Hello Elphas!

I’m Mary Ann Azevedo. I’m currently a Senior Reporter at TechCrunch where I write about startups and venture, with an emphasis on fintech coverage. I have over 20 years of experience as a journalist reporting on a broad range of topics such as real estate, tech, venture capital, and healthcare.

I started my career writing for a small newspaper in North Carolina that was owned by The New York Times. I got into online journalism when online journalism was just starting to become a thing – in 1997. My first exposure to covering startups was in 1999 when I began reporting on the dot.com boom - and subsequent bust. I love covering startups because to me, they represent hope. While certainly not all of them succeed, there are many who have gone on to change the world and it’s exciting to write about them in their early days and watch them grow.

I started writing for TechCrunch in February of 2021. I immediately felt at home. The other reporters and editors are all so smart and passionate about what they do, and it’s inspiring. I respected the publication before, but even more so now. We all care about quality journalism and I love that I am afforded the freedom to explore topics that interest me, such as looking at Latin America’s growing startup ecosystem. I live in Austin, which is growing quite a bit. I moved here from the Bay Area, where I really enjoyed living. There are many similarities between the two locales – culturally and physically.

On a weekly basis, I co-host TechCrunch’s Equity Podcast where we talk about the business of startups. It’s a good opportunity for me to get out of my fintech bubble and talk about other subjects with my fabulous co-hosts and friends, Alex Wilhelm and Natasha Mascarenhas. I never thought I’d enjoy being on a podcast but it really is like having a conversation with my friends about startups and tech, where we get to be a bit more opinionated and analytical.

But first and foremost, I am a mom of two. My son is almost 15, and my daughter is 9. It’s not always easy juggling a full-time job and being a mother but I do feel like I’m setting a good example for them when it comes to hard work and responsibility. Sadly (or not), it appears that neither of my children want to follow in my footsteps to become a writer. But of course, I will support their choices. My son is passionate about coding and is self-taught. My daughter is more of a creative. I love them to pieces and actually learn more from them every day than I ever expected.

Ask me anything about online journalism, venture capital, fintech, being a working mom, or anything else!