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Amazon-backed Glacier gets $16M to expand its robot recycling fleet
The world has a trash problem. The amount of stuff we throw away is expected to nearly double, to3.8 billion metric tons, by 2050. Reducing what we use would go a long way to addressing the issue, but let’s face it, we’re not very good at buying less either. That leaves recycling, which has its own problems. People routinely try to recycle dirty yogurt cups or toss plastic in the aluminum bin. It all makes recycling more expensive because, ultimately, someone has to manually pick out the unwanted stuff. In response, several companies have been building automated systems to sort recyclables, includingGlacier, a 6-year-old company that has developedinexpensive robotic armscontrolled by computer vision to identify over 30 different types of materials. The startup has deployed its robots in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Phoenix, and now Seattle. As Glacier looks to expand its robot fleet to more municipalities, it recently raised a $16 million Series A, the company exclusively told TechCrunch. The round was led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund with participation from AlleyCorp, Alumni Ventures, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Cox Exponential, Elysium, New Enterprise Associates, One Small Planet, Overlap Holdings, Overture, VSC Ventures, and Working Capital Fund. Materials recovery facilities — or MRFs, as sorting facilities are called — are getting squeezed on both ends, Rebecca Hu-Thrams, Glacier’s co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch. Governments want more waste to be recycled, but MRFs are having a hard time finding enough people to staff the sorting line. Industry-wide, turnover is extremely high. A typical MRF will have to hire five times per year for a single sorting position. The job is so undesirable that one MRF operator told Hu-Thrams that, even though his wages were higher, he was concerned about losing workers to a new warehouse set to open nearby. “Would you rather stand at a conveyor belt and sort through people’s trash, or would you rather be lifting boxes in an air-conditioned warehouse?” Hu-Thrams said. “That kind of underscores the dilemma that a lot of our customers are facing.” Glacier offers its robots to customers as outright purchases or on a lease-to-own model. It encourages MRFs to make repairs they feel comfortable with, supplying them with training and spare parts. For those that would rather not, the startup offers maintenance packages. Glacier is also offering a data product, in which MRFs and other stakeholders like consumer products companies and government agencies can pay for access to insights about the waste stream. For an MRF, that might mean identifying where on a line it’s losing valuable aluminum cans to the landfill. For a company or regulator, it might mean auditing the waste stream to determine whether packaging that’s designed to be recycled is actually getting recycled. With enough robots, recycling rates should improve, if only because robots are faster and better at distinguishing between recyclables and trash. “Every time we send people to audit our AI systems, the people just do so much worse,” said Areeb Malik, Glacier’s CTO and second co-founder. “AI is getting really powerful, being able to distinguish beyond what people can even notice.”
Lately’s new gamified app helps people arrive on time
A new app calledLatelylaunched on the App Store a few weeks ago, targeting people with ADHD to help them arrive on time and rewarding them for doing so. The service is designed to help users manage their travel plans by notifying them when it’s time to leave for a trip, sending reminders 30 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes before departure. It also features Live Activities on iPhone and Apple Watch that display a countdown to leave. To encourage timely departures, Lately employs a point reward system with four difficulty levels. The easiest level, “Goldfish,” awards users 3 points for being early, 2 points for being on time, and 0 for being late, while the other levels — “Coffee,” “Grown Up,” and “Yoda” — become progressively less forgiving. Yoda, for instance, deducts 2 points for being late. As users accumulate points, they level up and unlock various virtual characters within the app that serve as achievement badges. While the reward may appear simple, it may provide users with a sense of progress and accomplishment. Lately was created by indie developer Erik MacInnis to address challenges faced by individuals with ADHD, particularly related to time management. “I’ve always been the ‘late one’ in my friend group,” MacInnis told TechCrunch. “For many of us, our toughest challenges to leaving on time are time blindness and poor time estimation. Lately addresses both of these problems by keeping the user constantly aware of when to leave, and it’s gamified, so you get points when you arrive on time, which honestly feels good.” While other similar apps exist — such as an Android app calledTime to Leave— MacInnis believes they’re outdated. ADHD apps likeStructuredandTickTickare mainly for task management and don’t specifically address time blindness for commuting. During our testing, we found Lately to be helpful, but we wish it could provide time estimations for commuters in large cities who use public transportation or biking. Currently, the app only offers options for driving or walking. Despite this small limitation, we believe the app can be successful among its target demographic. Individuals with ADHD frequently feel unmotivated, and specialists often suggest utilizing a reward system to help with self-discipline. Another gamified app,Finch, has gained attention for its point system. The self-care app encourages users to complete daily chores at home or engage in other healthy habits by rewarding them with points that can be used to customize their virtual pet. MacInnis revealed future plans for Lately, which include a social feature that automatically notifies friends when users leave, when they are five minutes away, and when they arrive. An Android version is also part of the long-term roadmap. Lately is available for free, but there is also a premium subscription ($3 per month or $10 per year) that offers features like customizing difficulty levels and scheduling recurring trips.
Astro Teller is joining us at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in October
We are thrilled to announce that Astro Teller, the head honcho of Alphabet’s X, the Moonshot Factory, will be joining us as a featured speaker atTechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. The whole affair promises to be fun filled and rife with intel and insights that you won’t want to miss. Astro Teller — whose official title is Captain of Moonshots — has been heading up X since 2010, where he oversees the company’s ambitious projects aimed at solving some of the world’s most challenging problems. On his watch, X has developed such initiatives as self-driving cars (Waymo), delivery drones (Wing), internet-beaming balloons (Loon, which was latershut downbecause not everything works out), and other cutting-edge tech. With a PhD from Carnegie Mellon and an undergraduate degree from Stanford, Teller has long been recognized for his ability to combine technical expertise with entrepreneurial acumen. He’s also much more than an executive. Teller is an author offiction and nonfiction; he’s an entrepreneur (hefounded and solda startup that developed a body-monitoring wearable); and he spent several years running a hedge fund before getting pulled into Alphabet. For our community of founders, investors, students, and other startup enthusiasts, Teller’s appearance couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment. As AI reshapes industries and as the boundaries between science fiction and reality continue to blur, his insights on moonshot thinking and fostering innovation are more relevant than ever. In fact, Teller’s stance on failure — which is that it should be rewarded and quickly, making it safer to move on and succeed — has perhaps never been truer for founders navigating uncertainty. Don’t miss Astro Teller’s insights at Disrupt 2025 We’re certainly looking forward to sitting down with Teller and hearing his perspective on how founders can think bigger about the problems they’re solving and the impact they aspire to create. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from one of the world’s foremost innovation leaders. Tickets for Disrupt are available with savings of up to $900 on select tickets.Register for yours nowbefore Early Bird prices fly away.
Report: Adam Neumann’s Flow raises $100M+, more than doubles valuation to $2.5B
Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann has raised over $100 million in capital for his proptech startup,Flow, in a round that values that company at about $2.5 billion, Bloombergreportedon Thursday. Citing anonymous sources familiar with the deal, Bloomberg reported that existing backer Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) participated in the financing. Neumann told Bloomberg that he was “sure” Flow was a company that could go public “one day.” Flow — a residential real estate company focused on rentals and co-living — raised$350 million from Andreessen Horowitzat a valuation of $1 billion in 2022. The funding raised eyebrows given the problematic history of Neumann’s previous startup, WeWork. Once valued at $47 billion, WeWork filed forbankruptcy protectionin 2023 and was ultimately acquired by Yardi, a real estate group, for $450 million. TechCrunch has reached out to Andreessen Horowitz and Flow for comment.
Speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Applications now open
TechCrunch Disruptreturns October 27-29 to Moscone West in San Francisco — and we’re inviting thought leaders, founders, VCs, and tech experts to apply for a chance to take the stage at one of the most anticipated tech events of the year. Applications are now open to speak atDisrupt 2025, where over 10,000+ tech leaders, investors, and startup experts come together to shape the future of innovation. The application deadline is May 16 —Apply hereand don’t miss your chance to lead the conversation. Pick your session format We’re looking for high-impact speakers to lead one of two session types: Breakout Sessions— A 30-minute talk (up to four speakers, including a moderator) with a 20-minute audience Q&A. Capacity: 100 attendees. Roundtables— A 30-minute speaker-led group discussion, designed for up to 40 participants. No slides or AV — just insight and conversation. How the application process works Each application will be carefully reviewed by our editorial team. Finalists will be selected for the Audience Choice vote — where TechCrunch readers choose which sessions make it to the Disrupt stage. Learn more about speaking onDisrupt’s Call for Content page. Lead the conversation at Disrupt 2025 If you have actionable insights, real-world experience, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the tech ecosystem — we want to hear from you. Submit your application today before the May 16 deadline.
Founders, your moment is now: Apply for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200
Founders, the battlefield is open. And the bold are stepping forward.Startup Battlefield 200atTechCrunch Disrupt 2025is now accepting startups to compete in the ultimate pitch showdown in front of more than 10,000 tech leaders from around the globe to witness. This is no ordinary pitch. This is the fight for visibility, capital, and legacy. If your startup has the fire, now is the time to step into the spotlight. Take your place in the battlefield —apply now. Enter the arena: Submit your application Thousands will apply. 200 will be chosen. 20 will pitch onstage.Only onewill claim the crown and win a $100,000 equity-free prize. You want to rise above the noise? Move fast.Apply early. Free 3-day exhibit space at Disrupt4 complimentary ticketsPlacement in the Disrupt appPress list accessQuality leadsAccess to investor-led masterclassesA shot to pitch on the biggest global stage in techAnd more —get the details here. Free 3-day exhibit space at Disrupt 4 complimentary tickets Placement in the Disrupt app Press list access Quality leads Access to investor-led masterclasses A shot to pitch on the biggest global stage in tech And more —get the details here. This is the launchpad for legends: Trello, Mint, Getaround, Dropbox, Discord, andthousands more—They began their battles here. What it takes to join the battle We’re scoutingpre-Series A startupswith MVPs and massive potential. Bootstrapped or backed, if your startup is bold, you’re in the fight. Some capital-intensive Series A companies may also qualify. Make your first move Gear up for the startup battle of the year. Applications close June 9. Step up. Stand out.Apply today.
Why OpenAI wanted to buy Cursor but opted for the fast-growing Windsurf
Anysphere, maker of AI coding assistant Cursor, is growing so quickly that it’s not in the market to be sold, even to OpenAI, a source close to the company tells TechCrunch. It’s been a hot target. Cursor is one of the most popular AI-powered coding tools, and its revenue has been growing astronomically — doubling on average every two months, according to another source. Anysphere’s current average annual recurring revenue is about $300 million, according to the two sources. The company previously walked away from early acquisition discussions with OpenAI, after the ChatGPT maker approached Cursor, the two sources close to the company confirmed, andCNBC previously reported. Anysphere has also received other acquisition offers that the company didn’t consider, according to one of these sources. Cursor turned down the offers because the startup wants to stay independent, said the two people close to the company. Instead, Anysphere has been in talks to raise capital atabout a $10 billion valuation, Bloomberg reported last month. Although it didn’t nab Anysphere, OpenAI didn’t give up on buying an established AI coding tool startup. OpenAI talked with more than 20 others, CNBC reported. And then it got serious over the next-fastest-growing AI coding startup, Windsurf, with a$3 billion acquisition offer, Bloomberg reported last week. While Windsurf is a comparatively smaller company, its ARR is about $100 million, up from$40 million in ARRin February, according to a source. Windsurf has been gaining popularity with the developer community, too, and its coding product is designed to work with legacy enterprise systems. Windsurf did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. OpenAI declined to comment on its acquisition talks. OpenAI is likely shopping because it’s looking for its next growth areas as competitors such as Google’s Gemini and China’s DeepSeek put pricing pressure on access to foundational models. Moreover,AnthropicandGoogle have recently released AI modelsthat outperform OpenAI’s models on coding benchmarks, increasingly making them a preferred choice for developers. While OpenAI could build its own AI coding assistant, buying a product that is already popular with developers means the ChatGPT-maker wouldn’t have to start from scratch to build this business. VCs who invest in developer tool startups are certainly watching. Speculating about OpenAI’s strategy, Chris Farmer, partner and CEO at SignalFire, told TechCrunch of the company, “They’ll be acquisitive at the app layer. It’s existential for them.”
Khloe Kardashian launches consumer brand backed by Serena Ventures, WME
Khloe Kardashian has formally launched her new food company, Khloud, and its first product, a protein popcorn,set to hit Target starting April 29. Back in December, TechCrunchreported that Kardashianand her mother, Kris Jenner, were looking to raise at least $10 million for a business called Khloud. Jessica Bixby, an associate partner at K5 Global, which invested in the brand, said that it went on to raise an “oversubscribed $12 million round.” Other investors include Serena Ventures, William Morris Endeavor (WME), and Shrug Capital.Khloud says its popcorn is crafted from whole-grain corn and that its “Khoud Dust,” a milk protein and seasoning blend sprinkled on it, gives each serving seven grams of protein. In addition to Target, the product will be soldon its website. “We’re starting with popcorn, but that’s just the beginning,” Kardashian told TechCrunch. “We plan to expand into other snacking categories across the store, there’s so much room to reimagine everyday snacks.” Kardashian says the mission of her snack brand is to offer more nutritious alternatives made from “clean” ingredients. The Kardashian-Jenners are known for their ever-growing and ever-encompassing consumer business empire. This, however, marks the first time a member of the family has forayed into the snack business. It somewhat makes sense — numerous articles have been written about their favorite foods (includinga dedicated Instagram page), and anywhere there is widespread potential consumer interest, there is a widespread chance for celebrities to make money. Celebs have pumped outnumerous hair care lines, liquor lines, and beauty products. The Kardashians have been there (and are still doing that). Now, their empire spreadsfrom household cleaning productsto the food in our pantries.