How Startups Win Customers Without Going Viral: Lessons from Disrupt 2026

Founders at TechCrunch Disrupt revealed that a mix of targeted influencer programs, old‑school outbound sales, and data‑driven evangelism can secure early customers without relying on viral hype.

Bose's Sleepbuds Legacy Continues with Ozlo's Sleepbuds 2

Ozlo's Sleepbuds 2, the updated version of the original sleep earbuds, tackles key areas of improvement, including battery life, connectivity, and sound quality.

Vermilion Cliffs Ventures Raises $25M for Its Second Fund

The solo female GP-backed venture capital firm plans to invest in at least 25 companies over the next two and a half years, focusing on AI infrastructure, security, and dev tools.

Warner Music Acquires AI Attribution Startup Sureel AI

Warner Music Music has acquired AI attribution startup Sureel AI to better track the use of its artists' and songwriters' work in AI-generated content. The acquisition aims to strengthen WMG's capability for protection, control, and monetization of its intellectual property.

Breaking Free from Big Tech: Exploring the Next Generation of Social Apps

A growing number of startups are challenging traditional social media giants with innovative, smaller-scale networking experiences that prioritize connection and community.

E-commerce Logistics Firm Stord Doubles Valuation to $3 Billion with $250 Million Raise

Stord, an e-commerce logistics company, has doubled its valuation to $3 billion after securing a $250 million funding round led by Strike Capital. The company, which offers a network of physical warehouses and inventory management software, plans to use the new funds to further develop its AI-powered platform.

A* Capital Raises $450 Million Fund III for Generalist Venture Investing

A* Capital has announced a new $450 million fund to support early-stage startups across various categories, with a focus on backing young founders and deploying capital over the next two to three years.

Digg Reborn as AI News Aggregator, with a New Focus on Tracking Influential Voices

Kevin Rose's Digg 2.0 is back, this time as a news aggregator focused on AI, with a goal to track the most influential voices in the space and surface news worth paying attention to.

a16zcrypto Raises $2.2B Fund, Pivoting to Crypto Amid AI Hype

a16zcrypto's fifth fund brings the total raised to date to $9.8 billion, as the VC firm focuses on blockchain-related startups despite the current crypto slowdown and growing interest in AI startups.

BMW i Ventures Launches $300M Fund Focused on AI in Automotive Industry

The venture arm of BMW AG is betting big on AI's potential to reshape the automotive sector, with a new fund that will invest in startups working on agentic AI, physical AI, and more.

Revolutionizing Email with Extra: A New, AI-Powered Inbox Experience

A former Pinterest team has created a innovative email app that reimagines the inbox, bringing everything important into a single, actionable overview.

Gitar Emerges from Stealth with $9 Million to Tame Code Overload

AI agents' influx of code has led to \

Gateway Capital Partners Announces First Close of $25 Million Fund II

The Milwaukee-based venture firm led by Dana Guthrie begins its investment operations after raising $25 million, with a focus on Midwest industries and a bias toward disruption in supply chain and logistics, and manufacturing AI.

AI Seed Startups Command Higher Valuations, Raising Stakes for Founders

The AI seed market is witnessing unprecedented valuations, forcing founders to deliver impressive traction and convincing stories of future success to secure funding.