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48 hours left to save on TC Sessions: Mobility 2020
Don’t you just love the feeling you get when crossing a task off your to-do list? It’s exponentially bigger and better when you can save $100 at the same time. Here’s the thing — you have just 48 hours to buy an early-bird pass to TC Sessions: Mobility 2020, save $100 and experience the all-too-elusive bliss of Getting. It. Done.
Want to feel all the feels? Buy your pass before the deadline expires on September 11 at 11:59 p.m. (PT).
Now that you’re all set in the pass department, let’s turn to the events of October 6-7. We have an outstanding agenda focused on the technology, trends and regulatory issues surrounding the current and future state of mobility.
Here are just a few of the many of the brilliant speakers and timely topics you can enjoy (see the entire Mobility 2020 agenda here):
- The Future of Racing: Formula E driver Lucas Di Grassi is part of a new racing series, in which riders on high-speed electric scooters compete against each other on temporary circuits in cities. Think Formula E, but with electric scooters. The former CEO of Roborace and sustainability ambassador of the EsC, Electric Scooter Championship, will join us to talk about electrification, micromobility and a new kind of motorsport.
- Investing in Mobility: Reilly Brennan, Amy Gu and Olaf Sakkers will come together to debate the uncertain future of mobility tech and whether VC dollars are enough to push the industry forward.
- Uber’s City Footprint: Uber’s operations touch upon many aspects of the transportation ecosystem. Whether it’s autonomous vehicles, food delivery, trucking or traditional ride-hailing, these products and services all require Uber to interact with cities and ensure the company is on the good side of cities. That’s where Shin-pei Tsay comes in. Hear from Tsay about how she thinks through Uber’s place in cities and how she navigates various regulatory frameworks.
You can also explore more than 40 early-stage mobility startups exhibiting their tech and talent in the digital expo. Want to really strut your stuff? Apply here by September 15 to participate in our first Pitch Night — we’re looking for 10 outstanding early-stage founders to throw down in front of judges on October 5. Five finalists will move on to present live from the Mobility Main stage on October 6 — alongside folks like Boris Sofman of Waymo, Nancy Sun of Ike and Trucks VC’s Reilly Brennan. You’ll gain world-wide exposure to thousands of TC viewers, including investors and press.
The early-bird deal disappears in 48 hours. Buy your TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 pass before September 11 at 11:59 p.m. (PT). Cross off the task, feel the joy, save $100 and do what it takes to drive your business forward.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Chief CEO Carolyn Childers, Reboot.io CEO Jerry Colona, Ureeka co-founder Melissa Bradley are coming to Disrupt 2020
Becoming a successful leader isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Each startup — depending on the industry and internal culture — has its own needs.
The hard part is figuring out what leadership style best suits the personality of the CEO or founder as well as the needs and culture of their startup and employees who work there.
This year at TechCrunch’s virtual Disrupt 2020 on September 14-18, we’ll talk to the people who with the expertise and insight to help startup founders and other C-suite level executives — as well as those who someday hope to be in that spot — find the right leadership style for their business. We’re excited to announced that joining us on the Extra Crunch stage to discuss leadership styles is Carolyn Childers, co-founder and CEO of women leadership network Chief, Melissa Bradley co-founder of SMB networking platform Ureeka and Jerry Colonna, co-founder and CEO of executive coaching firm Reboot.io.
The three speakers will dig into what makes a successful leader and how to find the right management style as well as tackle other challenges that founders, CEOs and other executives face while building a company.
Bradley’s company Ureeka gives small business access to the expertise needed to grow their business. She is also founder and managing partner of 1863 Ventures, a business development program, and serves as advisor to the New Voices Foundation and New Voices Fund, as well as the Halcyon Fund. Bradley is the former Co-Chair, National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was recently named one of The Most Entrepreneurial Women Investors in 2018.
Chief, which Childers and partner Lindsay Kaplan launched in January 2019, is a private network to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. The organization is designed for senior women leaders. Prior to founding Chief, Childers was senior vice president of operations at Handy, led the launch of the site Soap.com (Quidsi) and acted as its GM through its acquisition by Amazon. Childers’ work landed her on Inc.’s 2019 Female Founders 100 List.
Colonna’s company Reboot.io specializes in executive coaching and leadership development. Colonna, who has experience as an executive, venture capitalist, journalist and board member, is also the author of ‘REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up.’
You may have heard that we’re taking Disrupt virtual this year, a move that lets us make the event accessible to more people than ever before while keeping everyone safe. Disrupt 2020 is scheduled to run from September 14 through September 19. Buy the Disrupt Digital Pro Pass or a Digital Startup Alley Exhibitor Package today and get access to all the interviews on our main Disrupt stage, workshops over on the Extra Crunch Stage where you can get actionable tips as well as CrunchMatch, our free, AI-powered networking platform. As soon as you register for Disrupt, you will have access to CrunchMatch and can start connecting with people now. Use the tool to schedule one-on-one video calls with potential customers and investors or to recruit and interview prospective employees.
We’ll see you there!
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Watch these 6 startups compete in Pitchers & Pitches tomorrow
What do you get when you combine six early-stage startup founders with a panel of top VCs and savvy TechCrunch editors? It’s Pitchers & Pitches, a rapid-fire pitch competition with a hefty side of advice to turn your 60-second pitch into a key that unlocks opportunity.
Grab a snack, bring your questions and tune in to our pre-Disrupt 2020 masterclass tomorrow, September 2, at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. You can register here. We randomly chose six startups — all exhibitors in Digital Startup Alley — to throw their best pitch. Our esteemed judges (we’ll name all the names in a moment) will critique each one and offer tips to sharpen what is arguably an entrepreneur’s most essential tool.
Get ready to take copious notes. Free advice from experts — the kind who hear pitches for a living — doesn’t come along every day, and chances are you can apply much of what you hear to your own pitch. Plus, the viewing audience decides which startup delivered the best pitch.
You can’t have a competition without a prize, and this one’s pretty nifty. The winning startup scores a consulting session with cela, a company that connects early-stage startups to accelerators and incubators that can help scale their businesses.
Hannah Webb, CEO of Findster Technologies, winner of the first Pitchers & Pitches session, dishes on the result of her P&P experience. “Disrupt and Digital Startup Alley haven’t even officially started yet, and we’ve already seen great benefits. cela introduced us to multiple accelerators in the NYC area and one is a perfect fit for our company’s situation.”
Now, without further ado, the panel of judges waiting to be impressed includes two top VCs — Konstantine Buhler, partner at Sequoia Capital, and Anne Gifford, investor at Tusk Ventures — and two pitch-savvy TechCrunch editors, Anthony Ha and Darrell Etherington.
As for the early-stage startups taking the mound, they are:
Join us for the next Pitchers & Pitches — tomorrow, September 2 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. Listen, learn and turn your pitch into a key that opens doors to opportunities at Disrupt 2020 — and beyond.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Register for our last pitch-off next week on September 2
It’s time again to start warming up your pitching arm. Our next Pitchers & Pitches session takes place next week on September 2. Register today!
Pitchers & Pitches sessions combine critique and competition with a focus on helping early-stage startup founders create an iron-clad, 60-second pitch. Here’s how it works. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only founders exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley at Disrupt 2020 will be invited to pitch.
We’ll feature five startups from Digital Startup Alley to present their best, rapid-fire pitch to a panel of experts. Previous P&P judges have featured leading VCs, including Monique Idlett-Mosley, Jeff Morris Jr., Sydney Thomas and Curtis Rodgers. Who better than top VCs to provide constructive feedback on your pitch? They’ll help you cut to the chase and present the essential information in the best possible light.
The viewing audience will choose which of the five startups presented the best pitch, and that lucky team will win a consulting session with cela, a company that connects early-stage startups to accelerators and incubators that can help scale their businesses.
Listen to what the winner of our first Pitchers & Pitches session, Hannah Webb, CEO of Findster Technologies, says about her experience:
Disrupt and Digital Start Up Alley haven’t even officially started yet, and we’ve already seen great benefits. Cela introduced us to multiple accelerators in the NYC area and one is a perfect fit for our company’s situation.
Even if you don’t get to pitch, you still get to benefit. Take that top VC advice and apply it to your own business to make your pitch a more effective tool. You need a pitch that impresses, that opens doors and starts conversations. This is a rare opportunity to get advice from the very people you want to attract.
Here are even more reasons to attend Pitchers & Pitches:
- Get familiar with the new virtual Disrupt platform before it goes live in September
- Watch and interact with the pitch-off event on the virtual main stage
- Meet and video network with other attendees
- Connect with the five pitchers in their virtual booth in the startup expo
The next Pitchers & Pitches takes place on September 2 at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET — Register to see all of the action today. And while you’re at it, get your Disrupt Digital Startup Alley Package so you can start to reap all of the benefits of Disrupt 2020 right away! Get warmed up and ready to throw the first pitch!
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Beat the clock: Get your group discount passes to TC Sessions: Mobility 2020
The expression “it takes a village” easily applies to building a successful mobility startup, especially in uncertain and tumultuous times. It also takes opportunities, and you’ll find plenty of those at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 (October 6-7). Even better — you can bring your entire village, increase your opportunity potential and save money with our group discount. Win-win-ka-ching!
When you book four or more tickets to TC Sessions: Mobility, you’ll trim $25 off the price of each pass — but only if you buy them before the deadline: September 4 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). Prices go up September 5.
The two-day conference focuses on every aspect of mobility and transportation — autonomy, micromobility, AI-based mobility applications, investment, regulatory issues, battery technology and more. Learn from the leading experts about the current state of the industry and what trends — and which players — will shape its future.
You and your village can divide and conquer — gather the latest intel, network to build essential connections and engage in the kinds of conversations that lead to lasting partnerships. What you learn can shift the way you think about your goals. Here’s what two team members from FlashParking had to say about their experience:
“We left TC Sessions: Mobility with a good vision of how the space will evolve over the next three to five years. It will help us position our company and understand how to think about strategy and partnerships going forward.” — Jeff Johnson, vice president of enterprise sales and solutions at FlashParking.
“TC Sessions: Mobility isn’t just an educational opportunity, it’s a real networking opportunity. Everyone was passionate and open to creating pilot programs or other partnerships. That was the most exciting part. And now — thanks to a conference connection — we’re talking with Goodyear’s Innovation Lab.” — Karin Maake, senior director of communications at FlashParking.
CrunchMatch — our free business matchmaking platform — makes networking in a virtual venue easier. Answer a few quick questions, and the AI-powered tool helps you find, connect and schedule 1:1 video calls with the kinds of people you need to grow your business. Looking for investors? Check. Need a developer? Can do. Want to add new startups to your portfolio? CrunchMatch covers all the bases.
We haven’t touched on the great speakers we have on tap or explored the TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 agenda. Peruse it at your leisure, but don’t dawdle. Buy your group discount passes by September 4 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) and save. Opportunity calls, and it’ll take a village to take advantage of all of them.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Black founders can get tactical advice at Disrupt
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and widespread protests for racial justice, a number of venture capitalists made public statements about wanting to improve diversity in the tech industry — and more specifically to fund more diverse founders.
Their comments are certainly worth applauding, but actual change is a lot harder. And if it comes at all, it will take time. In the meantime, how can Black founders navigate a tech and venture capital industry where they have historically been underrepresented, overlooked and worse?
To answer that question, we’ll bring three Black founders together at Disrupt 2020 from September 14-18 who can speak directly about their experience raising funding and launching startups.
One of our speakers, Michael Seibel, is now funding startups himself as partner and CEO of startup accelerator Y Combinator. Before that, however, he was co-founder and CEO at Justin.tv (which became game streaming giant Twitch) and then at its spin-off, Socialcam (which was acquired by Autodesk). So he can talk about both sides, as both a founder and investor.
Joining Seibel will be two YC startup founders — Reham Fagiri of furniture marketplace AptDeco and Songe LaRon of barbershop software maker Squire. We’ll talk to all three of them on the Extra Crunch stage, getting as specific and tactical as possible about what Black founders can expect and what steps they can take to succeed.
Learn more at Disrupt 2020, which runs from September 14-18. Buy the Disrupt Digital Pro Pass, or if you’re an early-stage founder a Digital Startup Alley Exhibitor Package, today and get access to all the interviews on our Main Stage, workshops over on the Extra Crunch Stage, where you can get actionable tips, as well as CrunchMatch, our free, AI-powered networking platform. As soon as you register for Disrupt, you will have access to CrunchMatch and can start connecting with people. Use the tool to schedule one-on-one video calls with potential customers and investors or to recruit and interview prospective employees.
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Here’s how you can get a second shot at Startup Battlefield
We’re big believers in second chances here at TechCrunch, and that’s great news for early-stage founders who didn’t apply to compete in the Startup Battlefield during Disrupt 2020 (September 14-18). Your second chance comes in the form of two Wild Card entries to the world’s most legendary startup competition.
Want a shot to go head-to-head with some of the best new startups from around the world? Go buy a Digital Startup Alley Package and exhibit your standout startup to thousands of Disrupt 2020 attendees. TechCrunch editors will designate two outstanding early-stage startups from Digital Startup Alley as Wild Card entries.
You’ll have just a few days to prepare before you join the other Startup Battlefield competitors and deliver a six-minute pitch and demo to a panel of judges — top-name VCs and technologists. You’ll also answer a Q&A after your pitch. If you make it through to round two, you’ll do it all again to a fresh set of experts.
The prize? Massive exposure to media and investors (whether you win or not), glory in the form of the Disrupt Cup and $100,000 in sweet, equity-free cash.
Pro tip: Exhibit in Digital Startup Alley and you’re eligible for a Wild Card slot — even if you applied to Startup Battlefield but didn’t make it into the final cohort. You came so close — don’t pass up your second chance!
Exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley by itself is a win-win proposition. Introduce your tech and talent to thousands of people around the world, expand your network, build partnerships, attract investors, build your customer base and increase your brand recognition.
“I met so many industry experts — manufacturers, marketers, engineers — I even met people interested in investing in my company. Fostering these relationships over the long term will help my company scale and help me grow as an innovator.” — Felicia Jackson, inventor and founder of CPRWrap.
Buy a Digital Startup Alley Package, hang your shingle in Startup Alley and get ready to connect with the influential people who can help you build your business. Believe in second chances — you just might earn a Wild Card entry to Startup Battlefield and take a page out of RecordGram’s playbook. They rode the Wild Card to total victory as Battlefield champs. Go for it!
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Startup Alley exhibitors: Register for VC-led Fundraising & Hiring Best Practices webinar
It’s a classic “last but not least” moment for the all the savvy early-stage startup founders exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley at Disrupt 2020. The final webinar in our three-part interactive series takes place on August 26 at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET. Don’t forget to register right here.
Pro tip: You must be a Digital Startup Alley exhibitor to access this webinar (and other Disrupt 2020 events coming soon to the internet near you). Not an exhibitor yet? Buy a Digital Startup Alley Package and the webinar will be the first of many benefits coming your way. More on those in a minute.
Bonus pro tip: Curious about the look and feel of Disrupt 2020? Check out the video of our latest Ask Me Anything session: How TechCrunch turned Disrupt into a virtual event.
Got your pass? Tune in, bring your questions and get ready for a masterclass called Fundraising and Hiring Best Practices. Every startup founder needs to understand how these essential aspects work to mount a successful startup, and we have seasoned experts to guide the way.
The panel, moderated by our own Natasha Mascarenhas, includes Sarah Kunst (Cleo Capital) and Brett Berson (First Round Capital). Learn tips and effective strategies to help you secure funding for your startup. Learn to avoid pitfalls when you begin to hire — getting it right is one of those make or break moments.
Exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley can be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. Exhibit and demo your tech and talent to thousands of global Disrupt attendees. Use your custom exhibit page to feature your pitch deck or marketing video and collect leads from people who visit the page.
CrunchMatch, our free AI-powered networking platform, helps you find and connect with people who can help grow your business — investors, potential customers, media and other influencers. It helps them find you, too. Even better, CrunchMatch is live right now. Translation: more time to pitch, demo and schedule 1:1 virtual meetings.
Your exhibitor status also gives you exclusive access to upcoming speed networking and interview sessions with accelerators and founder organizations. Connect with the likes of iFundWomen, Backstage Capital, Techstars, Plug and Play and Global Startup Ecosystem. There’s no telling where one conversation with any of these groups might take you.
Don’t miss out on our Fundraising & Hiring Best Practices webinar on August 26 at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET. Already an exhibitor? Register to attend here.
And don’t miss out on the opportunities that come from exhibiting in Startup Alley. Be savvy. Buy a Digital Startup Alley Package, register for the webinar, and do everything in your power to drive your business forward.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Two weeks left on early-bird pricing for TC Sessions: Mobility 2020
It’s time to mobilize for early-bird savings on passes to the all-virtual TC Sessions: Mobility 2020, which takes place October 6-7. Prices will continue to increase as the event draws near. Buy your pass before September 4 at 11:59 p.m. (PT) and you’ll save $100 over full price.
This ain’t no two-day webinar, friends. We have the tech and people in place to create a virtual experience that lives up to the high standards we set for our in-person events. You’ll tune in and interact with the leading mobility makers, investors, movers and shakers. Check out our speakers here.
Expect in-depth interviews, panel discussions and insight on crucial trends in autonomous vehicles, electrification, shared mobility and beyond. Plus, we’ve added a pitch-off this year — stay tuned to learn how early-stage mobility startups can apply to compete.
Networking is an essential part of TC Sessions: Mobility, and we’ve built time for it right into our event agenda (yep, we’re adding more cool stuff in the coming weeks). The virtual aspect makes this the first time the global mobility community can participate in this conference. Now you can network with mobility startups and investors around the world.
Want to simplify, amplify and organize your networking? We supercharged CrunchMatch, our AI-powered networking platform, to help you connect and schedule 1:1 video meetings with the people you want to meet — based on mutual goals and business interests. And the upgraded algorithm makes those matches faster and more precise.
TC Sessions: Mobility may be virtual and yes, it will look and feel different. But virtual or not, the opportunities waiting to be discovered are very real. Look at what your peers have said about their TC Sessions: Mobility experience.
“People want to be around what’s interesting and learn what trends and issues they need to pay attention to. Even large companies like GM and Ford are there, because they’re starting to see the trend move toward mobility. They want to learn from the experts, and TC Sessions: Mobility has all the experts.” — Melika Jahangiri, vice president at Wunder Mobility.
“TC Sessions Mobility offers several big benefits. First, networking opportunities that result in concrete partnerships. Second, the chance to learn the latest trends and how mobility will evolve. Third, the opportunity for unknown startups to connect with other mobility companies and build brand awareness.” — Karin Maake, senior director of communications at FlashParking
Nothing but opportunity awaits at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 on October 6-7. But if you want to get the best price, buy your pass before the early-bird offer expires September 4 at 11:59 p.m. (PT). It’s time to mobilize and save.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Mobility 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Five real reasons to attend Disrupt 2020 online
Why should you attend Disrupt 2020? We live in unprecedented times and face unprecedented challenges. But unprecedented opportunities are also part of this equation, and now is the time for creative startup minds and makers to go full-tilt disruptive.
We reengineered Disrupt, which takes place September 14-18, into a virtual global tech summit. And we’ve added enhancements to bridge the physical distance of a virtual conference. It’s designed to help you build the connections, skills and knowledge you need to discover, assess and capitalize on those opportunities.
Without further ado: Five reasons why you should attend Disrupt 2020.
1. More days to Disrupt
We expanded Disrupt to span five full days. Now you have more time to experience everything Disrupt offers. Interviews and panel discussions with the leading voices in technology, investing and business speaking from the Disrupt Stage. They’ll cover topics critical to startup success and address COVID-19 — the ginormous elephant in the room. Here’s just a sample of what we have on tap. Check out the growing Disrupt agenda.
- How Things Get Built in the Middle of a Pandemic with Anker CEO Steven Yang (Anker), Kate Whitcomb (Chrysalis Cloud) and Sonny Vu (Alabaster)
- The Black Founder Experience: Tactical Advice for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs with Michael Seibel (Y Combinator), Songe LaRon (Squire) and Reham Fagiri (AptDeco)
- How to Raise Your First Dollars with Alexa von Tobel (Inspired Capital Partners), Hunter Walk (Homebrew) and Ted Wang (Cowboy Ventures)
2. Network for weeks with CrunchMatch
You’ll need an effective tool to help you connect with thousands of Disrupt attendees around the world. CrunchMatch, our free, AI-powered networking platform (think speed dating for techies) is up and running. Simply register for Disrupt and you can start connecting with the right people to build your empire now, weeks ahead of time. Schedule 1:1 video calls to meet new customers, pitch investors, recruit engineers and developers or interview prospective employees.
3. Extra Crunch Stage
Looking for workshops that deliver actionable tips you can apply to your business? Head to the Extra Crunch Stage. Interactive sessions — facilitated by top experts in marketing, business development and investing — cover topics like how to pivot in the face of a crisis, building a sales team and raising money in a tough economy.
4. Pitch Deck Teardown
Want to make a solid first impression with potential investors? You need a pitch deck that accurately reflects your startup’s goals and potential. During the Pitch Deck Teardown sessions, top venture capitalists will critique an early-stage startup’s pitch deck and provide tips to improve it. Want to be considered for the teardown treatment? Submit your pitch deck here.
5. Disrupt delivers
Networking, funding, brand exposure and new ways of thinking are just some of the benefits your peers have gleaned from Disrupt.
“Disrupt has everything early stage founders need, from advice on raising money and how to scale to exposure and brand recognition. Hearing expert panelists and industry leaders helped us think about emerging technologies and new markets we could explore.” — Joel Neidig, founder of SIMBA Chain
“The benefits of going to Disrupt were introducing my product, networking with investors and potential customers and talking to other founders about what it took to get their companies off the ground.” — Felicia Jackson, inventor and founder of CPRWrap
“Disrupt provides terrific insight on trends in different industries like e-grocery, AI and big data.” — Daniel Lloreda, general partner at H20 Capital Innovation
We haven’t even touched on core pillars of every Disrupt — the Startup Battlefield pitch competition with a $100,000 prize and Digital Startup Alley, where you’ll find hundreds of the world’s most innovative young startups around the world.
What opportunities are waiting for you at Disrupt 2020? Buy your pass and get ready to find and create your own.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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