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Catch the podcast edition of this issue:
From batteries that could juice 200,000 EVs to rockets that basically scream “catch us if you can,” the tech world is flexing hard. Europe’s eyeing a $400B battery pie, ex-Googlers want AI to whisper podcasts in your ear, and Meta’s playing politics with a shiny new AI super PAC. Meanwhile, Coinbase and YC are busy plotting TradFi’s obsolescence, and AI keeps casually rewriting the rules of work and love.
🎙 Our podcast is back, don’t forget to check it out!
🎬 New video out: Would you give P*rnHub your ID?
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Six bullets of updates
🚀 US officials say reusable rockets give America a decisive edge in the space race, citing 97% of US launches using this tech.
💘 An AI assistant aims to boost successful matches by 20% by recommending compatible dates on Meta’s platform.
🤖 AI is making once-impossible business models viable, unlocking creative industries and automating 30% of tasks.
🔋 Sila kicks off volume production at its Moses Lake facility, aiming to supply enough silicon anodes for up to 200,000 EVs annually.
🇪🇺 European green battery startups can seize a share of the $400B market despite Asian dominance and supply chain hurdles.
🎙️ Three former NotebookLM devs launch an app that can generate AI podcasts on any topic, offering personalized audio deep dives for users.
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Coinbase and Y Combinator support onchain financial system founders
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
Coinbase and Y Combinator want to give the US financial system a facelift, backing founders who are building onchain solutions that skip the legacy middlemen.
It’s a two-pronged play: Y Combinator supplies the startup sweat, while Coinbase lends web3 clout. The endgame? Fuel innovation that could make TradFi look as clunky as dial-up.
If the experiment lands, expect more venture dollars to follow—and maybe, just maybe, a future where your bank account isn’t held hostage by wire transfer hours. It’s a shot across the bow for anyone betting on slow-moving incumbents.
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Would you give P*rnHub your ID?
Governments are cracking down on adult content with strict age-verification laws—but the “solutions” put your privacy at serious risk. In this video we unpack how ID checks, face scans, and AI detection actually work, why they’re easy to hack, and the hidden dangers of handing over your personal data to access the internet.
🕶️ More videos here 🕶️
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SEO’s evolving—and we have the answers.
Join 600+ marketers at Ahrefs Evolve in San Diego, Oct 14–15. Two days of real insights on SEO, AI, content & analytics—no fluff, just actionable strategies you can use Monday morning.
Meet the people behind the profiles, sharpen your edge, and find clarity in a fast-changing landscape.
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💸 Turning a $100M loss into an "investment," stage theory helps multiply impact and reshape setbacks.
🛒 It took ten years to realize it was time to step away from a business that defined me—and finally put myself first.
🗣️ “I see this is important to you” can defuse conflict in 90% of tough conversations, according to research.
📢 Small businesses spark 4x more engagement with posts that get real about wins, fails, and community moments—here’s how their stories go viral.
Investor Data Room Checklist
An investor data room is a storage space, digital or physical, where companies store information relevant to due diligence. We've compiled a FREE Template/Checklist of all the items your data room should include and resources and tools for obtaining them.
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Meta launches super PAC to influence state AI regulation policies
Photo by Mackenzie Cruz on Unsplash
Meta is reportedly channeling “tens of millions” into a new pro-AI super PAC, the American Technology Excellence Project, aimed at shaping state-level regulation.
The strategy is clear: build lobbying momentum at the local level before regulators lock in restrictions. With AI policy fragmented across states and concerns about bias, risk, and ethical use growing louder, lawmakers are eager to establish their own guardrails.
This PAC could accelerate Big Tech’s influence on AI legislation, smoothing the path for industry priorities while complicating things for smaller founders and startups who lack similar lobbying firepower. The rise of AI-focused political funding highlights just how quickly the debate is moving from labs and boardrooms to the halls of government.
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Startup Events and Deadlines
TODAY! Crash Course on Startup Fundraising with Caya (Slidebean CEO) l Sep 24 l Webinar
TOMORROW! Slidebean’s Crash Course in Financial Modeling l Sep 25 l Webinar
Antler Canada | Deadline: Sept 29 | Canada
500 Startups Flagship Accelerator l Deadline: Oct 11 l USA
Mental Health Tech Summit 2025 l October 15 l NYC