July 22, 2025

This startup wants to use beams of energy to drill geothermal wells

A beam of energy hit the slab of rock, which quickly began to glow. Pieces cracked off, sparks ricocheted, and dust whirled around under a blast of air.  From inside a modified trailer, I peeked through the window as a millimeter-wave drilling rig attached to an unassuming box truck melted a hole into a piece…

Analysts cut 2023 techs spending predictions as consumers hold back

January 18, 2023

Predicting spending is a tricky business, especially in a period of economic uncertainty. Perhaps that’s why both IDC and Gartner have cut their fall predictions in the new year with Gartner now predicting modest 2.2% growth for 2023 with IDC a bit more optimistic at 4.4%. In the fall, Gartner was predicting a far more […]

Analysts cut 2023 techs spending predictions as consumers hold back by Ron Miller originally published on TechCrunch

Some initial thoughts on Apple’s resurrected HomePod

January 18, 2023

Ditching HomePod was a strange choice. At the time, Apple told us, “HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini.” While the smart home hasn’t panned out precisely the […]

Some initial thoughts on Apple’s resurrected HomePod by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Wastewater recycler Membrion makes light work of removing heavy metals

January 18, 2023

PureTerra, a venture firm that aims to fund “disruptive water technologies,” is pumping millions into Membrion so the Seattle startup can mass-produce its wastewater treatment tech. Membrion claims its ceramic membranes can filter out problematic heavy metals (not the genre, but toxic stuff like lead, arsenic and lithium) for around a twelfth of the cost of […]

Wastewater recycler Membrion makes light work of removing heavy metals by Harri Weber originally published on TechCrunch

Wallapop, the circular marketplace out of Spain, raised $87M more at a $832M valuation led by Korea’s Naver

January 18, 2023

Wallapop, a peer-to-peer marketplace based out of Barcelona that made a splash at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic with consumers who were looking for more localized, less wasteful, and more eco-friendly routes for buying and selling items, has raised more money to continue its expansion in Europe. The company has picked up €81 million […]

Wallapop, the circular marketplace out of Spain, raised $87M more at a $832M valuation led by Korea’s Naver by Ingrid Lunden originally published on TechCrunch

Wikipedia gets its first makeover in over a decade…and it’s fairly subtle

January 18, 2023

Wikipedia, one of the world’s top 10 most visited websites, and a resource used by billions every month, is getting its first makeover on the desktop in over a decade. The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs the Wikipedia project, announced today the launch of an updated interface aimed at making the site more accessible and easier […]

Wikipedia gets its first makeover in over a decade…and it’s fairly subtle by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

This gentle drone collects loose DNA from swaying tree branches

January 18, 2023

Understanding the biodiversity of forests is crucial to their conservation or restoration. Collecting “external DNA” left behind by animals is a good way to find out what lives there without having to spot them or even be there at the same time — and this drone from Swiss researchers makes taking samples from tree limbs […]

This gentle drone collects loose DNA from swaying tree branches by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

Sequoia injects $195 million into an ever-eager seed environment

January 18, 2023

Sequoia Capital, a storied venture capital firm, announced today that it has raised $195 million for its fifth, dedicated seed fund. The vehicle will be used to back founders across the United States and Europe, as well as follow-on funding rounds for companies spinning out of the firm’s accelerator program, Arc. The new fund comes […]

Sequoia injects $195 million into an ever-eager seed environment by Natasha Mascarenhas originally published on TechCrunch