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TechCrunch’s Equity crew is bringing 2025 to a close and getting ahead on the year to come with our annual predictions episode! Hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan were joined by Build Mode host Isabelle Johannessen to dissect the year’s biggest tech developments, from mega AI funding rounds that defied expectations to the rise of “physical AI,” and make their calls for 2026. The group tackled everything from why AI agents didn’t live up to the hype in 2025 (but probably will in 2026), to how Hollywood will push back against AI-generated content, to why VCs are facing a serious liquidity crisis. Listen to the full episode to hear: …
Each year, we ask some top investors what they think the next year will bring. Last year, some investors thought the IPO market would be back up and running by now (which didn’t quite happen), while others thought the momentum behind AI was poised to accelerate (and they were right). This year, TechCrunch did the same thing, talking to five investors from various markets about what they are preparing for in 2026. Here is what they said. What will it take for a founder to raise next year, compared to last year? James Norman, Managing Partner, Black Ops VC Raising in 2025 requires a shift…
2026 is poised to be another banner year for travel, especially in the United States, which will host the FIFA World Cup for the first time in more than three decades.From sprawling metropolises to off-the-beaten-path small towns, there are a handful of domestic destinations to watch for in the year ahead. New York, New YorkThe Big Apple always stays one step ahead of the latest trends, so expect NYC to be a huge draw once again in 2026. From the New Year’s Eve ball drop to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and every…
In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interactions found in an office, and younger individuals eager to create their adult social circles based on shared interests and hobbies, are among those seeking meaningful friendships. Thanks to online dating apps, the stigma associated with finding connections online has largely faded away. This has welcomed a new wave of apps focused…
NEW YORK (AP) — The shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn’t fit, or didn’t hit quite right. Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year’s haul, according to data released this week by Visa’s Consulting & Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse.But growing unease over the U.S. economy and higher prices in part due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are…
Every year, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest draws thousands of applicants. We whittle those applications down to the top 200 contenders, and of them, the top 20 compete on the big stage to become the winner, taking home the Startup Battlefield Cup and a cash prize of $100,000. But the remaining 180 startups all blew us away as well in their respective categories and compete in their own pitch competition. Here is the full list of the cybersecurity Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on why they landed in the competition. AIM Intelligence What it does: AIM offers…
This year was one of major news and changes for the air travel industry. From policy shifts to evolving taste among travelers, 2025 was a year of notable headlines and huge transformation for airlines around the globe and the national airspace in the United States. Here, we take a look at some of the biggest stories that dominated air travel news throughout the year. Although all big stories of 2025, most of these topics will continue to develop well into 2026.Here are the five biggest air travel stories of 2025.Real ID Finally Launched After years of delays, the Real ID law…
Although smart glasses have been around for a while, the technology is getting more advanced each year, so much so that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims the wearables will replace smartphones in the next decade (though many people disagree, of course). Smart glasses are no longer just a futuristic gadget — they’ve become practical tools that people use to communicate, navigate, track fitness, watch movies, enjoy immersive gaming, and more. Whether you’re looking to get a pair for yourself, buy one as a gift, or simply explore what’s available on the market today, we’ve compiled a list of the most…
Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes across the nation. Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3% of the country, according…
Naware founder Mark Boysen first tried killing weeds with drones and a 200-watt laser. He’d been noodling on ideas for a startup with some friends, and thinking about how his family in North Dakota had lost three members to cancer, something they suspected may be related to chemicals in the groundwater. Finding a chemical-free way to kill weeds seemed like a solid option. But the laser was a dead end. There’s too much risk of starting a fire, he told TechCrunch in an interview. After a lot of trial-and-error prototyping with ideas like cryogenics. The solution he settled on —…