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You shouldn’t examine apples to oranges, however equally, evaluating iPhones to Androids is a idiot’s errand as effectively.

Now that Apple is lastly phasing out the Lightning connector after 11 years in favor of the extra common commonplace USB-C (throughout a ton of products), the dialog has reignited about silos versus open requirements. Apple has lengthy attracted the ire of Android customers who’re locked out of the iMessage commonplace, and each every so often a workaround comes and goes. Most not too long ago, an app referred to as Beeper enabled Android customers to ship iMessages to iPhone customers. To the shock of precisely no one, Apple quickly locked that down, drawing side-eye from all angles, not least the Senate.

Of course, neither Apple nor Android are startups, so what is that this doing as a headline in Startups Weekly? Well, I feel it serves as a very good reminder that merchandise like Beeper can explode onto the scene, earlier than being scrubbed from existence once more simply as quick.

Whether you’re constructing on Apple’s ecosystem or on ChatGPT, or whether or not your organization depends closely on one other service altogether, it’s value not totally locking your success to the whims of a company you could have little or no management over.

With that little soapbox speech out of the best way . . . let’s see what else occurred on this planet of startups as we hit the midway mark of December.

Rocky oceans within the startup ecosystems

Image Credits: Diane Keough (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

In an epic plot twist, Omidyar Network, the philanthropic funding agency based by eBay’s Pierre Omidyar, is waving goodbye to India after 13 years. Despite latest investments and public engagements, they’re pulling the plug, citing a “significant change in context” and the rise of native philanthropy and enterprise capital. While they boast about catalyzing impression, their abrupt exit following a tough yr (assume hearth gross sales of backed startups) has left many within the Indian startup scene scratching their heads.

Analysts are worrying that is a part of a broader development: Manish reported that Indian startups have raised about $7 billion this year, down from about $25 billion in 2022 and $37 billion in 2021. Woof.

More enterprise and fundraising information:

Shark fintech soup: SumUp, the fintech darling catering to small companies, is throwing €285 million into its survival equipment to courageous the fintech tempest. While it’s planting flags in new markets and including shiny options to its fee arsenal, the funding panorama seems to be as inviting as a shark tank. Despite boasting a sunnier EBITDA outlook, their buyer tally hasn’t budged in two years. Fintech’s a tough gig, people.

OpenAI invests in India: In a daring transfer, OpenAI is cozying as much as India’s AI scene by enlisting Rishi Jaitly, Twitter India’s ex-chief, to be their native eyes on the bottom. They’re reportedly transferring towards a staff setup in India however don’t have an official presence but — only a freshly minted trademark. Jaitly helps OpenAI navigate India’s complicated coverage panorama.

Here’s some rocket gas: In the newest “slow and steady doesn’t win the race” transfer, Paris-based startup studio Hexa, recent from a $22 million fundraising spree, introduces Hexa Scale. This program targets B2B companies stuck in the doldrums of linear progress, providing them a lifeline again to the sexier world of exponential progress.

The movement of the AI

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Meet Sarvam AI, the Indian startup that’s only a child at 5 months outdated however is already flexing its monetary muscular tissues with a whopping $41 million in funding. Who mentioned startups have to crawl earlier than they stroll? Sarvam AI, with its eyes on constructing full-stack generative AI choices, is skipping the baby steps and leaping straight into the AI playground. They’re not simply taking part in with language fashions; they’re reimagining them with a concentrate on Indian languages and voice interfaces. It’s like watching a superhero origin story, however for AI startups.

If a $41 million spherical to Sarvam didn’t sufficiently remind you that AI continues to be smolderingly scorching, contemplate Mistral AI, a Parisian startup, simply mentioned “au revoir” to mediocrity by closing a whopping $415 million funding spherical. The firm is busy shaping the future of AI with a distinctly European flair. Romain digs into why Silicon Valley would possibly want to look at its again. Bonne lecture!

Lots of AI information popping out of Google over the previous week or so. The search large launched Gemini, which is powering numerous its AI efforts. It released AI Studio, designed to construct functions on Gemini simply, however criticism shortly surfaced. For one factor, it wasn’t the generative AI Hail Mary that Google wanted (and the remainder of us desired), and the early impressions of the platform had been a bit meh. Google additionally announced AlphaCode 2, based mostly on the tech, together with an enormous replace to the chatbot platform Bard.

Perhaps the largest information was that Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, powered by the brainiac AI mannequin Gemini, is making different telephones appear like they’re nonetheless taking part in Snake. This genius cellphone options an AI summarizer in its Recorder app and a Smart Reply in Gboard for many who can’t be bothered to textual content again. Plus, it even works on-device (i.e., with out Wi-Fi or a sign, you continue to have an AI at your fingertips), so now you will be AI-enhanced in the middle of nowhere.

Moar AI goodness:

X gettin’ sassy with AI: Now rolling out to subscribers, Grok promises to add a dash of unpredictability to your daily digital interactions. So, when you’re bored with the identical outdated AI small discuss and crave one thing with a bit extra sass and spunk, Grok is your go-to. It’s currently being rolled out to all premium subscribers, adopted by all English-language customers, then Japanese-language customers.

Say whats up to my little pal: Relevance AI is swooping in with its low-code platform, promising to be the fairy godmother for businesses of all sizes. They’re allotting customized AI brokers quicker than you’ll be able to say “automation,” and with a cool $13.2 million within the financial institution.

The EU flexes its AI muscular tissues: After marathon “final” talks that stretched to nearly three days, European Union lawmakers clinched a political deal on a risk-based framework for regulating artificial intelligence.

Calm earlier than the storm?

Image Credits: Cattallina (opens in a new window) / Shutterstock (opens in a new window)

Numbers point out that early-stage startups are throwing a party with higher valuations and more money stream, defying the gloomy 2023 narratives, Alex and Anna write on TC+. Meanwhile, their older siblings, the scale-ups and unicorns, are taking swimming classes as they discover themselves in deeper waters. Carta’s knowledge suggests the startup world isn’t uniformly bleak; it’s simply choosy, favoring the younger and sprightly. This raises a toast to the concept of sprinting towards an IPO, fairly than marinating in personal fairness. Who knew age could possibly be greater than only a quantity within the startup recreation?

Fintechs nonetheless dominated November’s new billion-dollar infants. Stripe, Brex, and others received haircuts in valuations, however don’t despair, there’s hope: New unicorns like Tabby and Enable are rising. Also, Simply Homes is making waves by tackling reasonably priced housing. Christine and Mary Ann wink at 2024, predicting extra fintech unicorns, as a result of who doesn’t love a good comeback story?

Also in startup land:

Operations are desk stakes: Josh Claman, CEO of Accelsius, writes a TC+ piece reminding us that whereas tech developments are dazzling, it’s the operational facet — efficiently managing the nuts and bolts — that really offers firms an edge.

Fundraising season is coming: Yeah, it’s fairly lifeless proper now, however come January, the VCs are getting back from their prolonged December breaks and will likely be able to dispense money once more. Are you ready?

Turning their backs on Texas?: Once hailed because the tech world’s darling, it seems Austin might be losing a bit of its sparkle. Techstars is hitting the pause button on its Austin chapter, signaling a possible shift within the metropolis’s tech attract. Reasons? Well, Austin’s not as low-cost because it as soon as appeared, particularly with housing costs performing like they’re on a caffeine excessive.

Top reads on TechCrunch this week

You’ve received the highlights above, however as I’m taking a look at our most learn tales, it seems I missed a pair. Here’s the most effective of the remaining:

RIP, podcasting: It looks as if the writing is on the soundproofed wall: The podcast boom is over, and this week’s news is evidence. Spotify laid off 17% of the corporate — its third spherical of layoffs this yr — and canceled two extremely acclaimed reveals, together with a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting.

Pedal to the steel: Lucid’s chief financial officer Sherry House is leaving the corporate to “pursue other opportunities,” the automaker informed buyers on Monday.

It’s all enjoyable and video games till everybody will get fired: Hasbro is laying off 1,100 employees, after it already laid off 800 staff in January. While some staff will discover out concerning the destiny of their jobs on Tuesday, others will likely be lower within the coming yr. By 2025, Hasbro informed shareholders, the corporate hopes to avoid wasting about $350 million to $400 million in prices.