📹 Streaming on the go: Twitch announced today that its users can now upload videos, up to a minute long, to their stories on the platform. The streaming company said that it sees this feature as a way for streamers to take their viewers with them when they aren't actively streaming on Twitch. It'll probably help keep them from posting that kind of content on TikTok and Instagram Reels, too. Read more
💡 Profound insights: When it comes to brands wanting to get noticed online, SEO has been king for the last decade. But as more consumers turn to AI search to find new products and brands, companies will need to adjust their approach. Profound looks to help brands find out just how they are presented in AI search compared to their peers. Read more
💧 Sage sustainability: Data centers are crucial to the advancement of technologies like AI. They also suck up a crap-ton of energy. Sage Geosystems is building a new geothermal solution that could use pressurized hot water to help power data centers on less energy. The startup looks to start drilling for oil water in September. Read more
🤳 Just a fleeting thread: Today Meta confirmed that it is testing a new feature that will allow people to post Threads that will disappear, along with their replies, after 24 hours. There isn't a timeline, nor confirmation, that this feature will ever roll out to broader users, so in the meantime, keep deleting those Threads you don't want to resurface in the future. Read more
☕ Diners, drive-ins and charge: Seven years after Elon Musk started talking about bringing diners to Tesla's charging stations, there is some new momentum for that initiative. Tesla posted a job opening for a diner experience specialist in Los Angeles two weeks ago. A little juice for you, a little juice for your car. Read more
🎧 Parker Conrad doesn't think Rippling has won — yet: HR software is big, big business. And no one understands that better than this week's guest, Rippling co-founder and CEO Parker Conrad. In this episode he talks about what goes into building a leading HR tech company, as well as the power imbalance that can arise between VCs and founders. He also touches on the drama at his previous company, Zenefits, that inspired him to build Rippling. Listen here
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
💸 Series C for Syfe: Singapore-based wealth management app Syfe raised $27 million in fresh funding. TechCrunch's Kate Park reports that the startup has grown to more than 100,000 users and expanded to 40 countries since its 2019 launch as people continue to look for digital solutions rather than turning to a financial adviser. Read more
🩺 Healthcare BNPL: Medical debt has grown astronomically over the last few decades. PayZen looks to help, as its platform allows users to pay off medical care and treatments over time without fees. The startup just raised $32 million and talked with Marina Temkin about how it was initially difficult to get healthcare providers to sign up. Read more
💵 Data dollars: Annotating and labeling data is an incredibly important, and oft-overlooked, piece that goes into training these large AI models. Encord built a platform that helps companies manage and prepare their data for AI models. It just raised a $30 million Series B round to keep expanding. Read more
🚛 Clearly climate: The transportation industry accounts for 25% of global emissions, but making that sector more sustainable isn't easy. Clearly looks to help with its AI-driven platform that delivers "climate intelligence" to transportation companies to help them reach their emissions goals. The startup just raised $4.3 million. Read more
