Tech Boys

Christopher Waller testifies before the Senate in February 2020. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images A Federal Reserve governor pushed for additional 50-basis-point rate hikes in a speech Monday. Christopher Waller said he supports pushing the government's benchmark rate above a 'neutral level.' He said aggressive rate hikes will dampen labor demand but have a limited effect on unemployment. Top Federal Reserve official Christopher Waller expressed support for more aggressive rate hikes from the country's central bank in an effort to tame inflation. Waller also said he believes further rate hikes won't cause a jump in the US unemployment rate in a Monday speech  at the Institute for Monetary and Financial Stability in Frankfurt, Germany. Waller, a Fed governor, said he's in favor of "several" additional half a percentage point — or 50 basis point — increases in the Federal Reserve's policy rate until he sees "inflation coming down closer to...

So-called “tech for good” accelerators addressing such worthy-sounding subjects as ESGs and SDGs have appeared in the last few years. Some observers have dismissed these efforts as scalable only put to a point. However, the evidence is mounting that they are increasingly attracting some of the world’s best talent, because the world’s best talent does actually want to solve some of the planet’s biggest problems. And where the talent goes, the money and backing will follow. In Europe, Entrepreneur First (EF) and Antler have tried to scale their models as ‘talent investors’, while the Bethnal Green Ventures fund was even acquired and re-capitalized by its new owners. Clearly this approach is on something of a roll. Zinc is an accelerator which appeared back in 2017 when it was founded Ella Goldner , Paul Kirby and Saul Klein (LocalGlobe founder) and backed by its early investors including the London School of Economics. It went on to back over 220 diverse founders who built more than ...

The logo of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse is seen on October 17, 2017 in Zurich. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) Credit Suisse is raising more than $1 billion in capital, Reuters reported. The bank has suffered a string of scandals and high executive turnover during the past few years. This new capital raise comes a year after Credit Suisse raised more than $2 billion. Credit Suisse is seeking to raise more than $1 billion after a year of heavy financial losses, according to a report from Reuters .  The embattled bank, the second largest in Switzerland, is looking at several options, Reuters said, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. The firm would rather sell shares to existing major shareholders, but it hasn't ruled out selling an entire business like its asset management division. Credit Suisse plans on completing this deal in the second half of 2022, Reuters reported. Credit Suisse told Reuters in a statement that it's is "not currently co...

Hello and welcome back to Max Q. There is SO much news this week, so let’s dive in. In this issue: Astroforge’s asteroid mining ambitions Boeing’s Starliner comes home News from Virgin Orbit, Rocket Lab and more Don’t forget to sign up to get the free newsletter version of Max Q delivered to your inbox. Astroforge closes $13M seed plus round for asteroid mining plans  Although we’ve long understood that asteroids are not simply the rubble of the universe, but potentially profitable stores of precious minerals, humanity has never been able to unlock this value. Y Combinator startup  Astroforge wants to succeed where other companies have failed, by becoming the first to mine an asteroid and bring the material back to Earth — and it’s aiming to do so as early as the end of the decade. (Yes, that is not a typo — end of the decade!) To start, Astroforge will be conducting a tech demonstration mission sometime next year. The company’s already booked a spot on a SpaceX Fa...

We’re just about two weeks away from our first foray into climate tech at TC Sessions: Climate & The Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 Global Finals on June 14 in Berkeley, California — with an online day to follow on June 16. It’s going to be an epic day all around for many reasons — did you know that Bill Gates is one of the featured speakers? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from and engage with the new wave of climate-tech entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, CEOs, scientists, researchers, engineers and the VCs who fund them. You know what else you can’t afford to miss? Our 2-for-1 pass Memorial Day sale — it ends tonight at 11:59 pm (PT) . Buy your pass now and save! Pro Tip: Yes, TechCrunch editors will interview the leading voices in the fight against climate-change ( check out the event agenda ), but we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t remind you about our partner breakout sessions. These expert-led, topic-specific partner sessions give you time to lean in, ...

Protesters rally outside of the NRA convention in Houston, Texas, United States on May 28, 2022, the days after a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school left 19 children and two adults dead. Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The NRA hosted a "banned guns" raffle that featured the same weapon used to kill 21 people in Texas.  The giveaway began one day before the shooting occurred and ran for four days after.  Despite protests, the NRA also continued its annual meeting in Houston, Texas, just days after the shooting.  As part of its ongoing "Banned Guns Giveaway" the National Rifle Association this week raffled off a Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle — the same gun used just days earlier during a school shooting in Uvalde , Texas, that killed 21 people.  "The NRA is giving away 12 world-class guns that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, and Nancy Pelosi want to ban!" reads the website and advertisements for the NRA's giveaw...

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia Drew Angerer/Getty Images Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene spent more on security this year than in previous years. Prior to 2022, Greene spent $1,000 a month on security, but now that number is up to over $49,000 a month. Greene's campaign said in April she has received more threats but did not say when the uptick began. Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's campaign spent $183,000 on security between January and May of 2022, according to a new report in The New York Times. The analysis of Greene's finances show that not only has she spent more than she has in previous years, but she also spent more on security than any other current political candidate in the country.  Greene hired KaJor Group, a company also previously employed by Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who shot and killed two men in Kenosha, Wisconson , the Times reported. Prior to 2022, Greene spent $1,000 a month on security, but now that num...

Attendees wait outside the Ford Wyoming Center before former President Donald Trump speaks on May 28, 2022 in Casper, Wyoming. Chet Strange/Getty Images Thousands of Trump supporters showed up to his rally in Casper, Wyoming on Saturday. Trump has endorsed Harriet Hageman, a primary challenger of Rep. Liz Cheney. Trump supporters, who came from all over Wyoming, derided Cheney at the rally.  CASPER, Wyoming — Dee Lubeck traveled roughly 275 miles across the state to see former President Donald Trump take the stage on Saturday for a rally in support of Harriet Hageman, the primary challenger of Rep. Liz Cheney. The 71-year-old voter, a lifelong Republican who resides in the small town of Pinedale, said he has no intention of backing Cheney, Wyoming's lone member of Congress. His vote is for Hageman, "even if I gotta crawl to do it," Lubeck said, pointing to his walking cane beside him. "I don't want to spit in front of you, but that's what I do when...