Daily Crunch: Trump launches a social network to resist the tyranny imposed by Big Tech
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Daily Crunch October 21st 2021: Hello! Today's news was diverse, with many items focusing on a particular former president of the United States. TechCrunch has all details. They also have lots of crypto-focused news and product updates from Big Tech. Let's get started! Alex
TechCrunch Top 3
The Trump social network is here! Former President Donald Trump finally confirms rumors that he will launch a media company. The former reality TV host, twice impeached, plans to create a social network as well as a video service. He also has plans to challenge Amazon and Microsoft. Stripe is also included for good measure.
Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is finally confirming rumors about his plans to start a media company. The twice-impeached former host of reality TV shows plans to create a social network as well as a video service. He also has plans to challenge Amazon and Microsoft. Stripe is also included. Employees of Netflix march in solidarity with trans workers: Netflix is at the intersection of comedy, streaming media and a changing national dialog concerning our trans brothers, sisters and brothers. Netflix aired a comedy special that some considered to be platformed hate speech. Spotify had similar issues when it spent large to exclusively bring Joe Rogans' podcast onto its network.
Netflix is at the intersection of comedy, streaming media and a changing national dialog concerning our trans brothers/sisters. Netflix aired a comedy special some considered to be platformed hate speech. Spotify had to deal with similar issues after it spent large amounts to bring Joe Rogan's podcast exclusively onto their network. Google will reduce app store fees
Startups/VC
TechCrunch is kicking off coverage of startups today with The Fund, founder and operator group. TechCrunch reports that The Fund XX will be a community for women entrepreneurs and investors who will make seed- and pre-seed stage investments.
We will next take a look into the triple threat of crypto stories and then dive into a variety of startup news items.
Bitcoin card game raises $50M Struggled to find investors and backers, or friends who will listen to your plans? Put your money on the Ethereum blockchain to collect a large check. Parallel, a sci fi card game built on the Ethereum blockchain is now worth $500 Million after a huge funding round.
Do you have ever dreamed of building your own board or card game? Have you struggled to find investors, backers, or friends who will listen to your plans? Put your money on the Ethereum blockchain to collect a large check. Parallel, a sci fi card game built on the Ethereum blockchain is now worth $500 Million after a huge funding round. What are the Eyeballs of Crypto? This is the trade Sam Altmans Worldcoin offers. The Orb, a five-pound currency that scans your eyes, is called The Orb. Worldcoin, a Layer 2 Ethereum project, is available.
This is the trade Sam Altmans Worldcoin offers. The Orb, a five-pound currency that scans your eyes, is called The Orb. Worldcoin, a Layer 2 Ethereum project, is available. NFT funds are now a thing. TechCrunch reports that Meta4 Capital is seeking capital to trade and buy NFTs. According to our reporting, it is looking to raise $100 millions and will be anchored with a16z. It makes sense that the a16z connection is made because the investor group has long supported Coinbase which is looking to get into NFTs. They also invested capital in OpenSea which is also in NFTs. The startup investor is motivated to preserve the NFT magic.
Now, here's the rest of the news.
AirGarage has just raised $12.5million for vertical software for parking. Vertical software brings targeted products to specific industries that have been slow in digitizing. That includes parking.
AirGarage has just raised $12.5million to fund its efforts. Vertical software is a way to bring targeted products to industries that have been slow in digitizing. This is a good example of vertical software. Socratic raises $3M to fund its developer-focused task managing service. This is an older round. However, the startup revealed the capital only when it felt it was time for a public beta. This is right now. TechCrunch reports that the service aims to provide engineering executives with more information about what's going on within their companies, as well as help more rank-and file staffers.
Although this is an old round of funding, the startup revealed the capital only when it felt it was time for a public beta. This is right now. TechCrunch reports that the service will give engineers more insight into their companies and help more rank-and file staffers. After raising new capital, former Zenefits leader Parker Conrads next venture, Rippling is now worth $6.5 Billion. We have a refresher course on the Zenefits story.
After raising new capital, Parker Conrad, former Zenefits leader, has Rippling now valued at $6.5 billion. We have a refresher for you on the Zenefits story. Yummy secures $18M in LatAm deliveries: We have seen a rapid increase in North American venture capital rounds over the past quarters. This is not a local phenomenon. Yummy raised $4million earlier in the year and is now back with more capital. The new funds will allow the Venezuelan company to expand its operations in the region.
We have seen a rapid increase in North American venture capital rounds over the past quarters. This is not a local phenomenon. Yummy raised $4million earlier this year, and now has more capital. The new funds will allow the Venezuelan company to expand in its area. FlixMobility purchases Greyhound: FlixMobility, a German busing startup, has bought Greyhound, an iconic but unloved U.S busing company. It doesn't have a good reputation in America for operating well. Maybe it will improve with a new corporate parent.
Lessons learned from founders who raised their first round of capital in a bull markets
Startup founders are in high demand and looking to raise their first round of capital by October 2021.
Manu Bansal, founder of Lightup.ai, says that early-stage founders can feel pressure if they have too much money.
GTM cannot be accelerated by more money. He says that if valuations rise dramatically, I must remind myself to deliver performance.
This beast will soon come back to haunt you if I don't show traction. I would rather avoid the price runners.
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Big Tech Inc.
Anyone can now host a Twitter space: Twitters audio chatroom product used to be restricted to people with at least 600 followers. This requirement has been eliminated.
Twitter's audio chatroom was once only available to people with at least 600 followers. This restriction has been removed. Microsoft's dual-screen smartphone experience is improving: If you were familiar with the first Surface Duo, then the good news is that this second version is even better. We don't think it's fully baked yet.
The second generation Surface Duo is better than the one you already have. We don't think it is yet fully baked. Something metaverse? Facebook is aiming to become a metaverse company. It is actually aligned in its direction, so the social media giant is currently rolling out new AR experiences for video calls and Messenger Rooms. This is in line with its own plans for the future.
Facebook is a metaverse company, as it claims. It is clear that Facebook's future plans are aligned with its current direction. The social media giant has begun rolling out AR experiences for video calls and Messenger Rooms. Unity hopes to make cross-platform gaming easier: Much like how a family could end up with all iOS and all Android devices, gamers can create groups around console selection. Unity's new Unity Gaming Services product could make it easier to create cross-platform games. This is something that PC gamers would love.
Gamer groups can be formed around the console selection, much like a family could end up with all iOS and all Android devices. Unity's new Unity Gaming Services product might make it easier to create cross-platform games. This is something that PC gamers would love. Why not have a vaccine mandate only? Apple will require employees who are not vaccinated to test for COVID-19 every day. This seems like a scheme to convince people to get vaccinated. It is.
Apple will require employees who are not vaccinated to test for COVID-19 every day. This seems like a scheme to persuade people to get vaccinated. It is. EU considering banning creepy ads
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