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It’s hot all over the world, and even hotter in today’s news. We’ve bought a bunch of cool TechCrunch for you to enjoy. If you can believe it, it’s only Tuesday. – Christine and Haje
TechCrunch’s Top 3
- It’s a way of propaganda: Search engine giant Google was fined $375 million by Russia for failing to take down certain content, Ivan write. Much of the content is on YouTube and is related to the country’s invasion and subsequent war with Ukraine. The fine comes a month after Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecommunications watchdog, warned the company could face penalties if it broke local laws.
- Business is growing: Bloom, a fintech company based in Sudan, raised $6.5 million by a group of investors, including Y Combinator, GFC, and Visa. In particular, the partnership with Visa made Bloom the first Sudanese startup to be admitted to Visa’s Fintech Fast Track program, Tage report.
- Streaming and shopping: Or in this case, streaming while buy. YouTube and Shopify have teamed up to allow YouTube creators to link stores and showcase products on their channel, while taking advantage of Shopify’s real-time inventory synchronization, Aisha write. This is part of the rollout of YouTube’s new shopping features.
Start-ups and VC
Crunchbase lists nearly 1,400 unicorns, but on TechCrunch+, Alex Marvel How many unicorns are just ponies now? It’s a question worth asking, like Instacart serious haircut.
Also, a bunch of new funds were announced again today. Jacquelyn report that Tribe Capital Raised $25 Million to Launch Crypto Incubator Program. AM Ventures has raised $100 million for industrial 3D printingwrite Haje. And Valkyrie Expected To Raise $30 Million For Its New Cryptocurrency VC Branch, Anita write.
Then move on, here are a few more stories (and some interesting weird music by Cosmo Sheldrake to go with it):
- Ramp revenue growth: Mary Ann report that Race track reports drive revenue growthshows that fintech companies with a good product market fit still have a lot of growth in them.
- OnlySims: A first for OnlyFans, the platform that invests in British creator Chloe Sims and her sistersreport Lauren.
- Like a museum, but on blockchain: Despite his usual skepticism towards crypto technology, we found out Haje includes a rare blockchain story, about Arkive and the world’s first decentralized museum building.
- Resourceful people: On TechCrunch+, Kyle report that Investors are still optimistic about HR technology because the Great Resignation slows down.
- Change happens: Persephone Biosciences is a biotechnology startup – with the help of 15 million dollars and a lot of fertilizer – is building a library of the human microbiome that can do everything from ease digestion to fight fatal disease, reports Devin.
- ⬛⬛⬛ Because ⬛⬛⬛: Kyle reported that Strac, a company that automatically edits sensitive information on Slack, OneDrive, and other platforms, raised $3.5 million seed investment.
Can Medicare save the insurtech market?
Image credits: MirageC (Opens in a new window) / Beautiful pictures
In 2020, the US spends nearly 20% of GDP on healthcare. Every day, about 11,000 people turn 65, making them eligible for Medicare, a federally funded health insurance program that admits new patients faster than ever.
Companies that can help consumers navigate the complex Medicare market have a big opportunity: “The average senior has to choose between 57 different plan options and most can’t tell them apart,” TX Zhuo and James Shecter of Fika Ventures said.
They shared their six-point investment thesis with TC+ readers to show how Medicare is the “lightning spark” that can light up “the entire insurtech market.”
(TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams rise to the top. You can register here.)
Big Tech Inc.
If you are looking for an easier way to get through the airport, Alaska Airlines is here to deliver. The airline has a new electronic baggage tag that makes everything about baggage check-in easier, Frederic write. We’re not sure this news could have come at a better time considering what we’re hearing about flight shortages and thousands of bags left behind at airports around the world.
Another day, another story on Twitter and Elon Musk. We’re not sure what date it was on the Captain’s Diary, but a judge ruled that Twitter could proceed and even expedite the trial against Elon Musk, Amanda report.
Meanwhile, Zack write about BitSight, a cybersecurity startup discovered some vulnerabilities in a popular GPS tracker built by Micodus. The security holes have the potential to expose some of the locations of millions of vehicles.
Let’s get involved in more, shall we?
