🕶️ A new era in content personalization?

Six bullets of updates

1. 🤝 Seven open-source foundations unite to create common standards for the EU's Cyber Resilience Act, impacting 70%-90% of today's software.

2. 🍄 UK startup founders turn to microdosing magic mushrooms to boost performance and manage stress, according to Sifted.

3. 💍 Smart ring maker Oura adds an experimental feature, Symptom Radar, to its app, tracking strain markers to monitor health changes.

4. 🌆 Smart cities go all-in on AI and IoT, with the market projected to grow at a CAGR of 25.8% until 2030.

5. 🤖 SMEs are leveraging AI to offer personalized customer experiences and foster community, becoming more competitive

6. 🚗 BlaBlaCar, the French ride-sharing unicorn, secures €100m for acquisitions, after hitting profitability post-Covid turbulence.

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Yahoo's Rescue of Artifact, a new era in content personalization?

In a bold move, Yahoo is snapping up Artifact, the AI-based news app brainchild of Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger who will be sticking around in advisory roles.

The news lands mere months after Artifact signaled it might shutter due to a saturated market. Competition was fierce with contenders like Meta's Threads. Yahoo's acquisition is a strategic move to enrich user experiences and reinforce their personalized content delivery.

While the fusion might seem like another tech obituary, it could mark a new era in content personalization. Artifact might have missed the mark as an independent entity, but with Yahoo's scale and reach, it is poised to become a significant player in the news aggregation space, undoubtedly creating ripples in the startup ecosystem.

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Startup Events and Deadlines

1. #Opportunity Crash Course in Financial Modeling | Webinar | April 10 | Online & free

2. Financial Modeling | Course | April 15 - 19 | Online

3. SaaSiest Sweden | Conference | April 16 - 17 | Malmö, Sweden   

4. TechCrunch Early Stage | Conference | April 25 | Online

5. SaaStock: USA | Conference | May 13-15 | Austin, TX ➡️ Redeem free tickets! 🔥

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These companies just raised money

1. 💻 Despite a tough climate for AI chip startups, Hailo bags $120M funding to take on Nvidia; its chips now serve 300+ clients!

2. 💼 HR software Homebase catering to hourly workers bags $60M in Series D, taking its total funding to $169M.

3. 🍷 Full Glass Wine gulps $14M in Series A funding to grow its portfolio of DTC wine marketplaces, forecasting over $100M in 2024 revenue.

4. 💬 Thai healthcare startup HD bags $5.6M to automate customer service with AI chatbots, aiming for a new SaaS revenue stream.

5. 🎓 Career platform Home From College raises $5.4M seed round, helping Gen Z secure flexible gigs with 67% embracing freelance work.

6. 💰 Ex-Revolut duo scores £2.5m for their Condukt startup, aiming to simplify business verification amidst increasing EU regulations.

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US-UK Collaboration for AI Safety

The US and UK are joining forces in response to the EU's recent risk-based AI Act, aiming to co-develop testing procedures and guidelines for AI safety. The partnership is not only a transatlantic affair but also a collaboration of minds and resources, with plans to carry out collaborative testing exercises and explore personnel exchanges between the nations' AI Safety Institutes.

As the startup world can attest, navigating the complex landscape of AI safety and ethics can often feel like crossing a minefield in a blindfold. However, this partnership could shine a light on the path forward, providing a framework for startups to drive innovation safely and ethically. Yet, it's the execution of this partnership that will truly determine its impact. Read more!

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The REAL Reason we Crave Old Tech