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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: VC Firm FinTech Collective Lands $250M For Fintech And DeFi Startups
FinTech Collective, a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2012, announced its raise of $250 million for investing in financial services startups focused on traditional fintech and DeFi. Of this $200 million would be directed towards investments in early-stage fintechs, and $50 million in DeFi applications.
Artificial Intelligence: At Its First AI Day, Tesla Unveils A Humanoid Robot
At Tesla’s (NASDAQ: TSLA) first AI Day held on Thursday, showman Elon Musk gave the world a glimpse of the Tesla Bot, a humanoid bot that could ultimately perform those tasks that human least like to do. You’re forgiven to imagine that an actual humanoid came on stage – no, it was just an actor in a body suit resembling the robot.
Venture Capital: Solar Provider Nexamp Raises $680M In Equity And Debt
Nexamp, which offers solar and energy storage solutions for a decarbonized future, has raised a $240 million equity investment led by Generate Capital. In March, closed on a $440 million senior secured credit facility for a 380-megawatt portfolio of solar and energy storage assets, the largest debt financing of its kind. The $680 million fundraising will enhance Nexamp’s ability to offer a range of decarbonization options.
FinTech: ‘Payday’ From Revolut Offers Advances Against Earned Wages In The UK
Revolut’s new Payday product allows employees to access upto half their earned wages on payment of a small fee starting at £1.50, thus avoiding access to expensive credit cards or usurious payday lenders.
Digital Assets: Coinbase Launches In Japan; Ties Up With Mitsubishi UFJ
Japan is one of the largest markets by crypto trading volumes globally. Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) announced today the launch of digital assets trading in Japan, a country that was among the first off the block to embrace cryptos. The company said it intended to be a fully compliant and most trusted crypto exchange in Japan…
Artificial Intelligence: Chinese Internet Giant Baidu Launches Robocar and AI Chip
Baidu Inc (NASDAQ: BIDU), the Chinese tech company known for its internet search service and AI focus, presented a concept two-seater “Robocar” at its annual Baidu World 2021 conference on Wednesday. The futuristic, AI-packed car does not have a steering wheel, nor gas or brake pedals, but is big enough for a passenger to stretch out for a nap.
Alternative Investments/ESG: UBS Launches Low Carbon Equity ETFs
UBS has launched four new ETFs that combine equity exposure with a focus on low carbon investing. The four UCITS funds track MSCI equity indices relating to the US, European, eurozone, and Japanese equity markets, and are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Xetra.
Digital Assets: Rural Texas Shaping To Become A Mecca For Bitcoin Mining
Dickens county, in rural Texas, has a population of 2,300, and in the words of Kevin Brendle, a top county official, “is mostly improved pasture and grassland.” Yet, its idyllic environs will soon be home to a 320-acre crypto facility where hundreds of computers will be used to mine bitcoin, each currently worth about $45,000. The draw: Texas’ cheap power.
Venture Capital: Apeel Sciences Raises $250M For Its Longer Lasting Produce
Apeel Sciences, which applies an edible, plant-based coating to fresh produce to extend its life, announced today its Series E raise of $250 million led by returning investor Temasek. “Since 2019, Apeel has prevented 42 million pieces of fruit from going to waste at retail, which has helped avoid 10,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions and conserve nearly 4.7 billion liters of water,” the company claimed in a statement.
FinTech: Sightline, Hopper, And Branch Snag Big Buck Funding Rounds
From casino and workforce payments to a travel fintech, funding rounds are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Sightline Payments ($244 million), Branch ($540 million) and Hopper ($175 million) all announced fundraises on Tuesday (August 17, 2021).
Liquid Alternatives: CI Global Launches Liquid Alt ETF And Mutual Fund
CI Global Asset Management announced on Monday the launch of six ETFs, one of which is an alternative fund that is also offered as a mutual fund. The CI Alternative Diversified Opportunities Fund is a liquid alternatives mutual fund sub-advised by Marret Asset Management Inc., a fund management team with deep experience in alternative fixed-income strategies.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Platform For Predictive Maintenance Of Static Mining Assets
Engineering firm Norda Stelo and clean energy startup BEAP are collaborating on a $1.2 million project to improve the life and dependability of static mining assets using artificial intelligence (AI). The project is being supported by Investissement Québec as mandatary of the Government of Québec.
FinTech: Plaid Extends Its April $425M Funding To Include JPM And Amex
Plaid has announced today an extension of its April $425 million Series D round that was led by Altimeter Capital with participation from new investors, Silver Lake and Ribbit Capital. The expanded round now includes funding from J.P. Morgan Private Capital Growth Equity Partners and existing investor Amex Ventures.
Venture Capital: Brazil’s Nuvemshop Has The Pick Of VCs For Its $500M Funding Round
Ecommerce platform Nuvemshop, which is said to be the Latin American version of Shopify (NYSE: SHOP), announced today its $500 million Series E funding co-led by Insight Partners and Tiger Global Management, with significant participation from Alkeon and Owl Rock. Other investors that joined the round included Sunley House Capital and VMG Partners, as well as existing investors Accel, Kaszek, Kevin Efrusy, Qualcomm Ventures LLC, and ThornTree Capital.
Alternative Investments/Digital: Galaxy Digital Takes Aim (Again) At Bitcoin ETF Using Futures Route
Enthused by a comment from Gary Gensler, the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that filing with the SEC for a futures-based bitcoin ETF stood a higher chance under the Securities Act of 1940, Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital (TSE: GLXY) just took its second shot at that elusive vehicle. Note that the company previously filed for a bitcoin ETF in April 2021 under the Securities Act of 1933.
Digital Assets: Crypto Broker Bitpanda Triples Valuation To $4.1B In Five Months
Austrian cryptocurrency broker Bitpanda announced today (August 17, 2021) its raise of $263 million in a Series C round led by Valar Ventures, with the participation of Alan Howard and REDO Ventures, as well as existing investors LeadBlock Partners and Jump Capital. Valar Ventures is the venture capital firm co-founded by U.S. tech billionaire Peter Thiel. The round valued Bitpanda at $4.1 billion, up from $1.2 billion in March, when the startup raised $170 million.
Artificial Intelligence: SAP Acquires SwoopTalent For Its AI-Powered HR Platform
SwoopTalent, an AI-powered platform that combines, analyzes and trains data from disparate human resource (HR) systems and workflows, has been acquired by SAP (NYSE: SAP), the German multinational software maker known for its ERP system. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
FinTech: Challenger Bank Chime Nabs $750M At $25B Valuation
Digital neo bank Chime joined in the pyrotechnic valuations surrounding fintechs, garnering a massive $25 billion valuation in a $750 million Series G round that saw investment from SoftBank, Sequoia Capital Global Equities, General Atlantic, Tiger Global, and Dragoneer Investment Group. The current valuation is up from $1.5 billion in early 2019, and from $14.5 billion in October 2020, demonstrating the rocketing valuations in the fintech sector.
Venture Capital: Craft Ventures Raises $1.12 Billion Across Two Funds
Craft Ventures, an early-stage VC firm of “founders backing founders,” closed earlier this month two funds for a combined $1.12 billion fundraising – Craft Ventures III ($612 million) and Craft Ventures Growth I ($510 million). The new growth fund will round off the firm’s investment strategies, covering startups in both early and growth stages.
Alternative Investments/ESG: RBC iShares Launches Sustainable Fixed Income ETFs
RBC iShares expanded its range of ETFs with the launch of four new fixed income ETFs of which two have a sustainability focus. These are the iShares ESG Advanced 1-5 Year Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF (XSHG) and iShares ESG Advanced Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF (XCBG), both of which extend sustainable coverage to bonds.
Artificial Intelligence: Japan To Create AI-Based Surveillance System For Intruder Ships
By early 2024, Japan will have in place a monitoring system that will detect and suspicious or hostile ships using artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite data on maritime activity in and around Japanese waters.
Digital Assets: Singapore Clears DBS Vickers, DBS’ Brokerage Arm, For Trading Digital Payment Tokens
DBS Vickers, the brokerage arm of DBS Bank (SGX: D05), has become one of the first few financial institutions to receive in-principle approval from MAS under the Payment Services Act to provide trading services for digital payment tokens. DBS Vickers is now following through with necessary actions to qualify for the award of a license in this regard from MAS.
Alt Investments/Digital: Kryptoin Applies To SEC For An Ethereum ETF
Meanwhile, the Hashdex Nasdaq Ethereum Reference Price Index Fund goes live in Brazil next week. Delaware-based digital asset investment manager Kryptoin has filed a proposal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a physically-backed Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF). (FXSTREET) Kryptoin eyes Ether ETF approval The ETF would provide exposure to the second-largest cryptocurrency…
FinTech: Divvy, Which Democratizes Home Ownership, Lands $200M
Property technology startup Divvy Homes, which helps people who don’t qualify for a mortgage to own homes, raised $200 million in a round co-led by existing investors Tiger Global Management and Caffeinated Capital. Andreessen Horowitz, Singapore’s GIC, GGV Capital, and Moore Specialty Credit also participated in the round.