Equity podcast explores 'together tech' and Anthropic's confidential IPO

TechCrunch’s Equity podcast this week dives into a fascinating counter-trend: 'together tech.' Unlike the relentless AI fundraising machine, startups like Board—founded by Mirror’s Brynn Putnam—are raising money for in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are also going viral with whimsical DIY computers designed to encourage users to touch grass. This isn’t just a backlash against AI, but a genuine gravitation toward human connection. The episode also explores Anthropic’s confidential S-1 IPO filing, which could finally let investors compare AI labs’ financials against each other.

The panel digs into Alphabet’s staggering $80 billion AI capital expenditure—dwarfing most competitors—and questions whether all that money flows back to Big Tech anyway. Meanwhile, ex-Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer raised $250 million for climate tech at a time when few others are investing. Rocket engine startup Impulse secured $500 million, loudly emphasizing those funds will be spent on people, not AI. The episode closes with a look at how two YouTube directors cracked the box office, underscoring the creator economy’s growing power. Full episode on all podcast platforms.