Kevin Mayer
Candle Media, the new media company co-backed by former Disney execs, acquires Gen Z-focused ATTN: for $100M
Candle Media, the new media company headed by former Disney execs, Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, has made another acquisition — this time with an eye on social storytelling and…
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine sold to new media firm from former Disney execs
Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s media company that has produced content for streaming services like Hulu, Apple and HBO, among others, has been sold to a yet-unnamed new media firm run…
A bank for the creator economy, Karat Financial raises $26M in Series A funding
The creator economy is changing the way that people earn a living, whether you’re an Instagram influencer or a freelance graphic designer. But traditional banks haven’t caught up. Take Alexandra…
Eight months after former TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quit in the midst of a full-court press from the Trump administration against the Chinese-owned social media giant, TikTok finally has a…
Meet Smash Ventures, the low-flying outfit that has quietly funded Epic Games among others
When in 2018, Smash Ventures showed up as an investor in a $1.25 billion round for Epic Games — reportedly the largest ever investment in a video game company at…
As the SPAC frenzy continues, questions arise about how much the market can absorb
Another week and the biggest story in a sea of big stories continues to center on SPACs, these special purpose acquisition companies that raise capital through IPOs expressly to acquire…
TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigns after 100 days
Kevin Mayer, the chief executive of TikTok, announced on Wednesday that he is resigning, just over 100 days after the former Disney executive joined the world’s largest short-video app in mid-May.…
TikTok sues the US government over its forthcoming ban
TikTok is suing the U.S. government in federal court over the Trump Administration’s decision to ban TikTok in the U.S. market. Reports that TikTok would soon file a legal challenge…
TikTok’s big UnitedMasters deal is the way forward for creators looking to secure their bag
TikTok is right in the jaws of a thorny situation with the U.S. government regarding its ownership, but it’s sending a clear message today that it is not sitting on…
TikTok launches a new information hub and Twitter account to ‘correct the record,’ it says
TikTok had already offered its statement regarding the Trump administration’s executive order that will ban the app from the U.S. if it’s not sold by Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance by…
As it adds Jeremy Milken to the partnership, Watertower Ventures nears $50 million close for its new fund
Derek Norton and Jeremy Milken have known each other for twenty years. Over their longtime personal and professional relationship, the two Los Angeles-based serial entrepreneurs have invested in each other’s…
As threats to the company mount, TikTok pushes back
As TikTok’s existential roller coaster ride continues to rattle on, the company is trying to sway regulators and the public with a flood of dollars and arguments wrapped in free…
TikTok unveils $200 million fund for U.S. creators
TikTok today announced a $200 million fund, aimed at helping top creators in the U.S. supplement their earnings, and potentially coax the next Charli D’Amelio out of the woodwork. Called…
China Roundup: A blow to US-listed Chinese firms and TikTok’s new global face
Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch’s China Roundup, a digest of recent events shaping the Chinese tech landscape and what they mean to people in the rest of the world.…
Daily Crunch: Disney’s streaming chief departs for TikTok
TikTok enlists a big name from Disney as its new CEO, Walmart is shuttering its Jet e-commerce brand and EasyJet admits to a major data breach. Here’s your Daily Crunch…
Disney streaming exec Kevin Mayer becomes TikTok’s new CEO
Kevin Mayer, head of The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer and international business, is departing to become CEO of TikTok, as well as COO of the popular video app’s parent company…
Using 25% lower bandwidth, Disney+ launches in UK, Ireland and 5 other European countries, France to come online April 7
Disney+, the streaming service from the Walt Disney Company, has been rapidly ramping up in the last several weeks. But while some of that expansion has seen some hiccups, other…
Facebook and Disney to downgrade streaming quality in Europe due to COVID-19
Facebook is temporarily downgrading the quality of video streaming in Europe on its social platforms Facebook and Instagram in response to a call for action from the European Commission, per…
