Walter Thompson

Walter Thompson

Managing Editor, Contributions, TC+

Senior Editor Walter Thompson edits staff and guest articles for TechCrunch+ and manages TechCrunch’s guest contributor program.

Previously, he worked at a number of startups in various roles and as City Editor of Hoodline. He is the host of The Golden City, a podcast about San Francisco.

The Latest from Walter Thompson

TechCrunch+ roundup: No-code MVP strategy, hiring under scrutiny, A/B growth testing

Walter Thompson
Despite the myth, sharks don’t need to keep swimming to keep breathing. Early-stage startups, on the other hand, are not so fortunate.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Deep tech fundraising, negative trade secrets, 3 metrics investors love

Walter Thompson
You can’t create a magic plan to save your startup — there are simply too many factors outside of your control.

TechCrunch+ roundup: 2023 unicorn slump, global VC slowdown, email marketing 101

Walter Thompson
The hunt is already on for another mythical animal that best represents startup attainment in a down market, like "ARRmadillo."

TechCrunch+ roundup: Space tech predictions, startup IP strategy, finding feasible funding

Walter Thompson
Do you have IP counsel? Does your app have a UX protection strategy? Have you ever conducted an audit?

TechCrunch+ roundup: 2022 stock options report, pivot to SaaS, crypto investor survey

Walter Thompson
If or when you get laid off, there's a chance that a TechCrunch reporter will find out before you do.

TechCrunch+ roundup: New success metrics, M&A timeline, 5 cloud trends for 2023

Walter Thompson
Every founder I’ve ever worked with was absolutely, completely convinced that they could build and scale a company.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Dry powder’s slow fuse, landing page basics, generative AI hype

Walter Thompson
A definitive founder's guide would have to include chapters like "So you've hired the wrong person" or "Five ways to tell if an investor is lying to you."

TechCrunch+ roundup: Normalizing down rounds, 2023 climate trends, term sheet basics

Walter Thompson
Everyone gets wet when it rains, but accepting a down round allows founders to keep building their businesses.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Headcount data study, SaaS sales mistakes, financial close strategies

Walter Thompson
Startups that don't have PMF, supportive investors or a manageable burn rate should already be planning to reduce headcount.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Vanity metric dangers, planning for failure, Black founders survey

Walter Thompson
Relying on vanity metrics is like attending a Little League awards dinner: Everyone goes home a winner!

TechCrunch+ roundup: New VC rules, AI biotech investor survey, Instagram ad case study

Walter Thompson
"Growth at all costs" is a fairy tale made possible by cheap money that helped VCs set expectations for founders — and each other.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Summary slide showcase, video SEO strategy, how to value AI startups

Walter Thompson
If your deck doesn't give prospective investors a clear idea of how you will put their money to work, you're not going home with a term sheet.

TechCrunch+ roundup: VC trick questions, building 3-case models, B2B sales coaching

Walter Thompson
I have nothing personal against investors, but sitting in a room with one while I try to sell them on my billion-dollar idea sounds very stressful.

TechCrunch+ roundup: The end of free money, how to forecast NRR, slashing SaaS spending

Walter Thompson
If you ask three different people whether we're in a recession, you could easily get three different answers.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Cash management basics, proptech investor survey, visa interview prep

Walter Thompson
A startup that lacks a cash management program is like a car with a blinking fuel light: how far can you travel with the fuel in your reserve tank?

TechCrunch+ roundup: Fundraising under scrutiny, optimizing LTV, visa bulletin update

Walter Thompson
The idea that there's a "good" time to launch a startup is just a bedtime story investors tell founders.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Attention metrics, growth through retention, cold-calling advice

Walter Thompson
Sending cold emails to investors isn't a terrible idea — as long as you've done your research first.

TechCrunch+ roundup: TAM takedown, green card layoffs, when to ignore investor advice

Walter Thompson
In business, if someone offers you free advice, it's probably for their own benefit.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Bootstrapping basics, fintech’s future, tech employers gain advantage

Walter Thompson
Are you planning to play League of Legends during your next investor pitch? (If so, reading this probably isn’t a good use of your time.)

TechCrunch+ roundup: H-1B worker advice, managing remote teams, pitch deck teardown

Walter Thompson
"The American dream is still really important to immigrants. They still want what America represents and they're going to reevaluate their relationship with Big Tech and the nature of work."
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