Author: TechBrunch

The U.S. government has accused a former executive of defense contractor L3Harris of stealing trade secrets and selling them to Russian buyers, according to court documents seen by TechCrunch. On October 14, the Department of Justice charged Peter Williams with stealing eight trade secrets from two unnamed companies. The Justice Department made this argument in a “criminal information” document, which, like an indictment, represents a formal accusation of a crime. The document does not reveal Williams' relationship with the companies, the nature of the trade secrets, or the name of the alleged Russian buyer. TechCrunch did not say where the…

The stakes couldn't be higher. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Startup Battlefield 200 finalists will take the stage one last time to compete for $100,000 in equity-free prizes. Their fate will be decided by a select group of the industry's most respected and influential investors – the final round of judges. These are the leaders at the top of venture capital and ultimately decide who takes home the title of Startup Battlefield Champion. Don't miss out on watching one of the year's most competitive and anticipated startup pitch competitions live on Disrupt Stage. Register now to save up to $444 on…

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is less than four days away, and we're gearing up for an amazing three-day event filled with interactive sessions at Moscone West in San Francisco. Roundtable sessions will be held again this year, featuring dynamic conversations led by top founders, investors, and executives, and providing rare opportunities to interact directly with experts and participants in small group settings. Don't miss your chance to save on tickets and join the roundtable. Register now to save up to $444 on passes, plus 60% off guest tickets before same-day prices increase. These discounts are valid only until Disrupt's doors open…

The year-long wait is almost over! In just four days, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will take over San Francisco's Moscone West and take over the future of technology. This is your last chance to join the founders, investors, and innovators shaping the future before ticket prices go up. From October 27th to 29th, connect with more than 10,000 members of the global startup community and enjoy three action-packed days of breakthrough ideas, live startup pitches, hands-on learning, and career connections. Time is running out. Your passing rate will increase quickly. Now you can save up to $444. Save 60% on passes…

This week's episode of StrictlyVC Download features Hans Swildens, founder of Industry Ventures, talking about his company's deal with Goldman Sachs in Industry Ventures' 25th anniversary year. Mr. Swildens traces the evolution of his relationship with Goldman over two decades, from LP investor to wealth platform partner to minority shareholder in 2019, and explains why the firm decided now was the right time to fully join Goldman's external investment group. He discusses how secondaries have become the “new IPO” for venture-backed companies, shares insights from managing one of the world's largest portfolios of over 150 seed-stage venture funds, and explains…

Have you ever wondered if you're talking to a real person online or just another bot? With bots increasingly outnumbering humans online and deepfakes and AI-powered fraud exploding, one company has developed a near-science fiction solution: scanning your iris to verify your identity. Today on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Rebecca Bellan spoke with Adrian Ludwig, chief security officer and chief architect of Tools for Humanity, the company that developed the World's Eye Scan Orbs that are popping up all over the world. Bellan and Ludwig discuss building privacy-first identity, open source approaches to biometric technology, and why proving your humanity is…

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will be held at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27th to 29th, bringing together more than 10,000 leaders, venture capitalists, operators, and innovators who are shaping the future of technology. To celebrate the final countdown, we're giving you one last chance to save big. Save up to $444 when you purchase a pass, plus 60% off a second ticket for co-founders, partners, friends, and team members. This offer at this low rate ends when doors open on October 27th. Lock your 2 discount passes now. Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images Disrupt 2025 ticket types built…

It's the 5th. 120 hours. That's all that sets us apart from the most exciting startup event of the year. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will be held in San Francisco from October 27th to 29th. Last day to save before prices go up. Get your pass now and save up to $444, or bring your plus-one, co-founder, or teammate for 60% off tickets. Sign up now and start the countdown to 3 days that could redefine your trajectory. Is the whole team together? Check out our 15-30% discount group rates. Image credit: TechCrunch Don't miss the biggest moments in the startup…

Justin Wenig recalls his days at Y Combinator in 2019. At the time, he was working with his first startup, Coursedog. The company was looking to provide more modern tools to higher education facilities, including those working with state governments. He quickly learned that his colleagues didn't like working with the public sector – there was too much bureaucracy. Just finding out basic information, such as what the district had purchased in the past year, required a lot of paperwork. “Out of hundreds of startups, only a handful were trying to modernize the way government and education work,” Wenig told…

Sesame, a conversational AI startup and smart glasses maker, announced Tuesday that it has raised $250 million in a Series B round and will open a beta version to a select group of testers. The startup, led by former Oculus co-founder and CEO Brendan Iribe and Ankit Kumar, former CTO of AR startup Ubiquity6, is working to develop personal AI agents that interact with users using natural human voices. The company plans to embed a personal AI agent into lightweight glasses designed to be worn all day, and which users can control using voice. The startup first came out of…