Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator held the second Demo Day for its Summer 2024 cohort on Thursday, and just like we saw on Day 1, AI remains the focus of most startups in this cohort. However, we did also find a few interesting startups that are working on cool tech like drones that can’t be […]
Uber snags another robotaxi deal, aviation startups land VC bucks, and where Rivian Foundation money is going
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! I’ve been thinking a bit about time — and specifically what trends, music, cultural practices, and even ways we move around that encapsulate a season or particular […]
How one female VC is teaching kids about startups and women in tech
Deena Shakir, an investor at Lux Capital, struggled to explain to her three young kids what exactly her job was. She first tried buying a Chia Pet, where kids plant chia seeds on a figurine “to show them how seeds can grow into something amazing.” Shakir, who’s invested in health tech companies like fertility startup […]
Letta, one of UC Berkeley’s most anticipated AI startups, has just come out of stealth
A startup called Letta has just emerged from stealth with tech that helps AI models remember users and conversations. Created in UC Berkeley’s famed Labs startup factory, it also announced $ 10 million in seed money led by Felicis’ Astasia Myers, at a $ 70 million post-money valuation. Letta is also backed by a who’s […]
Ibotta’s CEO explains why startups shouldn’t try to time the IPO market
The IPO market has not roared back in 2024 as many investors hoped it would — not yet, at least. Elevated interest rates (this week’s 50 bps rate cut notwithstanding) and uncertainty related to the U.S. election have prompted many companies to stay private and wait for better market conditions. But a handful of companies […]