🕶️ Are pro-crypto politicians playing us?

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Six bullets of updates

1. 🎓 Andrej Karpathy, ex-Tesla and OpenAI, launches a startup to apply AI assistants in education, targeting students.

2. 🌟 Tribe AI raises venture capital to meet demand after six years of bootstrapping, driven by a 300% revenue surge.

3. 📊 Despite raising $15.5B this year, female-led startups face challenges in funding compared to their male-led counterparts. 

4. 🤖Can OpenAI's ChatGPT help start a business? Comparing its capabilities to Y Combinator reveals strengths and limits.

5. 📦 Didero leverages AI for mid-market supply chains, aiming to solve costly inefficiencies with tech.

6. 🧠 TTT models, a new AI architecture, could replace transformers if they scale as creators predict.

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Are pro-crypto politicians playing us?

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently warned against blindly supporting pro-crypto political candidates, urging voters to scrutinize their true intentions and motivations. Buterin expressed concerns that some candidates might prioritize their own financial interests over the genuine development and ethical growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. He emphasized the need for a nuanced approach, advocating for the support of leaders who understand the technology's potential benefits and risks and are committed to responsible and inclusive policies.

Buterin's caution comes at a crucial time as the crypto industry faces increasing regulatory scrutiny and public skepticism. By urging the community to look beyond surface-level endorsements, Buterin aims to foster a more principled and sustainable approach to integrating cryptocurrency into mainstream society.

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Startup Events and Deadlines

1. Financial Modeling Bootcamp | July 22 | Bootcamp

2. How to close a Funding Round | July 24 | Webinar

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

4. SaaStock: Dublin | August 14 | Conference

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These companies just raised money

1. 💰 Sam Altman, JP Morgan, and others invest $65M in AI-powered B2B payments startup Slope, leveraging large language models.

2. 🔒 Deepfake detection firm Pindrop secures a $100M loan to expand its offerings and boost banking security.

3. 📈 Fintech OCN secures $8.6M in a Series A round to enhance its financial services and expand its market presence in Latin America.

4. 💸 Caliza raises $8.5M to double its workforce and expand instant USDC payments from Brazil to Mexico.

5. 🏍️ Vammo raises $5.4M to expand its electric motorcycle fleet and battery exchange points in Sao Paulo.

6. 🌍 Brazilian digital banking platform Nomad acquires Melhor Câmbio for $550K to enhance its currency exchange services and broaden its financial product offerings.

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Fraud scandal rocks Ozy Media

Carlos Watson, the co-founder and CEO of Ozy Media, was arrested on fraud charges related to misleading investors about the company’s financial health. The arrest comes after a series of allegations that Watson and Ozy Media misrepresented their audience numbers and financial status to secure millions in funding. This high-profile case has drawn significant attention due to Watson's prominent public persona and the company’s previous claims of rapid growth and success.

Watson's arrest highlights broader issues in the startup ecosystem, where pressure to demonstrate growth and secure investment can lead to unethical practices. Despite raising significant capital and gaining media attention, Ozy Media's internal issues and deceptive practices ultimately led to its downfall.

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NEVER make an MBA your co-founder