Category: Startups

AIInnovationStartups

Sam Altman’s Merge Labs Taps Caltech Scientist for Non-Invasive Brain Tech

Sam Altman is building a brain-computer interface startup called Merge Labs that will take a dramatically different approach from Neuralink. The OpenAI CEO has recruited Caltech biomolecular engineer Mikhail Shapiro, whose work focuses on using ultrasound and gene therapy to read brain activity without surgery. The hiring signals Altman’s preference for non-invasive neural interfaces over approaches that require implanting electrodes in the brain.

A Different Path to Brain-Computer Interfaces

Sam Altman is quietly assembling the pieces for his next major venture, and it’s shaping up to be a direct challenge to Neuralink’s vision of how humans should interface with machines. According to sources familiar with the matter, Altman has recruited Caltech professor Mikhail Shapiro—an award-winning biomolecular engineer—to join Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup expected to launch publicly in the coming weeks.

by Ryan Holbrook
BusinessStartupsTechnology

Rivian Settles Shareholder Lawsuit for $250 Million Following 2022 Vehicle Price Controversy

Electric vehicle maker Rivian will pay $250 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders after sudden price increases on its R1 vehicles. The settlement comes as the company prepares for its crucial R2 SUV launch amid declining R1 sales and recent layoffs.

Major Settlement Agreement Reached

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has reportedly agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action shareholder lawsuit stemming from controversial price increases on its R1 vehicles in 2022, according to court documents and company statements. The lawsuit alleged that Rivian included misleading information about production costs in its IPO documentation prior to going public in 2021.

by Darren Holt
HardwareStartupsTechnology

Oxford Quantum Startup QFX Secures €2.2M Seed Funding for Modular Hardware Expansion

Oxford-based quantum technology startup QFX has raised €2.2 million in seed funding to advance its modular hardware platform. The investment round was reportedly led by Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham, positioning the University of Oxford spin-out within Europe’s growing quantum ecosystem.

Funding Round and Investor Backing

Oxford-based quantum startup QFX has secured €2.2 million in seed funding to expand its modular hardware platform for quantum technologies, according to recent reports. Sources indicate the investment round was led by Silicon Valley investor and Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham, signaling strong confidence in the UK quantum sector.

by Ryan Holbrook
InnovationScienceStartups

Longevity Experts Advocate for Healthspan Focus Over Lifespan Extension in Booming Industry

Longevity researchers are urging the rapidly expanding anti-aging industry to shift focus from extending lifespan to improving healthspan. Experts emphasize that adding healthy years provides more value than merely prolonging life, with exercise emerging as today’s most accessible fountain of youth.

Redefining Longevity: Healthspan Takes Priority Over Lifespan

The booming longevity industry is facing a crucial recalibration as leading researchers advocate for a fundamental shift in focus from extending lifespan to improving healthspan, according to discussions at the recent Inc. 5000 Conference in Phoenix. Sources indicate that despite massive commercial investment in anti-aging technologies, the core philosophy among serious researchers centers on expanding years of healthy life rather than simply prolonging existence.

by Ryan Holbrook
HardwareStartupsTechnology

Dell’s Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming PC with RTX 5080 Hits Sub-$2,000 Price Point with Advanced Cooling

Dell’s Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop has reached a significant price milestone, falling below $2,000 while maintaining high-end components. The system features NVIDIA’s powerful RTX 5080 graphics card and advanced liquid cooling technology. This configuration reportedly delivers exceptional 4K gaming performance with ray tracing capabilities.

Premium Gaming PC Breaks Price Barrier

The Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop has reached a notable pricing milestone, with its RTX 5080-equipped configuration now available below the $2,000 threshold, according to recent reports. Sources indicate this represents a significant value proposition for gamers seeking high-end performance without premium pricing.

by Carter Wells
BusinessStartupsTechnology

Former Whole Foods CEO Reveals Activist Investor Threats Forced Amazon Sale

Whole Foods cofounder John Mackey has revealed that activist investors threatened to fire him and his entire executive team before selling the company. The confrontation ultimately led to the $13.7 billion Amazon acquisition despite Mackey’s initial reluctance to sell.

Activist Investor Confrontation

John Mackey, the 72-year-old cofounder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market, has disclosed that he never wanted to sell the company to Amazon but was forced into the deal by activist investors who threatened to take over his board and fire him, according to his recent interview on the Habits & Hustle podcast.

by Carter Wells
BusinessStartupsTechnology

In-Telecom Acquires RealmConnect in Mentor-Turned-Acquisition Deal

In a strategic move blending personal history with business growth, In-Telecom has acquired RealmConnect, the company owned by CEO Shawn Torres’s early mentors. The acquisition expands In-Telecom’s Southeast presence and adds significant recurring revenue.

A Personal Milestone in Business Acquisition

In a move that reportedly represents both strategic expansion and personal fulfillment, In-Telecom has acquired RealmConnect, the company co-owned by CEO Shawn Torres’s early mentors. According to reports, Torres described the acquisition as a “full-circle” moment, having been guided in his career by RealmConnect’s co-owners, Anthony Kubek and Jack Brumlow.

by Carter Wells