The hottest Funding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Does it Make Sense to Invest in a Foundation Model Startup?

Superfluid • 2 HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Foundation Models are like the shovels in a gold rush, essential but overlooked.
  2. Investing in a Foundation Model startup can be a high-risk, high-reward venture due to the need for huge resources like data and GPUs.
  3. Financially, investing in a Foundation Model startup might not make sense for smaller funds, but for larger ones, maintaining ownership and predicting outcomes are crucial.

The Shadow Price of Venture Capital

Who is Nnamdi • 2 HN points • 14 Jun 23
💰 Finance Funding
  1. Venture valuations are currently 60% higher than expected based on the amount of capital invested.
  2. Valuations and capital invested in venture typically trend together, with one affecting the other.
  3. The concept of 'shadow price' in venture capital highlights a discrepancy between actual transaction prices and hypothetical market-clearing prices.

The Art of Crafting Your Startup's Story

Superfluid • 2 HN points • 03 May 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Raising funds for a startup requires storytelling and emotion to attract investors.
  2. Before approaching investors, define your long-term vision and break it down into achievable steps.
  3. When creating a pitch deck, focus on convincing investors that you are the right person with a solution for a viable market.
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Russia’s Nesting Satellite Problems

Ill-Defined Space • 1 HN point • 29 Feb 24
🔬 Science Funding
  1. Russia's space industry faces challenges in meeting satellite production goals due to financial losses, lack of imported electronics, unclear strategies, resource obstacles, and conflicting priorities from top officials.
  2. Russian satellite manufacturers struggle with access to modern electronics, impacting their ability to scale up production and meet industry goals, possibly leading to prioritization of military satellite programs over commercial or civil ones.
  3. Plans for conveyor production to increase satellite output face obstacles such as scarcity of space-rated electronics, conflicting objectives between government wishes for a space station and the need for smallsat production expansion, and funding issues.

Kong AI Gateway, Bitly Barcode API, Feever €10M

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Kong has introduced a new open-source AI Gateway with features focused on simplifying AI integration and centralized access.
  2. Feever, a Swedish Powertech firm, secured a substantial €10 million funding for expanding its energy asset connection platform across Europe.
  3. Bitly Inc. unveiled the first API for generating 2D Barcodes to enhance product data capture and consumer engagement, aligning with the predicted industry shift towards 2D Barcodes becoming standard by 2027.

When to start your first fundraise?

Exponentially • 1 HN point • 03 Jul 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Consider raising funds early to cover personal expenses, but it can distract from building the company.
  2. Wait to raise funds until you have made progress to get better terms from investors.
  3. Alternatives to traditional fundraising include joining an accelerator, or taking the 'indie hacker' approach by focusing on revenue.

Money Money Money

De Novo • 1 HN point • 16 Apr 23
💰 Finance Funding
  1. Research funding is expensive and costs are continually rising
  2. Private funding can be quicker with higher chances of approval, but can have cons like non-standard terms and potential funding disappearance
  3. University administrators can pose bureaucratic challenges in processing funds and extracting overhead fees

Meta and IBM Launch AI Alliance

pocoai • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Meta and IBM have launched an AI Alliance with more than 50 companies promoting an open model of AI.
  2. AssemblyAI, a startup, secured $50 million in funding to enhance its AI speech models platform.
  3. EnCharge AI, a startup focusing on AI-accelerating chips, raised $22.6 million to make AI more accessible.

Elon Musk's Neuralink Raises $43M in Secret

pocoai • 0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Elon Musk's Neuralink raised $43 million in secret funding, despite facing challenges with workplace culture and research practices.
  2. Spain's virtual influencer, Aitana, earns up to €10,000 a month, showcasing the success of artificial influencers over real-life ones.
  3. A global alliance led by the US and UK released AI guidelines prioritizing security, transparency, and safe design for artificial intelligence systems.

Ever thought CEOs could pull off a dramatic return? Get ready for the tech comeback of the century with Sam Altman!

pocoai • 0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Sam Altman returns as CEO of OpenAI after being dismissed, creating a big wave in the AI community.
  2. Stability AI introduces AI model that can generate videos from images, opening new possibilities in video creation.
  3. AI21 Labs secures $53 million in funding, positioning itself as a major player in the generative AI market.

Series B Activity: November 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
💰 Finance Funding
  1. In November, only 4 out of 48 Series B deals had traditional VCs as lead investors, a low ratio.
  2. Despite Thanksgiving, deal volume increased by 20% compared to October in Series B activity.
  3. Total deal value went up by approximately $100 million from $1.79 billion to $1.88 billion in November.

Anonymous & Extinct: The Tragic Tale of YikYak

Founder Fuck-ups • 0 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Yik Yak's platform allowed for anonymous interactions, creating a unique space for unfiltered expression and exclusive participation.
  2. Yik Yak faced challenges related to cyberbullying, abuse, and toxic content due to the anonymity of its users.
  3. The decline of Yik Yak was partly attributed to the platform's inability to foster lasting connections and meaningful engagement among users, lacking a strong sense of community.

The Epic Fall of Quibi, a $1.8B Funded Startup shuts down in 6 months

Founder Fuck-ups • 0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Quibi, a $1.8B funded startup, shut down in 6 months due to various reasons like poor content quality, bad timing with the pandemic, and slow adaptation to market changes.
  2. The founders of Quibi, despite raising significant funding, failed to create content that stood out and did not differentiate themselves enough from competitors like Netflix and YouTube.
  3. Quibi's high subscription fee, lack of value for users, and an internal founder dispute also contributed to its downfall, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer needs and effective leadership.

Robot Picking Shining Discs and Water Balloons

Exponential Industry • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Robotic grippers are becoming more tactile and AI-enabled across various industrial processes, signaling advancements in technology in the industrial sector.
  2. Investments and partnerships in AI, robotics, and technology are driving significant transformations in various industries like waste management, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and industrial automation.
  3. Innovations like Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) in 3D printing are showcasing unique and disruptive approaches to traditional manufacturing processes.

Understanding the Bank Term Funding Program: A Lifeline for Failing Banks Explained in Simple Terms

The Tweetsift Report • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
💰 Finance Funding
  1. The Bank Term Funding Program helps failing banks by allowing them to borrow from Federal Reserve using securities as collateral.
  2. The program has a fixed interest rate and no fees, with credit protection from the Department of the Treasury.
  3. Federal Reserve supports banks through additional funding, monitoring financial system, and providing safety nets for stability.

Drata: Viral Audits

The Product Person • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. Drata's rapid growth was fueled by quick funding rounds, starting from seed to Series B in just 10 months.
  2. Drata found instant product-market fit due to the increasing demand for automating SOC2 compliance processes.
  3. The pivotal year of 2021 saw the rise of SOC2 as a crucial security certificate, driving Drata's success in a crowded field.

ACR #21: Boom or doom?

Africa Crypto Report (ACR) • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
💰 Finance Funding
  1. Crypto venture capital investment in Africa grew over 400% in 2022 to about $474 million.
  2. Seychelles and South Africa secured 81% of African funding, with crypto exchanges and custody platforms claiming 52% of the money.
  3. Africa's share of global blockchain venture funding rose from 0.3% in 2021 to 1.8% in 2022, but there are still regulatory challenges and a funding gap for blockchain startups in the continent.

🚀 Stay ahead of the game: market updates, 7 startup grants, LP benefits, and more

Lolita's Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 16 May 23
💼 Business Funding
  1. The market is showing various trends like slowing inflation, high interest rates, and increased retail spending.
  2. Black Love Day embraces peace and love, originating as a day to celebrate Christian martyrs before becoming a commercial holiday focused on chocolates and cards.
  3. Various grants and benefits are available for founders, including grants for underrepresented groups like women and BIPOC founders.

🔮 Weekly Dose of AI: “God-like AI could be a force beyond our control or understanding, and one that could usher in the obsolescence or destruction of the human race”

Definite Optimism • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Elon Musk is starting his own AI company to compete with OpenAI.
  2. AutoGPT and BabyAGI projects integrate recursion into AI, enabling it to perform tasks like ordering coffee and market analysis.
  3. AI-generated Drake and The Weeknd song gains viral popularity, showing the potential of AI in creating music.

🔮 Weekly Dose of AI #2 - Reading minds / Breaking banks /ChatGPT API

Definite Optimism • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Researchers can reconstruct brain images from MRI scans, potentially leading to mind-reading technology.
  2. AI-generated voices can be used to impersonate individuals, posing security risks in areas like banking.
  3. OpenAI released ChatGPT and Whisper APIs, leading the way in generative AI but facing criticism for becoming closed-source and profit-driven.

From Indiegogo to Orthrus: Rethinking Open-Source Funding

Deus In Machina • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Funding
  1. Open source projects often struggle to secure funding through traditional methods like crowdfunding, facing challenges to sustain their development and maintainer salaries.
  2. The use of open source software is widespread across various industries, with many code bases being primarily composed of open source libraries.
  3. Developers have access to a wealth of high-quality open source tools and libraries for free, but the sustainability of open source projects and the well-being of maintainers are ongoing concerns.