According to Sequoia's Roelof Botha, venture capital does not qualify as an asset class.

According to Sequoia’s Roelof Botha, venture capital does not qualify as an asset class.

Sequoia’s managing partner, Roelof Botha, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, posited that the venture sector isn’t truly an asset class, and simply injecting more capital into Silicon Valley doesn’t guarantee the creation of superior enterprises. During a TechCrunch Disrupt main stage interview on Monday, Botha stated, “Venture investing is essentially a risk without commensurate return. Anyone…

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Roelof Botha clarifies Sequoia's backing of Shaun Maguire following COO departure

Roelof Botha clarifies Sequoia’s backing of Shaun Maguire following COO departure

During a TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 interview Monday, Sequoia Capital’s managing partner, Roelof Botha, defended Shaun Maguire, a Sequoia partner, regarding the controversial statements Maguire made earlier in the year. He characterized the firm as one that believes in his partner’s “free speech” rights. In a July 4 X post, Maguire criticized Zohran Mamdani, a New…

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COI Energy offers a solution to a challenging issue: Enabling companies to market surplus power. Find out more at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.

COI Energy offers a solution to a challenging issue: Enabling companies to market surplus power. Find out more at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.

The current system for providing power to large businesses with multiple buildings is antiquated. Unlike homeowners, who are charged for their actual usage, campuses purchase a set amount of power each month. It makes sense that this amount is based on the greatest possible need. This remains true even if the company rarely hits this…

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Ladder, the workout application, introduces a feature for monitoring nutritional intake.

Ladder, the workout application, introduces a feature for monitoring nutritional intake.

As AI models advance and improve at interpreting diverse inputs — including text, voice commands, and visuals — and transforming them into nutrition information, the popularity of fitness applications enabling users to document their meals through these means has surged. We’ve observed emerging startups like Alma and Cal AI — in conjunction with established apps…

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Accel and Prosus collaborate to support Indian startups in their early stages.

Accel and Prosus collaborate to support Indian startups in their early stages.

Well-known investors Accel and Prosus have forged a new investment collaboration to support Indian startups from the very beginning, aiming for founders creating large-scale solutions capable of serving a vast number of people in the South Asian country. Revealed on Monday, the partnership signifies the first time Prosus is investing during the formation phase. Both…

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Fewer than 24 hours remain until 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators descend upon TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — and ticket prices increase.

Fewer than 24 hours remain until 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators descend upon TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — and ticket prices increase.

The wait is nearly done — tomorrow it all happens! TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will be in full swing at Moscone West in under a day. From October 27–29, expect San Francisco to be bustling with 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators for three days of connection, construction, and closures. We’re only a few days out from…

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I got the middle finger from TikTok's robotic sensation Rizzbot.

I got the middle finger from TikTok’s robotic sensation Rizzbot.

Some Thursdays back, I was jolted awake around 4:30 a.m. by a confounding Instagram DM.   Rizzbot, a humanoid of child size from Unitree Robotics, boasting a large following on social media — over 1 million TikTok fans and more than 500K followers on Instagram — had DMed me a picture of it flipping me off.  No words were exchanged. No clarification. Just a robot raising its…

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