Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Welcome to TechCrunch AM! This morning, we've got details of a data breach that affected Amazon employees; notes on a lunar economy; and a fresh $200M for genAI startup Writer. We've also got M&A in enterprise AI, fresh funding for sustainable startups, an executive shakeup at Softbank Vision Fund, and a list of the best gadgets to gift folks who just moved into a new house. Let's dive in! — Rebecca

TechCrunch Top 3

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1. Another day, another data breach: The mighty Amazon has been breached. Sort of. The company said employee data had been compromised after a "security event" at a third-party vendor. Read More

2. Fly me to the moon: Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, said the company's successful moon landing was just the opening act. The plan is to build "a full stack: all the pieces you need to create missions to the moon, on the moon, and around the moon." Read More

3. GenAI is still raking it in, and the latest startup to benefit is Writer. The startup has built a full-stack genAI platform with products for various enterprise use cases, and it's now raised a $200 million Series C at a $1.9 billion valuation. Read More

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Morning must-reads

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💬 Time to back up that free speech rhetoric: U.S. senators only have a few weeks left to pass the PRESS Act, a federal "shield" bill that has been lingering in final vote limbo since January. The law would protect journalists from being forced to give up confidential sources and more. Read More

💻 Combine and conquer: IBM-owned open source software firm Red Hat is acquiring Neural Magic, a startup that optimizes AI models to run faster on commodity processors and GPUs. We don't know the terms of the deal, but Neural Magic had raised $50 million in venture capital to date. Read More

🌱 A boost for agritech: Berlin-based Klim has raised $22 million for its platform to help farmers switch to regenerative farming, which reduces carbon emissions while increasing soil biodiversity. Read More

🤙 Even more ways to spend time in meetings: Privacy-focused messaging app Signal has added new features to help you set up and make video calls. We haven't tested it yet, but I'm excited to see if Signal can compete with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Read More

🧥 Is that your grandma's coat? Thrifting is in, and the tech world wants a slice. London-based Fleek, an online marketplace connecting second-hand clothing wholesalers with those who sell it at retail, has raised $20.4 million to continue expanding its platform. Read More

👋 So long, farewell: Rajeev Misra, co-CEO of SoftBank Vision Fund, is stepping down. Misra has been slowly retreating from SoftBank over the years, leaving his roles as corporate officer and EVP of the parent company in 2022. The executive steered the $100 billion fund through its explosive rise and very public challenges. Read More

🇪🇺 Nationalistic lines are being drawn up around the world, and the message is clear: Whenever possible, be self-sufficient. The latest example in Europe comes from Qwant and Ecosia, two search engines that are joining forces to develop their own European search index and reduce reliance on Google and Bing. Read More

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Around the web

👓 Anything to increase efficiency: Amazon is developing smart glasses that can give delivery workers navigation instructions while they're driving and when they arrive at customers' homes, reports Reuters. What could go wrong? Read More

♂️ Stoking the gender wars: The Washington Post has a great summary of how Trump's road back to the White House involved weaving "through testosterone-fueled corners of the internet" in order to garner him a fanbase among young American men. Read More

🤖 Robust robots: Crunchbase News reports that VC funding to robotics startups is becoming more robust as robots promise to be able to do more than just one or two tasks. And many of them have a common investor in Jeff Bezos. Read More

Before you go

Image Credits: 123ducu / Getty Images

🚣 Home is where the tech is: TC's Brian Heater has a rundown of some of the best new gadgets you can buy people who just got a new home. Everything from rowing machines, smart bird feeders and light new vacuums to fast-acting composters are on this eclectic list. Read More