The hosts dive into some intriguing tech developments, like Ethena's new funding for engaging corporate training and Zeta's innovative approach to couples' banking. They tackle the murky waters of seed investment data, highlighting issues with transparency and accuracy. Reddit's mysterious $250 million raise stirs curiosity, while Justo makes waves in the grocery sector. And let’s not forget DoorDash’s quirky acquisition of a salad-making robot, which sparks some heated nostalgia and humor among the crew!
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Ethena's Funding and Pivot
Ethena raised $2M for corporate training software, focusing on anti-harassment in June.
Eight months later, they raised another $2M, expanding into general compliance training after landing big clients like Netflix and Zoom.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Zeta's Funding and Focus
Zeta, a banking app for couples, raised $1.5M.
It aims to facilitate shared finances for modern couples and families beyond traditional joint accounts.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Verizon's Strict Compliance Training
Verizon's compliance training includes a scenario about offering water bottles to city officials.
This seemingly innocuous act is presented as bribery and corruption, highlighting the strictness of their training.
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Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines.
Natasha and Danny and Alex and Grace were all here to chat through the week’s biggest tech happenings. This week felt oddly comforting from a tech news perspective: Facebook is copying something, early-stage startup data is flawed enough to talk about, and sweet DoorDash is buying robots for undisclosed sums.
So, here's a rundown of the tech news we got into (as always, jokes aren't previewed so you'll have to listen to the actual show to get our critique and Award Winning Analysis*):
How Seed data could be getting harder and harder to parse from Alex's desk, and why VC data in general is dicey, from Danny's. We discuss if directional data is useful, and why the limited numbers could have a cultural impact on signal.
Reddit raises $250 million, but doesn't tell us who the investors are and what the money is precisely going to. Still, the company has had quite a year so far so the capital comes at an interesting time.
Justo, an online grocery based in Mexico, raises $65 million as the pandemic continues to shake up the way we live and shop.
DoorDash buys a salad robot, which brings Natasha nostalgia and Danny anger.
In good news, long-time Equity producer Chris Gates is back starting next week, which means we'll have our biggest crew ever helping get the show put together. And, in other good news, there's going to be more Equity than ever for you to hear. Coming soon.
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
Equity