Startup funding hasn’t changed much in the past decade. Funderbeam is an interesting company trying to turn everything upside down using a marketplace approach, a modern syndication system and a blockchain-based platform. I’m excited to announce that Funderbeam founder and CEO Kaidi Ruusalepp will come to TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin. The first boom of venture capital…
Not too long ago, Google claimed to have a developed a search engine for smells. Google Nose, as it was called, was said to be capable of offering “the sharpest olfactory experience available.” The company claimed that its Street Sense vehicles had ‘inhaled’ and indexed millions of atmospheric miles helping them build a search engine…
A security researcher has discovered several critical vulnerabilities in one of the most popular embedded real-time operating systems—called FreeRTOS—and its other variants, exposing a wide range of IoT devices and critical infrastructure systems to hackers. What is FreeRTOS (Amazon, WHIS OpenRTOS, SafeRTOS)? FreeRTOS is a leading open source real-time operating system (RTOS) for embedded systems…
The debilitating impact of a stroke can last long after the event has taken place. Sufferers are often left with a range of problems, which make include poor balance, loss of coordination, partial paralysis, impaired spatial awareness and speech, and a lengthy recovery timeline. At the extreme end of the scale, patients have to spend…
The hype around quantum computing is real. But to fully realize the promise of quantum computing, it’ll still take a few years of research and scientific breakthroughs. And indeed, it still remains to be seen if quantum computers will ever live up to the hype. Today, though, we got mathematical proof that there are really calculations that…
The IEEE has showcased one of the coolest research projects I’ve seen this month: virtual smells. By stimulating your olfactory nerve with a system that looks like one of those old-fashioned kids electronics kits, they’ve been able to simulate smells. The project is pretty gross. To simulate a smell, the researchers are sticking leads far…
When I last wrote about Knotch, the company had just patented its color-based feedback system that helps advertisers measure the effectiveness of their sponsored content. Since then, it’s added a competitive intelligence product and now Blueprint, a tool for marketers who want to find the best topics, formats and partners to reach their desired audience.…
Everyone knows about the space pen. NASA spent millions on R&D to create the ultimate pen that would work in zero gravity and the result was this incredible machine. Well, no. In fact it was made by a pen manufacturer in 1966 — but it wasn’t until October of 1968 that it went into orbit…
Brisbane, California based e-motorcycle startup Alta Motors has ceased operations, TechCrunch has confirmed. Earlier today Asphalt and Rubber — and several subsequent outlets — reported the company stopped operating this morning, fired its staff, and may be looking for a buyer. Alta has yet to comment on the situation. “As of this morning I no longer represent…
It was just last month that Apple announced three new iPhones and its latest smartwatch, but it turns out the company isn’t done for the year. Apple just sent out invites to its next event, taking place in Brooklyn, New York on October 30. So far, we’re expecting at four hardware products. Leaks and rumors…
