Yahoo Sells TechCrunch

In the latest twist of tech media consolidation, Yahoo has sold TechCrunch to the private equity firm Regent, marking yet another ownership change for the pioneering tech news outlet. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, but the move follows Regent’s recent acquisition of Foundry—the media group behind PCWorld, Macworld, and TechAdvisor—just a day earlier.

Founded in 2005, TechCrunch has long been a cornerstone of the startup and venture capital reporting world. But its journey through corporate ownership has been anything but steady. AOL first acquired the site in 2010. Then, in a series of major media mergers, Verizon acquired AOL in 2015 and Yahoo in 2017, rolling both into a new digital media division initially branded as Oath, later renamed Verizon Media.

By 2021, Verizon exited the media business altogether, selling its entire media group to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion. The division was rebranded back to Yahoo, which continued to house TechCrunch alongside Engadget, Yahoo Finance, and Yahoo Sports.

Now, with this latest transaction, TechCrunch spins out of Yahoo’s orbit. According to an announcement from TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos, Yahoo will retain a “small interest” in the brand, but the decision to sell came down to cultural mismatch. “Yahoo decided to sell TechCrunch because, in the end, our DNA is simply different from the rest of its portfolio,” Loizos noted.

This sale raises questions about the future direction of TechCrunch under Regent. The private equity firm has a history of acquiring legacy media and consumer brands, but often with a focus on streamlining operations and maximizing profitability.

Meanwhile, Yahoo continues to reshape its media portfolio, still holding on to Engadget, which suffered leadership layoffs last year, as well as major consumer platforms like Yahoo Mail, Finance, and News.

For TechCrunch, the sale could mean a new chapter—perhaps leaner, perhaps more entrepreneurial—under Regent's ownership. Whether that brings renewed innovation or further consolidation remains to be seen.