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Chipmaker AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) has unveiled a range of innovative AI solutions spanning from data centers to personal computers. The AMD Instinct MI300 Series features data center AI accelerators, while the ROCm 6 open software stack introduces new features supporting Large Language Models (LLMs). Additionally, the Ryzen 8040 Series processors come equipped with Ryzen AI capabilities.
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Venture Capital: VCs Close $715M In Funds For B2Bs In Europe/Japan/US
It’s a measure of the interest in business-to-business (B2B) that two VC firms raised an aggregate of $715 million in funds dedicated to such startups in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. Dawn Capital, a large European venture capital fund dedicated to B2B software, today announced the closing of its fund Dawn IV at the hard cap of €333 million ($ 400 million). Meanwhile, DNX Ventures mopped up $ 315 million for its third flagship fund for early-stage B2B startups in Japan and the United States.
FinTech: BNPL Biggie Klarna Could Value At $10B In Last Fundraise Before IPO
According to a Reuters Exclusive, Klarna, the Swedish fintech and unicorn, is talking with investors to raise as much as $ 500 million at a valuation of $ 10 billion. During its previous fundraise in August 2019, Klarna raised $ 460 million at a post-money valuation of $ 5.5 billion. Reuters’ sources said the money would be raised from both existing and new investors. An announcement is likely within days, they said.
Digital Assets: Diginex, Parent Of Equos Crypto Exchange, Raises $20M
Diginex Limited, the owner of digital assets exchange Equos, announced Tuesday its raise of more than $ 20 million through the private placement of a convertible note. Launched on July 30, Equos is an institutional-grade exchange that caters to both individuals and institutions.
Alternative Investments/ESG: AUM At The UBS S&P 500 ESG UCITS ETF Touches $1B
The S&P 500 ESG UCITS ETF from UBS Asset Management was the first passive ETF to impart the Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) screen to the S&P 500 equity index. In a statement, UBS Asset Management said the ETF had passed the milestone of $ 1 billion in assets under management.
Artificial Intelligence: HSBC Using AI To Keep ATMs From Running Out Of Cash
HSBC (NYSE: HSBC) has developed in-house AI-powered technology to fine-tune cash-filling operations at its ATMs, currently outsourced to third-party vendors. The system was successfully tested on the bank’s network of 1,200 ATMs in Hong Kong. The bank saved as much as $1 million because the number of ATM refills declined by 15% following the use of the “iCash” AI technology.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Here’s Japan’s First ESG-Focused REIT ETF From Nikko
The Listed Index Fund Nikkei ESG REIT (2566 JP) launched by Nikko Asset Management has begun to trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with effect from September 7. It is the first Japanese ETF that provides investors the opportunity to invest in the country’s real estate investment trust market with a sustainable approach.
Digital Assets: Ransomware Attack Freezes Argentina’s Borders
Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina’s official immigration agency, suffered a Netwalker ransomware attack in late August. According to Bleeping Computer, which quoted from a criminal complaint published by Unidad Fiscal Especializada en Ciberdelincuencia, Argentina’s cybersecurity agency, the government was alerted of the attack when border checkpoints started calling up with technical problems early in the morning on August 27.
Venture Capital: Indian Online Learning Startup BYJU’S Raises $500M Amid Red-Hot VC Interest in Edtech
BYJU’S, the Indian educational technology company operated by Think and Learn Private Limited, raised $ 500 million in fresh funding led by private equity giant Silver Lake. About a week ago, BYJU’S raised $ 122 million from DST Global. The current funding is the fifth tranche in its Series F round.
FinTech: Grab Seeks To Raise From $300 To $500M For Fintech Thrust
According to a Reuters Exclusive report, Grab, which has evolved from being a ride-hailing cab operator to a multi-business conglomerate, is looking for funding in the range of $300 million to $500 million. Reuters’ sources said the company is in advanced talks with investors such as Prudential plc (LON: PRU), AIA Group Ltd (HKG: 1299) and others.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Could Improve Hearing For Millions of Americans
Here are some shocking statistics on hearing loss from the US National Institutes of Health. Twenty-five percent of adults aged between 65 and 75, and half of those aged 75 and older, experience disabling hearing loss. And, 28.8 million US adults could benefit from using hearing aids. However, artificial intelligence could improve modern hearing aids to make sound more natural and life-like for everyone.
Artificial Intelligence: China’s Frightening, Orwellian Use Of AI
Ross Andersen, deputy editor at The Atlantic writes a chilling account of China’s sinister intentions behind its avowed objective to achieve global AI supremacy by 2030.
“Xi wants to use AI’s awesome analytical powers to push China to the cutting edge of surveillance,” says Andersen. “He wants to build an all-seeing digital system of social control, patrolled by precog algorithms that identify potential dissenters in real-time.”
Alternative Investments/ESG: Thematic Specialist Rize Floats Sustainable Foods ETF
Rize is Europe’s first specialist thematic ETF issuer. The firm aims to provide investors access to the most ground-breaking megatrends shaping the planet, and to companies that have the potential to become the growth stories of tomorrow. It announced twin ETFs on the themes of sustainable food and digital education.
Venture Capital: VW And Bill Gates-backed QuantumScape To Go Public Through SPAC
QuantumScape partners with Volkswagen (ETR: VOW3) on the development of advanced solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. In a $700 million deal announced Thursday, QuantumScape will merge with blank-check company Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp (NYSE: KCAC) and thereby get its shares listed on the NYSE.
FinTech: Jiko, A 23-Person Startup, Becomes The First Fintech to Buy A National Bank
Jiko, the four-year-old upstart fintech, and digital bank, which has all of just 23 employees, appears to have pulled off the impossible. It acquired Mid Central National Bank, a 63-year old retail bank based in Minnesota, becoming the first fintech to complete the acquisition of a nationally regulated bank in the U.S.
Digital Assets: Revolut Steps Up Crypto Offerings; Revolut Business Snags 500K Customers
According to an announcement Wednesday, digital challenger bank Revolut has enhanced the scope of crypto trading for its customers in the US. It has added Bitcoin Cash and LiteCoin to its range of cryptocurrencies that customers can buy sell or hold.
FinTech: Sezzle Makes Its BNPL Virtual Card Available In-Stores
Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL), the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform, announced Wednesday that its customers can now use the Sezzle Virtual Card to convert their purchases at brick-and-mortar stores into easy installments. They may also use the Card online.
Digital Assets: Rising Crypto Adoption – Pornhub Expands Crypto Payment Options
Pornhub is the leading free, ad-supported adult video streaming website with over 12 million videos and over 130 million visitors a day. On Tuesday, it announced via Twitter that it had started to accept Bitcoin and Litecoin as payment methods. (Bitcoin.com)
Alternative Investments: Somerset Capital’s New Fund To Pick ESG Winners in EM
The Somerset Emerging Markets Future Leaders UCITS Fund, a new fund from Somerset Capital Management, seeks to generate returns from the growth potential in small and medium-sized ESG-friendly companies in emerging markets across the globe. Swedish national pension fund Första AP-fonden (AP1) has already provided seed capital of about $ 350 million to the fund. (Investment Week)
Venture Capital: Brazilian Fintech Neon Nabs $300M In Series C
Neon Pagamentos, a leading Brazilian fintech, has received a Series C investment of $300 million led by General Atlantic. New investors participated in the round, too. These included funds and accounts managed by BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), as well as Vulcan Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Endeavor Catalyst. Existing investors Monashees and Flourish Ventures also took part in the funding, while BBVA participated through existing shareholder Propel Venture Partners.
Liquid Alternatives: One Solution For Navigating The Challenges From Unprecedented Low Bond Yields
In a note titled “A Roadmap For Navigating Today’s Low Interest Rates,” GMO’s Matt Kadnar warns investors of three challenging fallouts from today’s unprecedented low bond yields. These are: replacing the income bonds used to provide; the loss of depression protection arising from bond yields having little or no room to fall; and protection against the twin risks of rising inflation and rising interest rates.
Digital Assets: Singapore Exchange Firsts – Issues Digital Bond; Launches Crypto Indices
The Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) digital asset issuance, depository, and servicing platform announced Tuesday the successful pilot of its first digital bond – a S$400 million 5.5-year public bond issue and a follow-on S$100 million tap of the same issue by Olam International (SGX: O32).
Artificial Intelligence: Got Procrastination? Get Help From These AI-Powered Glasses
Startup Auctify has developed Specs, special glasses that are fitted with a camera in their frame. The camera is unique because it can figure out what is occupying your attention currently – a laptop, book, or a person. It does this using machine learning. What’s more, the device also records this information and relays it to a connected app. At the end of the day, or anytime, the user can figure out where their time went.
Venture Capital: Owl Ventures Raises $585M For Investments in Global Edtech
Owl Ventures, the venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, announced Tuesday the close of two funds raising an aggregate of $585 million. The firm’s fourth fund raised $415 million, while its first Opportunity Fund collected $170 million. The new funds will add further muscle to the firm’s already expansive portfolio in global edtech, spanning China, Europe, India and the U.S.
FinTech: Plaid Unveils Instant Account Updates For Plaid Exchange Users
Plaid is the fintech famous for its API that connects customers and their apps with their bank accounts. It is also the fintech for which Visa (NYSE: V) paid an acquisition price of $5.3 billion. Plaid announced Tuesday in a blog post that it was upgrading its Plaid Exchange service, which debuted in May. Banks and financial institutions, as well as their fintech partners, which use the service, can now provide real-time updates to their customers.