Technology

As Election Day in the United States approaches, social networking startup Bluesky is poised to demonstrate its platform as a more trusted and fact-checked alternative to Elon Musk's X. With new capital influx, Bluesky aims to showcase its ability to handle potential misinformation that can mislead users during critical national events. Bluesky's Leaning Left and the Influx of Disgruntled Twitter Users While Elon Musk's X is dominated by his support for the Trump campaign, Bluesky tends to lean left, thanks to an influx of disgruntled former Twitter users who don't like the platform's new direction. This leaning has allowed Bluesky to capitalize on the demand for a real-time social network that prioritizes discussions on politics. Election Operations and Trust and Safety To manage its elec...

Apple Exceeds Wall Street's Projections in Earnings Report, Stock Surges 5 Percent In a move that has left analysts and investors alike buzzing, Apple today announced its expectations for the fourth quarter, which have surpassed Wall Street's projections. The tech giant expects to generate between $49 billion and $52 billion in revenue during this period, with the midpoint of this range falling above what was anticipated by market analysts. A Record-Breaking Quarter Ahead The projected revenue for the fourth quarter marks a significant increase over previous years, indicating that Apple is on track for a huge quarter. Historically, this time of year has seen the launch of new iPhone models, which have consistently been major drivers of growth for the company. With the latest iteration expe...

The wait is over, and we finally have our first look at the next set of emojis coming to our iPhones with the release of the iOS 16.4 developer beta. As reported by Emojipedia, the new set of emojis was unveiled during the draft phase last year and has undergone some changes since then. Changes in Emoji Designs One notable change is the design of the shaking head emoji, which is now angled differently than its previous iteration. However, it's essential to remember that these designs could still be tweaked before the final release of iOS 16.4 (and iPadOS 16.4) ships to consumers in the coming weeks. What to Expect from Emoji 15.0 As you may recall, Unicode certified the next version of emojis, Emoji 15.0, back in September 2022. With the developer beta release, we have a fair idea of what'...

The Game-Changer That Was Comixology Comixology was a true game-changer in the world of comics. Before its launch, reading comics on a phone or tablet was not a common practice. The app's success can be attributed to its well-stocked store and user-friendly

Introduction The effects of climate change are far-reaching and devastating. One of the lesser-discussed consequences is the increased risk, rate, and cost of sewage failures. As floods become more common, they overwhelm wastewater treatment systems, leading to backups and infrastructure damage. The EPA estimates that nearly $700 billion in investments is needed to maintain existing wastewater, stormwater, and other clean water pipelines over the next 20 years. The Opportunity for Tech-Driven Solutions Matthew Rosenthal and Billy Gilmartin, both veterans of the wastewater treatment industry, saw an opportunity to help solve the problem with technology. Five years ago, they co-founded SewerAI, which uses AI to automate data capture and defect tagging during sewer inspections. A Brief Histor...

Axonius Raises $200 Million in Funding to Expand Business Amidst Growing Cybersecurity Market Enterprise Asset Management on the Rise As one of the leading players in the world of enterprise asset management, Axonius has made significant strides in understanding and monitoring the digital assets and infrastructure that make up an organization’s network. With a valuation of $2.6 billion, the company has successfully raised an additional $200 million in funding to further expand its business. $100 Million ARR and 500 Large Enterprises Among Its Customers Axonius is on track to surpass $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with approximately 500 large enterprises among its customer base. This growth has been remarkable, especially considering the company’s nearly five-year journey s...

Just short of a year after raising $24 million from backers, including DHL, Everstream Analytics, a company that provides predictive insights for physical supply chains, has secured a fresh round of funding. Series B Round Led by Morgan Stanley's 1GT Fund Everstream today announced that it raised $50 million in a Series B round led by Morgan Stanley’s 1GT Fund, with participation from StepStone Group and Columbia Capital. Julie Gerdeman, Everstream’s CEO, says that the fresh capital will be put toward product development, hiring and customer success efforts. "Solving supply chain challenges has never been more important, and have never received so much attention from shareholders," Gerdeman told TechCrunch in an email interview. "Everstream has grown revenue 30x from the ini...

The Alarming Impact of Industry's Growing Preference for Non-Graduate Candidates As one might expect, many students who graduate with a doctorate in an AI-related field end up joining an AI company, whether it is a startup or a Big Tech giant. According to Stanford’s 2021 Artificial Intelligence Index Report, the number of new AI PhD graduates in North America entering the AI industry post-graduation grew from 44.4% in 2010 to around 48% in 2019. By contrast, the share of new AI PhDs entering academia dropped from 42.1% in 2010 to 23.7% in 2019. Private industry’s willingness to pay top dollar for AI talent is likely a contributing factor. Jobs from the biggest AI ventures, like OpenAI and Anthropic, list eye-popping salaries ranging from $700,000 to $900,000 for new researchers, per data ...

South Korean Agtech Startup Grapples with Job Cuts and Financial Challenges In a significant development, Green Labs, a South Korean agtech startup that raised $140 million in Series C funding last year, is reportedly cutting a substantial number of jobs. The news was confirmed by individuals familiar with the matter to TechCrunch, following earlier rumors by local media outlets. Rapid Expansion and Subsequent Layoffs Green Labs, which now boasts over 650 employees, had doubled its workforce after securing Series C funding from investors such as BRV Capital Management, Skylake Incuvest, and SK Square. However, the startup's rapid expansion has apparently led to a series of challenges, including financial difficulties. According to sources, Green Labs is conducting a round of layoffs that c...

This is a list of various venture capital and private equity funds focused on Africa. The list includes 20+ funds, with some having recently reached final closes or had second closes announced. Here's a brief summary: Venture Capital Funds: Alitheia Angel Fund: Launched in 2020, this fund focuses on early-stage investments in African startups. Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund: Hit a final close of $296 million last year and will invest in digital infrastructure opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa. LeapFrog Impact Funds: The new fund aims to double down on financial and healthcare sectors in Africa and Asia. uMunthu II fund: A joint venture between Goodwell Investments and Alitheia Capital, reaching a first close of €57 million ($61 million) last year. Sanari 3S Growth ...