Recapping this week in startups

View this email online in your browser 

June 05, 2026

 

TechCrunch Top 3

As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026

As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the top alternative browsers available today aiming to challenge Chrome and Safari. Read More

Making sense of the debate over AI psychosis: On the latest episode of Equity, we debate whether tech CEOs are "uniquely prone to AI psychosis." Read More

Quick-commerce FirstClub doubles valuation to $255M in 9 months: The Bengaluru startup has crossed 1 million orders and reached a $50 million annualized GMV run rate within a year of launch. Read More

A message from EY

For fast-growing startups, early order can matter more than speed

Starting a tech company can be thrilling. It can also be messy. Just ask anyone who’s done it (or tried). Better yet, ask EY. They’ve seen startups at their best (and messiest) moments. EY knows you don’t start a company to burn cycles on the fine print. So, work with EY. They’ll help you get it right early so you can stay in builder mode.

Learn more

Must-Reads

Ex-Anduril engineer raises $42M to build the Amazon of composite parts

Ex-Anduril engineer raises $42M to build the Amazon of composite parts: Layup Parts co-founder Zack Eakin has drawn on a motorsports background, and his experience working for Palmer Luckey and Elon Musk, to tackle making faster, cheaper, and better composites. Read More

Helion, the Sam Altman-backed fusion startup, raises $465M to build a power plant for Microsoft: Fusion startup Helion is racing to complete a power plant for Microsoft by 2028. A fresh infusion of cash should help with that. Read More

These two founders left Goldman and Meta to build voice AI for markets everyone else overlooked: The startup's own stack for Africa and Middle East is now handling more than 17,000 calls per day. Read More

Revolut rolls out services to thousands of users in India ahead of broader launch: The British fintech has built a waitlist of about 450,000 users in India as it prepares for a broader launch. Read More

Lovable signs multiyear deal with Google Cloud to up usage 5x, source says: Lovable and Google signed an expanded multiyear deal that involves a 5x expansion of Lovable's footprint on Google Cloud, and expanded access to Anthropic Claude. Read More

A message from PwC

The next generation of tech companies is being built now. 

From AI-native startups to next gen companies in industrials, healthcare and energy, today’s founders are navigating accelerated change and scaling faster than ever. PwC helps emerging companies prepare for growth through tailored audit, tax, and deals solutions. From fundraising and expansion to the public markets, be ready for what comes next. 

Scale with confidence

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

Defense tech darling Mach Industries hits $1.8B valuation, a 4x jump in a year

Defense tech darling Mach Industries hits $1.8B valuation, a 4x jump in a year: In a wild ride for 22-year-old founder and CEO Ethan Thornton, Mach Industries has raised another $300 million. It already has five autonomous vehicles in development and completed a major acquisition. Read More

Check out some of our other newsletters:

StrictlyVC

TechCrunch Events

TechCrunch Mobility

FacebookXInstagram LinkedInBluesky

Got a tip?
Get in touch securely.

Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com

Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.

Unsubscribe
Member Center
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC

501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107