🕶️ OpenAI’s recipe for U.S. AI supremacy

Six bullets of updates

1. ⚖️ Meta ditches fact-checking for Community Notes, allowing more political speech; 60% U.S. tariffs could hit hard. Read more.

2. 🕵️ CIA’s CTO Speaks Out: Nand Mulchandani navigates AI, China, and a new era of tech under Trump. Read more.

3. 🔥 Watch Duty app hit 2M downloads, topping charts amidst LA fires, as it delivers vital, real-time wildfire updates. Read more.

4. 🍎 Apple's board opposes a proposal to abolish DEI programs, amid moves by Meta and Amazon to curb similar efforts. Read more.

5. 🚀 Blaize, an AI chip startup, is heading to NASDAQ via SPAC with $335M raised and $400M deals in the pipeline. Read more.

6. 💸 VC Shake-Up Alert: Mid-tier venture firms are struggling as top players like Thrive dominate. Is this the end for smaller VCs? Read more.

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Lobby hard, innovate harder: OpenAI’s recipe for U.S. AI supremacy

OpenAI recently unveiled an “economic blueprint” advocating for federal policies to solidify the U.S. as a global AI leader. The document emphasizes increasing investments in chips, energy, data, and talent while addressing regulatory inconsistencies among states. OpenAI’s VP of global affairs, Chris Lehane, called for streamlined federal support to ensure AI innovation aligns with national security interests. The blueprint also highlights the need for enhanced infrastructure, such as renewable energy for AI-powered data centers, and encourages collaboration with allies through export controls to limit adversarial access to U.S. AI advancements.

The blueprint addresses contentious issues like copyright and AI model training, proposing that developers be allowed to use publicly available information while respecting intellectual property rights. OpenAI underscores the urgency for the U.S. to lead AI policy and maintain competitiveness amid global competition. The company has ramped up lobbying efforts, hiring former government leaders and supporting federal AI initiatives while opposing state-level bills it deems restrictive. Through its proactive engagement with policymakers, OpenAI seeks to shape the legislative landscape to foster innovation and secure its role in the global AI race.

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Startup Events and Deadlines

1. Pitch & Run - Williamsburg | Jan 15 | NYC

2. Startmate Accelerator | Deadline: Jan 20 | Australia

3. Entrepreneur First Bangalore - Core | Deadline: Feb 11 | India

4. Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator | Deadline: Feb 11 | NYC

5. Techstars New York City Accelerator | Deadline: Feb 11 | NYC

6. Y Combinator  | Deadline: Feb 11 | Silicon Valley

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These companies just raised money

1. 💰 Prosus to acquire Despegar for $1.7B, a 33% premium, enhancing LATAM travel tech with more services and loyalty perks.

2. 💼 Clearwater to acquire Enfusion for $1.5B to build a "front-to-back" investment platform; Enfusion's revenue grew 15% in 2024.

3. 👗 Raspberry AI scores $24M from a16z to boost fashion design with generative AI, wooing 70 brand clients.

4. 💡 The Men's, a Brazilian healthtech, raises $424K from BR Angels to expand product lines and boost men's health solutions.

5. 💰 Buk raises $50M in Series B, plans Brazil expansion and new products, valuing it at $850M.

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From TikTok to RedNote: is the U.S. ready for another Chinese app craze?

As TikTok faces a potential U.S. shutdown on January 19, Chinese app Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, is quickly gaining traction among American users. The app has surged to the top spot on the U.S. App Store, fueled by TikTok creators urging their followers to adopt it as a backup platform. Xiaohongshu combines Pinterest’s visual layout with Instagram’s social appeal and features robust social shopping capabilities. With 300 million monthly active users—79% of them women—the app’s steady growth during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a viral surge, making it a compelling alternative for creators navigating uncertainty around TikTok’s future.

Backed by $917 million in funding from major investors like Tencent and Alibaba, Xiaohongshu was valued at $17 billion in 2024 and is reportedly eyeing an IPO. Its profitability, projected to surpass $1 billion in 2024, highlights the app’s growth potential and its appeal to creators seeking new opportunities. However, its rise comes with questions about its sustainability and potential scrutiny from U.S. authorities due to its Chinese origins. The stage is set for Xiaohongshu to redefine the social media landscape in the U.S.—if it can navigate the challenges ahead.

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Every SaaS acronym explained

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