Technology

Chinese brain interface startup Gestala has raised $21 million just two months after its launch

Chinese brain interface startup Gestala has raised $21 million just two months after its launch

🚀 Explore this must-read post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Startups,Biotech & Health,China,startup,Exclusive,HealthTech,Asia,Neuralink,healthtech startups,merge labs,brain computer interface,ultrasound BCI,brain tech ✅ **What You’ll Learn**: Elon Musk's Neuralink and OpenAI-backed Merge Labs are moving ahead with brain-computer interface (BCI) technology in the US. Meanwhile, Chinese serial entrepreneur Phoenix Peng is building rival efforts through two startups: NeuroXess, which develops implantable BCI systems, and a second company, Gestala, which is developing non-invasive ultrasound-based brain-computer interfaces. Gestala raised $21.6 million (RMB 150 million) just two months after launch, at a valuation between $100 million and $200 million, founder and CEO Phoenix Peng told TechCrunch.…
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Ride-hailing company inDrive has acquired Pakistani Krave Mart to support grocery delivery

Ride-hailing company inDrive has acquired Pakistani Krave Mart to support grocery delivery

🚀 Check out this awesome post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Apps,Commerce,Startups,Transportation,Exclusive,indrive,Krave Mart,Mergers and Acquisitions 📌 **What You’ll Learn**: Global ride-hailing company InDrive, known for its bid-based pricing model, has acquired Pakistan-based express commerce startup Krave Mart, TechCrunch has learned, as it pivots into grocery delivery and commerce services in South Asia. The all-stock deal, which was agreed last year, has received approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan, allowing the companies to proceed with the deal, two sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. InDrive confirmed the acquisition but declined to disclose its financial terms. Founded in 2021, Krave…
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Ford’s new AI assistant will help fleet owners know if seat belts are being used

Ford’s new AI assistant will help fleet owners know if seat belts are being used

🔥 Discover this trending post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: AI,Transportation,Ford,Ford Pro 📌 **What You’ll Learn**: Ford rolled out an AI assistant this week that can monitor and analyze millions of data points to help Ford Pro commercial customers boost their bottom lines. The bet most other automakers are making is that money can be made from software. Ford Pro AI debuted at Work Truck Week in Indianapolis, and is now available to all Pro telematics subscribers in the US. The AI ​​assistant is included in the subscription. Ford does not disclose how many U.S. subscribers it has; It has…
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Google Play adds new paid games, PC games, game experiences, community contributions, and more

Google Play adds new paid games, PC games, game experiences, community contributions, and more

💥 Explore this insightful post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Apps,Gaming,Google,Google Play,mobile games,video games 📌 **What You’ll Learn**: Google on Wednesday announced a slew of new gaming-focused updates for Google Play at GDC 2026. The tech giant revealed that Google Play is expanding its catalog to include expected paid games and indie PC games, launching game experiences, introducing “buy once, play anywhere” pricing, rolling out a wishlist tool, and adding community posts. The updates indicate that Google is focusing on transforming Google Play into an enhanced gaming hub by allowing players to try games before purchasing, play across mobile and…
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Nuro is testing autonomous vehicle technology on the streets of Tokyo

Nuro is testing autonomous vehicle technology on the streets of Tokyo

✨ Discover this awesome post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Transportation,autonomous vehicles,Japan,nuro,self-driving cars 💡 **What You’ll Learn**: Nuro, the Silicon Valley-based startup backed by Nvidia, Uber and SoftBank, is testing self-driving vehicle technology in Japan. Toyota Prius vehicles equipped with Noro's self-driving software — and human safety operators behind the wheel as a backup — began testing on public roads in Tokyo last month. The test marks the first overseas expansion for the startup, which upended its business model two years ago. Noro said the testing in Japan presents a number of new challenges and different driving styles and rules.…
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AI “actor” Tilly Norwood belted out the worst song I’ve ever heard

AI “actor” Tilly Norwood belted out the worst song I’ve ever heard

✨ Check out this awesome post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: AI,Media & Entertainment,tilly norwood 💡 **What You’ll Learn**: When production company Particle6 debuted its AI-generated “actor,” Tilly Norwood, last fall, the move was not warmly welcomed by Hollywood. “Oh my God, we failed,” Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt said in an interview with Variety. "Come on, agencies, don't do that. Please stop." If only Particle6 had followed Blunt's advice. Instead, the company released a music video for its AI character, which features a song called "Take the Lead." This is not clickbait. When I heard it, I thought it…
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India neobank Fi is ending banking services on its platform

India neobank Fi is ending banking services on its platform

💥 Discover this trending post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Fintech,Startups,Exclusive,Federal Bank,fi,Fi Money,neobank ✅ **What You’ll Learn**: India's neobank Fi has stopped offering banking services on its platform more than four years after launching it in partnership with Federal Reserve Bank, directing customers to access their savings accounts through the bank's mobile app while winding down the Fi interface. Founded in 2019 by former Google Pay India executives Sujith Narayanan and Sumit Jwalani, Fi launched its app-based banking service in partnership with Federal Reserve Bank in 2021 to offer digital savings accounts and money management tools targeting younger users. The…
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Quince reaches $10 billion valuation with $500 million mega round led by Iconiq

Quince reaches $10 billion valuation with $500 million mega round led by Iconiq

✨ Read this insightful post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Commerce,Fundraising,Startups,e-commerce,ICONIQ,Quince,retail ✅ **What You’ll Learn**: In a sea of ​​massive valuations for early-stage AI startups, today we have some rare news: a massive round and valuation increase for an e-commerce company. Quince announced Wednesday that it has raised a $500 million Series E round at a $10.1 billion valuation. The round was led by previous investor Iconiq, which also led Quince's $200 million Series D in early 2025 at a reported valuation of $4.5 billion. This more than doubled the valuation in less than a year. Quince rose to fame…
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Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the federation

Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the federation

💥 Check out this trending post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Apps,Social,altstore,app store,fediverse,open social web,social media 📌 **What You’ll Learn**: AltStore PAL, an alternative app store for iOS, made possible by new regulations in markets like the EU and Japan, integrates with the open social web. The company on Wednesday announced support for the open social web powered by ActivityPub, which powers apps like Mastodon, Flipboard, PeerTube, Threads and others. Users on the open social web, widely known as "federations," join independent servers that interact with each other, or "federations," allowing people to communicate, view and respond to posts with…
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Drivers in fatal Ford BlueCruise crashes were likely distracted before the collision

Drivers in fatal Ford BlueCruise crashes were likely distracted before the collision

💥 Check out this awesome post from TechCrunch 📖 📂 **Category**: Transportation,advanced driver assistance systems,BlueCruise,Ford 📌 **What You’ll Learn**: Two drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2024 while using Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving system were likely distracted in the moments before the collision, according to new information released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Safety Board released documents for each accident and announced that it will hold a public hearing on March 31 in Washington, D.C., where it will discuss the findings and potentially issue recommendations to Ford. The NTSB is an independent federal agency that investigates…
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