VCs seek 'augmented' founders | Newsletter

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Quick Hits

Sky’s the limit: ChatGPT drops Hollywood voice.

‘Chip crisis’: Samsung warns of AI demands.

Tech to VC: a16z seeks technical founders.

News news: Gannett adds AI summaries.

Pay Alexa: Bot adds genAI for a fee.

Reddit on ChatGPT: OpenAI gets social.

Google-AI: Search, ads add AI.

Twitter rebrand: It’s X.com.

Flying future: Startup aims for 2026.

Space bounce: Blue Origin resumes orbit.

It’s a…: Airbus Racer is half heli, half plane.

AI PCs: Dell CEO predicts they’ll be standard.

PC-Mac redux: AI PCs reboot rivalry.

Tech Gulf: Saudis build quantum computer.

Leaving China: Microsoft relocates AI team.

Cloudy Spain: Amazon invest billions.

Unboxing AI: IBM open sources.

Sarcasm decoder: AI masters witty wordplay.

Trending Startups

Decentralized network effects

Farcaster, a crypto-powered social protocol founded by Coinbase alumni, is gaining traction with Web3 users and investors with its on-chain identity and "pay to post" model. The platform lets devs build topic-specific social apps on Ethereum. This is welcome news for crypto, which saw a 68% funding drop last year. 

The rise of 'augmented' startup founders

With as many as 7 in 10 founders reporting mental health struggles, some VCs embrace the idea of 'augmented founders' who prioritize self-care and build robust support systems. This approach leads to better decision making and tends to attract top talent.

Norwegian AI startup predicts natural disasters

7Analytics uses AI to predict floods and landslides with meter-scale accuracy, helping over 40 businesses and governments mitigate risks from extreme weather events.

Using AI to save elephants

The Indian state of Tamil Nadu uses AI surveillance to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks. A dozen towers with thermal imaging and motion sensors have helped avert hundreds of potential accidents.

India 'very favorable' for IPOs

India's IPO market remains robust thanks to strong investor sentiment, a resilient economy and relaxed regulations, according to a recent investor analysis.

Recently Funded

• London-based Haz Raises $1.4M for AI Social Commerce

• Indianapolis-based RootNote Raises $1.5M to Crunch Athlete Data

• NYC-based AgeTech Carl Raises $1.15M

• NYC-based Crosby Health Raises $2.2M to Optimize Healthcare

• India-based InstaAstro Raises $2.30M for Online Astrology

• Stockholm-based QA.tech Raises $3M for AI-based Testing

• Wilmington-based Highperformr Raises $3.5M for Social AI

• Nashville-based Angel AI Raises $4.75M for Children’s Web

• Chicago-based Bedrock Materials Raises $9M for Battery Technology

• Los Angeles-based Kudos Raises $10.2M for Smart Wallets

• Sweden-based Leya Raises $10.5M for Legal Tech

• Seattle-based Overland AI Raises $10M for Defense Autonomy

• Shanghai-based Gausium Raises $50M for Cleaning Robots

Weekly Pulse

What We’re Reading

Scientists use generative AI to answer complex questions in physics (MIT)

Textio’s Founder Kieran Snyder on the Two Advantages Startups Have in AI (While Remaining Skeptical Of The Funding Gold Rush) (Hunter Walk)

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on AI-powered search and the future of the web (The Verge)

Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Wants Us to Stop Treating AI Like Humans (Bloomberg Technology)

Chatting With Her - The ChatGPT App on Mac (Venture Capitalist at Theory)

Poll of the Week

Post of the Week

Podcasts of the Week

Work Friction: The Unseen Drag On Productivity with Christophe Martel CEO of Found #48 (Voices of HR)

S9 E25: JJ Tang, Rootly (Code Story)

Startups Hiring Now

Closinglock: Platform to protect from fraud and move money for real estate transactions | 3 open roles

Kindbody: Fertility, gynecology, and wellness services in modern, tech-enabled clinics | 74 open roles

Boom: Build credit with rent | 2 open roles

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