William Shatner Flies to Space with Blue Origin | Daily Crunch

Daily Crunch: October 13, 2021

A daily summary of TechCrunch’s most significant and impactful stories is delivered to inboxes each day at 3 p.m. PDT. You can subscribe to receive this roundup here.

Greetings, and welcome to Daily Crunch for October 13, 2021. This edition highlights popular topics including space exploration, a company named Karat, and the conclusion of ClassPass’s journey.

Focus on Digital Security

Before diving into the latest startup news, those interested in the field of digital security will find relevant information in this article. It’s a key area of focus for many businesses and individuals.

TC Sessions: SaaS will be placing security at the forefront this month. The event will explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and its implications.

Featured Stories

• Space exploration continues to capture public interest and drive innovation.
• Karat, a new startup, is gaining attention within the tech community.
• ClassPass has reached the end of its operational phase.

These stories represent a diverse range of developments within the startup ecosystem. They showcase both the excitement of new ventures and the realities of market challenges.

Stay tuned for more updates from the world of technology and startups. Daily Crunch aims to provide a concise and informative overview of the most important news.

The TechCrunch Top 3

Stripe re-enters the cryptocurrency space: Despite discontinuing bitcoin payment support in 2018, online payment leader Stripe is now establishing a dedicated crypto team.

This move by Stripe, a highly regarded global technology company, has been met with enthusiasm within the cryptocurrency community.

The potential competitive ramifications of this re-entry for other industry players remain to be seen.

Mindbody Acquires ClassPass with $500M Investment

ClassPass, following several strategic shifts, has been acquired by Mindbody in an all-cash deal.

While perhaps not the original vision for ClassPass, the acquisition presents clear synergistic opportunities.

The combined company, bolstered by significant new funding, is positioned for potential future success.

William Shatner’s Journey to Space

For enthusiasts of Star Trek, this week marked a notable event as actor William Shatner experienced a brief spaceflight aboard a rocket from Jeff Bezos’ company.

While initial excitement surrounding such events is expected to diminish as space travel becomes more commonplace, public interest remains substantial.

The ongoing fascination with spaceflights continues to generate significant coverage and attention.

We anticipate continued reporting on developments in this rapidly evolving field.

Startups & Venture Capital Updates

Prior to delving into the latest startup news, an update is available for those following the GitLab IPO. Recent data indicates a substantial company valuation, and a comparative analysis against similar market entities has been completed.

Recent Funding Rounds & Pivots

Karat, a technical interviewing service, has secured a $110 million investment from Tiger Global Management, achieving a valuation of approximately $1.1 billion. This funding round is particularly noteworthy given Karat’s location in Seattle and highlights the significant demand for skilled technical professionals.

TripActions successfully navigated the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and has revitalized its business model. The company, as reported by TechCrunch, now boasts an increased valuation.

The Scope of Content Moderation

Maintaining a major social media platform free from inappropriate content requires considerable effort. TikTok recently revealed that it removed 81,518,334 videos during Q2 2021 alone, demonstrating the scale and cost of this undertaking.

Innovations in Healthcare Data Management

ScienceIO is addressing the complexities of medical data with a new approach. The company has raised $8 million to utilize natural language processing and data analytics in creating a comprehensive patient database. This aims to improve understanding and treatment of patients holistically, mirroring the goals of Truveta, a large-scale healthcare data sharing initiative.

MLOps and the Future of Machine Learning

Weights & Biases has secured a substantial Series C funding round for its MLOps platform. MLOps, or machine learning operations, is an emerging field, and this investment reflects the growing need for specialized tooling to support technical talent in this area.

Canadian Startup Spotlight: Rose Rocket

Expanding our coverage to international markets, Rose Rocket, a Toronto-based startup, is innovating within the transportation management system (TMS) market. The company is focused on digitizing the freight trucking industry, which currently lags in technological adoption.

• Key areas of focus include streamlining logistics and improving efficiency within the freight sector.
• Rose Rocket’s software aims to modernize operations for trucking companies.

The startup is addressing a significant gap in the market by providing a modern software solution for a traditionally analog industry.

Plaid’s Vision for a Novel, Worldwide Financial Infrastructure

The month of January in 2020 feels distant now; Billie Eilish dominated the Grammy Awards, Tesla achieved the highest market capitalization among American automotive manufacturers, and Visa declared its intention to acquire Plaid for $5.3 billion.

However, a year later, the credit card corporation withdrew from the agreement following increased regulatory oversight. Ryan Lawler details that, despite this setback, the period proved beneficial for the data connectivity company.

Lawler interviewed CEO Zach Perret, CTO Jean-Denis Greze, and COO Eric Sager to understand the lessons learned during their collaboration with Visa. He also examined newly introduced platform capabilities intended to enhance customer confidence and generate more valuable data.

Perret stated, “Although the result differed from our initial expectations, our company experienced significant growth and gained valuable insights.”

The collaboration, despite its ultimate conclusion, proved to be a substantial learning experience for Plaid.

(TechCrunch+ is a membership program designed to empower founders and startup teams. Registration is available here.)

Big Tech Inc.

TechCrunch has published its review of the Apple Watch Series 7. The author notes the somewhat uninspired naming convention, comparing it to the lengthy title of Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium.

Despite the naming critique, the review was positive, and the imagery accompanying it, captured by Brian Heater, is particularly noteworthy.

Facebook and GDPR

A proposed ruling from Ireland regarding Facebook, the Irish Data Protection Commission, and the GDPR may result in a fine of approximately $36 million.

However, this penalty is considered relatively minor, akin to a small fine for an individual. It's unlikely to serve as a significant deterrent for the company.

Further developments in this case are expected, and the situation warrants continued observation.

• Key Takeaway: The Apple Watch Series 7 received a favorable review, but its name is considered unremarkable.
• Important Note: A potential GDPR fine for Facebook is viewed as insufficient to enact substantial change.

The implications of both these events – the product launch and the regulatory scrutiny – highlight the ongoing dynamics within the technology sector.

Big Tech continues to be subject to both consumer evaluation and governmental oversight.

TechCrunch Experts

Startup founders are being contacted to identify their preferred sources for current growth marketing techniques.

Participation in a survey to gather these insights is available through this link.

A sample of the feedback collected is presented below.

Marketer: Kaveh, representing WITHIN.

Recommended by: A source wishing to remain anonymous.

Testimonial: “Kaveh consistently demonstrates a remarkable level of empathy and a highly collaborative approach to marketing.

Our team, primarily focused on brand development, benefited greatly from Kaveh’s ability to effectively integrate their expertise with our data-driven media strategies.

This integration was achieved smoothly, even requiring occasional after-hours brainstorming sessions.

Furthermore, Kaveh exhibited a genuine dedication to the brand’s success.

He proactively identified and communicated minor website issues to the team, showcasing his commitment.

His attention to detail and proactive nature were particularly valuable.”

Community Engagement

Danny Crichton will be hosting a Twitter Spaces interview on Thursday, October 14th. The event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PDT / 5 p.m. EDT.

Interview with Jacob Helberg

The featured guest will be Jacob Helberg, author of the forthcoming book, “The Wires of War.” The book’s official release date is scheduled for tomorrow.

This discussion offers an opportunity to learn more about Helberg’s insights. Attendees can engage directly with the author and Crichton during the live event.

Image Credits: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Don't miss this chance to participate in a conversation surrounding “The Wires of War.” Mark your calendars for October 14th and join the Twitter Spaces discussion.