Roundup of news and ideas from the world of startups – Week ending 4th Aug 2019
News you can use
DFRobot to launch new AI Camera HuskyLens A smart design capable of learning through clicks – Robotics and open source hardware provider DFRobot is about to launch HuskyLens this Thursday, a user-friendly, artificial intelligence vision sensor with various powerful algorithms built in, designed for creative projects through the simple philosophy of click, learn, and play. Unlike other similar products on the market, HuskyLens has several types of built-in image processing algorithms, allowing creators to start experimenting without understanding such algorithms. Hence, it is not only a time-saving device for experienced makers, but an easy-to-use powerful tool for enthusiastic future makers as well.
The startup that turns cow patties into clean energy – Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but an Israeli startup has a solution for treating agricultural waste through biogas production.
You can build a healthier startup without VC money – Venture capital spending reached an all-time high in 2018, at roughly $131 billion across nearly 9,000 deals. For a founder in this environment, it’s hard to imagine not going the VC route. But VC funding doesn’t guarantee you success, and it isn’t right for everyone. Consider, for example, that one-fifth of startup founders are outright replaced after accepting VC funding, and 60% are no longer leading their company by the time it undertakes an IPO. What’s more, those founders who do survive to IPO often hold less than 10% equity.
Startup Merger and Acquisitions
Amazon acquires flash-based cloud storage startup E8 Storage – Amazon has acquired Israeli storage tech startup E8 Storage, as first reported by Reuters, CNBC and Globes and confirmed by TechCrunch. The acquisition will bring the team and technology from E8 in to Amazon’s existing Amazon Web Services center in Tel Aviv, per reports. E8 Storage’s particular focus was on building storage hardware that employs flash-based memory to deliver faster performance than competing offerings, according to its own claims. How exactly AWS intends to use the company’s talent or assets isn’t yet known, but it clearly lines up with their primary business.
Microsoft is acquiring a startup that will help its cloud customers control how their data is being used – On Monday, Microsoft announced it acquired the data privacy and governance startup BlueTalon on Monday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. BlueTalon had raised $25.87 million and was backed by firms including Biosys Capital, Signia Venture Partners, Maverick Capital, and Divergent Ventures. BlueTalon will build data privacy and governance solutions for Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
Ford Buys Defense Contractor to Get Robot Rides on the Road – As Ford Motor Co. bears down on a self-imposed deadline to field robotaxis and driverless delivery vehicles in two years, the automaker has acquired a small defense contractor whose experience could help get auto-piloted cars on the road. This month, Ford paid an undisclosed sum to acquire Quantum Signal AI, a 40-member team of roboticists operating out of a decommissioned 1930s-era high school in Saline, Michigan, just up the road from the University of Michigan. The 20-year-old firm has experience working with the U.S. military on sniper simulations and remote-controlled sentinel robots.
Startups failures
The Chicago, IL based startup Mac & Mia, that was shipping stylist-selected kids clothes announced that it has shut down. – The founder Marie Tillman made the announcement on its website stating that “the time has come for us to say goodbye.” Tillman added “I’m deeply grateful for those who have been on the journey with me; the extraordinary group of stylists, our home office crew, supporters and investors, but most of all…YOU” According to its corporate profile, the startup was focused on “The Mac & Mia experience allows parents nationwide to skip the shopping trip and easily outfittheir newborn to six year olds in stylish threads. All items are personally selected to match a child’s particular style profile, helping create some of the most coveted kiddie closets around.”