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To get a roundup of TechCrunch\u2019s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, <\/em>subscribe here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Happy Friday Crunch!<\/p>\n There\u2019s a persistent theory in hardware that manufacturing overseas is the cheaper\/better\/more efficient option. You manufacture there, assemble somewhere else, and finally approve and get to market in the United States, Haje<\/a> writes on TC+. It turns out that it\u2019s possible to manufacture closer to home<\/a>. With supply chains in the news more than ever, \u201cnearshoring\u201d is an oft-overlooked option for startups.<\/p>\n On that note \u2014 we\u2019re going to drink a beer with a shamrock poured into the foam, for no particular reason whatsoever.\u00a0 \u2014 Christine<\/a> and Haje<\/a><\/p>\n Last night, the news broke that Virgin Orbit was pausing operations for at least a week while it looked for funding to support the business. As part of that pause, company executives reportedly told staff in an all-hands meeting that they were being furloughed \u2014 and that it would be unpaid. it never should\u2019ve come to a staff furlough<\/a>, however, Aria<\/a> writes.<\/p>\n Unearthly Materials claimed to have big-name investors<\/a>, but they weren\u2019t all on board, Tim<\/a> reports over on TC+. The startup claims it\u2019s on the cusp of a superconductor breakthrough despite questionable scientific record.<\/p>\n And we have five more for you, complete with saltier-than-usual commentary:<\/p>\n Image Credits:<\/strong> Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n We don\u2019t run many articles promoting basic best practices. Suggestions like \u201clisten to your customers\u201d and \u201cmake data-driven decisions\u201d are so general, they\u2019re hard to implement.<\/p>\n But now that AI-driven solutions are offering search results, producing poems and generating illustrations on demand, startups need a framework for creating customized user experiences, according to Ab Gaur, founder and CEO of Verticurl.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile excessive or unhelpful customer data can clog content pipelines, the right information can power hyper-personalization at scale,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n Three more from the TC+ team:<\/p>\n TechCrunch+<\/em><\/a> is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack.<\/em> You can sign up here<\/em><\/a>. Use code \u201cDC\u201d for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!<\/em><\/p>\n TikTok had a lot going on in the past day: Taking a nod from several governmental entities in the United States, New Zealand banned TikTok from phones of parliamentarians<\/a>. Ivan<\/a> has more on what is going on there. Speaking of the U.S., Taylor<\/a> writes that the government here is increasing its pressure on TikTok<\/a> to separate from parent company ByteDance or risk also being banned in the U.S. While the social media giant is dealing with that, it\u2019s also managed to strike a multiyear deal with Major League Soccer<\/a> \u2014 well, unless it\u2019s banned in the U.S. For now, the deal will provide exclusive content and other in-app programming, Aisha<\/a> writes.<\/p>\n And we have five more for you:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe TechCrunch Top 3<\/h2>\n
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Startups and VC<\/h2>\n
Best practices for changing times: How founders should leverage AI and ML in 2023<\/h2>\n
Big Tech Inc.<\/h2>\n