Startups

Federal prosecutors have charged another Forbes 30 Under 30 alum with fraud

Startups /

The FBI unsealed an indictment yesterday that alleges Joanna Smith-Griffin, founder of the AI startup AllHere Education, engaged in “securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with defrauding investors” out of nearly $10 million. The FBI claims she misrepresented her company’s revenue, customer base, and cash to investors from at least November […]

Federal prosecutors have charged another Forbes 30 Under 30 alum with fraud Read More »

In 2023 VCs returned the lowest level of capital to their investors since 2011

Venture /

It’s no secret that the venture capital industry is facing a liquidity crisis as IPOs and other exits remain few and far between after 2020 and 2021’s record-breaking years. Now, we have numbers that show just how bad it’s gotten. In 2023, the U.S. VC industry invested $60 billion more into startups than it collected

In 2023 VCs returned the lowest level of capital to their investors since 2011 Read More »

Consumer tech is bouncing back, and consumer founders like Brynn Putnam are bouncing back with it

AI /

When Brynn Putnam sold her last company, Mirror, to Lululemon for $500 million at the start of the pandemic, it looked to this editor like she’d sold the smart fitness company too soon.  Instead, the timing proved brilliant. The home fitness craze crashed nearly as abruptly as it peaked during that first year of lockdowns.

Consumer tech is bouncing back, and consumer founders like Brynn Putnam are bouncing back with it Read More »

‘Hawk Tuah’ girl launches Pookie Tool, an AI-powered dating advice app, and it’s fine?

Apps /

Haliey Welch, the 22-year-old who went viral for her “Hawk Tuah” video, has managed to turn her brief moment of fame into a full-fledged career. In just a few months, Welch has rapidly risen to fame, amassing around 5 million followers across various social media platforms.  After recently releasing her own podcast titled “Talk Tuah,”

‘Hawk Tuah’ girl launches Pookie Tool, an AI-powered dating advice app, and it’s fine? Read More »

General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures back data mapping startup Lume

AI /

Data integration is a necessary part of many workflows from onboarding customer data to exercising payroll, but for many data sets the process is long and manual. Data is siloed into databases and SaaS applications that each keep the information in different formats, which makes it difficult to move information from one database to another.

General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures back data mapping startup Lume Read More »

Supersonic aircraft startup Exosonic is shutting down

Transportation /

Exosonic, a startup developing supersonic commercial air travel and UAV tech, is winding down after five years of operation. In an update posted to its website, Exosonic said it was unable to find the traction necessary to continue operations.  “Although the founders and team still believe in the need/desire for quiet supersonic flight and supersonic

Supersonic aircraft startup Exosonic is shutting down Read More »

Pinstripe wants to redefine the way online sellers sell secondhand clothing

Startups /

Pinstripe aims to reimagine the secondhand market by offering sellers the opportunity to have both a digital storefront and a physical retail presence. Launched in June, the platform offers an alternative approach compared with other marketplaces like Archive, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark. With Pinstripe, sellers take their clothes to local consignment stores, vintage shops,

Pinstripe wants to redefine the way online sellers sell secondhand clothing Read More »