Explore startup insights, from funding to marketing, to empower entrepreneurs on their journey.
Robotics
Hugging Face, the AI startup known for its developer platform, is expanding deeper into robotics with the launch of the SO-101 — a programmable, 3D-printable robotic arm designed to perform basic tasks like picking up and placing objects. The SO-101 is the successor to Hugging Face’s earlier model, the SO-100,
Automotive
In a market saturated by high-tech, high-priced electric vehicles, a bold new startup called Slate Auto is flipping the script. With a minimalist, modular truck that starts under $20,000 after federal tax credits, the company is betting big on simplicity, customization, and cost-effectiveness — and making it clear they'
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Chinese AI startup Manus AI has raised $75 million in a new funding round led by Benchmark, pushing its valuation to around $500 million. This latest round marks a significant milestone for the company, multiplying its previous valuation nearly fivefold. Previously backed by major investors like Tencent and HSG (formerly
Advertising
Months after limited ad testing in select markets, Meta has officially opened the ad floodgates for its Instagram-linked app, Threads. Starting now, eligible advertisers globally can place ads within the Threads feed, marking a significant step in Meta’s monetization strategy for the platform. With over 320 million monthly active
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Character.AI, the fast-growing platform known for letting users chat and roleplay with AI-generated personalities, is taking a bold step into video. On Tuesday, the company announced AvatarFX, its new video generation model now in closed beta. The tool animates AI characters in a range of styles — from lifelike human
Startups
In 2020, few could’ve predicted that a scrappy open-source startup from New Zealand would become a backbone of modern app development. But in 2025, Supabase is no longer a quiet alternative — it's a force. Led by CEO Paul Copplestone, Supabase has just raised a $200 million Series
Mobile Apps
Meta is doubling down on short-form video. On Tuesday, the company officially launched Edits, a new video-creation app aimed at creators who want a powerful, flexible, and AI-enhanced editing experience—without the watermark or the paywall. Available now globally on both iOS and Android, Edits brings a suite of creative
Transportation
New York City: a place where you can grab a dollar slice at 2 a.m., get McDonald’s delivered in under 30 minutes, and still spend two hours stuck in traffic trying to catch a flight. Archer Aviation wants to flip that narrative — not by fixing the roads, but
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
OpenAI is in advanced discussions to acquire Windsurf, an AI-assisted coding tool formerly known as Codeium, for approximately $3 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. If completed, the acquisition would mark OpenAI’s largest deal to date and a major strategic move in the competitive landscape of
Design
Cloud-based design platform Figma has taken the first formal step toward becoming a public company, confidentially filing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The move comes more than a year after its planned $20 billion acquisition by Adobe fell through due to regulatory opposition in the
Media
Patreon is stepping directly into Twitch territory with the launch of a native livestreaming feature, allowing creators to host live video directly on the platform for the first time. Starting this week, select creators will get early access to the feature, with a broader rollout planned for summer 2025. The
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In a bold move that further cements its position as a leader in immersive digital experiences, Infinite Reality (iR) has announced the acquisition of agentic AI pioneer Touchcast in a $500 million cash and stock deal. The announcement comes just weeks after iR’s $207 million acquisition of Napster, signaling