💬 Time to back up that free speech rhetoric: U.S. senators only have a few weeks left to pass the PRESS Act, a federal "shield" bill that has been lingering in final vote limbo since January. The law would protect journalists from being forced to give up confidential sources and more. Read More
💻 Combine and conquer: IBM-owned open source software firm Red Hat is acquiring Neural Magic, a startup that optimizes AI models to run faster on commodity processors and GPUs. We don't know the terms of the deal, but Neural Magic had raised $50 million in venture capital to date. Read More
🌱 A boost for agritech: Berlin-based Klim has raised $22 million for its platform to help farmers switch to regenerative farming, which reduces carbon emissions while increasing soil biodiversity. Read More
🤙 Even more ways to spend time in meetings: Privacy-focused messaging app Signal has added new features to help you set up and make video calls. We haven't tested it yet, but I'm excited to see if Signal can compete with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Read More
🧥 Is that your grandma's coat? Thrifting is in, and the tech world wants a slice. London-based Fleek, an online marketplace connecting second-hand clothing wholesalers with those who sell it at retail, has raised $20.4 million to continue expanding its platform. Read More
👋 So long, farewell: Rajeev Misra, co-CEO of SoftBank Vision Fund, is stepping down. Misra has been slowly retreating from SoftBank over the years, leaving his roles as corporate officer and EVP of the parent company in 2022. The executive steered the $100 billion fund through its explosive rise and very public challenges. Read More
🇪🇺 Nationalistic lines are being drawn up around the world, and the message is clear: Whenever possible, be self-sufficient. The latest example in Europe comes from Qwant and Ecosia, two search engines that are joining forces to develop their own European search index and reduce reliance on Google and Bing. Read More
