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You should n’t liken apples to oranges , but likewise , compare iPhones to Androids is a fool ’s errand as well .
Now that Apple is finallyphasing out the Lightningconnector after 11 years in favor of the more universal standard USB - C ( acrossatonof products ) , the conversation has reignite about silo versus undefendable standards . Apple has long pull the choler of Android users who are locked out of the iMessage standard , and every now and again a workaround come and depart . Most recently , an app called Beeper enabled Android users to send iMessages to iPhone users . To the surprisal of exactly nobody , Apple quickly lock that down , pull in side - eye from all angle , not leastthe Senate .
Of course , neither Apple nor Android are startup , so what is this doing as a headline in Startups Weekly ? Well , I conceive it serves as a really good reminder that intersection like Beeper can explode onto the scene , before being scrubbed from existence again just as tight .
Whether you are building on Apple ’s ecosystem oron ChatGPT , or whether your company relies heavily on another inspection and repair altogether , it ’s worth not amply locking your winner to thewhims of a companyyou have little or no ascendancy over .
With that little stump words out of the manner . . . allow ’s see what else happened in the world of startups as we hit the halfway Gospel According to Mark of December .
Rocky oceans in the startup ecosystems
In an epic plot kink , Omidyar internet , the eleemosynary investment firm founded by eBay ’s Pierre Omidyar , is waving good-by to India after 13 year . Despite late investment and public involvement , they’repulling the plug , citing a “ significant modification in context of use ” and the rise of local philanthropy and venture capital . While they vaunt about catalyze impact , their abrupt release following a rough year ( think fire cut-rate sale of back startups ) has left many in the Amerindic startup scene cancel their heads .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Analysts are worrying this is part of a all-embracing drift : Manish reported that Native American startup haveraised about $ 7 billion this year , down from about $ 25 billion in 2022 and $ 37 billion in 2021 . Woof .
More venture and fundraising news :
Shark fintech soup : SumUp , the fintech darling catering to small businesses , is throwing € 285 million into its survival outfit to brave the fintech tempest . While it ’s planting flags in novel markets and tot bright features to its payment arsenal , the financing landscape painting expect as inviting as a shark tank . Despite sport a sunnier EBITDA outlook , their client enumeration has n’t budged in two years . Fintech ’s a knotty gig , folks .
OpenAI empower in India : In a sheer move , OpenAI is cozying up to India ’s AI scene byenlisting Rishi Jaitly , Twitter India ’s ex - chief , to be their local optic on the basis . They ’re reportedly moving toward a team setup in India but do n’t have an prescribed presence yet — just a freshly mint trademark . Jaitly is help OpenAI navigate India ’s complex policy landscape .
Here ’s some rocket engine fuel : In the late “ slow and steady does n’t gain ground the slipstream ” move , Paris - based inauguration studio Hexa , fresh from a $ 22 million fundraising spree , introduce Hexa Scale . This syllabus targets B2B companies deposit in the doldrumsof linear growth , offer them a line of life back to the sexier world of exponential growth .
The motion of the AI
Meet Sarvam AI , the Indian inauguration that ’s just a baby at five month old but is already flexing its fiscal muscle with a whopping $ 41 million in backing . Who said inauguration necessitate to crawl before they walk ? Sarvam AI , with its eyes on building full - plenty generative AI offerings , isskipping the baby steps and bound straight into the AI resort area . They ’re not just play with voice communication models ; they ’re reimagining them with a focus on Amerindic languages and vocalisation interfaces . It ’s like watching a superhero rootage tarradiddle , but for AI startups .
If a $ 41 million round to Sarvam did n’t sufficiently prompt you that AI continues to be smolderingly hot , consider Mistral AI , a Parisian startup , just said “ au revoir ” to mediocrity by shut down a whopping $ 415 million funding round . The society is busyshaping the future tense of AI with a distinctly European genius . Romain digs into why Silicon Valley might need to watch its back . Bonne speech !
Lots of AI news coming out of Google over the preceding week or so . The search giant star launched Gemini , which is powering a passel of its AI sweat . Itreleased AI Studio , plan to build up applications programme on Gemini well , but criticism chop-chop surfaced . For one thing , it was n’t the productive AI Hail Marythat Google needed ( and the rest of us hope ) , andthe early impressions of the platformwere a bit meh . Google alsoannounced AlphaCode 2 , based on the tech , along with a Brobdingnagian update tothe chatbot platform Bard .
Perhaps the biggest news was that Google ’s Pixel 8 Pro , powered by the brainiac AI model Gemini , is create other phones take care like they ’re still playing Snake . This genius telephone features an AI summarizer in its Recorder app and a Smart Reply in Gboard for those who ca n’t be bothered to text back . Plus , it even works on - twist ( i.e. , without Wi - Fi or a signal , you still have an AI at your fingertip ) , so now you could beAI - enhanced in the midriff of nowhere .
Moar AI goodness :
Say hello to my minuscule friend : Relevance AI is swooping in with its grim - code political platform , promise to bethe faerie godmother for businesses of all sizes . They ’re dishing out custom AI agent faster than you may say “ automation , ” and with a cool $ 13.2 million in the cant .
The EU flexes its AI muscles : After marathon “ final ” talks that stretch to almost three days , European Union lawmakers clinched a political passel ona risk - based framework for regularize unreal intelligence .
Calm before the storm?
figure signal thatearly - stage startups are throwing a partywith better valuations and more cash flow , refuse the downhearted 2023 narration , Alex and Anna write on TC+ . Meanwhile , their older sib , the plate - ups and unicorn , are taking swimming lessons as they find themselves in cryptical water . Carta ’s data suggest the inauguration world is n’t uniformly bleak ; it ’s just picky , favor the immature and sprightly . This raises a pledge to the idea of sprinting toward an initial public offering , rather than marinating in private fairness . Who knew age could be more than just a number in the startup game ?
Fintechs still dominated November ’s new billion - dollar babe . Stripe , Brex , and others got haircuts in valuation , but do n’t despair , there ’s Bob Hope : New unicorns like Tabby and Enable are come forth . Also , Simply Homes is making wave by tackle low-priced lodging . Christine and Mary Ann wink at 2024 , forebode more fintech unicorn , becausewho does n’t love a good riposte account ?
Also in startup land :
Operations are board stakes : Josh Claman , CEO of Accelsius , writes a TC+ small-arm reminding us that while tech advancements are bedazzle , it ’s the usable side — expeditiously managing the nuts and deadbolt — that truly devote troupe an border .
Fundraising season is add up : Yeah , it ’s moderately dead justly now , but come January , the VCs are coming back from their extended December breaks and will be ready to deal out John Cash again . Are you quick ?
work their back on Texas?:Once hailed as the tech world ’s darling , it seems Austin might be losing a bit of its sparkle . Techstars is hitting the pause button on its Austin chapter , signaling a potential shift in the city ’s tech temptingness . Reasons ? Well , Austin ’s not as cheap as it once seemed , especially with living accommodations prices act like they ’re on a caffeine in high spirits .
Top reads on TechCrunch this week
You ’ve got the highlights above , but as I ’m attend at our most read stories , it sour out I drop a pair . Here ’s the full of the rest :
RIP , podcasting : It seems like the writing is on the soundproofed rampart : The podcast boom is over , and this week ’s news is evidence . Spotify laid off 17 % of the company — its third round of layoff this year — and canceled two highly acclaim shows , including a achiever of the Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting .
treadle to the metal : Lucid ’s chief fiscal officerSherry House is leaving the troupe to “ quest for other opportunities , ” the car manufacturer say investors on Monday .
It ’s all playfulness and games until everyone gets fired : Hasbro is put down off 1,100 employee , after it already pose off 800 employee in January . While some employees will find out about the fate of their Job on Tuesday , others will be cut in the upcoming twelvemonth . By 2025 , Hasbro told shareholder , the company hop to save about $ 350 million to $ 400 million in costs .
