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Message: [QUOTE="Natasha Mascarenhas, post: 2425"] [I]Welcome to Startups Weekly, a fresh human-first take on this week’s startup news and trends. To get this in your inbox, [/I][URL='https://techcrunch.com/newsletters'][I]subscribe here.[/I][/URL] While we have certainly talked through what [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/jack-dorsey-twitter-and-we-have-thoughts/?tpcc=tcplustwitter']Jack Dorsey’s resignation[/URL] means for Twitter (and now [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/square-is-changing-its-name-to-block/']how it impacts Block[/URL]), I’m still thinking about a few lines from his resignation tweet. “There’s a lot of talk about the importance of a company being ‘founder-led,’” Dorsey wrote. “Ultimately I believe that’s severely limiting and a single point of failure. I’ve worked hard to ensure this company can break away from its founding and founders.” Dorsey added that he believes “it’s critical that a company can stand on its own, free of its founder’s influence or direction.” This is a bold statement: Success as a founder can look like hiring smart enough people so that you are no longer relevant to making the company work day in, day out. If you go on vacation, and your team can’t function without Slacking you every few minutes, that is more representative of the strength of the company than the strength of the team. Last month, I wrote about the [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/20/name-your-job-title-before-you-name-your-startup/']importance of establishing the difference[/URL] — both in ownership and incentive — between a founder, a founding team member, an adviser, an investor, an angel investor and an early employee. This week, I want to switch gears and talk about when it’s time to unlearn those titles, or at the very least, evolve from them. As Floodgates partner Iris Choi mentioned in our recent podcast [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/have-we-reached-peak-founder-friendliness/']about founder friendliness[/URL], founders eventually become the “VP of nothing.” No one will disagree with the notion that a startup needs to be successful beyond its founder, but the process of shifting that individual from essential to non-essential can be uncomfortable (especially in our current environment that’s hyper-friendly toward founders). My take, as I argued [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/3-views-on-jack-dorseys-decision-to-step-down-as-twitters-ceo/']earlier[/URL], is that we’ll start to see due diligence change to address more than how a founder views their sector in a decade. Entrepreneurs could be pushed on their ability to hire, change their minds and understand when it is time to walk away. Removing the idea from the identity so that the company doesn’t feel innately tied to a founder is healthy for the longevity of the company but will require some real conversations on attribution. I interviewed founders and investors to get a temperature check on how comfortable they are with the idea of recommending, and executing, on the promise of decentralized authority in this market. For my full take on this topic, check out my TechCrunch+ column, [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/04/founders-need-to-uncouple-their-own-idea-from-its-creator/']Founders need to uncouple their own idea from its creator.[/URL] Alex and Amanda also chimed in on the topic, arguing precedent, and that [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/3-views-on-jack-dorseys-decision-to-step-down-as-twitters-ceo/']founders aren’t rockstars so we should stop treating them as such.[/URL] In the rest of this newsletter, we’ll talk about rebranding season, accidental churn and freshly venture-backed layoffs. As always, you can follow me on Twitter [URL='https://twitter.com/nmasc_']@nmasc_[/URL] or on Instagram [URL='https://www.instagram.com/natashathereporter/?hl=en']@natashathereporter.[/URL] [HEADING=1]Tis the season to rebrand[/HEADING] [IMG alt="Pixel art coins different sizes. Vector illustration."]https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1284774918.jpg[/IMG] [B]Image Credits:[/B] [URL='https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?family=creative&photographer=PixelChoice']PixelChoice (opens in a new window)[/URL] / Getty Images Jack Dorsey is taking up a lot of space. Days after the Twitter co-founder resigned from the social media platform, his other company, [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/square-is-changing-its-name-to-block/']Square, rebranded to Block[/URL]. The name change has allegedly been in the works for over a year, but it feels timely given that Facebook changed its corporate branding to Meta just over a month ago. [B]Here’s what to know: [/B]Block is supposed to encompass Square’s growing suite of products, which includes music streaming service Tidal, Cash App, TBD, and of course, Square. It’s also a nod to the company’s interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. I don’t hate the name, but if you’re in the mood for a chuckle, [URL='https://investors.block.xyz/governance/leadership/default.aspx']just take a look at its executive leadership page.[/URL] All crypto, all the time: [LIST] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/jack-dorsey-twitter-and-we-have-thoughts/']Jack is leaving Twitter and we have ~thoughts~[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/facebooks-top-crypto-executive-david-marcus-is-leaving-the-company/']Facebook’s top crypto executive David Marcus is leaving the company[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/24/coinbase-acquihires-team-behind-brd-crypto-wallet/']Coinbase acqui-hires team behind BRD crypto wallet[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/daos-as-the-future-hard-pass-thanks/']DAOs as the future? Hard pass, thanks[/URL] [/LIST] [HEADING=1]And the startup of the week is…[/HEADING] [IMG]https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/pancakes_stack.jpg[/IMG] [B]Image Credits:[/B] vincepenman / Getty Images Butter! The startup wants to help [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/butter-raises-7m-to-end-accidental-churn-due-to-payment-failure/']every subscription company deal with customers who accidentally churn[/URL] — pun intended — due to payment failures. The product isn’t sales tech, but rather a fintech service that detects problems with renewals or sign-up issues where charges are declined due to being attempted in another country. [B]Here’s what to know[/B], per CEO and co-founder [URL='https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-menon-0b87b141/']Vijay Menon[/URL]: The international payments failure market is underserved by some of the largest payment providers, such as Stripe, which focus on domestic services. Butter wants to serve growing markets like Brazil, India and Mexico. Before he even launched his startup, the entrepreneur helped Microsoft recover over 10 million Xbox live subscriptions, chalking up to more than $100 million in recovered revenue. Now, Butter has $7 million to tackle even more. [I]Honorable mentions:[/I] [LIST] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/massive-wants-to-rent-your-spare-compute-power-to-pay-for-apps/']Massive wants to rent your spare compute power to pay for apps[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/sounding-board-lands-series-b-to-move-coaching-beyond-services-and-into-saas/']Sounding Board lands Series B to move coaching beyond services and into SaaS[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/02/kayak-co-leads-life-houses-60m-series-c-to-reimagine-hotel-experience/']Kayak co-leads Life House’s $60M Series C to ‘reimagine’ the hotel experience[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/goalsetter-raises-15-million-to-go-b2b-with-childrens-financial-literacy-app/']Goalsetter raises $15 million to go B2B with children’s financial literacy app[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/jump-brings-stability-to-freelancers-by-giving-french-permanent-contracts/']Jump brings stability to freelancers by giving French permanent contracts[/URL] [/LIST] [HEADING=1]A raise and a layoff[/HEADING] [IMG alt="Puzzle house with a missing piece. The acquisition or construction comfortable dream home. Mortgage loan purchase real estate. Arrangement premises repair. Availability and cheapness. Finish building (Puzzle house with a missing piece. The acquisition"]https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1317958548.jpg[/IMG] [B]Image Credits:[/B] [URL='https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?family=creative&photographer=Andrii+Yalanskyi']Andrii Yalanskyi (opens in a new window)[/URL] / Getty Images It’s more common than you think. This week, digital mortgage lender Better.com announced that it is getting a $750 million cash infusion ahead of an impending public market debut. Then, one day later, it announced layoffs, confirming that it cut 9% of its overall staff. [B]Here’s what to know:[/B] As Mary Ann Azevedo reports, it’s possible that the layoffs were a condition to getting that deal approved — but it still feels harsh to add millions to your balance sheet and cut staff within the same breath. The layoffs are mainly taking place in the United States and India. While we’re nowhere near 2020’s slew of unicorn layoffs, rising concerns about the omicron variant and a toughening market for some sectors could mean more instability to come. [I]Onto the next one:[/I] [LIST] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/11/unicorn-layoffs-prompt-more-startups-to-consider-acqui-hiring/']Unicorn layoffs prompt more startups to consider acqui-hiring[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/03/as-tech-layoffs-surge-some-support-emerges-for-those-without-a-job/']As tech layoffs surge, some support emerges for those without a job[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/17/since-i-cant-build-a-wall-around-our-talent-heres-how-im-reducing-turnover/']Since I can’t build a wall around our talent, here’s how I’m reducing turnover[/URL] [/LIST] [HEADING=1]TechCrunch Gift Guide 2021[/HEADING] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/pages/gift-guide-2021/'][IMG alt="TechCrunch Gift Guide 2021"]https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gift-guide-2021-title.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [LIST] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/24/gift-guide-give-the-gift-of-cannabis-with-these-9-high-tech-smoking-devices/']Gift Guide: Give the gift of cannabis with these 9 high-tech smoking devices[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/gift-guide-15-gift-ideas-for-gamers-when-the-next-gen-consoles-arent-an-option/']Gift Guide: 15 gift ideas for gamers when the next-gen consoles aren’t an option[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/15/work-from-home-office-gift-ideas/']Gift Guide: 8 great gifts for anyone working from home[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/18/webcams-and-microphones-for-better-video-calls/']Gift guide: 11 gift ideas for the friend who is on way, way too many video calls[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/22/smart-home-gift-guide-ideas/']Gift Guide: The smart home starter kit[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/gift-guide-the-smarter-home/']Gift Guide: The smarter home[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/23/gift-guide-the-best-tech-gifts-for-plant-geeks/']Gift Guide: The best tech gifts for plant geeks[/URL] [*][URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/17/stem-toys-for-kids-and-teens/']Gift Guide: 20+ STEM toy gift ideas for aspiring young builders[/URL] [/LIST] [HEADING=1]Across the week[/HEADING] [I]Seen on TechCrunch[/I] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/supernet-credit-card-cannabis-weed-dispensaries/']Cannabis and banking vets launch credit card for dispensaries[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/02/apple-announces-the-2021-app-store-award-winners-and-most-downloaded-apps-of-the-year/']Apple announces the 2021 App Store Award winners and most downloaded apps of the year[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/spotifys-wrapped-2021-arrives-with-artist-video-messages-blend-and-even-a-game/']Spotify’s Wrapped 2021 arrives with artist video messages, Blend and even a game[/URL] [I]Seen on TechCrunch+[/I] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/with-3b-expected-in-2021-singapore-is-becoming-a-fintech-capital/']With $3B expected in 2021, Singapore is becoming a fintech capital[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/26/iot-data-collector-samsaras-ipo-will-be-fun-to-watch/']IoT data collector Samsara’s IPO will be fun to watch[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/black-friday-data-adds-to-evidence-e-commerce-growth-is-slowing']Black Friday data adds to evidence e-commerce growth is slowing[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/02/super-app-grab-starts-trading-on-supersized-spac-combination/']Super app Grab starts trading on supersized SPAC combination[/URL] [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/29/product-led-growth-and-signal-substitution-syndrome-bringing-it-all-together/']Product-led growth and signal substitution syndrome: Bringing it all together[/URL] Hope you all have a weekend [URL='https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/01/3-analysts-break-down-bret-taylors-pretty-sweet-week/']as good[/URL] as [URL='http://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/bret-taylor-has-been-promoted-to-salesforce-co-ceo/']Bret Taylor’s week,[/URL] [URL='https://twitter.com/nmasc_']N[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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