TechCrunch Startup News

A look at an industrial AI layer that acts like a brain and nervous system for plants. Early deployments in utilities, manufacturers, and chemical producers are highlighted. The team shows how small operational tweaks can translate into measurable savings. Fundraising and growth after a $5M seed raise are also discussed.

PopWheels realized its battery swapping network could be used for more than food delivery workers who need to charge their e-bikes. Now, its planning for an "aggressive rollout" this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An engineer-turned-founder plans to send up to 1,000 people’s ashes on a 2027 Falcon 9 rideshare using a CubeSat. The story covers his NASA and Blue Origin background and the family ritual that inspired the idea. Listeners hear how an affordable $249 option, one-gram limits, sun-synchronous orbit tracking, and a planned atmospheric burnup shape the service.

OpenAI taps Barrett Zoph to ramp up enterprise sales and reclaim market share. Discussion covers shifting enterprise LLM usage among Anthropic, Google Gemini, and OpenAI. Anduril unveils plans for a million-square-foot Long Beach campus and thousands of new R&D and office jobs. There is talk of autonomous fighter jet ambitions and where manufacturing will be located.

General Fusion is making waves with a $1 billion reverse merger amid previous financial struggles and layoffs. They aim to use the $335 million from this deal to finalize their Lawson Machine 26 reactor. This innovative machine employs magnetized target fusion, contrasting with traditional inertial confinement, to reduce costs significantly. While their scientific breakeven target has shifted to 2028, the growing demand for fusion power, driven by data centers and electrification, raises hopes for commercial viability despite ongoing technological challenges.

Neurophos is tackling energy-hungry AI with an optical chip designed for efficient inferencing. They discuss their origin from Duke University and the metamaterials research that fuels their innovations. With a $110M Series A funding led by Gates Frontier, they aim to enhance parallelism using tiny modulators, claiming significant performance gains over traditional GPUs. The podcast also highlights the challenges of manufacturing and the competitive landscape as Neurophos prepares to deliver its first chips by 2028.

Language learning marketplace Preply has reached a valuation of $1.2 billion after a significant funding round. The company emphasizes the complementary role of AI tools alongside human tutors, enhancing lesson consistency. Despite challenges from the ongoing conflict, Preply maintains its Kyiv office, showcasing remarkable resilience. CEO Kirill BigEye shares how wartime adversity has fostered creativity and strength within the company. Preply joins the ranks of other successful Ukrainian-rooted startups like Grammarly.

PraxisPro is revolutionizing medical sales training with AI. Founded by a former pharma rep, it addresses common training frustrations. The platform simulates real-world interactions to enhance rep performance. With a recent $6M seed round from AlleyCorp, they aim to improve patient outcomes through effective communication. Unlike other tools, they focus on small language models tailored to life sciences. The founders are driven by a mission to empower reps and ensure better therapies reach patients.

A retail startup just secured $2.5 million to tackle excess inventory issues. Another aims to modernize secondary-market sales by centralizing data for faster turnover. With real-time insights, they plan to improve margins and sustainability while preventing early liquidation to bulk resellers. The approach not only benefits brands by enhancing profitability but also offers consumers better prices. Tune in to explore the impact of this innovative strategy on the retail landscape!

A startup focused on 'human-centric' AI raised an astonishing $480 million seed round, emphasizing collaboration over replacement. Major backers include former tech elite, hinting at a trend in AI innovation. Meanwhile, Grubhub's acquisition of Claim introduces robust customer rewards tools for restaurants, promising cost-saving benefits for both merchants and diners. Expect exciting changes in user experiences as the platform integrates new features, enhancing engagement in the food delivery space.