Today was a day for the Techground team to celebrate their successes. In just under three years, they’ve gone from a small startup to an established voice in the tech industry. They’ve made some big changes and progressed in leaps and bounds.
It’s hard to believe that Twitter is almost done for. First it was sued by the US government, and then it was reported that the platform was losing a whopping $1 billion per year. As Twitter continues its absolutely farcical march toward its own demise, we are grabbing the popcorn to watch the fire blaze. In other news: Happy Monday, folks!
The TechGround Top 3
- Well blue check you out: Twitter users with over 1 million followers got their blue check marks back, even if they didn’t pay for Twitter Blue, Ivan reports. It’s interesting to note that many of the account holders were quick to separate themselves from being subscribers. Maybe it also has something to do with Twitter giving a gold check mark to a fake Disney account. Ivan has more on that.
- No th-AI-nks: That’s what Snapchat users are saying about its “My AI” feature, which launched last week. Sarah writes that the social media giant is seeing a spike in one-star reviews, which include calling for its removal.
- To be Near you: At a time when there is a wave of doubt about cryptocurrency, Cosmose, a company that uses AI analytics to track in-store foot traffic and engage with shoppers online, is going all in on the digital currency. Rita reports that Cosmose, which recently closed on an undisclosed round of funding to value it at $500 million, is now working with Near’s crypto solution. Even dropping Stripe to do so. It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ’em.
Startups and VC
Super.com is a cash-back site that offers its users the opportunity to build credit and save money. The company has announced the launch of its super app, which will help everyday Americans find deals and savings across multiple categories, including travel and shopping.
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has fascinated many individuals across the globe and Silicon Valley in particular. Auto-GPT, a new AI technology which automates tasks like X and Y, is one such example. However, despite its apparent simplicity, this technology may not be as capable as people think. For instance, the latest models of AI are quite versatile but still cannot autonomously interact with various software and services online effectively. This may limit Auto-GPT’s appeal to true experts in these fields who are looking for an ergonomic way to automate their workflows. Nevertheless, Auto-GPT remains a fascinating advancement in the field of AI that will likely continue to evolve over time.
Garbage mobs. Attractions in all but name, these creatures are nothing more than rotting heaps of refuse that have been animated by some dark force. Some claim
- They just want to stay involvo: Frederic reports that Volvo Cars Tech Fund invests in driver monitoring startup CorrActions.
- I’ll give you a ring in a bit: Brian reports on a big partnership win for Oura, as Best Buy brings the smart ring to 850 stores across the U.S.
- You build it, you get paid: More construction projects are being started, but payments to contractors and their subcontractors continue to cause a bottleneck in the normal course of completing a project. Constrafor raises new capital to make that better, Christine reports.
- Stiff competition: Woodoo is creating decarbonized wood-based materials, reports Romain.
- Last impressions matter: Over on TG++, Haje argues that for your pitch deck, last impressions count almost as much as first impressions.
- Making IP an asset: Also for TG++, Haje took a closer look at Aventurine, which helps early-stage founders make money off their IP portfolios, in what the accelerator hopes will be a perpetual fund, powered by intellectual property licensing.
10 years of fintech failure: 3 more ideas that failed to live up to the initial hype
In 1923, the American poet T.S. Eliot wrote “The Waste Land.” This poem is full of sadness and exploring the depths of human emotion and experience. Its complex narrative asks questions about faith, love, memory, time, and
Some other fintech innovations that have been graveyard examples include peer-to-peer lending and on-demand insurance. While both have had some early successes, they haven’t held up over time – lending through online platforms has been blamed for helping cause the 2008 financial crisis, and there’s now a backlash against insurance companies that offer services without any customer due diligence.
One of the ideas that Grant Easterbrook discusses is “A Better Payment System,” which was a proposal by Michael Feuerstein and Art Levitt in their book, ” Beat the Banks.” The idea was to create a new payment system that would be more user-friendly and less expensive than what is currently available. However, this proposal largely failed to gain traction, partly due to the fact that it required significant investment from companies such as Visa and Mastercard. Another idea that Easterbrook examines is “Peer-to-Peer Lending,” which was pioneered by David Hanson in his book, “The Other 90%.” This proposal aimed to create a new
There are a few valuable lessons that fintech entrepreneurs can learn from the early failures of startups in this sector. The first is that consumers generally do not like to think about their finances and often want someone else to take care of it for them. Fintech entrepreneurs must remember this essential principle when developing their products or services.
Another lesson that fintech entrepreneurs can learn from the failures of earlier startups is that there is a key focus on consumer experience and user satisfaction when launching a new product or service. Often, founders and investors neglect these essentials when investing in these types of companies, which can lead to disastrous results down the line.
What begins as a casual conversation with a classmate turns into an intimate connection over time. Though they had never talked before, they find themselves sharing stories, secrets and passions
As a startup founder or team member, staying ahead of the curve is key to success. With TechGround+, you can access cutting-edge resources and learn from experts in the field. Plus, our membership program offers a discount on annual subscriptions, so you can keep growing and learning at your own pace.
Big Tech Inc.
Shopify is hoping to become the go-to platform for merchants looking for ways to automate their billing and payment processes. By partnering with B2B payment provider Melio, Shopify can help merchants consolidate their invoices and pay their bills in a more automated way. This move could help Shopify grow its already large customer base, while also bolstering its position as a single-stop shop for finance technology needs.
In an effort to challenge Google’s dominance in India, PhonePe has unveiled an appstore of its own. The Walmart-backed company offers a “premiere experience” with high-quality advertisements and custom targeting, support for 12 languages and 24×7 live chat. With millions of users expected to access the appstore soon, PhonePe is positioning itself as a premier option for users in India looking for an alternative to Google’s Play Store.
If you ask any of these five people, they will tell you that their favorite thing about being a doctor is the camaraderie. They all share a passion
