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StrictlyVC News
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StrictlyVC News is a podcast co-hosted by Connie and Luke, delivering concise, curated insights from the StrictlyVC newsletter. Each episode covers the latest in venture capital, startups, and the tech industry, making it a go-to source for busy professionals looking to stay informed on the latest trends and developments.
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Musk bids on OpenAI, Carta settles another sexual harassment case, and Lumon Industries has a job for you
Feb 11, 202500:14:31Tap to summarizeThis newsletter covers recent developments in the tech and venture capital landscape.Elon Musk has made a bid to acquire OpenAI, while cap table management firm Carta settled additional sexual harassment cases.The newsletter also explores the impact of generative AI on critical thinking skills in the workplace, citing a study from Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University.Additionally, it highlights significant funding rounds for various startups across different sectors, including AI-powered security compliance and sustainable impact analysis.Other news includes Plaid's potential public offering and Google DeepMind's criticism of DeepSeek.Finally, there are brief reports on robotaxi development, Super Bowl betting, and potential tech company sanctions.
Transcribe →Anduril lines up for more funding, Shein loses some sheen amid tariff talks, and "Big Balls" is back
Feb 8, 202500:20:09Tap to summarize1/ Anduril is raisinganother $2.5B at a $28B valuation—doubling in just 6 months. Founders Fund is leading the round. Defense tech money ispouring in. 💰🚀 (Forbes)2/ Meanwhile, OpenAI is closing in on a$40B investment led by SoftBank, valuing the company at$300B. That’s almost the size of Nestlé or ExxonMobil. 🤯 (NYT)3/ On the wilder side of AI… Safe Superintelligence (led by OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever) is reportedly raising at a$20B valuation—with no product or revenue. 🚨 (Reuters)4/ Big funding rounds keep rolling:X-energy (nuclear tech) raised$700M from Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.Tidal Vision (crab-shell tech?!) snagged$140M.Rapyd (payments) is looking for$300M at adown-round valuation. 📉5/ Remember when Google promised it wouldn’t build AI weapons? Yeah… about that. Itdeleted the pledge. AI legend Andrew Ng isthrilled about it. (TechCrunch)6/ Shein’s IPO might take a25% valuation cut thanks to U.S. tariff fears. Fast fashion + geopolitics = 💸🔪 (PYMNTS)7/ Meanwhile, DOGE’s most chaotic personalities areback in the news:“Big Balls” Coristine got fired from his internship for leaking company info.Marko Elez (of “Normalize Indian hate” fame) is beingrehired by Musk. (CNBC)8/ Layoffs continue:Sprinklr is cutting 500 jobs (~15% of staff). Tech is still feeling the burn. (TechCrunch)9/Meta allegedly torrented81.7 TB of pirated books to train its AI. That’s aninsane amount of data. (Ars Technica)10/ Detour: Did you know “boneless wings” aren’t wings? Super Bowl Sunday is coming, and 1.47B wings will be eaten. Just… think about it. 🍗🏈11/ Speaking of the Super Bowl,Miami Heat’s Pat Riley is cashing in on “Three-Peat” if the Chiefs win. Trademarking is a long game. 🏆12/ Pickleball fans: The High Roller paddle is getting aSuper Bowl ad thanks to Michelob. The sport keeps leveling up. 🎾🏆
Transcribe →Feb 25. Week 1 - Smaller Fundings VC Funded Companies
Feb 6, 202500:00:49Tap to summarizeSmaller Fundings Astra Security, a seven-year-old startup based in Claymont, DE, that uses AI to continuously scan applications, APIs, and cloud environments to identify security vulnerabilities, raised a $2.7 million round led by Emergent Ventures, with Neon Fund, Better Capital, Blume Ventures, and PointOne Capital also partaking. More here. Desteia, a two-year-old New York startup that helps businesses track and manage their global shipments by using AI to analyze unstructured data in emails and other messages, raised an $8 million seed round co-led by Autotech Ventures, Nazca, and Village Global, with additional funds provided by Foundamental, Bridge Latam, and Nido Ventures. The company has raised a total of $11.5 million. More here. GetWhys, a two-year-old startup based in Boise, ID, that offers an AI-powered platform providing B2B companies with instant customer insights, raised a $2.8 million seed round led by Next Frontier Capital and including Tuesday Capital and Capital Eleven. SiliconANGLE has more here.
Transcribe →Feb 25. Week 1 - Big-But-Not-Crazy-Big Fundings VC Funded Companies
Feb 6, 202500:00:55Tap to summarizeBig-But-Not-Crazy-Big Fundings Atombeam, an eight-year-old startup based in Moraga, CA, that develops software that reduces the size of data files by up to 75% to enhance transmission efficiency and security, raised a $20 million Reg A+ round through StartEngine, a crowdsourcing platform, The company has raised a total of $35 million. SiliconANGLE has more here. Beamable, a five-year-old Boston startup whose platform enables game developers to easily add social, commerce, and content management features to their games, raised a $13.5 million Series A round led by BITKRAFT Ventures, with Arca, Advancit Capital, 2Punks, P2 Ventures, Solana Foundation, Scytale Digital, defy.vc, GrandBanks Capital, and Permit Ventures also joining in. NFTgators has more here.
Transcribe →Deel's deal, the real story behind Pavel Durov's arrest, and an OpenAI co-founder leaves Anthropic months after joining
Feb 6, 202500:13:37Tap to summarizeTop News: The U.S. Postal Service is once again accepting packages from China. Wall Street banks have sold off their X debt, influenced by Elon Musk's relationship with President Trump and X's stake in Grok. AI researchers have created an alternative to OpenAI’s o1 and DeepSeek’s R1 for $50. Operatives working for Elon Musk have gained access to U.S. government data, raising concerns about security and legality. This access, granted to Musk’s DOGE team, involves sensitive data on millions of Americans and allies, with questions surrounding cybersecurity practices and transparency. Funding Rounds: Cashfree: $53 million Series C (payment gateways). Semgrep: $100 million Series D (AI for security flaw detection). Atombeam: $20 million Reg A+ (data file size reduction). Beamable: $13.5 million Series A (game development platform). IONATE: $17 million Series A (smart energy platforms). Ivo: $16 million Series A (AI for contract review). MagicSchool AI: $45 million Series B (tools for educators). Protex AI: $36 million Series B (AI for workplace safety monitoring). Astra Security: $2.7 million (AI for identifying security vulnerabilities). Desteia: $8 million seed (AI for managing global shipments). GetWhys: $2.8 million seed (AI-powered customer insights). Little Otter: $9.5 million (virtual care for children and families). LogicStar: $3 million pre-seed (AI agents for software maintenance). Neuralk-AI: $4 million (AI embedding platform). PinkDx: $5 million Series A extension (diagnostic tests for gynecological cancers). Prior Labs: $9.4 million pre-seed (AI models for analyzing data). SAEKI: $6.7 million seed (3D printing and precision machining). SimpliFed: $4 million (lactation and infant feeding support). Solstice Health: $3.5 million seed (AI for life sciences marketing). Trace.Space: $4 million seed (AI for managing product requirements). New Funds: Cherry Ventures: Raised a $500 million fund. Exits: Ampere: SoftBank is considering acquiring Ampere for $6.5 billion. Deel: Sold $300 million secondary shares in preparation for a potential IPO. People: A Democratic House member is introducing the ELON MUSK Act to limit federal contracts for Special Government Employees like Elon Musk. John Schulman, an OpenAI co-founder, left Anthropic after six months. Yan-David Erlich has joined B Capital as a general partner. Layoffs: Workday: Laid off 8.5% of its employees. Sonos: Laid off 12% of its staff. Other: Amazon is exploring math to reduce AI hallucinations. Google is ditching DEI hiring goals. Researchers are using NPR Sunday Puzzle questions to test AI models.
Transcribe →Meta mulls a move to Texas, Sam Altman says OpenAI is on “the wrong side of history,” and crazy Super Bowl bets
Feb 1, 202500:11:18Tap to summarizeBriefing Document: StrictlyVC Newsletter - January 31, 2025 Overall Theme: The newsletter provides a snapshot of the fast-evolving tech landscape, focusing heavily on AI advancements, funding activity, and some notable shifts in the industry. The tone is informal, but the content is packed with significant developments and emerging trends. I. Key Themes and Developments: AI Model Competition Intensifies: DeepSeek's Rise: DeepSeek is presented as a major disruptive force in the AI space, challenging the dominance of OpenAI with its more cost-effective and efficient models. Anjney Midha, a Mistral board member and a16z VC, acknowledges DeepSeek's impact: "Now we can get 10 times more output from the same compute." OpenAI's Response: OpenAI is reacting to DeepSeek's challenge by releasing a new mini-LLM to counter the perception of DeepSeek's cost efficiency. AI2 Joins the Race: The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) is also in the running with a new contender for the world's fastest LLM, further highlighting the competitive landscape. GPU Consumption Debate: Despite DeepSeek's efficiency, Midha argues that the hunger for GPUs in the AI space will not diminish as companies seek to maximize what they can do with the compute power they can acquire. "Does DeepSeek mean that all that billion dollars is completely unnecessary? No, actually, it’s extraordinarily valuable for them to be able to look at DeepSeek’s efficiency improvements, internalize them, and then throw a billion dollars at it.” AI Safety and Ethical Concerns: DeepSeek's R1 Failures: The newsletter notes that DeepSeek's R1 model failed every test by safety researchers, raising questions about safety. Open-Sourcing Debate: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, admits that his company has been "on the wrong side of history" regarding open-sourcing technologies, hinting at a potential shift in approach. Government Scrutiny: The U.S. government is investigating whether DeepSeek illegally purchased Nvidia GPUs, indicating growing regulatory interest and possible concerns over how AI companies are obtaining key resources. Funding Frenzy (with a focus on AI): Large Funding Rounds: Several startups, particularly in the AI space, secured significant funding. For example, ElevenLabs, a voice generation software company, raised a $180 million Series C at a $3.3 billion valuation. Variety of Sectors: Funding extended beyond just AI, with companies in real estate tech, security, fintech, healthtech and more receiving investments. The newsletter provides a good overview of the types of companies investors are betting on. Corporate Relocations & Reorganizations: Meta's Texas Consideration: Meta is considering reincorporating in Texas, potentially moving away from Delaware. This could signal a shift in the corporate landscape, and perhaps a reaction to regulatory or tax policies. Prediction Markets & Elections: Kalshi's Rise: Kalshi, a prediction market, has gained significant traction, particularly after its accurate prediction of the U.S. election. Brokerage Integration: Kalshi is on the verge of making its services available through brokerages, further legitimizing its position in the market. Shifting Tech Landscapes Apple AR Challenges Apple seems unsure about the future of its Vision Pro headset and has cancelled plans for a competing AR glasses product, signaling potential issues within the organization and possibly an underwhelming market reception. Amazon vs. Washington Post: The tension between Amazon and the Washington Post, particularly surrounding the investigation of Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite facility, highlights the complex relationships and potential conflicts of interest within large corporate structures. Other Notable Items Tether's Profitability: Tether is reporting a significant profit of $13 Billion from BitCoin and Gold.
Transcribe →OpenAI aims high, Mark Zuckerberg longs for an “OG Facebook,” and an Albert Einstein candid for the ages
Jan 31, 202500:11:54Tap to summarize🚀 OpenAI's valuation skyrockets, Zuckerberg longs for old-school Facebook, and a rare candid shot of Einstein emerges. A wild week in tech! 🧵👇 1️⃣ OpenAI is reportedly raising $40B at a jaw-dropping $340B valuation—more than double its last round in October! SoftBank is rumored to be leading the charge. 💰🤖 2️⃣ Mark Zuckerberg says he misses the "OG Facebook"—the days before ads and influencers. A sign of nostalgia or a hint at a major shift? 👀📱 3️⃣ An unseen candid photo of Albert Einstein surfaces, capturing the genius in a rare, unfiltered moment. History meets science. 🧠📸 4️⃣ Nucleus Genomics raises $14M Series A, aiming to make genetic testing as common as a smartphone app. DNA insights on demand? The future is closer than you think. 🧬📱 💰 Massive AI funding this week: Rad AI grabs $60M to streamline radiology with AI. D3 Global raises $25M to tokenize domain names. Finout lands $40M to help businesses monitor cloud costs. 🌍 Meanwhile, a Swiss startup, Meteomatics, secures $22M to improve global weather forecasting. More data, better predictions. 🌦️📊 🛠️ Paxton AI raises $22M to assist legal professionals with AI. Think ChatGPT for lawyers. 📜⚖️ 🔥 Crypto still kicking: Sign bags $16M to improve blockchain airdrops and user verification. 🚀📈 What do you think—are we in another AI gold rush? 🤔💡 Let’s discuss! ⬇️ #Tech #AI #Funding
Transcribe →Helion, a 12-year-old company based in Everett
Jan 30, 202500:00:32Tap to summarizeHelion, a 12-year-old company based in Everett, WA, that is developing a fusion energy generator designed to produce electricity through nuclear fusion, raised a $425 million Series F round at a $5.2 billion valuation. Investors included Lightspeed Venture Partners, SoftBank, and an unnamed university endowment as well as previous investors Sam Altman, Capricorn Investment Group, Mithril Capital, Dustin Moskovitz, and Nucor. TechCrunch has more here.
Transcribe →Skild AI is developing an advanced foundation model to enable robot agility and safety.
Jan 30, 202500:00:43Tap to summarizeSkild AI, a two-year-old startup based in Pittsburgh, PA, that is developing a scalable foundation model for robotics, aiming to create a general-purpose "brain" that enables robots to perform tasks with agility, dexterity, and safety in human interactions, is reportedly negotiating with SoftBank over a $500 million investment at a $4 billion valuation, a steep increase from the $1.5 billion valuation it secured last July. Previous investors include Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Coatue Management. Bloomberg and The Financial Times broke the story. TechCrunch has more here.
Transcribe →Atomicwork builds AI-driven software to enhance IT service management.
Jan 30, 202500:00:25Tap to summarizeAtomicwork, a three-year-old San Francisco startup that develops AI-powered software to help companies manage their IT services and improve employee support, raised a $25 million Series A round at a $150 million post-money valuation, according to Reuters. The deal was co-led by Khosla Ventures and Z47, with Battery Ventures, Blume Ventures, and Peak XV Partners also investing. Reuters has more here.
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