Airbnb Bets on the ‘IRL Economy’ with $58 Million Investment in WeRoad
Milan-based group travel startup WeRoad secures $58M in Series C funding led by Airbnb to bring its social-first travel model to the US, starting in Austin.
Tag: Venture Capital
The Musk Conglomerate: Why a SpaceX-Tesla Merger is Becoming a Logical Endpoint
As SpaceX prepares for its Nasdaq debut, evidence mounts that Elon Musk may be steering Tesla and SpaceX toward a singular, AI-driven corporate entity.
Origin Lab bets $8M on the gaming industry as the next frontier for physical AI training
Origin Lab is bridging the gap between game developers and AI labs, turning virtual environments into high-quality training data for physical world models.
Inside the Selection Process for Startup Battlefield 2026: What TechCrunch Really Wants from Founders
TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 2026 applications close May 27. Learn the specific criteria judges use to select the next generation of category-defining startups.
Origin Lab Bets on Gaming Assets to Solve the ‘World Model’ Data Drought
Origin Lab is building a licensed marketplace to turn video game environments into high-fidelity training data for the next generation of physical AI and world models.
Status AI Secures $17M to Shift Social Media From Passive Feeds to Generative Roleplay
Backed by General Catalyst and Union Square Ventures, Status AI aims to replace the traditional social feed with AI-driven, user-generated interactive worlds.
The Race for the Disrupt Stage: TechCrunch Opens Applications for Startup Battlefield 200
Early-stage founders have until May 27 to apply for Startup Battlefield 200, offering a chance at $100,000 in funding and global VC exposure at Disrupt.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Opens Early Bird Registration as SF Startup Scene Braces for October Return
TechCrunch Disrupt returns to San Francisco's Moscone West from October 13-15, 2026. Early bird registration is open through May 29.
The ‘AI Hedge’: How Lucra Sports Landed a $20M Series B Amidst a Venture Capital Drought
Lucra Sports founder Dylan Robbins reveals the unconventional pitching strategy used to secure $20 million in funding when VCs were exclusively chasing AI.
The Countdown to Disrupt: TechCrunch Opens Final Call for Startup Battlefield 200
TechCrunch Disrupt is closing applications for Startup Battlefield 200 on May 27. Discover how pre-Series A startups can secure VC access and equity-free funding.