Author: TechBrunch

Instagram is testing the new picture photography feature for viewing reels, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Tuesday. This feature allows users to view reels in small floating windows on the screen, while allowing users to view other apps and multitasking. This feature was first discovered by app researcher Radu Oncescu. Users who are part of the test will see a popup notifying them about the new feature and how to turn it on. Picture-in-pictures are great for multitasking, but they could also increase longer video retention, especially in an era of reduced attention. For example, if someone comes across…

The clock is ticking every moment, and TechCrunch's exhibition space is rapidly filling up in 2025. There are only four days left to book a table, so it's time to stop swiveling ideas and claim your spot on the show floor. Only the remaining 10 tables remain, and once they are gone, they are gone. There is no waiting list. There are no last-minute add-ons. The confusion attracts over 10,000 startups and VC leaders. The exhibition floor is where some of the biggest conversations begin. If you have a killer product, bold vision, or early traction and ready to scale,…

Eight US and Indian venture capital and private equity companies, including renowned investors Axel, Bloom Venture, Celesta Capital and Premji Invest, formed a rare coalition to support deep Indian tech startups, pledging over $1 billion to bolster US and India's technical ties over the next decade. The alliance has addressed long-standing fundraising concerns. In April, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal elicited criticism after denounced domestic startups for focusing on food delivery instead of innovation, contrasting with Chinese companies in a presentation titled “India vs. China: Startup Reality Check.” Several investors and founders argued that India lacks capital for deep tech…

Five years ago, investor Katelin Holloway created what she called “literal moonshot” investments. The founding partner of generalist venture Seven Seven Six admits that she and her team were talking about when Rocket Company Stoke Space promoted the company with reusable launch technology as “no clue.” “We knew well enough that we weren't experts,” she says. Since then, Holloway has also invested in Interlune, a company that plans to harvest Helium-3 from the moon and sell it to the planet for quantum computing and medical imaging applications. Holloway is well aware of the skepticism these bets may attract. At the…

Volunteers are needed and time is inscribed! Over a month before TechCrunch destroys San Francisco in 2025, we are urging students, founders, marketers and event pros to step behind the curtains and urge the TechCrunch event team to separate themselves from one of the biggest and most anticipated startup events to take place on October 27th-29th. The application deadline is September 30th Whether you're building a network, learning what it takes to start a company, or getting front row views from technology leaders like Aaron Levy (Box), Sarah Franklin (Grid), and Elad Gill, volunteers are a fast track ticket to…

All founders say they want visibility, traction and growth. But with a 10 and 5 day table to grab one, the window to make it happen in TechCrunch is blocking 2025. If you've been thinking about joining more than 10,000 startups and VC leaders in San Francisco on October 27th-29th, this is your moment. Lock your place on the expo floor where ideas, capital and connections collide. This is what awaits you at your table True Investor Exposure: We talk about road traffic from Sequoia, A16Z, General Catalyst, Y Combinator and more. They walk on the floor. You want them…

Veteran indie filmmaker Jim Jalmusch premiered his new film, “My Father's Brothers” at the Venice Film Festival today. There they asked about Mbi, the streaming platform that journalists co-produced the film. “I was disappointed and confused by this relationship,” Yamsh said, but his own “relationship with Mbi started earlier and they were great to work with this film.” Many filmmakers, including those with Mbi, have accepted money from Sequoia and signed an open letter criticizing the streamers as they said that support from Israeli defence technology startup Kera “meaning that Mbi's financial growth as a company is explicitly linked to…

Tiktok is offering users a new way to interact with others via direct messaging (DMS), the company told TechCrunch on Friday. Users will be able to send voice notes and share up to nine images or videos in one-to-one group chats on the platform. With these new features, Tiktok positions itself as more than just an entertainment platform, aiming to be a place where users can interact regularly, not just send Tiktok videos. Additionally, with new features, Tiktok's messaging experience brings experiences that are in line with that of other popular social apps and services. Audio notes allow users to…

California lawmakers have signed a deal with Uber and Lyft, which allows app-based drivers to form unions and make riding fees more affordable. This contract is a victory for gig workers, which has long been categorized as independent contractors, and therefore is not subject to the specific protections employees receive, such as the right to collective bargaining. Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with Senate Speaker Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Congress Speaker Robert Rivas, announced support for two laws on Friday that will form a pathway for app-based drivers to unionize. Congressional Bill 1340 is sponsored by SEIU California, while Senate…

WhatsApp said Friday it fixed a security bug in iOS and Mac apps that were used to stealth hack “specific target users” to Apple devices. Meta-owned messaging app Giant said it has fixed a vulnerability officially known as CVE-2025-55177 in its security advisory. Apple said at the time that the flaw was being used in “a very sophisticated attack on a particular targeted individual.” Now we know that dozens of WhatsApp users have been targeted with this flawed pair. Donchanó Cearbhaill, who leads Amnesty International's security lab, described the attack on X's post as an “advanced spyware campaign” targeting users…