Last call to volunteer at TechCrunch All Stage 2025

Last call to volunteer at TechCrunch All Stage 2025

TechCrunch All Stage, our founder-focused summit, is gearing up to return to Boston on July 15! We’re doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this event to life. If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of tech events, now’s your chance to get involved. Volunteer spots are limited, so…

Own, a new social media app, aims to tokenize the creator economy

Own, a new social media app, aims to tokenize the creator economy

With the TikTok deadline to sell its U.S. operations now just two days away, a new decentralized social media app launched its beta to the public on Tuesday.  Own is the latest alternative to TikTok to emerge, featuring a swipeable feed for not just short videos but also text posts and images, as well as…

Senate GOP bill spares nuclear and geothermal energy while hammering wind and solar

Senate GOP bill spares nuclear and geothermal energy while hammering wind and solar

One month after the House passed its version of a reconciliation bill, Senate Republicans released their take on the budget bill Monday night. The Senate Finance Committee’s language would take a sledgehammer to some parts of the renewable-friendly Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) while sparing others.  Solar, wind, and hydrogen bear the brunt of the impact….

Mastodon updates its terms to prohibit AI model training

Mastodon updates its terms to prohibit AI model training

Social networks are bolstering their terms of service against scrapers and bots that crawl the website to train AI models. Days after Elon Musk-owned X updated its terms to explicitly prohibit AI model training, decentralized social network Mastodon today updated its own rules to bar any kind of model training, as well. “We explicitly prohibit…

Sword Health nabs $40M at $4B valuation, pushes IPO plans to at least 2028

Sword Health nabs $40M at $4B valuation, pushes IPO plans to at least 2028

Sword Health, an AI-powered digital health startup, has raised $40 million at a $4 billion valuation, a 33% jump from the $3 billion price tag it earned just a year ago. The funding was led by returning investor, General Catalyst. Even though 10-year-old Sword Health is cash-flow positive, its CEO and founder, Virgílio Bento, told…

As grocery shortages persist, UNFI says it’s recovering from cyberattack

As grocery shortages persist, UNFI says it’s recovering from cyberattack

Food distribution giant United Natural Foods (UNFI) said it is making “significant progress” in recovering from a cyberattack that occurred almost two weeks ago, as grocery stores across North America reliant on the distributor continue to report food shortages. UNFI said in an update on Sunday that it was restoring its electronic ordering systems, which…

UK watchdog fines 23andMe over 2023 data breach

UK watchdog fines 23andMe over 2023 data breach

The U.K. data protection watchdog has fined 23andMe £2.31 million ($3.1m) for failing to protect U.K. residents’ personal and genetic data prior to its 2023 data breach. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said on Tuesday it has fined the genetic testing company as it “did not have additional verification steps for users to access and…

Amazon is holding Prime Day 2025 on July 8-11

Amazon is holding Prime Day 2025 on July 8-11

Amazon has revealed that Prime Day 2025 will take place on July 8-11, extending the annual sale event to four days this year. Amazon notes that consumers will be able to shop for “pantry staples and snacks for summer gatherings to home-improvement must-haves, back-to-school supplies, health and personal care finds, family-favorite toys, best-selling books, pet…

Two-year-old defense tech Mach Industries confirms $100M raise led by Khosla, Bedrock 

Two-year-old defense tech Mach Industries confirms $100M raise led by Khosla, Bedrock 

Rising-star defense tech Mach Industries has announced a new $100 million round of funding at a $470 million valuation. TechCrunch first reported that this deal was in the works last month. New investor Keith Rabois from Khosla Ventures joins existing investor Geoff Lewis of Bedrock Capital to lead the round. Existing investor Sequoia also participated….