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Uber is literally in the driver’s seat when it comes to AV bets | Equity Podcast

Self-driving truck startup Waabi’s billion-dollar fundraise isn’t just about trucks. The deal, for $750 million up front plus another $250 million from Uber tied to deployment milestones, feels like another chip from Uber on the autonomous vehicle roulette table. With more than 20 AV partners worldwide, the question isn’t just whether Waabi can deliver on…

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5 months ago

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Self-driving truck startup Waabi’s billion-dollar fundraise isn’t just about trucks.

The deal, for $750 million up front plus another $250 million from Uber tied to deployment milestones, feels like another chip from Uber on the autonomous vehicle roulette table. With more than 20 AV partners worldwide, the question isn’t just whether Waabi can deliver on its plans to deploy over 25,000 robotaxis, but whether Uber’s bet-on-everything strategy actually works.

On TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Sean O’Kane and Anthony Ha discussed Uber’s AV partnership strategy, why Waabi’s “simulation-first” approach might be different, and more of the week’s headlines.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:13 Palmer Luckey’s bold recruiting strategy

04:04 Phia raises $35M for sustainable shopping

06:27 Browser extensions & the privacy problem

09:59 Northwood Space’s $100M Series B & Space Force contract

12:17 The rise of dual-use space companies

14:01 Waabi’s $1B valuation & beyond trucking

16:36 Uber’s strategy: Betting on every AV partner

19:12 TikTok’s US deal & immediate outage

21:46 TikTok competitors gain ground

24:03 IPO window opening: Ethos, Serve, and SpaceX

27:57 Will Elon actually take SpaceX public this time?

29:11 Outro

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.

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CNET

Meet Soft Flying Robots Inspired by Disney, Studio Ghibli and Pokemon

A team of researchers has demonstrated the role that floating robots inspired by Tinker Bell, Pokemon and Studio Ghibli might be able to play in our lives. 0:00 – The Benefits of Soft Floating Robots 0:36 – Solving the Safety Challenges of Human-Robot Interaction 1:25 – Overcoming the Uncanny Valley and Building Emotional Connections 2:55…

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23 hours ago

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July 12, 2026

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A team of researchers has demonstrated the role that floating robots inspired by Tinker Bell, Pokemon and Studio Ghibli might be able to play in our lives.

0:00 – The Benefits of Soft Floating Robots
0:36 – Solving the Safety Challenges of Human-Robot Interaction
1:25 – Overcoming the Uncanny Valley and Building Emotional Connections
2:55 – Existing Floating Robots and Future Possibilities

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Science & Technology

When A Down Round Actually Saved a Startup

Down rounds carry a stigma, but they’re not always the end of a startup’s story. Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures shares an example of a company that survived a difficult fundraising process involving a down round and investor-friendly terms. It wasn’t easy, but making the hard financing decision ultimately gave the company a chance to…

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2 days ago

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July 11, 2026

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Down rounds carry a stigma, but they’re not always the end of a startup’s story.

Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures shares an example of a company that survived a difficult fundraising process involving a down round and investor-friendly terms. It wasn’t easy, but making the hard financing decision ultimately gave the company a chance to keep building.

For founders, the lesson is simple: The best fundraising outcome isn’t always the highest valuation — it’s the one that keeps your business alive.

Get more of Hudson’s advice in the latest Build Mode podcast episode wherever you prefer your pods.

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CNET

The Ultimate Meal Kit Buyer’s Guide: Cheapest vs. Best Quality

Choosing the right meal kit can be tough, given the many budget, dietary and time-saving factors to consider. We break down premium, midtier and affordable services to help you pick the best subscription for your kitchen. 00:00 Intro to Meal Kits 00:37 Considering the Price and Budget Options 01:55 Premium and Mid-Range Meal Kit Services…

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2 days ago

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July 11, 2026

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Choosing the right meal kit can be tough, given the many budget, dietary and time-saving factors to consider. We break down premium, midtier and affordable services to help you pick the best subscription for your kitchen.

00:00 Intro to Meal Kits
00:37 Considering the Price and Budget Options
01:55 Premium and Mid-Range Meal Kit Services
03:06 Navigating Dietary Restrictions
04:00 Pre-Prepared vs. Cook-Your-Own Ingredients
05:47 The Best Overall Meal Kit Recommendation

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