The search is on: 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award nominations are open

Nominations for the 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award are open, inviting SMBs with groundbreaking innovation a chance to win scaling opportunities. Last day to apply is February 13.

UpScrolled’s social network is struggling to moderate hate speech after fast growth

Upscrolled, a social network that surged in the wake of the U.S. TikTok deal, has seen an uptick in harmful content, including user names and hashtags that contain racial slurs.

Former Founders Fund VC Sam Blond launches AI sales startup to upend Salesforce 

The startup, Monaco, has come out of stealth as an AI-native all-in-one CRM plus more system backed by names like the Collison brothers and Garry Tan.

Upside Robotics is reducing fertilizer use and waste in corn crops

Upside Robotics builds autonomous solar-powered robots that can help farmers reduce their fertilizer use by 70%.

Build a pipeline and close deals with an exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Get an unmatched ROI by exhibiting your startup in front of 10,000 tech leaders and investors at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, October 13-15 in San Francisco. Book your table now before it’s gone.

Humanoid robot startup Apptronik has now raised $935M at a $5B+ valuation

Apptronik has sold another $520 million in a Series A extension to existing and new investors like Google and Mercedes-Benz.

Complyance raises $20M to help companies manage risk and compliance

Complyance raised a $20 million Series A led by GV for its AI-native compliance platform.

Former Tesla product manager wants to make luxury goods impossible to fake, starting with a chip

The fake goods crisis cuts two ways. Luxury brands lose more than $30 billion a year to counterfeits, while buyers in the booming $210 billion second-hand market have no reliable way to verify that what they’re purchasing is genuine. Veritas want…

Hauler Hero collects $16M for its AI waste management software

Hauler Hero has seen its customer base, revenue, and head count double since the company raised its seed round in 2024.