AI is investors’ newest shiny toy, the startup power of “latent diffusion,” and more - February 15, 2023

February 15, 2023 [Investors take to the next shiny toy — AI]( We’ve seen this before: A few big rounds in a hot sector lead to more, even bigger rounds, and suddenly investors can’t stop writing checks. Now the star of the show is AI, a term popping up in more startups’ business models as investors pour billions into the technology. Are things really different this time? [Founders harness the power of AI images with “latent diffusion”]( Who wouldn’t love a watercolor of a blue alligator playing croquet at a country club? AI’s rapidly improving ability to generate images from text prompts is shaking up the startup world, with an increasingly popular technology called latent diffusion powering up a wide range of tech companies. [SandboxAQ raises $500M for a quantum future]( [Alphabet Inc.]( software spinoff [SandboxAQ]( announced a $500 million raise to help customers get ready for quantum computing, according to Reuters. Sandbox’s software works with encryption and the company has businesses focused on simulation software and quantum sensors. [Tech jobs: Dozens of artificial intelligence startups are hiring now]( In this week’s edition of Who’s Hiring In Tech, we look at open positions at funded startups that self-describe as AI companies in our [Crunchbase]( database. [It’s no lie: Startups fighting disinformation are raking in cash]( As with most societal problems that technology has a prime role in propagating, innovators believe tech will also play a major part in mitigating the spread of misinformation. It appears venture backers are on board as well. [Rihanna shines bright in her entrepreneur and VC roles]( [Rihanna]( is probably the first billionaire to entertain us with a Super Bowl performance. We take a look at the superstar’s investments. [The Unicorn Board: Track the most valuable private companies]( More than 1,400 companies are ranked on [The Crunchbase Unicorn Board]( a curated list of the most valuable private companies in the world, updated daily. [Why you need a sales prospecting list and how to build one]( Everything you need to know about building a prospecting list, starting with key definitions and a rundown of the benefits. Plus, tips on how to build your own lists more efficiently and templates you can tailor to fit your company’s needs. Crunchbase Pro: Searches and Lists Name Type Entries [Music and audio companies with $30M+ funding]( Companies 181 [Select biotech companies that have gained big after going public]( Companies 12 [Top-ranked companies in the events space]( Companies 70 [More Featured Searches and Lists]( [Check out our Crunchbase solutions here]( – prospecting tools made for everyone Recent Investments [Iberdrola]( [150M EUR]( / [Debt Financing]( Iberdrola is an energy company with a focus on renewable energy. Categories: Energy • Renewable Energy • Sustainability Investors: [European Investment Bank]( (Lead) [Juniper Square]( [$133M]( / [Series D]( Juniper Square operates an investment management platform for commercial real estate, private equity, and venture capital companies. Categories: Asset Management • Financial Services • FinTech • SaaS • Venture Capital Founders: [Adam Ginsburg]( [Alex Robinson]( [Yonas Fisseha]( Investors: [Owl Rock Capital]( (Lead), [Felicis Ventures]( [Fifth Wall]( [+ 3 more]( [Via]( [$110M]( / [Venture Round]( Via is a transport company that offers public mobility solutions for transit agencies, school districts, cities, and corporations. Categories: Automotive • Mobile Apps • Real Time • Ride Sharing • Transportation Founders: [Daniel Ramot]( [Oren Shoval]( Investors: [83North]( (Lead), [Common Fund]( [EXOR N.V.]( [+ 5 more]( More Fundings Company Amount / Round Lead Investor [Aspire]( $100M / [Series C]( [Lightspeed Venture Partners]( [Loam Bio]( 105M AUD / [Series B]( [Lowercarbon Capital]( [Fusion Pharmaceuticals]( $60M / [Post-IPO Equity]( - [InsuranceDekho]( $40M / [Debt Financing]( - [Buymed]( $34M / [Series B]( [UOB Venture]( [Cookin]( 17M CAD / [Seed Round]( [Relay Ventures]( [Twentyeight Health]( $8.3M / [Seed Round]( - [All Recent Funding Activity]( Recent Acquisitions [Isracard]( Pending acquisition by [Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services]( for 2.9B ILS More Acquisitions Company Acquired By Amount [Sabina Gold & Silver]( [B2Gold]( 1.1B CAD [All Recent Acquisition Activity]( Upcoming Tech Events [Blockchain Baller]( March 31 - 31, 2023 in Miami Blockchain Baller is the premier gathering of sports, entertainment & Web 3 pros at the intersection of pop culture and new technology Accelerator Deadlines Date Accelerator Location Mar 27, 2023 [The Workers Lab]( Oakland Apr 17, 2023 [(ERA) Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator]( New York [More Upcoming Deadlines]( Don’t see your event? 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