Latest news with #startups
TechCrunch
41 minutes ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Startups Weekly: Fast and furious
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can't miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. Some startups accrued value at lightning speed this week, and we got confirmation that defense tech is red hot. Most interesting startup stories from the week Image Credits:Kelly Sullivan / Getty Images Many startup stories this week occurred in Y Combinator's orbit in some way. Also, Israel once again lived up to its 'Start-Up Nation' reputation. That was fast: No-code website-building platform Wix acquired 6-month-old, bootstrapped vibe-coding startup Base44 — both Israeli companies — for $80 million in cash. That was fast, too: In just three months, Ramp's valuation jumped to $16 billion following its Series E, up from $13 billion when the spend management startup did a secondary sale earlier this year. Friends and foes: New details emerged on Meta's $14.3 billion deal to acquire 49% of startup Scale AI, including a potential dividend payout. We also learned that OpenAI was dropping Scale AI as a data provider following the deal. Frenemies: The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a contract worth up to $200 million directly to OpenAI, which could further strain the startup's relationship with Microsoft. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW ICYMI: Out of all the teams presenting at YC's recent Spring 2025 Demo Day, here are 11 startups that investors have been talking about. Didn't happen: People are also still talking about the police shutting down the YC Demo Day after-party that controversial AI startup Cluely tried to throw; or as its CEO told TechCrunch, 'the most legendary party that never happened.' Most interesting VC and funding news this week Helsing Image Credits:Helsing Most funding news was driven by either defense tech, AI, or both, but there were also some surprises. Plus, one VC firm is aiming high for its next fund. Good intuition: Applied Intuition, a company making software for autonomous vehicles, secured a $600 million Series F and tender offer at a $15 billion valuation. New tune: Munich-based defense tech startup Helsing closed a €600 million investment led by Prima Materia, the VC firm of Spotify's founder Daniel Ek, which valued Helsing at €12 billion. New unicorn: Israeli observability startup Coralogix became a unicorn after raising a $115 million Series E, which it will use to double its headcount in India, where 100 of its 550 employees are currently based. Toldja: Mach Industries, a 2-year-old defense tech startup, confirmed having raised a $100 million round of funding led by Khosla Ventures and Bedrock at a $470 million valuation. Money flows: Aspora, a startup formerly known as Vance and focused on facilitating remittances from the Indian diaspora, closed a $50 million Series B co-led by Sequoia and Greylock at a $500 million valuation. Change of heart: Sword Health, an AI-powered digital health startup that began as a virtual physical therapy solution, locked in $40 million at a $4 billion valuation in a funding round led by returning investor General Catalyst. It also pushed back its IPO plans to at least 2028. Multiplier effect: Multiplier Holdings announced having raised $27.5 million across seed and Series A rounds after joining the growing trend of buying legacy service businesses — in its case, accounting firms — and scaling them with AI. Stock where you shop: Grifin, a startup whose app helps users buy stock from brands they shop at, such as Walmart, secured $11 million in a Series A round. Out of Sweden: Polar, a payment infrastructure platform for developers and AI-first businesses, raised a $10 million seed round led by Accel. Its CEO previously co-founded Tictail, which was acquired by Shopify in 2018. Bullish: Global VC Endeavor Catalyst is seeking to raise $300 million for its fifth fund. This would be its largest yet, as it looks to deepen its bet on fast-growing startups in emerging markets. Last but not least Image Credits:Alexa von Tobel An early investor in Chime, founder-turned-VC Alexa von Tobel is ready for Fintech 3.0. 'The next wave of innovation won't come from superficial tweaks but from fundamental deep product reinvention — tools that meet the needs of a changing economy and a more diverse, digitally native population,' she told TechCrunch in an interview.
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Stop Overthinking and Start Taking Action
Business success requires quick decision-making — not long, drawn-out consensus-building. The risk isn't as great as you think, so make a decision and get moving. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Are you a doctor? Me neither. So why do we spend so much time obsessing over business decisions like we're performing open-heart surgery? If I had to make a medical decision, I would really be in trouble. And that's why I don't. But guess what? A lot of medical decisions are made quickly. I've worked in both giant corporations and scrappy startups. You know what sets them apart? In large companies, 99% of the time is spent worrying about the 1% of things that might go wrong. In small ones, 99% of the time is spent sprinting forward — because there's no time to sweat the small stuff. Get moving or start dying (metaphorically). It's that simple. In essence, what I'm talking about is the difference between paralyzing risk management and bold risk acceptance. One keeps the wheels spinning; the other keeps the business moving. I once wrote a LinkedIn post that simply said: "The biggest mistake you can make is being afraid to make one." It's something I remind myself of on tough days. Because no matter how chaotic it gets, what we do isn't life or death — it's business. And business requires momentum. It doesn't require months of groupthink. Related: Entrepreneurs Don't Overthink Things. They Make a Decision and Go With It. How do you keep the business moving? 1. Be ruthless, but thoughtful, about hiring I worked at a company where closing a deal required six levels of approval. Six. Levels. Of. Approval. That's not process — it's pure bureaucracy and pain. As you grow, be intentional. Every hire should have a clear purpose and deliver real value. If you can't answer these questions in a positive manner: What does this role do ? How does it help us grow? Is it really a full-time position? Would it be better to outsource it than keep it in-house? …then don't hire. You're building a team, not a padded org chart. 2. Make the call at 51% You don't need 100% certainty to act. You don't even need 60%. If you're 51% sure — leaning ever so slightly toward one direction — that's enough. It has to be. Waiting for perfection leads to paralysis. Move. Decide. Adjust later if needed. Deal with the fallout, if it comes. In my experience, the big scary "what-ifs" rarely happen. What does happen? Nothing — because no decision gets made. 3. Two days max If it's a decision that keeps your business running, it shouldn't take more than a day or two. That includes tough calls like terminations. Sure, major events like acquisitions or IPOs deserve more deliberation. This isn't a one-size-fits-all prophecy. But day-to-day? You're stalling if it drags on. Every extra day adds uncertainty — and that's a cost you don't want. Let me tell you a secret: The decision you come to on day 30 is likely the same one you came to on day two. Try it sometime and see ... or don't, because that means you're seriously delaying. 4. If you're wrong? The world won't end. In most cases, the worst-case scenario is a loss of revenue. Not good — but not fatal either. As long as your decisions are ethical, you'll live to fight another day. Don't let fear of failure keep you frozen. Action beats inaction. Every time. Related: Time to Stop Overanalyzing and Start Making Decisions! How to think less and do more 1. Build smart consensus Get input from your team, but don't let collaboration become a boomerang. Bounce ideas around, align direction, and then execute. Note, this does not mean that everyone has to agree. Quite the opposite. Use smart consensus to inform your decision. This isn't picking curtains — it's about moving the business forward. Stop polishing decisions and just ship them. 2. Get expert advice (but don't marinate in it) Need a legal opinion or some financial expertise? Great — get it. Find a lawyer. Hire an accountant. Use experts like a compass, not a crutch. Their guidance should help you move faster, not slow you down. You should get additional warm fuzzies relying on information provided by an expert who has seen the problem before. That should give you even less incentive to delay. 3. Trust your gut Seriously. Your gut's smarter than you think. I once ignored mine and joined a hot startup that felt "off." Turns out, it was. The founders ended up under federal indictment. Your instincts are data, too. Learn to listen. When your gut is screaming, pay attention. Your first impression is often the correct one. Related: Overcome This Common Entrepreneurial Struggle and Stop Sabotaging Your Progress Time is the real currency Time isn't just money; it's everything. You only get so much of it. Long, drawn-out decisions not only stall your business — they eat into your life. When you take forever to make a call, you're not just delaying growth — you're delaying freedom, balance and personal progress. So don't waste time trying to perfect every move. Businesses aren't built on perfection. They're built on momentum. Ask yourself: What feels better — crawling or driving a Ferrari? Start the engine. Let's go.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Startup hiring isn't just about the pitch, it's about the package — Pulley, 645 Ventures, and Epigram Legal break it down at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Startups live and die by their early hires. And in a world where top talent has options — and stock options — you've got to offer more than a ping-pong table and a pitch deck to bring in the right people. At TechCrunch Disrupt's 20th anniversary, happening on October 27-29 in San Francisco's Moscone West, we're digging into the real talk around compensation and equity with a powerhouse panel who've seen it all when it comes to scaling. Don't miss the insights from this panel — and the full Disrupt 2025 lineup of tech and scaling leaders shaping the scaling discussions. Register here to save up to $675. Randi Jakubowitz, Head of Operations and Talent at 645 Ventures, knows what it takes to scale teams from the inside. Before helping portfolio companies find their footing, she was one of the early HR hires at Seamless, guiding the company through its merger with Grubhub and eventual IPO. She gets the people puzzle, and how to solve it under pressure. Joining her onstage is Rebecca Lee Whiting, founder of Epigram Legal and fractional general counsel to some of the most cutting-edge AI and biotech startups around. She's built a reputation for demystifying legal complexity, advising on everything from equity structuring to retention strategies. Oh, and she also clerked for the Ninth Circuit, so she's not just startup-savvy, she's a legal heavyweight. Then there's Yin Wu, the founder and CEO of Pulley, the YC-backed equity management platform that's helping over 5,000 companies take control of their cap tables. Before building Pulley, she launched and sold Echo to Microsoft and has a track record of launching (and learning from) startups. If there's anyone who knows what a great equity package looks like, and how to communicate its value to employees, it's Yin. This session will cut through the noise to answer the questions every founder struggles with: how much should you actually offer early employees? How do you stay competitive with Big Tech without burning through your runway? And how do you structure equity in a way that makes people want to stick around for the long haul?Don't miss this one. It all goes down October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, part of the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt. Exact session time coming soon, but trust us, you'll want a front-row seat – so register now and don't miss your chance to save up to $675 before rates rise. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
3 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Flexport's Ryan Petersen joins the Builders Stage at Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is happening October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, and we're bringing the big conversations to the Builders Stage. One of the biggest? What it takes to keep building when the rules won't stop shifting. When global logistics meets startup agility Flexport CEO and founder Ryan Petersen knows a thing or two about weathering change. He launched the global logistics platform in 2013 and has since helped over 10,000 companies move more than $175 billion in merchandise across the globe. Flexport has raised $2.3 billion to date and redefined how supply chains are managed in a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty. But Petersen's insights go beyond shipping lanes. He's been vocal on everything from tariff policy to the rise of AI, and he doesn't just comment from the sidelines. He famously stepped away from the CEO role in 2022, only to return less than a year later to stabilize the business and steer the next chapter of growth. Founders, take note, this is a masterclass in resilience, clarity, and bold leadership. How to lead through chaos and keep building Petersen isn't bringing hypotheticals to the stage. He's bringing the firsthand experience of what it means to lead through volatility, reset strategy under pressure, and navigate a market where global policy, economic cycles, and tech innovation collide. He'll pull back the curtain to explore how Flexport stays focused when the market gets noisy, and what today's leaders need to know about balancing long-term strategy with short-term realities. Catch the session live on the Builders Stage, October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, part of the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt. The final session time is coming soon. Save your spot and take advantage of early pricing with up to $675 off before rates go up. Register here to lock in your ticket discount.
Geek Wire
3 hours ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
Startup radar: Seattle-area startups tackle AI personas, sales intelligence, marketing automation
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . From top left, clockwise: Bluepill CEO Ankit Dhawan; Ecosided CEO Haixia Wang; Proponent CEO Prashant Mohite; Flickboom CEO Yinhan Liu; and Managerspring CEO Tom Langan. We're back with a new spotlight on early stage Seattle-area startups — with a fun twist. Kyle Lui, general partner at Bling Capital who relocated to Seattle last year, joins us for this startup radar to give his quick take on each company. Check out Lui's assessments below — the 'VC View' — and read more about the companies. Check out past startup radar spotlights here and email me at taylor@ to flag other companies and startup news. Bluepill Founded: 2025 The business: Helps companies create AI personas that mirror real customers to simulate reactions to messaging, surveys, ads, product concepts, and more. The idea is to de-risk product and marketing decisions before official launches. Bluepill is backed by Pioneer Square Labs. Leadership: Founder and CEO Ankit Dhawan was an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Allen Institute for AI and co-founded virtual experience startup Virtuelly. He also spent more than four years at Amazon as a product leader. VC View: 'Incumbents are sleepy and old, a new winner will emerge in the AI era. But there will be loads of similar competitors battling it out.' Ecosided Founded: 2025 The business: Aiming to be a hub for climate-related data and decision-making with new frameworks and metrics. The company's goal is to help businesses turn climate risk challenges into growth opportunities through their value chain and product strategies. Ecosided is bootstrapped. Leadership: CEO and co-founder Haixia Wang was a senior director of data research at ZoomInfo and a senior VP of research at Skift. Her co-founder Vladimir Baranek has more than three decades of tech industry experience and spent nearly five years at Amazon Web Services. VC View: 'Climate is hot. Great potential if the product works and can drive value to businesses.' Flickboom Founded: 2025 The business: AI automation for social media marketing. Flickboom develops social media strategies, creates content, and publishes across various platforms. The company is bootstrapped. Leadership: Founder and CEO Yinhan Liu previously co-founded healthcare startup Birch AI and spent time at Facebook and eBay. Last year she co-founded LeyLine but has transitioned to Flickboom. Liu co-founded Flickboom with Shan Huang, who previously co-founded Forma Cloud and was an engineering exec at Artera. VC View: 'Classic 'replace agencies with AI' thesis in a big market. The big question — is it durable or accumulating advantage over time?' Managerspring Founded: 2024 The business: This just-launched coaching app describes itself as the 'Duolingo for people management,' helping new and aspiring managers practice conversations and improve leadership skills with AI-assisted role-play scenarios. Managerspring is bootstrapped and just launched its app on iOS, iPad, and Vision Pro. Leadership: Founder Tom Langan previously worked at Meta as a director in product management working on Oculus and VR devices. He also held leadership roles at Hulu and Microsoft. VC View: 'Experienced product leader. Historically tough market for venture-scale businesses.' Proponent Founded: 2025 The business: Helping B2B marketing and sales teams analyze customer interactions to identify needs, pain points, and deal priorities. The company's AI learns from successful deals to improve suggestions. The software integrates with tools like Gong, Hubspot, and Zoom. Proponent is bootstrapped. Leadership: CEO and co-founder Prashant Mohite held product manager roles at Paxafe and Datafi. He co-founded Proponent with Mathew Thekkadayil, a former manager at Hemmersbach and About You. VC View: 'Product looks solid. Is selling into PMMs (product marketing managers) a big enough market for venture?'
