#From high school science project to .3M: AI-accelerated enzymes are coming for fast fashion’s plastic waste

#From high school science project to $18.3M: AI-accelerated enzymes are coming for fast fashion’s plastic waste

A U.K. startup, originating from founder Jacob Nathan’s high school science project on using enzymes to break down plastic waste, has secured an oversubscribed $18.3 million in Series A funding. Founded in 2019 in London, Epoch Biodesign now a 30+ strong multidisciplinary team of chemists, biologists and software engineers. It will be using the new…

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#Uber is piloting accounts for teenagers in India

#Uber is piloting accounts for teenagers in India

Uber has started piloting its teenagers-focused Uber for Teens service in India, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. Uber for Teens is live in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Mumbai, Uber confirmed to TechCrunch. The company said it would expand the service in the coming weeks to 35 cities, which include Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune. The…

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#AI investments surged 62% to 0B in 2024 while startup funding declined 12%, says Dealroom

#AI investments surged 62% to $110B in 2024 while startup funding declined 12%, says Dealroom

Venture capitalists are gobbling up term sheets for startups peddling artificial intelligence, but they’re remaining picky when it comes to funding the wider spectrum of technology.  According to new figures from analytics firm Dealroom, AI startups raised $110 billion last year, 62% more than the year before. At the same time, privately-backed companies (startups and…

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#QED leads M investment in Nigerian fintech Raenest

#QED leads $11M investment in Nigerian fintech Raenest

As Africa’s tech ecosystem booms, more local talent is landing remote jobs with Big Tech firms and global startups. But getting paid remains a challenge for many of these freelancers and remote workers. They struggle to open accounts that accept US dollars, with foreign employers using incompatible payment platforms, and face slow invoicing and payment…

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#Egypt’s Khazna banks M for its financial super app and expansion into Saudi

#Egypt’s Khazna banks $16M for its financial super app and expansion into Saudi

A large portion of Egypt’s population lacks access to traditional banking, forcing many to rely on cash transactions and informal lending. Khazna, a fintech startup founded in 2019, is tackling this issue by offering financial services tailored toward low- and middle-income workers. The company provides solutions like salary advances, digital payments, and microloans to help…

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#X expands its vertical video feed to global users

#X expands its vertical video feed to global users

Elon Musk’s X has started expanding the rollout of its dedicated vertical video feed to users around the globe just days after its debut in the U.S., TechCrunch has exclusively learned and confirmed with the company. On Friday, TechCrunch spotted the new feature had appeared in various regions outside the U.S., including India, Australia, and…

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