Startups

Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham once said that aspiring entrepreneurs should ditch grand "visionary" road maps and instead launch something small that works, then follow its momentum westward like “Columbus." What Happened: Graham, back in 2012, told attendees at Pycon during a keynote...

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel wielded significant influence over prominent tech leaders, including Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk at critical junctures in their careers, according to a researcher tracking Founders Fund‘s...

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is considering an additional multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic to deepen its strategic artificial intelligence partnership. What Happened: The potential deal would extend Amazon’s existing $8 billion commitment to the San Francisco-based AI model...

Melinda French Gates says she will not bankroll her daughter's new fashion-tech venture, arguing that the startup must prove itself the same way any "real business" does. What Happened: "She got capitalized not because of my contacts, not because of me," the billionaire philanthropist told the...

Venture capitalist Harry Stebbings says founders who clock out at 5 pm will never helm a $10 billion company, arguing the global race for artificial intelligence dominance demands "seven days a week" commitment. What Happened: Stebbings ignited a firestorm in June when he wrote on LinkedIn that "7...

An electric vehicle company backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos is one of the companies that will be hurt by the ending of the $7,500 federal tax credit. What Happened: The passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” by Congress and President Donald Trump will end the $7,500 EV tax credit in...

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR) has become synonymous with defense-grade artificial intelligence, anchored by its government contracts, profitable growth and recent S&P 500 inclusion. But another name is now sparking serious interest: BigBear.ai Holdings Inc (NYSE:BBAI). BigBear.ai's...

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary says most people will never start a company, insisting that only about one in three has the grit to thrive as an entrepreneur and taste true freedom. What Happened: "In life, only a third of people can become successful entrepreneurs. That's it," the investor told...

Defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey is spearheading the launch of Erebor, a digital-only bank targeting startups, cryptocurrency businesses, and defense contractors left underserved after Silicon Valley Bank‘s collapse in March 2023. What Happened: The venture brings together a powerhouse...

Retiring early could be a dream for many. Allison Esposito Medina was one of many who was able to retire early. Before re-entering the workforce years later, Medina wanted to make sure that she focused on a work-life balance that fit her new lifestyle. What Happened: Medina lasted only five months...

Former Chrous One CIO Xavier Meegan launched Frachtis, a $20 million crypto-native pre-seed fund. The fund is backed by investors including Theta Capital, RockawayX, Chorus One, and Cyber Fund. Meegan led over 40 investments during his tenure at Chorus One. Now at Frachtis, his focus is on...

Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) CEO Daniel Ek has positioned his investment firm at the forefront of Europe’s defense tech boom, leading a €600 million ($690 million) Series D funding round in AI-powered military startup Helsing. What Happened: Prima Materia, Ek’s investment vehicle,...

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has a bold new forecast for SpaceX, outlining a multitrillion-dollar future built on rockets, robots, and orbital internet. What Happened: In collaboration with research firm Mach33, Ark unveiled a comprehensive, open-source model on Tuesday, forecasting a $2.5...