s startup triples in valuation to $100 million

Spangle, the AI ​​e-commerce startup founded by former Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla, has raised $15 million in a new funding round, valuing the company at $100 million. The Series A round, led by NewRoad Capital Partners, comes more than a year after the Seattle-based startup raised a $6 million seed round at a $30 million […]

Gmail debuts personalized AI inbox, AI overview in search, and more

Google announced a new AI Inbox for Gmail, designed to give you a personalized overview of your tasks and keep you informed of important updates. Gmail is also launching AI overview in search and a Grammarly-like “proofreading” feature. Additionally, Gmail offers several AI features to all users that were previously only available to paid users. […]

Ford is developing AI assistant and new hands-free BlueCruise technology

Ford announced Wednesday at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show that it is developing an AI assistant that will debut in its smartphone app before expanding to its vehicles in 2027. The company is also previewing the next generation of its BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system, which will be cheaper to manufacture and more capable, ultimately […]

Discord and Mercor investor Niko Bonatsos leaves General Catalyst and plans new VC firm

After many years leading General Catalyst’s seed strategy, Niko Bonatsos has left the company. Bonatsos, known for backing IPO-hopped Discord and $10 billion startup Mercor, told TechCrunch he plans to start a new early-stage VC firm with “friends.” Mr. Bonatsos is the latest investor to leave General Catalyst, which recently expanded beyond the traditional venture […]

Yes, LinkedIn banned AI agent startup Artisan, but now it’s back

Over the past few days, several posts on LinkedIn and Twitter/X have gone viral after Artisan AI, one of San Francisco’s most talked-about AI companies, suddenly disappeared from LinkedIn. The company’s LinkedIn page, each employee’s profile, and posts from executives all displayed the message “This post cannot be viewed.” Artisan CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack confirmed to […]

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, says 230 million users ask health questions every week

OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health on Wednesday, saying the company will provide a dedicated space for users to have conversations with ChatGPT about their health. People are already using ChatGPT to ask questions about medical issues. According to OpenAI, more than 230 million people ask health and wellness questions on the platform every week. However, the […]

Lux Capital raises $1.5 billion for largest fund ever

Lux Capital, a 25-year-old VC firm known for investing in cutting-edge science and technology, has closed its ninth fund at $1.5 billion, the largest in its history. It’s not hard to see why limited partners continue to flock to Luxe, even though 2025 marked the lowest number of new VC funds raised in the U.S. […]