AI isn’t some shiny new toy for these tech giants

VC-backed seedlings fight for their place in the sun May 31, 2023 Hi, {NAME}. Artificial intelligence might be the tech sector’s newest darling, but actually, the biggest players have been investing in AI for years. Plus, seed startups have shown surprising strength throughout the funding downturn, but these three charts show that this stage has its worries, too. 🤖 [AI investing boom is not new to tech giants]( Tech titans’ huge investments in artificial intelligence may look like hot new bets, but they really aren’t. The industry’s biggest players have been investing in AI for years, with their eager venture arms planting cash across dozens of startups through that time. Using Crunchbase data, we look at many of tech’s biggest software developers, chipmakers and hyperscalers and how much they’re pouring into AI startups. • Related Crunchbase data: [Nvidia’s AI Investments]( • Related Crunchbase data: [Microsoft’s AI Investments]( 🌱 [These 3 charts show it’s not easy being a seed startup]( While seed-stage venture funding has remained stubbornly strong, there are signs that the overall funding downturn is beginning to drag on these young startups. Seed-stage companies are competing for investor attention in a more crowded field than ever before and will likely have to wait longer to raise their Series A rounds — if they’re able to at all. • Related Crunchbase data: [2023 US seed funding greater than $1M]( • Related Crunchbase data: [US Series A funding in 2023]( ⏱️ [Hourly workers are in demand and startups are cashing in]( Startups that target the massive market of hourly and gig workers and employers have raised billions of dollars in venture and growth funding over the past couple of years — and investment continues to flow to the space, Crunchbase data shows. • Related Crunchbase data: [Hourly And Contract Worker Platforms And Tools]( ⛺ [Summer is here and these funded startups want you to camp]( Apparently, there’s big money in getting you out of the house. Or at least venture investors seem to think so. We look at startups that have raised funding in the past three years with an eye to getting consumers off their screens and outside. • Related Crunchbase data: [Summer Recreation-Related Startups]( ➡️ [The Billion-Dollar Exits Board: Track IPOs, SPACs and M&A deals]( Check out [The Crunchbase Billion-Dollar Exits Board]( a curated list of U.S. startup exits — IPOs, SPACs, mergers and acquisitions, and other deals — valued at $1 billion or more, powered by [Crunchbase]( comprehensive data. ✋ [What is objection handling? 7 tips to do it right]( If you’ve closed or attempted to close a deal before, you’re probably familiar with objection handling. Often rooted in concerns or hesitations, objections have the potential to derail even the most promising deals. Here’s how to overcome them. 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