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Hey, and welcome to the final Startups Weekly ever.
Don’t fear! We’re not going far — the e-newsletter continues, however subsequent week we’re getting a shiny new title and a brand-new lick of paint.
As Brian, Mary Ann and Zack wrote earlier this week, we lost a lot of startups in 2023, however truthfully, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Startups aren’t meant to final ceaselessly — they both evolve into a totally fledged company with a progress trajectory, or they stop present altogether. There’s no in-between, and whereas job losses and folks’s livelihoods being threatened is a tragedy, that’s exactly why startup employees are usually paid fairly effectively: The danger is rolled into the inventory choices–formed reward.
A story of two pedals
Picture Credit: Jon Challicom (opens in a new window) / Getty Photographs
Tim Stevens did a deep dive, comparing the various driver assist systems currently on the market. On this tech showdown, Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” and Mercedes’ Drive Pilot battle to justify their hype and worth tags, lagging behind their extra grounded rivals from BMW, Ford, and Chevrolet. It seems that costly doesn’t all the time imply higher within the race for driver help supremacy, with hands-off options and automated lane modifications being the brand new benchmarks for street royalty.
Extra from transportation land:
Spherical and spherical we go: Elon Musk’s Hyperloop dream hits the buffers as Hyperloop One shuts down, leaving high-speed rail to steal the highlight.
What’s subsequent? A Nokia Taxi?: Xiaomi’s leap into the EV market with its SU7, dubbed a “smartphone on wheels,” combines formidable tech with automotive prowess. We looked at Xiaomi’s attempt to merge phone-like software into cars, with a aspect be aware on the challenges of constructing a automobile that’s each tech-forward and worthy of the open street.
The EV free-for-all (besides not free): EV fast-charging networks are bracing for a turbulent 2024 as they grapple with Tesla’s increasing Supercharger dominance. Main gamers like Ford, GM, and Volkswagen are semi-reluctantly becoming a member of Tesla’s charging protocol, leaving once-promising networks like Electrify America in purgatory.
The glassholes are again
Picture Credit: Brian Heater
It’s wild that it’s been a decade since Google Glass was all the craze, however right here we go once more . . . We’re again to carrying all kinds of computing gadgets on our faces. Amazon’s latest Echo Frames, regardless of their improved sound, can’t fairly sustain with the Ray-Ban Meta, which manages to mix tech and elegance extra successfully. The Echo Frames are a considerably underwhelming contender within the good glasses enviornment, particularly when in comparison with the extra polished Ray-Ban Meta, Brian concludes.
Extra from the world of {hardware} startups:
Coming quickly to a face close to you: Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional is rumored for a late January or early February release. It marks one in all Tim Cook dinner’s boldest strikes but. Priced at $3,499, it’s an formidable enterprise into spatial computing, regardless of VR’s historic underperformance and Apple’s modest cargo expectations.
Extra remedies than you may shake a capsule at: MIT scientists are shaking issues up within the combat towards weight problems with a vibrating capsule, actually. This capsule, as soon as ingested, vibrates to trick the body into feeling full, probably changing expensive medicine and surgical procedures. Now, if it may additionally notify us of latest Netflix episodes, it actually can do all of it.
It’s probably the most wonderfuuuul time of the yeaaaaaar: That’s proper, I’m becoming a member of group TechCrunch at CES in Vegas subsequent week. Here’s what we are expecting this year.
So what does 2024 maintain?
Picture Credit: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch
Over 40 traders share their 2024 predictions, with numerous opinions on IPOs and AI’s future. Whereas some count on a comeback in exits, others foresee a dry spell till 2025. The consensus is unclear, however all eyes are on AI investments and startup survival amid tightening valuations and selective funding.
Extra AI information from Staff TechCrunch:
2024 in AI: Devin digs into the highest eight predictions for the world of AI for the subsequent 12 months. There’s some borderline apparent ones in there, and a few thought-provoking concepts as effectively. Check it out!
Cough up, robots!: The New York Instances is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging they skilled AI fashions on Instances’ content material with out permission. The swimsuit seeks damages and destruction of fashions containing Instances’ materials, arguing this apply harms its journalism and model.
Taking LLMs offline: Giga ML aims to revolutionize how companies use large language models (LLMs) by enabling offline deployment. Their platform focuses on privateness and customization, addressing widespread enterprise issues about knowledge sharing and lack of flexibility with present LLMs.
High reads on TechCrunch this week
Nonetheless need extra? Properly, rattling, you’re beginning off the 12 months a bit grasping, however I see you. Right here’s the 5 prime tales because the final Startups Weekly:
Properly, it’s your individual rattling fault we obtained hacked: “Rather than acknowledge its role in this data security disaster, 23andMe has apparently decided to leave its customers out to dry while downplaying the seriousness of these events,” Hassan Zavareei, one of many attorneys representing the victims who obtained the letter from 23andMe, told TechCrunch.
It’s just like the lottery, however YouTubier: MrBeast’s stunts have developed into a brand new sort of American Dream, the place enduring weird and difficult conditions on YouTube may repay your money owed. Contestants, driven by desperation to clear student loans or medical bills, take part in excessive challenges like residing in a grocery retailer or cohabitating in a sparse room for months.
Highs and lows in actual property: Frontdesk, a short-term rental supplier, is on the point of collapse after shedding its complete 200-person workforce. The corporate’s struggles, exacerbated by failed fundraising efforts and challenges with its enterprise mannequin, led to the drastic step just months after acquiring a smaller rival.
The very best presents to keep away from: Positive, Christmas has come and gone, however I nonetheless cherished studying Zack’s anti-gift guide. It warns towards tech presents with safety and privateness pitfalls. Highlighting objects like genetic testing kits, video doorbells, VPNs, kid-tracking apps, low cost Android tablets, and internet-connected intercourse toys, the article advises towards gifting these on account of potential knowledge breaches, surveillance dangers, and normal privateness issues.
X continues its plummet: Fidelity drastically reduced its valuation of X holdings, the mum or dad firm of X (previously Twitter) owned by Elon Musk, by 71.5%. This follows a tumultuous 12 months for the corporate, together with a CEO change, challenges in attracting advertisers, and controversial selections like reinstating banned accounts. The valuation reduce displays ongoing difficulties and a major lower from Constancy’s preliminary funding.
