Watch Club is producing short video dramas and building a social network around them
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/watch-club-microdrama-video-social-network/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/watch-club-microdrama-video-social-network/
TechCrunch
Watch Club is producing short video dramas and building a social network around them | TechCrunch
Watch Club will house microdramas and fan discussions in the same app, creating a fandom-focused social media experience.
Gradient’s heat pumps get new smarts to enable old building retrofits
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/gradients-heat-pumps-get-new-smarts-to-enable-old-building-retrofits/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/gradients-heat-pumps-get-new-smarts-to-enable-old-building-retrofits/
TechCrunch
Exclusive: Gradient’s heat pumps get new smarts to enable old-building retrofits | TechCrunch
Gradient's heat pumps fit in windows, minimizing installation times. Now, it is introducing software to make those units more intelligent.
Skyryse lands another $300M to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/skyryse-lands-another-300m-to-make-flying-even-helicopters-simple-and-safe/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/skyryse-lands-another-300m-to-make-flying-even-helicopters-simple-and-safe/
TechCrunch
Skyryse lands another $300M to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe | TechCrunch
Skyrsye, now valued at $1.15 billion, is pushing to get FAA certification for its universal operating system for flight.
Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/homeland-security-is-trying-to-force-tech-companies-to-hand-over-data-about-trump-critics/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/homeland-security-is-trying-to-force-tech-companies-to-hand-over-data-about-trump-critics/
TechCrunch
Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics | TechCrunch
The use of administrative subpoenas, which are not subject to judicial oversight, are used to demand a wealth of information from tech companies, including the owners of anonymous online accounts documenting ICE operations.
2026 plans: What’s next for Startup Battlefield 200
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/looking-ahead-to-2026-whats-next-for-startup-battlefield-200/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/looking-ahead-to-2026-whats-next-for-startup-battlefield-200/
TechCrunch
2026 plans: What's next for Startup Battlefield 200 | TechCrunch
Startup Battlefield 200 applications will open in mid-February. Join the iconic startup pitch competition by joining the mailing list.
Intel will start making GPUs, a market dominated by Nvidia
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/intel-will-start-making-gpus-a-market-dominated-by-nvidia/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/intel-will-start-making-gpus-a-market-dominated-by-nvidia/
TechCrunch
Intel will start making GPUs, a market dominated by Nvidia | TechCrunch
Intel has been bulking up a team to focus on this effort and will develop its GPU strategy around customer needs.
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The Minneapolis tech community holds strong during ‘tense and difficult time’
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/minnesota-tech-community-founders-investors-ice-response/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/minnesota-tech-community-founders-investors-ice-response/
TechCrunch
The Minneapolis tech community holds strong during 'tense and difficult time' | TechCrunch
Founders and investors in the Minneapolis tech industry told TechCrunch they've put much of their work on hold to help out their community.
India’s Varaha bags $20M to scale carbon removal from the Global South
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/indias-varaha-bags-20m-to-scale-carbon-removal-from-the-global-south/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/indias-varaha-bags-20m-to-scale-carbon-removal-from-the-global-south/
TechCrunch
India's Varaha bags $20M to scale carbon removal from the Global South | TechCrunch
Varaha's fresh funding is part of a $45 million Series B round led by WestBridge Capital.
Epstein-linked longevity guru Peter Attia leaves David Protein, and his own startup ‘won’t comment’
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/epstein-linked-longevity-guru-peter-attia-leaves-david-protein-and-his-own-startup-wont-comment/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/epstein-linked-longevity-guru-peter-attia-leaves-david-protein-and-his-own-startup-wont-comment/
TechCrunch
Epstein-linked longevity guru Peter Attia leaves David Protein, and his own startup 'won't comment' | TechCrunch
Attia co-founded longevity medical testing startup Biograph, which came out of stealth a year ago.
EXCLUSIVE: Positron raises $230M Series B to take on Nvidia’s AI chips
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/exclusive-positron-raises-230m-series-b-to-take-on-nvidias-ai-chips/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/exclusive-positron-raises-230m-series-b-to-take-on-nvidias-ai-chips/
TechCrunch
Exclusive: Positron raises $230M Series B to take on Nvidia's AI chips | TechCrunch
The investment comes from backers including the Qatar Investment Authority as demand for chips beyond Nvidia soars and as Qatar aims to build out its AI infrastructure.
Accel doubles down on Fibr AI as agents turn static websites into one-to-one experiences
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/accel-doubles-down-on-fibr-ai-as-agents-turn-static-websites-into-one-to-one-experiences/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/accel-doubles-down-on-fibr-ai-as-agents-turn-static-websites-into-one-to-one-experiences/
TechCrunch
Accel doubles down on Fibr AI as agents turn static websites into one-to-one experiences | TechCrunch
Fibr AI replaces marketing agency- and engineering-heavy website personalization with autonomous systems designed for enterprise scale.
Spotify upgrades its lyrics feature with offline access, more translations
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/spotify-upgrades-its-lyrics-feature-with-offline-access-more-translations/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/spotify-upgrades-its-lyrics-feature-with-offline-access-more-translations/
TechCrunch
Spotify upgrades its lyrics feature with offline access, more translations | TechCrunch
Spotify is revamping its lyrics feature, adding offline access for Premium users, global lyric translations, and a more prominent placement in the Now Playing view.
Apeiron Labs gets $29M to flood the oceans with autonomous underwater robots
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/apeiron-labs-gets-29m-to-flood-the-oceans-with-autonomous-underwater-robots/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/apeiron-labs-gets-29m-to-flood-the-oceans-with-autonomous-underwater-robots/
TechCrunch
Exclusive: Apeiron Labs gets $29M to flood the oceans with autonomous underwater robots | TechCrunch
Most of what we know about the ocean just skims the surface, literally. We’ve gathered a large quantity of data on the oceans from satellites, but most of
Alexa+, Amazon’s AI assistant, is now available to everyone in the U.S.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/alexa-amazons-ai-assistant-is-now-available-to-everyone-in-the-u-s/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/alexa-amazons-ai-assistant-is-now-available-to-everyone-in-the-u-s/
TechCrunch
Alexa+, Amazon's AI assistant, is now available to everyone in the US | TechCrunch
Amazon opens Alexa+ to everyone in the U.S. The AI feature is free for Prime members across devices, and free for everyone on mobile and web.
SNAK Venture Partners raises $50M fund to back vertical marketplaces
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/snak-venture-partners-raises-50m-fund-to-back-digitizing-marketplaces/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/snak-venture-partners-raises-50m-fund-to-back-digitizing-marketplaces/
TechCrunch
SNAK Venture Partners raises $50M fund to back vertical marketplaces | TechCrunch
The firm has already invested in six companies, including BigRentals and Repackify, focused on equipment rental and packaging logistics, respectively.
Uber appoints new CFO as its AV plans accelerate
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/uber-appoints-new-cfo-as-its-av-plans-accelerate/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/uber-appoints-new-cfo-as-its-av-plans-accelerate/
TechCrunch
Uber appoints new CFO as its AV plans accelerate | TechCrunch
Uber is promoting Balaji Krishnamurthy, its VP of strategic finance and investor relations, to be its CFO, replacing its current finance chief Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah.
ElevenLabs raises $500M from Sequioia at a $11 billion valuation
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/elevenlabs-raises-500m-from-sequioia-at-a-11-billion-valuation/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/elevenlabs-raises-500m-from-sequioia-at-a-11-billion-valuation/
TechCrunch
ElevenLabs raises $500M from Sequoia at an $11 billion valuation | TechCrunch
ElevenLabs' valuation has raised more than three times in the last 12 months.
Roblox’s 4D creation feature is now available in open beta
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/robloxs-4d-creation-feature-is-now-available-in-open-beta/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/robloxs-4d-creation-feature-is-now-available-in-open-beta/
TechCrunch
Roblox's 4D creation feature is now available in open beta | TechCrunch
Roblox's highly anticipated 4D creation feature has officially arrived in open beta.
Lunar Energy raises $232M to deploy home batteries that prop up the grid
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/lunar-energy-raises-232m-to-deploy-home-batteries-that-prop-up-the-grid/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/lunar-energy-raises-232m-to-deploy-home-batteries-that-prop-up-the-grid/
TechCrunch
Lunar Energy raises $232M to deploy home batteries that prop up the grid | TechCrunch
The startup has raised more than $500 million, to date, from investors to build a massive, distributed power plant supported by residential batteries.
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Hackers publish personal information stolen during Harvard, UPenn data breaches
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/hackers-publish-personal-information-stolen-during-harvard-upenn-data-breaches/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/hackers-publish-personal-information-stolen-during-harvard-upenn-data-breaches/
TechCrunch
Hackers publish personal information stolen during Harvard, UPenn data breaches | TechCrunch
The prolific cybercrime group ShinyHunters took responsibility for hacking Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, and published the stolen data on its extortion website.
Tinder looks to AI to help fight ‘swipe fatigue’ and dating app burnout
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/tinder-looks-to-ai-to-help-fight-swipe-fatigue-and-dating-app-burnout/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/tinder-looks-to-ai-to-help-fight-swipe-fatigue-and-dating-app-burnout/
TechCrunch
Tinder looks to AI to help fight 'swipe fatigue' and dating app burnout | TechCrunch
Tinder is testing AI recommendations and insight from your Camera Roll for better matches.