Matthew Panzarino
Tech journalist and editor who served as Senior Editor, Co-Editor and then Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch (joined 2013; EIC from 2015). Former Managing Editor at The Next Web, Apple-focused blogger and photographer. Led TechCrunch editorial and events (notably Disrupt) through a decade of change; stepped down in 2023.
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Life & Career Timeline
TechCrunch founded
TechCrunch founded by Archimedes Ventures, led by Michael Arrington and Keith Teare, as an online publication focused on high-tech and startups.
AOL acquires TechCrunch
AOL acquired TechCrunch (reportedly for approximately $25 million), bringing the site into a large media company.
Previously Managing Editor at The Next Web
Prior to joining TechCrunch, Panzarino served as News Editor / Managing Editor at The Next Web and built a scrappy competitive news operation there.
Joined TechCrunch as Senior Editor
Matthew Panzarino joined TechCrunch as a senior editor after a recruit; he continued covering companies and helped develop stories and the team.
Shifted TechCrunch editorial stance toward brand over single-person focus
Panzarino led an effort to move TechCrunch away from being centered on a single founder voice toward a broader brand and team-driven editorial approach.
Became Co-Editor of TechCrunch
Panzarino took over as co-editor (with Alexia Tsotsis) in January 2014, sharing editorial leadership and decisions.
First C-SPAN appearance as Co-Editor
Panzarino made his first C-SPAN appearance (a 2014 forum) representing TechCrunch as co-editor.
Expanded onstage presence for TechCrunch writers
As co-editor Panzarino shifted Disrupt and other programming to highlight more TechCrunch staff onstage, moving away from a single-person-centric model.
Early coverage of OpenAI and LLMs
Panzarino notes TechCrunch covered OpenAI and early language model work over the 2014–2016 period — an editorial focus on nascent AI/LLM developments.
Editorial practice: frequent editorial notes (2014–mid 2010s)
Panzarino wrote frequent internal editorial notes (at times weekly) to set editorial tone and to tweak the mix of pieces on the site.
Verizon takes ownership of TechCrunch (AOL acquisition context)
Following prior AOL ownership and Verizon’s purchase of AOL, TechCrunch became part of Verizon Media; TechCrunch was owned by Verizon Media from 2015 onward (through 2021).
TechCrunch Disrupt established as key launch stage (ongoing)
Under Panzarino's editorial leadership Disrupt continued as an annual, influential conference (U.S., Europe, China) where startups launch and gain attention.
Named Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch
Panzarino became the full Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch (C-SPAN records list EIC from c. June 1, 2015).
Spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt / TechCrunch Conference (Sept 21, 2015)
Panzarino appeared at the annual TechCrunch conference in San Francisco; C-SPAN lists a TechCrunch conference video from this date.
Panelist at TechCrunch events on Technology & Privacy and Innovation (May 9, 2016)
Panzarino moderated/appeared in panels at TechCrunch events, including discussions on technology, privacy, and innovation (C-SPAN records).
Appeared at TechCrunch Disrupt with major industry figures (Sept 6, 2018)
Panzarino was onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt where leaders such as Dara Khosrowshahi discussed topics like autonomous vehicles; C-SPAN video exists from this date.
Apollo installs new leadership (Jim Lanzone) at Yahoo! Inc.
After Apollo's acquisition, the combined media assets were reorganized under Yahoo! Inc. with Jim Lanzone (ex-Tinder CEO) taking leadership.
Verizon sells media assets (AOL, Yahoo!, TechCrunch) to Apollo Global Management
Verizon sold its media group (including TechCrunch) to private equity firm Apollo Global Management; Apollo integrated these into a new Yahoo! Inc.
Featured / interviewed by Stratechery
Stratechery published an interview with former TechCrunch EIC Matthew Panzarino (page references a June 1, 2021 update).
Listed speaker at Sight Tech Global (Dec 1–2, 2021)
Panzarino is listed as Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch and appeared in the Sight Tech Global 2021 speaker roster (conference Dec 1–2, 2021).
Announced intention to step down as EIC (publicly noted Sept 2023)
Panzarino announced he would step down after about a decade leading TechCrunch and to hand editorial reins over to Connie Loizos (StrictlyVC founder); announcement public context in Sept 2023.
Exit interview appearance on The Verge's Decoder (Sept 19, 2023)
Nilay Patel's Verge Decoder podcast published an exit-style interview with Panzarino reflecting on a decade at TechCrunch and industry changes.
Featured Crouton app in his newsletter 'The Obsessor' (Dec 2023)
Panzarino organically featured the Crouton recipe app in his newsletter The Obsessor, boosting the app's downloads and visibility.
Guest on Sub Club podcast (Jan 2, 2024)
Appeared on RevenueCat's Sub Club podcast discussing press, pitching to tech media, and storytelling for apps.
RevenueCat article update referencing Panzarino interview (updated June 6, 2024)
RevenueCat updated the Sub Club episode post (initially published Jan 2, 2024) referencing Panzarino's guidance on pitching and press kits.
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