Waymo goes on offense ahead of Tesla’s Cybercab launch

Source: Tech Crunch

Waymo goes on offense ahead of Tesla’s Cybercab launch

Startups

Waymo has criticized Tesla's camera-only approach to autonomous driving, arguing that a combination of lidar, radar, and cameras is essential for safety. While Waymo currently operates thousands of robotaxis across 14 U.S. cities, Tesla is preparing to unveil its steering-wheel-less Cybercab on September 3. This clash highlights a fundamental industry divide between Waymo's sensor-heavy redundancy and Tesla's cost-effective, AI-first strategy for scaling driverless vehicles.

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Google’s answer to Canva is an AI tool where you prompt instead of design

Startups

"Google is launching Google Pics, an AI-powered image creation and editing tool for Google Workspace business customers and premium AI subscribers. Powered by the Nano Banana model, it enables users to generate visuals like posters and social media posts via prompts. Integrated into Docs and Slides, the tool features collaborative editing and object transformation. Unlike Canva or Adobe Express, it focuses on AI generation rather than manual design.".

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ChatGPT Health adds Epic integration for clinicians to import patient data

Startups

OpenAI said that the integration provides read-only access to health records for clinicians.

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Sequoia-incubated Empirik launches with $21M to predict outages before they happen

Startups

"Empirik, an AI-driven observability startup, has spun out from Sequoia Capital after raising $21 million in seed funding. Founded by tech veterans Avon Puri and Sudheer Dhurjati, the company offers a tool that predicts and prevents infrastructure outages by tracking system changes. By automating routine troubleshooting for DevOps and SRE teams, Empirik helps companies like S&P Global maintain stability amidst the accelerating pace of software development.".

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Masters’ Union Secures University Status From Haryana Govt

Business

The Haryana government has granted full university status to Gurugram-based Masters’ Union through the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Now operating as Master’s Union University, the institution plans to expand its Gurugram campus with research infrastructure and accelerator hubs. Founder Pratham Mittal announced new departments in law, medicine, agriculture, and biotech, alongside PhD programs, continuing the school's focus on practitioner-led and entrepreneurship-driven higher education.

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InsuranceDekho + RenewBuy: Ankit Agrawal On Making Of A Pan-India Insurance Distribution Giant

Business

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have completed their merger, operating under the InsuranceDekho brand led by CEO Ankit Agrawal. The combined entity is now India’s largest AI-enabled insurance distribution platform, boasting a premium book exceeding ₹6,600 crore and over 6 lakh digital partners. Covering 98.57% of India’s pin codes, the platform offers 750+ products from 52 insurers, leveraging complementary geographic strengths to compete with major industry players.

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GoPro to be acquired for $285M, will remain a public company

Startups

GoPro is being acquired by Starman Optical for $285 million, a deal that will eliminate $92 million in debt. Shareholders will receive $1.14 per share and retain a 10% stake in the combined entity. The merger aims to leverage GoPro's optical IP to expand into defense, AI, and commercial markets while onshoring manufacturing to the United States, moving beyond its traditional focus on consumer action cameras.

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Amazon Alexa can now alert you when something new might tempt you to shop

Startups

Amazon has introduced "Update Me When," a new AI-powered feature for its Alexa for Shopping assistant. This tool sends personalized notifications about product launches, media releases, and events to proactively prompt consumer purchases. This shift reflects a broader strategy to move Alexa from a reactive tool to an anticipatory one. Other AI capabilities include price tracking with automatic purchasing, personalized deals, and AI-generated product overviews for shoppers.

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AIR raises $50M to help companies vet the skills and add-ons AI agents use

Startups

AI security startup AIR has emerged from stealth after raising $50 million in seed funding led by Sequoia and Greenoaks. Founded by Unit 8200 veterans, the company provides a platform to discover, vet, and secure the software supply chain for AI agents, including plugins and MCP servers. AIR aims to prevent malicious attacks by continuously monitoring agent tools, serving over 20 customers in highly regulated industries.

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Microsoft 365 outage drags on, but things are improving

Startups

"Microsoft is working to resolve a multi-day outage affecting Outlook and various Microsoft 365 services, including Teams and SharePoint. The disruption was caused by a core authentication configuration misconfiguration that hindered infrastructure deployment. While Microsoft has implemented mitigations and reports improving service availability and mail flow, the company has not yet declared a full recovery and is currently entering a period of extended monitoring to ensure stability.".

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Fambot introduces an ‘AI chief of staff’ for families

Startups

Fambot, an AI-powered "chief of staff" for parents, helps families manage information overload from emails, calendars, and WhatsApp groups. Founded by former executives from Uber, Instagram, and Google, the startup provides daily checklists and proactive scheduling via a mobile app and web interface. Backed by $3.5 million in pre-seed funding, Fambot is currently in free beta testing across iOS, Android, and the web.

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Florida and Texas move to block Flock cameras over privacy concerns

Startups

"Florida and Texas are terminating their partnerships with surveillance company Flock due to escalating privacy concerns and reports of technology misuse. Florida’s Department of Transportation is removing license plate readers, while Texas has halted funding for the cameras following an officer's indictment for unauthorized tracking. These decisions reflect broader bipartisan worries over civil liberties, cybersecurity, and the company's expansion into tracking individuals beyond vehicle license plates.".

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This startup is fuel-injecting hydrogen to make cargo ships more efficient

Startups

San Francisco startup Newlight has developed a hydrogen-injection retrofit for cargo ship diesel engines to increase efficiency and lower emissions. A recent 8,500-nautical mile voyage demonstrated a 24% reduction in fuel consumption and a 28% drop in carbon dioxide emissions. Having secured $9 million in seed funding, the company has signed agreements for 12 vessels and plans to expand its fleet rollouts next year.

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Waymo accelerates robotaxi expansion with launches in Denver, San Diego and Tampa

Startups

Waymo has expanded its commercial robotaxi service to Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, bringing its total U.S. presence to 14 cities. The Alphabet-owned company now operates a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles, including the new Ojai minivan. This growth occurs as Waymo competes with Tesla's autonomous efforts and plans further expansions into Las Vegas, London, and Munich to solidify its position as the market leader.

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Odisha's Lok Bhavan becomes India's first Platinum certified green Lok Bhavan

Startups

Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar has become India's first government campus to earn the IGBC Platinum green certification under the strict Green Campus v1 rating system. Achieving a score of 88/100, the facility underwent extensive retrofitting, including solar energy installation, rainwater harvesting, and a transition to an all-electric carcade. This transformation serves as a documented template for upgrading existing government infrastructure to achieve environmental sustainability.

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Minimac Systems Raises ₹30 Cr To Scale Lubricant Recycling Infrastructure

Business

Pune-based startup Minimac Systems has raised ₹30 crore ($3.2 million) in a funding round led by Zerodha’s Rainmatter. The company specializes in lubricant recycling and circularity infrastructure, offering onsite treatment and fluid analytics. Minimac will use the capital for research and development of miniaturized fluid-treatment systems and fleet automation. The startup aims to reduce India's base oil imports and abate 860 gigagrams of carbon emissions by 2034.

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Help build the future of startups: Volunteer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, held October 13-15 at Moscone West, invites volunteers to support founders, investors, and the broader startup community. Volunteers facilitate crucial connections and pitches, helping shape the future of technology. Requirements include 12 hours of service, an October 12 orientation, and being 18+. Benefits include free admission to the three.

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India’s Unacademy sells to rival upGrad for $206M, about 94% less than its peak valuation

Startups

upGrad has acquired Unacademy in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $206 million, representing a 94% decline from its 2021 peak valuation of $3.44 billion. The transaction includes Airlearn, PrepLadder, and Graphy, while the Unacademy brand will be retained. CEO Gaurav Munjal will continue leading the company. The move aims to scale operations and expand educational offerings following a significant downturn in India's edtech sector.

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[Update] ESDS IPO Closes With 135.9X Oversubscription

Business

ESDS Software Solution’s ₹720 crore IPO was oversubscribed 135.88 times by the end of its third bidding day. Qualified Institutional Buyers led the demand at 261.51 times, followed by Non-Institutional Investors at 192.94 times and retail investors at 39.68 times. Priced between ₹408 and ₹429 per share, the cloud and AI company plans to use ₹576 crore for infrastructure expansion. Shares are expected to list on September 4.

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Reliance Consumer enters ice cream market with Bombay Creamery

Startups

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries, has launched its ice cream brand, Bombay Creamery. Offering cones, cups, tubs, bars, and sticks starting at Rs 10, the brand emphasizes global quality and real dairy cream at affordable prices. Currently available in Western India, RCPL plans a pan-India rollout, leveraging its extensive distribution network to establish a long-term presence in the mass-market ice cream segment.

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