Start-up
DeepSeek’s breakthrough emboldens open-source AI models like Meta’s Llama
Omer Taha Cetin | Anadolu | Getty Images DeepSeek’s powerful new artificial intelligence model isn’t just a win for China — it’s a victory for open-source versions of the tech from the likes of Meta, Databricks, Mistral and Hugging Face, according to industry experts who spoke with CNBC. Last month, DeepSeek released R1, an open-source reasoning […]
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Alphabet-backed fintech GoCardless halves losses, targets first annual profit in 2026
Key Points British payments startup GoCardless reported a net loss of £35.1 million ($43.8 million) in the full year ending June 2024. GoCardless CEO Hiroki Takeuchi said its his aim for the company to post its first full-year profit in 12 to 18 months’ time. Source
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Why thermal batteries could replace lithium-ion batteries for energy storage
Thermal batteries could transform renewable energy storage and provide a cheaper and scalable alternative to lithium-ion technology. “Intermittent wind and solar power are becoming the cheapest forms of energy that humans have ever known, and all kinds of energy storage is now being used to harness that, to drive transportation, to drive the electricity grid,” […]
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‘Many dark times’: How this startup founder overcame self-doubt and started a $100-million-a-year business
Jeffrey Tiong, founder and CEO of PatSnap. Courtesy of Jeffrey Tiong. Many entrepreneurs will say that building a successful startup is costly — both financially and emotionally. Just ask Jeffrey Tiong. The 40-year-old is the founder and CEO of intellectual property and research and development startup Patsnap, a Singapore-based unicorn company that has surpassed an […]
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This Australian quit her job at 24 and started a business out of her parents’ garage—now, it brings in over $100 million a year
Jane Lu, founder and CEO of Showpo. Courtesy of Jane Lu. Growing up, Jane Lu dreamt of waking up every morning and putting on a power suit to go to work at a fancy corporate finance job in one of the tall city buildings. Today, the 38-year-old is the founder and CEO of online fashion […]
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European Google rivals partner on search engine infrastructure to counter Big Tech
A Google logo displays on a smartphone screen and the European flag on a computer screen. Nikolas Kokovlis | Nurphoto | Getty Images LISBON, Portugal — Ecosia and Qwant, two search engines competing with Google, announced a partnership Tuesday to build a European search index and reduce their dependence on U.S. Big Tech firms. The two […]
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Amazon cashierless tech competitor Grabango shutters after failing to secure funding
Grabango’s mobile app Grabango Grabango, a venture-backed startup that was vying to take on Amazon in cashierless checkout technology, is shutting down after it was unable to raise enough money to stay afloat. “Although the company established itself as a leader in checkout-free technology, it was not able to secure the funding it needed to […]
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How I built a $2 billion a year super app called Grab: ’20 hour’ work days
Anthony Tan didn’t need to start a business to be rich. He grew up as the youngest of three sons in one of Malaysia’s wealthiest families. His father, Tan Heng Chew, is the president of Tan Chong Motor, a multinational automobile distributor founded by Tan’s grandfather in the 1950s, that’s publicly listed on the Kuala […]
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This 32-year-old cashed out on over $2 million in startup equity—here are five tips on how to negotiate for more shares
Bhavik Vashi, 32, made over $2 million after selling his equity in software startup Anaplan. Bhavik Vashi, 32, is living the dream of many Silicon Valley tech workers. He joined a promising startup, did his time and eventually the company was acquired, minting him as a millionaire. Shortly after graduating from the University of California, […]
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Tesla’s Optimus faces stiff humanoid competition at Beijing robot conference
Tesla displays Optimus next to two of its vehicles at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 22, 2024. CNBC | Evelyn BEIJING — While Chinese companies last week showed off humanlike robots playing the zither or grabbing sodas, Tesla displayed its Optimus humanoid inside a clear box, motionless next to its cars. Elon […]
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