SBF says he is ‘had a nasty month,’ however is he actually giving us the total story? • TechCrunch

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There may be formally solely 8.3% left of the yr. You understand what which means! Holidays, cheer, and daydreaming about what shenanigans we’ll get ourselves into in 2024. Sure, 2024, as a result of clearly we’re simply going to skip previous all of 2023. We’re fairly excited for 2025 already, tbh. — Christine and Haje

The TechCrunch High 3

• Celeb sturdy arm: Plant-based meals model Huel’s latest capital increase comes with a facet of Idris Elba, Christine writes. The actor and his spouse are amongst a handful of recent buyers backing U.Ok.-based Huel, which presents protein powder, snack bars and scorching lunch merchandise. Oh, and Huel is now valued at $560 million. Not too shabby.
• Who’s calling?: Why, it’s smartphone re-commerce startup Badili, which raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding to work with people and sellers to repurpose telephones as demand soars throughout Africa for extra reasonably priced telephones. Annie has extra.
• Returning to its roots: Zoe made a reputation for itself in the course of the international pandemic when it launched a COVID-tracking app. Now it has shifted again to its roots as a self-reporting tracker for private diet and has a wholesome $30 million chunk of change (and a $303 million valuation) beneath its belt to onboard over 250,000 individuals who have been patiently ready for this second, Ingrid stories.

Startups and VC

FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried have had lots of column inches on Ye Olde Teche Crunche over the previous couple of days. Right here’s what you have to get you on top of things: Natasha M lined that SBF claims large ignorance on apparent conflicts in FTX downfall. Amanda provides that he says journalists are good, really, whereas Connie wonders if his interview look was a little bit of a efficiency.

Web3 developer platform Fleek has raised $25 million in Collection A funding led by Polychain Capital, the corporate instructed Jacquelyn. The startup is aiming to construct an interface and protocol layer “to make the bottom layer of net[3] companies,” like storage, internet hosting and billing, accessible to anybody.

And we’ve 5 extra for you:

Proptech in Assessment: 3 buyers clarify why they’re bullish on tech that makes buildings greener

Buyers who work on the intersection of local weather tech and proptech hunt down doubtlessly worthwhile startups that may scale back emissions and improve the constructed surroundings.

It’s a high-stakes balancing act with vital threat, however contemplating the upside for class winners and the well being of the planet, “the potential market is gigantic,” stories Tim De Chant. For his second proptech investor survey in a three-part collection, he interviewed:

• Jake Fingert, managing companion, and Lionel Foster, investor, Camber Creek
• Anja Rath, managing companion, PropTech1 Ventures
• Othmane Zrikem, chief information officer, A/O Proptech

Three extra from the TC+ crew:

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Huge Tech Inc.

Earlier than we step into the information, we simply wish to provide the AWS re:Invent 2022 hyperlink as soon as once more as a result of Kyle, Ron and Frederic added extra tales at this time.

Okay, right here we go. Yesterday, Bret Taylor shocked us by stepping down as co-chair and CEO of Salesforce to “return to his entrepreneurial roots,” Ron stories. After ruminating on it in a single day, Ron additionally supplied extra perception on Taylor’s transfer and what could be subsequent for the CRM large (TC+ subscription wanted).

In case you rush over to Google day by day to see the brand new Doodle, the newest enables you to create your personal mini arcade recreation in honor of the late online game pioneer Jerry Lawson, who would have been 82 at this time. Aisha has extra.

In the meantime, Brian wrote a narrative yesterday reporting that “San Francisco police can now use robots to kill.” Right this moment he goes extra in-depth in his Actuator column. Take pleasure in!

And we’ve 5 extra for you: