Hello and welcome back to Equity, the podcast about the business of startups. We unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.
Friday Show, Week’s Biggest News
This is our Friday show, where we discuss the week’s biggest startup and tech news. Mary Ann and Alex ran as a pair this week, parsing through a veritable mountain of news. Here’s the rundown!
Deals of the Week
- Allara Raises $10 Million for Women’s Hormonal Health: Allara has raised $10 million to focus on women’s hormonal health. This investment will help them develop innovative solutions for menstrual health and fertility.
- Agnikul Raises $26.7 Million for Orbital Launch Technologies: Agnikul has secured $26.7 million in funding to accelerate the development of its orbital launch technologies. Their mission is to make space access more affordable and efficient.
Beef in the Boardroom
WeWork is feeling the heat from Codi, which is launching a series of ads criticizing WeWork’s business model. Meanwhile, Anyplace has raised capital to expand its digital nomad-friendly home rental service.
Plaid Wants to Get Paid
The news that Plaid hired a CFO has sparked speculation about a potential IPO. While it’s difficult to predict when exactly they’ll go public, our view is that it won’t be for a while.
ChatGPT is Online
The AI wave shows no signs of slowing down, and ChatGPT is just the latest example. VCs are overwhelmingly bullish on AI, and we’re excited to see where this technology will take us.
Equity Chat with Crunchbase Analyst
In case you missed it, our recent episode featured an in-depth discussion with a Crunchbase analyst about Q3 VC trends. Don’t miss out on that conversation!
Stay Connected
Equity drops every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 a.m. PT. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all the other popular podcast platforms.
Upcoming Shows
Keep an eye out for our next episodes, where we’ll dive into more startup and tech news.
Host Bios
- Alex Wilhelm: Senior Reporter at TechCrunch
- Alex was a senior reporter for TechCrunch covering markets, venture capital, and startups.
- He also hosted the Webby Award-winning podcast Equity.
- Mary Ann Azevedo: Sr. Reporter at TechCrunch
- Mary Ann has over 20 years of business reporting experience.
- She’s worked with publications such as FinLedger, Crunchbase News, Crain, Forbes, and Silicon Valley Business Journal.
- She holds a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas in Austin.
- Theresa Loconsolo: Audio Producer at TechCrunch
- Theresa is an audio producer focusing on Equity, TechCrunch’s flagship podcast.
- Before joining TechCrunch, she worked as one of two producers at a four-station conglomerate.
Fintech Companies Hiring in 2025
After a turbulent year, some fintech companies are now hiring for various positions. Check out our list to see which ones are looking for talent!
Internal SpaceX Documents Reveal Stock Deals
Internal documents have revealed the sweet stock deals offered to investors like a16z and Gigafund by SpaceX.
Equity Episodes
Don’t miss out on our latest episodes, where we cover topics such as:
- 2024: Founder Mode, AI, and the ‘Rise of the Broligarchs’
- Are AI Companies Just Defense Tech Now?
- Building Physical Tech is Back in Fashion Thanks to AI, Robotics, and Defense
Stay tuned for more startup and tech news on Equity!