May 27, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions, with more to come, including AI plans: Meta is rolling out paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp worldwide, while also testing new AI, creator, and business-focused offerings under its broader “Meta One” subscription brand. Read More

UK Visa Portal exposed thousands of applicants’ passports and selfies — then called the lawyers on us: The third-party website exposed passports, selfies, and the location data of applicants who submitted their documents as part of the U.K. visa application process. Instead of fixing the issue, the website sent attorneys. Read More

With a new $100M raise, Princeton's Thea Energy is now a top-funded fusion startup: Thea Energy's pixel-inspired magnets could give its power plant plans a boost. The fusion startup hopes to get a commercial reactor working by 2034. Read More

A message from NVIDIA and Microsoft

New during Microsoft Build: The NVIDIA Builder’s Arcade

Enter the NVIDIA Builder’s Arcade now to preview interactive challenges and NVIDIA happenings during Microsoft Build. Challenges go live June 1 and run through June 5 with daily activities focused on agentic AI.

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Afternoon Must-Reads

Tech CEOs are apparently suffering from AI psychosis: "CEOs are uniquely prone to AI psychosis," Box CEO Aaron Levie opines. Maybe that explains the almost religious belief in AI productivity gains. Read More

AI coding startup Cognition raises $1B at $25B pre-money valuation: As Cognition reaches $492 million in annualized revenue run rate, it more than doubled its valuation in eight months, it says. Read More

FAA orders SpaceX to investigate Starship V3 booster failure: Starship is grounded until SpaceX finds out why the first V3 booster failed during its first test flight. Read More

Robinhood now lets your AI agents trade stocks: While these agents would be able to read and analyze users' portfolios to come up with trading strategies and suggest investments, they'll only be able to access the pre-loaded balance in the dedicated wallet to place orders. Read More

ElevenLabs' new music-generation model can switch genres mid-track: ElevenLabs' new model will let users regenerate a section of a song without affecting the rest of the track. Read More

A message from Fidelity

Your Pitch Isn’t the Only Thing Investors Are Evaluating.

Investors don’t just listen to what you say - they look at how your company operates. Is ownership clear? Do your numbers match your story? Can you answer follow-up questions without digging through spreadsheets? The Fundraise-Ready Startup Kit equips founders with the materials investors expect to see, before pressure is on. Because confidence in the room doesn’t come from slides. It comes from preparation.

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Last but Not Least

Airbnb-backed WeRoad raises $58M to take its group travel platform to the US: WeRoad, the Milan-based group travel startup, has raised a $58 million Series C round led by Airbnb as it prepares for its first major expansion outside Europe. The funding brings the company’s total capital raised to roughly $100 million and will finance WeRoad’s push into the U.S., beginning with Austin. The new investment reflects a bet that the next generation of travel companies may look less like booking platforms and more like social platforms designed to facilitate real-world connections. The U.S. launch also arrives as loneliness, particularly among younger consumers, has become both a public health concern and an emerging business opportunity. When much of the tech industry remains focused on AI, WeRoad is positioning itself as part of the growing “IRL economy,” a category of startups monetizing offline interaction rather than screen time. Companies like Timeleft, 222, and Pie are pursuing similar ideas through dinners, clubs, events, and community-based experiences. The idea behind WeRoad came from the founders—Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi— seeking connection themselves. “It started from a very personal need. When you finish college and start working, it becomes harder to find people to travel with. Friends were settling down, having kids, moving away, or simply couldn’t align schedules anymore,” De Nadai told TechCrunch. “My cofounder Fabio and I both tried companies offering similar group travel experiences for solo travellers, but while the trips were good, something was missing. The guides were professional local experts, and the groups were mixed in age, and Read More