Equity podcast

Tesla’s bot non-disclosure and why humanoid robots are taking off

Venture /

At Tesla’s robotaxi reveal event last week, several Optimus humanoid robots mingled with guests, pouring drinks and cracking jokes. Impressive technology, but the vocals and some of the gesticulations appear to have been remotely controlled by humans, something Tesla did not disclose.  On today’s episode of Equity, Rebecca Bellan chatted with TechCrunch’s hardware editor Brian […]

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Investors are betting on user-generated content in video games. Gamebeast’s founder explains why

Startups /

Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan sat down with Zander Brumbaugh, the 22-year-old founder of Gamebeast, a startup that offers Roblox developers tools like A/B testing and LiveOps to modify games without needing to release a new version or interrupt a user’s ongoing game.  Gamebeast recently raised a $3.7 million pre-seed round, led by J2 Ventures

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YC takes a bite out of PearAI, and French startups have a new home

AI /

Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey, and Margaux MacColl are unpacking another busy week in the tech world, kicking things off with Governor Newsom’s veto of SB 1047, the controversial AI bill aimed at stopping real-world disasters caused by AI systems before they happen. This may not be the last we’ll see of the bill, however, as

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Green flags for defense tech and Silicon Valley’s longevity obsession

Biotech & Health /

This episode of Equity had so many themes: VC karaoke, the SpaceX economy, no moats for AI, OpenAI versus open source. You know it’s going to be good when the conversation between host Kirsten Korosec and fellow TCers Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl starts with the evergreen question: is it ever OK to use shirtless

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Toyota Ventures on the hydrogen plateau and the IRA funding crutch

Fundraising /

Toyota Ventures started in 2017 to help startups figure out what the future will look like, with an eye towards ensuring Toyota as an automaker and brand would stay at the forefront of innovation.  While the firm initially targeted mobility startups, the crossover into climate tech was a natural progression. Today, Toyota Ventures has over

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JP Morgan’s head of startup banking says ‘Founder Mode’ won’t get you a unicorn

Venture /

Ashraf Hebela, J.P. Morgan’s Head of Startup Banking, may sit on the finance side of startups these days. But he once sat in the founder seat. It’s been his experience in these two worlds — as a founder and a decades-long finance career including a 13-year stint at Silicon Valley Bank — that informs his

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AI’s tween years, who’s taking over climate tech, and the latest for Fearless Fund

AI /

What could be more frightening than Friday the 13th? How about a realization that AI is in its awkward tween stage? At least, it was for the TC Equity pod crew, which this week included hosts Devin Coldewey and Kirsten Korosec along with TC reporters Tim de Chant and Dominic Madori Davis. AI is often

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AI illusions and navigating The Money Trap with Alok Sama

Venture /

On today’s episode of Equity, Rebecca Bellan sat down with Alok Sama, a Morgan Stanley veteran and former president and CFO of SoftBank Group International. They discussed the latest Apple tech announcements, Sama’s views on the AI hype cycle, and changes to the technology investment landscape since the dot-com era. He also provided insights from

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