News
Each day, DailyAlts tracks major developments across the alternative investment world. Our content is procured from primary contacts in the industry and secondary sources across the web. Our goal is to give readers the most up-to-date news and engaging experience to open new doors and areas of knowledge. Our stories cover nine separate verticals of the alternative investment industry.
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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: UK-Based Mercuri Lands $63.5M For Backing AI-Powered Media Technology Startups
London-based media technology investor Mercuri, formerly known as GMG Ventures, has raised £50 million (approximately US$63.47 million) in a second fund from institutional investors. The British Business Bank, through its Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) program, has made a significant investment as a cornerstone investor.
Venture Capital: Humane Reveals More About Its AI-Enabled Consumer Device
Humane, Inc. has announced the name of its first device, the Humane Ai Pin, which is set to be launched later this year. The Humane Ai Pin is a standalone device that incorporates AI technology to offer unique personal computing experiences. This wearable device, which can be attached to clothing, utilizes various sensors to facilitate contextual and ambient interactions.
FinTech: Goldman Sachs May Sell Its Apple Card And Other Consumer-Facing Businesses To Amex
Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) is reportedly in discussions with American Express (NYSE: AXP) to end its partnership with Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). Goldman had previously announced plans to scale back its consumer business but appeared committed to its relationship with Apple.
Digital Assets: Spot Bitcoin Filings Are Inadequate, Says SEC
Bitcoin experienced a sudden drop in price, falling below $30,000, after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deemed the ETF filings submitted by Nasdaq and Cboe on behalf of asset managers like BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) “inadequate.” The SEC stated that the filings lacked specific details, particularly concerning surveillance-sharing agreements and the Bitcoin spot exchanges the asset managers intended to partner with.
Artificial Intelligence: The YOPI AI Device Tracks Heart Health From Your Sweat
Israeli hi-tech company YOPI Technologies, co-founded by Hemi Re’em and Dr. Menachem Genut, has successfully developed a revolutionary wearable AI-based device called YOPI (Your Online Personal Instructor) that monitors sweat to detect early signs of heart function deterioration. The device, worn on the arm, features a unique sensor for real-time monitoring of training intensity and personalized physiological adjustments, making it a game-changer in sports monitoring and heart health tracking.
Venture Capital: Material Evolution Nabs $19M For Technology To Decarbonize Cement
Material Evolution: Cement is responsible for some 8% of global CO2 emissions. Material Evolution, an advanced materials company based in the UK, has raised €17.3 million (US$19 million) in Series A funding for its smart, low-carbon cement made from industrial waste streams. The funding will support the scaling of production for their breakthrough cement, which…
FinTech: Revolut Offers “Hands-Off” Investing With Launch Of Robo-Advisor In The US
Revolut has introduced Automated Investing in the United States, providing customers with a convenient solution to automate their investment portfolios. By offering a Robo-advisor, Revolut aims to simplify the investment process for users and minimize associated costs compared to traditional financial institutions. Revolut is a global financial super-app with over 30 million customers worldwide.
Digital Assets: Mastercard Unveils Multi Token Network (MTN) To Boost Adoption Of Blockchain Technology For Digital Assets
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has announced the launch of the Multi Token Network (MTN), a set of capabilities aimed at enhancing security, scalability, and interoperability in digital asset and blockchain ecosystems.
Artificial Intelligence: Runway AI Lands $141M For Its Generative AI Tools
Runway, a startup specializing in generative AI tools for multimedia content creators, has secured a $141 million extension to its Series C funding round. The investment comes from major companies such as Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Salesforce (NYSE: CRM).
Digital Assets: MicroStrategy Bumps Up Its Exposure To Bitcoin, Adds $347M
Microstrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), a business intelligence and software company, has increased its bitcoin holdings by purchasing an additional 12,333 BTC for approximately $347 million. This acquisition brings Microstrategy’s total cryptocurrency holdings to 152,333 BTC, acquired at an average price of $29,668 per bitcoin. The company’s co-founder and executive chairman, Michael Saylor, announced the purchase on Twitter.
FinTech: Visa Pays $1B To Acquire Brazilian Payments Fintech Pismo
Visa (NYSE: V) has announced its definitive agreement to purchase Pismo, a cloud-native issuer processing and core banking platform, for $1 billion in cash. This acquisition will enable Visa to enhance its services for financial institutions and fintech clients by offering more innovative core banking and issuer solutions to its customers.
Artificial Intelligence: Inflection AI Raises $1.3B For Its “Personal AI” Chatbot Pi
Artificial intelligence startup Inflection AI, backed by Microsoft, Nvidia, and billionaires Reid Hoffman, Bill Gates, and Eric Schmidt, has raised $1.3 billion in funding, just two months after the launch of its first chatbot, Pi. The Palo Alto-based company, led by former DeepMind leader Mustafa Suleyman, is now valued at $4 billion and claims to possess the world’s best AI hardware setup.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Tabula Unveils ESG-Focused, “Fallen Angels” Bond ETF
Tabula Investment Management, a European ETF provider, has introduced the Paris-aligned Global High Yield Fallen Angels Climate UCITS ETF, which focuses on fallen angel bonds. These bonds have been downgraded from investment grade but offer a higher credit quality compared to typical high-yield bonds, according to Tabula CEO Michael John Lyttle. He noted that many fallen angels enter the high yield universe with a BB rating and tend not to slip below that level.
FinTech: Square Launches Credit Card And Other Tools To Help Its US Sellers Manage Finances
Square has introduced new financial products and services to support businesses in managing their cash flow. As the adoption of banking services grows, Square has unveiled its Square Credit Card and various cash flow management tools in beta. These offerings aim to simplify finances for U.S. sellers by providing credit options and features that consolidate their finances.
Venture Capital: European Lab-Grown Seafood Startup BLUU Raises $17.5M
BLUU Seafood, a leading European food biotech, has closed its Series A funding round, raising EUR 16 million (US$ 17.5 million). The German start-up plans to use the capital to advance its technology and launch its first products. Cultivated fish, grown directly from fish cells, provides real animal protein without animal slaughter.
Digital Assets: Ledger Launches Institutional Trading Network For Digital Assets
Ledger has announced its entry into the institutional trading technology market with the launch of Ledger Enterprise TRADELINK, which aims to provide a secure and regulation-friendly environment for institutional trading of digital assets.
Artificial Intelligence: The US Mulling Further Restrictions On AI Chip Exports To China
The Biden administration is considering new restrictions on exporting artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China due to concerns over technology’s power in the hands of U.S. rivals. The Commerce Department may soon stop shipments of chips made by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and others to China without a license.
Digital Assets: Web3 Gaming Creator Mythical Games Lands $37M Series C1
Mythical Games, a next-generation gaming studio, has raised $37 million in its Series C1 funding round led by Scytale Digital, with participation from ARK Invest, Animoca Brands, PROOF, Stanford Athletics, MoonPay, and existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Gaingels, Signum Growth, Struck Capital, and WestCap.
FinTech: Investors Cheer Solid Growth From UK Fintech Wise
UK payments group Wise (LON: WISE) experienced a surge in its shares of more than 20% due to the expectation that rising interest rates will boost profits, compensating for a decline in customer transfers. Wise has benefited from increased interest income, with a significant rise in customers’ cash balances.
Liquid Alternatives: Goldman Sachs Moves Alt Fund To In House Quants, Slashes Fees
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) is implementing computer-driven algorithms to manage its Multi-Manager Alternatives Fund, replacing external money managers. The move aims to reduce fees and revive the fund’s diminishing assets. The fund’s name will be changed to Goldman Sachs Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund.
Artificial Intelligence: The LaserWeeder Uses AI And Lasers To Bust Stubborn Weeds
Seattle-based company Carbon Robotics has developed an AI-powered agricultural tool called LaserWeeder, which utilizes robotics and lasers to eliminate weeds in fields. Weeds are a challenging and time-consuming aspect of farming, and the LaserWeeder offers a fast and accurate solution.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Unearths Valuable Research Insights On Seadragons Near Australia
Seadragons Search is a collaborative research project involving scuba divers across the globe and AI. A collaborative research project called Seadragons Search, which involves scuba divers and artificial intelligence, has revealed that different populations of weedy or common seadragons in the Great Southern Reef of Australia are genetically connected. This discovery contradicts previous theories suggesting…
FinTech: Robinhood Snaps Up X1, Eyeing An Entry Into The Credit Card Business
Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) has announced its acquisition of X1 Inc., a San Francisco-based platform that offers a no-fee credit card with rewards on purchases. The acquisition is a significant step towards expanding Robinhood’s product offerings and strengthening its relationship with existing customers.
Venture Capital: Andreessen Horowitz Floats New ‘Perennial’ Venture Capital Fund
Andreessen Horowitz, a renowned venture firm that has invested early in major tech companies like Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) and Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), has launched a new fund called a16z Perennial Venture Capital Fund. The firm aims to sustain its growth despite the slowdown in traditional venture capital funding. The evergreen fund will operate from Andreessen Horowitz’s Menlo Park office and has been registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.