TechCrunch Top 3

Mark Zuckerberg wants Meta to launch its own prediction market: The app would be independent of Meta's other social media offerings, although sources told the NYT that those social sites could direct users to engagement with the app. Read More

After betting the firm on Anthropic, Menlo Ventures raises victorious $3B fund: Menlo has created a solid rep for itself as an AI investor, all based on one gutsy $750 million move in 2024. Read More

Anthropic’s Claude Tag is learning your company, one Slack message at a time: Anthropic’s new Claude Tag brings an always-on AI teammate to Slack. But beyond productivity, the feature is a strategic play to capture organizational context, institutional knowledge, and enterprise workflows. Read More

A message from EY

Chaos gets expensive

Starting a tech company is exciting. It can also get messy fast. EY teams have seen startups at their best — and their messiest. That’s why they help founders get it right early, so founders can stay focused on building.

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Afternoon Must-Reads

Fika Jobs raises $4M to build a video-first hiring platform where AI agents interview candidates: Stockholm-based startup Fika Jobs is building a video-first hiring platform that combines AI interview agents with short-form video profiles, creating something that feels like a cross between LinkedIn and TikTok. Read More

HaloBraid raises $7M from Seven Seven Six to end the six-hour hair salon appointment: HaloBraid aims to help salons speed up braiding with its first device, slated to launch later this year, that acts as a braiding assistant for professional stylists. Read More

Password manager maker LastPass says hackers stole customer support case data during Klue breach: This is the second data breach to affect LastPass customers in recent years, after one of the password manager's tech partners was recently breached. Read More

Meta debuts new, cheaper smart glasses under its own brand: The smart glasses are available in several countries starting today in a variety of color and lens combinations. Read More

Klue says hackers stole credential from 2022 that led to customer data breaches: It's unclear why Klue had not revoked the credential after the limited pilot, which hackers then used to breach a system holding keys for accessing customers' data. Read More

A message from Fidelity

Your Pitch Isn’t the Only Thing Investors Are Evaluating.

Investors don’t just listen to what you say - they look at how your company operates. Is ownership clear? Do your numbers match your story? Can you answer follow-up questions without digging through spreadsheets? The Fundraise-Ready Startup Kit equips founders with the materials investors expect to see, before pressure is on. Because confidence in the room doesn’t come from slides. It comes from preparation.

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Last but Not Least

Let’s take a look at the retro tech making a comeback: Boom boxes, instant cameras, and even landlines are making a comeback. Here are the coolest retro-inspired devices available. Read More