Techin' Geek

On Friday, the Trump administration unveiled a new website designed to host a compilation of “new, never-before-seen” documentation regarding UFOs, as stated by the Pentagon. (Indeed, it seems we’re comfortable once again using the term UFO, considering the URL of the new site is war.gov/ufo.)

In a public declaration by the Defense Department — which, during Trump’s administration, was rebranded as the Department of War — the initial set of documents available on the site will feature unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) videos, photographs, and original source papers from across the entire U.S. government. The materials have undergone security reviews, though many “have not yet been examined for anomaly resolution,” according to the Department’s statement.

The collection is also expected to expand progressively as more files are disseminated on a “rolling basis,” it noted.

The unveiling of these documents comes in the wake of the December 2017 reports by The New York Times, Politico, and others concerning a $22 million classified Pentagon initiative known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which had been exploring military encounters with unidentified objects.

Since then, public interest in UAPs, the contemporary term for UFOs, has surged, increasing worries about what might be in our skies, exemplified by the sightings of U.S. drones in 2024. Determining what is genuinely unexplained has been made more complex by the changing appearance of our skies, influenced by events like SpaceX launches and satellite activity. This makes a collection of military intelligence-backed documents particularly intriguing.

The news regarding government support for the Pentagon initiative has also permeated pop culture in recent times, as seen in films like 2023’s “Jules,” which portrays a man’s bond with an extraterrestrial that landed in his yard; “Bugonia,” which explores conspiracy theories about aliens living among us; and Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming film “Disclosure Day,” which alludes to governmental cover-ups surrounding the subject.

Years back, such a release of UFO documentation would have dominated headlines, but nowadays many Americans are more focused on immediate concerns, such as the Iran war’s effects on gas prices, rising living costs, job losses attributed to AI, healthcare issues, climate change, and other pressing matters.

As per the Pentagon, the release of the UFO documentation results from an interagency collaboration, the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). This initiative encompasses the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Energy (DOE), the DOD’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and segments of other U.S. intelligence organizations.

Prior to this, independent news outlet 404 Media discovered in March that the Executive Office of the President had registered the domain aliens.gov; however, that website is currently inactive.

The caller ID firm Truecaller, based in Sweden, announced it will reduce its workforce by 70 positions, which is about 15%, in the second quarter, coinciding with the release of its Q1 2026 financial results showcasing a drop in both revenue and profits. The company attributed this downturn to factors such as real-money gaming in India, modifications in advertising partner algorithms, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

As reported by TechCrunch last month, Truecaller is currently encountering difficulties from the telecom-driven solutions in India, including the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) identification service, alongside a 5% year-on-year decline in downloads recorded last year.

In its Q1 2026 results, Truecaller reported a 27% decrease in net sales, amounting to 362 million SEK ($39.34 million). In its primary market, India, net sales plummeted by 41% compared to last year. Additionally, advertising revenues saw a 44% decline.

“The year-on-year comparison appears particularly weak considering that Q1 and Q2 from the previous year benefitted significantly from the real money gaming sector in India during the IPL season, which occurs at this time. Furthermore, the conflict in the Middle East has also impacted our revenues from that area,” stated Truecaller CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala during the earnings call.

In August of last year, India prohibited real-money gaming applications like Dream 11 and MPL, which enabled users to wager money on fantasy sports. Industry associations have estimated the real-money gaming market to be worth $23 billion in India. The cessation of these apps has led to a loss of revenue for platforms where they were advertised.

Truecaller mentioned that the revenue drop in its advertising business also stemmed from a programmatic partner, identified as Google by an analyst earlier this year, altering its algorithms.

This quarter brought only a few highlights for the company. Firstly, it surpassed 500 million active users. Additionally, subscription revenues rose by 27%, accounting for 31% of net sales. The company has been enhancing its paid services by introducing features like AI Assistant and Family Protection to attract more subscribers.

Truecaller’s stock has decreased by more than 26% this year and by over 79% over the past year. However, it has experienced some recovery following the Q1 results.

If you’re considering a Series A round in the coming 12 to 24 months, the guidelines you believe you’re following might already be obsolete.

Series A has become not only more challenging — it’s also slower, more discerning, and increasingly harsh. The expectations have evolved, and numerous founders are still adapting to a marketplace that no longer exists.

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Stay ahead of Series A transformations

The gap between development and fundraising has widened. Metrics that used to denote preparedness are now under scrutiny. Teams that were viable candidates for funding two years ago are being overlooked. Often, founders are unaware of this until they’re already entering the market.

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What “fundable” means today

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Nina Achadjian, Partner at Index Ventures

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Janelle Teng Wade, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners

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Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Peak XV

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If you’re thinking about fundraising within the next one to two years, this isn’t optional. Miscalculating here could mean missing out on fundraising opportunities, or having to raise later with diminished leverage under increased pressure. Getting it right can help you stand out from the crowd — even before you begin pitching.

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