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I’m having a kind of weeks the place I’m simply continuously, very slowly shaking my head at individuals. As I sat right down to learn all of the tales on TechCrunch and write the Startups Weekly publication, nicely, issues didn’t get higher.

Simply if you thought the relationship scene couldn’t get any extra unique, alongside comes Rating, the app that claims, “Love is within the air . . . however provided that you’ve acquired the credit score rating to breathe it.” That’s proper, people, in a world the place swiping proper may imply discovering your soul mate or the subsequent particular person to ghost you, Rating ensures that at the least they received’t be ghosting you because of your spotty credit. Launched by a monetary platform (after all — this smells like a advertising stunt), this app is for individuals who’ve managed to navigate the treacherous waters of adulting with a half-decent credit score. As a result of nothing says real love like a strong monetary report, proper? However wait, there’s a twist! The app isn’t just unique — it’s non permanent. For many who don’t make the lower? Nicely, they’re despatched off to monetary literacy boot camp, as a result of nothing heals a bruised ego like being advised you’re not financially savvy sufficient for love.

America, women and gents.

Anyway. Elsewhere within the land of unicorns . . .

Most attention-grabbing startup tales this week

Picture Credit: Tesla

Within the newest episode of “How To not Win Associates and Affect Authorities Businesses,” the Daybreak Mission, a security advocacy group that’s been on Tesla’s case for some time, determined to boost their Tremendous Bowl advert with an advert that was basically a name to arms towards Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software program. It was meant to be a mic drop. As a substitute, it became a facepalm second when the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) was like, “Um, excuse me, we didn’t join this.” The NTSB is thought for a lot of a factor — appearances in Tremendous Bowl advertisements ain’t it, and the org was fast to concern a “take our seal off your homework” order to the Daybreak Mission. They identified that the Daybreak Mission didn’t have permission to make use of the seal, and its inclusion falsely implied the NTSB’s endorsement of the marketing campaign. Dramaaaaaaaa.

Oh, however there was a lot extra drama the place that got here from:

Some smoke, some mirrors: Boston Dynamics’s secret sauce is a mix of superior robotics and advertising genius, served with a facet of “don’t do this at dwelling” warnings. However beware, not all that glitters in robotic movies is gold: Many robotic demo movies are bending the reality to various levels.

The whole lot is ok, AI promise: Within the newest episode of “AI’s Musical Chairs,” Andrej Karpathy, the AI maestro who was one of many founding members of OpenAI, has as soon as once more exited the corporate. No, it’s not a dramatic cleaning soap opera twist or a covert AI rebellion; Karpathy insists it’s all clean crusing, devoid of drama or clandestine plots.

Shut your piehole, AI: The Federal Communications Fee (FCC) has formally declared AI-voiced robocalls as the newest public enemy, branding them unlawful. In the event you have been wanting ahead to a private, albeit faux, name from a presidential candidate or two, you may need to modify your expectations. The FCC’s message is obvious: AI voice clones, you’re formally on the naughty record.

Most attention-grabbing fundraises this week

Picture Credit: Derek Berwin / Getty Photos

In a twist that’s acquired the enterprise capital world buzzing, Foundry Group, the Boulder-based VC agency recognized for backing hits like Fitbit and Zynga, is hanging up its funding high hat. After 18 years and almost $3.5 billion below administration, Foundry has determined its newest $500 million fund, Foundry 2022, will likely be its swan track. Foundry nonetheless plans to guide Sequence A and B financings with the remaining third of its final fund, however the determination to not elevate extra funds raises eyebrows and questions concerning the future for its portfolio corporations.

This transfer follows an analogous sudden announcement from Boston-based OpenView on the tail finish of final 12 months. Two closures don’t mark a development, after all, however I’ll guess you billions of {dollars} to tens of millions of donuts that the TechCrunch staff will preserve a veeeeeery shut eye on this one.

Massive elevate for banking small corporations: Finom, a European challenger financial institution tailor-made for SMEs and freelancers, has efficiently secured $54 million in a Sequence B funding spherical. This funding spherical underscores the rising demand for specialised monetary providers for SMEs.

Lettuce elevate some more cash: Indoor farming, as soon as the darling of the startup world with a $3 billion funding inflow from 2012 to 2022, is dealing with a harsh actuality test. Firms like AppHarvest and Fifth Season have hit chapter, whereas others like Iron Ox have been compelled into layoffs and valuation cuts. Regardless of these challenges, Hippo Harvest emerges as a beacon of hope, securing $21 million in Sequence B funding.

Nicely executed — have a cookie: SocialCrowd, a efficiency administration startup, has efficiently raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed funding spherical led by Bread & Butter Ventures. Based in 2020, SocialCrowd provides a SaaS platform akin to a “Fitbit for work,” enabling corporations to set and reward worker objectives.

This week’s large development: {Hardware}

Picture Credit: Cory Inexperienced/Yahoo

Okay, advantageous, so maybe I’m slightly bit biased — up to now week I’ve modified gears slightly, and I’m going to start out writing about {hardware} a bit extra once more (right here’s what I cowl and the best way to pitch me). The {hardware} desk is hella punching above its weight, particularly this previous week — there’s a whole lot of issues occurring within the enterprise of atoms.

The commercial robotics sector, after having fun with a surge in orders throughout the pandemic, skilled a big downturn in 2023, with orders dropping by almost one-third, based on the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3). This 30% lower underscores a cooling interval for what was as soon as a booming business, though the decline was not totally sudden given the report gross sales within the previous years.

Extra {hardware} startup nuggets:

Technically, all telephones are foldable: And now, Apple is rumored to need to make ones that work after you fold them. Versus the final time that was occurring. We’ve been asking for folding iPhones for some time, come to think about it.

Dry powder for the massive weapons: Regardless of the controversial nature of firearms, Biofire has managed to draw institutional VC backing, elevating a $7 million spherical from notable buyers. This funding achievement highlights a shift within the enterprise capital panorama, the place deep tech and protection tech startups are more and more gaining consideration.

Open this app together with your face: Brian has been doing a rare job masking all issues Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. This week, he breaks down his favourite apps (to this point).

Different unmissable TechCrunch tales . . .

Each week, there’s at all times just a few tales I need to share with you that one way or the other don’t match into the classes above. It’d be a disgrace if you happen to missed ’em, so right here’s a random seize bag of goodies for ya:

Soiled cash, these cleansing charges: Airbnb’s latest earnings report reveals a big shift towards extra clear pricing, with almost 300,000 listings eliminating or lowering cleansing charges. This transfer, affecting nearly 40% of lively listings, addresses long-standing buyer grievances concerning sudden prices at checkout.

Notion, however secret-er: Notion not too long ago expanded its suite with a privacy-centric acquisition, buying Skiff, a platform recognized for its end-to-end encrypted file storage, paperwork, calendar occasions, and e mail providers.

Mozilla hits the brakes: Mozilla, the group famend for its Firefox browser, is present process important strategic shifts. The corporate plans to cut back its funding in a number of merchandise, leading to layoffs impacting round 60 workers.

Put down the LSD, AI: Oh, the wonders of recent know-how, the place Google’s Gemini chatbot, as soon as often known as Bard, and Microsoft’s Copilot at the moment are apparently time vacationers. Forward of the 2024 Tremendous Bowl, the bots had stats and outcomes, earlier than the sport had even began. Whoops.

Burning rubber. And extra: A Waymo robotaxi discovered itself the goal of a fiery assault in San Francisco. The incident noticed a crowd flip their boredom or maybe technophobia into an act of vandalism that ended with the autonomous car in flames. To its credit score, it didn’t attempt to defend itself, so I suppose there’s that.