Startups

Modash is flipping the influencer marketing script by connecting brands with the long tail of creators

Estonia-based startup Modash has raised a $12 million Series A led by henQ, a Dutch VC firm that prides itself in “funding the odd ones.” And what’s odd about Modash, according to CEO Avery Schrader, is that its team “has a really strong opinion in a space that nobody really has much faith in anymore.” […]

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VCs on how to raise in 2025 if you’ve taken a flat, down, or extension round

Old ideas like you need $100 million worth of trailing revenue to go public, and $1 million worth of annual recurring revenue to raise a Series A are so old that they are practically perched atop Abe Lincoln’s head.In today’s market, what a startup needs to raise depends on its sector, founder profile, and, yes,

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Hummingbirds, a platform that connects local creators with brand campaigns in their area, raises $5.4M

Hummingbirds is a female-founded startup that connects hyperlocal content creators with locally-based brands that reward them for sharing products with their small and highly engaged communities via social media.   The company announced Wednesday its latest funding round of $5.4 million, bringing the total amount raised to $10 million. The new capital will support the platform’s

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Once-dominant Swiggy seeks $11.3B value at IPO, less than half Zomato’s worth

Swiggy, one of India’s largest food delivery and quick commerce startups, is seeking a valuation of up to $11.3 billion in its initial public offering, marking a 57% discount to rival Zomato’s market cap. The lossmaking Bengaluru-based company has set an IPO price band of ₹371 to ₹390 ($4.41-$4.64) per share for next month’s IPO.

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Here are the 5 Startup Battlefield finalists at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

The time has finally come to announce the five finalists of the Startup Battlefield. It all started earlier this year when the TechCrunch editorial team selected 200 companies from thousands that applied. From there, the team then chose the 20 finalists who pitched this week onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 to investor judges and packed

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VCs offer live feedback on audience members’ startup pitch decks

An articulate, alluring pitch presentation is a big part of successfully fundraising, and yet it’s relatively uncommon for founders to get candid feedback on how they communicated the problem, their solution, and their path to success.During the Pitch Deck Teardown, Index Ventures Partner Sofia Dolfe, Lux Capital General Partner Deena Shakir, and Greycroft Partner Marcie

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Ashton Kutcher explains why he’s betting on AI, but not trying to pick a ‘winner’

Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Sound Ventures, believes that every company is going to become an AI company, but that there might not be a winner in the space. The actor and investor spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 on Tuesday alongside Sound co-founder Guy Oseary and partner Effie Epstein to detail what the firm is looking

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Luna wants to help young girls navigate their health and well-being  

Meet Luna, a health and well-being app for teen girls that is designed to help them navigate teenhood. The app lets teens ask questions about their health and wellness and get responses from experts. It also lets them track their periods, moods, and skin. The London-based startup presented today at on the Startup Battlefield stage

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