Anthony Ha
Senior Writer
The Latest from Anthony Ha
Hawke Ventures raises $5.6M to back digital marketing startups
Hawke Ventures, the investment arm of marketing consultancy Hawke Media, is announcing that it has closed its first $5.6 million venture fund. Managing Partner Drew Leahy acknowledged that the firm
Introvoke raises $2.7M to power online events that can be embedded anywhere
While there’s been plenty of attention and money lavished on virtual event platforms over the past year, Introvoke co-founder and CEO Oana Manolache predicted that we’re only at the beginn
Daily Crunch: First impressions of Apple’s AirTags
We test out Apple’s lost item finder, Google Fi gets a new unlimited plan and Facebook tests new video ad targeting features. This is your Daily Crunch for April 22, 2021. The big story: First i
WhizzCo helps publishers maximize their content recommendation revenue
Israeli startup WhizzCo says it’s time for publishers to adopt the programmatic, auction-based approach when it comes to the ads in content recommendation widgets like Outbrain and Taboola. Afte
Applied XL raises $1.5M to build ‘editorial algorithms’ that track real-time data
Applied XL, a startup creating machine learning tools with what it describes as a journalistic lens, is announcing that it has raised $1.5 million in seed funding. Emerging from the Newlab Venture Stu
MasterClass co-founder’s Outlier.org raises $30M for affordable, virtual college courses
Outlier.org — a startup offering intro-level college courses online at a relatively affordable price — is announcing that it has raised $30 million in Series B funding. The startup was founded by
Facebook tests topic targeting for in-stream video ads
Facebook is announcing some new capabilities for video advertisers on Facebook and Instagram, as well as new numbers about the potential audience that those ads might reach. Numbers first: The company
EX.CO acquires video adtech company Cedato
EX.CO is announcing its very first acquisition — it’s buying Cedato, a video monetization startup founded in 2015. Previously known as Playbuzz, EX.CO is short for The Experience Company, and
Daily Crunch: Google Meet will get a new look and new features
Google announces upgrades to Google Meet, Amazon is bringing its palm scanner to Whole Foods and Microsoft looks at the effect of video calls on our brains. This is your Daily Crunch for April 21, 202
Per Diem raises $2.3M to help local businesses build subscription programs
It might be time for neighborhood restaurants and coffee shops to start thinking about a subscription business — at least according to a new Y Combinator-backed startup called Per Diem. The company
Creator+ raises $12M to build a film studio and streaming service focused on digital storytellers
In the words of co-founder and CEO Jonathan Shambroom, Creator+ is a new startup that will “finance, produce and distribute feature-length films from today’s top creators and emerging stor
Discount grocery startup Misfits Market raises $200M
Misfits Market, a startup known for selling “ugly” fruits and vegetables at discount prices, announced this morning that it has raised $200 million in Series C funding. The company says th
Daily Crunch: Apple announces a new iPad Pro and much more
Apple announces new devices, Amazon opens a hair salon and Venmo adds cryptocurrency support. This is your Daily Crunch for April 20, 2021. The big story: Apple announces a new iPad Pro and much more
Netflix blames ‘lighter content slate’ for slowing subscriber growth
Netflix added 4 million net new subscribers in the first quarter of 2021, bringing its total subscriber base to 207.6 million, according to its latest earnings report. Any year-over-year comparison wa
The new Apple TV 4K comes with a new Siri Remote
Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K today, which will come with a new Siri Remote. In addition to the existing Siri support, this new aluminum remote features a redesigned clickpad that allows for circu
Catch&Release raises $14M to help marketers find and license content from across the web
Catch&Release founder and CEO Analisa Goodin told me that she wants to help brands break free from the limitations of stock photography — and that her startup has raised $14 million in Series A
WayUp’s new dashboard helps employers see where their recruiting process loses diverse candidates
WayUp started out as a platform to help college graduates find jobs and internships, but over time, it has increasingly focused on helping employers find diverse job candidates. And it recently introd
Gaming infrastructure startup Pragma raises $12M from Greylock, Mark Pincus and others
Pragma is building what it calls a “backend as a service,” providing ready-made infrastructure to developers of online, live service games. And it’s announcing today that it has rais
Daily Crunch: Facebook announces new audio products
Facebook reveals its Clubhouse competitor, Parler will return to Apple’s App Store and a helicopter flies on Mars. This is your Daily Crunch for April 19, 2021. The big story: Facebook announces
Daily Crunch: Squarespace files to go public
Squarespace is going public, Apple shares some music payment details and Twitter bans the founder of the right-wing media organization Project Veritas. This is your Daily Crunch for April 16, 2021. Th