VC funding in Europe rose in Q3 2023, but favoured late-stage startups

Oct13
by on October 13, 2023 at 11:15 am
Posted In: Insider


In the third quarter of 2023, European startups raised $16.4bn (€15.6bn) in VC funding — a 28% increase quarter over quarter. The findings are based on an analysis by Crunchbase, which also unveiled that the fresh capital has mostly favoured late-stage rounds. In contrast, funding for seed and early-stage companies hit its lowest points since Q3 2022. Specifically, late-stage funding doubled quarter over quarter, reaching $10.5bn (€10bn) in total. Notably, VCs invested large sums in the sustainable energy sector, with big rounds raised by Sweden’s H2 Green Steel, battery manufacturers Northvolt and Verkor, and London-based battery storage startup Zenobe Energy.…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , ,
 Comment 

GG Microsoft! UK clears $69B Activision Blizzard deal

Oct13
by on October 13, 2023 at 10:47 am
Posted In: gaming


After a lengthy process of regulatory scrutiny, the biggest deal in gaming history finally has the all-clear. Today, the final hold-out in the saga, the UK’s CMA, said it had approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, after the parties had made “gamechanging” amendments to the terms.  The antitrust watchdog stated it had been swayed by Activision’s agreement to sell its streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment. What this effectively means is that its blockbuster video games will not become exclusively available via streaming to Microsoft Xbox gamers following the takeover.  “The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in…

This story continues at The Next Web

Or just read more coverage about: Microsoft

└ Tags: , , , ,
 Comment 

New technique makes AI hallucinations wake up and face reality

Oct12
by on October 12, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Chatbots have an alarming propensity to generate false information, but present it as accurate. This phenomenon, known as AI hallucinations, has various adverse effects. At best, it restricts the benefits of artificial intelligence. At worst, it can cause real-world harm to people. As generative AI enters the mainstream, the alarm bells are ringing louder. In response, a team of European researchers has been vigorously experimenting with remedies. Last week, the team unveiled a promising solution. They say it can reduce AI hallucinations to single-figure percentages. The system is the brainchild of Iris.ai, an Oslo-based startup. Founded in 2015, the company…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , ,
 Comment 

Taiwan’s semiconductor suppliers plan to invest in European chip factories

Oct11
by on October 11, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Posted In: Insider


Amid the global race for semiconductor chips, Taiwanese suppliers are considering investing in Europe, the Financial Times reports. “We are planning investments in Germany, and the European market is going to be ours,” Vincent Liu, president and chief executive of LCY Group, told the newspaper. The company supplies cleaning agents and solvents to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) — the world’s biggest contract chipmaker. Alongside LCY Group, three more chemicals suppliers to TSMC said they’re eyeing investments in Europe. The interest appears to be related to the emergence of the first advanced chip factories in the bloc — a move…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , ,
 Comment 

5 space-age technologies that the EU just launched into orbit

Oct10
by on October 10, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Posted In: Insider


A new EU mission has sent some suitably space-age tech into the cosmos. On a Vega rocket that launched from the European spaceport in French Guyana on Monday, the union sent six satellites and nine experiments into orbit for testing. The programme aims to boost the EU’s space sector and broader tech innovations. According to the bloc, the mission is “closing the gap between the development of a technology and its commercialisation.” That may prove a tricky task, as some of the concepts are straight out of a sci-fi movie. Here are our five favourite projects getting the in-orbit testing.…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , , ,
 Comment