In 2021, Verizon sold its media assets, including AOL, Yahoo!, and TechCrunch, to the private equity firmApollo Global Management. Apollo integrated them into a new entity calledYahoo! Inc.[5]
In addition to its news reporting, TechCrunch is also known for its annual Disrupt conference, a technology event hosted in several cities across the United States, Europe, and China.
In 2010,AOL acquired the company for approximately $25 million.[6]
As of 2013,[update] TechCrunch was available in English, Chinese (managed by Chinese tech news company TechNode),[7][8] and Japanese.[9] TechCrunch France was folded into the main TechCrunch.com site in October 2012.[10] 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".[11][12]
In August 2020, the COO of TechCrunch, Ned Desmond, stepped down after eight years in the company. He announced that he would join theventure capital firmSOSV in December 2020 as a senior operating partner.[14][15] His former role at TechCrunch was replaced by Matthew Panzarino,[16] former editor-in-chief, and Joey Hinson, director of business operations.[17][18]
In 2021, Verizon sold its media assets, including AOL, Yahoo, and TechCrunch, to the private equity firmApollo Global Management, and Apollo integrated them into a new entity calledYahoo! Inc.[19]
TechCrunch's monthly visitors in September 2024 were 12.12 million, according to data fromSEMRush.[20]
In March 2025, Yahoo! Inc. sold TechCrunch to private equity firmRegent LP.[21]
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.[22][23]
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 includeDropbox,Intuit Mint,Yammer, andCrateDB.[24][25][26]
From 2007 to 2015, TechCrunch operatedCrunchbase, a website andonline 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.[27][28]
From 2007 to 2017, TechCrunch sponsored the annualCrunchies award ceremony to award startups, internet, and technology innovations.[29] At the first award ceremony in 2007, Facebook won the award for best startup. TechCrunch announced in 2017 that it would end the Crunchies.[30][31]
The company was criticized for allowing developers to present theTitstare application created by participants in ahackathon at TechCrunch Disrupt 2013. The application allows users to "stare at tits".[32][33][34]
In 2011, the site's editors and writers were criticized for possibleethics violations. These included claims that Arrington's investments in certain firms that the site had covered created aconflict of interest.[35] The controversy that ensued eventually led to Arrington's departure, and other writers, includingPaul Carr andSarah Lacy, moved to another technology investment based media company.[36][37]
In 2014, TechCrunch Disrupt was featured in an arc of theHBO seriesSilicon Valley.[38] The characters' startup "Pied Piper" participates in a startup battle at TechCrunch Disrupt.[38]
