Author: arthursheikin@gmail.com

[ad_1] Even Serena Williams doesn’t get a free pass, in a funding climate where startups are picky about whose money they’ll take.The tennis legend has built Serena Ventures into a $111 million fund that claims stakes in 16 unicorns, or startups valued at more than $1 billion. Her name will almost always get her in the room, but winning the deal is another matter.”Founders,” she says, “are getting more choosy.”On Wednesday, Williams and Beth Ferreira, a Serena Ventures general partner, headlined NYC Summit, a staple of conference season for two thousand tech builders and investors, hosted by early-stage venture firm…

[ad_1] Cybersecurity startup Koi has raised $48 million to help companies guard against software add-ons that can evade long-standing protections.Workforces are using tools like AI models, browser extensions, and software packages more frequently amid a broader productivity push, Koi cofounder and CEO Amit Assaraf said. At the same time, they can pose fresh risks and evade IT departments.”You have to allow teams to be able to consume those pieces of software in order to gain that productivity value,” Assaraf said, “but you still want to stay secure.”Koi closed a $10 million seed round in December and a $38 million Series…

[ad_1] This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rod Samra, a former US Department of Labor investigator of more than two decades, who lives in Florida. His identity has been verified. This story has been edited for length and clarity.Many employers use AI-powered applicant-tracking systems to sort through résumés and identify job candidates. I’ve audited hundreds of these systems over the course of my career. There is often no human intervention, and that’s a problem.AI is a double-edged sword. It can reduce biases by standardizing the résumé-review process, but it can also amplify biases if algorithms are poorly…

[ad_1] You may be surprised to learn that the treadmill was invented as a prison torture device in 19th-century England. Or maybe you’re not surprised, depending on your feelings about huffing and puffing as you trod along on an automatic belt to nowhere. Still, it’s a little wild to realize that upward of 50 million Americans willingly use a device each year that was conceptualized to make criminals suffer. A lot of people are gluttons for punishment, though.Exercise fads constantly come and go. In 2025, that means spin classes are out, Pilates and strength training are in, and the Thighmaster…

[ad_1] Tom and Jeanne Skellan were homeowners for more than 40 years before they decided to become renters again.As they both neared their 70s, their kids wanted them to leave St. George, Utah, where they’d moved after decades in Philadelphia, and live closer to family. So in 2021, the Skellans sold their home of 15 years and headed south to Mesa, Arizona, settling minutes away from one of their three sons and his family.Despite having enough cash from their home sale for a down payment on a new place, the couple decided they didn’t want to sign up again for…

[ad_1] Blank-check mergers are back on the cards — at least for nuclear startups.Terra Innovatum, a company developing micro-modular nuclear reactors, is one of the contenders. It’s pursuing a SPAC by merging with GSR III Acquisition Corp, with the aim of raising around $230 million at a $475 million pre-money valuation.Its chief business development officer, Giordano Morichi, told Business Insider that the company is opting for a SPAC because the startup sees it as a smoother alternative to an IPO.Morichi said the startup didn’t want to go through a funding round because it “wanted a more regulated fundraising environment.” Morichi,…

[ad_1] The California State Assembly took a big step toward regulating AI on Wednesday night, passing SB 243 — a bill that regulate AI companion chatbots in order to protect minors and vulnerable users. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the state Senate for a final vote Friday. If Governor Gavin Newsom signs the bill into law, it would take effect January 1, 2026, making California the first state to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions and hold companies legally accountable if their chatbots fail to meet those standards. The bill…

[ad_1] Oracle posted blockbuster gains on Wednesday, and the rally may not be over, according to equity analysts at Jefferies.The surge in Oracle’s stock price came after the software giant shocked Wall Street with a record $455 billion in remaining performance obligations, or RPO — a measure of contracted future revenue — in its fiscal first quarter.That figure was up 359% year over year, surpassing cloud rivals Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, according to Jefferies’ analysis.Following the earnings release, Oracle’s New York-listed stock closed 36% higher at $328.33 on Wednesday — its best one-day performance since 1992.The phenomenal gains also briefly…

[ad_1] Is the iPhone Air’s slim profile calling to you? If you’re thinking of upgrading, keep in mind that going thinner likely means a slightly smaller — or larger — screen.The iPhone Air, the standout model of the four smartphones Apple announced at its “Awe-inspiring” event earlier this week, is the thinnest iPhone ever made, clocking in at 5.6 millimeters. The iPhone Air also has a 6.5-inch display screen.So how does that compare to other new iPhones and the older model that you might be reading this article on right now?The iPhone Air has a larger display screen than the…

[ad_1] AI isn’t ready to take over all the human aspects of trading, said Robinhood’s CEO.In an interview with Bloomberg Wealth released on Wednesday, Vlad Tenev reiterated his view that people don’t always trade to make money and that there will always be a human aspect to business.”Most of the time you’re not doing it just because you want to make money,” he said. “You also love trading and you’re you’re extremely passionate about it.”He added: “I don’t think there’s going to be a future where AI just does all of your thinking, all of your financial planning, all the…