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Technology Policy

European Tech's Rising Lobbying Influence: A Shift Towards Policy Advocacy

Atomico's annual State of European Tech report highlights a growing trend: European startups and investors are increasingly engaging in lobbying to influence policy. The report includes recommendations to 'Fix the friction, Fund the future, Empower talent, and Champion risk.' European tech companies are learning to lobby for themselves, both individually and collectively, mirroring practices of Big Tech and U.S. counterparts.

This shift is evident in the alignment of Atomico's recommendations with ongoing discussions in the startup community and Brussels policy circles, such as the proposed pan-European company structure. The European Commission is paying attention at the highest levels, and European tech lobbying is becoming more sophisticated.

However, challenges remain, including potential opposition to initiatives like EU-INC and the need to address public distrust of the tech industry. Effective communication and policy efforts are crucial for risk mitigation and reputation management.

Artificial Intelligence

Hugging Face CEO: The LLM Bubble May Burst, But AI's Future Remains Bright

Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue believes the current AI hype is primarily an 'LLM bubble' focused on large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini. He suggests this bubble may burst next year, but it won't significantly impact the broader AI field. Delangue argues that smaller, specialized AI models will become more prevalent, offering tailored solutions for specific tasks, such as banking chatbots. Hugging Face, with a more capital-efficient approach, is focused on building a long-term, sustainable AI company, learning from past cycles in the industry.

Autonomous Vehicles

Tesla's Robotaxi Service Gains Traction with Arizona Permit

Tesla has obtained a ride-hailing permit from Arizona regulators, paving the way for the launch of its robotaxi service in the state. The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed that Tesla met the requirements for a Transportation Network Company (TNC) permit, effective November 17.

This permit marks the final regulatory hurdle for Tesla to operate a robotaxi service in Arizona, which has become a prominent hub for autonomous vehicle technology testing and development. Waymo, a leading robotaxi provider, has been operating in the Phoenix area since 2018.

Tesla had previously contacted the Arizona Department of Transportation in June to initiate the certification process for autonomous vehicle ride-sharing services, expressing interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area. The company subsequently applied for permits to test autonomous vehicles with and without a driver.

Tesla is also pursuing robotaxi services in other states, with a limited service already launched in South Austin, Texas, featuring a human safety operator. Additionally, Tesla operates a pseudo-ride-hailing service in California, utilizing employees and its Full Self-Driving Supervised system.

Artificial Intelligence

Lambda Secures $1.5 Billion Investment Amidst AI Infrastructure Expansion

Lambda, an AI data center provider, has secured $1.5 billion in a funding round led by TWG Global. This investment comes after Lambda's multibillion-dollar deal with Microsoft to supply AI infrastructure using Nvidia GPUs.

TWG Global, backed by billionaires Thomas Tull and Mark Walter, also invests in AI through a partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Palantir. Lambda competes with CoreWeave and sells AI factories to hyperscaler clouds.

Prior to this funding, Lambda raised $480 million in a Series D round, valuing the company at an estimated $2.5 billion. Discussions about a potential IPO also surfaced before the recent $1.5 billion raise.

Healthcare Technology

Tayla Cannon Secures $1.1M Seed Funding to Revolutionize Rehab with Rebuildr App

In 2023, Tayla Cannon, an Australian native with a background in physiotherapy and interventional cardiology, moved to the U.S. and, driven by her disillusionment with traditional rehab models and a passion for proactive, holistic care, she began creating content online. This led to a significant social media following and the establishment of AthleticRebuild. Now, she is launching Rebuildr, a HIPAA-compliant mentorship app for rehab professionals, set to launch early next year.
Cannon's work caught the attention of Slow Ventures, which invested $1.1 million in a seed round from its Creator Fund. Cannon credits her success to authentic content creation and realized the need to scale her business beyond her individual efforts, leading to the development of Rebuildr.
Rebuildr aims to shift from localized, reactive care to a proactive, holistic approach, combining consumer solutions, education, and software. Cannon connected with Slow Ventures at an event and, despite not initially seeking funding, secured investment to expand her vision for Rebuildr. She envisions Rebuildr fundamentally reshaping the rehab industry, making high-quality rehab accessible globally.

Automotive Industry

Toyota Invests $912 Million in US Factories to Boost Hybrid Vehicle Production

Toyota is investing $912 million across five U.S. factories to increase hybrid vehicle production in response to rising demand. This investment is part of Toyota's broader $10 billion commitment to the U.S. over five years, amidst industry challenges like tariffs and EV tax credit changes.
The funds will support new production lines for hybrid components in West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Missouri. A significant portion, $125 million, will enable the first U.S.-assembled hybrid-electric Toyota Corolla.
The largest investment, $453 million, will expand production of hybrid-compatible engines, transaxles, and motor components at Toyota's West Virginia plant.

Marketing & Advertising

Agentio Raises $40M to Expand AI-Powered Creator Marketplace

Agentio, a startup connecting brands with YouTube creators for sponsored videos, has raised $40 million in Series B funding led by Forerunner. This brings their total funding to $56 million, valuing the company at $340 million.

The company's platform automates the ad buying process using AI, helping brands achieve better returns. For example, Bombas saw 5.3x better return on ad spend and a 90% net new customer rate compared to video ad spending on other platforms.

Agentio has also integrated AI-powered features for campaign management and content review, saving brands time and ensuring brand safety. The company is expanding to Meta platforms and plans to support TikTok and Snap in 2026.

Since last year, Agentio has scaled its team from 12 to 35 employees and plans to increase its headcount to over 100 in the next year.

Technology & Gaming

Roblox Mandates Age Verification for Chat Access to Enhance Child Safety

Roblox is implementing mandatory facial verification for all users to access communication features, starting in January, alongside age-based chat to limit contact between minors and adults.
Users can voluntarily verify their age to secure access to communication features, with initial enforcement in select markets like Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand in December.
The move addresses lawsuits and concerns over child safety, requiring users to open the Roblox app, grant camera access, and follow on-screen instructions for facial verification via a third-party vendor, Persona, which will delete images after processing.
Verified users will be assigned to age groups, enabling them to chat with others in similar age ranges. Roblox is also launching a new Safety Center to provide parents with guidance and tools for parental controls.

Venture Capital

Venture Capital's Liquidity Squeeze: LPs Rethink Investment Strategies

Limited partners (LPs) are facing challenges in the venture capital landscape due to extended fund lifespans and valuation disconnects. Funds are lasting longer, up to 18-20 years, impacting LP allocation models.
A significant gap exists between VC valuations and what buyers are willing to pay, with potential markdowns of up to 80%. Emerging managers are struggling to raise funds, as institutional LPs concentrate investments in larger platform funds.
The panel discussed the idea that venture is not an asset class because of the wide dispersion of returns, also addressed the normalization of GPs selling into up rounds. For fundraising, new managers should network with family offices and offer co-investment opportunities, hustling to refresh networks.
AI and American dynamism dominate, with a focus on San Francisco-based managers.