🕶️ Silicon Valley's Silent Control

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Six bullets of updates

1. 📣 #Video Was Scarlett Johansson’s voice appropriated by OpenAI? Learn 5 AI strategies to safeguard intellectual property in the AI era.

2. 🪢 Germany urged to adopt France's tech strategy to bolster startups, with Macron-Scholz alliance potentially unlocking €3.5bn for growth.

3. 🗣️ Expressable brings speech therapy into the home, raising a record $15M to expand its virtual services.

4. ❌ Oh, oh! TikTok undergoes mass restructuring, laying off a "large percentage" of global employees, including in marketing and support.

5. 🫰 Investing in Europe has ups and downs, says VCs Saul Klein and Raluca Ragab, with Spanish startups raising €2.2B.

6. 🔓 Can blockchain improve weather forecasts? WeatherXM secures funding to refine predictions using blockchain tech.

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Big Tech Companies Have a Strategy to Avoid Regulatory Alarms

By investing in AI startups, big tech companies seek regulatory approval. The truth is that while they can acquire smaller equity stakes and foster innovation, they are also avoiding antitrust scrutiny. This is a way for Silicon Valley and Seattle giants to exert some control over these companies, sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly.

These strategic moves allow giants like Google and Microsoft to integrate the latest AI advancements without triggering regulatory alarms.

The influx of capital into AI startups is also a defensive maneuver, ensuring these companies stay at the forefront of technological evolution. As antitrust concerns mount, distributing investments across a broader ecosystem serves as a tactical shield. Read more!

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Startup Events and Deadlines

1. How to close a Funding Round (it’s not just the pitch deck) | June 4 | Webinar

2. SaaStr Europa (London) | June 4-5 | Conference

3. South Summit: Madrid | June 5-7 | Summit

4. Crash Course in Financial Modeling | June 18 | Course

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Preventive business insurance for tech companies

Koop has helped tech companies in 60+ use cases to get comprehensive insurance coverage, ensure contractual compliance with customer and investor requirements, and reduce enterprise risk. Get covered with General Liability, Tech E&O, Cyber, and Management Liability - all in one place 🚀

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These companies just raised money

1. 🛒 Google invests $350M in Flipkart, boosting the Indian e-commerce giant's growth and market presence.

2. 🤑 Brazilian fintech CloudWalk raises $313M to enhance receivables anticipation, boosting liquidity for 1.5M SMBs.

3. 🗽 Harlem Capital is raising $150M for its third fund to continue supporting diverse founders in the startup ecosystem.

4. 🧠 Darwin Startups, an accelerator from Brasil launches $20M fund, expanding from fintech to health, agtech, and more.

5. 🧱 BTrust raises a $1.5M seed round to enhance fraud detection and support $3.5M monthly invoice processing.

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‘AI Isn’t Always a Sure Bet,’ Garry Tan Warns

Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, emphasizes the need for balanced AI regulations while cautioning against potential monopolies. He highlights the immense opportunities in AI but underscores the importance of equitable access and competitiveness.

Tan's perspective aligns with concerns about AI firms' rapid, unchecked growth. He advocates for measured approaches to governance to avoid stifling innovation yet ensures broad benefits. At the same time, he described the AI-related bills progressing through the California and San Francisco legislatures as "very concerning." - Read more about Tan’s reflections.

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Would you believe that Musk took over Tesla? 

Yes, we’re talking about Elon again, but you didn’t know that Musk wasn’t the real founder of Tesla. Then, what was his role on the company’s first days? This video is a cautionary tale on how investors might overpower founders 😎 Subscribe for more!