CES, NYE, SBF and FTX. Lol
A New Year, A New Era in Tech
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. To start off the year, we are welcoming Rebecca Szkutak as a returning host who will be joining us while Alexis is out on paternity leave. We’re lucky to have her for a few months, so give her a warm welcome!
With that, Natasha, Mary Ann, and Becca returned to the mic to unpack the latest and greatest on this first week back. 2022 was a dreary, relentless storm at times, but it also surprised us with how much innovation continues to brighten up this downturn. The start of 2023 has been no different.
Early Standouts from CES
Some early standouts from CES, the annual consumer electronics show that is taking over Las Vegas right now. Yep, we’re talking about comfort pillows that are even more comfortable than you think, smarter smart laundry machines, and a security dash-cam for ride-sharing drivers. These innovative products showcase the kind of creativity and problem-solving that defines the tech industry.
Deals of the Week
Next up, we jumped into deals of the week, which included Doorstead and USV’s $200 million climate fund. This type of investment is crucial in driving innovation and sustainability in the tech sector. As we move forward in 2023, it will be exciting to see how these investments pay off.
FTX and SBF Saga
Our first theme got into the latest development in the FTX and SBF saga. If you’re like us, there’s been so much happening that it’s hard to keep track of all the twists and turns. But it’s also ever more important to consider the broader implications of these events on the crypto industry as a whole.
As Becca notes, this story has all the makings of a Real Housewives drama – scandal, intrigue, and high-stakes negotiations. However, beneath the surface lies a complex web of financial transactions and regulatory issues that demand our attention.
The Layoffs Conversation
We end with a conversation about layoffs, which rolled in this week to impact employees at Stitch Fix, Amazon, Salesforce, and others. We dug into Natasha’s latest feature story, in which she explores how laid-off talent is rethinking risk for their next jobs.
As we navigate the current economic landscape, it’s essential to consider not only the immediate consequences of layoffs but also the long-term implications for the tech industry as a whole. How will these changes shape the way companies approach hiring and retention? What new opportunities arise from this shifting landscape?
Conclusion
As always, we’ll be back to chat with you on Monday! In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter @EquityPod. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all the casts.
TechCrunch also has an excellent show on crypto, which interviews founders and details how our stories come together. With new episodes dropping regularly, there’s always something fresh to look forward to.
Meet the Team
Natasha Mascarenhas
Senior Reporter Natasha Mascarenhas was a senior reporter at TechCrunch covering early stage startups and venture capital trends. She has an extensive background in business reporting and editing, with publications such as FinLedger, Crunchbase News, Crain, Forbes, and Silicon Valley Business Journal.
Mary Ann Azevedo
Sr. Reporter Mary Ann Azevedo has more than 20 years of business reporting and editing experience for various publications. Prior to joining TechCrunch in 2021, she earned numerous awards including the New York Times Chairman’s Award and others for breaking news coverage.
Rebecca Szkutak
Senior Reporter, Venture Becca is a senior writer at TechCrunch that covers venture capital trends and startups. She previously covered the same beat for Forbes and the Venture Capital Journal.
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