Articles tagged with "startup"
Battery startup Moxion went bankrupt. Now its founder is back to ‘finish what we started’
Battery startup Moxion Power, which aimed to replace diesel generators at festivals and construction sites, went bankrupt just over a year ago after raising significant funding but ultimately failing to sustain operations. The company laid off more than 400 employees and shut down. Now, Moxion’s co-founder Paul Huelskamp and several former employees have launched a new startup called Anode, with the goal of “finishing what we started.” Anode recently secured $9 million in seed funding led by Eclipse, with investor Jiten Behl, formerly Rivian’s chief growth officer, backing the venture due to his experience recognizing the lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicle fleets. Anode differentiates itself by focusing on integrated hardware, including a specially designed inverter and a smaller, more easily transportable mobile battery optimized for markets like EV charging, construction sites, and live events. Unlike Moxion, which tried to handle manufacturing in-house, Anode plans to use contract manufacturers to reduce complexity and costs. The
energybattery-technologyelectric-vehicle-chargingportable-powerstartupclean-energyenergy-infrastructureMeet the latest VC judges joining Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
The Startup Battlefield 200 pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27–29 in San Francisco, will feature 20 founders competing for a $100,000 equity-free prize and the Disrupt Cup. A panel of experienced judges, including investors and industry leaders, will evaluate the startups. TechCrunch recently announced the third group of five judges joining the roster, with more to be revealed soon. Early registration offers significant savings before rates increase after September 26. The newly announced judges bring diverse expertise across venture capital, technology, and startup growth. Jon Chu of Khosla Ventures has a strong background in machine learning and enterprise software, having held key roles at Palantir, Docker, Opendoor, and Facebook. Eryk Dobrushkin from Index Ventures focuses on AI, infrastructure, and robotics, with prior experience at Databricks and Boston Consulting Group. Cathy Friedman of GV brings nearly four decades of experience in finance, technology, and healthcare investing
robotIoTenergymaterialsstartupventure-capitaltechnology-innovationMeet the first batch of VCs set to judge Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 in San Francisco, will feature the top 20 startups selected from thousands of applicants competing for a $100,000 equity-free prize and significant industry exposure. This competition has a strong legacy of launching successful companies like Dropbox, Mint, Vurb, and Cloudflare. The event promises intense pitching sessions judged by leading venture capitalists who will rigorously evaluate each startup’s potential through candid Q&A, providing insights into what excites or concerns top investors. The first group of judges announced includes five prominent VCs: Philip Clark of Thrive Capital, known for investments in AI and robotics companies; Madison Faulkner of NEA, specializing in data, AI, and developer tools; Leslie Feinzaig, founder of Graham & Walker VC, focused on disruptive founders and public market innovation; and Ilya Kirnos, co-founder and CTO of SignalFire, who leverages AI-driven data platforms to identify promising
robotAIroboticsstartupventure-capitaltechnologyinnovationThe wait is almost over: The 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 list drops August 27
TechCrunch is set to announce the 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 list on August 27 at 9:00 a.m. PT, featuring the most promising early-stage startups selected from thousands of global applications. These startups will compete at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 in San Francisco, marking the event’s 20th anniversary. The Startup Battlefield has historically launched major tech companies such as Dropbox, Cloudflare, Fitbit, and Discord, and continues to spotlight the next generation of innovative startups. Last year’s winner, Salva Health, gained recognition for its portable breast cancer detection device aimed at underserved rural populations. Other notable startups included geCKo Materials, which is innovating adhesive technology to disrupt the Velcro industry. The top 20 finalists from the 2025 cohort will be revealed on the first day of Disrupt, competing live for a $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup. The competition is sponsored by Google Cloud and led
materialsadhesivesstartupinnovationtechnologybreakthroughresearchMonarch Tractors won’t be built by Foxconn after Ohio factory sale
Monarch Tractor, a California-based electric tractor startup, will no longer have its vehicles manufactured by Foxconn following the Taiwanese company's sale of its Ohio factory to SoftBank. Monarch CEO Praveen Penmesta confirmed that the startup had collaborated with Foxconn to build sufficient inventory and spare parts to meet customer demand for the next 12 months. Penmesta also indicated that Monarch plans to announce new manufacturing partnerships soon to continue producing Monarch-enabled products. The Ohio factory, previously acquired by Foxconn from EV startup Lordstown Motors in 2022, was intended to become a major electric vehicle manufacturing and R&D hub in North America. However, Foxconn’s efforts to establish a contract manufacturing operation for electric vehicles at the plant largely failed. Monarch was one of four companies Foxconn promoted as customers, but only a few hundred tractors were produced before Monarch faced financial struggles and layoffs. The other three prospective customers—Lordstown Motors, Fisker Inc., and IndiEV—have all since gone bankrupt or
electric-vehiclesmanufacturingFoxconnMonarch-Tractorstartupenergytransportation-technologyThis Detroit startup is turning to utilities to make home efficiency upgrades cheaper
Detroit-based startup Pearl Edison aims to reduce the cost and complexity of home energy efficiency upgrades by partnering with utilities. The company leverages the trust and brand equity of utilities to identify homeowners most likely to benefit from retrofits such as heat pumps and insulation. Pearl Edison creates white-labeled websites for utilities and helps run campaigns to sign up customers for upgrades. Using multiple data sources, it designs retrofit plans with guaranteed pricing, which are then verified in the field before vetted contractors complete the installations. Pearl Edison’s business model benefits both homeowners and contractors by lowering customer acquisition costs and streamlining project delivery. The startup has secured $3.3 million in seed funding from investors including New System Ventures, Commonweal Ventures, Lightbank, and Newlab. It currently partners with two utilities—DT Energy in Michigan and Duquesne Light in Pennsylvania—and the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with plans to add two more utilities within the year. By integrating with trusted utility brands, Pearl Edison aims to make
energyenergy-efficiencyhome-upgradesutilitiesheat-pumpsenergy-retrofitstartupSam Altman-backed Coco Robotics raises $80M
Coco Robotics, a Los Angeles-based startup specializing in last-mile delivery robots, has raised $80 million in a new funding round, bringing its total capital raised to over $120 million. The round included returning angel investors Sam Altman and Max Altman, alongside venture capital firms such as Pelion Venture Partners and Offline Ventures. Previously, Coco secured a $36 million Series A round in 2021. Founded in 2020 by Brad Squicciarini and Zach Rash, the company’s zero-emissions robots have completed more than 500,000 deliveries since launching in 2020 and can carry up to 90 liters of groceries or goods. Coco partners with national retailers including Subway, Wingstop, and Jack in the Box. Sam Altman’s involvement extends beyond personal investment; Coco benefits from access to OpenAI’s technology, while OpenAI gains valuable real-world data collected by Coco’s robots to enhance its AI models. This symbiotic relationship underscores the strategic value of the partnership
robotlast-mile-deliveryautonomous-robotszero-emissionsAI-integrationfundingstartupStartup pin cát Việt được đầu tư một triệu USD
energyrenewable-energythermal-storagecarbon-reductiongreen-technologysolar-energystartupEx-Synapse CEO reportedly trying to raise $100M for his new humanoid robotics venture
robothumanoid-roboticsfundraisingstartupautomationlabor-shortagetechnologyLayoffs hit General Fusion as the fusion power startup runs short on cash
fusionenergystartupplasmacommercial-powerfundingGeneral-FusionNuvo, a network for B2B trade, has nabbed $34M from Sequoia and Spark Capital
B2B-tradefundingstartupSequoia-CapitalSpark-Capitale-commercetechnologyAI sales tax startup Kintsugi had doubled its valuation in 6 months
AIsales-taxstartuptax-complianceautomatione-commercefundingThe deadline to book your exhibit table for TechCrunch Sessions: AI is May 9
TechCrunchAIexhibit-tabledeadlinetechnology-eventstartupnetworkingGrouphug is a stealth-mode startup that plans use AI inside WhatsApp groups
GrouphugAIWhatsAppstartuptechnologymessaginginnovation