∆ Tech in the News

Amazon On The Attack - Amazon announced: its new Astro security guard robot, plans to sell Hyundai cars online from ‘24, and the start of producing its Kuiper internet satellites as of next month.

To The Stars… Tomorrow - SpaceX has delayed the second Starship orbital flight test by one day to Saturday to replace the actuator in one of its grid fins.

Gemini Delayed - Google’s company-defining AI effort to rival OpenAI and Microsoft will likely be delayed until Q1 2024 per The Information.

Spotify x Google AI - An existing partnership is expanded by leveraging Google Cloud’s AI to provide personalized, contextualized user experiences.

Lyria AI Music - DeepMind and YouTube release a gen-AI model for music, along with Dream Track, a tool for building AI-generated tunes.

˚The hottest thing in tech this week

Microsoft Ignites AI Sector

Microsoft's Ignite 2023 event lived up to its name with explosive updates including the Azure Maia, its first custom chip tailored to power OpenAI’s GPT models, open-sourcing the Phi-2 model, and rebranding Bing Chat to Copilot.

This strategic chip move shows a commitment to enhancing AI workloads in the cloud aligning with the clear industry need for more powerful AI computing. Not stopping there, Nadella also announced the Azure Cobalt 100 CPU, an ARM-based CPU designed for a range of cloud workloads. These moves will help to cement Microsoft as a key player in the AI-driven cloud services market.

The rebrand to Microsoft Copilot was a consolidation aligned with the launch of new Copilot AI Studio and Windows AI Studio, tools to revolutionize how developers interact with AI models, and how users experience Microsoft's product suite. Microsoft Teams is also getting updates, including AI-powered noise reduction and "background decoration" features. 

Microsoft's overall focus shows its vision of a future where generative AI is deeply integrated into every aspect of our digital lives.

News Bytes

• Alibaba cancels spin-off of cloud business due to U.S. AI export curbs

• Meta announces new AI tools that edit photos and generate video clips

• China’s Phone giant Xiaomi applies to sell EVs in another blow to Tesla

• Korean semiconductor startup Sapeon’s new chip ups compute power 4x

Deals We’re Watching

Founders to Watch and Opportunities to Catch

Open Deals:

Avra - This New VC firm by an ex-YC lead is raising a $350M fund and running an accelerator for post-Series A startups, including Runway in cohort 1.

Starlink IPO? - SpaceX is reportedly weighing spinning off the Starlink satellite comms arm Via IPO as Soon as 2024, and eyes $10B Starlink sales next year.

Closed Deals:

Cyble - The AI-driven threat intelligence company closed a $30.2M Series B led by Summit Peak and King River Capital to boost global expansion.

ALTR - Data security firm focused on blockchain tech raised $25M to enhance data management and protection/security and market presence.

OfferFit - Startup pioneering reinforcement learning AI for marketers lands $25M Series B to expand product development and deployment.

Siena AI - Siena AI raises a $4.7M seed to develop their AI customer service agent with human-like empathy and contextual understanding.

Rainbow Weather - An AI weather startup with a growing base using their hyperlocal forecasts outperforming Apple Weather in accuracy lands $1.5M.

Tech Spark AI - Raised a $1.4M pre-seed round from TD Bank and Salesforce for its genAI platform enhancing education in underserved communities.

Companies to Watch:

AI-Powered Health - Forward Health raised $100M to expand its innovative CarePods, AI-driven unstaffed medical stations offering diagnostic tests.

SiLC Technologies - Raised an additional $25M (total $56M) for its Eyeonic Vision System enabling machines to see like humans through AI.

Ticket to Davos - leading enterprise genAI platform Writer, backed by Dubai’s DIEZ VC fund Oraseya, has been welcomed into the WEF Unicorn Community.

Workplace Inclusion - Inclusively raised $13M for its Retain product used by Apple, Pfizer & more to enhancing experiences for employees with disabilities.

AI Gaming Ads - SaaS company Replai harnesses AI to automate mobile game video ad creation, raising $8M to date and $5B+ of ad spend annually.

AI Music Moves - CreateSafe, creators of Grimes AI, raised $4.6M to launch TRINITI, an AI platform for music artists backed by Polychain Capital and Paris Hilton.

The Funding Buzz

Menlo Ventures - With over $3.8B raised since 2010, Menlo just raised $1.35B for its funds with a focus on promising startups “leading the AI transformation.”

Material Impact - Raised a $352M fund to invest in deep tech startups with solutions to increase resilience from extreme ecological and climate events.

Bain Capital - Launched BCV Labs AI incubator to find new AI deals by offering resources, access to AI tech infrastructure, and collaboration opportunities.

Khosla Ventures - The OpenAI and DoorDash backer is raising three funds worth $3B - a $500M seed fund, a $1.6B flagship fund, and a $900M growth fund.

Tools

Google Titan Security Key - Passwordless login tech via USB-C, USB-A & NFC.

Retool - Develop effective software fast, also published this State of AI report.

Ramp X Microsoft - MS Copilot Plug-in for spend insights and controls.

Telegram - Released a preview of their visionOS app.

Instagram - New AI features including custom AI stickers.

If you have a deal or company that you would like to host on our next issue, drop us a line @ [email protected].

Thanks for connecting with us.

The Tech Buzz Team