Clipto uses AI to search terabytes of video and is now valued at $250M

Source: Tech Crunch

Clipto uses AI to search terabytes of video and is now valued at $250M

Startups

Clipto, a San Francisco-based startup, has raised $15 million to develop AI-powered software that indexes local files, including videos, audio, and documents. Founded by Henry Kang, the company enables users to search their content using natural language or AI agents. With $15 million in annual recurring revenue and 30 million users, Clipto differentiates itself from tech giants by offering cross-platform search and local data processing.

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Last chance to save up to $200 on your TechCrunch Founder Summit pass: Early booking ends Oct. 16

Startups

Savings of up to $200 end October 16 for TechCrunch Founder Summit end on October 16. These savings for Founder and Investor Passes vanish after Friday. Join 1,000 founders and investors on November 4 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. Bring your toughest questions and make the day count for your business.

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5 Kristin Hannah lessons on the complexities of womanhood

Startups

<summary> Kristin Hannah's novels deeply explore the multifaceted experiences of womanhood. Her works, including *The Nightingale* and *Firefly Lane*, illuminate women's quiet strength amidst adversity, the intricate balance of love and sacrifice, and the vital role of female friendships. Hannah'

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This 11-year-old built an AI smart cane for ₹10,000 and took it to the UN

Startups

Eleven-year-old Aaradhya Jain designed STAMBHA, an innovative smart cane presented at the UN. This device monitors user health, detects obstacles, reads signs, and alerts family during emergencies. Developed with AI and family support, STAMBHA offers a low-cost alternative for the elderly and visually impaired. It operates without a phone, responds in Hindi or English, and aims to provide comprehensive support, particularly for India's aging population.

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Amazon’s Bee launches two new personal AI devices, starting at $75

Startups

Amazon-owned Bee has launched its first new AI devices since its acquisition, including an updated wearable and a credit-card-sized recorder that attaches to smartphones. The devices can summarize conversations, create to-do lists, and integrate with Alexa and Amazon shopping, with prices starting at $74.99.

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MumbaiSemi aims to become a global supplier of high-quality RF chips

Startups

MumbaiSemi, an IIT Bombay spinout, has developed DhruvaPro, a programmable radio-frequency chip designed for satellite navigation. Unlike traditional hardware, this indigenous chip is reconfigurable across multiple frequency bands, supporting global systems including India's NavIC, GPS, and Galileo. By offering a flexible alternative to imported components, the startup aims to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem and serve both domestic and international markets for vehicle and asset tracking.

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Figma announces new features to define how agents work on its platform

Startups

Figma unveiled a new Markdown-based editor, Figma Specs, at its first Config India event. This tool helps define design language, integrate design and code libraries, and ensures AI agents adhere to brand rules. Specs can reference Figma elements and embed diagrams. Additionally, Figma made its code layers feature, enabling design-to-code conversion, available in public beta. The company is also integrating its acquired Payload headless CMS for dynamic website generation.

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Gudea leverages AI to help organizations prevent social media crises before they erupt

Startups

Gudea, an AI-driven "storm tracker for the internet," helps organizations identify and manage online crises before they escalate. Unlike traditional social listening tools, Gudea analyzes behavioral pathways across over 500 platforms to provide context on how misinformation spreads. Founded in 2023, the startup recently raised $7 million in seed funding and serves nearly 40 clients, including Fortune 50 companies, to proactively protect their brand reputations.

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Intero Biosystems wants drugmakers to test on mini human intestines, not animals

Startups

"Intero Biosystems, a Denver-based startup, is developing GastroScreen, human intestinal organoids designed to replace or supplement animal testing in drug development. By using induced pluripotent stem cells, the company creates scalable, human-relevant models for pharmaceutical and biotech companies to test drug safety and efficacy. This innovation aligns with recent FDA efforts to reduce animal testing reliance and move toward more accurate, non-animal methodology validation.".

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CedarDB wants one database to handle both transactions and analytics, as AI agents raise the stakes

Startups

Munich-based startup CedarDB has launched a limited cloud offering of its database engine, which unifies analytical and operational data processing. A spinout from the Technical University of Munich, CedarDB leverages the Umbra project for high efficiency and maintains PostgreSQL compatibility to lower switching costs. Following a €5.3 million seed round, the company aims to support agentic AI and compete with industry giants like Databricks.

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Ambani’s Jio seeks to raise $3.2B in what could be India’s biggest IPO

Startups

"Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries, plans to raise up to $3.2 billion in what could be India's largest initial public offering. With a price band of ₹1,065 to ₹1,119 per share, the IPO could value the telecom giant at approximately $108.3 billion. The offering opens October 21, with proceeds primarily intended to repay debt at its telecom subsidiary and fund general corporate purposes.".

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Flock CEO says its microphones detect ‘just gunshots.’ Its website says different

Startups

Flock CEO Garrett Langley recently claimed the company's audio detection technology focuses solely on gunshots. However, Flock's website and spokesperson contradict this, stating the system also detects car crashes, fireworks, and sideshows. This discrepancy comes amid growing privacy concerns and public opposition to mass surveillance, leading some states and partners to sever ties with the company as advocates warn against the potential for misuse.

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Colossal Biosciences announces new AI platform to help accelerate de-extinction efforts

Startups

Colossal Biosciences has launched GenoMorph, an AI platform designed to accelerate the de-extinction of species like the dodo bird. By analyzing 3D morphology and comparative genomics, the tool identifies critical gene-editing targets when genomic data is scarce. The company has already found 2,300 potential targets for the dodo's facial structure and is utilizing Nicobar pigeons and lipid nanoparticles to test these genetic modifications.

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Flock CEO: We haven’t ‘fired’ any police departments as customers

Startups

"Flock CEO Garrett Langley stated the company has not terminated any law enforcement contracts despite reports of officers abusing license plate reader cameras for stalking. While acknowledging the potential for termination in cases of widespread law-breaking, Langley defended the technology's role in solving crimes. Meanwhile, critics and protesters continue to condemn Flock's AI-powered mass surveillance, citing privacy violations, cybersecurity flaws, and wrongful arrests across the United States.".

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Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. are showing signs of life

Startups

"U.S. electric vehicle sales are recovering, capturing 6.1% of the market after three quarters of growth. According to Cox Automotive, competitive pricing and high gas prices are driving consumer interest. While Tesla's sales fell 20% year-over-year, the company still holds over half the market. Toyota, Rivian, and Subaru saw gains, mirroring a similar market recovery seen in Germany following the removal of government incentives.".

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TimeTeller puts our internal clocks at the center of personalized medicine

Startups

German startup TimeTeller, led by CEO Angela Relógio, has developed a saliva test kit to analyze circadian rhythms. While offering direct-to-consumer kits for personalized wellness, the company's core mission is improving cancer treatment efficacy and reducing side effects through precision timing. TimeTeller has partnered with Techniker Krankenkasse, a major German health insurer, to provide reimbursement for cancer patients, advancing the goal of timing-based precision medicine.

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Ambrosia Energy will build a 10 GWh factory in Texas to make batteries for off-grid data centers

Startups

Ambrosia Energy is constructing a 10 gigawatt-hour battery factory near Austin, Texas, to produce affordable power plants for data centers. Founded by former Swarm creators, the startup aims for a cost of $100 per megawatt-hour using solar and battery storage. The company plans full production within three years and will launch its first commercial power plant in West Texas later this year to compete with natural gas turbines.

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Hiyd is a health tracker that attaches to the watch you already wear

Startups

"Hiyd, founded by former Apple engineer Salah Batroukh, is launching a discreet health-tracking sensor that attaches to the back of any watch using microsuction technology. The slim device monitors biometrics like heart rate, sleep, and VO2 max, syncing data to an app for AI-driven health and nutrition insights. With over 16,000 deposits, Hiyd plans a November Kickstarter launch after debuting at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield.".

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IPO-Bound Tonbo Imaging Nets ₹255 Cr From Anchor Investors

Business

Defence tech startup Tonbo Imaging has raised ₹255.4 crore from 43 anchor investors ahead of its IPO, which opens on October 15. The ₹852 crore public issue, priced between ₹665 and ₹700, consists entirely of an offer for sale, valuing the company at approximately ₹4,009.8 crore. Specializing in advanced military imaging systems, the firm recently reported declining annual revenues and profits despite strong institutional backing.

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YouTube Music launches new labels as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms

Startups

YouTube Music is launching a new labeling system to increase transparency for songs created using generative AI. Tracks will be categorized as “Fully Gen AI,” “Partly Gen AI,” or “No Gen AI” on the player page and main YouTube app. Unlike competitors like Deezer or TIDAL, which may restrict AI content, YouTube focuses on disclosure, allowing AI-generated music to remain eligible for monetization while informing listeners.

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Apate sends AI agents undercover to get scammed so they can gather fraud intelligence

Startups

Australian startup Apate.ai uses AI agents to masquerade as scam victims, engaging fraudsters to waste their time and gather intelligence. By mimicking various identities, these agents uncover malicious websites, bank accounts, and crypto wallets. This data helps banks, telecom companies, and government agencies improve anti-fraud measures. Having raised nearly $10 million, the company aims to expand internationally while disrupting scam campaigns and reducing financial losses.

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