Techcrunch blog!: Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirms: '100M people signed up for Threads in five days'

Monday, July 10, 2023

Today, our top story is about Instagram's Threads again. This time, we bring you an update that the Twitter rival amassed 100 million users in just five days. While this is certainly a feat by all accounts, the cynical person in me notes that any existing Instagram user who recently opened the app was guided to add the Threads app. And, with the Meta social exposure engine behind it, this probably made it much easier to reach that level, amirite?

Meanwhile, FrontRow, a hobby-learning and community platform featuring celebrities in India, said "bye, bye, bye," but perhaps could come back in another way. One of the co-founders said that the startup is exploring IP acquisition talks.

And, top tech talent is not easy to come by, so sometimes you have to expand your network. Propel, a startup in Africa, raised $2.74 million to build that talent pipeline for communities so that global companies can de-risk the process of hiring remote talent from emerging markets and turn that cold outreach into a warm handshake.

Image Credits: Tomekbudujedomek / Getty Images

More top reads

Was that all spent in one place?: Chinese auto chip maker Black Sesame recently filed to go public in Hong Kong, and that means we can now take a look at their numbers, which include burning $140 million a year.

Into the breach: In security news today, the U.K. battles a hacking wave as ransomware gang claims “biggest ever” NHS breach, JumpCloud resets customer API keys citing an "ongoing incident," and the Bangladesh government takes down exposed citizens' data.

What's up, Doc?: Christine reports that Verifiable validates its healthcare credentialing software with another $27 million.

Good AI: Let's now celebrate a smart way to use artificial intelligence. Wildfire detection startup Pano, which can detect a fire and issue a warning in 14 minutes, added another $17 million to its Series A.

Out with the new, in with the old: Twitter made it quite challenging to use TweetDeck recently, but if you're mourning its old version, we show you how to get it back. Get it while you can — you know how fickle they are over there.

Isn't it great when a plan comes together?: "Personal data can now flow freely and safely from the European Economic Area to the United States without any further conditions or authorizations" thanks to Europe adopting the U.S. data adequacy decision.

Putting all of your links out there: Snap teams up with Linktree to let users include links in their profiles.

"Dumber and much cheaper": That's how Longshot Space is describing its vision for making space launches.

Wakanda forever: Electronic Arts, better known as EA, joins with Marvel Games to launch a single-player Black Panther video game.

Can't escape those spreadsheets: But what if they were more fun? Sourcetable raised $3 million and is going cell-to-cell with some of the spreadsheet's biggest corporate fans to retool this fundamental business tool.

Image Credits: Marvel Studios

How to identify, interview and hire a head of growth for an early-stage startup

By the time it’s clear that the wrong person is running product or engineering, it can be too late to make a course correction. The same holds true for your first head of growth: If they don’t deliver, it could spell the end of everything.

In his latest TC+ column, growth expert Jonathan Martinez lays out a detailed plan for recruiting a growth lead and setting goals for their first 90, 180 and 365 days on the job.

“The individual you're looking for will create and execute growth strategies, manage marketing initiatives and, ultimately, drive revenue,” writes Jonathan.

“I'll walk you through when and how to hire your head of growth, their archetypes, how this role stands apart from other marketing executive positions, and what to expect from this hire.”

Four more from TC+:

As the value of startup exits craters, poor liquidity may be harming VCs' ability to raise capital

IP for startups: It starts with strategy

Eliminating food waste is the next frontier in saving the planet

Seven things every EV fast-charging network needs

TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code "DC" for a 15% discount on an annual subscription.

How to identify, interview and hire a head of growth for an early-stage startup image

Image Credits: Andrei Akushevich / Getty Images

Get your TechCrunch fix IRL. Join us at Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco this September to immerse yourself in all things startup. From headline interviews to intimate roundtables to a jam-packed startup expo floor, there's something for everyone at Disrupt. Save up to $600 when you buy your pass now through August 11, and save 15% on top of that with promo code DC. Learn more.