OpenAI loses a top data center exec, as stream of high-profile departures continues

Source: Tech Crunch

OpenAI loses a top data center exec, as stream of high-profile departures continues

Startups

"OpenAI's head of data centers, Chris Malone, has departed following an infrastructure reorganization. His exit adds to a string of over a dozen senior executive departures this year, including key leaders in revenue, operations, and ethics. This significant talent flight occurs as the company prepares for a potential 2027 IPO, raising external concerns regarding the firm's valuation and profitability amidst massive infrastructure investments and organizational instability.".

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How AssessPrep is turning test scores into data schools can use

Startups

AssessPrep is a Gurugram-based AI assessment platform serving over 800 schools across 85 countries. It streamlines the testing cycle by creating, delivering, grading, and analyzing assessments for international curricula. By tagging questions to specific standards, the platform provides detailed insights into student learning gaps. Bootstrapped and profitable, AssessPrep uses AI to reduce teacher workloads while maintaining human oversight to ensure grading accuracy and data privacy.

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AI is changing both sides of the job hunt. Applying more won’t fix it

Startups

India's graduate unemployment persists as traditional high-volume job application strategies fail against modern keyword-based filtering. While ATS auto-rejection myths are common, the real issue is a lack of precision in applications. As both candidates and recruiters adopt AI, the resulting volume of mismatched applications increases. Success now requires using AI selectively to prioritize fit and tailoring over quantity to effectively connect with hiring managers.

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Robotics startup Generalist reaches $3B valuation, sources say

Startups

"Robotics startup Generalist is now valued at $3 billion after raising nearly $200 million in additional capital led by 8VC. This extends a previous Series B round, bringing total funding to $600 million. Founded by former DeepMind and Boston Dynamics experts, the company is developing a general AI foundation model. Its Gen 1.5 model allows robots to learn new tasks from brief video demonstrations for various customers.".

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Zerodha Fund House FY26: Revenue Up 79% YoY To ₹17 Cr, Loss Narrows

Business

Zerodha Asset Management Pvt Ltd reported significant growth in FY26, with operating revenue jumping 78.7% to ₹16.8 crore. The company narrowed its losses by 37.8% to ₹5.1 crore, despite total expenses rising 29.4% to ₹21.1 crore. Notably, its quarterly average assets under management surged 196% to ₹14,448 crore. The firm, a partnership with CASE Platforms, focuses on passive mutual fund products, including index funds and ETFs.

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X sends cease-and-desist to open-source project Nitter over alleged scraping

Startups

X Corp has issued cease-and-desist letters to Nitter, an open-source project that enabled users to view X posts without accounts. X accuses the service of unlawful API circumvention and data scraping in violation of state and federal laws. Consequently, Nitter.net is offline and development has halted while the creator seeks legal counsel. This legal action follows previous technical attempts by X to disable the third-party reader.

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Instagram’s ‘First Draft’ feature aims to make editing Reels less tedious

Startups

Instagram has introduced "First Draft," a new editing feature for Reels that automatically trims video clips and removes pauses to create a quick initial cut. Initially available on iPhone, the tool aims to save creators time by reducing manual editing. This update follows other recent tool launches, including "Replace Audio" and "Series." The announcement coincides with Meta head Adam Mosseri's expected testimony in a social media addiction trial.

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Stability AI, maker of image generator Stable Diffusion, raises $76 million in fresh funding

Startups

"Stability AI has raised $76 million in Series B funding, bringing its total to $232 million. The round included investments from Electronic Arts and major music groups like Universal, Sony, and Warner. CEO Prem Akkaraju stated the funds will expand the company's creative production suite and professional services. This follows strategic partnerships and legal battles over copyright, including a largely successful defense against Getty Images in the UK.".

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SpaceX will build a second, $100B ‘Starbase’ spaceport in Louisiana

Startups

"SpaceX will build a second Starship spaceport in Louisiana's Vermilion Parish, investing $100 billion into a self-sustaining facility. Construction is slated for 2027, with launches expected by 2029 or 2030. The site aims to support Starlink and AI satellite networks while replacing the Falcon rocket program. This expansion is projected to create thousands of jobs, though SpaceX must first perfect Starship's reusability and address environmental concerns.".

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Your vote matters! Decide which Audience Choice sessions will make it to TechCrunch Founder Summit

Startups

TechCrunch is hosting its Founder Summit in Boston on November 4. The event features eleven finalists competing for four speaking slots, with public voting open until September 4. The selected sessions will offer practical insights on topics like AI, domestic hardware manufacturing, and venture capital fundraising. Tickets are currently available with discounts for those wanting to learn from experts in these exclusive, intimate sessions.

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Tonight marks your last chance to save up to $300 on a TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will take place from October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, focusing on the AI era. The event features speakers from OpenAI, Amazon, and Anthropic, alongside new stages covering real-world AI, finance, and infrastructure. Attendees can network with thousands of founders and investors. The deadline to secure the lowest ticket prices, offering savings up to $300, is Tuesday, August 25, at 11:59 pm PT.

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Claude Cowork finally remembers what you told the app in chat

Startups

Anthropic has merged the memory systems for Claude chat and Claude Cowork, enabling the AI to retain information across both platforms. This update allows users to read, edit, or delete stored data and ensures memories are updated in real-time during conversations. While sensitive information is excluded by default, users can opt in. The feature is now available for Free, Pro, and Max plans across all devices.

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Waymo robotaxis are headed to Munich

Startups

Waymo, owned by Alphabet, plans to launch a robotaxi service in Munich, Germany, with commercial operations expected by late 2027. The company will follow its standard process of mapping and testing before seeking regulatory approval from German authorities. Germany's Level 4 autonomous driving framework makes it a key hub for AV testing. Additionally, Waymo aims to enter the London market by 2026, facing competition from various global firms.

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IPO-Bound Pernia Pop Up Shop’s FY26 Net Loss Widens 52% YoY To ₹285.4 Cr

Business

Purple Style Labs, the parent company of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, reported a widened consolidated net loss of ₹285.4 crore for FY26, despite a 14% increase in operating revenue to ₹557.8 crore. The company has filed for an initial public offering consisting of a fresh issue of shares worth up to ₹680 crore to fund lease liabilities and marketing expenses, while facing a decline in international GMV contribution.

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Life360 expands pet tracking with new $8 scannable tags and zoomie alerts

Startups

Life360 launched new $7.99 scannable pet tags, expanding its pet-tracking capabilities. When scanned, these tags alert the pet's family via the app with the pet's location, even if.

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Supertails Has Built The Pet-Care Ecosystem, But Can It Make The Economics Work?

Business

India’s pet care ecosystem is undergoing a structural shift. What was once a fragmented market dominated by neighbourhood pet stores,.

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That fake Grand Theft Auto VI demo is actually just malware

Startups

Cybercriminals are exploiting the prolonged wait for Grand Theft Auto VI by targeting eager fans. They create fake websites impersonating developer Rockstar, offering a non-existent GTA 6 demo. Gamers attempting to download this "demo" inadvertently install malware, an information stealer. This malicious software is.

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Atomberg DRHP: A Look At Shareholding Pattern & Key Personnel

Business

Consumer appliances brand Atomberg has filed draft IPO papers with SEBI, featuring a fresh issue of up to ₹450 crore and an offer for sale of 7.65 crore shares. Institutional investors including A91 Partners and Temasek Holdings plan to dilute their stakes, while founders Manoj Kumar Meena and Sibabrata Das will retain theirs. Despite a 34.8% revenue increase to ₹1,293.8 crore in FY26, the company's net loss widened.

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Pacific Fusion’s next fusion machine could clear a key hurdle to commercial power

Startups

Pacific Fusion has broken ground on a new facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, aiming to achieve net facility gain by 2030. The startup, which raised over $1 billion, uses coordinated electricity pulses to create magnetic fields for fusion. This demonstration site is a critical step toward operating a commercial power plant by the mid-2030s, positioning the company against global competitors and other well-funded fusion startups.

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Gamma acquires Accel-backed design startup Lica

Startups

Presentation startup Gamma has acquired design startup Lica to establish a new design research lab. Led by Lica’s co-founders, the division will focus on expanding visual communication through fluid, multimodal presentations and personalized AI models. This strategic move aims to evolve how users engage with presentations and communication styles. The acquisition occurs amid significant investor interest and consolidation within the AI-driven presentation software market.

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