TechCrunch#TechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch was founded in June 2005 by Archimedes Ventures, led by partners Michael Arrington and Keith Teare.

In 2010, AOL acquired the company for approximately $25 million.{{Cite news|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=September 29, 2010|title=AOL buys TechCrunch|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/sep/29/aol-buys-techcrunch|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329031510/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/sep/29/aol-buys-techcrunch|url-status=live}}

{{As of|2013|post=,}} TechCrunch was available in English, Chinese (managed by Chinese tech news company TechNode),{{cite web|last=Desmond|first=Ned|title=TechCrunch Returns To China, For Keeps, COO of TechCrunch and CrunchBase and General Manager of AOL Tech|date=June 5, 2013|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/05/techcrunch-returns-to-china-for-keeps/|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-date=February 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226133923/https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/05/techcrunch-returns-to-china-for-keeps/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=We Catch Up With Our TechCrunch China Partner, TechNode, At Disrupt [TCTV]|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/09/11/we-catch-up-with-our-techcrunch-china-partner-technode-at-disrupt-tctv/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=TechCrunch|date=September 11, 2013|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320135740/https://techcrunch.com/2013/09/11/we-catch-up-with-our-techcrunch-china-partner-technode-at-disrupt-tctv/|url-status=live}} and Japanese.{{cite web|last=Yutaira|first=Iwamoto|date=November 16, 2012|title=TechCrunch Tokyo 2012|url=https://japan.cnet.com/article/35024508/|work=CNET|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-date=February 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226212815/https://japan.cnet.com/article/35024508/|url-status=live}} TechCrunch France was folded into the main TechCrunch.com site in October 2012.{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Mike|date=October 31, 2012|title=TechCrunch France Integrates With TechCrunch.com|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/31/techcrunch-france-integrates-with-techcrunch-com/|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708020812/https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/31/techcrunch-france-integrates-with-techcrunch-com/|url-status=live}} Boundless (formerly Verizon Media Japan), the Japanese subsidiary of the TechCrunch's parent company, closed TechCrunch Japan in May 2022 according to its "global strategy".[https://www.beboundless.jp/press/corporate-announcement-02-15-2022 「TechCrunch Japan」および「エンガジェット日本版」終了のお知らせ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215080915/https://www.beboundless.jp/press/corporate-announcement-02-15-2022 |date=February 15, 2022 }} {{LL|ja}}. Boudless. February 15, 2022.[https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2202/15/news130.html 「エンガジェット日本版」「TechCrunch Japan」終了へ 5月1日で閉鎖] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215080841/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2202/15/news130.html |date=February 15, 2022 }} {{LL|ja}}. ITmedia. February 15, 2022.

File:Vitalik Buterin TechCrunch London 2015.jpg founder Vitalik Buterin at the TechCrunch event in 2015]]

Following the acquisition of AOL and Yahoo by Verizon, TechCrunch was owned by Verizon Media from 2015 through 2021.{{cite news |last1=Heater |first1=Brian |last2=Lunden |first2=Ingrid |title=Private equity firm Apollo to buy Verizon Media assets for $5B, will rename business 'Yahoo' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/03/private-equity-firm-apollo-agrees-to-buy-verizon-media-assets-for-5-billion/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |work=TechCrunch |date=May 3, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121155741/https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/03/private-equity-firm-apollo-agrees-to-buy-verizon-media-assets-for-5-billion/ |url-status=live }}

In August 2020, the COO of TechCrunch, Ned Desmond, stepped down after eight years in the company. He announced that he would join the venture capital firm SOSV in December 2020 as a senior operating partner.{{Cite web|title=The venture firm SOSV has hired former TechCrunch COO Ned Desmond to help grow its startups|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/17/the-venture-firm-sosv-has-hired-former-techcrunch-coo-ned-desmond-to-help-grow-its-startups/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=TechCrunch|date=December 18, 2020|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Tan|first=Wilfred|date=July 21, 2020|title=COO of popular tech news site, TechCrunch, is stepping down.|url=https://newsasiatoday.com/techcrunch-coo-stepping-down/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=News Asia Today|language=en-US|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204081307/https://newsasiatoday.com/techcrunch-coo-stepping-down/|url-status=live}} His former role at TechCrunch was replaced by Matthew Panzarino,{{Cite web|title=Author: Matthew Panzarino|url=https://techcrunch.com/author/matthew-panzarino/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120085708/https://techcrunch.com/author/matthew-panzarino/|url-status=live}} former editor-in-chief, and Joey Hinson, director of business operations.{{Cite web|title=Author: Joey Hinson|url=https://techcrunch.com/author/joey-hinson/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|archive-date=August 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802122504/https://techcrunch.com/author/joey-hinson/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=TechCrunch's COO, Ned Desmond, steps down.|url=https://beamstart.com/content/127758/techcrunch-coo-ned-desmond-steps-down|access-date=2020-12-20|website=Startup News, Networking, and Resources Hub {{!}} BEAMSTART|language=en|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126123827/https://beamstart.com/content/127758/techcrunch-coo-ned-desmond-steps-down|url-status=live}}

In 2021, Verizon sold its media assets, including AOL, Yahoo, and TechCrunch, to the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, and Apollo integrated them into a new entity called Yahoo! Inc.{{cite news |last1=Moritz |first1=Scott |last2=Tse |first2=Crystal |title=Apollo's $5 Billion Bet on Yahoo Aims to Go Beyond Advertising |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apollo-s-5-billion-bet-on-yahoo-aims-to-go-beyond-advertising |access-date=February 27, 2022 |work=Bloomberg News |date=May 3, 2021 |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227012559/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apollo-s-5-billion-bet-on-yahoo-aims-to-go-beyond-advertising |url-status=live }}

TechCrunch's monthly visitors in September 2024 were 12.12 million, according to data from SEMRush.{{Cite web |date=15 October 2024 |title=techcrunch.com Website Traffic, Ranking, Analytics [January 2025] {{!}} Semrush |url=https://www.semrush.com/website/techcrunch.com/overview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241015150426/https://www.semrush.com/website/techcrunch.com/overview/ |archive-date=15 October 2024 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=SEMRush}}

In March 2025, Yahoo! Inc. sold TechCrunch to private equity firm Regent LP.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=2025-03-21 |title=Yahoo sells TechCrunch to investment firm Regent |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/yahoo-techcrunch-regent |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Axios |language=en}} A few months later the website shut down it's European operations.{{Cite web |last=Coulter |first=Martin |last2=Matsuda |first2=Tom |date=June 1, 2025 |title=TechCrunch rocks industry with European shutdown: ‘A gut punch to the ecosystem’ |url=https://sifted.eu/articles/techcrunch-leaves-europe-shut-down-startups/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Sifted}}

Starting in New York City in 2010, TechCrunch hosts an annual tech conference, TechCrunch Disrupt, in several cities in the United States and Europe. The event brings entrepreneurs, investors and tech enthusiasts together to watch startups pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, participate in networking events, listen to keynote speeches and panel discussions.{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Announcing TechCrunch Disrupt 2010 |url=https://disrupt.techcrunch.com/2010/02/announcing-techcrunch-disrupt-2010/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508015226/https://disrupt.techcrunch.com/2010/02/announcing-techcrunch-disrupt-2010/ |archive-date=May 8, 2010 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Techcrunch}}{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=May 24, 2010 |title=May Madness: TechCrunch Starts a Tournament-Style Business Competition |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/may-madness-techcrunch-starts-a-tournament-style-business-competition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005905/https://archive.nytimes.com/boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/may-madness-techcrunch-starts-a-tournament-style-business-competition/ |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=You're the Boss Blog |language=en}}

Startup Battlefield is a startup competition. Monetary awards are presented at the TechCrunch Disrupt conferences. Startup Battlefield has a reputation for launching some of the most successful companies in the tech industry. Notable startups that have been involved in the competition include Dropbox, Intuit Mint, Yammer, and CrateDB.{{Cite news | url=https://www.uktech.news/news/crate-dominates-battlefield-to-take-30000-prize-20141022 | first=Dylan | last=Baker | date=October 22, 2014 | title=UK Tech: Crate dominates Battlefield to take £30,000 prize | access-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609091252/https://www.uktech.news/news/crate-dominates-battlefield-to-take-30000-prize-20141022 | url-status=live }}{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141020005331/en/TechCrunch-Disrupt-Europe-2014-Announces-Startup-Battlefield | date=October 20, 2014 | publisher=Business Wire | title=TechCrunch Disrupt Europe 2014 Announces Startup Battlefield Finalists | access-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609091252/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141020005331/en/TechCrunch-Disrupt-Europe-2014-Announces-Startup-Battlefield | url-status=live }}{{Cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/startup-battlefield/ | title=Startup Battlefield: Techcrunch's Premiere Startup Competition | date=August 17, 2023 | publisher=TechCrunch | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122082757/https://techcrunch.com/startup-battlefield/ | url-status=live }}

From 2007 to 2015, TechCrunch operated Crunchbase, a website and online encyclopedia of information on startups, key people, funds, funding rounds, and events. In 2015, Crunchbase became a private entity and is no longer part of TechCrunch.{{cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/22/aolverizon-completes-spinout-of-crunchbase-funded-by-emergence-capital/ | title=AOL/Verizon Completes Spinout Of CrunchBase Funded By Emergence Capital | first=Ingrid | last=Lunden | work=TechCrunch | date=September 22, 2015 | access-date=August 16, 2017 | archive-date=July 5, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705215220/https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/22/aolverizon-completes-spinout-of-crunchbase-funded-by-emergence-capital/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://thenextweb.com/media/2015/09/22/crunchbase-spins-out/ | title=Crunchbase leaves AOL with funding by Emergence Capital | last=Hockenson | first=Lauren | work=The Next Web | date=September 22, 2015 | access-date=January 10, 2020 | archive-date=August 4, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804050130/https://thenextweb.com/media/2015/09/22/crunchbase-spins-out/ | url-status=live }}

From 2007 to 2017, TechCrunch sponsored the annual Crunchies award ceremony to award startups, internet, and technology innovations.{{cite web | title=Crunchies | date=January 10, 2018 | url=https://techcrunch.com/tag/crunchies/ | publisher=TechCrunch | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=May 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517233231/https://techcrunch.com/tag/crunchies/ | url-status=live }} At the first award ceremony in 2007, Facebook won the award for best startup. TechCrunch announced in 2017 that it would end the Crunchies.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2017/11/09/the-crunchies-where-silicon-valley-went-to-be.html | title=The Crunchies, where Silicon Valley went to be celebrated and skewered, is ending | work=American City Business Journals | first=Luke | last=Stangel | date=November 9, 2017 | access-date=March 26, 2019 | archive-date=September 22, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922021505/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2017/11/09/the-crunchies-where-silicon-valley-went-to-be.html | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/9/8004101/sexism-and-consequences-at-techcrunch-s-annual-award-show | title=Sexism and consequences at TechCrunch's annual award show | last=Tiku | first=Nitasha | website=The Verge | date=February 9, 2015 | access-date=January 10, 2020 | archive-date=November 29, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129085801/https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/9/8004101/sexism-and-consequences-at-techcrunch-s-annual-award-show | url-status=live }}

The company was criticized for allowing developers to present the Titstare application created by participants in a hackathon at TechCrunch Disrupt 2013. The application allows users to "stare at tits".{{cite news | last=Gray | first=Amy | title='Titstare' app at Techcrunch: women in tech deserve better | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/09/titstare-app-women-tech-sexism | work=The Guardian | date=September 8, 2013 | access-date=December 13, 2016 | archive-date=December 30, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230162855/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/09/titstare-app-women-tech-sexism | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/techcrunch-forced-to-apologise-over-sydney-duos-titstare-app-20130909-2tflb.html | title=TechCrunch forced to apologise over Sydney duo's 'Titstare' app | first=Ben | last=Grubb | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=September 9, 2013 | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=November 12, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021728/http://www.smh.com.au/technology/techcrunch-forced-to-apologise-over-sydney-duos-titstare-app-20130909-2tflb.html | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/09/titstare-app-at-techcrunch-disrupt-what-would-a-tech-conference-be-without-the-sexism.html | title=Titstare app at TechCrunch Disrupt: What would a tech conference be without the sexism? | last=Marcotte | first=Amanda | work=Slate | date=September 9, 2013 | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031112644/https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/09/titstare-app-at-techcrunch-disrupt-what-would-a-tech-conference-be-without-the-sexism.html | url-status=live }}

In 2011, the site's editors and writers were criticized for possible ethics violations. These included claims that Arrington's investments in certain firms that the site had covered created a conflict of interest.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/business/media/michael-arringtons-audacious-venture.html | title=Michael Arrington's Audacious Adventure | first=David | last=Carr | author-link=David Carr (journalist) | date=September 5, 2011 | work=The New York Times | url-access=subscription | access-date=February 28, 2017 | archive-date=February 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226131325/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/business/media/michael-arringtons-audacious-venture.html | url-status=live }} The controversy that ensued eventually led to Arrington's departure, and other writers, including Paul Carr and Sarah Lacy, moved to another technology investment based media company.{{cite news | url=http://allthingsd.com/20120116/sarah-lacy-debuts-new-tech-site-pandodaily-and-guess-whos-working-for-her-video/ | title=Sarah Lacy Debuts New Tech Site, PandoDaily — $2M+ in Funding and Guess Who's Working for Her? | first=Kara | last=Swisher | author-link=Kara Swisher | date=January 16, 2012 | work=All Things Digital | access-date=June 28, 2013 | archive-date=December 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229120330/http://allthingsd.com/20120116/sarah-lacy-debuts-new-tech-site-pandodaily-and-guess-whos-working-for-her-video/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/techcruncher-quits-slams-new-editor-techcrunch-134926/ | title=TechCruncher Quits, Slams New Editor—On TechCrunch | first=Anthony | last=Ha | date=September 16, 2011 | work=Adweek | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=November 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114005529/https://www.adweek.com/digital/techcruncher-quits-slams-new-editor-techcrunch-134926/ | url-status=live }}

In 2014, TechCrunch Disrupt was featured in an arc of the HBO series Silicon Valley.{{cite news | url=https://observer.com/2014/06/silicon-valley-fact-check-hbo-nails-techcrunch-disrupt-all-the-way-down-to-the-nametags/ | title='Silicon Valley' Fact Check: HBO Nails TechCrunch Disrupt All the Way Down to the Nametags | work=The New York Observer | first=Jack | last=Smith IV | date=June 2, 2014 | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031165038/https://observer.com/2014/06/silicon-valley-fact-check-hbo-nails-techcrunch-disrupt-all-the-way-down-to-the-nametags/ | url-status=live }} The characters' startup "Pied Piper" participates in a startup battle at TechCrunch Disrupt.

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