How 2 UC Berkeley dropouts raised $28M for their AI marketing automation startup

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  July 30, 2025 TechCrunch Top 3 How 2 UC Berkeley dropouts raised $28M for their AI marketing automation startup: A marketing automation startup called Conversation has a founding story that sounds like it could have been an episode of the HBO show "Silicon Valley." Read More Skechers is making kids' shoes with a hidden AirTag compartment: Skechers launches kids' shoes with a built-in AirTag holder. Read More PlayerZero raises $15M to prevent AI agents from shipping buggy code: PlayerZero landed angel investors like Databricks' Matei Zaharia, Dropbox's Drew Houston, Figma's Dylan Field, and Vercel's Guillermo Rauch, its founder says. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events Join 10,000 tech & VC leaders at Disrupt 2025 in Oct 250+ top tech voices. 200 sessions. 10,000+ attendees. 3 days straight — October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Don't miss valuable takeaways across 6 industry stages, breakouts, roundtables, and unmatched networking. All at the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt. Register now to save up to $675 on your ticket. Register Now Afternoon Must-Reads Ramp hits $22.5B valuation just 45 days after reaching $16B: In 2025, Ramp keeps raising money at increasing valuations as its CEO pursues an AI-powered future. Read More Zuckerberg signals Meta won't open source all of its 'superintelligence' AI models: Meta is shifting how it plans to ensure widespread access to superintelligence, a suggestion that the company's most advanced AI may remain closed so that Meta can stay in the driver's seat. Read More Palo Alto Networks agrees to buy CyberArk for $25 billion: The cybersecurity giant is getting into identity security with its acquisition of CyberArk, which is one of the biggest cybersecurity deals of the year so far. Read More Meta to spend up to $72B on AI infrastructure in 2025 as compute arms race escalates: Meta is pouring money into the physical and technical infrastructure needed to scale its AI ambitions. The company said Wednesday in its second-quarter earnings report that it plans to more than double its spend on building AI infrastructure – like data centers and servers.  "We currently expect 2025 capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, to be in the range of $66-72 billion…up approximately $30 billion year-over-year at the midpoint," Meta said. Read More Nvidia AI chip challenger Groq said to be nearing new fundraising at $6B valuation : AI chip startup Groq is in talks to raise a fresh $600 million at a near $6 billion valuation, sources tell Bloomberg, although the deal isn't yet final and terms could change.  Read More A message from TechCrunch Partnerships Got IPO Chops? Sponsor the Going Public Track at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 TechCrunch Disrupt is launching a bold new Going Public track, and we're looking for sponsors ready to lead the conversation. If your company has experience scaling, filing, or navigating Wall Street, this is your chance to showcase it to founders prepping for their IPO moment. Opportunities include two Stage Sessions and one exclusive track sponsorship. Contact TechCrunch Last but Not Least How a New Jersey startup found an electrifying way to slash copper costs: Still Bright is now loaded up with $18.7 million in seed money to build out its demonstration unit. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107