Just when we thought Things couldn’t get any more unexpected than a pandemic that crippled the world in 2020, chat kicked in in 2021.
As we started navigating a “new normal” we also started challenging the systems around us with advances in crypto, web3, the metaverse and much more.
When you look at our top performing stories of the year, you noticed a lot. Some stories were to be expected, like Product launches and major failures (um, Facebook). Others were in-depth analyzes and interviews on various sectors of the industry. It was hard to narrow down a top 10.
Rather than spitting out a list of TechCrunch’s top performing stories, we’ve asked our staff to vote on their favorite stories of the year, and we’ve added evergreen content and our top TC + articles for a rounded list for 2021. Enjoy!
Employee favorites
1. Air conditioning is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. It also kills the 21st
What started as a small Twitter Spaces interview with around 180 listeners quickly (and very unexpectedly) turned into one of TechCrunch’s most-read stories of 2021. Danny’s Book reviews Gaining momentum this year, but nothing has piqued reader interest (see comments for evidence) like unpacking the modern air conditioner. Danny’s Spaces interview with Eric Dean Wilson focused on his book, After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort. clean indoor air can actually be.
2. OnlyFans’ porn ban is the chance of a lifetime for crypto
Twitter broke out when OnlyFans announced its “sexually explicit content” ban in mid-August to comply with its investors and banks. At the time, the creators felt betrayed, and experts wondered if OnlyFans could even survive the transition. Though the decision since then suspended, the tech community’s instant solution to the ongoing regulatory issues facing the porn industry was simple: crypto. For those of you new to the world of cryptocurrencies, this real world antidote will help you understand the “why” behind the pressures on cryptocurrencies. And for those of you who are knowledgeable about the subject, Lucas weighs both the opportunities and the potential challenges that crypto and porn face.
3. Elon Musk said it was “not a flamethrower”
This is probably our “most 2021” heading. Many of us are – maybe a little too much – used to that The name of the Tesla boss in the headlines for crazy, meme-like behavior or comment. But what makes this story interesting are the real-life dangers behind Musk’s money-spinning gag products. Musk was selling a limited run of flamethrowers back in 2017 to raise awareness and funding for his startup The Boring Company, which he founded in 2016. “Problem solved? Not even close. TechCrunch employee Mark Harris highlights an American who was in Italy because of the Property of Not a Flamethrower was imprisoned.
4th Medium sees more employee departures after CEO posted a “culture memo”
It’s safe to say that this year has messed up today’s corporate ecosystem. Employees not only challenge the compatibility of work and private life, the wealth gap and corporate culture, but also take a stance on social and political initiatives. Natasha spoke to a variety of Medium employees, past and present, after CEO Ev Williams posted a “cultural memo” that tripled churn within the company. However, after speaking with an engineer, Natasha discovered that Medium has a long history of “problematic issues with a wave of exit that clearly appears to be triggered by the memo”. This article explores not only the demise of Medium’s corporate culture, but how it relates to companies that have sent out similar memos, such as Coinbase and Basecamp.
TikTok got off to a flying start in the middle of the pandemic when many quarantined people turned to the platform for their daily dose of viral videos, dances and trends in 2020. However, social media users are more aware of data collection than ever as concerns about privacy rights grow. TikTok changed its privacy policy in June to allow the collection of biometric data from users, which includes facial and voice prints. At first glance, the new data protection declaration is on a par with the data collected by many other social networks. But Sarah explains why the new policy is alarming, TikTok’s history with the US government, past biometric data breach lawsuits, and the incorrect introduction of the policy update. This article is a good starting point for the persistent privacy issues that social media users face.
Best evergreen
With only a few days left in 2021, we looked back to see what we covered this year and what we can learn from in the future. NFTs don’t go anywhere yet, so that was high on our evergreen list, along with privacy laws, how Zoom affects your brain, and how Cam Sinclair, director of Ammo, a Perth-based growth marketing agency, taught himself about growth marketing.
1. If you haven’t followed NFTs before, this is where you should start
This new (ish) crypto wave has grown exponentially over the past year. As Cooper Turley wrote this article in February 2021, he said, “The total estimated value of crypto-art has now exceeded $ 100 million – just one vertical of a growing ecosystem of NFTs, according to cryptoart.io/data.” now, December 2021, over $ 2 billion. If you don’t know a lot about NFTs, this article is a good place to start.
2. This tool will tell you if NSO’s Pegasus spyware has attacked your phone
Concerned that your phone has been attacked by NSO spyware? You probably shouldn’t be, but a list leaked in July 2021 stating: “50,000 phone numbers of potential surveillance targets were obtained from Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International and worked with the reporting consortium, including The., shared the Washington Post and The Guardian. ”Zack writes about how Pegasus can be delivered and how to tell if your phone has been compromised.
3. New York City’s new Biometrics Privacy Act goes into effect
In July 2021, Zack also reported on the entry into force of a new biometrics law in New York City. This law restricts the capabilities of companies with the biometric data they collect. Zack says, “The move will give New Yorkers – and their millions of visitors each year – better protection in the collection and use of their biometric information, while also serving to discourage companies from using technology that critics consider discriminatory and this often doesn’t work. “
4th This is your brain on zoom
We’ve all worked from home and seen faces of colleagues in endless video chats. It was great to read Devin Coldewey’s breakdown of a Microsoft study of how the brain needs a break. Discussing the study, Devin says, “During the no-break meeting block, people showed higher beta waves associated with stress, anxiety, and focus.” How to Plan Meeting Breaks in 2022!
5. Australian growth marketing agency Ammo is helping startups calibrate their efforts
TechCrunch Experts started this year with the first focus on growth marketing. Anna Heim interviewed Cam Sinclair, the director of Ammo, and they talked about when companies are ready for growth marketing, branding mistakes and more. Sinclair says, “At Ammo, we don’t measure time, we measure results. At the beginning of each project, we work with the customer to define what success will look like. Every customer is different and we respond to that. “
TC + favorites
1. Subscription-based pricing is dead: Smart SaaS companies are switching to usage-based models
Kyle Poyar, partner at OpenView, contributed this article on usage-based pricing in January 2021. Says Poyar, “Usage-based pricing will be the key to successful monetization in the future.” The article continues with four tips to help companies adopt this model. While we don’t want to reveal all of the tips in this round-up, one of the tips Poyar writes about is choosing the right usage metric.
2. Nubank’s IPO application gives us an insight into the economy of neobanks
In November, Alex and Natasha wrote about Nubank’s IPO filing, focusing on the economics of neo banking and Nubank’s financial health. If you want to dig deeper into Nubank, you can read TC-1 by Marcella McCarthy and Danny Crichton here.
3. How does former Better.com CEO Vishal Garg still get a job?
Mary Ann was busy in December, with a focus on news from Better.com (when they laid off 9% of their employees). Though it would cost a lot to shock Mary Ann and Alex, especially afterwards this, they were surprised that Garg hadn’t been asked to resign entirely. They said, “Some suspected that he had super vote stocks and therefore could vote to keep himself in the role of CEO regardless of the votes of others. But after looking at the S-4 back in November, which was sold by Better.com’s SPAC partner Aurora Acquisition Corp. was submitted, we found that this is not the case. “
4th How should SaaS companies offer and price professional services?
Roger Hurwitz, founding partner at Volition Capital, wrote an article on how professional services are billed and why this pricing can differ from other SaaS strategies. In this article, Hurwitz compares the effects of two pricing strategies over three years.
5. 5 Critical Pitch Deck Slides Most Founders Get Wrong
Jose Cayasso, Co-Founder and CEO of Slidebean, reviews “250-300 investor decks every month” and uses that experience to teach others what the must-haves for a slide deck are. His first suggestion is a go-to-market slide, and he adds why and where on the deck it should appear, with an example of it in the full article.
