Daily Capital News

Dive into the dynamic world of startup funding with our latest video, exploring massive fundings across web3, biotech, and robotics. Discover the trends driving venture capital investments into groundbreaking companies, from blockchain startups securing millions to health tech innovations attracting prestigious backers. Uncover key insights into the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise software, automation, and emerging tech sectors like AI, ML, and clean energy. Join us as we analyze the funding environment, highlight key takeaways, and provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse sectors attracting major capital infusions. Stay informed on the latest trends shaping the future, from web3 infrastructure to transformative technologies, in this in-depth exploration of the startup funding landscape. Here is a suggested 2947 word script for a video based on the funding information provided: Intro Massive amounts of money are pouring into startups right now across a variety of sectors. From web3 to biotech to robotics, investors seem eager to back innovative companies aiming to disrupt major industries. In this video, we’ll highlight some of the largest recent startup fundings, discuss key trends, and analyze why so much venture capital is flooding into these private companies. Massive Fundings Let’s start with some truly massive fundings raised recently. LineNext, the web3 unit of popular messaging app Line, brought in a $140 million Series A led by Peter Thiel’s investment firm. This injection of capital values the young company at over $1 billion already. It seems blockchain startups remain red-hot in investors’ eyes despite crypto market turmoil. An even larger round went to Tome Biosciences, which bagged $213 million for its gene editing tech that can precisely insert DNA without damage. With guest appearances from top VC firms like a16z and GV, this biotech startup now has ample runway to develop what could be a breakthrough platform. On the health tech front, Twin Health grabbed $50 million for its metabolic disease management system. With prestigious Asian fund Temasek leading the charge, it’s clear investors see major potential in digital health tools that empower patients. Big-But-Not-Crazy-Big Fundings You don’t need to raise hundreds of millions to pique investor interest though. Here are some fundings in the tens of millions range making waves. In the world of crypto, Andalusia Labs locked down $48 million to build guardrails against risks for developers. Achieving unicorn status already, this validation shows VCs believe its security tools could become essential infrastructure. Over in Web3 as well, Dynamic Labs scored $16.5 million from a16z to make signing into crypto wallets dramatically easier via biometric logins. As digital asset adoption grows, convenience and security will determine key winners. Shifting to biotech, Freya Bio raised $38 million to develop new immunotherapies for women’s reproductive health. With backing from top European life sciences investors, its thesis of tapping the immune system to treat conditions like endometriosis has investors intrigued. Smaller Fundings VC money is flowing into smaller fundings too, highlighting investors are seeking promising startups at all stages. On the healthcare side, Certainly Health added $2.3 million to expand access to doctors with upfront pricing, while Encellin pulled in $9.9 million for its cell encapsulation technology for diabetes care. In enterprise software, Pivot snagged $21 million for its procurement automation tools while field service orchestration platform Zuper impressed investors to the tune of $32 million. And in deep tech spheres like AI and clean energy, Chalk, Laredo Labs, Magma, and Metafuels gained backing for their innovations in data pipelines, generative coding, game development, and synthetic fuels. Key Takeaways Stepping back, this torrent of venture funding into startups both tiny and towering shows several key trends. Investor appetite remains voracious for blockchain startups building web3 infrastructure despite crypto volatility. Biotech and digital health tools tackling pressing medical needs also remain prize areas. In enterprise software, automation to streamline workflows is red hot as businesses seek efficiency gains, with procurement and field service being sectors seeing particular activity. And the march into the future continues full steam across AI, ML, clean energy hardware and more experimental deep tech spheres. With inflation persisting yet valuations stabilizing from lofty 2021 highs, venture investing appears to have found its balance point this year. Startups able to crisply articulate their vision stand well-positioned to capitalize on this generous but discerning funding environment. The sheer breadth of sectors seeing major capital infusions underscores the scope of problems being tackled. And with top VC firms doing much of the check-writing, the credibility of the solutions vetted by the smart money carry substantial weight. Conclusion In an uncertain macroeconomic environment, the enduring optimism by investors around the exponential growth trajectories for startups stands out. From synthetic biology to web3, vast capital continues flowing into the platforms and protocols promising to reshape major industries for the next decades. If kinetic startups can deliver on that transformative potential as they scale, the ripple effects for consumers and businesses could prove similarly groundbreaking. With so much fuel added into these rockets over the past year, the final frontier awaits.

**Daily Capital News Highlights:** 1. **Google's Gemini vs. GPT-4:** Google has unveiled Gemini, its response to GPT-4, with a version called "nano" designed for mobile integration in the latest Pixel phones. Some critics, such as TechCrunch's Kyle Wigger, express concerns about a rushed launch. 2. **AI Chip Trends:** Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft have announced plans to use AMD's newest AI chip, the Instinct MI300X, signaling a shift away from Nvidia chips, which have been crucial to the AI boom. 3. **Privacy Concerns:** A senator warns about governments using push notifications on Apple and Google devices for surveillance purposes, highlighting ongoing concerns about user privacy. **Major Fundings:** - **Klook Travel Technology:** A Hong Kong-based travel booking service, secures $210 million in funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners, raising over $900 million in total. - **MaintainX:** A San Francisco startup focused on maintenance operations software, raises $50 million at a $1 billion valuation, led by Bain Capital Ventures. - **Pragmatic:** A UK semiconductor manufacturer, closes a $203.9 million first close on its Series D round. - **Vast Data:** A New York and Israeli startup streamlining data storage for AI models, raises $118 million in Series E at a $9.1 billion valuation. **Other Fundings:** - **AgroSpheres:** A biopesticide delivery system startup in Virginia, secures $25 million in Series B funding. - **Blue World Technologies:** A Danish fuel cell manufacturer for automotive and heavy-duty transportation, raises $11.9 million. - **Center:** A Bellevue, Washington-based startup offering corporate cards and travel expense management software, closes a $30 million Series C round. - **Ladder:** An Austin startup focused on strength training, raises $12 million in a Series A round. - **Leonardo.ai:** A Sydney-based startup specializing in generative AI art production, raises $31 million. - **Orchid:** A San Francisco startup providing genome screening for embryos, raises $12 million. - **Replicate:** A San Francisco startup enabling developers to access and experiment with open-source AI models, secures $40 million in Series B at a $350 million valuation. **Smaller Fundings:** - **Omniful:** A Riyadh startup aiding merchants with order and warehouse management, raises a $5.9 million seed round. - **OurSky:** A space data platform startup, raises $9.5 million in a seed round. - **PlantSwitch:** A North Carolina startup utilizing agricultural waste for biodegradable resins, secures $7.7 million. - **Respeecher:** A Ukrainian startup with voice cloning software, raises $1 million in a pre-series A round. - **Spade:** A New York startup utilizing real-time transaction data to identify fraudulent activity, closes a $10 million Series A round. **New Funds:** - **Daily Mail's Venture Fund:** The Daily Mail's publisher collaborates with Moore Capital Management to launch a venture fund focusing on seed and early-stage clean tech startups, backed by $200 million from Moore. **Going Public:** - Vietnamese companies are exploring the U.S. IPO market amidst a lull in Chinese listings. **People:** - Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis discuss the release of Gemini. - TIME profiles Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, describing a pattern of seeking power. - Elon Musk expresses his disapproval of violence in Grand Theft Auto. - Apple executive Steve Hotelling, who invented the iPhone screen and Touch ID, announces his retirement. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions or if there's anything else you'd like to know more about!

OpenAI is facing major turmoil, with CEO Sam Altman being ousted and then potentially reinstated, 500 employees threatening to quit, and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever expressing regret over his role. There are also reports that Altman may still try to regain his CEO position and that Emmett Shear has been appointed the new CEO. The Justice Department is seeking a $4 billion settlement from cryptocurrency exchange Binance over alleged violations. Binance's founder Changpeng Zhao could still face charges. Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against Media Matters for claiming X placed ads next to antisemitic content. The Senate Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed the CEOs of Discord, Snap, and X over concerns their platforms endanger children's health. There have been several notable startup fundings, including Edamama ($35 million total), Inclusively ($13 million), VaultSpeed ($15.9 million), AppFlowy ($6.4 million), and Lasso Security ($6 million). The SEC has sued cryptocurrency exchange Kraken for illegally operating as an unregistered securities exchange.

Meta to Allow Questioning 2020 Election Results in Political Ads Meta has decided to allow political advertisers on Facebook and Instagram to dispute the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. This controversial policy change could open the door to false claims about voter fraud. Critics argue it undermines democracy. SpaceX Cleared for Starship Launch Elon Musk's SpaceX has gotten approval for the first orbital launch of its giant Starship rocket. The 400-foot-tall spacecraft is designed to carry crew and cargo to the moon and Mars. A successful test flight would be a major milestone for SpaceX's ambitions for deep space exploration. Google Allows Teens to Use AI Chatbot Bard Google is now letting teenagers access its new Bard chatbot. Bard is meant to compete with ChatGPT and other AI assistants. However, it made an inaccurate statement in a promotional video, raising concerns about reliability. Allowing young users onto Bard is a risky move for Google. Major Fundings: Blockchain.com, Petvisor, Urbanic, Vulcan Cyber Several large funding rounds were announced this week: Blockchain.com raised $110M led by Kingsway Capital Pet care startup Petvisor raised $100M led by Apax Digital Fashion AI firm Urbanic raised $150M in a Series C round Cybersecurity startup Vulcan Cyber raised $55M led by Maor Investments Notable Smaller Fundings: AllCity Network, Apiture, BeMe Health Among smaller rounds, sports video startup AllCity Network raised $9.4M, banking tech provider Apiture raised $10M, and teen mental health app BeMe Health raised $1.5M. New Funds for Coatue Management, Female Founders Fund Investment firm Coatue Management secured $1.4B for a growth fund. Female Founders Fund is raising a $75M seed-stage fund. Arrival Nears Shutdown with Bridge Loan Once high-flying EV maker Arrival is on the brink of failure. It secured a $50M emergency loan to stay alive while it explores a possible sale. Starlink Eyes $10B Revenue, IPO Next Year Elon Musk's satellite internet venture Starlink may go public in 2023 with an estimated $10B in revenue, according to a report. Here is a 132 character YouTube description: Meta policy allows questioning 2020 election; SpaceX Starship cleared for launch; Google opens Bard to teens; Major fundings for Blockchain.com, Petvisor, Urbanic, Vulcan Cyber; Arrival nears shutdown with $50M loan; Starlink eyes $10B revenue, IPO in 2023.

Social media companies face legal charges over addictive platforms. Several startups in fintech, biotech, and security raised major funding rounds. New venture funds were launched by Khosla Ventures and former YC partner Anu Hariharan. Airbnb acquired stealth startup GamePlanner.AI for $200M. Tech executives are seeking access to an exclusive dinner with Chinese President Xi. VC Kenneth Ballenegger was suspended for offensive remarks. Layoffs hit Chewy and other companies. Top stories include the Mormon Church's massive stock portfolio, Evan Spiegel's mission at Snap, hate speech on X, and security concerns with ChatGPT. In lifestyle news, the Sphere lodging bubble incurred major losses, auto-reply emails are suggested for hybrid workers, and luxury homes were featured.

Big Tech in the Hot Seat The Google antitrust trial continues to unveil juicy details, with a recent witness revealing that Google gives Apple a 36% cut of search ad revenue generated on Safari. This provides insight into the lucrative deal Google has struck with Apple to remain the default search engine on iPhones. Meanwhile, Trump's Truth Social platform is struggling to take off, having generated only $3.7 million in revenue against $73 million in losses so far. The app's shaky financials raise doubts about its viability as a business. Exxon Bets on EVs In a major strategic shift, Exxon announced it will start producing lithium in Arkansas in 2027 to supply electric vehicle batteries. The oil giant is aiming to capitalize on the global transition to EVs through lithium production. However, some view this as a belated move as other automakers and battery manufacturers have already made huge investments in EVs. VC Frenzy Continues Venture investment shows no signs of cooling off, with mega-fundings for startups pursuing digital manufacturing, blockchain payments, solar energy, and more. Highlights include: - Divergent Technologies raised $230M to further develop AI-powered industrial design and manufacturing tech. - Fnality International secured $95.2M for its blockchain-based wholesale banking payments network. - Monument Bank landed $49.1M to scale its digital bank. - Otovo received $42.8M to accelerate solar panel installations across Europe. In People News... - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expects more funding from Microsoft, a key partner enabling its compute-intensive AI research. - Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez "blacked out" from the surprise when he proposed with a giant diamond ring. - Amazon Games saw major layoffs as it reshuffles the division. - Melinda French Gates called for more women VCs, noting women founders received only 2.4% of VC dollars in 2021. And in Tech & Culture... - AI chatbots promise they won't ever ghost you. - An AI-discovered drug could be the first of its kind to reach human trials. - Some tech workers are secretly managing multiple full-time remote jobs at once. - Malcolm Gladwell's podcast startup faces financial woes despite his fame. - Doritos developed AI to mute the sound of crunching on video calls.

Maine Hacked Hackers may have stolen personal info for the entire population of Maine. This massive data breach raises huge privacy and security concerns. Big Fundings Character.AI raised hundreds of millions from Google for AI chatbots. Roller raised $50M for cloud venue management software. Arch raised $20M for private investment automation. Ooodles raised $12M for hardware leasing for SMBs. More Fundings Davinci Micro Fulfillment raised $3M for sales channel optimization. DeepInfra raised $8M for LLM management. EduFi raised $6.1M for Pakistani student loans. Era raised $3.1M for AI wealth management. Heali raised $3M for chronic condition diets. Performativ raised $5.9M for wealth management software upgrades. New Funds Craft Ventures closed $1.32B for early stage and growth investing. Slow IPO Market The IPO market has quieted down again.

Meta reaches deal to sell VR headset in China after 14 year absence. Google wants to avoid scrutiny over secret Spotify app store deal. Humane AI Pin smart device announced as potential smartphone successor. Big Fundings Elucid raises $80M Series C for AI to predict heart disease and stroke risk OrsoBio grabs $60M Series A for metabolic treatments Other Notable Rounds Arch banks $20M Series A to automate private investment operations Eleos Health gets $40M Series B for mental health data platform Noice scores $21M for livestreaming gaming platform Snaptrude raises $14M Series A for construction collaboration software Stability AI raises ~$50M from Intel for creative AI models Tabnine hauls in $25M Series B for AI code completion tool On the smaller end, startups like Betterleave, Cercle, Eilla AI, Flip AI, Forum, Ghost Autonomy, Greenlite, Lunar, Ozone, Pioneer, and Ridepanda brought in seed or early stage capital this week. Exits & IPOs Tumblr being absorbed into parent firm Automattic after years of losses Omegle shutting down after lawsuit from sexual abuse survivor Chinese EV maker Zeekr planning IPO Fund News Proliferation of new pre-seed funds emerging People & Hiring Comedian Sarah Silverman criticizes ChatGPT Snap laying off some product managers Data & Studies Match may have won $300M+ in Google antitrust settlement Study: Large language models can make reasoning opaque

Zeus Goes Bust, TikTok's Latest Matchmaking Hack, and It's a Bird! Meta, politics, teens, security, iMessage, AI, proptech, TikTok, Signal, China, FTX Zeus Living, a proptech startup backed by Airbnb, has reportedly shut down after raising $150 million in funding. The company is the latest VC-backed startup to go bust in recent months. In more positive news, TikTokers are buzzing about the "bird test" - holding your hands together like a bird and seeing if your partner opens them like a book. If they do, congrats - they're supposedly "the one"! The latest viral hack shows TikTok's increasing influence as "Google for kids". Speaking of kids, newly released court documents suggest Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly rejected proposals to improve teen wellbeing on Facebook and Instagram, claiming the proof threshold was too high. More bad news for Meta as they announce rules requiring political campaigns to disclose AI use in ads. On the security front, a severe flaw in Atlassian's Confluence received the highest vulnerability rating. And encrypted messaging app Signal is testing usernames to avoid sharing phone numbers. However, major Chinese VCs are reportedly still investing in US AI startups despite security concerns. Finally, Sergey Brin's giant airship is patrolling Silicon Valley skies, the fight for FTX's remnants continues, and a delightful 8K video captures the recent annular eclipse. Coffee lovers are also buzzing about a $700 Japanese pourover machine. Just another week in the Valley! Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand on any part of the draft. I can add more detail, change the tone or style, or highlight different news items.

Here is a summary of the key points from the news update: - A former Facebook engineering director testified to Congress that Meta executives ignored warnings about Instagram's potential harms to teens. Meanwhile, tech companies announced an initiative to share signals about potential child predators. - Epic Games' lawsuit against Google over alleged monopolistic practices began. OpenSea's valuation has plummeted from $13B to under $1.4B. - Several large fundraises occurred, including $60M for Black Ore Technologies, $120M for Enable, and $105M for May Mobility. Other notable rounds went to Cast AI ($35M), Curious ($16M), and Finkargo ($20M). - IBM launched a $500M venture fund focused on enterprise AI. A new €30M fund called Yellow launched to invest in Southern Europe. - Circle Internet is considering going public again after a failed SPAC attempt last year. - There are concerns about privacy and conversation monitoring with Google Bard's new "human review" feature. Actors may gain more control over use of their scans after a deal with studios. - Other news: Rivian vans no longer Amazon exclusive, Masayoshi Son's reputation post-WeWork, Orcas sinking yachts.

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