Coverage Highlights
TechCrunch
Open Source Endowment is trying to solve open source’s funding problem, permanently
A group of notable open-source programmers are joining with a VC investor to launch a nonprofit called the Open Source Endowment in hopes of permanently solving the perennial issue with developing open-source software: funding.
Fortune
Dwelly, an ‘AI roll-up’ buying U.K. real estate agencies, gets $93 million to fuel expansion
A startup founded by former Uber and Gett executives that is aiming to roll up independent real estate agencies across the U.K. and modernize their operations using AI and other digital technology has raised $93 million to further its expansion.
TechCrunch
Shuttle raises $6M to fix vibe-coding's deployment problem
Shuttle raised $6 million to solve deployment and infrastructure pain points for vibe-coding workflows.
TechCrunch
Weekly subscriptions dominate iOS app revenue, report finds
A new report found that weekly subscriptions have become the dominant monetization format for iOS app revenue.
Fortune
Exclusive: Bitcoin infrastructure company Arch Labs raises $13 million from Pantera Capital to launch Arch Virtual Machine
Arch Labs raised $13 million from Pantera Capital and others to expand its Bitcoin-focused developer infrastructure.
tech.eu
From a Congo prison cell to a $9M raise: how AgriDex is rewiring the backbone of global agriculture
AgriDex empowers farmers, buyers, and other stakeholders to trade more efficiently, securely, and fairly — reshaping how agricultural commodities are bought and sold worldwide.
The Verge
The Flipper Zero creators have a new tool to fight work distractions
The creators of the Flipper Zero, a sort of electronic Swiss army knife for communicating with other devices, have come up with another tool that’s designed to boost productivity and reduce distractions. The Busy Bar is a customizable app-connected pixelated display that lets others know when you need to be left alone to focus, but it can also be used to help with self-motivation and sticking to a schedule or routine.
TechCrunch
JetBrains launches Junie, a new AI coding agent for its IDEs
JetBrains, the company behind coding tools like the IntelliJ IDE for Java and Kotlin (and, indeed, the Kotlin language itself), on Thursday launched Junie, a new AI coding agent.
Fortune
Exclusive: Portal Ventures raises oversubscribed $75 million crypto fund backed by Chris Dixon and Marc Andreessen
The pre-seed crypto venture fund Portal Ventures is close to the final close of its second fund, a $75 million vehicle that its founder and general partner, Evan Fisher, tells me was oversubscribed to the tune of $90 million.
FastCompany
This toylike gadget is actually a stealthy hacking device
Flipper Zero is a hacking device that looks nothing like a hacking device. Despite its toylike appearance, Flipper Zero—the winner of Fast Company’s 2024 Innovation by Design Awards in security—enables users to interact with a wide range of digital systems, from wireless radio devices to NFC and RFID cards.
Sifted
Revolut graduates raise $6.5m for crypto exchange to fill the void left by FTX
X10, a new crypto exchange for professional traders founded by three former Revolut employees, has raised a $6.5m round. The platform aims to address a gap in the market that FTX — which the jailed Sam Bankman-Fried founded – once occupied.
Fortune
XION, a blockchain from 'BurntBanksy,' announces $25 million in Series A funding
Consumer-focused blockchain XION announced a $25 million Series A funding round led by major crypto investors.
Fortune
Raising $7.5 million, Blueprint Finance launches Concrete Protocol, an on-chain credit market
Following a $7.5 million raise led by Hashed and Tribe Capital, Blueprint Finance, emerging from stealth, today announces Concrete Protocol, an on-chain credit market that protects borrowers from liquidation, while offering yield to liquidity providers to fund short-term capital demands.
The Verge
The Flipper Zero has a powerful new hat, and yes, it runs Doom
The $49 Video Game Module is a collab with Raspberry Pi that fits right on top of the Flipper Zero to combine all the features of that device with tilt controls, video out, and all the code you can run on an RP2040.
TechCrunch
As a new AI-driven coding assistant is launched, the battle for AI-mindshare moves to developers
Prague-based JetBrains — which developed the Kotlin programming language recommended by Google for Android development — has just released JetBrains AI Assistant, a Microsoft Copilot alternative. The Assistant will be integrated into JetBrains’ development environments (IDEs), code editors and other products and powered by LLMs from OpenAI, Google and JetBrains itself.
CoinDesk
Injective Labs CEO Discusses a 'Highly Promising Sign' for the Evolution of DeFi
Injective Labs co-founder and CEO Eric Chen discusses a new Injective survey which indicates a small amount of respondents weren't able to tell if they were operating on a centralized or decentralized exchange.
The Verge
This limited-edition Flipper Zero is the latest transparent gadget
The Flipper Zero — which the company calls a “portable multi-tool for pentesters and geeks in a toy-like body,” Verge friend Chris Person calls “a Swiss Army Knife of antennas,” and my kids call “the meebo” because I use it to emulate Amiibos for them — is now available in a limited edition with a transparent shell. I could have made several sentences from that info, but it felt appropriate to the spirit of Flipper Zero to cram it all into one.
Forbes
Sidekick—The Browser Built For Work—Raises $4 million
Sidekick strips out many of the distractions that afflict modern web browsers, including ads, notifications and personal websites during work hours. It’s designed to keep people focused on their work, particularly those who suffer from ADHD.
TechCrunch
Akhetonics raises capital for its all-optical processor prototype
All-optical processors startup Akhetonics raised €2.3 million in early-stage funding led by deep tech investors Runa Capital. The company is aiming for a full-scale optical CPU, with a full prototype by 2024.
The Verge
The Flipper Zero has an app store now
The Flipper Zero — a dolphin-themed digital multitool — now has a mobile app store, which makes it much easier to browse and install third-party tools and plug-ins right from your phone. The marketplace is built into the latest version of Flipper’s official app, which is out today.
VentureBeat
How AI and advanced computing can pull us back from the brink of accelerated climate change
Artificial Intelligence will determine whether we blow through the tipping point or row back from the brink. AI is one of the significant tools left in the fight against climate change. AI has turned its hand to risk prediction, the prevention of damaging weather events, such as wildfires and carbon offsets. It has been described as vital to ensuring that companies meet their ESG targets.
FastCompany
Do you have ADHD? This web browser is designed to make it easier to focus
When Dmitry Pushkarev left his job as an executive at Amazon, he started pondering one question: Why aren’t web browsers designed for work and productivity? Seeing an opportunity—and informed by a lifelong struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD—Pushkarev set out to create a browser specifically designed to help increase productivity, particularly for people with ADHD.
TechCrunch
Despite the Crypto Winter and other scandals, blockchains seem here to stay in the sports betting market
New York-based Frontrunner, a decentralized sports prediction market, has now raised a $4.75M funding round by Susquehanna Private Equity Investments LLP. Joining the raise was Soma Capital, Gilgamesh Ventures, FBG Capital, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, Toy Ventures, Gaingels, Ledger Prime, WAGMI Ventures, and NOA Capital.
TechCrunch
Singapore-based financial admin platform Osome raises $25M Series B
Osome is a financial admin platform that helps business owners with administrative tasks like payroll, accounting and tax reporting. The company announced today it has raised a $25 million Series B from Illuminate Financial, AFG Partners and Winter Capital.
TechCrunch
Malaysia-based Respond.io helps businesses juggle multiple messaging apps
Respond.io serves as a central dashboard for the biggest apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Line, Viber, Telegram and WeChat. The Malaysia-based company said today it has raised $7 million in Series A funding led by Headline, with participation from AltaIR Capital, Smart Partnership Capital, Sterling Oak Group and Calendula Ventures.
TechCrunch
Endel raises $15M to further develop its AI-powered sound wellness technology
Endel raised $15 million to scale its AI-powered sound wellness platform and product development.
Bloomberg
Czech Startup Founders Turn Billionaires Without VC Help
A Bloomberg profile on Czech startup founders building billion-dollar outcomes without relying on venture capital.