Recapping this week in startups

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May 15, 2026

 

TechCrunch Top 3

Voice AI in India is hard — Wispr Flow is betting on it anyway

Voice AI in India is hard — Wispr Flow is betting on it anyway: Wispr Flow says growth accelerated in India after its Hinglish rollout, even as voice AI products continue to face challenges. Read More

Clio's $500M milestone arrives just as Anthropic ups the ante: Legal tech startups, including Clio, which just hit $500 million in ARR, are seeing massive customer adoption. Read More

Lovable just backed a company that's looking to bring vibe coding to hardware: Hardware company Atech raised $800,000 in pre-seed funding, including from a16z’s scout fund, Sequoia Scout Fund, and Nordic Makers.  Read More

A message from Fidelity

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Must-Reads

Meridian Ventures launched $35M fund to back MBA-deferred founders

Meridian Ventures launched $35M fund to back MBA-deferred founders: Meridian Ventures, the venture firm founded by Devon Gethers and Karlton Haney, announced on Friday the raise of a $35 million second fund to back pre-seed and seed-stage companies founded by those who have deferred MBAs. Read More

Two weeks left: Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27: Your shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100K equity-free funding is running out. Deadline to apply is May 27. Apply now. Read More

Fintech startup Parker files for bankruptcy: Parker, a well-funded startup offering corporate credit cards and banking services, has filed for bankruptcy and is widely reported to have shut down. Read More

Anduril raises $5B, doubles valuation to $61B: After achieving $2.2 billion in revenue in 2025, the defense tech startup has raised another massive round, led by Thrive and a16z, it says. Read More

Riding an AI rally, Robinhood preps second retail venture IPO: Robinhood files confidentially for its second venture fund, this time targeting growth and early-stage startups. Read More

A message from TechCrunch Events

StrictlyVC hits Los Angeles on June 18

Top space tech founders and VCs take the stage in sunny Los Angeles on June 18. Get in the room, make the connections that matter, and hear where the industry is headed. Grab your ticket early before your seat is gone.

Register Now

Disrupt 2026: Where deals and ideas ignite

Oct 13–15 at San Francisco's Moscone West, 10,000 founders, investors, and operators gather for high-signal insights, curated connections, and real momentum.

Register Now!
 

Last but Not Least

Introducing the 6 stages at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 — built for today’s tougher startup market

Introducing the 6 stages at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 — built for today’s tougher startup market: From October 13-15, TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature 200+ sessions across six stages, led by 250+ tech leaders shaping the industry today. Register now to save up to $410, plus 50% off a second pass. Read More

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