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Thursday News: Opportunities to Surf the Startup Wave! 💥
Seed Radar
May 22, 2025
Issue #2 • May 21, 2025
This week, the AI future isn't just knocking, it's kicking down! Google I/O just rewrote the rules of digital interaction. At the same time, Computex gave us a look under the hood of AI's silicon backbone. And for those building or betting on AI's next wave, Sierra Ventures dished out its 'layered cake' strategy.
💻 Google I/O 2025: Gemini AI Upgrades and Search Transformation Take Center Stage
Google's annual I/O conference, held May 20-21, 2025, was heavily focused on artificial intelligence, with major updates to its Gemini AI models.
A key announcement was the broader rollout of "AI Mode" for Google Search in the US, designed to make search more conversational and integrated with AI-generated overviews.
These changes signal a significant evolution in how users will interact with Google's core search product, driven by advanced AI.
→Watch Google I/O '25 in under 10 minutes here!
Read More
🛠️ Computex 2025 Kicks Off with Strong AI Focus in New Hardware
The Computex 2025 technology show in Taipei began this week, with artificial intelligence being a dominant theme from the outset. As reported on May 21, 2025, leading computing and component manufacturers are showcasing innovations that integrate AI deeply into hardware.
One notable example is Phison's E28 SSD Controller, presented as the first of its kind with built-in AI processing, aiming to significantly cut costs and boost efficiency for enterprise AI model fine-tuning and deployment.
💰 Snapshots: What Else Is Happening?
• Sierra Ventures is deploying capital from its $265 million Fund XIII into applied AI infrastructure, as well as horizontal and vertical AI applications. - Read More • MIT Technology Review launched a significant reporting package, "Power Hungry: AI and our energy future," on May 20, 2025, investigating the extensive energy and resource consumption of AI technologies and its future implications. - Read More • OpenAI is acquiring io, the device startup from famed Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in a deal valuing io at approximately $6.5 billion, signaling a major push by OpenAI into AI-native consumer hardware. - Read More • Microsoft revealed its Natural Language Web (NLWeb) open project, which aims to transform websites into fully functional, AI-driven platforms that can be queried using natural language, similar to Microsoft Copilot. - Read More • New Gen a technology company redefining commerce for the AI internet by transforming product catalogs into AI-readable data and creating AI-native conversational storefronts, launched publicly on May 20. - Read More
💰 Hot Funding Rounds You Missed!
→ Pathos -A New York-based startup using AI for precision medicine development, raised a significant $365 million in Series D financing. - Read More
→ Addepar -Investment platform Addepar secured $230 million in a Series G funding round to further expand its financial services technology. - Read More
→ Stord -Atlanta-based, a provider of e-commerce software, fulfillment, and logistics services, raised $200 million in a combination of Series E equity and debt financing. - Read More
🛠️ Trending AI Tools to Supercharge Your Workflow!
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🚀 Startup Radar: Movers, Shakers & Future Makers
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🧠 Thursday Quote!
"Investors have entered 2025 with stronger conviction, clearer filters, and deeper engagement with future-facing sectors like Gen AI. At the same time, they are prioritising team quality and early revenue traction more than ever before."
💼 Join the Revolution: Hot Startup Jobs!
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💼 Resource of the Week: Rock Your Startup Journey!
💡 Guide to Launching & Funding an AI Startup
A guide covering the AI startup journey from ideation, MVP development, team building, and legal navigation to securing funding (Seed to Series A) in 2025.
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