TechCrunch Startup News

Kodiak Robotics has officially handed off two autonomous trucks to customer Atlas Energy Solutions, marking the startup’s first commercial launch.  Atlas, a provider of proppant (i.e., sand) and oilfield logistics, received its first Kodiak-equipped trucks in December and began driverless operations in an off-road environment in West Texas’s remote Permian Basin shortly after. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve, co-founder and CEO of Alan, delves into his journey as a health insurance visionary and a crucial advisor to Mistral AI. He shares insights on how the health and AI sectors intersect, highlighting strategic decisions that fueled Mistral's meteoric rise in Europe. Samuelian-Werve also discusses the challenges of maintaining company independence amid market pressures and the complexities of shareholder relationships. His unique perspective offers a fascinating look at innovation in an evolving tech landscape.

Many nonprofits are stuck with outdated, expensive, and limited tech that hinders their ability to fund their mission or cause. While most consider adopting tech to be a priority, they’re faced with a number of blockers, including siloed data and issues with integration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover how a personal struggle with reproductive health inspired the creation of a ground-breaking telehealth platform for women. The founder shares insights on tackling hormone-related issues and improving care for younger women. With a recent $26M funding boost, the platform is attracting attention from both patients and investors alike. Tune in for a compelling discussion on revolutionizing women's healthcare and the future of telemedicine.

The recent $1 billion acquisition of Divvy Homes has left some shareholders facing disappointment. The show dives into the rollercoaster journey of Divvy, highlighting significant valuation challenges in the volatile proptech industry. It explores the tough decisions that shaped both the sale and the futures of those involved. Listeners get an inside look at the complexities of the startup world and the stark realities of financial outcomes in high-stakes deals.

Yalmar Nilsson, CEO and co-founder of Neko Health, previously worked in climate tech before diving into health innovation. He discusses Neko's significant funding of $260 million and its ambitious goal to reshape preventative healthcare with advanced body scanning technology. Yalmar delves into the increasing consumer interest in health knowledge and how Neko plans to make a mark in the U.S. market. The conversation also highlights the shift towards affordable healthcare solutions and rising investor enthusiasm for preventative health innovations.

When George Avetisov was the founder and CEO of cybersecurity startup HYPR, he spent a lot of time in the trenches with the company’s sales team. He quickly realized that regardless of how good his sales team was, they were consistently pulling in other departments to answer customer questions or fill out technical questionnaires. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roy Tuvi, CEO and co-founder of Vertice, discusses his company's innovative approach to optimizing SaaS spending through AI. He sheds light on the staggering $5 trillion annual IT budget and how businesses can reclaim inefficiencies. Tuvi emphasizes the importance of data-driven strategies in procurement, highlighting Vertice's recent $50 million funding round. With the expense management sector becoming increasingly competitive, he shares insights on the unique challenges and opportunities facing startups in this space.

A federal safety regulator is intensifying its investigation into Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. This comes in response to two fatal accidents linked to the system's detection challenges. The potential for a recall looms large, raising critical safety issues surrounding advanced driver assistance systems. As the probe unfolds, it sheds light on the broader implications for automotive technology and consumer safety.

Dive into the quirky world of the Microsoft Excel World Championship, where competitors glow in a hype tunnel and strut in humorous costumes. Revel in Anthropic’s exciting news about a new ‘two-way’ voice mode for their chatbot, Claude, enhancing user interactions. Also, witness a major shift in the tech landscape as the founder of IMDb steps down after an impressive 35-year tenure, paving the way for new leadership.