TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: Brian Ach / Stringer via Getty

1. WordPress founder throws hands: Matt Mullenweg, the co-creator of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, has called his company's rival, WP Engine, a "cancer to WordPress." He criticized the company, which commercializes WordPress' open source project, for giving almost nothing back to the community. Read More

2. From border detention to $21.8M: Ben Nashman, founder of Synex Medical, once spent a night detained by U.S. customs after attempting to transport an 80-pound magnet into Canada. Now, he's closed a Series A to build his portable MRI machine that can test glucose without needing to draw blood. Read More

3. Overlooked iOS 18 features: Apple's iOS updates usually have tons of small and hidden features, so we put together a guide of our favorite ones from iOS 18 that you might have missed, like the ability to view your photo library sans screenshots. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

Image Credits: AntonioSolano / Getty Images

🌞 David and Goliath: Brooklyn-based David Energy wants to go up against energy giants by selling clean energy to small businesses and residences, and it just raised a $23 million Series A-1 round to expand farther. Read More

💌 Missives from the IPO market: Enterprise rewards platform Ibotta was one of the few startups to go public this year while most others are holding out for the right conditions. Ibotta's CEO Bryan Leach advises startups that timing the IPO market is a futile endeavor. Read More

🦘 Employment benefits for freelancers: French startup Jump wants to help freelancers in the country get the same benefits they'd get in a full-time job. The service costs €99 per month and gives freelancers access to the national healthcare system and lets them contribute to the national pension system, too. Read More

🪃 Son makes a comeback: SoftBank's Masayoshi Son is gearing up for a comeback after laying low in the aftermath of the Vision Fund's huge losses from investments in companies like WeWork. Read More

⚡ Supercharge me: It's been more than a year since Ford led automakers in making deals with Tesla to use the EV maker's Superchargers. Most EV customers are still waiting for access, but here's a list of the brands that are working to make it happen. Read More

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Around the Web

🦾 Big tech and democracy: Tech Policy Press interviewed Marietje Schaake, author of "The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley" about the impact of Big Tech on democratic society. Listen Here

🤠 AI agents are the hot new thing: The Financial Times has an insightful deep dive into how software companies like Microsoft, Salesforce and Workday are going all in on AI agents as a way to make AI a staple of everyday working life. Read More

🔮 Crypto scams continue to be a problem: Two people were charged in Miami this week with conspiracy to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency using crypto exchanges and mixing platforms, reports Bleeping Computer. Read More

Before You Go

Image Credits: Pedego

🚲 An e-bike for hauling cargo: I spent the summer with Pedego's Cargo e-bike, a powerful and sporty ride that can haul up to 400 pounds. It's a great option for parents or people with heavy gear, but the $4,000 price tag may dissuade some. Read More