Klarna and Deel eye IPOs, and Stripe embraces crypto
Welcome to TechCrunch Fintech! This week we’re looking at how fintech heavyweights such as Klarna and Stripe are incorporating crypto into their strategies, which companies are planning for IPOs, one fintech’s Super Bowl ad, Stripe’s new lead of startups and venture capital, and more! To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s
Read moreApple brings heart rate monitoring to Powerbeats Pro 2
Apple Tuesday announced the long-awaited debut of Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds. The new headphones arrive nearly six years after the original Powerbeats hit the market. The new model maintains the familiar ear hook for workouts, while delivering upgraded sound, better battery life, and a wireless charging case. The earbuds also
Read moreOpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls Musk’s bid an attempt to ‘slow us down’
In an interview at the AI Action Summit in Paris on Tuesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed Elon Musk’s unsolicited $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit as “an attempt to slow [OpenAI] down.” “[Musk] obviously is a competitor,” Altman said. “He’s raised a lot of money for [his AI company]
Read moreCISA election security officials placed on leave, DHS confirms
A senior DHS official confirmed CISA employees involved in election security were put on leave. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Read moreApple reportedly partners with Alibaba after rejecting DeepSeek for China AI launch
According to a report published Tuesday by The Information, Apple is partnering Alibaba to bring its Apple Intelligence platform to China. The deal is said to arrive after the iPhone maker reportedly explored – but ultimately rejected – a potential partnership with uber-buzzy AI startup, DeepSeek, as well as with
Read moreMast Reforestation hatched a plan to restore wildfire-ravaged forests. Investors took notice.
Mast enables reforestation without landowners needing to wait decades to harvest timber or claim carbon credits. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Read moreBuzzFeed is taking on Instagram, TikTok, X with a new social platform designed to spread ‘joy’
BuzzFeed, the media site known for its celebrity news and quizzes, announced on Tuesday that it’s developing its own social media platform in a move to counter the current negativity on the internet. Semafor first reported BuzzFeed’s plan for the platform this past week. Details on the new platform are
Read moreBYD to offer Tesla-like driver assist, even on its cheapest models
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD unveiled “God’s Eye,” an advanced driver assistance system that will be install on its entire model lineup, including its $9,600 Seagull hatchback. BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said at a live streamed event Monday that “we’re entering an era where autonomous driving is for everyone,” according
Read more4 Cybersecurity Business Myths to Avoid in 2025
Despite growing awareness of cybersecurity risks, misconceptions persist that could lead your business astray in 2025. What are the most common myths, and how can organizations debunk them in order to strengthen their defenses? This statement is simply not true. Small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly being targeted, as well
Read more3D mood board and marketplace Mattoboard picks up $2M to launch AI visual search
Mattoboard, the makers of web-based software designed to simplify the creative process for interior designers and architects, is getting into AI. On Tuesday, the startup announced its $2 million seed funding round, which will support the launch of a new feature called Design Stream, an AI-driven visual search and discovery
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