**Techstars Drama: CEO Maëlle Gavet’s Departure and David Cohen’s Return**
In a surprising turn of events, Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet has announced her departure from the company after a tumultuous three-and-a-half-year tenure. Gavet’s time at Techstars was marked by controversy, including an employee exodus and the shutdown of accelerator programs. Despite facing setbacks such as an $80 million deal with JPMorgan that turned into a disaster and a loss of $7 million in 2023, Gavet claims she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Co-founder David Cohen will now step back into the role of CEO, expressing excitement about his return.
**Linktree’s Impressive Growth and Social Commerce Features**
Linktree, the popular link-in-bio platform, has reached a significant milestone with 50 million users. The platform has seen exponential growth, going from 2.7 million users in 2019 to its current user base. To further expand its offerings, Linktree is rolling out social commerce features that allow creators to add storefronts to their pages and earn commissions from big brands like Adidas and Sephora. With over $300 million in monthly sales flowing through these links, Linktree is proving its seriousness in the space.
**Humane’s Search for a Buyer**
Humane, the creator of the controversial $700 Ai Pin, is reportedly looking for a buyer. The company, founded by ex-Apple execs, hopes to fetch between $750 million and $1 billion for its wearable gadget that resembles a smartphone with commitment issues. Despite the skepticism surrounding the product, Humane’s search for a buyer suggests that there may be interest in its unique offering.
**Sonos Releases Ace Headphones**
Sonos, the popular audio company, has finally unveiled its “most requested product ever” — the Ace headphones. Priced at $449, these over-ear headphones are sure to be a hit among audio enthusiasts. The release of the Ace headphones showcases Sonos’ commitment to expanding its product lineup and catering to the demands of its customers.
**The U.K. Takes a Step Towards Self-Driving Cars**
The U.K. has officially paved the way for self-driving cars through the Automated Vehicles Act. By 2026, it is expected that “driverless cars” will share the roads with traditional vehicles. This development highlights the country’s embrace of autonomous technology and its willingness to adapt to the future of transportation.
**OpenAI’s AI Drama: Sky’s Voice Controversy and ChatGPT’s Revenue Success**
OpenAI’s latest chatbot, Sky, faced controversy when its AI voice bore a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johansson’s iconic voice from the movie “Her.” The company swiftly removed Sky’s voice from its product amid legal concerns raised by Johansson’s legal team. Despite this setback, OpenAI’s ChatGPT mobile app experienced a revenue surge with the launch of GPT-4o. The app generated significant net revenue, totaling $4.2 million in just five days. This success demonstrates the demand for AI-powered chatbots and their potential profitability.
**Meta’s Lack of Diversity in AI Strategy**
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has come under scrutiny for its lack of diversity in assembling a team of business executives to guide its AI strategy. Despite years of complaints about the sidelining of women and people of color in the AI field, Meta’s decision to assemble an all-male team raises concerns about the company’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
**Expedia’s Executive Shake-Up**
Expedia, the travel booking giant, saw a sudden change in its executive team as CTO Rathi Murthy and SVP Sreenivas Rachamadugu were unceremoniously removed from their positions. The details surrounding their departure remain confidential, leaving many speculating about the reasons behind their exit. Murthy’s recent promotion of new AI features just days before her sudden exit adds to the intrigue surrounding this development.
**Notable Fundraises: French Startup H, Rollup, and Layer**
French startup H has secured an impressive $220 million in seed funding. With a team consisting of former Google DeepMind employees, H aims to revolutionize productivity with its “frontier action models” and the development of robots capable of outperforming humans in various tasks.
Rollup, a startup focused on hardware engineering, has quietly raised $5.6 million from notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Thiel Capital. This funding will support the company’s efforts to redefine what is possible in hardware engineering.
Layer, a startup aiming to simplify accounting for small and medium-sized businesses, raised $2.3 million in its latest funding round. The company’s embedded features promise to make accounting less painful for businesses.
**The Rise of Off-Road Autonomy and Self-Driving Vehicles**
Overland AI and Potential are leading the off-road autonomy revolution with their self-driving vehicles that don’t rely on traditional road maps. Backed by venture capitalists and the U.S. Defense Department, these companies are pushing the boundaries of autonomous technology and paving the way for new possibilities in transportation.
Overall, this week’s startup news highlights the dynamic nature of the industry. From CEO changes to product releases and fundraising milestones, the startup world continues to evolve and capture the attention of both investors and consumers.
