Author: TechBrunch

Bootstrapped companies don't appear in startup news as often as venture-backed companies because they don't have flashy funding rounds to show off. Fleet is a great example of a company that has grown steadily without ever raising outside funding. The Paris-based company initially offered a way to rent hardware, so that instead of spending a fortune to buy an army of laptops for their employees, companies could lease devices using Fleet and pay a monthly fee. The company has now launched several software services in addition to its hardware-as-a-service proposition, from device management to cybersecurity to insurance. As a bootstrapped…

Akeed Azmi and David Reche stumbled upon what they believed to be a $2 billion opportunity while scaling and managing teams at two of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's largest unicorns. They noticed that their former employers, Careem and Kitopi, as well as other local businesses in the region, were struggling with payroll administration issues caused by human error and high compliance costs. Their startup, Cercli, which launched in January, is addressing this challenge by developing software that enables companies in the MENA region to hire, manage and pay employees around the world. The potential of Cercli's…

Hospitals around the world regularly face bed shortages. A health crisis or other major disaster can exacerbate the problem to the breaking point. Startup Doccla is deploying technology to address the issue. The company is developing “virtual bed” technology to allow doctors to remotely manage patients who are discharged early, or in some cases, never go to hospital. The company has gained popularity in the UK and Ireland and is now raising £35 million ($46 million) to expand in Europe. Lakestar led the Series B round, with participation from Elaia and several existing investors. The funding comes two years after…

SparkLabs, an early-stage venture capital firm that has made a name for itself by backing OpenAI as well as a number of other AI startups, including Vectara, Allganize, Kneron, Anthropic, xAI, Glade (YC S23) and Lucidya AI, is preparing to double down on more startups in the space. The VC firm on Tuesday announced the closing of a new $50 million fund, the AIM AI Fund, which will back AI startups from its AIM-X accelerator in Saudi Arabia as well as other AI startups around the world. SparkLabs' new fund and its broader investment objectives highlight a larger trend that…

Open source has evolved from a niche approach to software development into the business model of many successful technology companies as companies grapple with the challenge of running sustainable businesses without sacrificing their core principles. Its principles of transparency and collaboration have fostered innovation, but balancing these ideals with the practical demands of running a profitable business can be a challenge. Industry leaders Accel Partner Casey Aylward, Docker CEO Scott Johnston, and Reddis CEO Rowan Trollope will take to the SaaS stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 to explore the complexities of operating with an open source business model and share…

Whether it's a sophisticated cocktail party, a casual happy hour, a niche meetup or a skill-building workshop, Disrupt Week gives you the flexibility to host side events that truly represent your brand. Use this opportunity to raise awareness of your brand in front of 10,000+ TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 attendees and the vibrant Bay Area tech scene. Apply for free by September 6th. Benefits of hosting side events Expand your impact: Connect with thousands of Disrupt 2024 attendees and the surrounding tech community. We'll promote your side event across multiple platforms, ensuring it reaches a broad and diverse audience. Disrupt 2024…

California's controversial AI disaster prevention bill, SB 1047, passed a final vote in the state Senate and is now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. The Governor must weigh the most extreme theoretical risks of AI systems, including the possibility of them causing human deaths, against the possibility of stifling California's AI boom. The Governor has until September 30 to sign SB 1047 or veto it outright. SB 1047, introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to prevent very large AI models from causing catastrophic events, such as cyberattacks that could result in loss of life or damages exceeding $500…

Andreessen Horowitz partner Joshua Lu knows that in the video game industry, there's never much rest. He experienced the heyday of mobile gaming as head of product at Zynga, where he worked on hits like Words with Friends. Then he worked on blockbuster titles like Diablo Immortal as vice president at Blizzard Entertainment. And then he learned to see games in a new dimension as director of product management at Meta, working on the VR game Horizon Worlds. “I had to unlearn what I thought were universal truths and learn entirely new ways of doing things,” Lu told TechCrunch. Lu…

There are 5 days left to purchase $200 off your student pass to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. This special offer ends September 6th at 11:59pm PST. Don't miss out! Now that classes are back in session, it's natural to feel pressured by increased expenses. Or maybe you've recently graduated and are looking for your first big job. Either scenario can be tough on your budget. More than 10,000 tech leaders are expected to attend Disrupt 2024, taking place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30, making this the perfect opportunity to make influential connections and improve your chances of…

When the now-infamous Crowdstrike software update took down businesses around the world in July, lawsuits were inevitable — and they were, with Delta Airlines perhaps the most famous example being its lawsuit against the airline seeking $500 million in damages and hiring lawyer David Boies. Boyce's wide-ranging list of high-profile clients includes victims of Theranos, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, and Al Gore in the Bush v. Gore case over the 2000 presidential election results, and he also led the government's antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft in the 1990s. Even before Delta came forward, shareholders had filed a class action lawsuit…