Matt Burns
TechCrunch
Flint, MI, United States
Contact Matt
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
Recent articles by Matt:
Leafly lays off 91 employees with funding on pause –
Cannabis giant Leafly cut 91 staffers this week in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The company said in a released statement that the workforce reduction allows the company to be financially self-sufficient while still being able to operate during the global pandemic. The 91 employees represented 39% of the company’s workforce and came from all […] → Read More
Ada raises $44M Series B to improve its chatbot customer service platform –
Ada today took the wraps off its $44M Series B that it hopes will allow the company to expand its offering of the company’s AI-powered customer service chatbot. Accel lead the round with participation from existing investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark, Version One, Leaders Fund, and Burst Capital. “Although AI gets thrown around a […] → Read More
GM, Ford, and FCA shutter all North American factories over coronavirus fears –
Detroit’s big three automakers are to shut down all factories due to fears over the coronavirus. Details are still in the works and will be announced shortly. Over the last few days, United Auto Workers has been pushing the automakers to shut down their factories over concerns of worker safety. UAW President Rory Gamble sent […] → Read More
GM, Ford, FCA to close all factories, AP reports –
Detroit’s big three automakers are to shut down all factories due to fears over the coronavirus. This comes by way of the Associated Press citing a person close the matter. GM, Ford, and FCA are expected to the plans later today. Over the last few days, the United Auto Workers had been pushing the auto […] → Read More
Apple updates Mac Mini with more storage options –
Apple today announced the Mac Mini will ship with more standard storage space. Starting at $799, the base model Mac Mini now ships with a 256GB SSD, up from 128GB previously. The CPU, GPU and system memory remains the same from the previous model. This refresh is a slight but welcomed bump to Apple’s least […] → Read More
Storz & Bickel sidesteps Apple’s vaping app ban –
Users of Storz & Bickel’s vaporizers can once again connect their vapes to iPhones. The company’s solution comes several months after Apple enacted a ban on apps for tobacco and cannabis vaporizers. This time around, Storz & Bickel turned to a web app to provide iPhone users with expanded controls over their vapes. I found […] → Read More
The 2020 Chevy Corvette is good and will only getter better –
What’s a Corvette? To me, the formula is simple: Loads of power in an affordable package that can hold two golf bags. For the past 62 years, that meant putting the engine in the front and a stick shift on the floor. And now it’s all different, and it’s the start of something great. For […] → Read More
Geneva Motor Show canceled over coronavirus fears –
The Geneva Motor Show is the latest trade show to cancel over fears of the coronavirus. The Swiss auto show is one of the largest car shows in the world and is usually the venue where high-end and exotic auto makers roll out new models and wild concepts. The show, like most auto shows, is […] → Read More
Citroen introduces a two-seat EV that costs €19.99 a month –
The Citroen Ami is a new take on urban mobility. It’s electric, cheap and doesn’t require a license. In short, it’s less of a car and more of an electric scooter with two seats, doors and a heater. Jokes aside, the Citroen Ami could be a glimpse at the future of mobility. The innovation isn’t […] → Read More
The debut of electric pickups signals a new EV era –
Several companies rolled out electric pickups in 2019. Tesla’s Cybertruck got most of the attention, but don’t sleep on General Motors and Ford — bringing electric pickups to market is critical for the viability of electric vehicles. Automakers build vehicles around shared components. These platforms, the underpinnings of the vehicles, often live for 10 or […] → Read More
How companies are working around Apple’s ban on vaping apps –
Apple banned vaping apps in November 2019. Since then, the company has said very little about its decision, leaving many companies upset and confused about its blanket prohibition. Three months later, companies are working around Apple’s ban. Here’s how they’re doing it. Apple’s wide-sweeping ban on vaping affected apps from Juul, Pax and many others, […] → Read More
How the world’s largest cannabis dispensary avoids social media restrictions –
Planet 13 is the world’s largest cannabis dispensary. Located in Las Vegas, blocks off the Strip, the facility is the size of a small Walmart. By design, it’s hard to miss. Planet 13 is upending the dispensary model. It’s big, loud and visitors are encouraged to photograph everything. As part of the cannabis industry, Planet […] → Read More
Tesla could soon sell and service its vehicles in Michigan –
Tesla reportedly reached a settlement with the State of Michigan regarding the sales and service of its vehicles. According to the AP, this settlement would end the automakers lawsuit against the state, which barred Tesla and others from selling vehicles directly to consumers. This would lead to consumers being able to purchase, take delivery, and […] → Read More
CES takes half-baked stance on cannabis –
A cannabis company won a CES award for 2020. Called Keeps, the desktop storage device features biometric security to secure cannabis products, and looks good while doing it. The CTA gave them an Innovations Award Nominee in October and then weeks later told the company they were unable to use the word “cannabis” when exhibiting. […] → Read More
GM to release an electric Hummer pickup, per report –
General Motors could be bringing back the Hummer brand. According to this report by the Wall Street Journal, an all-electric Hummer pickup will be sold under the GMC brand and LeBron James is enlisted to help market the vehicle. There are no details about the pickup’s capability including electric range or seating capacity. The move […] → Read More
Sony just announced a car –
Today at CES 2020, Sony unveiled a car. I’m surprised too. There are very few details about the Sony Vision-S sedan at this time. We’ll get more once we can see it on the show floor. According to the press account, Sony partnered with industry leaders to build this prototype, including Bosch, Continental, Genetex, Nvidia, […] → Read More
Audi AI:ME concept demonstrates innovative safety through lights –
The Audi AI:ME is a concept for future urban travel. The little car is autonomous, has a surprisingly spacious interior, and it’s equipped with a host of exterior lights designed to better communicate with the outside world. There’s much more to this concept than the size. The most exciting part are the exterior lights. They’re […] → Read More
Come to TechCrunch’s free CES Pitch Night –
CES is a magical place full of gizmos, gadgets and communicable diseases. TechCrunch is hosting another pitch-off event this year. Called Pitch Night, select early-stage companies will take the stage and have 60 seconds to present their wares to TechCrunch editorial and industry experts. This event is free. Obtain a ticket here. Want to pitch […] → Read More
Pax unveils a vape that increases transparency around cannabis consumption –
The new Pax Era Pro vaporizer packs a host of improvements and brings increased transparency to the user. Pop in a pod, and the smartphone companion app displays a wealth of information generally unavailable to the average user. The idea is to provide more peace of mind about what’s in each pod and this system […] → Read More
CES awards cannabis company then bans it from mentioning cannabis when exhibiting –
Keep Labs won an Innovation Award Honoree award for CES 2020 but is banned from saying the word “cannabis” on the CES show floor. Weeks later, the CTA, the trade group behind CES, told Keep Labs it could only exhibit if the company’s signage, marketing materials, and the product is free from cannabis product and […] → Read More