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Ello, and welcome to Daily Crunch August 26, 2021. Or, as we like to call it, Friday Jr. Today, we have lots and lots news, with a slight bias towards big tech companies. First, we will be spending a lot time discussing fintech at Disrupt this yea, and TechCrunch just announced the arrival of Techstars Saba Karim. It's going to be amazing! Alex
TechCrunch Top 3
Airbnb expands its ability to host Afghan refugees. Want to support Airbnb's push to shelter refugees fleeing Afghanistan? Today, the company announced that anyone can help and not only existing hosts. This will hopefully increase the housing stock and help more people get houses. Let's all help each other, we are all human.
Airbnb's push to shelter refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Today, the company announced that anyone can help and not just existing hosts. This will hopefully increase the housing stock and help more people get houses. Let's help each other, we are all human. Apple's rigidity in commissions is fading further. Apple's 30% hardline commission is now softening. The company plans to lower take rates on news purchases for publishers who use the Apple News app. It's good news with strong arm-twists to support it. Apple is fighting hard to keep the rent-seeking mobile economy going. It's because it's so lucrative, that is why.
Apple's 30% hardline commission is being relaxed. The company plans to lower the take rate for news purchases. This will be at least for publishers who use the Apple News app. It's good news with strong arm-twists to support it. Apple is fighting hard to keep the rent-seeking mobile economy going. It's lucrative, that's why. Major tech companies have pledged huge amounts of money for cybersecurity. U.S. tech giants Apple and Google, as well as Microsoft, made the announcement at a White House meeting. Microsoft has pledged to spend $20 billion and Google $10 billion. TechCrunch reports that Apple has pledged to create a program to ensure security throughout the technology supply chain. This is great news. However, we wonder if future budgets will include any of the promised spending.
Startups/VC
We noticed that Brian Heater, our very own founder of the newsletter, was about to launch it. Heater is still there, and one of the pre-launch entries today has a headline I can't improve on: I don't know what to do about those tossed salads or robot legs. Heater receives 100 points for that. Sign up here for the robot newsletter.
Otter.ai increases transcription capabilities: Otter is a great tool if you need to record a conversation, then transcribe it. Because I am an Otter customer, and I rely on it heavily, I know this. Today's news is that Otter Assistant is now available for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. This follows the launch of support for Zoom.
Otter is an excellent tool for recording and transcribing conversations. Because I am an Otter customer, and I rely on it heavily, I know this. Today's news is that Otter Assistant is now available for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. This comes after the launch of support for Zoom. Compa raises $3.9M for better job offer software. Hiring can be a hassle in the backside. In today's highly competitive talent market, it is even more frustrating. Compa created software to help recruiters manage their compensation strategies and create and communicate offers that are clear and unbiased.
It is difficult to hire, especially in today's highly competitive talent market. Compa created software to help recruiters manage their compensation strategies. This allows them to communicate offers that are clear and objective. Playbook is building the Dropbox for Designers: While Dropbox used to be the Dropbox for developers, it has evolved into an enterprise storage and productivity tool. Playbook wants to take over Dropbox's old role. It just raised $4million in a round that was led by Founders Fund.
Although Dropbox was once the Dropbox for designers in years past, it is now an enterprise storage and productivity tool. Playbook is now attempting to take over Dropbox's role. It just raised $4million in a round that was led by Founders Fund. Picsart raises $130M. Today's SoftBank round and/or Tiger round are Picsart. The Vision Fund 2 led a $130M transaction for Picsart. Although the details were not detailed, the company has now reached the $100 million mark in revenue. If you're curious about whether mobile-first creator tools can scale, here are some answers.
Picsart is today's SoftBank or Tiger round. The Vision Fund 2 recently closed a $130million transaction for Picsart. Although the details were not detailed, the company has now reached the $100 million mark in revenue. If you're curious about whether mobile-first creator tools can scale, here are the details. Atheneum raises 150M to fund its survey and research product. I was thrilled when I first heard this news. Because I live close to an Athenum library. This isn't the case. My local temple of books didn't just raise $150 million. However, the startup that bears the name raised $150 million. The customer base for the survey and research service was already 500 large companies.
This news made me very happy when I saw it for the first time. Because I live close to an Athenum library. This isn't the case. My local temple of books didn't just raise $150 million. However, a startup bearing the same name raised the money and its survey and research service customer base already includes 500 large companies. Leapwork's $62M Series A raise proves no-code is still popular: Leapwork, a no-code tool for process automation, is based in Denmark and has raised the country's largest ever Series B. It is no surprise, given the combination of two hot trends, that Leapwork is doing well. Process automation is booming and developers are scarce.
Kate Park, a recent TechCrunch employee, is out today, with a piece on artificial voice and synthetic speech startup LOVO. They just raised $4.5 million. It might be able to fill in for TechCrunchers who have colds.
Although you can't hack the YC app, here are some things to avoid
Don't believe everything you hear: There are many shortcuts that lead to success.
It is a proven method to tap into the experience of others. Chris Morton, a two-time participant in Y Combinator, wrote a guest post on Extra Crunch that offered advice to founders who hope to be accepted by this renowned accelerator.
Morton has reviewed thousands of YC applications and shares his thoughts about when to submit your application, what to do if the deadline is missed, and whether you will need to relocate if accepted.
Morton says that applicants should be able to get interviews and not compete for prizes. Instead of spending time perfecting your application, go back to work.
(Extra Crunch) Our membership program that helps founders and startups get ahead. Sign up here
Big Tech Inc.
For your entertainment, here's a wall of Big Tech news to close our news roundup:
Google kills Streams its clinician support app. Google is great at creating things, but even more at killing them. Google would be a novelist if it could kill so many darlings it could only produce novellas. Streams' death is not surprising, but it is a surprise for some.
Google is an excellent maker of things, and even more adept at killing them. Google would be a novelist if it were to self-kill all its darlings and produce only novellas. Streams' death isn't surprising, but it is a surprise for some. You want to play some Netflix games? You can move to Poland! Netflix is getting into video games. This is no surprise considering that movies are more profitable than games. However, not everyone will be able to access its mobile titles immediately. Poland is the leader. This is not surprising considering the market size and popularity of videogames in Europe.
Netflix is moving into games. This isn't surprising considering that movies are still a much bigger business than games. However, not everyone will be able to access its mobile titles immediately. Poland is the leader. This is not surprising in terms of market selection, considering the popularity of videogames in Europe and the size of the Polish market. Facebook is considering launching an election decision board group oversight Entmoot thing: This further evidences that Facebook might be a bit too big to fit in the modern world as one entity. Let me know what you think.
Facebook is creating a separate advisory committee to make election-related decisions. This further evidences that Facebook may be a little too big to fit in the modern world as one entity. Tell me. Lordstown has a new CEO. This is a difficult and high-profile job, so it must have been quite an adventure. The troubled public electric vehicle company Lordstown has found new leadership. TechCrunch reports that Daniel A. Ninivaggi is the new CEO. He is a former head of Carl C. Icahns Holding Company.
It is a difficult, high-profile job, so it must have been quite an adventure. The troubled public electric vehicle company Lordstown has found new leadership. TechCrunch reports that Daniel A. Ninivaggi is an automotive executive who was previously head of Carl C. Icahns holding firm. Here's the good news for paid YouTube subscribers.
TechCrunch Experts: Growth Marketing
TechCrunch invites you to recommend growth marketers who are experts in SEO, social media, content writing, and other areas. This survey is for growth marketers. We want to know why your clients love working with you.
This interview Anna Heim did with Robert Katai to find out how surveys shape our coverage. Robert Katai, a Romanian marketing expert, explains how you can get the best out of your content.
