TechCrunch Founders' Journey - The Startup That Wrote About Other Startups

Welcome to our "Founders' Journey" series by CoffeeSpace, where we explore the remarkable stories and cofounder journeys behind the world’s most successful startups.

In this edition, we are excited to look into TechCrunch’s growth from a startup and technology news blog to now a leading technology media property known for breaking tech and startup news. Over the years, TechCrunch has established itself as one of the top voices in the startup space and tech industry covering an array of topics relevant to building a tech startup, and has quickly become the news source for tech enthusiasts.

Founded As A Blog: TechCrunch’s Early Success

Founded by Michael Arrington and Keith Teare as a simple blog space dedicated to covering tech startups and emerging technologies, TechCrunch was established on June 10, 2005. Its articles featuring in-depth analysis and timely reports on new companies quickly distinguishes itself from other blogs, helping entrepreneurs connect with a broader audience. Arrington and Teare aimed to document the burgeoning startup ecosystem, which was still in its infancy, and TechCrunch became a key resource for the tech community and aspiring entrepreneurs and startup tinkerers.

Within a year of launching, TechCrunch gained traction by shedding light and reporting on Web 2.0 companies like Facebook, YouTube, and X (then Twitter), which are platforms that were just beginning to take off in the late 2000s. TechCrunch’s ability to cover stories early, often before larger media outlets noticed, set the tech news apart. This positioned the platform not just as a news blog but as a trusted source of startup intelligence, with readers flocking to it for updates on the next big tech trend. The blog quickly accelerated in their readership and attracted a substantial following with reports of the blog gaining 1 million page views by early 2006.

In 2008, TechCrunch introduced TechCrunch50, which is a startup competition aimed to identify and promote high-potential companies, with it being a platform for startups to showcase innovations and the latest technologies on the market. The event in San Francisco gave entrepreneurs a platform to pitch their ideas to industry experts, investors, and media, with the opportunity to launch their businesses on a global stage. Companies like Yammer and Mint.com were also launched through the startup competition, solidifying TechCrunch50 as a stepping stone for startups looking to gain visibility and attract funding. This event laid the groundwork for what would evolve into the annual TechCrunch Disrupt conference, which continues to be held in various locations across the globe.

AOL Acquisition & Founders’ Departure

2010 was a major shift for the company. The founders Arrington and Teare had disputes over their roles and contributions to the company, in which Arrington accused Teare of falsely labeling himself as a cofounder of the company. This led to a significant fallout between the two, culminating in Teare's departure from the company. Arrington soon posted an update announcing his compromise with Teare, whom would refer to himself as a “Founding Shareholder” instead of being addressed as a cofounder of TechCrunch. Although there are no official reports documenting Teare’s leaving the company, the now Founding Shareholder soon began to fade into the background, with his departure remained unclear. 

In between the personal conflicts the founders had, TechCrunch was acquired by AOL for an estimated $25 million in the same year. This acquisition was part of AOL’s strategy to enhance its digital media portfolio, while TechCrunch benefits from getting technical support from the company behind the largest blogging network in the world. The exciting acquisition soon began to turn sour. Michael Arrington initially remained as the site’s editor, but tensions arose between the founders and the parent company over journalism ethics and editorial independence. Arrington stepped out to demand AOL to grant the editorial independence it promised when they sold TechCrunch to the Internet company, or sell it back to him. 

Arrington's tenure at TechCrunch ended abruptly in September 2011 following the aforementioned disputes with AOL’s management regarding editorial freedom and conflicts of interest. He left the company and started CrunchFund, which is a venture capital fund which invested in many startups covered by TechCrunch, in which AOL is also an investor. His departure marked a turning point, as Erick Schonfeld was announced shortly after to step in as interim editor for the tech news blog. Despite the leadership change, TechCrunch retained its loyal audience, although some speculated about the impact of Arrington's departure on the site’s identity.

TechCrunch Disrupt Expansion 

With its signature event TechCrunch Disrupt, the platform expanded globally, hosting conferences in New York, San Francisco, London, and Beijing. These events featured “Startup Battlefield” competitions where companies like Dropbox and Uber gained early traction. Disrupt became known for bringing together startups, investors, and thought leaders, fostering conversations about the future of technology and innovation, which attracted thousands of attendees each conference, making it a startup sensation for anyone interested in the ecosystem.

Verizon, Oath, and Apollo Global Management

When Verizon acquired AOL in 2014, TechCrunch became part of Verizon’s expanding media empire. The acquisition raised questions about how corporate oversight would influence editorial freedom, but TechCrunch continued to operate autonomously, maintaining its position as one of the most influential voices in tech journalism. Under Verizon, TechCrunch’s focus on innovation and venture capital remained central to its brand.

Then in 2017, Verizon acquired and merged AOL and Yahoo to create a new media subsidiary called Oath (which was later rebranded to be Verizon Media), uniting several content platforms under a single entity. Though Oath’s broader strategy aimed to compete with giants like Google and Facebook in digital advertising, TechCrunch stayed committed to its core mission of reporting on startups and technology trends. While the media consolidation added new challenges, TechCrunch retained its credibility and niche appeal within the tech world.

Since 2021, TechCrunch has been under Apollo Global Management after Verizon’s $5 billion deal to sell AOL, TechCrunch, and other media assets to the company. Following the acquisition, the brands were integrated into a new entity called Yahoo! Inc., which operates as a standalone company under Apollo's ownership. 

TechCrunch Disrupt Revived

After the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, TechCrunch Disrupt returned to full-scale in-person events, reigniting the excitement surrounding tech innovations in the tech space. The 2023 event placed a strong emphasis on AI, crypto, and sustainability, reflecting the changing priorities in the tech industry. Gathered together are startup founders, investors, and tech pioneers to the conference to share ideas, spark innovation, and get networking, building, and connecting. 

In fact, CoffeeSpace has made it into TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 Startup Battlefield 200! We’re thrilled to be at the Expo Hall, table P7, from October 28th to October 30th in San Francisco. With more than 10,000 attendees and 1,200 investors at Disrupt, it's the perfect place to connect with startups and venture capitalists, and gain insights from seasoned founders. To share our excitement, we’re doing a giveaway—where the top two referrers will win free tickets to the conference! Don’t miss your chance to join this premier startup event. Check out our giveaway details here.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 will feature over 10,000+ startup & VC leaders, 250+ industry experts speaking across six stages, 200+ sessions, and 350 innovative startups showcasing cutting-edge technologies.

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