Base Labs launches an open-weight AI safety partnership with Hugging Face and Goodfire

Source: Tech Crunch

Base Labs launches an open-weight AI safety partnership with Hugging Face and Goodfire

Startups

Baseten, Base Labs, Hugging Face, and Goodfire AI launched a new safety infrastructure standard for open-weight AI models. This initiative addresses the rising concern over "abliterated" models, which have had safeguards removed, with thousands already identified. The partnership aims to develop transparent, built-in safety evaluation and monitoring, believing openness enhances AI safety. Base Labs will create training and monitoring.

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Pinterest teases a new ‘Restyle’ feature that lets you redesign your room with AI

Startups

Pinterest is launching "Restyle," an AI-powered feature in the U.S. and Canada that allows users to visualize home decor in their own spaces. Powered by Pinterest Intelligence and Nvidia technology, the tool lets users modify room elements or apply specific design styles to photos. By bridging the gap between inspiration and purchase, Pinterest aims to encourage users to buy items they have previously saved to their boards.

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Last call: Disrupt volunteer application closes soon

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is seeking volunteers for its event from October 13 to 15. Volunteers receive a free three-day pass and gain direct access to founders, investors, and operators within the startup ecosystem. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, attend an orientation on October 12, and commit at least 12 hours. The application deadline is Tuesday, September 22, with positions filling quickly for the San Francisco event.

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Google, Nvidia and Anthropic want Emerald AI to find space on the grid for more data centers

Startups

Emerald AI, Google, and Nvidia have launched the AI Energy Management Alliance (AEMA) alongside Anthropic and several utilities. The coalition aims to integrate demand response technology into data center development, allowing facilities to pause noncritical tasks or shift compute loads to free up grid capacity. This approach could enable an additional 100 gigawatts of connectivity, reducing the immediate need for new power generation sources.

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Taruwar Agro: Three Bihar Friends Built a Rs 2.5 Crore Business from Banana Waste

Startups

Three friends founded Taruwar Agro Industries in Bihar, transforming discarded banana stems into valuable products like file folders and yoga mats. This initiative creates additional income for farmers, who previously considered the stems waste. The company also generates local employment and minimizes waste by producing vermicompost from plant residue. Taruwar Agro recorded Rs 2.5 crore revenue in FY26, showcasing a sustainable model for.

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From idea to enterprise: Designing startup programmes that deliver long-term impact

Startups

A strong programme should progressively help founders by focusing on whether the problem is real, whether the product solves it, whether customers adopt it, whether they will pay for it, and whether the business continues to grow without the programme.

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Will UPI MDR be a new revenue engine for fintech firms?

Startups

A 0.4% fee on select transactions above Rs 2,000 could create a sizeable revenue pool for payment companies. While the ecosystem is bullish on the valuation of fintech firms, the exact impact on bottom line and customer behaviour remains uncertain.

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NSE raises Rs 6,746 Cr from LIC, Goldman Sachs and others in anchor round ahead of mega IPO

Startups

According to a circular uploaded on the BSE website, NSE allotted over 3.77 crore shares to 150 anchor investors at Rs 1,785 apiece, the upper end of its IPO price band. This takes the transaction size to Rs 6,746.2 crore.

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APAII brings 30+ angel funds together to strengthen India’s early-stage capital ecosystem

Startups

The Association of Prolific Angels in India (APAII) aims to expand the country’s angel investor base to 1 million and mobilize $3 billion in early-stage capital over the next five years. India's angel investing ecosystem today saw the launch of the Association of Prolific Angels in India (APAII).

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Your startup’s next teammate might be an AI agent: Gusto, Insight Partners, and Leland explain what that changes at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

AI agents are increasingly performing engineering, customer support, and operational tasks at startups, challenging founders to redefine early team roles. A TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 session, "Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder," will explore this shift. Experts will discuss how early-stage companies can build effective teams where humans and AI collaborate,.

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Snap tries to make the case again for its $2,200 smart glasses

Startups

Snap unveiled new features for its initially disastrous Specs smart glasses, aiming to justify their high cost and purpose. Updates include entertainment integrations with HBO Max and Spotify, and "Specs Intelligence," an anticipatory AI system for productivity. A "Specs for Enterprise" program targets corporate workflows, particularly IT. A separate cellular connectivity package was also announced, as Snap positions Specs as a human-centric computer.

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Former Waymo CFO jumps to self-driving startup Wayve

Startups

Elisa de Martel, former CFO at Alphabet's Waymo, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at self-driving startup Wayve. Her hiring coincides with Wayve's critical transition from development to deploying its automated driving technology for robotaxis and passenger vehicles. De Martel brings extensive tech finance experience, crucial as Wayve, valued at $8.5 billion,.

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With UPI MDR Clarity, PhonePe Eyes IPO By March 2027

Business

Walmart-backed PhonePe is reviving its IPO plans, targeting a public listing between February-March 2027, seeking a $10 billion valuation. This follows the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework, which offers clarity on monetizing its core payments business after years of zero MDR. The framework applies a 0.4% MDR on merchant payments above ₹2,000, while most transactions remain free. PhonePe's CEO welcomed the change for ecosystem reinvestment.

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All you need to know about MDR and why it matters

Startups

What does MDR mean? Should you be worried as a consumer? What impact does this have on merchants? All FAQs answered. The introduction of a 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 has stirred the hornet’s nest, sparking fierce debates in the fintech industry and the e.

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VerifAIX Bags $5 Mn To Scale AI-Based Chip Verification Platform

Business

AI-native semiconductor verification startup VerifAIX has raised $5 million in seed funding, co-led by Endiya Partners and Bluehill VC. The capital will advance its verification technology, expand customer deployments, and grow engineering teams across the US, India, and Israel. VerifAIX addresses the critical need to independently verify AI-generated chip designs, ensuring they meet original specifications by combining AI-based reasoning with rigorous formal verification through its "Formal Brain" platform.

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Meta expands subscription push with new AI-focused plans

Startups

Meta introduced Meta One, a new subscription service offering expanded AI usage and premium features across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The plans provide AI tools for image and video creation/editing, targeting both individual users and businesses. This initiative aims to monetize Meta's significant AI investments. Following successful earlier subscription.

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Health benefits platform Thatch reaches $1B valuation as healthcare costs surge

Startups

Thatch, a healthcare platform, has raised $108 million at a $1 billion valuation from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Index Ventures. The company utilizes Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) to help employers manage rising costs by providing employees with fixed budgets to select personalized insurance plans. By leveraging AI for recommendations, Thatch offers a flexible alternative to traditional company-wide health plans, enhancing worker choice and efficiency.

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OpenAI, Anthropic, Google have been in talks on AI safety for weeks

Startups

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind have been collaborating for several weeks to address catastrophic AI risks, according to OpenAI's global policy chief Chris Lehane. This effort follows a call from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to slow frontier AI development. While industry leaders support safety standards and independent verification, some warn of potential antitrust violations. Meanwhile, President Trump has dismissed these safety concerns as a hoax.

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Wonder scores a $425 million partnership with DoorDash as it builds its food empire

Startups

"DoorDash is investing $425 million in Marc Lore's food tech company, Wonder. The deal includes a $300 million acquisition of Wonder’s Grubhub Campus Dining business and a $125 million contribution to Wonder’s Series D funding round. DoorDash aims to expand campus dining to hotels and stadiums, while Wonder focuses on building an autonomous food system. Wonder currently operates 157 locations and plans to expand into Texas by 2027.".

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Discover how to take your startup from prototype to production at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

Learn how to scale your startup breakthrough from prototype to production at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 with scaling leaders, Adrian Macneil (Foxglove), John Mackey (MBRYONICS), and Boris Sofman (Bedrock Robotics. Register before September 25 to save up to $200 on your pass.

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