Patchwork politics: will the U.S. ever get AI rules right?

Six bullets of updates

1.  📃 U.S. struggles with AI regulation, as 700+ state bills aim to unify the patchwork for stronger federal rules.

2. 📊 Slidebean's AI Pitch Deck Reviewer launches in beta, leveraging insights from $350M in raised capital. Personalized feedback in minutes!

3. 🧳 Family offices fund 27% of startup deals and align with the sector for strategic value and patient investing.

4. 🤏 Despite the hype, ChatGPT Search struggles with short queries, keeping Google safe—queries average 2-3 words.

5. 📈 Raising the highest valuation isn't always best VCs advise finding realistic growth targets to avoid pitfalls. 

6. 🫘 CoffeeSpace launches a Hinge-inspired app to match co-founders, with over 270,000 swipes since March.

✦

National-interest startups: go for contracts

It’s well-known that the government market is complex. In that context, national-interest startups see strong potential in government contracts, with sectors like data analysis, cybersecurity, and satellite tech finding reliable funding sources in agencies such as the Department of Defense (DOD). Rebecca Gevalt of Dcode Capital recommends prioritizing contracts over grants to build sustained revenue streams, primarily as the DOD seeks partnerships for AI, quantum computing, and space projects.

To navigate this landscape, startups should consider partnerships that can guide them from early R&D funding to stable contracts and recognize opportunities beyond defense, like data management and cybersecurity solutions. Additionally, focusing on non-political government relationships can help minimize the impact of administration changes, while public data can provide insights into potential agency needs and competitors’ contracts. Read more! 

✦

Startup Events and Deadlines

1. AcceleratorCON | November 8 | New York City

2. Financial Modeling Bootcamp | November 11-15 | LIVE 1-week bootcamp

3. Techstars Columbus | November 20 | Columbus

4. Techstars New York City Accelerator | November 20 | New York City

5. Techstars Anywhere Accelerator | November 20 | Remote

6. Techstars San Francisco | November 20 | San Francisco

✦

✦

These companies just raised money

1. 📊 Crusoe Energy secures $500M in infraAI funding, valued at $3 billion, to fund a Texas data center project.

2. 🧑‍🚀 Electric aerospace company BETA Technologies has secured $318M to accelerate growth and commercialization efforts.

3. ⚔️ Armis, a leading cyber exposure management and security firm, announced the closure of a substantial $200M Series D funding round.

4. 💳 Melio, an accounts payable and receivable platform for small and medium businesses, secures $150M in funding led by Fiserv.

5. 🧠 Investors invested $115M in Axonis amid revived interest in brain drugs for pain, epilepsy, and neurological diseases.

6. 🔑 DoorLoop, an all-in-one property management software company, received a $100 M Series B funding round led by JMI Equity.

✦

OpenAI taps Twitter rival’s creator for secret project

OpenAI has snagged Gabor Cselle, the mastermind behind Twitter rival Pebble, for a hush-hush project. With a record of selling startups to Google and Twitter, Cselle's move signals serious innovation brewing at OpenAI.

Past ventures like reMail and Namo Media underscore his knack for scaling tech. While Anthropic also grabbed headlines by hiring Embark's Alex Rodrigues, it's clear the AI race is on fire. As Cselle dives into generative AI, will he launch the next big thing or just another pebble in the pond? Read more! 

✦

✦

✦

The FATAL Flaw Pushing GoPro to Bankruptcy 

Is your GoPro collecting dust? This video dives into why—from GoPro’s early success to its struggles with competition, product missteps, and a changing market. Find out if there’s still a future for GoPro, or if smartphones have already taken over 🕶️ Subscribe!

✦