Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories to start your morning

View this email online in your browser 

May 04, 2026

 

TechCrunch Top 3

We'll take it: a TikToker rallies pledges to buy Spirit Airlines after its abrupt weekend collapse

We'll take it: a TikToker rallies pledges to buy Spirit Airlines after its abrupt weekend collapse: Within hours he'd thrown up a website — a janky, one-hour job, by his own admission — and by Sunday, 36,000 "founding patrons" had pledged nearly $23 million, crashing his servers in the process. Read More

Ouster's new color lidar is coming to replace cameras: A sensor that can simultaneously capture depth and image data has long been a "holy grail," Ouster CEO Angus Pacala told TechCrunch. Read More

Amazon opens up its global logistics network to all businesses: The new service, called Amazon Supply Chain Services, pits the e-commerce giant directly against UPS and FedEx. Read More

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!
 

A message from Fidelity

Your Pitch Isn’t the Only Thing Investors Are Evaluating.  

Investors don’t just listen to what you say - they look at how your company operates. Is ownership clear? Do your numbers match your story? Can you answer follow-up questions without digging through spreadsheets? The Fundraise-Ready Startup Kit equips founders with the materials investors expect to see, before pressure is on. Because confidence in the room doesn’t come from slides. It comes from preparation. 

Learn More

Morning Must-Reads

This tiny, magnetic e-reader could stop you from doomscrolling

This tiny, magnetic e-reader could stop you from doomscrolling: The Xteink X3 is a delightfully tiny, MagSafe-compatible e-ink reader that attaches to the back of your phone like a Pop Socket. Read More

‘This is fine’ creator says AI startup stole his art: The ad comes from Artisan, the AI startup behind billboards urging businesses to "stop hiring humans." Read More

Nicolas Sauvage is betting on the boring parts of AI: The portfolio he has assembled since 2019 is dotted with technologies that have become more widely interesting to VCs over the last year: Read More

In Harvard study, AI offered more accurate emergency room diagnoses than two human doctors: A new study examines how large language models perform in a variety of medical contexts, including real emergency room cases — where at least one model seemed to be more accurate than human doctors. Read More

Barocal can cool your food and drink by squeezing a hunk of plastic crystals: Barocal might have discovered a cheap, nonpolluting material that could dethrone today's refrigeration technology. Read More

A message from TechCrunch Events

5 days to get a second Disrupt 2026 pass at 50% off

From now until May 8, 11:59 p.m. PT, buy one pass and get a second of the same type for 50% off. Bring a partner or colleague with you and get more out of Disrupt together. Tap into 200+ sessions, make high-value connections, and gain insights that can move your startup forward or shape your next big investment. Register before time runs out.

Register Now

Last but Not Least

Farewell, Jeeves: Ask.com shuts down

Farewell, Jeeves: Ask.com shuts down: Owner IAC says it's discontinuing its search business. Read More

Check out some of our other newsletters:

StrictlyVC

TechCrunch Events

TechCrunch Mobility

Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here

Facebook XInstagramLinkedInBluesky

Got a tip?
Get in touch securely.

Want to advertise on TechCrunch? 

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