Danny Crichton, a Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Head of Editorial at Lux Capital, and former Managing Editor at TechCrunch, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of TechCrunch+, alternative business models, strategic investments in media, and tips for building a tech media company. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Danny Crichton: https://www.dannycrichton.com/ Lux Capital: https://www.luxcapital.com/securities TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/ TechCrunch+: https://techcrunch.com/techcrunchplus/ X/ TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @DannyCrichton (Danny) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:28) Evolution of TechCrunch+ (01:27) Building a new product, ExtraCrunch (04:50) Challenges of subscription media (06:26) Identifying the core audience (08:57) Exploring alternative business models in media (15:26) Sponsor: Turpentine (16:07) History of TechCrunch (22:00) What worked and what didn't for TechCrunch (29:20) Building a significant tech media company (30:12) Strategies for success (31:03) The need of focus formula (35:32) Challenges of monetizing journalism (37:50) Rethinking media products (51:21) Potential of vertical media (56:30) Wrap — SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple