TechCrunch Startup News Nothing to spin off its affordable CMF brand; plus Y Combinator's ‘Early Decision’ is for students who want to graduate first, build later
Sep 25, 2025
A hardware startup is spinning off its affordable device brand, CMF, into an independent entity based in India, focusing on low-cost tech like earbuds and smartphones. Meanwhile, Y Combinator introduces a new track called Early Decision, allowing students to secure funding for their startups while still in school. Rather than dropping out, students can defer participation until after graduation, aiming to shift the startup narrative away from the dropout myth and attract a diverse pool of aspiring founders.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Nothing Spins Off CMF In India
- Nothing is making CMF an independent subsidiary with India as its manufacturing and R&D HQ.
- The company plans a joint venture with Optimus and aims to invest $100M and create 1,800 jobs in India.
India Fits CMF's Value Play
- India is a logical HQ because CMF targets sub-$200 phones and that segment dominates Indian shipments.
- Nothing already has strong traction in India, being the fastest-growing brand with over 2% market share.
CMF Leadership Hire Mirrors Past Spinoffs
- Nothing recently hired Timon Shutandon from Xiaomi's Poco to be VP of Business for CMF.
- The move mirrors many past brand spinoffs from Chinese OEMs like Poco, Honor, and Realme.