Author: TechBrunch
When Daniel Ek is not busy running Spotify or building a new AI-driven health technology enterprise, he appears to be making a big bet on the future of European wars. The billionaire, who lives primarily in Stockholm, has just led an investment of 600 million euros in the four-year-old Helsing, now valued at 12 billion euros, as first reported by the Financial Times and individually confirmed by TechCrunch. The agreement makes it one of Europe's most valuable private companies. It also highlights European scramblings to build European military muscle as the world becomes more troubling and the US becomes inwards.…
In an effort to resonate with younger users amid declining user engagement, Tinder announced on Tuesday the launch of a new double-dating feature. Double Date allows users to pair with friends and view other paired users who share at least one of their individual preferences, such as gender or sexual orientation. Once one of the pair takes the match, the group chat starts with all four participants. If users prefer to chat one-on-one, there is also the option to prefer individual profiles within the match. Users can invite up to three friends to participate in this new dating experience. By…
Instagram is testing the ability for users to repost posts, the company confirmed Monday to TechCrunch. This move is not surprising as it was discovered that social networks are developing features back to 2022. Some users report checking features on their accounts, noting that users can repost their content in addition to other users' posts. Of course, if Instagram decides to officially roll out the changes, not everyone will be involved, especially as it adds yet another content format to a platform where posts, stories, reels, notes, DMS, ads and more are already crowded. Meanwhile, some people welcome the changes…
Instagram users have been complaining for weeks about a massive increase in accounts being accidentally banned or suspended. Many suspect that the issue may be related to the use of AI automation without direct evidence. To date, Meta has not provided a record statement to date. A growing number of social media posts, including sites like Reddit and X, have found that Instagram users have reported that their accounts have been banned despite not violating the company's terms of service or other policies. Additionally, when they filed an appeal to review the account, some allegedly had no response. Others point…
These are the Startup Battlefield 200, the last time that will be applied to technology's most iconic pitch competition. Fight in front of TechCrunch's over 10,000 startup leaders, investors and the media. Confuses 2025. It's your moment. This is not your average pitch. That's where bold people break out. If your startup has traction, vision, or grit, you can enter until 11:59pm tonight. Please submit your application now before your watch runs out 200 startups are selected. 20 will be playing the live performance on the main stage. One wins a Disrupt Cup and brings back $100,000 in stock-free funds.…
Patreon, a monetization platform for creators that offers membership programs and digital products, announced on Monday it was changing its pricing structure. Currently, Patreon gets 8% cuts or 12% cuts from creators, depending on the tier they choose, but the 8% plan is much more popular. Instead, the new pricing plan offers one universal tier and maintains 10% of the creator's revenue. Existing Patreon creators don't have to worry. This price increase will only affect creators who publish new Patreon pages after August 4, 2025. “Since last updated prices six years ago, Patreon has expanded beyond payments to include media…
Food distribution giant United Natural Food (UNFI) said it is making “great progress” in recovering from cyberattacks that occurred almost two weeks ago as North American grocery stores rely on distributors continue to report food shortages. In its Sunday update, UNFI said it is restoring the electronic ordering system that customers use to place orders for grocery stores and supermarkets. The company, which offers more than 30,000 stores across the US and Canada with fresh ingredients and other products, was hit by a cyber attack on June 5th, and the company disclosed it a few days later. UNFI has yet…
TechCrunch All Stage is not a warm intro waiting room. This is a floor filled with founders, ideas and breakout possibilities. With VCS, you never skip filters and satisfy the future of technology in one place. Whether you're deploying early stage capital, leading Series B, or leading an emerging fund manager, TechCrunch All Stage offers more than access. It will then be available on July 15th at the Sova Power Plant in Boston. Get your ticket and get an additional $210 discount. Skip decks and get founder All day long, TechCrunch All Stage will put you in the mix. It's…
India's car sharing marketplace Zoomcar has revealed that hackers have access to personal data from at least 8.4 million customers, including names, phone numbers and car registration numbers. Bengaluru Headquarted Company identified an incident on June 9th involving unauthorized access to the information system, in accordance with its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it noticed the incident after receiving external communications from threat actors who claimed that some of its employees had access to the company's data. “After discovery, the company immediately activated its incident response plan,” Zoomcar said in the filing. “There is no…
There is a formula for high-tech and startup events. You know that. We know that. We all did that. But the TechCrunch All Stage 2025, held on July 15 at the Sowa Power Plant in Boston, is designed to break out of its rinsing and repair models, focusing on what early-stage startups really need to know. Additionally, investors' passes can receive a limited time discount at a $200 cut, a founder's pass of $210 and a special $99 rate exclusively for students. Move quickly before these prices rise! This is a laser-centric day. There is no expo maze, 5 track…