Zurich’s Rapidata raises €7.2M to build a real-time human feedback network for AI
Zurich’s Rapidata raises €7.2M to build a real-time human feedback network for AI

A growing number of startups are rushing to build software that thinks fast. But one of the hardest parts of teaching machines to improve isn’t raw computing power, it’s human insight at scale. Zurich-based startup Rapidata has just taken a significant…

Plato closes $14.5M to bring AI automation to wholesale trade
Plato closes $14.5M to bring AI automation to wholesale trade

Plato, a Berlin-based startup, has raised $14.5 million in seed funding to bring generative AI into wholesale distribution, a massive industry that rarely makes tech headlines but quietly moves a significant share of the world’s goods. The round was le…

David Silver is chasing superhuman intelligence with a $1bn seed
David Silver is chasing superhuman intelligence with a $1bn seed

David Silver, a British AI researcher known for his role at Google’s DeepMind lab, has helped build some of the most influential AI systems and is now leading his own ambitious start-up. He is in the middle of raising a $1 billion seed round for his ne…

Stanhope AI raises $8M to build adaptive AI for robotics and defence
Stanhope AI raises $8M to build adaptive AI for robotics and defence

London-based deep tech startup Stanhope AI has closed a €6.7 million ($8 million) Seed funding round to advance what it calls a new class of adaptive artificial intelligence designed to power autonomous systems in the physical world. The round was led …

Stanhope AI raises $8M to build adaptive AI for robotics and defence
Stanhope AI raises $8M to build adaptive AI for robotics and defence

London-based deep tech startup Stanhope AI has closed a €6.7 million ($8 million) Seed funding round to advance what it calls a new class of adaptive artificial intelligence designed to power autonomous systems in the physical world. The round was led …

Ending graciously
Ending graciously

A few decades ago, when I was raising funding for a startup, I made a lasting impression on an investor by not only talking about how successful we would be, but also highlighting what would happen if we weren’t. Later, in an informal setting, I asked …

How robotics could turn e-waste into a tech goldmine
How robotics could turn e-waste into a tech goldmine

E-waste has become a global problem. Unfortunately, the majority of discarded used technology, known as e-waste, is dumped or processed in unsafe conditions. Around 78% of electronic products aren’t properly recycled — and the garbage pile keeps growin…

Startup wisdom: 5 prompt engineering tips for vibe coding success
Startup wisdom: 5 prompt engineering tips for vibe coding success

Startup wisdom is a new TNW series offering practical lessons from experts who’ve helped build great companies. This week, Dainius Kavoliūnas, head of no-code platform Hostinger Horizons, shares his tips on vibe coding. Vibe coding has become an indisp…

How European battery startups can thrive alongside Asian giants
How European battery startups can thrive alongside Asian giants

The global battery market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with projections showing the sector will reach $400bn by 2030. Yet European entrepreneurs often feel locked out, watching Chinese giants like CATL dominate headlines with record-breaking I…

The EU’s €2T budget overlooks a key tech pillar: Open source
The EU’s €2T budget overlooks a key tech pillar: Open source

On July 16, the European Commission proposed a €2tn seven-year budget – the largest in the EU’s history – to boost autonomy, competitiveness, and resilience. The spending plan addresses cybersecurity, innovation, and other key digital pillars, but omit…