ElevenLabs raises $500M from Sequoia at an $11 billion valuation

ElevenLabs’ valuation has raised more than three times in the last 12 months.

Alexa+, Amazon’s AI assistant, is now available to everyone in the US

Amazon opens Alexa+ to everyone in the U.S. The AI feature is free for Prime members across devices, and free for everyone on mobile and web.

Watch Club is producing short video dramas and building a social network around them

Watch Club will house microdramas and fan discussions in the same app, creating a fandom-focused social media experience.

Lotus Health nabs $35M for AI doctor that sees patients for free

This AI doctor is licensed in all 50 states, the startup says. The deal was led by CRV and Kleiner Perkins.

Xcode moves into agentic coding with deeper OpenAI and Anthropic integrations

Xcode 26.3 offers agentic coding capabilities with Anthropic’s Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex.

Gradient’s heat pumps get new smarts to enable old-building retrofits

Gradient’s heat pumps fit in windows, minimizing installation times. Now, it is introducing software to make those units more intelligent.

Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics

The use of administrative subpoenas, which are not subject to judicial oversight, are used to demand a wealth of information from tech companies, including the owners of anonymous online accounts documenting ICE operations.

Skyryse lands another $300M to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe

Skyrsye, now valued at $1.15 billion, is pushing to get FAA certification for its universal operating system for flight.

YC startups can now receive investment in stablecoin

All startups accepted into YC will soon have the option to receive their seed checks via stablecoins.

The Minneapolis tech community holds strong during ‘tense and difficult time’

Founders and investors in the Minneapolis tech industry told TechCrunch they’ve put much of their work on hold to help out their community.