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: 3 key hiring metrics, building SDR teams, insurtech investor survey

Mar 31, 2023 Walter Thompson

Marketing teams get a lot of credit for landing new customers, but in reality, sales development representatives do most of the actual work.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Deep due diligence, early Q1 2023 VC results, flight lessons for angels

Mar 28, 2023 Walter Thompson

Maybe some founders are under pressure to return money to investors, but what about the GPs who are sending funds back to their LPs?

TechCrunch+ roundup: 20 questions VCs ask, crypto compliance tips, Indian investor survey

Mar 24, 2023 Walter Thompson

There are a ton of barriers to launching a startup, but impostor syndrome need not be one of them.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Big Data’s cloud backlash, CVC pitch tips, de-risking hardware startups

Mar 21, 2023 Walter Thompson

I started wearing sweaters after I got my last utility bill, but companies at scale can’t dial back their data usage as easily.

TechCrunch+ roundup: 7 VCs who are taking pitches, AI best practices, zero-based budgeting

Mar 17, 2023 Walter Thompson

With SVB’s contagion contained, the VC community seems open to writing smallish checks for pre-revenue startups.

How to pitch me: 7 investors discuss what they’re looking for in March 2023

Mar 15, 2023 Walter Thompson

Pitch better by reading what these seven investors are looking for, how they like to be approached and what’s not working for them anymore.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Beyond the Turing test, 3 VCs on SVB, usage-based pricing tactics

Mar 14, 2023 Walter Thompson

After SVB's failure, who's most vulnerable, who stands to benefit, and what are some of the long-term implications for venture capital?

TC+ roundup: Silicon Valley Bank fails, fintech VC survey, B2B growth tools

Mar 10, 2023 Walter Thompson

Silicon Valley's favorite bank just failed. Sit with that for a moment.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Building a core AI team, Brazil’s CVC climate, remote work rituals

Mar 07, 2023 Walter Thompson

If your startup doesn't have a well-defined business model — and a backup in case the first one fails — it's unlikely to get funded.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Ocean tech investor survey, AI and PR, L-1 visa options

Mar 03, 2023 Walter Thompson

You don’t need to hire a mega-influencer like Serena Williams or a Kardashian to build buzz for your startup.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Using predictive LTV, Boston VC survey, active learning for ML teams

Feb 28, 2023 Walter Thompson

Adding predictive LTV to your startup’s marketing strategy may literally help you stop throwing money away.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Finding the right LPs, ocean conservation, inside Uber’s pre-seed deck

Feb 24, 2023 Walter Thompson

Startups often lack a deep bench of managerial talent, which means layoffs are usually handled with little empathy and poor communication.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Optimizing acquisition, parental leave tips, riding the downturn express

Feb 21, 2023 Walter Thompson

I was dismayed to realize that I'd used the word "downturn" in two different headlines this morning.

TechCrunch+ roundup: M&A red flags, handling problematic CEOs, E-1 visa questions

Feb 17, 2023 Walter Thompson

Early-stage investors don't closely manage the founders they shower with cash, even when things go off the rails.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Advice for laid-off techies, fintech flops, how to build a growth team

Feb 14, 2023 Walter Thompson

Depending on where you worked and what you did, you may already have the experience investors are looking for.

6 VCs share advice for laid-off tech workers planning to launch startups

Feb 14, 2023 Walter Thompson

You may already have the experience investors are looking for when it comes to reaching product-market fit and solving engineering problems.

TechCrunch+ roundup: Africa investor survey, biz model basics, video marketing tactics

Feb 10, 2023 Walter Thompson

If your marketing plan doesn’t include TikTok, YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels, well, can you really call it a marketing plan?

TechCrunch+ roundup: Generative AI for proptech, cloud vendor shopping, cybersecurity fairy tales

Feb 07, 2023 Walter Thompson

Generative AI reminds me of ball bearings: the technology is relatively inexpensive, highly adaptable and a proven way to reduce friction.

TechCrunch+ roundup: SaaS pricing strategies, 2022 open source report, can Vine regrow?

Feb 03, 2023 Walter Thompson

Should Twitter’s developers rebuild Vine from scratch, or can they dust off the old code and turn it back on?

TechCrunch+ roundup: SaaS spending squeeze, tax time tips, freemium frameworks

Jan 31, 2023 Walter Thompson

Finding meaningful ways to slash spending can extend your runway and even stave off layoffs in the long run.