Author: Tim Rogers

Lizcore, a sport tracking startup based in Barcelona, stood out at the 4YFN show during MWC. Their innovative approach to digitizing and enhancing the indoor climbing experience has impressed many, including avid climbers. Lizcore provides bouldering gyms with a unique blend of hardware and software that allows climbers to easily log and track their indoor climbing performance. This includes recording on-sights, red points, speed of scaling problems, and introducing social gamification features for comparison with friends. The best part? All of this can be done with a lightweight NFC wearable such as the Lizy bracelet, eliminating the need for bulky…

Every day, the item shop introduces new cosmetics, but they often rotate in and out quickly. This week, however, something unusual happened – the Fortnite Jubi Slide emote was removed on its very first day in the shop. What caused this sudden removal and why was this emote taken away so swiftly? This week, a new Fortnite emote was added to the store – the Fortnite Jubi Slide emote. This emote features a dance set to a popular song, a common occurrence in Fortnite. Epic frequently incorporates popular dances from TikTok or social media into their game. So, what sets…

Are you looking to showcase your brand in front of the gaming industry’s top leaders? Learn more about GamesBeat Summit sponsorship opportunities here.  Scuti.AI has secured $10 million in funding to advance its AI-driven media and retail marketplace for gamers. New York-based Scuti enables game developers to monetize more efficiently while retaining players through rewards. The investment, spearheaded by a prominent family office, is intended to drive SCUTI’s global expansion in 2024, elevating the company’s valuation beyond $100 million USD. In a strategic move, Mario Alioto of the San Francisco Giants has joined Scuti’s advisory board. Founded by industry veterans…

With the digital asset industry gaining momentum once again, certain crypto funds are honing in on specific sectors for investment. Crypto fund Asymmetric Financial is launching its Bitcoin DeFi Venture Fund I, focusing on investing in the emerging blockchain space with a target raise of $21 million. Spearheaded by general partner Dan Held, a long-time Bitcoin advocate and former growth director at Kraken, the fund aims to explore decentralized finance (DeFi) using blockchain technology, particularly Bitcoin, to facilitate direct transactions between market players and retail investors through self-executing contracts. Held, along with CEO and CIO Joe McCann, aims to make…

Exploring a new kind of AI device on the fringes of MWC, the world’s biggest mobile phone show is an exciting opportunity for TechCrunch. The small black box presented by Jolla at a hotel lobby in Barcelona aims to leverage generative AI technology. This innovation signifies the resurgence of mobile innovation, focusing on privacy and security. Jolla, a reinvigorated startup with a team of 40 seasoned professionals, is working on a private and secure “blackbox for your life.” This innovative device serves as a private-cloud-cum-AI-router, enabling users to access their data for AI queries securely. With a focus on privacy…

Tracking an app’s downloads can provide insight into market trends, as shown by the competition between alt-Twitter apps. Currently, Instagram’s Threads is the dominant player, with Meta’s take on Twitter boasting triple the daily downloads of X (formerly Twitter) on iOS worldwide, and more than double the number of installs on Google Play. Threads experienced a surge in new installs following its public launch in summer 2023. While download numbers fluctuated as Meta attempted different strategies to promote the app, Threads consistently rivaled X in installations, particularly on iOS, based on data from Appfigures. Image Credits: Appfigures However, the tables…

Are you looking to showcase your brand in front of the gaming industry’s top leaders? Learn more about GamesBeat Summit sponsorship opportunities here. Intel unveiled its latest advancements in AI technology at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, showcasing new AI-focused platforms, solutions, and services. Among the highlights were the new Intel vPro processors for enterprise PCs, designed to deliver enhanced AI processing capabilities. This announcement comes on the heels of Intel’s recent event focusing on contract chip manufacturing through its Intel Foundry business. During the event, over 65 of Intel’s key customers and partners demonstrated cutting-edge systems and solutions across…

Nintendo When I initially reviewed Splatoon 3 in 2022, I was amazed by the extensive content it offered right from the launch. From a solid single-player campaign to competitive multiplayer, engaging PVE modes like Salmon Run, and even a fun card mini-game, Splatoon 3 had it all. And now, with its latest DLC, Side Order, the game has only elevated its appeal, offering even more value for players. The narrative-driven roguelite experience in Side Order introduces players to a new dimension of Splatoon gameplay. Journeying through a 30-floor tower filled with challenges adds depth to the experience. What initially seems…

Playtika has recently released its Q4 2023 financial results with a revenue increase to $637.9 million, showing a sequential increase of 1.2% and a year-over-year increase of 1.1%. Revenue from DTC platforms reached $161.6 million, with a 0.4% growth and a year-over-year increase of 7.6%. The company has decided to end its “strategic alternatives process,” taking itself off the table for potential buyers, citing global unrest in Israel and Ukraine as the reason for pausing the evaluation of strategic alternatives. The focus will now shift towards reinvestment and pursuing M&A opportunities. In light of this, Playtika announced a cash dividend…

Financial teams often spend a significant amount of time on corporate treasury management, accounting, and bank reconciliation. Any solution that streamlines this process tends to generate a great deal of interest. Embat, a Spanish fintech specializing in “real-time treasury management,” recently closed a $16 million Series A financing round led by Creandum. Other participants included Spanish VC Samaipata, 4Founders, and Venture Friends in Greece. Notable angel investors in the round were Kilian Thalhammer (Deutsche Bank) and Martin Blessing (Commerzbank). Founded in 2021 by Antonio Berga, Carlos Serrano, and Tomás Gil (all former JP Morgan executives), Embat offers a digital solution…