Remojo: UK Service Helping Men Stop Pornography Use

Daily Crunch: November 18, 2021

A daily digest of TechCrunch's most significant and impactful stories is delivered to inboxes each day at 3 p.m. PST. You can subscribe to this roundup here.

Greetings, and welcome to the Daily Crunch for November 18, 2021. Today’s focus is on the conversion of audio into text and strategies for ceasing consumption of specific video content when disengagement proves difficult.

Before proceeding, please remember that TechCrunch Sessions: Space is scheduled to occur within the next few weeks!

Key Highlights

• The process of transforming spoken audio into written text is a central topic.
• Strategies for managing and halting the viewing of certain video materials are being discussed.
• TechCrunch Sessions: Space is an upcoming event of note.

TechCrunch continues to provide updates on the latest developments in the technology sector.

This daily briefing aims to keep readers informed about the most crucial news and events. Staying current with industry trends is vital for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

The upcoming TechCrunch Sessions: Space event promises valuable insights into the aerospace industry. It represents a key opportunity for networking and learning.

TechCrunch's Notable Updates

Here's a look at three significant developments highlighted by TechCrunch today, covering IPO performances and a popular music streaming feature.

Sweetgreen's Successful IPO

Sweetgreen experienced a remarkably successful initial public offering. Despite initial assessments of its financials, the company’s stock performance has been exceptionally strong.

The share price surged after being priced at $28, exceeding the anticipated range and nearly doubling in value during its first day of trading. While some suggest an underpricing strategy, the company is undoubtedly pleased with the outcome.

Paytm's Challenging Public Debut

In contrast to Sweetgreen, Paytm, a major Indian fintech company, faced difficulties on its first day as a publicly traded entity.

The company’s shares declined by approximately 27% during regular trading hours. Despite raising $2.5 billion through its IPO, backed by investors like SoftBank and Alibaba, Paytm saw a substantial decrease in its valuation.

Spotify Introduces Global Live Lyrics

Spotify users can now enjoy a new feature: live, in-app lyrics.

Previously, users had to rely on external web browsers to view song lyrics while listening on Spotify. This update eliminates that need, providing a more integrated experience.

The lyrics display dynamically within the music service, enhancing user engagement.

Image Credits: Spotify

Startups and Venture Capital Updates

Several developments within the startup ecosystem are noteworthy today, beginning with Grammarly. The company recently secured $200 million in funding, resulting in a valuation of $13 billion. This classification positions Grammarly as either a decacorn, a dragon, or a company poised for an initial public offering. The previously significant $1 billion valuation benchmark for startups has diminished in importance.

However, a $10 billion valuation now appears to be the new standard for identifying truly exceptional startups in the current market.

Insights from the TechCrunch Automotive Sector: Future of Transportation

• Electric Tuk-Tuks for the U.S.: Biliti is pursuing a strategy centered around introducing electric tuk-tuks to the American market. These three-wheeled, open-cabin vehicles, common in many countries, blend characteristics of delivery vans and mopeds. While not currently prevalent in the United States, increasing urbanization and demand for home delivery could create an opportune moment for tuk-tuks.
• Harnessing Solar Energy: Sono Group has recently launched as a public company based on its innovative solar-powered vehicle concept. The vehicle is designed to generate sufficient energy from sunlight to power daily commutes. While supplementary charging may still be necessary, the concept represents a promising step towards integrating solar technology into electric vehicles.
• Apple’s Autonomous Vehicle Project: Reports suggest that Apple’s long-anticipated self-driving car could be unveiled as early as 2025. This timeline, while still distant, allows ample opportunity for the project’s details to remain under wraps.
• Baidu’s Expansion of Self-Driving Taxis: Baidu intends to deploy its autonomous taxi service in 100 cities by 2030. A more extensive rollout beyond 100 cities would be a logical progression.

A Compilation of Additional Startup News:

• Snax: Gaming Meets Short-Form Video: Snax aims to combine the popularity of short-form video platforms with interactive gaming experiences. The success of this venture will likely depend on whether Snax empowers users to create content or relies on internal development.
• Party Round Secures Funding: Party Round has raised $7 million to further develop its platform designed to simplify fundraising for startups. The service facilitates easier capital acquisition and enables founders to accept smaller investment amounts, fostering party rounds. This approach challenges previous skepticism surrounding fundraising events with numerous small investors.
• The Rise of MLOps: The $50 million Series B funding round secured by machine learning operations startup Comet, following a recent Series A, highlights the growing importance of MLOps. This trend is reinforced by Weights & Biases’ recent $135 million raise for similar work, indicating a potentially lucrative and inevitable market.
• Doorvest Facilitates Real Estate Investment: Doorvest is seeking to lower the barriers to entry for real estate investing by providing tools to help individuals purchase and manage rental properties.
• Workflow Automation Gains Momentum: Appian CEO Matt Calkins frequently emphasizes the significance of workflows, which are the core function of robotic process automation (RPA) and other automation tools. The demand for workflow automation is evident in Formstack’s recent $425 million funding round for its no-code business workflow automation solution.
• MDM Remains Attractive to Investors: Kandji’s $100 million funding round at an $800 million valuation, focused on Apple device management, underscores the continued investor interest in mobile device management (MDM). This interest is further fueled by Apple’s own entry into the MDM space and Jamf’s successful public offering.
• Remojo Addresses Problematic Pornography Consumption: Recognizing a growing movement to reduce pornography consumption, Remojo offers a solution designed to help men discontinue their engagement with online pornography.

Focus on Accessibility:

• The emergence of technology accessibility-focused micro-publications has renewed attention to the importance of inclusive design. Clubhouse’s recent addition of live captions for iOS users is a positive step, and we anticipate that live captioning will become a standard feature for audio platforms.

Navigating Visa Challenges for New Employees: Guidance for Startups

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Dear Sophie,

As operations lead at a young company, you're now also handling recruitment and human resources. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed when addressing the complexities of visa applications for potential employees.

Let's explore some key advice to help you manage this process effectively.

— A Founder in Daly City

(TechCrunch+ provides valuable resources and support for founders and startup teams. Registration is available here.)

Understanding the Initial Steps

The first step involves accurately assessing each candidate’s eligibility for various visa options. This requires a clear understanding of their qualifications and the specific role they will fill within your organization.

H-1B visas are frequently used for specialized roles requiring theoretical or technical expertise. However, these are subject to an annual quota and a lottery system, making them competitive.

Exploring Alternative Visa Options

Beyond the H-1B, several other visa categories may be suitable. Consider options like the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees, or the TN visa for qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens under the USMCA agreement.

The O-1 visa is available for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement. Thoroughly researching each option is crucial to identify the best fit for each candidate.

Key Considerations for Startups

Startups often face unique challenges in visa sponsorship. Demonstrating the ability to pay the prevailing wage and establishing a legitimate employer-employee relationship are vital.

Maintaining meticulous documentation throughout the process is paramount. This includes offer letters, job descriptions, and evidence of the company’s financial stability.

Working with Immigration Counsel

Given the intricacies of immigration law, engaging experienced immigration counsel is highly recommended. An attorney can provide tailored guidance, navigate complex regulations, and minimize potential risks.

They can also assist with preparing and filing petitions, responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and representing your company in interactions with immigration authorities.

Resources for Further Information

Several resources can aid your understanding of US immigration laws and procedures. The USCIS website (uscis.gov) offers comprehensive information and forms.

Industry associations and professional organizations often provide valuable insights and updates on immigration policies. Staying informed is essential for successful visa sponsorship.

Big Tech Inc.

A novel method for reporting issues with Instagram is being introduced. Users will soon be able to initiate an error report simply by shaking their mobile device.

While seemingly unconventional, this feature is considered a positive development. Additionally, Instagram is implementing a function allowing users to remove individual items from carousel posts containing three or more images or videos, as reported by TechCrunch.

Merchandise Ventures

The question of whether all brands require merchandise has been raised. While some, like podcasts, may benefit from branded items, the decision by Hulu to offer merchandise is being questioned.

Netflix was an early adopter in the realm of streaming service merchandise, paving the way for others.

Data Breach at California Pizza Kitchen

A significant data breach occurred at California Pizza Kitchen, compromising the Social Security numbers of over 100,000 individuals.

This incident highlights the continued reliance on Social Security numbers and raises concerns about data security practices. A substantial penalty, potentially equivalent to the cost of constructing a restaurant entirely from $100 bills, is suggested as an appropriate response.

The severity of the breach warrants a strong punitive measure, emphasizing the importance of robust data protection protocols.

TechCrunch Seeks Growth Marketing Professionals

TechCrunch is currently soliciting recommendations for skilled growth marketers. Expertise in areas such as SEO, social media marketing, and content creation is highly valued.

Growth marketers are encouraged to share a survey with their clients. TechCrunch aims to gather insights into positive client experiences and the value these professionals provide.

Survey Invitation for Clients

If you are a client of a growth marketer, your feedback is important! Please participate in the survey to share your experiences and explain why you appreciated their services.

Your responses will help TechCrunch identify and highlight top talent in the growth marketing field.

Understanding TechCrunch’s Coverage

Interested in learning more about how these surveys influence TechCrunch’s reporting? An article by Jonathan Martinez, titled “A lean startup’s growth marketing tech stack,” provides further context.

This article details how TechCrunch utilizes information gathered from these surveys to inform its coverage of growth marketing technologies and strategies.

• SEO expertise is a key area of focus.
• Social media marketing skills are highly sought after.
• Strong content writing abilities are essential.

TechCrunch’s initiative aims to connect businesses with effective growth marketing partners and provide valuable insights to its readership.