Startups

NetZeroNitrogen wants bacteria to replace synthetic fertilizer on farm fields

Climate /

Synthetic fertilizer is a modern wonder, helping to feed billions of people, but it’s not without its costs. Fertilizer runoff from farm fields has led to dead zones in oceans around the world, where low oxygen levels have starved normally teeming coastal waters of life itself. Eliminating synthetic fertilizers is a tall order, but one […]

NetZeroNitrogen wants bacteria to replace synthetic fertilizer on farm fields Read More »

Amazon backs programmable optics startup Lumotive

Startups /

Programmable optics startup Lumotive has added a few more strategic backers to its recent Series B round. Redmond, Washington-based Lumotive reopened its recent Series B funding round to bring in Amazon, through its Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, and ITHCA Group, the technology investment arm of Oman’s sovereign wealth fund, as investors. These fresh funds bring

Amazon backs programmable optics startup Lumotive Read More »

The perfect pitch: This NEA partner says every founder should answer these 5 questions

Venture /

Most founders eventually have to pitch venture firms in hopes of raising capital. Tiffany Luck, a partner at NEA, took the stage at TechCrunch’s All Stage event in Boston to answer how to craft the perfect one. “I like to think of a VC pitch as your initial way for assessing founder-investor fit,” she told

The perfect pitch: This NEA partner says every founder should answer these 5 questions Read More »

CaaStle founder charged with fraud, turns herself in

Venture /

Christine Hunsicker, founder of the fashion startup CaaStle, turned herself in to authorities Friday to face fraud charges, authorities confirmed to Bloomberg.  The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment against her, charging her with wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and lying to financial institutions. She

CaaStle founder charged with fraud, turns herself in Read More »

Rwazi raises $12M Series A to help companies with consumer insights and intelligence

Venture /

Joseph Rutakanga spent eight years looking for tools to help companies gather consumer insight data. Eventually, he decided to just build them.  Now his startup, called Rwazi, has raised a $12 million Series A led by Bonfire Ventures to help companies with market intelligence and consumer insights. He founded the company in 2021 with co-founder

Rwazi raises $12M Series A to help companies with consumer insights and intelligence Read More »

UK launches £500M package to support diverse, underrepresented investors and founders

Government & Policy /

The British Business Bank, owned by the UK government, is creating a £500 million (around $674 million) economic package to help support diverse and underrepresented fund managers and founders in the country.  Fifty million pounds will be set aside for female-led venture funds, which means the BBB has now committed at least £100 million (around

UK launches £500M package to support diverse, underrepresented investors and founders Read More »

AI leadership development platform Praxis Labs sells to Torch

Startups /

Praxis Labs, a learning development platform, announced its acquisition on Thursday for an undisclosed amount by the leadership and coaching enterprise Torch.  “As a small company with fewer than 20 people serving companies as large as Amazon, we knew we needed to build powerful partnerships, across product and go-to-market, to reach more companies,” co-founder and

AI leadership development platform Praxis Labs sells to Torch Read More »

Sarah Smith launches $16M fund, says AI can ‘unlock’ so much for solo GPs like herself

Venture /

Sarah Smith, founder and managing partner of the eponymous Sarah Smith Fund, announced Thursday the final closing of a $16 million Fund I.  Smith launched her eponymous fund in 2022 and is a solo GP. She said she’s “stunned” by what AI can unlock for firms like hers, solo and next-generation. “I can’t imagine doing

Sarah Smith launches $16M fund, says AI can ‘unlock’ so much for solo GPs like herself Read More »