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The article focuses on the struggles faced by clean fuel startups as many projects fail or scale back due to financial and logistical challenges. Topics include the collapse of ventures backed by major corporations like United Airlines and Airbus, the rising costs and delays impacting clean fuel production, and the broader implications for climate goals and industrial energy needs.

Israel is a country that is surrounded by enemies and engaged in a long-standing conflict with the Palestinians. Despite this, the country is known for its innovation and is often referred to as the "Startup Nation." Israel consistently ranks as one of the most innovative countries in the world and leads in research and development spending. It also has a supportive economic environment, with a growing population and well-regulated institutions. The valuations of Israeli public companies are lower than global companies, making it an attractive investment opportunity. Additionally, Israel's population is diverse and has an abundance of positive qualities. Investing in Israel not only benefits investors but also contributes to the country's long-term economic growth and potential for regional prosperity. [Extracted from the article]

French startup Mistral AI is set to raise approximately $600 million in a funding round, which would value the company at $6 billion. Existing investors General Catalyst and Lightspeed Venture Partners are expected to be among the largest contributors. Mistral AI aims to challenge Silicon Valley giants in the artificial intelligence (AI) race by developing and commercializing lower-cost AI tools for businesses. The company has also gained attention for its open-source generative AI tools, which it offers for free to other companies. Mistral's CEO, Arthur Mensch, hopes to demonstrate that successful companies can grow in France and contribute to European strategic independence in AI. [Extracted from the article]

During the pandemic, the global hand-sanitizer market experienced a significant boom, with revenue reaching $6.3 billion in 2020. However, as the pandemic subsided, sales declined to around $3 billion. This decline in demand posed challenges for many startups in the hand-sanitizer industry. Three startups, Paume, Gelcard, and garb2ART, had to pivot their business strategies to adapt to the changing market. Paume shifted its focus to new moms, Gelcard expanded its market to Japan and the Middle East, and garb2ART returned to producing its traditional products. Despite the challenges, these startups have found success and continue to grow in their respective markets. [Extracted from the article]

Cloud security startup Wiz has raised $1 billion in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Thrive Capital, valuing the company at $12 billion. The funding will be used for acquisitions, product development, and talent expansion. Wiz has achieved $350 million in annual recurring revenue and has hundreds of organizations worldwide using its technology, including over 40 Fortune 100 companies. The company aims to provide a comprehensive platform for addressing cybersecurity challenges in a cloud environment, covering areas such as code base security, identity management, artificial intelligence, and data clouds. Wiz plans to continue innovating and expanding its market share before considering an IPO. [Extracted from the article]

CoreWeave, a cloud-computing startup backed by Nvidia, has nearly tripled its valuation to $19 billion in a new funding round. The $1.1 billion funding round was led by Coatue and included investors such as Fidelity and Magnetar Capital. CoreWeave differentiates itself from big tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon by offering cloud-computing tailored specifically for artificial intelligence (AI). The company plans to use the funding to expand its data-center infrastructure and move beyond the U.S. into Europe and other regions. [Extracted from the article]

China's securities regulator has approved self-driving startup Pony.ai's plan to list in the U.S., indicating a potential easing of Beijing's control over companies seeking overseas capital. Pony.ai, which has launched robotaxi services in Chinese cities and partnered with Toyota, plans to issue up to 98.2 million ordinary shares on Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange. This approval comes after the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced its support for overseas listings by tech companies and leading Chinese companies seeking to list in Hong Kong. The move marks a change from recent years when Chinese companies delisted from U.S. stock exchanges amid rising tensions and stricter rules for overseas listings. [Extracted from the article]

Fulfillment services provider Stord has acquired ProPack Logistics, a third-party logistics company, as a response to slowing e-commerce growth. Stord offers end-to-end fulfillment services to help merchants compete with larger retailers like Amazon and Walmart. The acquisition comes as the demand for warehousing space and investment in logistics technology and services startups has decreased due to a shift in consumer behavior towards physical stores and spending on services. Stord aims to reach profitability by the end of the year and sees potential growth in sectors such as health, nutrition, beauty, and accessories. [Extracted from the article]

Electric-vehicle startup Fisker is reportedly preparing for a possible bankruptcy filing as it struggles to grow its sales amid stagnant demand for electric vehicles in the US. The company has hired restructuring advisers and reported $273 million in sales last year with over $1 billion in debt. Fisker, which outsourced production of its Ocean SUV to a contract manufacturer in Austria, has faced challenges in delivering vehicles to US customers and has experienced quality issues. The company is negotiating with potential investors and looking for a new manufacturing partner in the US. [Extracted from the article]

Gro Intelligence, a climate-data startup founded by Sara Menker, is facing significant challenges after firing Menker as CEO due to financial issues. The company's valuation has plummeted from $850 million to between $20 million and $25 million. Gro Intelligence has been bailed out by investors, but had to lay off 60% of its staff. Menker, who grew up in Ethiopia, had attracted prominent investors and was considered a rising star, but the company's financial troubles have led to a sharp decline in its prospects. [Extracted from the article]

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is becoming increasingly intertwined with his social media company, X. xAI has access to X's posts and its flagship product, the chatbot Grok, is only available to X subscribers. Musk sees xAI as a catalyst for infusing generative AI into X while maintaining a focus on less-censored communication. The collaboration between X and xAI is part of Musk's plan to transform X into an "everything app" that offers messaging, digital banking, video entertainment, and more. However, X faces financial challenges, and Musk's takeover deal and content-moderation controversies have added to its difficulties. Musk has a history of leveraging his companies to help each other, and xAI's creation adds to his already full plate of overseeing six companies. [Extracted from the article]

Silicon Valley-based startup Figure has raised $675 million in funding from investors including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Microsoft. The company is developing humanoid robots capable of completing real-world tasks, with a focus on creating a faceless robot that can perform human tasks. Figure has posted videos showcasing its robots, which have garnered attention for their sci-fi-like appearance. The investment will accelerate the commercial deployment of Figure's robots, and the company has already signed an agreement with BMW for the use of its robots in automotive manufacturing. Other investors in Figure include Parkway Venture Capital, Align Ventures, and Intel Capital. [Extracted from the article]

Disney, Warner, and Fox are planning to launch a new sports-streaming venture that will combine their live-sports channels into one package. They are currently reviewing potential CEO candidates, with Pete Distad, a former Apple executive, being considered as one of the top candidates. The service is expected to launch later this year and will include 14 networks, featuring sports such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and basketball, golf, and Nascar. The CEO will face the challenge of attracting subscribers without hastening the decline of cable TV, while also managing the priorities of the three corporate parents and relationships with sports leagues. [Extracted from the article]

Digital freight broker CDL 1000 has acquired competitor NEXT Trucking in an equity deal, consolidating the struggling industry of matching trucks and shipments. CDL 1000, based in Chicago, manages loads on short-haul routes between seaports and warehouses, while NEXT Trucking, based in Long Beach, focuses on the Los Angeles and Long Beach container port complex. CDL 1000's acquisition of NEXT Trucking, along with its previous purchase of Hickory Transportation Services, will expand its services and nationwide reach. The digital freight industry has faced challenges due to a downturn in the logistics industry and limited funding opportunities. [Extracted from the article]

Digital-news startup The Messenger is closing less than a year after its launch. Founder and CEO Jimmy Finkelstein announced the decision in an internal memo, stating that the company had exhausted options to secure funding for profitability. The venture, which began with $50 million in funding and 175 reporters, aimed to have 500 journalists by the end of 2024. The closure of The Messenger reflects the challenges faced by digital-media companies in recent years, with many struggling due to a volatile advertising market and a decline in traffic from external sources. [Extracted from the article]

Logistics technology companies, including Flexport, Uber Freight, and Flexe, are facing challenges as weak freight volumes and high interest rates continue to impact the industry. These companies are cutting costs and reducing staff in response to the prolonged slump in freight. The layoffs in the startup sector reflect similar cuts in incumbent freight and technology companies, but the startups are more vulnerable due to weaker balance sheets. Despite the struggles, supply chain visibility startups like Project44 and FourKites are still in demand, particularly due to recent shipping disruptions in the Red Sea. The pressure to cut costs comes from both customers and investors, as financially stable companies are preferred by Fortune 500 companies. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the decline in investment in U.S. startups in 2023, primarily due to rising interest rates. The tech industry experienced a downturn during this period, and venture capitalists struggled to raise new funds. The article highlights the impact of interest rate cuts on startup investment and the potential for a rebound in the IPO market. It also mentions the growth of generative AI as a bright spot in venture capital funding. The Federal Reserve's projected rate cuts are seen as a reason for optimism, but startups will still face pressure to cut costs and move towards profitability. [Extracted from the article]

Venture capitalists have invested over $100 billion in U.S. defense-technology startups since 2021, hoping to capitalize on the government's interest in upgrading the military. However, convincing the Pentagon to buy from Silicon Valley has been challenging. Only a small number of defense startups received significant government orders last year, and venture-backed companies were awarded less than 1% of the Defense Department contracts. The Defense Department claims to be changing its buying habits and giving startups more opportunities, but the gap between what it wants and what it spends on startups remains a problem of culture and bureaucracy. [Extracted from the article]

Startup founders are increasingly concerned about the possibility of being fired by their boards, following the ousting and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO of OpenAI. This has sparked discussions among founders about implementing new protections, such as supervoting shares or dual-class shares, to maintain control over their companies. However, investors are less enthusiastic about these structures. Some founders are also considering softer measures, such as mission pledges or selecting trustworthy board members. The incident at OpenAI has raised awareness among founders about the need to protect themselves from similar situations. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the recent surge in entrepreneurship in the United States, particularly outside of traditional startup hubs like Silicon Valley. The pandemic has led to changes in lifestyles and priorities, such as the search for new careers, cheaper housing, and better work-life balance, which have fueled the boom in entrepreneurship. The number of new businesses formed in 2023 increased by 38% compared to the year before the pandemic, with some areas experiencing even higher growth rates. The article highlights Atlanta as an example of a city that has seen a significant increase in startups, including in Black neighborhoods, and explores the factors contributing to this trend, such as affordable housing and support for Black-owned businesses. [Extracted from the article]

Blue Origin, the space company owned by Jeff Bezos, and Cerberus, the private-equity giant led by Stephen Feinberg, have made bids to buy United Launch Alliance (ULA), a rocket-launch venture owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. ULA has been owned equally by Boeing and Lockheed Martin for almost two decades and has a strong record as a launcher, completing over 155 missions. ULA is phasing out its older rockets and plans to replace them with a new rocket called Vulcan Centaur. The company has received buyout bids, but it is unclear how much the suitors have bid for ULA, and a deal may not materialize. [Extracted from the article]

TikTok has taken over a local e-commerce company in Indonesia after the government's crackdown on "social shopping" backfired. The deal allows TikTok to re-enter the Southeast Asian e-commerce market and sends a message to regulators in other countries. TikTok will invest over $1.5 billion into the new venture, giving it a 75% stake. The deal has faced criticism, with GoTo shares dropping 20% in Jakarta. However, TikTok's financial resources and ability to buy into local firms may help it navigate regulations and consolidate the market. Indonesia is an important market for TikTok's online shopping expansion, with the country accounting for 38% of its monthly active users. [Extracted from the article]

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, is seeking to raise $1 billion, as stated in a recent SEC filing. Musk founded xAI in July with the goal of advancing our collective understanding of the universe and creating an alternative AI option to Google and Microsoft. The company has already raised $135 million from four investors and recently launched its first product, a bot called Grok. Musk has expressed concerns about the safety risks of AI and has called for government regulation. [Extracted from the article]

Ajax Health, in partnership with investment firm KKR and medtech company Hologic, has launched a startup called Maverix Medical. Maverix aims to advance diagnostics and medical devices for the treatment of lung cancer. Ajax's model for spurring corporate innovation pairs the agility of startups with the commercial infrastructure of larger businesses. The startup intends to work with Hologic to bring lung-cancer products to market and plans to develop more platforms in the future. Ajax's approach addresses the gap in the medtech industry by providing incremental improvements to existing products and new products to pair with existing medical devices. [Extracted from the article]

Bari Weiss's news startup, the Free Press, has gained significant attention and readership during the Israel-Hamas war. Famous individuals such as Scooter Braun, Chelsea Handler, and Jessica Seinfeld have shared Free Press content on social media. The site, which positions itself as an alternative to what some perceive as unfair media coverage of Israel, has seen a surge in subscriptions and web views. Free Press covers a range of topics, including polling on young people's views of the conflict, financial backing for pro-Palestinian rallies, and antisemitism. While some admire Weiss's willingness to challenge the media establishment, others criticize the site for its advocacy and underreporting. Free Press currently has 520,000 subscribers and is not yet profitable. [Extracted from the article]

Zach Reitano, the founder of telehealth company Ro, went through several career pivots before finding success. He started by selling burritos out of his apartment window and later founded a startup called Shout, which he eventually shut down to care for his sick sister. Reitano then started Ro, a digital clinic that offers remote treatment for various health issues. Despite facing challenges and criticism, Reitano has learned from his experiences and has worked on improving his management style. [Extracted from the article]

Likewise, a startup backed by Bill Gates, has launched a chatbot called Pix that provides personalized recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. The chatbot uses OpenAI's natural-language processing technology and will learn users' preferences over time. Unlike other recommendation software, Pix suggests content across platforms and is free to use. However, the startup faces the challenge of gaining consumer traction and proving the effectiveness of its technology. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: wsjcorp; Artificial Intelligence Technologies; Internet Search Engines; Online Service Providers; Technology; New Products/Services; Corporate/Industrial News; Products/Services; Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning; Political/General News EN wsjcorp Artificial Intelligence Technologies Internet Search Engines Online Service Providers Technology New Products/Services Corporate/Industrial News Products/Services Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Political/General News N.PAG N.PAG 1 09/01/23 20230831 NES 230831 Venture investors are realizing that generative artificial intelligence might not be enough to stem yearslong startup downturn Founders and venture capitalists who flocked to artificial-intelligence startups are learning that turning the chatbot buzz into successful businesses is harder than it seems. Microsoft, Google and other established companies are investing heavily and rolling out new AI products, and business is booming for Nvidia, whose chips are used to train AI models. [Extracted from the article]