TechCrunch Startup News

In 2020, when open source database Supabase was founded, its New Zealand-based CEO, Paul Copplestone, couldn’t have imagined it would be sitting in the sweet spot for 2025’s biggest trend: vibe coding.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ManyChat just snagged $140 million to ramp up its AI-powered business messaging platform. The shift from traditional email marketing to messaging solutions is reshaping how businesses connect with consumers. With a focus on social messaging platforms like Instagram, ManyChat stands out by enhancing user interactions. Exciting future AI integrations are in the pipeline to further elevate conversion rates, making the world of chatbots more useful and less dystopian.

A startup called Superpower is publicly launching what it calls the world’s first super-app that is designed to help people better understand and take care of their health. For $499, the startup offers biannual lab testing that analyzes over 100 blood biomarkers across 21 categories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new startup is pushing the boundaries with its audacious goal of automating every job on the planet. This controversial vision raises eyebrows as experts debate the implications of such a radical shift. The founder's mission straddles the line between innovation and satire, igniting discussions on ethics and the future of work. What happens to human labor in a world dominated by machines? Buckle up for a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges and opportunities that come with complete automation.

OpenAI has launched new AI models, o3 and o4-mini, touted as state-of-the-art. However, these models surprisingly exhibit higher rates of hallucination than their predecessors. This increase raises worries about their reliability in professional settings. The discussion delves into the complexities of hallucinations as a persistent challenge in AI development, supported by expert insights and research findings.

A Montreal startup just secured $12 million to revolutionize data access online. They aim to automate data retrieval from sites lacking APIs, making it seamless for developers to access fragmented information securely. This innovative approach could redefine how user-permissioned data is utilized across the internet. With their ambitions likened to becoming the 'Plaid for the rest of the internet,' the future seems bright for this groundbreaking technology!

Capsule has raised $12 million to enhance its AI video editing tools geared towards marketing and media teams. The upgraded software will introduce exciting features like AI suggestions and real-time collaboration. This development promises to empower users without advanced skills to create professional-quality video content effortlessly.

Tesla famously struggled to scale up production of the Model 3 sedan in 2018 — so much so that CEO Elon Musk said his company was weeks away from collapsing. That near-death experience helped spawn a whole new company called Atomic that’s built around using AI to streamline supply chains. Co-founded by former Tesla employees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OpenAI is shaking things up by revising its safety framework. The tech giant may tweak its safety requirements if competitors release high-risk AI models without safeguards. This move raises eyebrows about the implications of competitive pressures on AI safety standards. Discussions delve into the balance between innovation and responsible development in the ever-evolving AI landscape.

U.K. startup Marshmallow has blown up over the years by using innovations in data science to build car insurance policies for immigrants and other consumers who have been overlooked or priced out of traditional insurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices