Daily Crunch: AI voice platform used in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ sells to Spotify for undisclosed sum

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June 13 is in the future. It is Monday, you know what I mean. Monday is attached to not caring about your opinions about itself. We may all be a little more like Monday.

Darrell told us that WWDC stands for "WOW, what dank continuity," and whether or not that's accurate, it made us happy.

The Climate event in Berkeley, California will be attended by a group of people from the tech community. There is still time to join us in person.

TC Sessions: Climate 2022

The TechCrunch Top 3

• You’re still dangerous, but you can be my wingman anytime: Spotify is acquiring Sonantic. If you haven’t heard of the company, you may know it as the AI voice platform that gave Val Kilmer a voice in the “Top Gun: Maverick” movie, Ingrid reports. We are not clear on the “why” of the acquisition, but it’s noted that Spotify wants to bolster its audio technology game.
• Magic Spoon finds its Target: Direct-to-consumer cereal brand Magic Spoon enters retail as the newest to grace the shelves of Target stores nationwide, Christine writes. For those looking for a healthier, protein-laden breakfast option, Magic Spoon brings it. This comes amid an $85 million Series B round by a group of venture capital and celebrity investors, including Shakira, Russell Westbrook and Halsey.
• One is the loneliest number: Just ask Zendesk. In April, Ron reported the company was under pressure by investors to sell. Well, the saga just got a new chapter after deciding not to sell. As Ron and Alex now tell us via TechCrunch+, one investor (cough, Jana Partners, cough cough) is none too happy with that move.

Startups and VC

Even as Alex takes a closer look at how crypto takes a sharp turn toward the inner core of the planet, the Winklevii are on tour. It's all the small things. It's cool.

In the newest episode of the Chain Reaction podcast, Lucas andAnita talked with Sriram Krishnan about how the incentive structures of web3 make the space a good fit for social networking.

We occasionally write about other things as well.

8 steps for building a financial model to calculate your fundraising needs

Every founder needs a data-driven pitch to convince investors, but how do you ask a stranger to make an eight-figure bet on a company that doesn't exist?

Blair Silverberg says it can be difficult to say you are looking to raise $20 million.

He says that founders should develop financial models that show their needs two years in the future and have a margin of safety.

Silverberg shared four data points he uses to determine overall funding requirements, as well as an eight-step process for putting it all together.

With a believable model, you can focus on whether your assumptions are realistic.

8 steps for building a financial model to calculate your fundraising needs

Techcrunch+ is a membership program that helps startup teams. You can join here.

Big Tech Inc.

There was a lot of news coming out of Apple last week. Our staff is accommodating. Darrell focuses on the company's approach to making all of us healthier while Ivan looks at features Apple created that make others unnecessary. Apple's payment options for Dutch dating apps are compliant, as reported byNatasha.

The door is open for Disney and Viacom18 to enter and go after the media rights for the cricket tournament after Amazon bowed out.

Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company, is one of the new board members appointed by Yahoo!, according to a report by Amanda.

We have more.

• It wasn’t Astra’s day…again: The rocket company was unable to deliver its payload to orbit. The same thing happened three months ago. It did have a successful mission in March, so there’s that.
• It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s your Amazon package!: However, for Lockeford, California, residents, it is your day. The small town, near Stockton, will be “among the first” to get their Amazon package deliveries via drone.
• Chevy’s got the look: There was some debate among TechCrunchers today about the look of the new Chevrolet Blazer EV. Matt is in the “looks good” category but did say, “I still wish General Motors made the off-roader Blazer from the ’70s and ’80s instead of the people mover from the ’90s.”
• DoorDash delivers for customers: The food delivery giant rolled out some new in-app features that give customers a lot more ways to engage, from written reviews to item ratings to knowing what your “most liked” items are.