VCs deploy ‘kingmaking’ strategy to crown AI winners in their infancy

Nexus Venture Partners manages $3.2 billion in capital across its funds and has invested in more than 130 companies over the years. Also, can Kiro win the hearts of startup founders above the many AI coding tools they already have? Amazon hopes a free year will tempt them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While VCs have long used big investments to spur category winners, they are taking this strategy to new extremes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Antares is designing and building small modular reactors that it plans to deploy for commercial, space, and defense applications. The latest funding comes less than two months after Kalshi announced that it raised $300 million at a $5 billion valuation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Titan OS aims to expand its independent TV operating system in Europe and Latin America. Gradium, a startup spawned out of French AI lab Kyutai (backed by French telecom billionaire Xavier Niel), launched out of stealth on Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The round was co-led by Salesforce Ventures and Anjney Midha (AMP), and saw participation from a16z, NVIDIA, Northzone, Creandum, Earlybird VC, BroadLight Capital, General Catalyst, Temasek, Bain Capital Ventures, Air Street Capital, Visionaries Club, Canva and Figma Ventures. Also, analysts will be watching to see if Thrive-owned firms actually succeed in building long-term profitable businesses using OpenAI’s tech, or if the result is really just pumped up valuations based on speculative market potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Joseph was shocked when Mark Cuban replied to his email with an inquisition full of questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MyHair AI examines photos of the scalp to help diagnose hair loss and suggest scientifically validated clinics and treatments. The startup uses AI to help immigrants understand the system, connect with lawyers and reduce associated costs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An investor explains the "buy, fix, and hold" model employed by Bending Spoons and similar companies that buy distressed startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google and Accel will jointly invest up to $2 million in each startup through their new partnership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Career exploration platform Find Your Grind raises $5 million to help more students discover alternative professions. Also, the discovery of a massive lithium deposit suggests that a region in Quebec might hold even more lithium than originally suspected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices