Month: September 2026

Larry Page’s flying car company Pivotal loses its CEO The company told TechCrunch he is “pursuing new endeavors.” Karklin will be replaced on an interim basis by Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal’s board of directors in November 2025. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/larry-pages-flying-car-company-pivotal-loses-its-ceo/

Reliance’s JioHotstar takes its streaming empire global — without sports JioHotstar will only have entertainment content when it launches in the UK, Canada, and Singapore. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/reliances-jiohotstar-takes-its-streaming-empire-global-without-sports/

Apple follows Google in adopting Trump’s ‘Lake America’ name Apple Maps is following President Trump’s executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/apple-follows-google-in-adopting-trumps-lake-america-name/

AfterQuery reportedly becomes Y Combinator’s fastest-ever unicorn, now valued at $3.2B AI model-training startup AfterQuery has reportedly raised a round that valued it at $3.2 billion, just five months after announcing its $30 million Series A at a $300 million valuation in April. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/afterquery-reportedly-becomes-y-combinators-fastest-ever-unicorn-now-valued-at-3-2b/

OpenAI’s Astra model is on the way — and very good at breaking into computer systems OpenAI previewed the precautions it is taking as it prepares to release Astra, its newest, cyber-critical LLM. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/open-ais-astra-model-is-on-the-way-and-very-good-at-breaking-into-computer-systems/

PANDA Therapeutics secures €160K to advance multi-target Alzheimer’s therapy Biotech startup PANDA Therapeutics has obtained €160,000 (CHF 150,000) from Venture Kick to advance a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease toward clinical development. By targeting multiple harmful protein deposits in the brain with a single therapy, the startup aims to improve

Foldcast secures €160K to reduce concrete use with recyclable paper moulds Swiss construction technology startup Foldcast has secured €160,000 (CHF 150,000) from Venture Kick to advance its recyclable paper mould technology for concrete construction and move towards commercial deployment. A spin-off from Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Foldcast was founded

Former Ukraine defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov plans new defence tech investment fund Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has announced on Telegram plans to launch a new defence technology investment fund focused on developing technologies needed on the battlefield. Aged 35, Fedorov was Ukraine’s youngest-ever defence minister. However, he served

S-Transistors raises €2.6M for superconducting quantum computing platform Finnish quantum technology startup S-Transistors has raised €2.6 million in pre-seed funding to develop integrated circuits based on superconducting transistors, initially targeting the control and signal-routing challenges involved in scaling cryogenic quantum computers. The round was led by Nordic early-stage investor Lifeline

Renewed online debate about German bureaucracy sparks criticism over startup scene: ‘Things need to change’ Powered by WPeMatico https://sifted.eu/articles/german-bureaucracy-online-debate-startups-innovation/