🕶️ OpenAI’s feasting on startup data while Google prays for antitrust mercy.

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The U.S. might force Google to spill its search secrets, humanoid robots are still stumbling but automation’s packing 1,000 orders an hour in Europe, and 27,000 new EV plugs are coming — if you remember the right dongle. SMBs are slashing $1K a month with AI and hackers just swiped 4.4M customer records (again 🙃).

Video pick: AI Looks EXACTLY Like the Dot-Com Bubble
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Six bullets of updates

🔍 US weighs forcing Google to share search data or split up after 31% drop in new search startups since 2013.
🤖 Humanoid robots may trip over themselves, but AI-powered automation is quietly picking 1,000 orders/hour in Europe's fastest-growing supermarkets.
🔌 Faster charging is coming as NACS adoption unlocks access to 27,000+ new plugs—but don’t forget the right dongle.
🤖 Some SMBs have cut monthly costs by $1,000 after slowly adopting AI—no bubble burst yet.
🔒Hackers grabbed info from 4.4 million customers via a third-party app, raising fresh data security worries.
🗨️ Science communicators flock to Bluesky post-Musk era, creating a critical mass for discussions with streamlined features.
🕵️‍♂️ Startup's data scraper helps powerhouses like OpenAI, Meta, and others gain insights, marking big wins in their customer list.

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Investor Interest in Biotech, Defense Tech, and AI Sectors

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Europe’s startup scene decided unicorns aren’t mythical after all—over 10 companies galloped across the billion-dollar line, powered by investor hype for anything with “AI” in the pitch deck (if you counted right, yes, AI comes up thrice).

Biotech and defense tech also rode that same rocket, thanks to a wild combo of geopolitical tension and investors in dire need of the next “hot sector.” Forget the old SaaS playbook—every new unicorn has a nod toward national security or a sprinkle of neural networks.

With capital flowing into those climbing the unicorn ladder, keep an eye out: today’s biotech or AI darling could be tomorrow’s headline markdown if markets shift from “fomo” to “audit.” Still, this might just be the new normal, especially as Europe looks to define itself as more than a fintech graveyard.

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AI Looks EXACTLY Like the Dot-Com Bubble

The rise of the internet and the rise of AI follow eerily similar timelines—Mosaic in the '90s, ChatGPT in the 2020s. Billions are pouring in, hype is skyrocketing, and history may be rhyming again. This video breaks down the parallels between two tech booms separated by 30 years, and what they can teach us about what happens next.

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How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at}_{invest.pacaso.com}_{. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}

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These companies just raised money

⚡ Commonwealth Fusion Systems secures a massive $863M funding round, aiming to make fusion energy a commercial reality by 2027.
✨ Investors are eyeing Lovable, valued at $4B, after its $200M raise, hitting $100M+ ARR.
🌐 Framer hits a $2B valuation with its $100M Series D, targeting enterprise growth and AI integration, boasting $50M ARR. 🚀
🤖 AI startup Aurelian pivots to non-emergency 911 calls, raises $14M, and saves dispatchers 3 hours daily.

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Performance-based equity rewards displace tenure-based vesting across tech

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Front-loaded vesting is shaking up startup comp, offering higher value up front and performance-tied refreshers, instead of just anchoring equity to another year on the org chart.

Why reward years served when you can reward impact delivered—especially when top performers cycle through startups faster than a crypto bull run? The model rebalances incentives, tempting A-players to sprint, not coast. But there’s a risk: average contributors might see the gravy train slow to a local. Expect negotiations over refreshers to get as tactical as a late-stage term sheet.

If this trend sticks, equity packages could soon look less like golden handcuffs and more like frequent-flyer miles—with just as much fine print. Early evidence suggests shifting rewards to contribution may become standard fare, especially as founder-investor power dynamics keep evolving.

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Don’t miss the summit for AI customer service leaders

Pioneer is the summit for forward-thinking leaders in AI customer service to gather and explore the latest opportunities and challenges transforming service with AI Agents.

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