Unicorn watch: <\/strong>Wix bought 6-month-old solo startup Base44<\/a> for $80 million in cash after it quickly gained traction as a no-code AI tool for building web apps. Created by a single founder and already profitable, Base44\u2019s rapid rise made scooping it up irresistible.<\/p>\n Sand to the rescue: <\/strong>Finland just turned on the world\u2019s largest sand battery<\/a> \u2014 yes, actual sand \u2014 which stores heat to help power the small town of Pornainen\u2019s heating system and cut its carbon emissions. The low-tech, low-cost system is built from discarded fireplace soapstone, is housed in a giant silo, and can store heat for weeks, proving you don\u2019t need fancy lithium to fight climate change. You just need a pile of hot rocks.<\/p>\n This is TechCrunch\u2019s Week in Review, where we recap the week\u2019s biggest news. Want this delivered as a newsletter to your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n News<\/p>\n We\u2019re back, baby: <\/strong>VanMoof is back from the brink with the S6<\/a>, its first e-bike since bankruptcy \u2014\u00a0and it\u2019s sticking to its signature custom design, despite that being what nearly killed the company. Backed by McLaren tech and a beefed-up repair network, the new VanMoof promises smoother rides, smarter features, and (hopefully) fewer stranded cyclists.<\/p>\n Space lasers: <\/strong>Baiju Bhatt, best known for co-founding Robinhood, is now building lasers in space<\/a>. His new startup, Aetherflux, has raised $60 million to prove that beaming solar power from orbit isn\u2019t a fantasy, with a demo satellite set to launch next year and early backing from the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n Oh no: <\/strong>One of SpaceX\u2019s Starship rockets exploded during a test<\/a> in Texas, likely pushing back the vehicle\u2019s next launch, which had been tentatively set for June 29. SpaceX says the blast, caused by a pressurized tank failure, didn\u2019t injure anyone, but it\u2019s yet another setback in a rocky year for the company\u2019s ambitious mega-rocket program.<\/p>\n That lossless feeling: <\/strong>Spotify\u2019s long-awaited lossless audio tier still hasn\u2019t launched, but fresh hints buried in the latest app code<\/a> suggest that it\u2019s under active development and could be closer than ever. But with years of delays and no official timeline, fans might want to temper their excitement until Spotify confirms the rollout.<\/p>\n I can Digg it: <\/strong>Digg\u2019s reboot has entered alpha testing with a fresh iOS app<\/a> aimed at becoming an AI-era Reddit alternative. The app offers a clean, simple design with curated communities, AI-powered article summaries, and gamified features like \u201cGems\u201d and daily leaderboards.<\/p>\n We want you: <\/strong>The U.S. Navy is speeding up how it works with startups<\/a>, cutting red tape and zeroing in on real wins like saved time and better morale. Department of the Navy CTO Justin Fanelli says it\u2019s leading with problems, hunting for game-changing tech in AI, GPS, and system upgrades. And with Silicon Valley finally paying attention, the Navy\u2019s becoming a go-to partner for innovators ready to shake things up.<\/p>\n Cash ain\u2019t king: <\/strong>Mark Zuckerberg is throwing out massive cash \u2014 up to $100 million \u2014 to lure top AI talent from OpenAI and DeepMind<\/a>. But OpenAI\u2019s Sam Altman says none of his key people have bitten, praising his team\u2019s mission over money. Meanwhile, OpenAI keeps pushing ahead with new AI models and even hints at launching an AI-powered social app that could outpace Meta\u2019s own shaky attempts.<\/p>\n Before you go<\/p>\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_8845.jpg\")
Image Credits:<\/strong>Rebecca Bellan<\/p>\n
![\"Cluely](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cluely-party-video.png\")
Image Credits:<\/strong>Cluely<\/p>\n