Apr 21, 2023 • 8 min read
The Podcast
Hello, and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.
This week, we’re diving into Early Stage 2023, a year filled with rocket launches, data breaches, and, of course, tech giants in space. Let’s break it all down.
The Show Floor
This week, we recorded at TechCrunch’s event for founders building startups from the ground up—Early Stage. Regrettably, our dear friend Natasha Mascarenhas had to take a leave due to illness, so we leaned on Alex for the episode. But luckily, Darrell from the TechCrunch team was right there next to us on the show floor and tagged him in for some deep-space knowledge.
The Launchpad
Anyhoo, let’s get into it!
Elon Musk’s New Rocket
It all started with Elon Musk unveiling his new, larger rocket—🚀 “The Starship.” It went up (very good), and then BOOM! (not as good).
Well, for the space race, the overall result was fantastic. Rockets tend to BOOM when they’re new—it’s a part of the testing process. If they could have avoided the BOOM altogether, that would’ve been ideal. But SpaceX wasn’t planning on reusing parts anyway.
Investor Concerns
Meanwhile, Tesla’s earnings came out with mixed results. While there were some standout numbers, investors aren’t feeling too confident. The company has cut prices and seen cash flow moderating, which could make future profitability harder to achieve.
Layoffs in the Making
And let’s not forget the layoffs. Meta is cutting staff, Insider is doing the same, and BuzzFeed isn’t far behind either. It seems like a wave of cuts is sweeping through the startup world.
The Road Ahead
We’re back at full strength next week—no more roadshows—so expect regular episodes soon. Hugs to all our listeners!
For more tech news and insights, follow us on YouTube or visit TechCrunch.
This concludes this week’s episode of Equity. Thank you for tuning in—we hope to see you back next time!
