Dropbox hearts AI, the creator-platform wars and why we’re bullish on fake booze

4 snips

Jun 23, 2023

Kirsten Korosec, TechCrunch's mobility lead and a podcast host, joins to dive into exciting topics. They discuss Robinhood's acquisition of X1 and Dropbox's new AI fund, exploring the evolving tech landscape. The conversation heats up around Twitch and Reddit, revealing tensions between corporate interests and community needs. Lastly, they tackle the booming market for non-alcoholic drinks, showcasing a new app designed for sober explorers. A lively discussion that blends technology, innovation, and societal shifts!

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ANECDOTE

Robinhood buys X1

Robinhood acquired credit card startup X1 for $95 million, a price close to X1's total fundraising.
X1, launched in 2022, offers income-based credit cards and a feature letting users buy stocks with reward points.

INSIGHT

Dropbox's AI Venture Fund

Dropbox launched a $50 million AI-focused venture fund, alongside new AI features for its service.
The fund size seems small, raising questions about its impact, given Dropbox's substantial cash flow.

ANECDOTE

Cruise Expands to Android

Cruise launched an Android app for its robotaxi service, expanding access beyond iPhone users.
This move aims to increase ridership amidst controversy surrounding self-driving technology.

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Mary Ann and Alex are back, and once again this week they tapped the TechCrunch roster for expert input. This week were lucky enough to have Kirsten Korosec back on the podcast. She's TechCrunch's mobility lead, hosts a podcast of her own, and is one of our favorite humans.

Here's the rundown:

Deals of the Week: Mary Ann wanted to talk about Robinhood buying X1, a deal that seemed inexpensive but we lack enough numbers for full confidence; Alex wanted to riff on Dropbox's new AI fund, even if it does feel a little small; and Kirsten had notes for the team on Cruise's latest app rollout. Even if Mary Ann and Alex cannot find a way to agree on self-driving cars, we all thought that the Cruise bus is cute.
Twitch and Reddit try to balance corporate requirements with community power: Building off our recent show digging into the creator economy, the crew tackled the latest from Twitch (a new creator-corporate revenue split of sorts) and Reddit (where the battle between the company and its power-users continues to blaze). It's feeling more hot war than cold war lately on the Internet, with platforms struggling to find a way to keep revenue growth coming while not estranging the folks who make their services tick.
The power of Not Boozing: How big is the market for non-alcoholic drinks? Smaller than the market for vodka, certainly, but we're curious. Also there's a new app in the market that is helping folks find non-booze bevies, which we dig.

Before we let you go, don't forget to fill out the Equity listener survey. We want to hear from you!

A big thanks to Kirsten for swinging by, and we'll chat with you Monday morning.

For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website.

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