Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Grindr’s owners may take it private after a financial squeeze

    Grindr’s owners may take it private after a financial squeeze

    Grindr’s majority owners are scrambling to take the LGBTQ+ dating app private after a stock decline triggered a personal financial crisis, according to a report from Semafor. The owners in question are Raymond Zage, a former hedge fund manager and U.S. expat now based in Singapore, and James Lu, a Chinese-American entrepreneur and former Amazon…

  • Goldman Sachs is acquiring Industry Ventures for up to $965M as alternative VC exits surge

    Goldman Sachs is acquiring Industry Ventures for up to $965M as alternative VC exits surge

    Goldman Sachs has agreed to acquire Industry Ventures, a 25-year-old, San Francisco-based investment firm with $7 billion in assets under management, CNBC was first to report on Monday. The deal underscores the growing importance of secondary markets and buyouts as traditional venture exits remain sluggish. The investment bank is paying $665 million in cash and…

  • California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots

    California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots

    California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill on Monday that regulates AI companion chatbots, making it the first state in the nation to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions. The law, SB 243, is designed to protect children and vulnerable users from some of the harms associated with AI…

  • See It Here First at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

    See It Here First at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

    Get ready for one of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025’s most electrifying moments — literally. Chris Barman, CEO of Slate Auto, is rolling one of her company’s brand-new electric trucks onto the Disrupt Stage before anyone else in the world sees it on the road. Be in the room for this live EV unveiling on the main…

  • Nvidia’s AI empire: A look at its top startup investments

    Nvidia’s AI empire: A look at its top startup investments

    No company has capitalized on the AI revolution more dramatically than Nvidia. Its revenue, profitability, and cash reserves have skyrocketed since the introduction of ChatGPT over two years ago — and the many competitive generative AI services that have launched since. Its stock price has soared, making it a $4.5 trillion market cap company.  The…

  • Strava eyes IPO as Gen Z trades dating apps for running clubs

    Strava eyes IPO as Gen Z trades dating apps for running clubs

    Strava, the 16-year-old fitness tracking app, is gearing up to go public, the Financial Times reports. CEO Michael Martin told the FT that the San Francisco company plans to list “at some point,” eyeing capital for more acquisitions. The company, backed by Sequoia Capital, TCV, and Jackson Square Ventures, was last valued at $2.2 billion…

  • Elon Musk vs. the regulators

    Elon Musk vs. the regulators

    Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for all things “future of transportation.” To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Elon Musk has never had the best relationship with regulators, often bumping up against or outright sidestepping local and state laws where his numerous companies operate.  This…

  • The ZoraSafe app wants to protect older people online and will present at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 

    The ZoraSafe app wants to protect older people online and will present at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 

    Apart from antivirus apps, the cybersecurity industry has traditionally been business to business, with regular internet users left on their own to protect themselves. And older people, who did not grow up with the internet and smartphones, are perhaps the most vulnerable.  ZoraSafe, a startup founded by sisters Catherine Karow and Ellie King Karow wants…

  • Prince Harry and Meghan call out the harmful effects of social media on today’s youth

    Prince Harry and Meghan call out the harmful effects of social media on today’s youth

    The guests sipped prosecco and chattered away while dessert was served at the third annual Project Health Minds Gala on Thursday night in New York.   The evening was winding down, but there was still one big award to give out: Humanitarian of the Year, which this year would be honoring Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for creating…

  • Apple says goodbye to the Clips app

    Apple says goodbye to the Clips app

    Apple appears to be winding down support of Clips, with the company removing Clips from the App Store and saying it will no longer be making any updates. In a support page on the Apple website, the company says that as of October 10, Clips is no longer available for new users to download, but…

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