Today's Entrepreneurship Pulse
LoopFeedback launches to close AI feedback gap with $12M seed round
Former Google and Apple researchers Dr. Maya Patel and Dr. Alex Liu have founded LoopFeedback, a startup building a real‑time human‑in‑the‑loop feedback system for large language models. The company announced a $12 million seed round led by Andrees, aiming to improve model alignment and safety.
Also developing:
By the numbers: abcoffee raises $7.35M in pre‑Series B
Spiro Expands Electric Mobility in Ogun State with 1,000 New Bikes
Spiro, Africa’s leading electric‑mobility provider, launched 1,000 new electric bikes in Ogun State, Nigeria, in a ceremony attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun. The rollout leverages Spiro’s battery‑swapping technology to offer a low‑cost alternative to fuel‑powered transport. Officials highlighted the project’s potential to curb rising fuel expenses, cut carbon emissions, and create local jobs. The deployment is a key milestone in Spiro’s broader plan to scale electric‑bike networks across the continent.
Virgil Nicholas of Vinny's
In this episode, Jeremy Kirkland chats with Virgil Nicholas, founder of the Copenhagen‑based footwear brand Vinny's. Virgil recounts the brand’s evolution over six years, the challenges of global supply chains, tariffs and a volatile market, and his belief that small,...
Amazon to Cut Fresh Presence, Expand AmazonNow Across 10 to 15 Cities: UBS Report
Amazon plans to phase out its 4‑24‑hour Amazon Fresh service in 10‑15 major Indian cities, redirecting resources toward the ultra‑fast AmazonNow platform. The quick‑commerce offering, already live in six cities, is slated to expand to cover roughly 80% of the...
LVL Zero Incubator Names 10 Indian Gaming Startups for 1st Class
LVL Zero, India’s first dedicated gaming incubator, announced its inaugural cohort of ten game startups. The program is financially backed by Mixi Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and ChimeraVC. Selected companies span mobile, PC, and console titles, reflecting the diversity of...
The Decision Filter That Separates Builders From Operators ⚡
The post contrasts two decision mindsets: operators who ask how to reduce downside and builders who ask how to expand upside. It introduces an "Iron Filter" that forces leaders to evaluate whether a choice protects existing revenue or creates asymmetry....
STACKUP: The Stack's Weekly Tech Startups and Funding Wrap
The Stack’s weekly roundup spotlights a staggering $122 billion capital infusion into OpenAI, dwarfing even late‑stage Series G rounds. Smaller AI‑focused startups—AI SOC, orchestration platforms, and code‑review tools—also made headlines. Additionally, AI development platform Coder announced a $90 million Series C to accelerate growth....
Indonesian Minimart King Alfamart Boosts Quick Commerce to Reverse Slowdown
Alfamart, Indonesia’s largest convenience‑store chain, is accelerating its quick‑commerce push through the Alfagift app to counter slowing same‑store sales and a 7% net‑income decline in 2024. The app now has 25 million members, drives 8% of revenue, and the retailer is...
FATKID Launches to Aid GCC Restaurant Growth with Focus on Contributor Margins
Former Kitopi executives Ali Kandil and Elie Saade have launched FATKID, a Dubai‑based F&B growth partner that manages roughly USD 82 million in annual restaurant revenue across the GCC. The firm differentiates itself by focusing on contribution margin rather than vanity metrics,...
Steamy Dating Site Ashley Madison Ditches Infidelity in Pursuit of Single Women
Ashley Madison, once known for facilitating extramarital affairs, is undergoing a major rebrand. After the 2015 data breach that exposed 37 million users, the company has shifted its messaging and target audience. In February, it replaced its old slogan “Life is...
Spacetech Startup SatLeo Labs Raises $2.2 Mn in Seed Round
SatLeo Labs, a spacetech startup focused on thermal satellite data, secured a $2.2 million seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures, bringing its total funding to $5.5 million. The capital will accelerate the development of its TAPAS‑1 thermal payload and expand its...
Building a Tech Corridor: Central Asia Targets Southeast Asia’s Digital Boom
Central Asian tech hubs – Uzbekistan’s IT Park and Kazakhstan’s Astana Hub – have signed a tripartite MoU with Malaysia‑based VC Big Sky Capital to launch an international technology hub in Malaysia. The hub will offer B2B startups from the two...
Build Businesses by Solving One Paying Person's Painful Problem
Most people start a business with a solution. That’s backwards. Every business is 3 things: a person, a painful problem, and your solution. Talk to people with money and ask about their problems. Solve one painful problem for one specific person, and you have...
Europe Lost the B2C Tech Race. Can It Win in B2B?
Europe has fallen behind the United States in building consumer‑focused (B2C) tech giants, with startups like Airbnb, Uber and Instagram dominating the global market. Analysts argue that the continent’s strength now lies in enterprise (B2B) solutions, where deep engineering talent...
Exclusive: GoSats Bags $5 Mn To Scale Its Rewards Platform
GoSats, a Bitcoin‑backed rewards startup, secured a $5 million Series A round led by Konvoy, with participation from Y Combinator and Taisu Ventures. The funding will fuel a push to grow its user base from roughly 150,000 to 1 million and broaden its product...
Some Things That I Would Have Probably Needed To Hear When I Was Starting Out In Tech
The author demystifies the overlap between fashion and technology, sharing personal anecdotes about early struggles in computer science and how those challenges shaped a career at the intersection of data analytics and style. They highlight that academic grades and early...
New Crypto: Pepeto Project Updates While Dogecoin Holders Watch Elon Musk X Money Beta Launch and Ask What Comes Next
Pepeto’s presale is accelerating, with wallet entries doubling since March and the token selling out quickly. Rumors linking Elon Musk to the project are fueling hype similar to Dogecoin’s early surge. The project differentiates itself by offering a zero‑fee swap...
Crisis At Kult: Unpaid Employees, Missing Funds, And Blurred Chain Of Command
Kult, a beauty‑tech startup, announced a $20 million Series A in April 2025 led by M3M Family Office, promising to clear past liabilities and scale to a $540 million valuation. A year later, the company is mired in a cash crisis: roughly 100 employees...
Partiful Tackles Loneliness by Linking Users to Local Events
@partiful is betting on connecting people to groups and local live events. This clip is from the newest First Time Founders episode, 'How Partiful Is Fixing the Loneliness Crisis.' Watch ad-free on Substack: bit.ly/3NMMwtD
Napkin Sketches Now Become AI Products—No Pre‑product Excuse
"we pitched investors when it was just a drawing on a napkin" Think we'll be hearing this a lot less if you can draw it on a napkin, you can prompt it into existence. No excuse to be pre-product unless you're building...
Pinnacle Medicines Adds $89M for Oral Peptides With Properties of Injectable Biologics
Pinnacle Medicines announced an $89 million Series B financing, bringing its total capital to $134 million, to advance an AI‑driven platform that designs orally bioavailable peptide drugs. The startup aims to launch its lead asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease program in human...
SF's NIMBYism Fuels Housing Crisis, Stifles Startups
at what point does SF's NIMBYism make it a hostile and too expensive place for new startups? Certainly makes it hard for the unfunded eventually the California undersupply of housing becomes the primary obstacle to tech and innovation (and thus the...
Asset‑light Businesses with Moats Are the Ultimate Sweet Spot
Capital-intensive businesses can keep competitors out. But it's even better when a business is asset-light AND protected from competition. That's the real sweet spot. Low capital needs plus a wide moat.
Founders Fund Leads $220 M Series E in Halter, Scaling Solar‑Powered Cow Collars
Founders Fund led a $220 million Series E round that valued Halter at $2 billion, accelerating the rollout of its solar‑powered smart collars for dairy and beef cattle. The funding will expand the company’s virtual‑fencing network across the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, promising...
AI‑trained Founders Boost Startup Speed, Reshape Venture Landscape
first wave of non-technical founders who learned to code from AI are now starting companies. their technical ceiling is much lower but their iteration speed is 10x. (or infinity if you consider they couldn't build software before). that trade-off changes...
Tiny Remote Team Builds $350M Company Without Funding
At no other time in history was this possible. Obsidian is a $350M company built by 3 engineers, and their operating system is wildly unconventional: • ~1 million users per employee (7 full-time staff total) • Fully remote with only 1 in-person...
4 Steps that Helped Me Find My Real Revenue Ceiling.
A founder grew a digital agency to 23 employees but saw flat revenue, then cut staff to 14 and lifted revenue by nearly 50%. The breakthrough came from a four‑step bottleneck audit that identified a single decision loop—personal approvals—as the...
Write Cold Emails for Them, Not About You
I’ve replied to 3 cold emails from aspiring VCs in the last year. But I’ve received hundreds. Here’s what the ones that didn’t get a reply looked like: → “I’m really interested in learning more about VC and would love to pick...
CEO Interview with Dr. Tony Atti of Phononics
Phononic, led by CEO Dr. Tony Atti, is scaling solid‑state thermoelectric cooling across major hyperscalers to address the exploding thermal load of AI‑driven data centers. The company’s Thermal Kit combines fast‑acting TEC modules, software analytics and design services to deliver...
Skeptical Mother‑in‑law Turns
When I first started Extra Points, my mother in law asked “why would anybody pay to read what you have to say?”, leading to my wife and other family members constantly trying to tell her that actually, “Matt is a...
Your Team Is Your Most Critical Founder Decision
As a founder, your biggest bets are the people you surround yourself with. Here’s why it matters more than any decision you’ll ever make 👇
The Back Story Behind the First “$1.8 Billion” Dollar “AI Company”
The New York Times reported that Medvi, an AI‑driven startup, claimed a $1.8 billion valuation after just two months of solo effort and a $20 k bootstrap. The story quickly went viral as a showcase of AI’s ability to compress years of building into...
Anthropic's AI‑Driven Growth Hits $19B ARR in One Year
Anthropic is on an unprecedented growth run. Just in the past year they grew from $1B to $19B ARR. They added $6B in ARR just in *February*. Companies like Palantir and Atlassian took 15-20 years to reach ~$5B ARR. Anthropic is...
AI-Powered Demos Attract Cofounders, Customers, Investors Instantly
Before: move to SF. have an idea. look for a tech cofounder. build a deck in the meantime. Months pass... After: codex/claude in one window, X in the other. Build demo. Make a video of the demo. Announce it online, make it go...
Y Combinator Ejects Compliance Startup Delve Amid Fraud and Open‑source Claims
Y Combinator has asked compliance startup Delve to leave its accelerator after an anonymous whistleblower alleged the company fabricated client certifications and misused an open‑source tool. Delve, which raised $32 million at a $300 million valuation, says the claims stem from a...
Stop Wasting $50K on Agencies Before Knowing Your Business
Spending $50K on an agency before learning how your own business works is why you can't get past $10M.
What Will Separate Healthcare AI Winners From Losers?
Healthcare AI startups are flooding the market, but long‑term winners must embed their tools directly into clinical workflows, generate actionable outcomes, and build defensible data assets. Veerappan of Flare Capital emphasizes that frictionless integration—exemplified by ambient AI scribes—drives rapid physician...
From DI Champion to Swim School Owner: Inside a Cal Swimmer’s Learn to Swim Approach
Silver Bear Swim Academy, founded by former Cal swimmer Katie Hall and three‑time Ironman Tim Hall, offers a structured learn‑to‑swim curriculum that prioritizes water safety and confidence from infancy through pre‑team. The program fills a market gap where 80% of...
Entrepreneurship: Survive the Swings, Win by Staying in Game
One hour you’re getting a $150 million offer. The next? Bankruptcy. That’s the life of an entrepreneur. Ups. Downs. Chaos. The key? Stay in the game long enough to win. https://t.co/Vm8elVYrnT
Prioritize Core Goals While Running Controlled Experiments
How do you balance the need for focus with the necessity to experiment in your startup? https://t.co/gZawrwsXaJ
SpaceX Eyes $70B IPO, Plans 30% Share for Retail Investors
SpaceX is advancing a blockbuster initial public offering that could raise $50‑$75 billion and value the company at up to $1.8 trillion. The plan includes allocating roughly 30% of the float to retail investors, a move that could redefine IPO participation for...
Build a $100k Solo Business with Six Simple Steps
The journey of a $100k solo creator: 1. Find niche with active demand 2. Craft an offer that satisfies it 3. Content to funnel demand 4. Redirect to your email 5. Make offers daily 6. Learn & scale In that order.
Head of Growth (Anthropic): “Claude Is Growing Itself at This Point” | Amol Avasare
Amol Avasare, Head of Growth at Anthropic, explains how the AI startup surged from $1 billion to over $19 billion in annual recurring revenue within just 14 months. The company leverages its own Claude model to automate growth experiments through an internal tool...
My Fiancée and I Live with My Parents in a New York City Apartment. It's Helped Us Save Money and...
A 28‑year‑old New Yorker and his fiancée moved back into his parents' rent‑controlled Upper West Side apartment to dramatically lower housing expenses. The savings funded the launch of an art‑gallery business on the Lower East Side, allowing the couple to...
How PopSockets Built a Global Business by Turning the Back of Your Phone Into Valuable Real Estate
PopSockets transformed the unused back of a smartphone into a monetizable surface, evolving from a garage prototype in 2011 to a global brand that posted $169 million in revenue by 2017. The product’s success hinged on embedding a simple grip into...
Email Every Customer: The Secret to $100M Growth
Native Deodorant's founder emailed every single customer for 2 years. That feedback loop scaled them to a $100M acquisition. Meanwhile you're afraid to email your first 10 customers because you think you're "bothering" them.
How Disney Imagineering Has Increased Its Pace of Innovation by Thinking Like a Startup
Bruce Vaughn, a veteran Disney Imagineer, returned to the company in 2021 after leading a tech startup and a stint at Airbnb, bringing a startup mindset to the division. Since his comeback, Imagineering has dramatically accelerated project timelines, delivering the...
Distribution Beats Product: Sell Before You Perfect
Good product + bad distribution = dead. Bad product + great distribution = a business. Nobody buys what they can't find. Build distribution first. Everything else second.
Six Lessons From A Billionaire Who Once Sold His Blood To Buy Food
David Walentas, the billionaire behind Brooklyn’s DUMBO renaissance, rose from Depression‑era farm labor and even selling his blood to fund meals. After a Navy ROTC scholarship led him to the University of Virginia, he earned an MBA and entered real‑estate...
JustPaid Deploys Seven OpenClaw AI Agents, Claims Ten Features in One Month
JustPaid, a Silicon Valley fintech startup, says its seven autonomous OpenClaw AI agents built ten major product features in a single month. The claim has CTOs weighing the promise of scale against the risk of displacing engineers and exposing security...
VCs Pour Money Into College‑Dropout AI Founders as Average Unicorn Founder Age Falls to 29
Venture capital firms are increasingly financing AI startups founded by college dropouts, a trend highlighted by a Wall Street Journal report that notes the average age of AI unicorn founders fell from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024. The...