🕶️ GDPR who? Ghostery's CEO spills the tea on online tracking

Six bullets of updates

1. 🏦 MatPat exits Theorist Media, lobbies for creator economy on Capitol Hill as it nears half a trillion dollars.

2. 🚀 Max Space aims to revolutionize space habitats with expandable designs, launching their first module in 2026. 

3.  Apple reached an agreement on its first US retail union contract. This could signal a shift in labor relations at Apple.

4. 🔄 PE firms upped their spending on venture-backed tech companies in 2024. The deal count is to return to the highs of 2021.

5. 😜 A hard look at the serious subject of “VC trolling”: Why making fun of VCs is suitable for (almost) everyone.

6. 🔟 Ten serial founders who founded again in 2024, including several who have worked in startups such as Glovo, UiPath, and Pitch.

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OpenAI threatens Google with SearchGPT

OpenAI is set to challenge Google with its new AI-driven search engine, SearchGPT. It aims to revolutionize the search experience by leveraging advanced language models for more accurate and personalized results. This move signals a significant shift in the search market, traditionally dominated by Google. 

For startup founders, this development could mean new opportunities for SEO strategies and user engagement through more nuanced search capabilities. Additionally, the competition might accelerate innovation and adoption of AI across various sectors. Right now, SearchGPT is being selectively rolled out to a limited group of users and publishers as a temporary prototype for feedback.

OpenAI said: “We plan to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future.” Read more here. 

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Startup Events and Deadlines

1. Crash Course in Financial Modeling | August 7 | Webinar

2. SaaStock: Dublin | August 14 | Conference

3. How to close a Funding Round (it’s not just the pitch deck) | August 14 | Webinar

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These companies just raised money

1. 🇪🇬 Egypt’s MNT-Halan raises $157.5M to acquire a fintech in Turkey, boosting its regional expansion efforts.

2. 💵 Compliance startup Vanta raised a $150M round led by Sequoia Capital that valued the company at $2.45B.

3. 📱 IntelePeer raised a $140M mixed round of debt and equity to offer an AI-powered contact center that automates customer interactions.

4. 🚜 Monarch Tractor, creator of a fully electric, driver-optional smart tractor, raised a $133M Series C.

5. 🦄 India’s Rapido becomes a unicorn with $120M funding, raising its valuation to $1 billion.

6. ⚡ Energy tech startup Greenely secures €8M to expand and boost Europe's energy transition, supporting more households.

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GDPR who? Ghostery's Jean-Paul Schmetz spills the tea on online tracking

Ghostery CEO Jean-Paul Schmetz discusses the limitations of regulation in combating online tracking, suggesting that user-driven solutions like ad blockers are more effective.

Despite GDPR's initial impact, tracking has surged as companies adapt. Schmetz highlights that significant browsers have incorporated more privacy features, but extensions like Ghostery remain crucial for immediate protection. He argues that widespread adoption of privacy tools could disrupt the current ad-driven internet economy. Big Tech’s consent models weaken regulatory efforts, keeping programmatic advertising dominant.

You can read the whole interview with Ghostery’s CEO Jean-Paul Schmetz, in which he discusses the company’s strategy, the state of ad tracking, and more. Read here.

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How would I run a startup (If I had to start over)

Slidebean has been thriving for a decade now. In this video, Caya delves into what he'd change if he could start over. Join him as he shares insights, reflections, and lessons learned along the way. Don’t forget to subscribe!