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MDC is building a surgical robot that operates inside an MRI
MRIs are an indispensable tool for surgeons, though the technology certainly has its limitations. MDC believes the answer lies in robotics. While robotics undoubtedly represent the future of surgery, they present their own challenges in this application. After all, traditional robotics contain many elements that cannot operate inside an MRI. MDC’s challenge, then, was to create a robotic system that could operate on a patient inside an MRI without relying on electric motors, rare earth metals and other elements that would inhibit the imaging machine’s operations. The company pitched its solution on the Startup Battlefield stage.
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Ashton Kutcher believes every company will become an AI company
Actor and investor Ashton Kutcher joined the Disrupt Stage alongside Sound Ventures co-founder Guy Oseary and partner Effie Epstein to explain what the firm is looking for in founders and startups — and how every company will become an AI company in some way.
“There will not be a company in the world that is not, in some way, shape or form, using AI in the future,” Kutcher said. “So every company is going to be an AI company.”
However, Kutcher made it clear that he doesn’t think there will be a “winner” in the AI space. Catch up on the entire conversation here or on YouTube below.
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Gecko Materials wants to sell you the next Velcro
There’s Gecko Materials founder Capella Kerst dangling a full wine bottle from her pinky finger, the only thing keeping it from smashing to pieces being the super-strong dry-adhesive her startup has brought to market. The adhesive is the result of years of academic research that Kerst built on by inventing a method to mass-manufacture the adhesive. Inspired by the way real-life gecko feet grip surfaces, you could think of it like a new Velcro — except it only needs one side, leaves no residue, and can detach as quickly as it attaches. It can do this at least 120,000 times and, as Kerst noted in a recent interview with TechCrunch, can stay attached for seconds, minutes, or even years.Kerst pitched the adhesive on the Startup Battlefield stage.
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BANF’s smart tires for trucks promise to save fuel and lives
Tire health has a huge impact on a truck’s fuel efficiency and safety on the road. BANF uses sensors to collect data on tire pressure, temperature, tread wear, wheel alignment, and even lug nut stability. That data is analyzed using machine learning to provide drivers and fleet managers with insights about not only tire health, but also cargo load measurement and road surface conditions. BANF, which is competing in TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield, has a somewhat different solution from others in the industry.
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Afeela brings a ‘ride along’ experience to Disrupt
Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Sony and the Japanese automaker Honda, rolled out a concept vehicle at CES 2023 under a new brand name – Afeela.
Afeela is on display at Disrupt alongside a “ride-along” experience allowing attendees to hop in the driver’s seat and immerse themselves as it “drives” around the streets of SF.
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What are folks saying about Disrupt this year?
We’re about halfway through the event, and between the panels, discussions, pitches, and Battlefield competition, there’s a communal vibe to the event that makes it so special. You might even end up being so busy you don’t actually end up documenting anything until it’s all said and done.
International communities have been gathering, events beyond the show floor have been held (with plenty more to come) and you never know, you might end up meeting a Startup Battlefield competitor while exploring the show.
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Mary Barra on if GM will make an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel
General Motors CEO Mary Barra said on the Disrupt Stage that still believes an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel and pedals is “definitely” in the company’s future.
Barra said she still has an eye on a purpose-built robotaxi, but that she made the call to kill the Origin after an exhausting, years-long attempt to change the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Read the write-up of the conversation or watch the entire discussion below on YouTube.
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Pie CEO Andy Dunn on how to run a startup while still prioritizing your mental health
It’s well known that building a company is stressful, but it’s not as common to talk more about the mental health of founders. Andy Dunn, CEO of Pie and a co-founder of Bonobos, sat down with TechCrunch’s Amanda Silberling to talk about his experience being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and how he has been able to find the balance between work and mental health.
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Experts reveal how to avoid a cybersecurity disaster
Cyberattacks are inevitable, but disasters are avoidable. That’s why Marqeta’s Heather Gantt-Evans and MongoDB’s Darren Gruber sat down with Security Editor Zack Whittaker on the Builders Stage to discuss what they’ve learned from being on the front lines as well as the best ways to protect yourself from hackers — and what to do if you have been hacked.
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Salva Health wants to lower breast cancer mortality with its affordable screening device
Valentina Agudelo identified a troubling gap in breast cancer survival rates between Latin America and the developed world, with women in her native Colombia and the rest of the continent dying at higher rates due to late detection. So she founded Salva Health and began developing the company’s first product, Julietta, a small device that measures tissue density with electrodes that attach to each breast and provides results within minutes to a phone, tablet or computer. She pitched the device onstage at Startup Battlefield.
Salva HealthImage Credits:Salva Health -
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Catch up on Equity and Found’s live episodes from Disrupt
Miss the live recordings on the ground at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024? Catch up on our flagship podcasts Equity and Found below.
In this episode of Found, co-hosts Becca Szkutak and Dominic Davis sat down with Kai Kloepfer, CEO of Biofire, a smart gun company that aims to prevent firearm misuse.
And on the live episode of Equity, TechCrunch Editors Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey, along with Senior Venture Reporter Margaux MacColl, recapped some of the best day one panels including one with Rocket Labs’ CEO Peter Beck, along with some bold takes from Kirsten on Waymo and Tesla.
Or, if you’re not on the video podcast bandwagon, you can catch up on Equity and Found wherever you prefer to listen.
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TechCrunch Disrupt 2024: Tony Fadell, Mary Barra, Colin Kaepernick, and a new Startup Battlefield winner
TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 has begun, with hundreds of speakers, hundreds of startups and exhibitors, plus thousands of attendees meeting in San Francisco’s Moscone Center to experience three days of expertise, industry insights, and networking opportunities. In this live blog, you’ll get the rundown on the highlights from TechCrunch Disrupt’s panels, news from the show floor, and updates on the competition leading up to the winner of Startup Battlefield 200.
October 27-29, 2025
San Francisco
ONE-WEEK BUNDLE FLASH SALE
Founder Bundle Offer: Land your investor and sharpen your pitch. Save 15% when you bring 4-9 founders.
Investors Bundle Offer: Discover your next breakout startup. Save 20% when you bring 4-9 investors.
Bundle offer ends October 3.