Technology

Jennifer Neundorfer, co-founder of January Ventures, visited the Equity podcast at TechCrunch Disrupt to discuss fundraising in the current AI-dominated market. AI is a fixation for both founders and investors; Neundorfer even mentioned her firm exploring AI applications to enhance their efficiency, like aiding market and competitor due diligence. Regarding companies being developed, she favors…

For Daniil Boiko and Andrei Tyrin, Onepot AI was born from a shared frustration.   “Often, biology wasn’t the hurdle for the best drug discovery ideas; synthesis was,” Boiko explained to TechCrunch. Synthesis involves the creation of novel molecules via chemical reactions. Think of it as a recipe or Lego set: smaller components (ingredients, molecules) unite to form something bigger (a food dish, a larger molecule).   Unsurprisingly, producing the smaller molecules required to assemble larger ones is challenging.   For…

TikTok is introducing updated digital well-being resources, such as an affirmation journal and a background sound generator, designed to support its users’ mental well-being. The social media platform also announced it will award badges to users who manage their TikTok usage. The company is updating its screen time management section and adding new functionalities. These…

The Jeep Recon, an all-electric SUV offering around 250 miles of range, is finally here, and its arrival is quite unexpected. Here’s the reasoning. Jeep shared plans three years ago to revamp its lineup with three EVs, with two destined for the North American market by 2024. The all-electric Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S models…

Arizona regulators granted Tesla a ride-hailing permit this week, paving the way for the automaker to start a robotaxi service in the state. According to a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation speaking to TechCrunch, the automaker submitted an application for a Transportation Network Company permit on November 13. ADOT reports that Tesla fulfilled…

Roblox, facing a series of investigations and lawsuits regarding its child safety measures, will institute required facial verification for all users desiring access to communication features, commencing in January. The platform is also rolling out chat based on age, restricting users to communicating only with others in similar age ranges. Users can voluntarily verify their…

As consumers turn increasingly to ChatGPT for answers — instead of Google — product discovery is evolving. Peec AI has emerged as a leading European startup, promising to give brands control and visibility within this rapidly expanding search channel. Merely four months following its Seed round, spearheaded by 20VC, the Berlin-based startup has secured a…

A super PAC that supports AI, with backing from Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, has selected New York Assembly member Alex Bores — along with his campaign for Congress — to be its initial target.  The PAC, known as Leading the Future, was established in August, committing over $100 million to back politicians…

Expense management fintech is one sector besides AI that continues to excite investors, particularly if Ramp’s 2025 performance is any indication. Ramp has consistently secured substantial funding at ever-increasing valuations. On Monday, the fintech revealed a $300 million funding round spearheaded by Lightspeed, which also encompassed an employee tender offer. This announcement comes shortly after…

Joe Fioti, Luminal’s co-founder, realized something three years ago while working on chip design at Intel. He was striving to create the best chips possible, but the true limitation resided in the software. He told me, “Even the best hardware is useless if developers find it difficult to utilize; they simply won’t.” He has since…