February 7, 2025

These documents are influencing the DOGE-sphere’s agenda

Reports from the US Government Accountability Office on improper federal payments in recent years are circulating on X and elsewhere online, and they seem to be a big influence on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency and its supporters as the group pursues cost-cutting measures across the federal government.  The payment reports have been…

Technology

Meta starts testing ‘members-only worlds’ in Horizon Worlds

January 31, 2023

Meta is starting to test closed spaces called “members-only worlds” in Horizon Worlds, its social VR experience. The company has begun a limited alpha test to give creators the ability to grow and moderate their own communities. Meta has selected a small group of creators to build and obtain feedback about members-only worlds. In a […]

Meta starts testing ‘members-only worlds’ in Horizon Worlds by Aisha Malik originally published on TechCrunch

Precision Neuroscience is making brain implants safer, smarter and reversible

January 31, 2023

Brain researchers have relied on devices called microelectrode arrays for decades, but the technology behind these tools is increasingly outdated. Precision Neuroscience is building a modern alternative that’s not only an order of magnitude better, but far less invasive to put in. With a newly raised $41 million in the bank, they’re all set to […]

Precision Neuroscience is making brain implants safer, smarter and reversible by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

Teal unwraps $8.8M to build out a telehealth platform for women — starting with cervical cancer screening

January 31, 2023

Female-focused telehealth startup, Teal Health, is popping up today to announce an $8.8 million seed round with a roster of heavy hitting investors on board — including (Serena Williams’) Serena Ventures, (Chelsea Clinton’s) Metrodora Ventures, and (Laurene Powell Jobs’) Emerson Collective. The February 2020-founded San Francisco-based startup’s first product will be a service that supports […]

Teal unwraps $8.8M to build out a telehealth platform for women — starting with cervical cancer screening by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

Thrive Capital believed to be leading new multi-billion dollar investment in Stripe

January 31, 2023

Thrive Capital has reportedly committed $1 billion in fresh capital to payments giant Stripe as part of a new investment in the works that would value the fintech company at between $55 billion and $60 billion. TechCrunch reported last week that Stripe was seeking to raise $2 billion but the number could actually be closer […]

Thrive Capital believed to be leading new multi-billion dollar investment in Stripe by Mary Ann Azevedo originally published on TechCrunch

Instagram’s co-founders introduce a new social app…for news reading

January 31, 2023

Can lightning strike twice? That’s apparently the question being raised today with the public introduction of the next social app built by Instagram’s co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The duo have launched a new venture to explore social apps, according to a report published in The Verge, which includes the debut product Artifact, a […]

Instagram’s co-founders introduce a new social app…for news reading by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

TrueBiz aims to help financial services providers onboard business customers faster, avoid fraud

January 31, 2023

Due diligence was a big topic in 2022 for a variety of reasons. But due diligence doesn’t just apply to investors pouring money into startups, or companies acquiring other companies. Businesses, especially those operating in financial services, also have to conduct an appropriate amount of due diligence, for example, to avoid fraud. As recently as […]

TrueBiz aims to help financial services providers onboard business customers faster, avoid fraud by Mary Ann Azevedo originally published on TechCrunch

Bitcoin-based app Strike expands in Philippines to grow cross-border payment solutions

January 31, 2023

Strike, a Bitcoin-based payment network and financial app, is expanding to the Philippines to grow cross-border payments and remittance markets. “The Philippines is one of the biggest remitting markets in the world, especially from the United States,” Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, said to TechCrunch. In 2021, about $12.7 billion in cash remittances was sent […]

Bitcoin-based app Strike expands in Philippines to grow cross-border payment solutions by Jacquelyn Melinek originally published on TechCrunch

NetApp, a specialist in cloud data management, says it will lay off 8%, or around 960, people, citing economic climate

January 31, 2023

NetApp, one of the big players in cloud data management, today announced that it would lay off 8% of its staff, citing “macroeconomic challenges and the reduced spending environment” in the current market. The company is estimated to employ about 12,000 people globally, so this will work out to around 960 people impacted. NetApp said […]

NetApp, a specialist in cloud data management, says it will lay off 8%, or around 960, people, citing economic climate by Ingrid Lunden originally published on TechCrunch

A de-extinction company is trying to resurrect the dodo

January 31, 2023
The dodo bird was big, flightless, and pretty good eating. All that helps explain why it went extinct around 1662, just 150 years after European sailing ships found Mauritius, the island in the Indian Ocean where the bird once lived. Now a US biotechnology company says it plans to bring the dodo back into existence.…

Apple HomePod (2023) review

January 31, 2023

Welcome to the dark night of the smart speaker. A few years back, the category felt inevitable — and, frankly, why not? We’ve smartened our phones and watches. Why shouldn’t our homes be the next step? For decades, many looked longingly at home automation. Smart blinds that opened with your alarm clock might as well […]

Apple HomePod (2023) review by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch