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Source: Tech Crunch

AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google’s Chrome team

Startups

"Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool launched in 2021, is shutting down, with paying customers losing access on September 14. Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is rejoining Google as the VP of Product for Chrome, where he will lead product and developer relations teams. Bank aims to further integrate AI agents into the browser, continuing Google's broader strategy of incorporating Gemini into its user experience.".

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Source: Tech Crunch

‘Unprecedented’ number of Apple users received recent spyware alert, say investigators

Startups

Apple has issued an unprecedented number of threat notifications to users across 110 countries, warning of suspected attacks by government-grade mercenary spyware. Digital rights groups report a record surge in help requests, suggesting that such attacks are more widespread than previously understood. Experts note that Apple's new, more visible notification methods likely increased awareness, while the company recommends using Lockdown Mode to enhance device security.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Save up to $300 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass until August 21

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will take place from October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, focusing on innovation in the AI era. The event attracts over 10,000 founders and investors, featuring new stages like Real World AI and Smart Money. Attendees can secure the lowest ticket prices, saving up to $300, if they purchase their passes by Friday, August 21, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Spotify’s new Playlist Notes let users and editors explain their song picks

Startups

Spotify has introduced "Playlist Notes," allowing users to add personal context to songs, podcasts, and audiobooks within their playlists. This feature extends to Spotify's editorial playlists, where editors can now explain their selections and showcase their tastes via new Editor Profiles. Rolling out globally for users and in select markets for editors, the update aims to enhance social connectivity and differentiate Spotify from its main competitors.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Higgsfield raises $400M Series B, quadrupling its valuation in 8 months to $5.4B

Startups

Higgsfield, an AI image and video creation platform founded by Alex Mashrabov, raised $400 million in a Series B round led by DST Global, reaching a $5.4 billion valuation. With 30 million users and $700 million in annualized revenue, the company serves 390 Fortune 500 firms. The new funding will support hiring, product development, and the high compute costs required to compete with rivals like Runway.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Reddit begins testing a new audio and video experience, similar to popular TikTok videos

Startups

Reddit is testing a new "video Reddit" experience, allowing users to listen to viral stories via audio and video posts on iOS and Android. Inspired by trends on TikTok and Reels, the limited English-language trial lets users choose between reading or playing content. These formats will complement, not replace, original text posts and comments, aiming to provide a more flexible way for users to consume Reddit content.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Sound-powered fire protection startup gets $15M to snuff out fires before they turn catastrophic

Startups

Sonic Fire Tech has raised $15 million to develop an acoustic fire suppression system that uses infrasonic waves to extinguish fires without water or chemicals. This technology aims to eliminate collateral damage and reduce restoration costs, particularly in commercial kitchens and homes. The Ohio-based startup is seeking National Fire Protection Association approval and is discussing potential premium discounts with the insurance industry to accelerate adoption.

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Source: Tech Crunch

YouTube will now count a view as soon as a video starts playing

Startups

"YouTube is updating its view-counting method on August 24, counting a view as soon as a video starts playing. This aligns the platform with rivals TikTok and Instagram. While public view counts may rise, creators can still access 'Engaged views' via Analytics. Additionally, YouTube is raising monetization thresholds for new creators next year, requiring 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views to begin earning money.".

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Source: Tech Crunch

Feedly attributes weeklong slowdown to bug, not its AI pivot

Startups

Feedly, the world's largest standalone RSS reader with 15 million users, has faced significant technical issues, including a slow web app and iOS malfunctions. Some paying subscribers report ignored support requests amid the company's pivot toward AI-driven intelligence. CEO Edwin Khodabakchian stated that RSS remains a priority, noting that a fix for the web app's performance bug was released Friday while iOS issues are being investigated.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Amazon, once an online bookseller, is destroying rare books to train AI models

Startups

Amazon is acquiring rare books and scanning them for AI training, according to a report by 404 Media. The company reportedly cuts off book spines at a Las Vegas facility to digitize content for its large language models. Amazon states these purchases improve its services. Rare, out-of-print texts are highly valuable because they ensure training data is human-authored, helping the company avoid the risk of model collapse.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Groq raises $350M to fuel its pivot from AI chips to neocloud

Startups

Startup Groq raised $350 million, valuing the company at $3.5 billion as it pivots from an AI chipmaker to a neocloud provider. After losing key talent to Nvidia, Groq shifted from developing its own LPUs to operating Nvidia-powered infrastructure. The company aims to scale its capacity to over 200 megawatts by 2027, focusing on AI inference services for millions of developers and enterprises worldwide.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Nvidia investing $1.5B in SoftBank data center developer behind OpenAI project

Startups

"Nvidia is investing $1.5 billion in SB Energy, a data center venture with SoftBank and OpenAI, securing its role as the sole compute infrastructure supplier for the Ports-Pike facility in Ohio. Nvidia will also provide up to $105 billion in credit. The project includes a $33 billion, 9.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant on former Department of Energy land, amid rising construction costs and potential gas price spikes.".

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Source: Tech Crunch

Terra Industries closes $52M seed round to build defense infrastructure for the Global South

Startups

African defense tech company Terra Industries announced an additional $18 million in funding, bringing its seed round to $52 million. Investors include 8VC, Silent Ventures, and Nova Global. Terra plans to build.

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Source: Tech Crunch

WordPress.com targets the next generation of web creators with a free student plan

Startups

"Automattic has launched WordPress.com Education, a free suite for teachers and students designed to integrate website building into the classroom. The program provides students with full domains, plugin support, and 6GB of storage for their first year. By targeting educational institutions, Automattic aims to train future web professionals and reach underfunded schools. A pilot program involving 5,000 students showed significant improvements in employability and entrepreneurial capacity.".

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Source: Your story

5 Books that explain why we compare ourselves with others

Startups

Human comparison is a natural psychological habit that often leads to anxiety and diminished self-worth. Five influential books—The Social Animal, The Happiness Trap, The Gifts of Imperfection, Stolen Focus, and Mindset—explore the roots of this behavior. These works analyze social influences, digital pressures, and mindset shifts, offering strategies to move from external competition toward personal growth, authenticity, and a value-driven life.

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Source: Your story

Startup news and updates: daily roundup (August 17, 2026)

Startups

API Holdings became debt-free after repaying Rs 1,050 crore, while QpiAI opened Asia's largest quantum chip foundry in Bengaluru. Swiggy introduced Guru, an AI assistant for restaurants, and Per Annum saw its AUM surge to Rs 1,400 crore. Other highlights include Aum Ventures' DeepSpark 2.0 launch, Cognizant's Talent Accelerator program, and a joint venture between Voltas and Atomberg to manufacture high-efficiency AC compressors in India.

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Indian deeptech investments reach $11.4B: Report

Startups

The Bharat DeepTech Report 2026 reveals that India's deeptech sector secured $11.4 billion in funding from 2015 to mid-2026. AI leads investment, while semiconductors and spacetech show rapid growth. Despite milestones and government support via the RDI Fund, the sector faces a "valley of death" in early-stage research and a Series B/C funding gap. Addressing these hurdles is essential for building globally competitive indigenous innovation.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Uber adds Zipline drones to its Eats delivery network

Startups

Uber is partnering with and investing in drone delivery startup Zipline to integrate its technology into the Uber Eats platform. The companies aim to achieve one million daily deliveries by 2029, with initial launches starting this year in existing Zipline markets before expanding to dozens of U.S. cities. This move aligns with Uber's broader strategy of partnering with autonomous vehicle providers to drive growth through quick commerce.

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Source: Tech Crunch

Wispr raises $280M at $2B valuation as it looks beyond dictation

Startups

"Wispr, an AI dictation startup, raised $280 million in Series B funding led by Menlo Ventures, reaching a $2 billion valuation. The company plans to expand into meeting notes and improve speech accuracy with its new Canto model. Wispr is also scaling globally, partnering with hardware makers, and launching Interface Labs to explore human-computer interaction, all while facing increased competition from various AI dictation and note-taking apps.".

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Source: Tech Crunch

Crypto hardware wallet owners face fresh security risks after recent spate of personal data thefts

Startups

Data breaches at shipping partners of Trezor and SafePal have exposed personal information of hardware wallet users, increasing the risk of targeted phishing and physical "wrench attacks." While the wallets remain secure, leaked addresses enable criminals to steal seed phrases through force. Separately, a code vulnerability in Coldcard wallets allowed hackers to predict seed phrases, resulting in over $130 million in stolen cryptocurrency from the blockchain.

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