Startups

Former Riot Games employees leverage generative AI to power NPCs in new video game

Gaming /

Jam & Tea Studios is the latest gaming startup implementing generative AI to transform the way players interact with non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games.  Traditionally, video game NPCs are directed by predetermined scripts, which can feel repetitive, unrealistic, and boring. It also may restrict the number of potential experiences for players. However, when generative […]

Former Riot Games employees leverage generative AI to power NPCs in new video game Read More »

GitHub Copilot competitor Codeium raises $150M at a $1.25B valuation

Fundraising /

A startup whose product competes with GitHub Copilot and other AI-powered coding assistants has achieved unicorn status. On Thursday, Codeium said it closed a $150 million Series C round led by General Catalyst that values the company at $1.25 billion post-money. The round, which also saw participation from existing investors Kleiner Perkins and Greenoaks Capital,

GitHub Copilot competitor Codeium raises $150M at a $1.25B valuation Read More »

OpenAI reportedly in talks to close a new funding round at $100B+ valuation

AI /

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, could be in talks to raise a massive tranche of cash. The Wall Street Journal reports that OpenAI may be close to closing a fundraising round led by Thrive Capital, a previous investor, that’d value the AI company at over $100 billion. That’s substantially higher than OpenAI’s previous $86 billion

OpenAI reportedly in talks to close a new funding round at $100B+ valuation Read More »

How Techstars, Meta helped profitable LatAM startup Mercately raise a $2.6M seed

Venture /

In Latin American countries like Brazil and Chile, messaging platform WhatsApp has become one of the most popular apps to buy things online. It was even the ecommerce platform of choice in the region during the pandemic. But WhatsApp is designed to be a messaging platform, not an e-commerce site. A startup called Mercately is

How Techstars, Meta helped profitable LatAM startup Mercately raise a $2.6M seed Read More »

Data infrastructure startup Cribl raises $319M at a $3.5B valuation

Fundraising /

San Francisco-based data infrastructure startup Cribl has raised $319 million in a Series E funding tranche led by new investor GV (Alphabet’s corporate venture arm) with participation from GIC, CapitalG, IVP and CRV. Bringing Cribl’s total raised to $600 million, the cash injection values the company at $3.5 billion — up around 40% from Cribl’s

Data infrastructure startup Cribl raises $319M at a $3.5B valuation Read More »

Palico is now the first FINRA-approved company to facilitate online LP-led secondaries deals

Venture /

Limited partners selling their investment stakes in venture capital funds to other LPs on the secondary market is nothing new. But traditionally these transactions happen offline through an opaque network of brokers that could charge costly fees and prove prohibitive for certain LPs to participate. Palico is looking to change that. Paris-based Palico quietly got

Palico is now the first FINRA-approved company to facilitate online LP-led secondaries deals Read More »

Travly lets travelers submit videos for a chance to earn a 5% commission from hotel bookings

Startups /

Travly is a new social-first discovery and hotel booking platform designed to cater to the growing number of travelers who rely on short-form video content for trip ideas.  The platform features user-generated content that provides authentic reviews of hotels instead of generic information and often outdated images. Creators who submit videos of hotels have the

Travly lets travelers submit videos for a chance to earn a 5% commission from hotel bookings Read More »

Harmonyze wants to build AI agents to help franchisors make sense of unstructured data

AI /

For some businesses, there is a clear path to growth that doesn’t involve acquiring other companies or expanding organically: franchising. The U.S. has more than 800,000 franchise businesses, according to Statista, and that number is predicted to keep growing year over year. But franchising a business — licensing a business model and brand to an

Harmonyze wants to build AI agents to help franchisors make sense of unstructured data Read More »

Etched founder Gavin Uberti thinks his company stands on the “shoulders of giants”

Startups /

The release of ChatGPT in November 2022 sparked a new wave of AI companies. It also brought attention to the companies that were already building in the space like Etched. Etched co-founder and CEO Gavin Uberti said on a recent episode of TechCrunch’s Found podcast that his company “stands on the shoulders of giants.” While

Etched founder Gavin Uberti thinks his company stands on the “shoulders of giants” Read More »