This digest compiles the latest from TechCrunch.
Today’s TechCrunch Roundup
Spotify raises its subscription prices in the U.S. again
15 Jan 2026, 2:32 pm by Ivan Mehta
Spotify’s new price for its individual plan is $12.99 per month
Parloa triples its valuation in 8 months to $3B with $350M raise
15 Jan 2026, 2:24 pm by Marina Temkin
The massive round was led by existing investor General Catalyst, with participation from other returning backers.
Tiger Global loses India tax case tied to Walmart-Flipkart deal in blow to offshore playbook
15 Jan 2026, 2:19 pm by Jagmeet Singh
Tiger Global’s case in India is being closely watched by investors.
After Italy, WhatsApp excludes Brazil from rival chatbot ban
15 Jan 2026, 12:23 pm by Ivan Mehta
WhatsApp is allowing AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users in Brazil, days after the country’s competition agency ordered the company to suspend its new policy that bars third-party, general-purpose chatbots from the app.
Indian SpaceX rival EtherealX hits 5x valuation as it readies engine tests
15 Jan 2026, 12:00 pm by Jagmeet Singh
EtherealX is ramping engine tests and building a 150-acre rocket campus in India as it targets a 2027 launch mission.
Microsoft taps India’s Varaha for durable carbon removal offtake
15 Jan 2026, 9:30 am by Jagmeet Singh
Microsoft is buying over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from India’s Varaha over the next three years.
Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI
15 Jan 2026, 2:16 am by Lucas Ropek
The abrupt change in personnel was in the works for several weeks, according to an OpenAI executive.
The FTC’s data-sharing order against GM is finally settled
15 Jan 2026, 12:27 am by Kirsten Korosec
The order, first proposed a year ago, bans GM from collecting and then selling geolocation data to third parties, like data brokers and insurance companies.
India’s Emversity doubles valuation as it scales workers AI can’t replace
15 Jan 2026, 12:04 am by Jagmeet Singh
Emversity has raised $30 million in a new round as it scales job-ready training in India.
End of today’s TechCrunch roundup.
