TechCrunch Startup and Technology News
- GM’s electric future depends on a new battery — and this buildingby Tim De Chant on June 5, 2026
GM wants to slash EV prices by deploying new battery tech up to a year earlier than planned. This building is key to making that happen.
- As VC-backed e-bike startups went bankrupt, bootstrapped Lectric grewby Kirsten Korosec on June 5, 2026
Lectric, which says the U.S. market is ripe for competition and choice, has launched three new brands in the past six months.
- The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phoneby Theresa Loconsolo on June 5, 2026
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction. Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash,
- Supabase doubles valuation to $10B in 8 monthsby Julie Bort on June 5, 2026
Supabase, an example of an open source project becoming a fast-growing company, has greatly benefited from AI tools like Claude, Codex, and other vibe-coding platforms.
- Google and FBI warn of ransomware group that sends fake IT workers to hack victims in personby Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on June 5, 2026
Cybercriminals, part of a gang known as Silent Ransom Group, have sent people pretending to be IT support employees to law firms' offices, where the criminals have stolen data using USB drives or remote access tools.
- The token bill comes due: Inside the industry scramble to manage AI’s runaway costsby Rebecca Bellan on June 5, 2026
"The whole conversation shifted from tokenmaxxing and 'go fast' to 'we need guardrails, how do we control this?'"
- NASA briefly sheltered space station astronauts in SpaceX’s Dragon due to leaksby Sean O'Kane on June 5, 2026
The space agency said Roscosmos discovered new leaks in the Russian service module.
- NSA said to be readying Anthropic’s Mythos for use in cyber operationsby Zack Whittaker on June 5, 2026
The U.S. eavesdropping agency is reportedly preparing Anthropic's Mythos for use in cyberattacks, despite a federal ban on using the AI model maker.
- AirTrunk commits $30B to build 5GW of AI data centers in Indiaby Jagmeet Singh on June 5, 2026
The Australian data center operator plans to set up 5GW of capacity in India.
- Mira Murati steps back into the spotlight, carefullyby Connie Loizos on June 5, 2026
In the current environment, remaining heads down has diminishing returns; at some point, you have to make some noise just to remind the market you exist.
- Founders Fund launches game show starring Sam Altman, Palmer Luckey, and other tech elitesby Lucas Ropek on June 5, 2026
The debut episode, moderated by Founders Fund chief marketing officer Mike Solana, included a star-studded cast of current tech luminaries.
- Ahead of its IPO, Anthropic’s Daniela Amodei shrugs off doubts about AI’s returnsby Marina Temkin on June 4, 2026
Anthropic has been growing at a breakneck pace. The company announced that annualized revenue crossed $47 billion in May, up dramatically from roughly $9 billion at the end of 2025. That trajectory faces a real test, though.
- Airbnb’s Brian Chesky plans to launch a new AI labby Tim Fernholz on June 4, 2026
The Airbnb CEO said last year it hasn't struck an LLM partnership because existing products weren't quite ready.
- Filtr is a new privacy tool that blocks ads in almost every iPhone and Mac appby Zack Whittaker on June 4, 2026
This popular ad blocker app for iPhones, iPads, and Macs can now block ads from loading inside apps, including web browsers, thanks to a new feature in the latest Apple software.
- Defense tech, AI, and fundraising take center stage at StrictlyVC Los Angeles on June 18by TechCrunch Events on June 4, 2026
On Thursday, June 18, at The Aerospace Corporation Campus, investors, founders, and tech leaders will gather for an evening of conversation exploring some of the most consequential shifts taking place across venture capital, defense technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced industry. Secure your spot today.
- Startup Battlefield is returning to Australia — here’s what happened the last time we came to Sydneyby Isabelle Johannessen on June 4, 2026
On August 19, Startup Battlefield is returning to Sydney in partnership with Stripe, one of the world's most iconic technology companies. We're taking over Stripe Tour Sydney for a night that the Australian startup ecosystem won't forget.
- Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tentsby Tim De Chant on June 4, 2026
Meta may have found one way to slash its massive data center bill: tents.
- Apple approves Poke as the first AI agent on its Messages for Business platformby Sarah Perez on June 4, 2026
Poke, the startup that lets people use AI agents through simple text messages, has become the first AI agent approved for Apple’s Messages for Business platform.
- Helion, the Sam Altman-backed fusion startup, raises $465M to build a power plant for Microsoftby Tim De Chant on June 4, 2026
Fusion startup Helion is racing to complete a power plant for Microsoft by 2028. A fresh infusion of cash should help with that.
- Meta’s Oversight Board says account bans lack due process, transparencyby Sarah Perez on June 4, 2026
Meta's board cites "due process" concerns over account bans. It's also pushing Meta to offer clear information about violations and its use in AI in making its determinations.

